Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/8258008.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M, Multi, Other
  Fandom:
      MEJIBRAY, the_GazettE, Scapegoat_(Band), Dadaroma, Dir_en_grey,
      exist†trace, Black_Gene_for_the_Next_Scene_(Band), MORRIGAN_(Japanese
      Band), DIAURA, ペンタゴン_|_Pentagon
  Relationship:
      Koichi/Tsuzuku_(MEJIBRAY_|_VanessA), Meto/MiA_(MEJIBRAY), Takashi/Tomo_
      (Dadaroma), Aoi/Uruha_(the_GazettE), Die/Toshiya_(Dir_en_grey), Tsuzuku/
      Ryoga_(Past), Aryu/Kuloe/Setsuna/Pitty, Ryoga(BORN)/Layha(Scapegoat)
  Character:
      Tsuzuku_(MEJIBRAY), Koichi_(MEJIBRAY), MiA_(MEJIBRAY), Meto_(MEJIBRAY),
      Shinya_(Dir_en_grey), Die_(Dir_en_grey), Toshiya_(Dir_en_grey), Kaoru_
      (Dir_en_grey), Kyo_(Dir_en_grey), Aoi_(the_GazettE), Uruha_(the_GazettE),
      Reita_(the_GazettE), Ruki_(the_GazettE), Kai_(the_GazettE), Tomo_
      (Dadaroma), Takashi_(Dadaroma), Yoshiatsu_(Dadaroma), Yusuke_(Dadaroma),
      Layha_(Scapegoat), Haru_(Scapegoat), Tatsuki_(Scapegoat), Tomo_(BORN),
      Ryoga_(BORN), Minpha_(Pentagon), Ice_(Black_Gene_for_the_Next_Scene),
      Aryu_(MORRIGAN), Yo-ka_(DIAURA), Tatsuya_(DIAURA), Kei_(DIAURA), Shoya_
      (DIAURA), D, Asagi_(D), Ruiza_(D), Tsunehito_(D), Hide-Zou_(D), Hiroki_
      (D), Kuloe_(MORRIGAN), Pitty_(MORRIGAN), Setsuna_(MORRIGAN)
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe, Alternate_Universe_-_Fantasy, Alternate_Universe_-
      Afterlife, Monsters, Religion_altering, Vampires, Demons, Daemons,
      Phoenixes, Ghosts, Implied/Referenced_Suicide, Japanese_Mythology_&
      Folklore, Attempted_Kidnapping, Blood_Drinking, Gore, Blood_Play, Rape/
      Non-con_Elements, Homophobic_Language, Threesome_-_M/M/M, Stockholm
      Syndrome, Paranormal, Fictional_Religion_&_Theology, Forced_Relationship,
      Visual_Kei, Eventual_Romance, Eventual_Smut, Slow_Build, Jrock_-
      Freeform, Polyamory
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-10-11 Completed: 2017-07-01 Chapters: 71/71 Words: 285105
****** Eternity ******
by Eccentric_Bambi
Summary
     Koichi is just a regular high school student trying to live his life.
     But after a series of unfortunate events and a devestating
     heartbreak, takes his own life. After meeting a mysterious Daemon
     named Tsuzuku, he is hoping for a second chance at being happy. But
     sometimes things don't always go the way you want.
     When something threatens your hope for ever having a future, what
     would you do?
      //////////////////
     NOW COMPLETED
Notes
     Hi there everyone! I'm still new to A03, so flame is not appreciated!
     If something needs to be corrected/redone please let me know :3
***** Prologue *****
Koichi was finally free. Free of all those years of torment, of abuse and
ridicule.
But while it had taken a few hours, his body was finally found by one of the
teachers on top of the roof. There was too much blood to rule out accident, so
it was obviously a suicide. Only a single piece of evidence was found on the
body, a note with enough evidence to show that it was a suicide, and not a
murder. After the funeral, the note was released to the public eye by way of
news broadcast. He could still remember every word he wrote before running that
protractor blade across his main artery in his throat.
"Love shouldn't be judged because of gender, it should be judged on how strong
the love is that you feel. But that wasn't good enough for you.Instead you
humiliate me in front of everyone, and made my only friends turn on me. You
tore my heart to pieces and stomped them into the ground.Now my blood will
stain your name for the rest of your miserable life. I will haunt your every
waking moment until the guilt buries you and smothers you til you suffocate.I
may still hold a small part of you in my heart, but I will purge that love from
my being as a disease that has to be cured. You're next on the list to suffer."
Sure it may have been a little... Over the top. But he wrote poems in his spare
time. And... now it was too late for that. There wasn't much that a ghost could
really do, so maybe his threats would not be taken to heart anyway.
He wandered the school grounds, invisible to the public eye, wondering what to
do from then on. He would have gone to heaven probably, if it weren't for the
fact he wasn't catholic, or because he had done too many terrible things in his
life. But that wasn't his fault.
It was still early in the morning, a whole day had passed since he died. There
were no family members left to grieve his death. The few friends he did have
were all freaked out and wondering if Koichi would haunt them. But he wasn't
going to do that. They didn't deserve his wrath as much as the other boy did.
The one who he was in love with but shamelessly ruined his life.
The very thought of it made his temper boil, and the eternal gash in his throat
bubbled as blood spewed out and onto the floor. But no one would see it
because... Well it was ghost blood. He didn't even know ghosts bled up til a
few hours ago. Whenever he got upset the wound would bleed until he calmed
down. He guessed right then that maybe slicing his throat open wasn't a very
good idea for death. Perhaps poisoning would have been better, or a broken
neck.
Too late now though, he was stuck with this stupid wound until something else
happened. He wandered the halls of the school and waited until everyone got
here before he saw the one who ruined his life.
Mia. He was so breathtakingly beautiful and stunning that one would assume he
was gay because of how pretty he was. But it was all a farce, the boy was
straighter than a pole. And once he figured out that another boy liked him, he
was disgusted and made sure to let everyone know of that. He had pushed Koichi
down in the main cafeteria hall and called him a fag and that he was gross and
had to go kill himself.
Of course being as smitten as he was, Koichi wanted to do it anyways. He had
nothing left. He was an orphan and an only child. His aunt and uncle wanted
nothing to do with him, and his friends weren't friends anymore. The only thing
he knew of was to finally end himself and make everyone happy.
He followed the now cautious boy around the entire morning, grieving and crying
over what could have been. Mia would get shivers now and again when Koichi
would reach out to touch him, but otherwise he didn't seem to notice he was
being followed. He met with his friend at the lockers and Koichi couldn't help
but listen in on their conversation.
"Ice, do you get the feeling that... I dunno, we're being watched?" He asked
his best friend.
"Well I take it you don't mean the millions of stalkers you have here at this
school?"
Mia frowned and crossed his arms.
"You know what I mean," he snaps. "Ever since that boy's death I have been so
creeped out by everything."
"What, that fag that liked you?"
Koichi flinched and tried to glare a hole into Ice's head.
"Yeah him, the one with the pink hair. He blamed me, and I don't blame him for
blaming me. I probably really hurt him.."
Ice scoffed and made a face of disgust.
"Are you seriously feeling guilty over that? You did the right thing, Mia. Now
there's one less pervert in the world, don't worry about it."
Mia frowned even more, and that made Koichi wonder. He was acting so weird
today.
"Even so, he was still human, Ice. Just like you and me."
it wasn't like Mia to act so not calm about anything. Perhaps he was finally
coming to terms with what had happened, that he was to blame for someone else
dying. Ice didn't say anything else about it and they went their separate ways.
They spent the entire day avoiding one another because of this argument.
Little by little, Koichi became angrier and angrier. The blood gushed from his
neck like a waterfall but he couldn't care less. He was angry that Ice didn't
care that he was dead. He was angry that no one at all cared. But most of all,
he was angry that he couldn't do anything about it except cry. He had to let
everyone know that he was still here, with nowhere to go. He couldn't control
the anger and had to get rid of it.
He followed Mia to the cafeteria and started to cry again. He and Mia were all
alone here. Perfect.
"It's all your fault," he screamed at Mia. But he didn't hear him. "It's your
fault for making me fall in love with you, and it's your fault for making me so
eager to make you happy! It's your fault!"
Suddenly the lights began to flicker in the large room, before bursting to
pieces and making everything go black.
"What the fuck!"
Now Mia could only helplessly amble about in the darkened area. All the doors
then locked themselves and become inaccessible.
Had he caused that? Perhaps he did.
Mia slid to the floor clutching his bag as people panicked outside of the
doors, their screaming deafening.
"Ice?" he called out but receives no reply. "Anyone? Who's there!"
It was then that Koichi saw true fear on Mia's lovely face. It felt... good. He
knew then that he wasn't entirely useless as a dead person and decided to wreak
more havoc on him.
He used his anger to pull all the posters from the walls and screamed more to
make himself happier. Then he pushed all the glass ramen bowls from the tables
onto the floor so they could shatter to pieces. Next were all the tables which
he pushed against the walls and the chairs he tipped over. The rage made his
eyes red and he couldn't care that the blood was now starting to become
visible. Mia stared in horror as the red liquid seemed to come from nowhere.
"Mia... Mia..." Koichi cried. Mia's head shot up as he hears his name being
called in an eerie voice.
"What's going on?" He cries and curled in on himself. "P-p-please, if anyone is
in here let me go! I'm sorry!"
His voice could be heard, but that wasn't good enough for Koichi, no it only
made him angrier.
"Sorry?" He scoffed and stood in front of Mia. "You're sorry? Sorry does not
even begin to cover it! I loved you! I treasured and worshiped you like you
were a God! My heart belonged to you but you threw it all away for public
image! Now you have to feel the fear and agony I felt when you tore apart
everything! It's your fault... Your fault!"
Mia's face paled and he scooted up against the wall.
"Are you the boy that killed himself? Are you haunting me?"
Koichi swallowed back a sob as he wrote his name in blood on the wall beside
where they both were. Mia flinched and looked around himself.
"Please, Koichi... I'm sorry..! I know what I said was awful and... And I know
you probably want to kill me but... I didn't mean it! I didn't want you to kill
yourself for real! I only said that because Ice told me to!"
That boy... He was a bad influence on Mia. He had to be stopped or else he was
going to hurt other people as well.
"Ice," Koichi hisses and slams the tables around the room. "It's him! He's the
one to blame."
"Yes!" Mia cried and covers his ears. "I swear! Please, let me go!"
Despite that though, it was still Mia who did it. It was still him who caused
the most pain and set the plan into motion. That didn't slip from Koichi's
mind, but he figured he would torment Mia more later. Right now, Ice was the
one he had to find.
"I'm not done with you," he snarled at Mia and made him flinch. "Don't expect
to get any sleep tonight, my dear."
With more blood, he added one last thing to his name to send out a message. It
now read 'Koichi and Mia' with a bloody heart drawn around it. And then the
anger diminished, leaving behind only the sorrow and agony of having a broken
heart. Koichi slowly creaked the doors open and left Mia behind.
The latter stared at the wall in fear and astonishment, the blood creating a
dripping effect down the white walls. He dropped to his knees and held his head
in shame.
"I'm sorry..."
Koichi stalked the tall black haired boy to a simple home in the suburban area
near his school. He seemed none too shaken up over what happened at the school,
saying it was merely an electrical malfunction. He seemed to have been one of
the first ones to leave and didn't know what happened to his best friend.
He was ready to follow the boy into his home when a voice behind him stopped
him in his tracks.
"You don't have to do this you know. You could just walk away."
Koichi paused and turned around to find someone else standing behind him. A
tall blonde man with black leather pants and no shirt to show off an incredibly
muscular but thin body covered in tattoo's stood there, and his piercing blue
eyes gazed back at him with sharp intellect. He took note of the ram-like horns
spiraling out of his head and knew this guy had to be inhuman like he was now.
And who the hell was he to say what he shouldn't do?
"Oh yeah?" He says with a surprising amount of boldness. "And what gives you
the right to tell me what to do? Who the hell are you anyway?"
The man sighs and steps closer, his face one of pity.
"My name is Tsuzuku, I am a deamon and I can help you. Look Koichi-kun... I
know you're in pain," he says softly. "And I know you want to make them feel
the pain you did... But that's not how it is supposed to work. You're becoming
a poltergeist, and for a human soul that isn't good news. You'll be engulfed
with grief and anger and nothing but revenge will matter. At this rate, you'll
destroy everything that remains of your humanity, and I will be forced to stop
you. Please stop this. I can help you."
Koichi felt his anger skyrocket more and more blood pooled on the ground as a
result. The man frowned and stepped closer. But the boy wouldn't have that.
"Stay away from me!" He yelled at him and stepped even further away. "You don't
have any idea what I have been through! Leave me alone!"
In a flash Koichi was gone, appearing in Ice's room where the mentioned boy was
just getting ready to start studying for tests. That asshole thought he knew
what was going on? He had no idea! He would make everyone see! He'd make them
suffer as badly as he had. That was the most important thing now...
If he couldn't he had nothing left.
TBC
***** Chapter 1 *****
"You have to stop him Tsu. We can't let him rampage for any longer. Seriously,
he has begun to torment the entire family, not just the boy himself. This is
beginning to venture into dangerous territory."
"You think I don't know that? I am trying my hardest, but his energy has
skyrocketed and the strong fields are keeping me blocked out."
My partner had stared at me incredulously once he got here and it was probably
because he couldn't believe I had let him get away. He's a tiny little thing
with short purple hair, a side shaved head and multiple mouth piercings with
baggy black grunge clothes. He himself was a spirit, not so much a human one
though. He was this ages old tree spirit who got banished for being too free
thinking. It was... Complicated.
We stood outside of the home of the boy Koichi was planning on tormenting but I
couldn't get inside just yet. New spirits were dangerously powerful after
having just died. They were like baby rattlesnakes, much more deadlier and
uncontrollable in their infant stages.
"He's becoming a dangerous poltergeist, it's your job to stop him. I don't want
to have to get someone else to-"
"Shut up I got it," I snap at him and make him frown at me. "God... Look, Meto-
san... I can do this. You don't need to call in any backup." He merely chuffs
at me and hugs his creepy little teddy bear closer. "Give me a few minutes, his
strength probably won't last for much longer. Poltergeists usually have to wait
a long time to build up their strength but he's using all of his up at once."
Meto tsked in response and turns up his nose.
"Pff, leave it to you damned things to let it get out of hand like this... I'm
heading back and if you're not back with his soul in captivity in thirty
minutes I am sending in help. You got it?"
I don't answer but that's how I usually answer him with a yes. He takes the
hint and disappears in a puff of smoke. Meto was sort of my superior on this
case, both because he was in the company longer than me, and his age outspanned
mine by a few hundred years give or take. If you didn't want your nightmares
plagued by terrible things then it was best to try and keep to his good side.
He had some scary friends in high places.
Inside the home, the lights were flickering and blinking sporradically, the
people inside were genuinely terrified and Koichi was reveling in his short
bursts of anger fueled strength. In a few minutes now though, I could go in and
apprehend him before he could have another chance to expose our kind. There was
no way I was going to mess this one up.
==========NORMAL POV============
Koichi flung another plate off of the shelves in the kitchen and shattering to
the floor. He felt adrenaline pushing through him, making his rampage so so
much more enjoyable. It was so... Exhilirating to do this, seeing these people
so terrified and without control was beyond what he could have imagined. These
people just had to be in the kitchen didn't they? How was being this powerful a
bad thing? That asshole outside didn't know anything!
The very thought of him made his temper flare and when he saw the parents
trying to leave the house he roared angrily before throwing more plates at the
door to stop them. The woman screams and ducks her head down, crying and
begging for it to stop, the man can't see who is causing the ruckus and can't
do anything but shout out loud.
"Please leave us alone! We don't know what we did!"
Koichi snaps his head towards them and rushed the man, making him stumble and
fall to his knees. It was here that he shoved the nearest chair up against the
door handle to jam it shut. Outside the door, he could hear Ice shouting and
asking what was happening.
"You people..! You created the boy who ruined my life! He deserves to suffer
for what he did to me! And you guys are-"
A sudden spell of fatigue hit into him and made him feel weaker. Confused he
started getting mad but even then, his ability to move and manilpulate things
was starting to get weaker and he found that moving a plate was difficult. What
was going on?
"Stop this right now."
He gasps and turned around to see Tsuzuku appearing as a mist like anomaly in
the room they were in. Not this guy again..! Didn't he tell him to go away
already?
"You! I said to leave me alone!" He screeches and tries to once more throw a
plate but can't due to his faltering power. Now the dæmon was fully visible.
"I can't do that," Tsuzuku says quietly. "We both know this situation is
dangerous for you and I am here to help you. Please let me."
"How is it dangerous? I am finally making it known that I am still here!"
Tsuzuku can tell that Koichi is becoming tired and is genuinely empathetic.
"Look... You can feel it right? You're becoming dizzy when you try to use this
power and it takes a great deal of it to even make something move. That happens
when you try to use it too much. You'll use all of your power up and you'll
most likely die a second time and never be able to come back. Which is why I
want to help."
Koichi could indeed feel his strength waning with each passing second and
almost fell over. But he wasn't so easily swayed. He wasn't normally such a
stubborn person but he figured that the cause of this was due to him being dead
and filled with a vengeful and determined sprit.
"But... But I can't just leave! I have to... To make them feel what it's
like..."
"No Koichi... You don't have to. Humans are weak misguided creatures unable to
properly think for themselves. The hate you feel for this boy is only because
his parents taught him to be that way, and their parents taught them. It's a
long deep rooted cycle that you cannot get rid of. And it isn't our place to
continue to worry about it. But if you come with me, I can make all of your
pain go away."
Tsuzuku knows that by now, the two parents cannot feel anything in their
presence anymore because now they are calm and trying to catch their breaths.
"What do you want from me..?" Koichi sniffles and slides to the floor in
sadness. He's so tired that he just wanted to sleep. But ghosts can't sleep. "I
don't want to be forgotten so easily... I am so afraid..."
Tsuzuku walks closer cautiously as not to set him off in any way. It was
obvious to anyone that this soul was breaking under such a huge emotional
weight that the utmost and tender care was needed in this situation. He has
seen this far too often.
"You can be remembered," he murmured and kneels down. "But you don't need to do
it in a violent way. This way isn't right, but if you had a simpler way..."
Koichi's eyes water at that and he can't feel it in himself to be angry
anymore. It's true what he said, he feels like he has just been drained of all
of his energy or will to get up. Was this really going to hurt him if he went
too far?
"I just... I don't want to be... I'm scared of what might happen if I go with
you," he admits quietly. "There's just... So many scary things I am afraid of
that could happen to me."
And he understood that perfectly, almost too much so. This poor thing had known
only suffering and sadness for the most of his life. He was hoping he could
change that all by tonight. Now he's smiling and inching closer to very gently
clasp Koichi's hands in his own.
"Do not be afraid. I am only here to make sure you do not suffer anymore...
That is my main purpose for existing, to help lost children like you find their
way after death. The place I want to take you is a wonderful place, wher you
can be happy and not worry about what people think of you. Will you come with
me?"
Koichi's tears are softly streaming along his face and the wound on his neck
has stopped bleeding profusely. Tsuzuku can see how pasty and grey Koichi's
skin is becoming, his time is running out. It was now or never.
"But... MiA," Koichi pleads. "I can't... I have to see him one more time..."
Of course he would. The heart wants what it wants, that was never more true.
And he knew Koichi would not be at peace unless he could see him one last time.
"It's okay, you and I will go and see him, and I will be with you all the way.
You'll come with me afterwards, won't you?"
He's elated to see the now complacent expression slowly wiping away the anxiety
on Koichi's face. From this semingly small action, he can feel a small part
inside of him twinge and he doesn't understand why. He's never felt that before
when working with these types of cases...
What was that all about?He mused to himself but decided not to think about it.
"Okay... I'm sorry I caused you trouble," Koichi says with a sigh.
"Don't worry about that. You're of no trouble at all. Now come on; There's
someone we have to visit."
-------------------------
Mia's home was a little ways away from Ice's, near a train station. Koichi only
knew this because he had overheard one of the girls MiA's dated give away his
address to someone else. When he first heard it, and from someone else of all
people, he had become incredibly sad at first, Then curious. He had never been
here before, and to do so now made it even more sad because he wasn't really in
the human realm anymore.
But being with Tsuzuku made it a little better. Now that he had at least spent
more time with this man, he felt as though he could be trusted. There was just
something very safe and gentle about him that his guard could be let down.
From here, he was wondering as to how to go about this because he coudn't be
seen, and Tsuzuku had freaking horns coming out of his head. So he had to voice
his concerns.
"Tsuzuku-san... How will we see him? I am a spirit, and it is obvious that you
aren't human either."
The dæmon man shrugs his shoulders and pulls out a leather jacket seemingly
from thin air and wraps it around his half naked body.
"Don't worry; Humans can see me, but only the human parts of me. My horns and
my unhuman aura will be masked and make me look normal to them. I'll request
for him to come outside and we can speak from there."
Koichi nods and figures that he knows what he is doing and they walk up to the
door calmly. Tsuzuku knocks on the plain white door and they wait. Not a minute
later, the door is answered by none other than the boy himself.
"MiA," Koichi gasps quietly in pain.
"Um... Hello?" MiA says to the strange man at his door. "Can I help you,
mister?"
His voice was making an already distraught Koichi even worse. But Tsuzuku was
calm and collected as he spoke.
"Yes, are you by any chance the boy named MiA?"
"Yes, that is me," the boy said. He looked a little shaken, probably from the
earlier events. "What is this about?"
"My name is Tsuzuku and I was wondering if I may speak with you for a moment.
Are your parents home?"
The boy's eyes drop and he shakes his head, solemnly.
"No. They left me home alone so they could go gambling... But what do you want
to talk about?"
"I understand that you have experienced an... Incident at the school you go to.
As for who I am, I work for a paranormal investigator group and we specialize
in unnatural and paranormal occurences. May I come in?"
At the explanation MiA's face said out loud that he realized where this was
going and he nods his head.
"Y-yes of course, come inside."
MiA didn't know of course that there was a spirit slinking in his house before
the door could be closed all the way. The air feels colder than it normally
does but he pays it no mind. He tells Tsuzuku to go ahead and sit on his couch
and he gets them both a water bottle.
"So, Mia-kun," He starts and eyes Koichi from where he stood behind the kitchen
counter by the fridge. "Can you tell me what happened in your own words?"
Koichi follows his crush to the living room and stands just behind the adjacent
couch in front of the TV and across from Tsuzuku's. Lovingly Koichi tries to
touch MiA's face but his fingers go right through, making MiA shiver at the
cold air on his cheek.
"Well, I... Really don't know how to explain it really... It all happened so
fast. I went into the gym to wait for the time the trains would start running
and... All the doors suddenly slammed and locked closed. It was dark and all
the lights went out, and then... I heard screaming in my ear, and I knew it
was... Was..."
MiA paused and looked close to tears and Koichi's heart clenched.
"What happened?" Tsuzuku asks in a very professional voice. By now, Koichi is
filled with immense guilt at how harshly he had treated MiA a few hours ago
now. "Come on, you can tell me."
MiA swallowed and tried to get over his initial shock.
"Okay. Um.. Then stuff started being thrown around, and then... There was some
blood starting to appear on the wall... It was... 'his' name."
"Whose name, MiA-kun?"
"The boy who killed himself... I was so scared. Then he told me all these
things and I... I felt so horrible about what I had done to him. I know it was
Ice who told me to, but it was still me..."
Tsuzuku sees Koichi nodding behind the couch and knows it is still the same
story. Why would MiA lie?
"I understand. What was it saying?"
"Just... Stuff like how he loved me, and how... How it was my fault he was
dead... If I could only tell him how sorry I am... I never meant for it to go
this far..."
Koichi held back his sobs and almost collapsed, wiping his eyes and taking
shuddering breaths to calm himself down. Tsuzuku sees this and bites his lip in
thought.
"Hmm... What if I told you that you can?"
MiA looks skeptical and he scoffs, sighing to himself.
"I don't believe you. How can I talk to somebody who is dead?"
Tsuzuku smiled at MiA and tapped the side of his head.
"Well I happen to also be a psychic. I can see and speak to spirits. Do you
want to try?"
MiA at first, didn't seem like he believed it. But after seeing the serious
look on Tsuzuku's face he seemed willing to at least try it. Koichi was so
happy to see MiA nod at last.
"Okay. I... Guess I can try."
 
TBC
***** Chapter 2 *****
"MiA kun, thank you so much for giving me some of your time. I know that you
will be okay after this, right?"
"Yeah... I'll be okay. As long as... As long as Koichi will be okay, then there
is nothing to worry about."
Those words played themselves over and over in my head, making my concentration
waver. Koichi and I talked with MiA for a good hour before Koichi started
displaying signs of extreme fatigue and weariness. His speech was starting to
slur and I knew his soul was slowly starting to break away. Even as a
poltergeist he would have had to do some killing to stay in this world and
thank the stars I stopped him in time. He was tired, I could tell. Not any kind
of tired, the kind that pulls you deep into exhaustion and no amount of sleep
can make it go away. He needs to be in my world or it might already be too
late.
Meto had already received the news a while ago that I successfully stopped him
from becoming too uncontrollable and didn't step in.
I pulled him along behind me towards the bustling parts of the city where our
crossing place was. The building in question was a two story brick building
that we bought out for our use a few years ago in human time. We ran a small
witchcraft and wiccan shop as a cover up for what it really was.
"Tsuzu-san... I'm so sleepy," Koichi croaked and dragged his feet behind him.
"I want to sleep..."
Poor thing. His life was so harsh up until now, it's no wonder he did this to
himself. All the more reason to hurry I suppose.
"I know Koi kun... Just hang on a bit longer okay? You can sleep when we get
there." And by that... Well, I am sure he knew what I meant by it. He seemed
to, for he nodded at me, but then he started slowing down. He even took his
hair out of it's loosely tied bun so it now hung around him like some sort of
curtain. Perhaps he's too tired to be walking on his own, considering all he
had been through of course he deserved a rest. An odd thought then crossed my
mind. "Koi kun, come here. I'll help you along."
His once bright and rage filled eyes that are now squinted and dim, glanced at
me with confusion but he didn't argue. He stepped forward to me so I could
slowly swing him up onto my back with his arms around my neck and his legs
around my waist. His long pink hair tickled the skin at my neck and collarbone.
"There now, I'll carry you home, so just relax okay?"
I guess he was thankful, for his arms tightened around me and the ticking of
soft but cold breath brushed across the back of my neck. His body was so cold
and he was shivering. But I was used to the cold feeling. Who knows how long it
has been since I felt the warmth of another body on mine? I have no clue
really.
"Thank you.... Tsuzuku san..."
"For what? This is a part of my job," I laugh but I feel as though he meant it
as more than that.
"I know," He sighs. "But you've saved me... My life... It was a mess but... If
you hasn't stepped in I... I might have really hurt someone... So thank you...
For everything..."
Maybe he was right. There is something very very different about this boy, I
can feel it in me. Despite my centuries of working through the same cases I
never felt such a need to save one soul from damnation before. Normally had I
been in this situation, an exorcism or forceful banishment was my first go to
tactic. But this boy.. He was only a kid. A young fresh soul tortured by social
anxieties and an unrequited love far too painful to bear. The poor child never
stood a chance in this world against all the evils everywhere.
Which is why, as my charge, it was my immediate duty to protect him. Our home
was a safe haven for his and my kind, far from the corrupted and dirty human
world everyone is so quick to defend. Our own little world, away from the
prying eyes of dirty humans. No one could ever touch him again.
"I have to ask, Koi kun... What exactly made you do what you did? Was there
really no other way?"
He shivered again around me and I hoped I hadn't crossed a sensitive topic.
"Well... It all started when... I had this person who used to be my friend at
my school but... He found out I was gay and that I liked another boy he turned
on me, then he turned everyone else against me because I was different... At
the time I thought nothing could be worse. My parents are dead, no relatives
claimed me as such... It was utter hell. But then, MiA's best friend found out
about my affection for him and didn't tell him about it but instead told him I
was a disgusting whore who slutted myself out to other guys for money... He was
the one who ruined my life... So that's why I did it... That's why I ran that
silver spike across my neck so I could finally get away from all the pain I was
feeling..."
Cold wet drops spread across my shirt but I didn't have the heart or the
stomach to be upset about that.
"But... You're here now... And you've saved me from more pain in the future.
Hopefully now I can just put everything behind me and I can move on."
His outlook on this situation was brighter than I thought it would be, that was
all I could say about it now. Despite having just died, he still thought he had
another chance to be happy. And with the right attitude and plenty of hard work
I was certain that he would find everything he needed to be happy.
"I am sure you will," I murmured as we crossed into the famous Shibuya crossing
buzzing with people even at this hour. "And with me helping you, nothing can be
impossible."
I seemed to cheer him up with that because soon the wetness was forgotten and
he chuckles softly.
"Even after all that I have put you through you still want to help me?" He
squeaks. The poor thing thought I was going to leave him...
"Of course I do. I'm not the type to just help someone and then move on, of
course not. No, I will see that you're happy on the other side, or I will feel
like I have failed you and everyone else."
"Do... Do you promise me?"
I smiled and looked down at him once we reached the other side.
"I promise."
And I really did, whole heartedly. I wanted to help him forget every ounce of
pain he has ever felt. I want to help him erase every thought he has ever had
of never being good enough, or that he was worthless. From now on... The only
true friend Koichi would ever need would be me.
He must have been very happy, for soon his arms tighten around me in such a
tight hug I almost suffocated.
"Thank you... So so much... How can I ever repay you?" He asks..
"No need to give me anything," I assured him once we reached a certain
building. "Just repay me by being happy and that will be all the payment I
need."
There was no reason for me to do what I did but I couldn't stop myself. The
next thing I knew I had his hand tightly in mine and I didn't let go. Not even
after I felt his eyes burning into me questioningly with his breathing now
uneasy. And not even after we passed through a dark alleyway behind the
building and through a big metal that I was sure no one knew even existed.
It was sure dark in here but I was already used to it. But he probably wasn't.
The door slammed behind us and he flinched.
"Tsuzuku... it's dark," He whimpered in my ear a second later.
"It's okay. I'm here," I shushed to him. "Don't worry, we'll be safe in a few
more minutes so just hang on."
"Oh.. Okay..."
There was a single flight of about seven steps that were pretty steep, then a
big stone corridor that traveled under our main building with no lights turned
on. Better to keep the calm atmosphere I guess. We walked for a good minute
before I nearly lost my balance on another set of steps that was infamous for
tripping me up.
Koichi giggled a little bit at my clumsiness and it made me feel a bit better.
At least he wasn't terrified out of his mind. Down we went, further into the
darkness and towards the special place I had told him so much about. I thought
it would be quiet until I hear his soft voice in my ear once more.
"Tsuzuku san... If it is okay with you, can I ask a few questions?"
"Of course you can. Ask whatever you want."
"Um... First of all, I want to know how it is you found me so easily. You
appeared almost instantly. I just wanted to know how."
Of course he did. I would too if I were in his situation.
"Well Koichi, my world works in mysterious ways. Once someone is in danger of
becoming a poltergeist, in this case you, their soul gives off a unique energy
picked up by specialists on the other side, then more specialists go out to
hopefully stop it from happening. Also in this case, I happened to be a
specialist of that sort sent out to help. That's how I knew where you were. Of
course though, we aren't always able to unfortunately. People turn into ghosts
every day, and therefore more are susceptible to turn into poltergeists. There
are simply too many to control, but we at least exist in an effort to slow down
this alarming phenomenon."
"Are you the only ones of your type? Or are there more around the world as
well?"
"Yes, we are a strictly Japanese sector, but there are other sectors around the
world like you said. We blend into society as otherwise non suspicious people.
We all work together to help the tortured souls find peace."
"And the ones you can't stop... What about them? Do they stay like that
forever?"
"If they can help it yes. But we leave that to the human side. They have their
exorcisms that may or may not always work. And if they don't then the people
around simply leave it alone and leave it to itself." At Koichi's soft hum of
understanding I thought there was nothing else to tell. But then one more
question was asked before I saw the small familiar dim lighting at the end of
the tunnel.
"And you? How did you become part of this... This system?"
He was wondering about me... How much should I tell him? There were only
certain things that I could say after all.
"Well.... People like me... Well we're not exactly people I guess. I wasn't
born I was created."
"What do you mean, created?"
"Daemons are created purely for the purpose of relaying saved spirits to the
other side. Sure we can love and feel emotions and all that, but... It's sort
of a half life really. But you learn to accept it."
I felt him slipping so I decided to shift him up higher so he wouldn't fall.
"But... Who created you?" He asked softly.
"I don't know. None of us do. And none of us really care to figure it out but,
I would actually like to know. For now though we have to just deal with
suddenly appearing into existence as a brain dead and pathetic creature who has
to be taught how to read and speak, and then taught how to do our jobs like the
perfect little soldiers we are..."
"Who takes care of you until you're sane?"
"We are all assigned to each other like a family, but we aren't related. Those
that came before us are the ones that teach us the ways of being alive. As it
has always been."
We reached the end of the tunnel, and the end of Koichi's questions. But I feel
like he had a lot more to ask me. However, I didn't want to deny him from
getting some rest just for some boring stuff about my menial life. And there
were things I didn't need to tell him now.
"Is that all you have to ask me?"
"Yes... For the moment," he says with a resigned sigh. "I might ask more
later."
And I would be prepared for that. Whatever he wanted to know, nothing held
back. And as I settle into silence once more the dim light is now brighter and
there is now an arched doorway coming into sight. Koichi peeked out at the door
and he sucked in a soft drawn out breath. This was it, just through here it
will all finally be over.
Inside the arched doorway is another room, lit up by red candles and with
someone standing in front of a huge stone door. I wasn't expecting to see him
just yet.
"Meto," I said both in surprise and relief. "Have you been waiting here for
long?"
"No, only about ten minutes," the smaller male says with his long purple braids
tied up on his head. "I received the news not long ago. Good job. So are you
ready to head home?"
"Yes. Koichi are you ready to head home?"
I feel his arms squeeze softly and his body is already starting to feel warmer.
"Yes... Take me home Tsuzuku san. Please."
He let's go of me so he can stand on his own two feet and I see his face again
after about twenty minutes of not seeing it. It's pale and thin but he looks
happy. A genuine smile stretches across his chapped lips and for the slightest
of moments I could swear I never saw anything quite as beautiful as he was in
my entire life. And when we all went through that door and into that bright
white light I could hear him say one more thing before we were whisked away.
"Thanks."
 
***** Chapter 3 *****
KOICHI POV
I must have passed out somewhere in between crossing over because the next
thing I knew I was waking up in some bed, a comfy one at that. I looked down
and saw a fluffy black comforter draped over me. Jeez, my head hurts. Where the
hell am I?
Another look around told me I was in a bedroom decorated in grey walls and a
black carpeted floor with a white ceiling. There was a door and a dresser to my
left and a window on my right with grey curtains drawn all the way back. The
door probably led to a bathroom, or at least I hoped it did. There was a plain
wooden door just across from me as well.
Squinting I sat up and felt a popping in my spine as I stretched. I was still
wearing my school's uniform clothes, but they were clean and not covered in
blood.
Being here felt really odd. Like I had been dreaming this entire time. Ah, but
I couldn't be right? I was more than certain that I was still dead. There was
no way my brain could have imagined all of that. That man that saved me, I was
certain he could not have been the work of my brain. Speaking of which where is
he? He couldn't have just disappeared.
Surprisingly my throat didn't hurt. And when I reached up to touch it, I didn't
feel a bloody gaping wound there. It was just smooth pale skin. I guess it
wouldn't hurt to try using it.
"Tsuzuku-san?" I called out and climbed out of the bed. "Are you there?"
I didn't get a response at first so I debated on whether to go towards the door
in front of me before it came open suddenly and there he was. This time he
looked different. Instead of being decked out in leather and looking
intimidating like before he looked very... Um, normal?
His hair was messy like he had just woken up, he wore a loose white tank top
and some plain grey sweatpants. And other than the horns spiraling out of his
head there didn't seem to be anything else abnormal. He stood there with a
coffee cup in his hands, looking a little tired but content. I sighed in relief
and sat back at the edge of the bed. Good to know I didn't imagine him after
all.
"Ah, Glad to see you're awake Koichi-kun," he says with a smile and walks into
the room with me. "You were out for quite a while, but you seemed tired so I
didn't wake you."
I bit my lip as he sat beside me and handed me the cup, which I took
gratefully.
"T-thanks," I said and looked around once more. "Um, Tsuzuku-san..."
"Please, just Tsuzuku is fine," he says with a laugh. For some reason that made
my face feel hot. I tried drinking the coffee to distract myself, which tasted
actually really nice.
"Okay, um... Tsuzuku. How long have I been asleep? And where am I?"
He hummed and crossed his legs in thought as he stared at the wall in front of
us.
"Hmm, about two days, which is perfectly normal so do not worry. As for where
we are, well, this is my apartment. I figured this was the safest place to
bring you for now."
So, we were in his house? Did this mean this was his bedroom? And good lord,
why am I feeling all flustered just from knowing that?
"Oh, uh... I'm sorry if I'm... Taking up your bedroom..."
"What? Oh no, that's not it. This is a guest room so don't worry about invading
my space. It's actually quite nice sharing a space with someone now, even if
you've been asleep for two days."
My face heated up really bad and I looked away, embarrassed. But that only made
him laugh at me and he patted my head before ruffling it.
"I'm kidding Koichi. You really needed the sleep so don't worry so much, okay?
Now come on and get dressed, I have clothes in that dresser over there, and I
have breakfast ready. And I want to take you shopping later, okay?"
Shopping? Here? Where exactly was here?
"Tsuzuku, where exactly are we? And not your house, I mean... Out there," I
said and pointed at the windows. He smiled and stood up then took my empty cup
from me.
"It's... A lot to explain," he admitted sheepishly and itched at one of his
horns. "Just wash up and get dressed, I'll explain everything over pancakes."
Pancakes? What the heck... Was I really on the other side or was he just
screwing with me? I hadn't eaten anything yet though and my stomach started to
remind me of that by growling impatiently with hunger pains. Oh what the hell,
I'll just go with it.
"Fine," I agreed. "Get out of here so I can change."
I couldn't help but let that small streak of arrogance slip but he didn't seem
to mind because he just grinned and walked out with a snicker, closing the door
with a click. I hoped he knew what he was getting himself into by taking me in
like this. Before I died and before my life went to hell, I was actually quite
the little delinquent. I cursed like a sailor and people kept trying to change
me so I was a 'decent' person.
Fat lot of good it did them I thought with a sarcastic huff and stood up to do
as Tsuzuku said. After rummaging through his dresser I found a cute black long
sleeved shirt with a brown felt teddy bear on the front and some skinny jeans
to match. There were also some plain white undies that suited me just fine and
a pair of mismatched black and white socks. These would have to do I guess.
I showered and dressed before joining Tsuzuku in the other room, which was
different from the other room. It was all white with a grey linoleum floor
underfoot. The socks I was wearing made me almost trip a few times. This was a
big room that acted like a kitchen and a living room together. The living room
was almost bare except for the single couch in front of a big plasma screen and
a shelf underneath littered with games and DVD's. The kitchen was right in
front of my room and had a white marble island counter with barstools. An oven
and fridge sat side by side up against a wall with black cupboards above them.
It was very chic and shiny in here.
Tsuzuku was there waiting for me with two plates of pancakes... I smelled them
from here and my stomach ached again.
"Aren't you gonna get dressed?" I asked as I sat at one of the barstools. He
was still in his pajamas. Tsuzuku kept smiling as he slides a plate towards me
and a bottle of syrup.
"I will, but I make it a habit to eat first so I don't get my nice clothes
dirty."
"You couldn't have given me that bit of advice?" I deadpanned and he shrugs.
"I didn't think you'd need it, you seem far more neater than me manners wise."
Hm, wasn't expecting a compliment this early in the morning. But I just
mirrored his shrug before starting on my food.
"Hmm, whatever you say."
He smirked and came to sit beside me which, for some reason made me uneasy.
Maybe it was the meager foot of space between our arms or my distrust of
strangers. Either way, I couldn't make the feeling go away.
"So, Koichi-kun, I guess it's time for answers, huh?"
"If you think it will make me feel better, I guess so."
His smirk widened and he made a small sound of amusement.
"You're such a mystery to me, I swear," he giggled and licked a small droplet
of syrup from his finger. Oh my God. Why did I find that hot... "Just a little
while ago, you were all timid and shy, now you're really... How should I say,
feisty? Is that something that usually happens with you humans?"
I smirked back at him despite my unease and swallowed down the last bit of food
in my mouth. He really made some damn good pancakes.
"I guess I'm just bipolar?" I tried. "I dunno, I've always been like this."
His smile wavered a bit and for a split second I could have sworn he seemed
sad.
"Well, I guess I'll have to get used to it, won't I?"
That threw me off guard. Did that mean... He wanted me to stay?
"So... You're not going to kick me out after this?"
He made a mock sound of offense and rapidly scoffed.
"What kind of man do you take me for? Granted, I'm not exactly known for my
caring soul but even I am not that cruel."
I smiled and shrugged, looking down at my empty plate.
"I was teasing you," I admitted with a small chuckle. "Even I know you wouldn't
do that. But, thanks though. For... For all this. It's the first time anyone
took time out of their own lives to even deal with me."
Tsuzuku sighs for the first time and reaches over to quickly ruffle my still
wet hair, making shivers run down my spine at the feel of his hands touching
me.
"It's really no problem at all. I had a duty to perform, and that was to keep
you safe."
Even though he was a stranger, I still felt really relaxed around him. Like I
could trust him no matter what. Maybe it was because he was the one who helped
me cross to this side and away from all my suffering. In the end, it all fell
down to that I suppose. He was my savior, end of story.
"We're in Purgatory by the way."
I shot my head up and looked over to stare at him blankly.
"Heh?"
He tilts his head and hummed before tapping his chin.
"Well, I guess not really all the way. I guess a better word would be... Um,
half-purgatory?"
I blinked and let his words settle in my brain. So, which was it? Hell or
purgatory? Either way I was sure I was screwed.
"Is... Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because the idea of being stuck
doesn't exactly tickle my fancy."
My choice of words must have amused him because he laughed and shook his head.
"Of course not, but... This place doesn't exactly have a name. It's just the
place where people go if they don't go to heaven. If you come here you aren't
exactly an angel, but neither are you a demon. I guess it's just a place where
lost souls can finally feel at peace. Does that make sense?"
I thought about it for a bit and I guess... It kinda did? His explanation made
enough sense to me. Since I had done a few stupid things in my life I wasn't
allowed into Heaven, but I wasn't a terribly loathsome person either, so my
soul wasn't damned. It was the place in between, a second chance at redeeming
myself.
"I suppose it does," I said after a few moments of silence. "So... Am I just
going to stay like this forever?"
He smiled and leaned his head on his hand against the counter.
"Actually, there's a little something else as well. But I'll explain that
another time. For now, let me go get dressed so we can go out, all right? I am
sure that after two days of sleep you're pretty wide awake by now."
He collects our plates and places them in the sink before heading to another
door down a hallway beyond my room to his own right next to it. I waited for
about ten minutes before he finally came outside. It was sorta similar to how
he was dressed two days ago, only more decent. He wore red skinny jeans and a
white graphic tee with the word "ECHO" on it in English. A black tote bag was
thrown over his shoulder to match the black buckled combat boots he was wearing
and I rose an eyebrow.
"Should I be worried about the weather outside? You're making me feel hot in
those."
He laughed and just shrugged to himself before handing something to me.
"Don't worry it never gets higher than eighty degrees out there. And here, tie
up your hair, I am sure you don't want it all over in your face, right?"
He gave me a pastel pink scrunchi to match my hair, so I just tied it up in a
high pony tail. I was surprised that it managed to stay pink after all of this.
"So what am I gonna wear on my feet?" I asked. "There's no way I am going to
wear my school shoes."
"No worries, I have some by the door so pick whatever you want."
I followed him to the door of the apartment and found a shoe rack filled with
all sorts of different styles but what caught my attention the most was a pair
of black sneakers with little silver heart charms dangling from the shoelaces.
They were super cute and I would not mind wearing them at all. I picked them
out and fit them on snugly and stood up, ready to go.
He led me out to a surprisingly dull hallway with colors far different from his
apartment. The carpet was a deep wine red and the walls matched the ceilings as
a bland beige color. A few lit lamps lined the walls to make a dim but cozy
atmosphere even if the color made me want to cringe. The hallway started from
where we were to about twenty or so feet to an elevator at the very end. There
were no other doors in this hallway which meant his was the only one on this
floor.
"All righty then, come along and don't get lost if you can help it," he said as
we walked along the carpeted floor. "There are things in this place other than
me, and they won't be as friendly. So just, stick close and you'll be okay."
I swallowed at the sudden anxiety prickling at my skin and I made sure to keep
at least two feet of space between us. We got in the elevator and I could see
that there were ten floors and we were right at the top but I didn't really
mind. Heights never really bothered me.
"So, where are we going first?" I asked him once we started moving. He merely
shrugged his shoulders and perched some dark sunglasses over his eyes.
"I'll probably take you around the city a bit and get you used to your
surroundings a bit. Then there's someone you just have to meet."
TBC
***** Chapter 4 *****
"There are so many people here! How in the hell do you keep track of it all?!"
His bright eyes followed everything so intently, like everything was
fascinating to him. It was so nice to see someone so innocent as him marveling
at something that was completely normal to me. Even though he was in a place
full of things unfamiliar to him, he still had the courage to not show fear.
That was what I liked about him, he was strong willed and confident. Which was
odd for him considering he wasn't alive anymore. But perhaps this was his own
way of making the best out of death?
"I am a product of creation, made to keep order around here. Every species,
every mixed blood, I know about it. If there is suddenly a new one my boss is
the first one to know about it. There are over a hundred different creatures
native to this area, and with every kind of mix in between imaginable. All of
it is under the control of my boss."
And besides, these people, these creatures like me, walked around normally and
spoke a multitude of languages, walking around like any human would in the
living world. Maybe that was why Koichi was so eager to be here. It all felt
like home away from home.
"That's so amazing!" He squealed excitedly and looked around at the tall
buildings around us. "You're so cool, Tsuzu-san. You have to teach me all of
them, okay?"
I smiled and shook my head at the honorific. He really was too polite for his
own good.
"Please, I told you, just call me Tsuzuku. I don't really deserve to be called
san or anything like that."
He pouted at me and tugged at the sweater I bought him to cover his fingers
more.
We were walking on a particular strip here in the city about a half mile long
with all kins of stores and shops lining it. I bought him some brand new
clothes to replace what he came here in. What I had learned in the last hour
about him was amazing. He may have been repressed when alive, but he had an
amazing taste for fashion despite being so young. He loved colors of all sorts
and patterns in nearly every imaginable way there was. He also really loved
pandas. But what was probably the most surprising to me was that his favorite
color, out of all others, was pink.
Of course later on, that made sense once you took a look at his hair. Which he
insisted we change because he didn't want to harbor any memories of before, so
we went to a barber shop to turn his once straight flat hair into a flurry of
curls and crimps that was styled atop his head in twin pigtails that were
splayed out al over the place and made him look really cute. He still wanted to
wear the teddy shirt I gave him though, even though he picked out a ton of
other clothes that were probably more to his taste. Perhaps it was the
sentiment?
"So, who exactly did you want me to meet?" He asked me. "I'm not very good with
surprises."
I started to notice we were getting closer to where I wanted to bring him and
led him toward another part of the street. There was a two story building made
of bricks nestled inbetween two skyscrapers and had a shop displayed in the
windows right in front. It was my friend's store and his house was settled
right on top of it. A black cat was peeking out of one of the two windows out
at whoever passed by. I recognized him right away.
"Don't worry, we're here now. Just stick close to me. The people here are
friends of mine so I am certain you and them will get along just fine."
Apparently the store was closed due to the 'we're not open' sign in the front
window, but I just kept walking inside anyway, ignoring the weird looks from
people on the streets. Koichi self conciously pulled his sleeves further down
and his his fingers. It was dark inside but I knew my way around pretty well.
My friend ran a gothic store with posters of obscure bands on the walls and all
sorts of dark inspired clothing on racks littered around the shop and some
hanging on the walls. In the back was a spiral staircase that led to upstairs.
"Tsuzuku should we even be here? The sign said they were closed."
"Like I said, my friend lives here so don't worry." I smiled at him before
looking around and calling in a loud voice. "Toshiiii. Toshiya are you in here?
Toshi?"
"Tsu? Is that you? What are you doing here?"
A tall man came down the steps and switched on a florescent light switch to
light up the shop. Koichi cautiously stepped next to me when he saw my friend
up close. He was frighteningly tall and had dark black hair. His eyes were a
shade of lime green with very dilated pupils and had tattoo's of feathers
running along his neck and disappeared into the white v-neck t shirt he was
wearing. His jeans were black with holes in the knees. At first glance he
didn't really seem like a gothic type person...
"Hey Toshiya, it's nice to see you too," I grumbled and crossed my arms.
Toshiya sighed and his usual gentle smile came to his face.
"It's nice to see you Tsu. So what brings you here?" He starts to ask then
noticed Koichi and tilts his head. "And who is your adorable friend?"
I reach over to grab Koichi's sleeve to keep him from freaking out, which I can
tell he was going to because he was shaking like a frail little leaf.
"Thsi is Koichi, my new roommate. He's human and just recently died so please
be nice to him."
"Hohhhh, well you're a sweet little thing aren't you?" Toshiya suddenly cooed
and I nearly face palmed. Here comes his lovey dovey side... Every time he met
someone cute he wanted to cuddle them and dress them up in cute things which,
by the way, was not cool at all. Koichi squeaked and tried to shuffle away from
Toshiya in fright.
"Toshi please you're scaring him," I berated when Toshiya started pinching his
cheeks. "We're here because I want to talk to Die about something. Is he here?"
"Die-chan? He's upstairs of course like he always is. Come on, I'll make some
tea. And for the cutie too!"
Toshiya disappeared upstairs and I pulled a trembling Koichi behind me. He
clasped my arm tight and whispered in a shaky small voice.
"What... What is he?" He asked. Crap, I keep forgetting he can't tell what
species is what just by looking at them. I've lived in this city for too long.
"He's a harpy, Koichi. Don't worry okay? He's such a sweetheart, he would never
hurt a fly."
Of course I would never tell him that he indeed could. He had done worse than
hurt a fly but I would wait to tell him that bit for now because he was scared
enough.
"What's a harpy?"
"A harpy is a creature resembling an eagle or large bird but with the face and
torso of a person. Toshiya can become his harpy form anytime he wants, but
lately he hasn't because there is no reason for him to do so."
"And who is this Die person..?"
"A shifter, he can turn into different animals. You'll see when we meet him."
He was cautiously walking behind me as we went upstairs after I flipped off the
lights. Upstairs was much different than downstairs, decorated in a mix of sky
blue walls and a white ceiling with a wine red carpet covering the entire
floor. He had two brown leather couches in front of a Plasma screen hanging on
the wall. Nearby was a classic brick walled kitchen with a black tile floor, a
plain white stove, silver refrigerator, and a big white cupboard with two big
compartments and a bunch of little ones. A table was set up in between the
living room and the kitchen. It was smaller than mine, but I guess for Toshiya
it worked.
"Go ahead and sit in the living room, I'll get some water ready for tea. I am
sure Die will come in any second now."
Making sure Koichi was next to me, I had him sit directly next to me on the
couch. I was sure that Toshiya was eager to hear more about Koichi but that
would have to wait for now. For some reason, there was a weird urge to keep
Koichi close to me at all times even though it was entirely ridiculous to do
so. He was independent right?
"Die-chan!" Toshiya suddenly squealed. "There you are. Tsuzu-chan is here to
see you."
"Don't call me that," I grumbled but I could have sworn I heard Koichi giggle
next to me.
The cat from earlier waltz into the room with his tail up and his head held
high in a display of arrogance. Then in a few seconds he blurred from a cat to
his human form. Another tall guy, just a bit shorter than Toshiya with long
dark red hair and no bangs so he could show off his bright blue cat eyes. He
wore a white beater and grey sweatpants like he had been sleeping. Or just
being lazy.
"Tsuzuku. Long time no see."
"Hey Die, what's up."
"Nothing much, just an off day. Who's your friend?"
"That's Tsuzuku's adorable new room mate," Toshiya piped up from the kitchen.
'Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?!"
"Babe, please, not while he's sitting right in front of us," Die chuckles and
stands near us. "Hello there, it's nice to meet you, um..."
Koichi blushed and twiddled his fingers as Die's eyes stared intently at him.
"Um, it's Koichi. I uh... I died a few days ago and ended up here. Nice to m-
meet you Die-san."
Die grinned and sat on the couches arm closest to me.
"He's cute and polite," he says in a surprised tone. "Not sure how far that
will get you done here, kid."
Koichi cocked his head a little bit and chewed on the ends of his sweater.
"What do you mean?" He squeaked nervously. I could tell he was still nervous
but his curious streak was starting to show. That was a good thing right?
"If you couldn't already tell, this place is full of people like me and Toshi,
and Tsuzuku as well. There are humans here, but few and spread out. Unlike
humans, the other creatures aren't going to be as nice as we are. And being
nice and cute all the time is probably not what you want to do if you want to
get anywhere."
"What are you trying to put into his head now, Die-chan?" Toshiya sighed and
brought a tray with four cups of tea into the living room for us on the coffee
table. "Tsuzuku said not to scare him!"
"It's okay," Koichi suddenly said and surprised me with his outburst. "Um, if
what Die-san has to say is gonna help me, then. I don't mind."
Die smirked at Toshiya whom only pouted and sits in the other couch closer to
Koichi.
"If you want to survive in this world, you have to learn how to stand up for
yourself. If some asshole is being a jerk to you, you can't be all meek and
defenseless or else they will just walk all over you. You have to take a stand,
defend yourself, be an asshole yourself. Just learn how to keep yourself from
being stepped all over and you'll be fine."
"Really? You think that will work?"
Die smiled at him and leaned back on the couch with his arms behind his head.
"Yup. Stick to it and you'll do fine."
Koichi's face looked something like admiration. It was nice of Die to tell him
all this, but I kind of wanted to be the one that did. But even so, I guess it
was the thought that counted. Speaking of which, I remembered why I was here.
"Oh yeah, Die, I forgot that I came to ask you something important."
"Sure. What is it?"
"Do you think Shinya is home? Since you're his secretary, I need to see if he
has anything for me regarding my last case."
"Hmm, the new guy? I think so, he was there when I went to see him yesterday.
Are you planning on seeing him?"
"Yes. It's sort of important that I get paid for my work..."
Die laughed and held Toshiya close to him when the other snuggled against his
side. If it wasn't obvious enough to Koichi already, he could probably tell
very easily that they were indeed dating. Toshiya was such a sap when it came
to his stoic lover.
"Amazing that such an odd guy replaced the old man, don't you think?" He says
with a scoff. "And he's a rare type too, which means he isn't exactly the
popular type."
"I know, but he's good at his job. He's young and ambitious, which is what we
need."
"Um, pardon me for interrupting, but who's Shinya?" Koichi asked.
"He's my boss," I answered. "He's the one who sends out the cases to all the
workers under his command, including me. Die is his secretary, meaning most of
his orders come from him a lot of the time. Our squad makes up of about me and
twenty other people. You still have to meet my supervisor of course, which will
come later."
It was good to tell him all of this stuff early on, just in case he got super
mixed up about everything later on.
"By the way, I still have your sword you broke the other day if you want it
back," Toshiya says after I explained. "That poltergeist you took down the
other day was pretty brutal, so I had it fixed."
Hm, I had completely forgotten about my sword. Why did Toshiya have it though?
Perhaps when it broke he picked it up and had it fixed for me because after I
defeated the spirit I passed out and woke up in the hospital the next day.
"Sure, I'll take it back. Thanks Toshiya."
He stood up and walked down the hallway past the kitchen into a room for a
little while before coming back with my sword. It was a plain katana with a
black and white handle but it was given to me when I was made so it was kind of
a big deal for me. I let Koichi hold it for a while before I noticed the sun
rising higher and higher, meaning it was nearing noon time so we had better get
going.
"Well, thank you everyone for letting us hang out for a while," I say and stand
up. "But we should get going. I don't want to risk missing Shinya."
Koichi copies me and tries to sneak off to the stairwell but Toshiya lept
forward and caught him in a squeezing hug before he could.
"Koi-channnn!" He squealed. "Please come back and visit us again, okay?? I get
lonely here when Die-chan has to leave me!"
I almost laughed at the terrified look on Koichi's pretty face but that would
be incredibly rude of me. He looked to me for help but Toshiya wasn't doing any
harm.
"Yes yes, we will come back again soon when you guys are open," I laughed and
tried to pry Koichi from his arms. But Toshiya near had a death grip on him and
was squealing over Koichi's cute hair and his clothes and everything about him,
literally.
Koichi slipped away and we had to hurry away before Toshiya could get his paws
on Koichi again, and for some reason that made me upset. But why? I don't
understand what the hell is going on.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was merely being
overprotective of him? I mean, I did just save him from eternal damnation as a
vengeful spirit. Maybe it was the fact that he was my charge that I felt that
weird feeling.
Yes, that was it. Koichi is my new underling and I swore I would protect him.
At the case of myself probably, if it ever came to that. A big if.
"Your friends are weird," he said once we were back on the street and walking
away. "Do all the people you know act like that?"
"Good lord, no," I laughed. "Toshiya's a special case. I commend Die for
putting up with him on a daily basis like he does."
Koichi smiled and looked away to look around some more, ignoring the staring of
little kids as he walked by them.
"So... They're together, huh? That's nice."
Oh. I had almost forgotten that the whole reason why he was here was because of
his current sexuality. Humans were so... Restricted. It made me incredibly
happy that I was not human because of that. And even though it sounds utterly
terrible in my head, I am glad Koichi was with me now instead of up there. Even
if the way he got here was really bad. There were many things that could have
happened to him if he hadn't come here. Terrible awful things.
"Yes. Sexuality down here is no big deal to anyone. I guess I should have
mentioned that before."
He scoffs softly and his mouth twitches.
"Gee you think? I don't want to walk around being afraid to tell people about
my apparent love of dudes. Oh god, that sounded weird."
I wondered if maybe it was appropriate to ask what I did.
"Maybe even... One day you could... Even find someone to be interested in when
everything is more familiar to you?"
For a split moment I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes and his steps
faltered a little bit. But it wasn't sadness. It was almost like contemplation.
I wonder if he was still sore about the whole MiA thing. Hopefully not, but I
know love is a hard thing to let go of.
"Meh, maybe," He said then laughed. "If that person can deal with me. I mean
look at me, I am a fucking princess. He has to treat me like one."
Koichi laughed at himself and I did as well, playfully pushing at his shoulder
as we walked more own the street. It was so nice to see him openly laughing
like this.
"You're so silly, Koichi," I giggle once we got over the laughs. "But yeah,
sorry for not mentioning that before. I don't exactly think like a human does
so I need some help with that sort of thing... Anyways, are you ready to go?"
He smiled and looks at me with bright eyes.
"Sure. Lead the way."

TBC
***** Chapter 5 *****
There were people bustling in and out of the lobby like crazy. What in the
world was going on I wonder? Ah well, I was here for more important things.
Beside me, Koichi was trying his absolute best not to bump into everyone that
we walked past, and failing at it I might say. He was constantly saying
'sorry!' and excuse me' to everyone who gave him a pointed glare for getting in
the way. I pulled him to the receptionists desk and gained the attention of a
young girl, another daemon like me. She seemed to not be as confused as us as
to why there were so many people here.
"Excuse me," I said to her. "What exactly is going on here?"
She sighed and leaned her head exasperatedly against her hand, blowing her hair
from her face.
"I dunno, something just went down in the human world. But i don't have any
idea what."
"I see," I answered and felt Koichi press closer when someone bumped into him
again. "Well I am off duty so it is not my problem right now. Anyway, is the
boss in? I need to speak with him about my last mission."
She nods and starts typing away at her computer like usual, a bored look on her
face.
"Of course he is, as always at this time of day. Right at the top floor. I
don't have to let him know you're here do I?"
"No that's okay. Thanks though."
She waved at us as we weaved through the crowd and towards the elevator, along
with like three other people. Inside Koichi took a breath and calmed down his
breathing but wasn't exactly succeeding when there were other people in here
with us. Right away I could recognize one of them as a wendigo by the name of
Karma. His dark and heavy atmosphere just screamed bloodlust and danger. Not
good. Instinctively I cornered Koichi against one of the walls and never let
him out of my sight. The other two, whom were vampires and whom I didn't
recognize, we're scanning us from top to bottom with sharp steely eyes.
I was hoping for a silent ride straight to the top but then he started talking.
Or, more like sneering.
"You stink of human, deamon," he chuckles darkly to his companions. "I wasn't
aware this was a place for such things. Or maybe its because you brought a
snack for us?"
Koichi stiffened behind me and I glowered at Karma.
"You're aware that feeding on company property is illegal right? What makes you
think I brought you, of all people, a present? That's pretty damn high and
mighty of you. No, he isn't a snack, so don't even think about even coming near
him or I will tear your arm off."
He continued to sneer despite my threat and it made me wonder if he just didn't
care what I said at all. The others continued to stare at us and tried to get a
peek at Koichi but thankfully the top floor approached quickly. I pulled him
close and out of the elevator, hearing a hissing noise and then the elevator
dings. Why did he always antagonize me? This was why no one got along with him,
he always tried to assert his dominance over everyone even though he was only a
locally stationed agent. I hope we don't have to run into him again.
The office level was a welcome atmosphere from the oppressive one in the
elevator. It was a wide open lobby in hues of white and gray with soft white
lights that branched off down a hallway towards his office. Another
receptionist up here in front, this time a young man with bright pink hair like
Koichi's and small cat ears settled into the curls. Minpha his name was, a cat
demon who was just recently hired.
"Hello Tsuzuku!" He chirped at us. "I'm filling in for Die today! Is there
something I can help you with?"
"Hi Minpha, is-"
"Are you here to see Shinya? He's in his office now so you can go in if you
want to."
Wow he was in an unusual mood. He didn't usually act so... Chipper.
"Um, okay, thanks."
He waved at us unusually happy as I led Koichi to Shinya's office. I knocked
and waited til I heard someone say it was okay to come in and led him in. It
was different from the outside, this time with softer earthy tones, a red
carpet, and dim yellow lamps. It was easily the size of half my house in here
with a potbelly stove right in the very center. No wonder it was so warm in
here.
"Oh, hello Agent," Shinya's smooth voice purred from a desk far off in the
farthest left corner from us. "I thought you had the day off today."
Koichi walked beside me as I approached my boss. He was not a very common
species in this world... In fact he is one out of only seven of his kind.
Shinya was what is known as a Virtue, or the polar opposite of a corresponding
sin. He was the embodiment of the virtue of Patience, making him the perfect
choice for this kind of job considering what he had to go through on a daily
basis. His polar opposite was the Sin of Wrath, a very unpleasant person from
what I hear.
"I am but... I wanted to come and talk to you a little bit about my most recent
case."
Shinya stood up from his desk and let his long brunette hair cascade down his
back as he approaches us. The very air around him was very warm and giving off
a friendly vibe.
"Oh I see. Of course, come sit and we may talk."
There was a setup of plain red couches to the right of his desk, settled around
a coffee table with many magazines on it. We sat and I felt Koichi shift a bit
next to me and I could tell he was uncomfortable. I did come here partly on his
part after all, but I didn't exactly tell him that yet.
"So, Agent," Shinya says with a smile. "What did you want to discuss with me?"
I clasped my hands against my lap and worried my lip a bit before answering.
"About that poltergesit you sent me after," I started slowly. "Well, this is
him. I wanted to bring him to you because I decided to take him in myself. If
it was all right with you."
Koichi stiffened and grabbed for my hand, which I squeezed comfortingly and
gave him an apologetic look. He looked scared but we had to get over that sort
of thing if he wanted to get anywhere down here. Shinya looked surprised before
running his eyes over Koichi's trembling frame and his lips twitched into a
friendly smile.
"Ah, this is interesting. Hello, I'm Shinya Terachi, but just Shinya is fine
with me. What is your name?"
Koichi shook like mad beside me but still managed to squeak out an answer.
"Um... It's just Koichi, s-sir..."
My boss was being unusually kind, anyone else who knew him thought he was
terrifying in person. He stuck out his hand for Koichi to shake, and when he
did he held it longer than I would have imagined he would.
"Ah, a destroyed and horribly broken human soul," He sighs forlornly and lets
go. "It's such a pity when the young ones wither away so quickly. I can only
imagine what made yours the state that it's in."
His smile turns empathetic and pitying and he leans back against the couch to
cross his legs.
"Broken? Withered? What do you mean, I am right here."
Shinya sighs and cocks his head to the side to hold Koichi's eyes in his own.
"You were a poltergesit, correct? And Tsuzuku saved you from wandering around
in the human world for all of eternity?" Koichi nods both times. "Hm, I thought
so. In what manner did you leave the world of the living? Suicide I am
guessing, based on the signatures your soul is giving off."
Once more Koichi nods, becoming even more confused. But I understood what was
going on.
"Yes..? I, I took my life using a protractor. Is that important?"
"Look, Koichi," Shinya begins with a grim expression. "Human souls are the
purest energy forms to have ever been created on this planet. They are a source
of innocence and everything good in the world, even sacred in a special way.
Even as you get older, and you find yourself becoming less and less innocent,
that doesn't take away from the fact that humans are essentially the perfect
being, imperfections and all.
"So it's no surprise that a human taking their own life is a form of sin that
my kind cannot even imagine, besides taking another of course which is the
worst. Basically, you're ripping out your soul from your body and exposing it
to the dangers of corruption, turing a once pure form into a battered and
shriveled up husk of it's former self. You are exposed to the darkness and
evils of the outside world and become corrupted by it and embrace the feeling
of anger and revenge.
"This is the makings of a poltergeist, and if not saved right away then...
Well, I am certain that Tsuzuku has told you already. I can feel your soul's
energy Koichi, the energy it gives off is screaming for release from the
darkness. You can still feel it, can't you? The anger?"
What he was saying... It made sense. Humans normally had to take some time to
repair themselves after being ripped away from being alive so quickly,
especially by their own hands. Though, I can't say for certain how long it
would take for someone like Koichi to heal.
But Koichi... he wasn't showing signs of fatigue or anger, or any other
symptoms. The signs of his degradation weren't that obvious, in fact he seemed
perfectly okay to me when we first crossed into the gateway here. I couldn't
read soul signatures like Shinya can though, so I would not have been able to
tell.
"So... You're saying that... My soul is withering away? Because of what I did
to myself?"
Shinya sighed and switched his cross legged position to a casual one.
"Unfortunately so, which is what brings us to the next topic. Koichi I can't
let you stay like this, your soul will just continue to deteriorate and
eventually disappear. And we can't have that because you're so young and have
plenty to live for already. So I have to ask; Are you willing to change
yourself to survive? Or let yourself stay human and disappear? That is entirely
up to you."
This decision was common amongst humans who came here. The idea was to splice a
second gene set into the soul so the human could live longer and not rot away,
depending on what they chose to be spliced with. Still though, it was a huge
decision. I wasn't sure Koichi was ready for it yet. His eyes were watering and
he looked near to tears, I could see terror when it presented itself like this.
I grabbed tighter on his hands and made him look at me. He had to know he
wasn't alone here.
"Koichi it's okay," I say to him softly. "You don't have to decide right away,
we can take a day or two to decide all right?"
He swallowed and his shuddering made the couch tremble a bit.
"Tsuzuku-san... I'm just scared," He croaked. "I am being asked to change
myself into something not human just to survive. What am I supposed to to?"
It was true. His whole life was changed in the span of only a few days and we
were asking him for even more. Still, this was exactly what I was talking
about. Things changed, people changed. It was time for us to get stronger and
move on.
"I know Koichi I know, but I will always be right by your side no matter what.
I'll be here to help you if you're feeling unsure of what to do, okay?"
His fingers were warm but clammy with a sheen of light sweat, his nerves
getting the better of him.
"Thanks... Um... So what do I have to do?"
Shinya stands and walks to his desk to pull some papers from a drawer and hands
them over to him.
"Here, you can have these. It is a list of all the species in the city suitable
for human splicing. It will help you figure out what to do. Just, look through
them and tell me which one appeals to you and we'll see what we can do."
Koichi shuffles through the easy ten pages of different combinations possible
for him and looks at me.
"Tsuzuku-san, can you help me? I don't know what I want..."
I was ready to help out in any way I could, until the phone on Shinya's desk
began to ring loudly with a new call. Shinya sighed and excused himself to
answer it.
"Hello? Oh, hello Meto-san." My supervisor was calling? I wonder what he wants?
"Oh Tsuzuku? He's here, we were just... Hmm. That's interesting... When? Where
at exactly? ... How many? ... I understand. Very well, I shall send a
deployment there at once, thank you Meto. Yes, I will talk to him and tell him.
Uh huh. Of course, it's my job. Are you headed this way? All right then, I will
see you when you get here. Later."
"What's going on?" I asked when he hung up. "Why did Meto san call?"
He sighed and there was an unusual sad look on his face.
"More deaths in the human world, a high school just came under serious fire
from some psycho with a gun. More than thirty students died and fifty others
were injured. I am gonna send some more agents over to the portal to help them.
Ah, the human world is such a mess..."
Koichi gasped, utterly horrified.
"Ugh, not again... Did he say who the shooter was?"
"No idea, he killed himself as well before they could find out, so his soul
most likely got sent to hell already. A human taking another life is a one way
ticket straight down." He pressed a few buttons on the phone before speaking
loudly into the receiver. "Attention company personnel. Groups 8B, 7E and 6F
please report to my office for an important assignment as soon as possible.
Groups 8B, 7E, and 6F. Thank you."
He hangs up and started pacing around. I could tell this wasn't the best time
to stick around. In the next few hours it is gong to get crazy busy in here.
"Um, boss? Maybe I should come back tomorrow..."
But he just looked at me and shakes his head.
"No, you can stay. We still need to sort out your situation here. That is,
unless Koichi wants to go home?"
"No it's fine, I'll do whatever Tsuzuku-san wants to do."
Why does he always put me above himself? It's obvious here that he was more
important than me. Even if his cute little face was incredibly convincing...
Wait wait, why did I just think that?
Come on Tsu, pull it together!
"All right we can stick around, we're in no rush," I answered with a smile.
"How about we go to the lobby and you can figure out what you want."
Koichi beams at me and nods enthusiastically.
"Okay. It was nice meeting you, Shinya-san."
"Likewise, Koichi-kun," Shinya said. "I'll be up here if you need me."
We left him to his work, or whatever it was he was doing, and left for the
lobby. Minpha waved at us when we came back and came towards us when we sat at
the table by the set of bay windows by his desk.
"Hey! You're back! Is there anything I can help you with?"
Koichi slumped against the table so he could flip through the papers and I
figured he would be too busy to speak so I decided to answer him.
"Can I ask you a question, Minpha?"
His pink curls tilted in sync with his head and he blinks owlishly.
"Hmm? Okay, ask away."
"Do you know many humans who have come here for the gene splicing? We need a
bit of help."
Minpha hummed thoughtfully and sat down with us and taps his pink fingernails
against the table.
"Hmm, well there's my good friend, Chizuru. He was human once, but he got the
genes of a wyvern inside of him now. I guess it all depends on physical build
and personal preference. He was always so strong, and he got into a lot of
fights when he was alive... I guess that sort of thing appealed to him more."
Koichi bit his lip at that and looked through the paper a few more times. I
guess the new tip must help a lot. Minpha smiles wide and shuffles closer to
Koichi to glance at him closer.
"So, you're a human?"
Koichi nods, trying not to stare at Minpha's ears.
"Yes."
"That's so neat! I never knew any humans before I met Chizuru when he came
here. But, I guess that's cuz my family is like, super strict about contact
with humans because they're all traditional and stuff. Which I think is kind of
stupid. Humans make up like, half of the dang city! The ones that were spliced
anyways. I didn't start meeting humans til I started working here about a month
ago... Agh, look at me, I'm rambling again, hehehe. Is there any other way I
can help you two?"
The papers are put down and Koichi smiles, shaking his head.
"No, I think you gave me everything I needed on this particular thing but... If
it isn't too much to ask, what do you think I should pick? Based on my
appearance?"
Minpha takes the papers and shuffles through them thoughtfully before pausing.
"Hm, well, I guess I could give it a try."
He takes a highlighter from his pocket and circles a few on the second page and
then on the fourth page and hands it back.
"Based on your physical appearance I picked the best ones. I can tell you
aren't that strong physically, like all buff and stuff. But you aren't weak
either. The ones I picked are sort of inbetween those traits, but it is all up
to you of course, whatever you decide to do."
It was unusual for someone not human to be acting so nice like this, especially
cat demons who were usually very proud people, acting high and mighty against
those who weren't of their own race. Minpha was weird, but a good weird of
course. It seemed like Koichi was making another new friend already.
"Thanks. I-"
He was suddenly interrupted as the door to the lobby slammed open, making him
and Minpha jump.
"Tsuzuku! There you are!"
"Meto-san!" I exclaimed at seeing my other boss. "W-what's going on?"
He walked in the room with three other people from our group; Kaoru, Kyo, and a
newbie named Yutori. They all looked unusually grim. Koichi looked around but
didn't stand up, instead deciding to look through his papers. Minpha excuses
himself and returns to his desk to answer a few phone calls.
"Tsuzuku," Meto says in a hurried manner. "Is Shinya still here?"
"Of course... he's in his office. Did you-"
"No time, I'll explain later. After I am done talking you and I need to have a
little chat about this assignment, without your friend. Kaoru, stay here with
these two while I speak with Shinya."
"Yes sir!"
Kyo and Kaoru both watched their boss slink away before their eyes land on me.
Yutori decides to slink off towards the receptionist desk to speak with Minpha.
"Yo, Tsuzu-kun," Kaoru greets me. "What are you doing here? Don't you have the
day off?"
"Well, I... Was just taking care of some stuff," I answered and moved to stand
up. "Are you guys going with Meto on this new mission?"
"Yeah," Kyo answered with a huff. "But hell if we know what it is, Meto-san
wouldn't say a damn thing..."
"Just that it was something important," Kaoru agreed with a solemn shake of his
head. Huh. Odd that he wouldn't tell them the details right away. Aside from
me, these two were the highest ranking in faction 7E.
From behind me I feel Koichi give a small tug on my sleeve.
"Tsuzuku-san..?"
I turn around and give him my attention.
"Yes, Koichi? Do you need something?"
He flips open the page and shows me a highlighted block of text and smiles at
me.
"I... I think I found what I want to be. Here, look."
I scanned my eyes over the small paragraph and I had to admit, I was a bit
surprised at what he picked. My eye brows rose a bit and I wondered if he was
really serious.
"Are... Are you sure this is what you want Koichi?"
"Yes... I feel like I would like this a lot. So... If you could... Tell Shinya-
san that I made up my mind..."
"I will, and... I am glad you decided on something right away. The sooner the
better, right?"
He beamed up at me and enthusiastically bobs his head.
"Mm! Thanks, Tsuzuku!"
I sighed and nodded, feeling my mouth turn up. Good, that was one thing out of
the way and off my mind. The thing he chose was the Pheonix gene, a big
mythical bird of prey. Which wouldn't do much for him in terms of physical
features. But it would give him red, yellow, and orange wings on his back that
resembled fire and his eyes would change to a bright fiery blue. He could run
faster and fight back if threatened. When fully transformed, his arms would
become wings and a miriad of feathers would sprout all over his body and he can
fly for short distances with the proper support.
Overall it wasn't a bad choice at all.
"Oi, Tsuzu-kun, who's your friend there?"
I turned around and faced Kyo and Kaoru, staring at us with creepy dead eyes.
They were always so gloomy, even for ghouls. Kyo was so pale and was outlined
by the rigid lines of the bones in his face, giving him a skeletal look. At
least Kaoru looked a bit more colored in.
"O-oh, sorry... This is Koichi, a human who I saved from the human world. We
were here to talk to Shinya about getting his genes re-spliced."
"Oh, I see. Hello, My name is Kyo. And this is Kaoru, my partner. We are
ghouls."
Koichi bowed his head in response and twiddles his thumbs.
"Um, hello Kyo-san, Kaoru-san... Um, pardon me for asking but... What's a
ghoul?"
Kyo grinned as though this were the most fascinating thing in the world.
"A ghoul is a being manifested of cannibalism in the human world. When a human
commits such a terrible crime, we ghouls are born from the negative energy
created from this act. There aren't many of us, but there are plenty."
"So... Does that mean you... Eat humans as well?"
Kyo scoffed and puts a hand to his hip.
"One would think, but no. Not since my kind have found different ways of
staying alive. Something simple, like a cow or deer heart, suffices just fine."
Okay, even to me that sounds disgusting.
"Kyo..."
Kaoru shook his head in distaste of Kyo's use of words and smiled
apologetically at Koichi, who looked like he was gonna be sick.
"I'm sorry about him, he's just all too eager to tell people of his heritage.
But it is true, we do have to eat stuff like that, but only once or twice a
month, otherwise normal food can tie us over as well."
Koichi's face turned less green and he takes a breath.
"It's... All right. I just, have to get used to hearing suff like that if I am
gonna make it down here."
Kyo grinned his usual creepy and unnerving grin and chuckles.
"That's the spirit kid!" He cackles. "Pretty soon you'll have no problem at all
once you've become like us."
"By the way," Kaoru butts in before Kyo said anything else creepy. "What did
you decide to do for your splicing?"
"Um... Something called a pheonix..."
Kyo whistled and plopped in a chair at the table with us, not notincing the way
Koichi flinched.
"Whoa, a pheonix huh? They're rare for human splicings, but it would be nice to
have another one running around the city, hehehe."
Koichi blinked but didn't respond, gripping the paper in his hands tight. I
sighed and shot a look at Kyo, hoping that he could read my mind and that he
should be less intimidating and more mindful of the people around him. Kaoru
reprimanded him for being rude when I hear Meto calling me from down the
hallway towards Shinya's office.
"Tsuzuku! Come here for a moment!"
"Coming!" I stood up and stopped to look back at Koichi. "Um... Will you be
okay here by yourself for a few minutes?"
He smiled up at me and gave a tilt of his head, his hair falling in waves
around his face. He surprises me by reaching out to take my hand for a brief
second and letting go.
"Yes I'll be okay, just go see what they want okay?"
He says that, and yet I couldn't help but feel this anxious feeling deep in my
stomach when I thought about leaving him here with two ghouls. But I knew
Kaoru, he was a kind soul among his kind, he wouldn't do anything to Koichi if
he knew I would get upset. So I just silently asked him with my eyes to watch
Koichi and he gave me a nod before jutting his thumb at the hallway.
"You best get going, it seems important."
"Right. Um, I'll be back in a moment."
I glance one more time at Koichi before walking away, feeling that anxious
feeling get worse as I did.
As I walked in I could already feel Shinya's usual calm and warm aura souring
with worry and dep rooted anxiety. This whole situation was really getting to
him. Meto was standing there with him, both looking equally as distressed.
"You called me in?" I asked politely and stood at the door. Meto nodded and
ushered me over to have a seat in front of Shinya's desk.
"Yes yes we have. You already know about the massacre so I will just cut to the
chase here. There were over 30 deaths, and we need to bring them all here
unharmed. I know it's your day off Tsuzuku but... I really need your help.
We're received a list of all the people killed, first names only. And I think
you might want to see it."
Shinya hands me a clipboard to read and I realized why I was feeling anxious.
Someone I knew had to be on here, or at least someone I heard of.
"Should... I be concerned?"
"I should think so," Meto says darkly. "Go ahead, see for yourself and read the
first ten names out loud. These were the ones most horribly killed."
I sighed and start reading.
"Masa, Daichi, Natsu, Cazqui, Aoi, Reita, Ruki, Kai, Uruha, and... Oh my
God.... No this... Can't be right! There has to be a mistake!"
Meto frowned bitterly at me and glares.
"Now you see why I need your help?"
I swallowed and tried not to let my stomach heave its contents.
"Poor MiA."
 
TBC


***** Chapter 6 *****
... I can't believe this. MiA was dead. And to think, I just talked to him
while he was alive no more than a few days ago too. What kind of horrible
horrible fate was this? Meto and Shinya were just... Sitting there with
sympathetic faces, but that just made me more upset. It wasn't me that needed
their pity. It was MiA.
"Tsuzuku-"
Meto wanted to speak but I cut him off with a sharp reply.
"How?" I asked, still feeling nauseous. "How did he die?"
He tsked and looked away. Shinya took his silence as his own cue to speak.
"They were all killed in the gym of the school as a message, an execution in
front of the whole student body. The other twenty were randomly selected from
everyone else. There was hardly anything recognizable left of the bodies when
we got there, and the killer had already done himself in. The human authorities
had already seized his personal information, but we managed to find out one
thing; Whoever he was, he wasn't a student. He was from a different school but
that is it. We have no idea what he wanted. It has been about twelve hours
since then."
Jeez, what kind of awful things had driven him to do such an awful thing? The
human world was getting worse and worse. Another of the many things that made
me happy I was never human.
"What now?" I ask. Meto just frowns and flipped back his braids.
"I am going to take Kyo, Kaoru, and a handful of other operatives from the
other factions that get here and retrieve their souls right away before they
get a chance to turn Poltergeist. Once we get here, they will be put in rooms
at the hospital near here to help with the damage done to their souls. If they
are feeling well enough after a day or two, they will all be assigned a mentor
and a place to live. Now, if we are done talking, I have some souls to collect.
Good day Shinya, I will be back in a little bit. I hope. Come on Tsuzuku."
"Oh, uh, right."
I waved at Shinya as Meto and I walked out of the office and back to the lobby.
By this time about six other people from the different factions that Shinya
called were already here.
"Good, you're all here," Meto says with satisfaction. "You're probably
wondering why you got called up here. Well, I'll explain on the way, you can
tell your supervisors what is going on later."
I recognized all of them right away, including one I didn't like very much. A
fox spirit that was named Hiro, he was famous for hitting on just about
everyone he encountered. But that wasn't why I didn't like him. The reason why
was because he chose me, of all people, to constantly harass and pick on. Well,
he saw it as 'seducing' but I knew for a fact that it was just plain sexual
harassment.
The others were more chill though, and I respected them despite being stronger
than them. Three were daemons like me, Tomo, Yoshiatsu and Yusuke. And then
there was Hiro and another ghoul called Atsuki, and a full blooded hell demon
named Taku.
Koichi was talking with Kaoru still, right where I left him. He looked up and
saw me, his face brightening instantly. I sat next to him as Kaoru joined the
others, seeing him reach for my hand.
"Hey," I greeted weakly. "Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah, Kao-san was just telling me a cool story about... Um, his kind. It was
interesting. So, what did you guys talk about?"
My stomach tightened and I felt the nausea from earlier hit me in the face.
"Um... I... We um... Look, Koichi, this... What I have to tell you... It's
gonna hurt a lot, so you have to tell me; Are you really prepared to hear it?
Because even if I don't tell you now, when Meto comes back you'll just see
anyway."
I was expecting him to at least refuse me a little bit. But he surprised me
when he just nodded his head and bites his lip. His strength was something to
really admire. Even through all he went through... Seriously, I just wanted to
hug him.
"Um yes, you should tell me. I can take it, really."
Meto nudged his head at me and motioned for the others to follow him out until
it was just us in here aside from Minpha at the desk. It fet like I was really
gonna tear out a piece of him with this news, and in a way I was. I had no way
of knowing if he still had feelings for Mia. After hearing Mia telling him he
was sorry and that he wanted to be forgiven would only make this harder on the
both of them.
"Not here though; Come on, we'll go somewhere where no one can hear us talk and
you have some time to think to yourself."
There was a bathroom down the hall from here that led towards Shinya's office.
That was probably the best place to be for this. I take his hand and lead him
to the bathroom, squeezing to reassure him that it would be okay. When inside
the single stall room I had him stand there and I took a deep breath. His eyes
were wide and expecting but also fearful. Even if he didn't say it, I could
tell he knew it was going to be bad. Ugh I couldn't even stop my own feet from
pacing back and forth nervously. How was I supposed to explain this in the
least terrible way possible?
"Tsuzu-san? You can tell me anything."
I stopped short at that, feeling his hands resting on my arm to make me stop.
Oh if only he knew what he was saying truly, he would have every reason to
doubt that.
"Don't be so sure of that, Koichi," I murmered and clasped my hand over his.
"Look I... Wish there was some easier way to tell you this, but there isn't.
Earlier, Meto called me in to Shinya's office because... There was a calamity
in the human world, specifically in the area that you came from. About twelve
hours ago... Some one, and I don't know who... He, um... he, killed a bunch of
students, all from your school. I am sure you can guess where this is going..."
Right away the pink from his cheeks fades to a pale sickly color and his breath
becomes rough. I didn't have to guess that he connected the dots perfectly.
"What... Tsu... Tsuzu-san... You're not saying... Please tell me you're not..."
I sighed heavily, leaning up against the wall of the bathroom as he stared at
me.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
He became hysteric, breaking down into tears that made my heart ache with pain.
So I did the only thing I could to make him feel better. I gestured for him to
come here so I could hug him, which he did. Koichi's whole body was just
shaking as he cried and I wondered just how much more torture he had to be put
through until he was happy. And I had to watch him suffer through all of it.
My arms squeezed his waist and I felt his arms wrap around my neck and his face
pressed to my skin. Warmth from his body was seeping through his clothes.
"Shh, you'll be okay," I whisper into his hair. "Everything is gonna be okay."
My fingers found their way to his sides and I cautiously rubbed up and down. He
didn't seem to mind at the moment. I daresay he even welcomed it.
"Mia... Mia... I'm sorry Mia...I'm so sorry..."
Just from his voice, I could tell he hadn't gotten over his feelings for this
boy. Why did that make me feel so... Sad?
"Don't cry," I murmered. "We'll... We'll be okay. You can... Can see him when
they bring him and the others back."
He sniffed and shuddered before looking up at me. I could feel his breath on my
lips he was so close. His big pretty eyes stared back at me with tears still
spilling over.
"I... I don't think I can handle that," He whimpered. "Tsuzuku I wanna go
home... Please take me home."
He didn't want to see him? I guess that makes sense... The wounds of Mia's
words, no matter how unintentional, still scarred him deeply. To see him now
would only make that pain worsen.
"It's all right Koichi, you don't have to see him now. And I will take you home
if that is what you truly want. But you will see him some day right?"
His lips trembled and I wanted so badly to just make it stop. Being sad did not
match his bright personality at all. The light make up he wore trailed down his
cheeks in soft trails of black, but I still thought he looked beautiful. He
always did.
"Yes... Maybe someday... But it still hurts too much."
"I understand. Come on then, let's get you cleaned up and we can go home. I'll
make us some dinner and you can have the house all to yourself."
Koichi stopped to look up at me.
"To myself..? Are you gonna leave me alone?"
"Not for too long I promise," I assured him and pushed his hair back behind his
ear softly. "There are... Still some things that I need to take care of here.
But you need to rest. It's been a long day for us both."
So I pulled him to the sink so I could clean off the streaks of black makeup
from his face and redo it. Now he looked perfect again, even if his eyes were
all puffy and red. Carefully I caressed under his eyes and felt his breathing
against me grow shallow. It was getting dangerous...
"Please don't cry, okay Koichi?" I say sweetly. "You're much prettier when
you're smiling."
And for the first time since we got here, he was really happy. Something I
wished he would be more often.
He takes my hand and I squeeze it, feeling how warm he was. Something tells me
I wouldn't be able to just hug him anymore without becoming addicted to his
heat.
The lobby was quiet without any people in it besides Minpha, and when he saw us
he stands up.
"Ah, are you guys okay?" He asked. "Do you need any help or..?"
Koichi just shakes his head, smiling.
"No, I'm going home. I'm tired and I need to rest."
Minpha nodded in understanding. He was far nicer than I give most cat demons
credit for.
"Okay well... If you guys ever need anything, just call this front desk okay?"
"We will, thank you."
Koichi waved at his new friend before taking my hand again as I lead him to the
elevator. Really I could tell he was still struggling so I just brought him in
for yet another hug. One that he didn't resist whatsoever. I could tell he
would be needing support these next few days. And I was more than willing to
give it to him.
Minutes passed and he didn't say anything so I decided to instead.
"Koichi... Are you gonna be okay?" I wonder with my arms around him tight. He
squirmed a little bit but didn't pull back.
"Yeah... I will be," He answered in a soft voice. "You know you don't have to
do this for me... And yet you do it anyways so... Thank you Tsuzuku. Really. I
could not have gotten this far without you."
"Of course Koichi," I answered. "Your happiness is my utmost priority as your
mentor. I will do whatever I can to make sure that you're always happy and
always smiling, no matter what. Our worlds may be different and far apart
but... There's no rules saying we can't bridge that gap is there?"
He made a soft laugh and I swear the very sound of it made my body feel warm
and my horns felt like they were tingling. This was why I wanted to help.
Humans were such... Wonderful creatures.
"Tsuzuku-san..."
He didn't say much more after that, so I figured I did what I had to and left
it that. A far more comfortable silence was all that was left and I held him
closer, reveling in the softness of his body to mine. What was this feeling..?
I was already so, used to him being beside me. The times of being alone already
felt so long gone and behind me. Had I already become addicted to him this
much?
---------------------------------------------------------
By the time we got home it was about 6 P.M. I hadn't even realized we spent so
much time out here in the city. We got in the house and the first thing he did
was kick off his shoes and fall back onto the couch. Poor thing looked utterly
exhausted. His eyes closed and I could see small dark spots under his eyes.
"I'm so tired," he said quietly. "Just... I just need to lay down for a little
while."
I smiled a halfway smile and went to sit next to him after taking off my boots,
our thighs touching just a little bit.
"Do you need anything?"
He opened his eyes and draws out a heavy hum.
"I'm kind of hungry to be honest."
"Is there anything in particular that you want?"
I just wanted to know what it would take to make him happy.
"Well... It depends on what you can make, I'm partial to anything really."
Apparently that means anything.
"Hehe, that doesn't help me at all," I laugh. "But okay. Let me look around to
see what I can do."
I ruffled his hair before retreating to my kitchen and looking through my
fridge for anything useful. All I had in there was an assortment of veggies,
eggs, bacon, and some cheese I think. Wonder when was the last time I had any
of that?
"Hmm, how do omelettes sound, Koi-chan?"
"It's fine with me, as long as I get to eat something."
"Okay! Give me twenty minutes and it will all be ready. Go ahead and turn on
the TV if you want to watch something."
The sound of the TV humming to life was the only sound I received so I got to
work cooking for us both. He was watching some documentary about cats, which I
thought was adorable. I couldn't help but steal a glance at him now and then.
Something then clicked in my head. He really likes cats. Maybe... I could do
something else for him.
"Koi-chan, food time."
"Okay," he says and hops up to join me at the counter like this morning. He
smiled at me, although I could tell he was only trying to hide his feelings on
the inside. That was okay, we all did.
"Here you go, I hope you like it."
I handed him his food and gave him some milk to have on the side. He thanks me
and seats himself on the stool and starts eating. I watched his face for any
signs of disgust but to my relief he looked delighted.
"Wow, Tsuzu-san, this is really good! You continue to surprise me," he says
with a giggle. My heart swelled happily as he praised me.
"Thank you, I'm glad it is to your liking, otherwise I would have had to order
pizza or something haha."
His eyes were once more drawn to the TV and I tried watching as well, but I
couldn't concentrate all that good on it. Something about kittens growing up, I
don't know, but I was super distracted by his eyes and how entranced by the
show he was. Every time a kitten made a meow he looked like he was melting.
Before long he had finished the food and was watching it with eager eyes.
"You really like cats, don't you Koichi-chan?"
I didn't realize I had asked that until he was looking at me with pink cheeks
and a sheepish smile. Do I always do things like that without even noticing?
"Yeah I... I always wanted one but... I couldn't because of my financial
situation and all that. They're so small and cute and... Oh look at me, getting
emotional over a cat show. Um... Thanks, for the food. It was great."
"It's no problem at all. I'll clean up so you just relax okay?"
He shuffled back to the couch and sat cross legged on my couch with eyes glued
to the screen. I smiled to myself and cleaned up the dishes before going to
join him.
After about twenty minutes my phone buzzed in my pocket and we both sighed. He
looked at me with a worried expression while combing his hair with his fingers.
"Is that..."
"About work? Probably," I muttered and pulled it out to look at the screen. A
text from Meto. I open and read it, feeling my stomach tighten uncomfortably.
After I was done I clicked it shut, feeling that same feeling from earlier.
"Tsuzu-san? What's the matter?"
My phone felt cold in my hands and I gripped it tighter to make it warmer.
"They're back from the human world. He needs me to go in and help out a little
bit since they need all the help they can get."
His eyes twinge and he looks back down to his feet, twisting around in his
seat.
"Are you going to be gone for long..?"
I stand up and stretch out my back before slipping my phone in it's place back
in my pocket.
"Shouldn't be. Meto just needs my help getting them all to the hospital and
safely in their own rooms..." I paused and met his worrying glances and
suddenly I feel guilty for leaving him. But this has to be done. "You'll be
okay, Koichi. But if I am not back when you're still awake then that's fine.
Take another shower if you need it, and if you want you're welcome to sleep
whenever you want if you're too tired. Okay?"
He pouted but nods his head anyway.
"Yes... I understand. Come back safe okay?"
His concern for me made me feel better and I ruffled his hair again, making him
smile at me wide. It was the moments like this one that made me so happy to
have found him. He was my most precious companion now, and I wouldn't trade him
for anything. Quickly I pulled on my boots and jacket and after making sure I
had everything stood at my door with Koichi in front of me.
"Don't wait up too long for me, you need rest. I'll be right back so don't
worry."
My constant reassuring would have been annoying to anyone else probably. But
Koichi seemed to be riding on that to keep himself going.
"Mhm. I'll be here of course, so... Stay safe. And... if Mia is awake when you
see him then... Tell him I... I..."
He coudln't finish but I knew what he was trying to say.
"If I see him I will tell him you said hello. Don't worry. Okay, I'm off!"
Before leaving, I made sure to give him another hug, longer this time. Though I
wasn't sure if it was him who needed it, or if it was me.
Back outside I scratched absentmindedly at the spot where his lips where
pressing to my skin earlier, and how nice it felt... What the heck. I was
overthinking things again.
Quickly I shook it off and trekked back to the company building, seeing the sun
now going lower and lower. Now I wonder how Mia is going to react to seeing me
again after such a short time? Only time will tell I suppose.
The sky scraper soon came into view and I felt my whole body grow colder. They
were all here. It was now or never. I went in the lobby and was confronted by a
mostly empty lobby that was significantly more empty than before. I looked
around and spotted the group of people I was expecting to see. Meto and the
other faction members were all standing around the elevator. Then I saw them;
the souls who were all ripped away from life so cruelly. They were all standing
there, looking exhaused and huddled together like a school of fish.
"Meto-san," I called out. He looked up at me and waved me over.
"Good you're here, now you can help us out."
"It's no problem but, I hope it isn't going to take me long?"
"No, it shouldn't," he assures. "Why is there somewhere you need to be?"
I shrug and rub my arm nervously.
"Um not really. I just, I wanna be with Koichi as long as I can and-"
"Koichi?"
The voice interrupting me made me freeze and felt a chill run down my back.
That voice...
I turned around and found MiA standing there with his eyes wide staring back at
me. He looked... So different than the last time. So tired and pale and...
Dead. He wore a school uniform what was riddled with bullet holes and tears,
and blood poured out from every hole it could. His mouth was crusted over with
dried blood, his eyes were grey and lifeless, and his skin was deathly pale.
Now I am glad Koichi wasn't here, he would have not been able to handle seeing
Mia like this.
"Tsuzuku-san? Is that you..?"
I smiled bitterly and raised my hand up in greeting, as though he were an old
friend. And in a way, it sort of felt like he was.
"Hey Mia-kun. Yup... It's me. It's... Nice to see you again."
TBC
***** Chapter 7 *****
The escort to the hospital didn't take very long, and I felt extremely
uncomfortable along the way. Mia was staring at me with a shocked look on his
face the whole time. But I don't blame him. I did lie to him after all.
Still, all of this was just too much to comprehend. I thought he had such a
long and good life ahead of him. Fate was such a twisted cruel thing sometimes.
And now here he was, right in front of me in a hospital bed and hooked up to
countless I.V's to heal his wounds. Just how Koichi was treated but at my
house. The room was plain and had another bed with one other patient in it but
he was asleep. I had come to learn that his name was Masa.
It was dark in here since it was after hours and all the lights were off save
for the tiny little nightlight above the nearby sink.
I had explained to him countless times already that he was dead, but he seemed
to be having a bit of a hard time processing the info.
"Mia-kun," I said to him to snap him out of staring at me. "I know this must be
such a big shock to you but can you please, stop staring at my horns?"
His ruffled but now clean blonde hair hung limply in his face and he shook his
head.
"S-sorry... But I just... can't believe it's you," he says admittedly. "You
seemed like such a normal person when we last talked but now..."
I shrugged and shifted in the leather recliner seated by his bed.
"Yeah, about that... Guess all that stuff I told you is debunked I guess, but
it is true that I am in a special organization, just different from what I had
previously told you."
"Who are you? Where am I?"
A part of me was glad to see that at least he was up for talking with me. But I
knew I had to keep this short if he wanted to get any rest.
"My name is Tsuzuku, and I am what is called a daemon, not to be confused with
the common demons. I am a part of what is known as the BSA, which is an
organization specializing in these types of situations. If a human dies in an
unnatural way it causes their soul to be ripped from the human world and into
the spirit world with no help at all, and darkness begins to spread like a
disease through your soul until all you know is revenge and violence.
"There are such cases that this happens in such extreme numbers that we cannot
help, but luckily for you and the others that is not the case. I helped you and
the others here so your spirits may retain what is left of their purity and
repair it magically before we begin your splicing. As for where you are, you
are in a form of purgtory designed for souls who can't move to heaven. Sort of
like a... Second chance but not really?"
Mia cocked his head to the side.
"Magic? Splicing? What do you mean?"
I sighed and smiled at Mia, feeling the familiar feeling of tingling at the
base of my horns when I got tired.
"Another time, perhaps, when you aren't so exhausted. And when I do come back,
I want to know what happened in the human world from your own perspective. Now
if you don't mind Mia-kun, I will be leaving now..."
I then stood to leave but he suddenly stopped me.
"Wait! Tsuzuku-san..!"
His sudden outburst stopped me in my tracks and I turned to look at him.
"Yes? What is it?"
He bites at his shortened fingernails and squeezed the blanket covering him.
"Um... Where is... Where's Koichi? Can I... Can I see him?"
Well, I should have figured he was going to ask that. He seemed unusually
concerned about him. Perhaps I was wrong about this boy and he did care about
Koichi to some extent. But why was that making me feel weird?
"Do not worry, Koichi is fine. He stays with me now, and he is adjusting to
this world just fine. And in time I hope you do as well. Perhaps one day when
he is feeling up to it, I will bring him for a visit. Is that all?"
Mia laid back against his bed in relief, closing his eyes and letting out a
breath.
"Um, thank you, Tsuzuku-san. For telling me what I wanted to know for now...
But I think I will go to sleep now."
I nodded and walked to the door quietly so not to disturb the other patient.
"Okay, I will see you in a little while Mia-kun. Good night."
He yawned and turned on his side away from the door.
"Good night Tsuzuku-san."
The door squeaked as I pushed it open and closed behind me, hopefully not too
loud. I gave a nod to the nurses station nearby before heading to the elevator.
We were on the third floor of the ten story building, the ward specially
reserved for cases like Mia and the others. They were all in rooms in this ward
as well but I wasn't sure which ones. Meto had already gone like I asked him to
since our job here was done, sort of. A little while ago he had sent me a text
thanking me for coming in even though it was my day off but to be in for work
tomorrow as early as I could, and to bring Koichi with me.
As I walked outside of the hospital the sun was already down, but it didn't
seem that late. Maybe six or seven o'clock at the latest. How long was I
talking to Mia? A little while? No more than an hour I was sure but damn it got
dark fast. I wonder how Koichi was faring right about now. Usually the curfew
lights at the top of Shinya's skyscraper would come on around eight but they
hadn't yet so my guess was about right.
I wonder what sort of crazy stuff I have to do tomorrow? Stuff pertaining to
the case I am guessing. After this sort of mass murder in the human world it it
gonna take some time to clean up the mess. After the human world workers get
done I should ask them to let me see the reports...
Ah well anyways, I should probably get back to my place.
The walk along to the apartment building was quiet for some reason. Maybe I was
just so used to being around people that silence made me feel weird?
I went up the elevator as usual and made it to my apartment number. From inside
I could hear the sound of news on the TV. Maybe he was still up so I won't have
to unlock the door?
"Koichi it's me," I called out as I knocked on the door. "Can you let me in?"
The TV went quiet suddenly and I heard him fumble around a bit. How cute... No!
No, not this again!
"J-just a second!" he called back to me. What on earth is he doing? Only a
moment later he opened the door and he was standing there in the PJ's I let him
use before I left. Just some cute pink sweatpants with white bunnies on them
and a black tank top that showed off his skinny arms. He looked good in it...
The tank top I mean.
"Am I interrupting something?" I say jokingly as he lets me past.
"W-what? No um, I-"
He stuttered and blushed heavily and I couldn't help but to laugh.
"Hahaha, relax I am just joking with you," I assured. "What would I be
interrupting anyways?"
At my teasing Koichi made a nervous laugh and shrugs.
"Dunno... so um, how did the uh... 'mission' go? Did you see him..?"
Okay Tsu, suck it up like a man! Whatever you have to tell him should not
interfere with your own personal feelings!
"Um, yes... I did. He's in the hospital a ways from here now in recuperation,
most likely gonna be out of it for the next few days."
He frowns but there is a bit of relief on his face. Probably because he knew
Mia was going to be okay. Well, as okay as one could be in his situation.
"Oh, that's good. So umm... How does he look?" He asks softly.
"Admittedly not that good. He was pretty... messed up when we first got to the
human world. Ther were... A lot of bullet entry and exit wounds and his clothes
were all tattered and covered in blood. But being in the hospital for a bit
helped heal some of the damage done to his soul, though because he was murdered
his rate of decay is going along much faster than yours. But we have a little
bit of time. So don't worry too much about it."
Koichi smiled a weak smile and twists his hands together.
"Thank you Tsuzuku-san. You've made me feel a whole lot better about all of
this. But what are you gonna do now?"
To be honest, I wasn't quite sure. I didn't know if I wanted to stay awake or
go to sleep. It seemed far too early to go to sleep, and Koichi doesn't seem
tired.
"I don't know. I don't have to work until the morning, Meto-san asked me to
some in early and to take you with me."
"Me?" He asked. "What does he want with me?"
"I dunno, probably to ask about your case. Or to set a good splicing date
probably?"
His lips turn into an unsure scowl and he stares ahead at the TV, probably not
listening to it.
"Hmm... Did... Mia say what happened to him?"
He initiated a complete subject change and it made me wonder what was on his
mind right now.
"No, I wanted to let him sleep after all he has been through. I will have to
ask one of the case workers about the details when they get back from the human
world. But I doubt they will have anything out of the ordinary, especially not
when it is from a bunch of high school students whom, might I add, were
probably too scared to remember anything substantial."
"I wonder how everyone is doing right now," he mumbles softly and more to
himself than to me. "There were a lot of people who liked Mia-kun."
A heavy sighs lips from his lips and he sits down, crossing his legs and
fidgeting restlessly. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask him to go out for a little
while, get acquainted with the nightlife of this place. After all, cities never
really slept did they?
"Koichi you seem restless. Is there something on your mind right now?"
He chuckles and looks up at me with a playful smile.
"You can read me quite easily can't you? Guess I shouldn't be too surprised,"
he giggles. "But, yeah. I just don't feel tired. I need something to get rid of
all the energy I seem to have right now."
Perfect timing.
"I see," I say slyly and slink over to sit myself next to him. "You know
Koichi-kun... You still have yet to see the entire city for what it is worth.
Do you maybe wanna... Go out for a little bit? Go have some fun somewhere, get
some things, and maybe have a late dinner? That's up to you of course!"
Koichi's ears turned red and he turns to me with wide eyes. Why is he looking
at me like that?
"Tsuzuku-san... Are you... Are you asking me out on a date?"
What?! Is that what he thinks this is?!
"Huh?? No! I mean, technically yes I am! But just like a friend date! To have
fun! You know? I wasn't trying to jump in your pants!"
His face goes even more red but then he's bursting into a fit of giggles and at
takes everything in my body to will myself not to turn red myself.
"Oh relax Tsuzuku-san, I am just teasing you."
This sly little..! How dare he use that against me? Gah!
"O-oh ahahaha, of course of course!" I nervously stuttered and looked away
before I could embarrass myself more. "S-so? What do you say?"
Suddenly I feel his hand slip into mine and I looked back, shocked. He's
smiling that cheesey cute smile of his and squeezes on my fingers. His eyes
lock with mine making me swallow hard. Oh hell, here come the indecent thoughts
again.
"Of course I will go with you, Tsuzuku-san," he finally answers with a tinge of
pink spreading across his face. "That sounds nice."
I grinned before pulling him to his feet excitedly.
"Good, it's settled. Let's get ready then! I'll show you just how much fun you
can possibly have in a place like this."
"Great, sounds fun! But, what should I wear?" He asked seriously as he could.
"I can't possibly go out there like this!"
I looked him up and down and tried not to let my mind stray elsewhere.
"Hmm.... Well we are going out where there are other people, so... Something
flashy but not too flashy. Like, you wanna look attractive but not get mistaken
for a prostitute."
Koichi blushed harder but he laughs. He must have found that sorta funny. Or so
ridiculous that it was funny.
"Hehehe, okay!" He agrees. "Hang on, I'll just find something real quick."
Then the next thing I know he's hugging me tight and I can feel the warmth of
his skin on mine before he disappears to his room. It makes me lose all
thoughts of him just being my friend. Ugh what do I do??
Damn it! Screw everything, Koichi was attractive as hell and screw whoever
thought bad of me! This boy was the single best thing to have ever happened to
me and hell be damned if he ever found out. I don't care. But it just has to
happen naturally. I don't want to end up scaring him off if I get too
aggressive. Plus I barely knew him. Humans were odd to me despite how long I
have been working with them. Their emotions, however simple easily
comprehended, still baffled me.
But then again, this 'date' would give me the perfect opportunity to get to
know him better. And if he wanted to know anything about me of course I would
gladly tell him.
Although a small part of me felt very guilty. If I was successful in getting
Koichi to like me, it would be like stealing him away from Mia... Wasn't it? Ah
but what am I saying? They were never a thing, hell Mia even pretended to be
disgusted by him for his friend. Whom was still on the loose...
Anyways, it shouldn't be a problem! I just gotta make sure I don't screw this
up. I went in my own room and tried to concentrate on finding some suitable
clothes but my mind kept straying. Ugh screw it I will just change my shirt
from the one I was wearing this morning to a black one with a mickey mouse
skull on it and my leather pants from before. My combat boots were a bit too
over the top for a date, so I settled instead for some white converses that I
got a while ago.
Outside my room he was already there waiting for me, dressed in a black
undershirt with one of the leather jackets I managed to slip into his dressers.
His hair was pulled back in a pony with some of his bangs hanging out to frame
his face and a pair of red skinnies hugging his slender legs.
"So? How do I look? Not like a prostitute I hope?" He jokingly says with a hand
to his hip. Heat crawled up my face so I cleared my throat.
"No not at all," I assured him. "You look great Koichi. I am sure no one will
mistake you for one so don't worry. Shall we go then?"
"Sure!"
He slipped on his shoes with the heart charms on them and we both exited the
apartment for the second time that day.
We walked around for a bit in front of the many shops lining the street just
nearby, the one with stalls and ramen shops, stuff like that. He wanted a huge
pink teddy bear he saw hanging in a flower shop, so I got it for him. Then from
there I took him to the most famous part of the city, a place called the 'Ruby'
district. It was a large half mile long strip known for its clubs and various
restaurants sure, but it was most notable for the sizable theme park housed
just outside its limits by the pier. Taking him there would certainly seem
perfect. Especially for a first date of sorts, if I could call it that.
We approached the strip's borders, two large brick buildings side by side with
a huge glittery banner tied to each side with 'Ruby District' in bright rainbow
lettering emblazoned on the front. People of all ages and species were milling
in and out of the buildings so it must be a busy night. Koichi stared up in
wonder at the banner and he looks at me with wide eyes.
"Whoa, what is this place? There's so many people coming in and out of there!"
I smile and decided to take the initiative in this situation. Grabbing his hand
I lead him through the buildings and into the district itself, not wanting to
spoil anything by saying where we are. Instead I just let him take everything
in as we walked, or more like weaved, in and out of the sudden throng of prople
crowding the street. It was wide enough for at least three cars to go through,
but there were only people. On either sides of us were bright and flashing neon
lights advertising clubs and hangout spots of all types with the occasional
flash of a modern restaurant beckoning in more customers.
But I could tell were Koichi's eyes were being led, and a small part of me
swelled with joy to see him so happy to see something like that. At the very
end of this strip was the amusement park. It had one giant ferris wheel about
two hundred feet high with bright rainbow lights pulsing and flashing in
dizzying patterns. There was also a teacup ride that was super popular with
kids. There was also an octopus ride, a zipper, a bullet, some kiddie rides,
and the best attraction out of all of them; a roller coaster. I'll admit, I
used to be afraid of coasters for a little while. But there was little
substance to this fear as I realized coasters were one of the safest things in
the world, safer than planes.
"So?" I inquired. "What do you think? Pretty great right?"
I had Koichi stop walking so he could take everything in. His eyes were super
huge and soaking in all the details around him.
"Tsuzuku-san... This is so... So amazing! What on Earth are we going to do
first??"
I smile and let him look around before speaking.
"Well that depends. What do you want to do, Koichi-chan? Do you want to go buy
some stuff, or go ride something? Or maybe just walk and have something to eat?
Whatever you want, let's do it."
His face lights up even more (was that even possible??) and he gasps excitedly
as he once more looks back at the ferris wheel. He points at it and looks at
me, hope in his pretty eyes. How can anyone deny that.
"That... Can we..? Pleasepleasepleaseplease? I have always wanted to go one one
that big!"
"Of course we can! Come on let's go before the good seats get taken!"
We walk briskly to the ferris wheel and he takes his time to gawk at everything
along the way. We stand in a relatively small line once we get to the ferris
wheel, thank goodness for that. He is practically bouncing up and down from
excitement and I feel really glad that I brought him here.
"Ooh this is so exciting!" He squealed while gripping my hand. "I haven't been
on a ferris wheel in ages!"
I smiled to myself and squeeze his fingers. This was going fabulously so far.
"Good, then you will enjoy this one Koichi-chan. I hear you can see the entire
city from up there."
Koichi then smirked and accidentally bumps into me when some guy brushed past
us.
"I see. Then, Tsuzuku-san, make sure you point out everything to me okay?"
"Okay, I'll show you as much as I can."
"Good," He chirped happily. "But no tongue okay?"
"Ye- Wha??"
TBC
***** Chapter 8 *****
It was going well. So well that it almost felt like a... Well like an actual
date. Earlier he had only been teasing Koichi about this being one but now...
He wasn't sure if he still felt like that. 
These conflicting feelings were in him because of where they were right now.
This ferris wheel was still really big, even for a small carnival on the end of
a pier. It was also sort of dark up here since the sun was down, so the only
lights they had to see with were the rainbow LED's on the side of their cart.
It was one of the types of ferris wheel's where instead of sitting in a dinky
little seat with a pull bar and an immense fear of falling, it was one of the
more comfy types with a whole compartment in a sphere like shape with a floor
and even cushioned seats. The cars were rock proof, so walking around in them
was pretty easy. Or other 'things' for that matter.
It was no wonder teenagers came here for dates...
Tsuzuku was ready to jump from his skin at this point. Being this high up in
the air, alone with Koichi, and at night of all times. Every little noise or
movement Koichi made put him on edge. They sat right next to each other in the
car with Koichi at the far window and with Tsuzuku next to him, their legs
touching despite the room for at least four other people in there. He must have
still felt nervous. That was fine of course.
The pinkette was so... Happy. He was smiling, and the lights from both the city
and the ferris wheel were reflected in his bright expressive eyes. Tsuzuku felt
another painful twinge inside his body somewhere in the general.... Heart area.
That probably wasn't good.
  'Ugh, I can't take much more of this,' he thought miserably to himself and
leaned on his palm to try and stare out the window as he let his thoughts take
over his mind. 'I need something to distract myself.'
He was really treading into dangerous waters here. Every time he looked at him,
heard him speak or laugh or even cry, he just... Felt something. 
"Um Tsuzuku?" 
Koichi looked over at him and said something but he wasn't really paying
attention until he suddenly realized a tiny detail. He wasn't staring out the
window. Instead he was staring directly at Koichi. Quickly he averted his eyes
back out the window.
"Hmm?" he hummed in question and tried to innocently blink his eyes. 
"I asked you what you wanted to do next," Koichi says with a wide smile. "But
you were staring out the window like a big dork."
'Oh good, he didn't know I was staring at him,' Tsuzuku sighed with relief in
his head. 
"Ummm... Well there's still plenty of rides to go on if you want. This is for
you after all."
Koichi's cheeks redden and he looks out below them through the window and his
eyes scan the other attractions and he smiled wider. 
"I wanna go on the teacups. That seems like fun and I don't want to mess up my
hair, so no coasters for me at this point.  For now."
Tsuzuku smiled and clasps his hands together to repress his urge to just... Hug
him. 
"Great! When this cycle ends we can go on. What about after?"
"Maybe we can get some food? I haven't eaten since earlier today when we were
at your place."
While they continued to plan out the rest of the night their cycle on the
ferris wheel ended, and Tsuzuku was both anxious and sad to have to leave the
car. It was nice being alone up there with him, but he wasn't sure he could
hold himself accountable for his actions if they stayed like that any longer.
The line for the teacups mostly had adults in it considering how late it was
getting. But there were a few older kids and teenagers lingering around too.
Their turn had them riding in the pink one (of course) and it wasn't as bad as
Tsuzuku thought it would be. It was mostly relaxing on his part, but the fun
that Koichi seemed to be having made it better.
Their wasn't much conversation between them until they got off five minutes
later, and Koichi was fixing his slightly wind whipped hair back into place.
"That was fun," Koichi says with a huge smile. "I don't remember the last time
I rode the teacups."
Tsuzuku grinned and accepted Koichi's fingers to interlock with his own like
before.
"I am glad you had fun. So, you wanna go find something to eat now? There are
plenty of cafés to choose from, or there's also the restaurants to pick from
too."
Koichi hummed as they walked away from the pier and squeezed the teddy bear he
got from before.
"Welllll.... I think I would prefer a café. A restaurant just seems like too
much work. Do you know any good places?"
"Sure," Tsuzuku beams at him and leads him away towards the more bustling part
of the district. "Let me show you. I think you will like this one."
================================================================
Minutes later after a bit of pushing and shoving they found their way to the
cafe Tsuzuku spoke of. It was cozy and warm, nothing too special. It was
perfect for a simple little outing like theirs, and didn't have that may people
inside. They chose a booth far from the door and sat across from one another
this time as they waited for someone to come help them. Meanwhile Koichi put
down all the teddy bear next to him and shrugged out of his jacket. 
"Hmm, this place is really nice," he says cheerfully with a smile. "Do you come
here a lot?"
"Sometimes," Tsuzuku answers and scans his eyes over the grains in the table
wood. "Meto brings us here sometimes when we aren't working, so the workers are
familiar with us."
Koichi hums and fiddles with the salt and pepper shakers next to him. 
"Meto-san seems kinda rough, what with all the yelling..."
"Oh, that's all on the outside. Inside he is a really nice guy who genuinely
cares about people. He just tries to seem more mature for his age. Once you get
to know him though he's sweet."
For some reason Koichi didn't have a hard time believing that, and his overall
wariness of him decreased just a bit. 
Soon a nice waitress who looked no older than a teenager, with purple snakes as
her hair pulled back in a ponytail and pale lilac skin, came by and gave them
menu's.
"Hello, my name is Sssaki and I am your waiter for thisss evening. What would
you like to drink?" She asks with a fang ridden smile and a slightly creepy
hissing lisp to her words. "We're all out of our ingredientsss for sssmoothies
so those will have to be for sssome other day. My apologiesss."
Tsuzuku looks to Koichi expectantly and gives him an encouraging nod. 
"Whatever you want to get, go ahead and get it. It's no problem whatsoever."
Koichi scans the menu and just asks for a strawberry bubble tea since it was
simple. And he loved bubble teas a lot. Tsuzuku just asked for tea and Saki
lets them keep looking at the menus as she walks away. 
"Say, I've been meaning to ask," Koichi begins as he avoids eye contact with
the other. "What exactly is going on right now? In regards to mine and Mia's
cases?"
Tsuzuku tapped his chin and sighs softly. Guess he should have figured Koichi
would ask sooner or later. 
"There isn't much to say, but Ice is still on the run. After Mia died he
completely disappeared from the general area he was last seen. Even under
Shinya's direct jurisdiction, he was able to slip away without being noticed,
so that is raising some red flags."
Koichi feels his stomach flip at the mention of Mia's former best friend and he
grimaces. 
"And what about the guy who killed all those people? Have you figured out who
it was?"
"Not really, our team working on the souls who get sent to hell are working on
it. All we know is that he was a guy who must have had something to do with the
school before he did it. but so far, that's as much as I know."
The pinkette frowned even more than before and leaned his head on his left palm
to stare at the menu even more, feeling slightly less hungry. Just slightly.
"What if Ice gets away? What will we do then?"
Tsuzuku sighed and closed his menu, having already decided.
"Well, it won't be good. In the human world, telling someone to kill themselves
is in fact, illegal. We will have to send some people to contact our human
branch and launch a full on investigation and find him before he causes much
more damage. Meto has put me in charge of you though, so I doubt I will be
taking part in much of these investigations myself. But it's just as well, I
don't like involving myself in such things."
Koichi almost sighed in relief when Tsuzuku told him that. He didn't like the
idea of Tsuzuku running off every day and leaving him alone. The daemon's
company had become his preferred method of passing the time in the short while
he has been here.
"Ah, that's good," he admits and taps at the table with his fingers. "I'm not
sure I could handle the idea of you running off and putting yourself in
danger."
Once again, Koichi's small voice and shy smile caused Tsuzuku to feel another
pang and he coughed, scratching the spot on his chest where he felt the pang.
"Aww, you don't have to worry about me too much," he laughs nervously. "I can
handle myself okay, so please don't worry. Besides, I like hanging out with
you. It's been a while since... Since I could do this sort of thing with
anyone."
Yeah, hanging out was the perfect word for this, whatever it was. No, he wasn't
thinking of anything indecent right now.
Thankfully before he could say anything embarrassing Saki finally arrived with
their drinks and he nodded gratefully at the nice lady. 
"So," she chirps and grabs a notepad. "What can I get for you on thisss fine
evening?"
They both looked down and pointed out some things, like a cheesecake with
strawberries for Koichi and a roll cake for Tsuzuku. 
"It seems simple," was all he said when Koichi looked at him funny. The
waitress scribbles down their orders and takes the menus from them with another
unsettling grin. 
"Thank you for being patient, I will be right out with your ordersss as fassst
as I can."
She walked off and left them in another awkward silence until Koichi's
curiosity got the better of him. 
"Say Tsuzuku, what in the world is she? The waitress I mean, the way she speaks
is creepy."
Tsuzuku laughs and sips at his tea before making a face. 
"Oh her? Don't worry, all gorgons are like that so don't worry," he assured and
grabs for the sugar to sweeten his unbearably not sweet tea. "And before you
ask, no she cannot turn you into stone just by looking at you. That's just a
myth, a stigma spread by mortals a long time ago to prevent people from ever
coming and looking for them."
"Hehe, I wasn't gonna ask that, I kinda figured that when she kept staring at
me funny. Anyways, did you need anything after this?"
Tsuzuku thought for a second in between sipping his drink and must have
remembered something he needed. 
"Well, I suppose I can take some time to get a few things, since I am providing
for both of us now. We'll get some more food, maybe some more clothes and stuff
an older teenager might need. Oh, and before I forget, you were in your third
year of high school in the human world right?"
Koichi nodded and started sipping at his bubble tea as politely as he could.
"Yeah, I try no to think too much about it."
"Sorry, but anyways. Since you're still a minor technically until you are
eighteen, I'll have to be your temporary guardian until your eighteenth
birthday, which is... Um, when is it?"
Koichi smiled at Tsuzuku. He didn't tell him yet, how could he forget?
"December 22nd. Sorry for never telling you before."
"It's fine it's fine, anyways, it is now November, so not for much longer and
you'll be an adult. Before then, we need to complete your schooling."
At the mention of school, Koichi's face fell a little bit. 
"Ehh... Do I have to go to a public high school? People might pick on me
again."
His insecurities of being around other people he didn't know that well were
starting to creep up on him again and it made him feel scared. But Tsuzuku just
quickly reached out and clasped his fingers in his own. 
"No no no don't worry, you don't have to. In fact, I would prefer it if you
stayed home. There is a school near where I live where we can enroll you, and
they have a really good online program for students with social issues. How
does that sound?"
Koichi had to admit,that sounded much nicer than being in a room full of... non
human teenagers. But even by that point he would probably half phoenix by then.
Still, the thought made chills run down his spine. 
"Well, yeah, that sounds good I guess," he says after a while. "I don't want to
be in an unfamiliar place without someone to help me."
Tsuzuku grinned and squeezes his fingers, trying to ignore more urges to kiss
his cheeks. 
"Awesome, then we can probably get it done next month.  For now, we still have
to get your splicing out of the way, and I need to get all the documents on
your past life down here so we have more info to go on, plus any belongings you
might want back."
"Ehh, we'll see if I want anything back, but it probably won't be much. When do
you think I should do my procedure? Sometime soon?"
"Yeah, preferable within the next three days before your soul can degrade any
further. Being part phoenix will strengthen your genes and make your body more
resilient, as well as make you resistant against fire."
Koichi nodded and pulled back his hand a little. It was so nice of Tsuzuku to
be doing this for him, he wasn't sure where he would be without this man. 
"Thank you Tsuzuku, for everything. Where would I be without you?"
Tsuzuku blushed a little and shrugged his shoulders, staring at Koichi's cute
face.
"Heh, I dunno, but it is a good thing I found you before anyone else could. My
co-workers are not as sympathetic with humans as the rest of us. Which is a
shame because humans are cute."
Koichi giggled and drank more of his bubble tea down to hide his embarrassment.
"Naw, not all of us are cute," he grumbles playfully. "I'm not cute..."
The daemon swallowed as he prepared himself for his next words so the sting of
a possible backlash wouldn't hurt much.
"Aww don't say that," he cooed and grabs his hand again. "You're cute Koichi,
don't ever forget that. Cuter than most humans I have ever met. Okay?"
Koichi's cheeks were terribly red and he felt like he was frozen in place at
Tsuzuku's praises. It has been a while since anyone called him cute... 
"Th... Thank you Tsuzuku," he says with a shy smile and looks away. "No one
ever calls me cute..."
"Well you are, so don't ever think otherwise. I never tell anything but the
truth."
They both silently smiled at each other and held hands, unaware of Saki coming
back until she had to clear her throat to get their attention. At which Koichi
quickly pulled back and coughed before sipping at his tea. Tsuzuku sighed and
looked up at the lady, who had a sly smile as she knew exactly what was going
on. 
"Here are your ordersss," she says and sets down the plates with their sweets.
"Thanksss for waiting! Isss there anything elssse I can help you with?"
Tsuzuku was about to say no but Koichi quickly nodded. 
"Um yeah, where is the bathroom in this place?" He asked with a squeaky voice.
The waitress pointed to a door near the front entrance that he hadn't seen
before. 
"Through there, there isss a multi gender bathroom in there."
"Thanks," he squeaked and rushed off. Tsuzuku sighed and smiles at the
waitress. 
"Sorry for that," he says on Koichi's behalf. "He's still nervous about being
here."
The lady just shrugs it off. 
"New human arrival?"
"Yeah, you noticed?" Tsuzuku wonders curiously. The girl laughed and gathers up
the menus. 
"Of courssse I did. I usssed to be human once myssself, so it isn't very hard
to ssspot them."
"Really? You came here from there too, huh?"
She nodded and held the menus to herself as she rocked back and forth on her
heels. 
"Yup! I wasss eighteen when it happened, and I wasss scared of being in a place
unfamiliar to me. But you know, after a while, you get usssed to it. And after
being what I am for almossst five human yearsss, I realized that this place is
far more pleasssant to live in than the human world."
Tsuzuku rose an eyebrow. Five years? So that would make her at least in her
twenties now. She looked far younger than that. 
"So, what made you choose to be a gorgon for the procedure?" He asks curiously.
The girl hummed and taps on the menus absentmindedly. 
"Well, my guardian sssaid that gorgonsss are strong and fassst, as well as very
intelligent and quick minded. I thought that sssounded perfect. Back in the
human world, I wasss weak; a muscle deformation in my back made me more
susssceptible to injury, and eventually it wasss what I died from. So I chose
something in contrassst to what I usssed to be. Now I can run and walk with no
problemsss, plus I got a cool head of snakesss teeheehee."
She looked back towards the restroom door where Koichi had gone and looked back
to Tsuzuku with a toothy smirk. 
"You know, I sssee the way you look at him," she said with a hissing giggle.
"There are practically little heartsss lighting up your eyesss. You feel very
ssstrongly for him, don't you? Ahh, don't try to deny it, I know what a crush
looksss like. Doesss he feel the sssame way?" 
She looked eager to gossip and Tsuzuku was thankful he wasn't dealing with
someone who wanted to hit on him. This girl was nice. 
"Well, actually I have no idea," he admits with a forlorn look into his tea.
"He's only been here for less than a week. I have no idea what do do because
this is the first time I have ever felt anything like this before. And he's
still... In love with someone else."
Saki tsked and her shoulders slumped with sympathy. 
"Aww, I'm sssorry. But hey, maybe sssomeday you can tell him, and he might
underssstand that sometimesss it'sss okay to know that sssomeone doesss care
for him very ssstrongly, and he won't be upssset. That'sss my input on all of
this." 
Soon she straightened up as Koichi began to come back and he slid into the
booth. Clearly he had no idea what they were talking about. Thank the gods for
that. Tsuzuku grins at Koichi as he situated himself. Saki gave him a last
knowing smirk before scurrying away. 
"Are you okay?" He asks. Koichi just nods and brushed away his bangs.
"Yeah, I just had to... Fix my hair a little bit is all. No problem."
"Okay good. Now, let's eat our food okay? Then we can continue on with our
night."
They both sat in a now comfortable silence, not wanting to spoil the pleasant
mood settled between them. 
Still, something that Saki had said still bothered him immensely. Should he
tell Koichi how he felt? Or would it be taking things too fast? he had to
understand how he felt for Mia still, and whether or not he was over him. Those
sorts of things were still of the utmost importance right now, so maybe his
feelings would have to wait. 
He could only hope that they wouldn't get in the way of this relationship right
now. 
'Huh. Maybe I should dye my hair.'
================================================================
================================================================
Somewhere far away, a man walked along a strip of buildings congested with
people going to and fro. The moon shone brilliantly and gave the city he was in
an otherworldly glow. His long blonde hair bounced around him in the soft
breeze and he shivered at the slight chill.  He pulled up the all black scarf
wrapped around his neck and kept his head low, eyeing a crow that was perched
high on a familiar building above him.
He stops and glanced upwards to make almost direct eye contact with the creepy
bird. He knew this building, so he went inside right away.
It was a club of some sorts, a dark room with only dark red lights danced
around erratically and pulsing heavy music with bass thumping in the speakers.
He grimaced and continued to weave himself through the bodies squirming and
rocking around him until he reached the bar. The bartender looked up at him and
nodded before pointing to a door beyond the counter. 
"Through there," he says only and the man nods before going through the door.
he sighs in relief at the music being muffled finally. He makes his way up a
flight of stairs that leads to the second floor before knocking again on a big
wooden door that was secluded from the rest of the place. 
"Come in."
A musical but rough voice answered his knocking and he enters as he is told to.
He's met with a familiar setting of a darkened room lit only by candles.
There's little to be seen in here. Just a fireplace with unlit wood in it and a
long burgundy colored couch in front. The rest of it is pretty much barren,
save for the occasional random chair. 
There's a figure sitting on the couch, or more like lounging. His upper body
leaned against the armrest as his legs relaxed against the rest of the couches
cushions. Only his hands were visible, the rest of him was draped in a heavy
black cloak. 
"Good you made it," the figure says. "I trust you found the place okay? I made
sure the crow gave you good instructions."
"Yeah it did," the man says. "Now what do you want?"
The figure sighs tiredly and shuffles around before reaching for the fireplace
with an outstretched and smooth hand to suddenly light the fireplace ablaze
with a quick burst of red and orange. There's a low hum and he settles back
against the couch. 
"Now now, where's your patience? Please, come have a seat. Let's talk."
The man sighs and does as he is told and sits near the figure, whom keeps his
face hidden behind a thick mesh cowl. They sit there for a moment and finally
the figure speaks again. 
"Were you followed?"
"Not by anyone unsavory, no. Just the crow knew of my intentions."
"Good. Can't have any eavesdroppers."
The figure chuckles throatily before giving a cough. The man fidgets a little
bit as he stares at the fire. 
"So... What did you need to see me for?"
The strange figure shuffles a bit so he's more leaned forward and stares more
intently at the fire. 
"I take it you have done as I asked?"
"Uh huh. Everything has been taken care of, so far. The gunman has been sent
directly to hell as I have suspected, so he can't tell anyone of our deeds."
The figure gives a low hum of approval. 
"And of the boy?"
"Still hidden. Only me and two other people know of his whereabouts, though the
ones from the BSA are still trying to find him.But rest assured, we have him in
a well hidden place."
The figure grumbled before coughing again. 
"Good, make sure it stays that way. The boy is of too much importance right
now. Those BSA pests keep interfering with my hard work. It's time we showed
them what sort of things I can do."
Suddenly the figure starts in a fit of terrible coughing and the man stares in
concern.
"Are you okay?"
The figure finally reigns in the coughs and he wheezes heavily before angling
his head to the man. 
"I am fine, still adjusting to this gods' forsaken planet," he growls.
"Honestly, how do humans survive here?"
The man shrugged. 
"Humans have evolved well I guess, we just have a harder time due to the
elevated gravity and oxygen heavy atmosphere."
The figure groans and there's a cracking in his back as he sits up straighter. 
"Well, no matter. Thank you for your report, I look forward to hearing more
good things from you from now on."
"Of course. Is there anything else you would ask of me?"
The figure hums softly and reaches out his smooth pale hand for the man to
take, which he does. 
"This building is cold, and I am lonely; be a dear and warm me up..."
"Anything you wish, I will do."
The mans entire demeanor changes as he scoots closer to the figure and begins
to kiss at his smooth hand. The figure hums softly in delight as the kisses
travel upwards to where his neck was, and soon he is being gently pushed
against the couch so the other man can lean over him in a display of nothing
short of eagerness. 
Soon the cloak is pushed away from the front to reveal an unusually pale and
slender body that the man was all familiar with, and he smirks as he explores
this perfect expanse of limbs and skin. He leaves the cowl over the figure's
face, like he always does, and proceeds to please his master in only the best
ways he can imagine. The soft coos and moans that reach his ears please him to
no end, and he is happy that he can pleasure him this way, and only him. 
'All for you master.'
TBC
***** Chapter 9 *****
t was really late by the time they got home, around 2:30 AM or something like
that. Koichi's arms were full of shopping bags of clothes that Tsuzuku had
gotten him. And Tsuzuku himself had a bunch of plushies that Koichi had begged
him for and lets be real here, how could he possibly deny such a cute face?
The pair had barely managed to get home and take off their makeup and jackets
before collapsing in an exhausted heap on the couch, their shopping bags left
on the floor by their feet. Koichi was fast asleep with his head on Tsuzuku's
lap and the daemon leaning up against the armrest but not quite asleep yet.
 He smiled fondly down at the adorable pinkette and ran his fingers along his
cute pink hair and felt the puffs of warm breath against his leg.
He wasn't surprised that Koichi had managed to fall asleep so quickly. They had
done a lot in the past two hours after that café they went to. They found one
if Tsuzuku's favorite stores and he bought about fifteen different outfits for
both if them. Then they went to a big arcade and they spent another hour in
there, hence why they had so many gods damned plushies.
He'll probably never understand the obsession for the damn things. But he could
try.
It was okay with him if he couldn't fall asleep right away. He was content with
letting Koichi use him as a pillow throughout the night... Or at least he was
until the doorbell rang.
He groaned in complaint and looked around for a pillow for Koichi to lay on in
place of him. The doorbell became insistent and he growled low in his throat.
"Be there in a few," he called in as low a voice he could and settled on a
stuffed cat and slides it under Koichi's head as he slinked off to the door.
"Ugh..."
He opened it ready to bite off the persons head, only to feel his irritation
completely dissipate into disbelief and then into anger. He was greeted with a
happy string of squeals and a tight hug around his neck.
"What the- Hey!"
"Tsuzuku!" Came a shrill cry in his ear as he stumbled around. "I missed you!
It's been forever!"
The sudden smell of painfully familiar cologne made his insides boil. He
grunted and pushed off his assailant before frantically stepping outside of the
apartment and closing the door. A man with light brown hair and red streaks
stood in the hallway bouncing on his heels. Tsuzuku frowned heavily and takes a
deep breath to calm down.
"Ryoga? What... What are you doing here?"
The man, obviously a common demon, smiled bright at him and tried to go in for
another hug, but Tsuzuku flinched and steps back to avoid the embrace. 
"Oh come on Tsuzu-Chan," Ryoga said with a sweet smile. "I wanted to come see
you. It's been such a long time..." 
Tsuzuku frowned even more and made a disgruntled face.
"A long time? Ryoga it has been a hundred years," he snapped. "You disappeared
without a word. And then I had to find out that... You were with some freak
vampire werewolf hybrid in the human world almost seventy years later..."
Tsuzuku huffed and sniffles before he can start crying at finally manages to
glare at Ryoga with all he could. 
"Oh Tsuzuku, I didn't mean to, babe, I-"
Finally Tsuzuku snaps.
"Don't call me that," he growled and presses himself against the door. "Do you
have any idea what that made me feel? How it felt to know that I was thrown
away like that? You had no right, Ryoga. No right at all to come back."
Ryoga's cheery attitude then did a flip and he was now stone faced, his mouth
pressed into a hard line as his eyes grew steely. Their creepy yellowness never
failed to make cold chills prickle at his skin.
"I said I was sorry," he says defensively. "Look, I have forgotten about Yuuki
and I came back for you. What more do you want from me?"
So that was his name. Yuuki. Sounds like a whore name to him. But maybe he was
still really bitter.
"You're a little late for that don't you think? About a hundred years too late.
You know, I might have forgiven you if I had some sort of explanation, but you
didn't give me one. And I've moved on from you. There's someone else I love
now."
He started opening the door and slips inside without letting Ryoga in, fresh
tears streaming down his face.
"Tsu wait!" Ryoga says and tries to keep the door open. "Please, give me
another chance! I still love you! Please!"
Tsuzuku sucked in a shaky breath and wiped at his face.
"I think you should leave," he mumbles softly and glares at the door frame.
"And don't come back."
He pushed away Ryoga's hand from the door and starts closing it.
"No, Tsuzuku-"
"Good bye, Ryoga."
The door slams and he lets out a shaky breath before the tears come out full
force and he can't help the hiccuping sobs that leave his throat. But he tries
to keep it quiet, he really does. And it doesn't help when suddenly Ryoga's
voice muffles in from behind the door.
"I'm not giving up on you Tsu," he says with determination. "Yuuki means
nothing to me now. I need you, and I'm gonna make sure you take me back. I'll
make whatever love you feel for that other person much stronger for me!"
'Please. Just go away.'
He slid down the door and shook, squeezing his eyes shut until finally, he
heard footsteps finally walk down the hallway. Tsuzuku whimpered softly and
wipes away his tears. He doesn't realize that Koichi is awake until his soft
voice calls to him from the couch.
"Tsu? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Tsuzuku jerked and looked up at the pinkette, who was rubbing his eyes of
sleep.
"Oh, Koichi. Um...."
He got to his feet and goes to the couch and unconsciously grabs at Koichi's
hands to hold his fingers.
"It's nothing important right now. Just... Someone I don't want to see had come
back but I sent him away."
"Really? You know if you need someone to talk to... I'm here."
Tsuzuku smiles weakly and pulls away to gather up their bags.
"Not right now. Maybe someday, but for now, we should go to bed. I'll put this
stuff away and you can go ahead and go first if you want."
It wasn't obvious until now to him that Koichi was becoming important to him.
His presence, his touch, his voice. He was keeping Tsuzuku grounded, keeping
him from going completely insane.
Koichi made an unsure face and bites his lip.
"Um... Okay... If you're really okay then I guess. But just so you know."
Koichi reaches out to touch Tsuzuku's shoulder. "I'm here if you need me. You
know that. Good night. Wake me up before you leave okay?"
"O-okay, I will,' he says shakily and watches Koichi slip away into his own
room. "Good night."
The door clicks closed, and finally Tsuzuku feels another crying fit coming on.
He can't help it, and he knows he probably wont be getting much sleep.
For the rest of the night he tosses and turns with little to no sleep at all.
When morning rolls around he feels exhausted and drained of energy. And he knew
he had responsibilities today. That incident with Ryoga last night made him
feel much more listless and unwilling to work. But personal problems aside,
there was some important junk going on now. And with this guy back in the
picture...
Ugh, romancing Koichi might take a bit longer than he initially anticipated.
His previous lover might encounter Koichi at some point and tell him things
that could potentially destroy their already rocky relationship. No, he
couldn't have that at all. For now he would have to keep Koichi as far away
from Ryoga as possible. That was the only option he could think of at the
moment. 
With his mind made up he pulled himself from bed once the sun started peeking
through his curtains and threw on an all leather outfit for today. He sighed
and ran a hand through his hair before going to the bathroom to clean up the
dry tear stains from his face. But he stared at the mirror longer than he
intended, and he realized how much of a mess he was. Aside from the redness
from crying almost most of the night, there were also pronounced bags under his
once bright eyes and he sighs heavily. It was true he hadn't been able to sleep
well the past few nights since Koichi appeared so suddenly in his life. And he
doubted that he would be able to any time soon without some sort of strong
medication.
There was also a lack of shine to his horns as well, probably due to the
upcoming dry season of summer. It always dried them out despite his efforts to
keep them shiny. He ran out of that wax that made them like that, so he had to
remember to get some before they came home. Tsuzuku snorted and started
brushing his teeth with a passive look on his face. Today was just not his day
so far. 
He finally tore his eyes away from the mirror and shuffled to Koichi's room to
wake him up. Inside the pinkette was sleeping like a starfish, sprawled out on
the mattress with his arms and legs tangled in the comforter. Oh lord he was so
cute.
"Hey, Koichi," he whispered and shook at his shoulders. "Koi-chan, wake up, its
time to go. Hey."
"Hmmmm five more minutes..."
The pinkette only mumbled in his sleep and swatted at his hand to shoo him
away. So it was gonna be like that was it? Tsuzuku smiled fondly before poking
at his cheek a bunch of times.
"Koichiiiii," he calls in a high voice. "If you don't get up, I'll have to call
Toshiya to see if he'll look after you all day."
Like magic Koichi groaned and rolled over on his side and sighed in complaint.
"Please don't..." He mumbles softly from the other side of the bed. "Let me
sleep..."
"Oh he's not that bad, he was just so excited to see you that's all. I'm sure
he would love to try out some new recipes he's been working on lately. Surely
you would not have a problem with that?"
Again Koichi made a noise and rolled back over, his eyes sleepily blinking
open. He stared up at Tsuzuku with desperate and tired eyes.
"Ughhhhhhh, fine I'm getting up, just please do not call him."
Tsuzuku laughs and ruffled his hair that was cutely ruffled from his sleep and
stands up to pull open the curtains.
"Good, now lets go, we can't be late. Meto said that we have to be early. I'll
make us some coffee and we can eat something the way."
He exits the room and left Koichi laying there, still dozing off to sneak in a
few more minutes.
-----------------------------------------
Tsuzuku decided he wanted to take his car this time around, he didn't feel like
walking when his horns weren't at their best looking. Daemons were kind of vain
when it came to the quality of their horns...
He wore sunglasses to hide his eyes from Koichi so he wouldn't worry. But
eventually he would probably ask. For now though he kept quiet as they walked
to the parking lot to find his all black mustang parked there. Koichi's
eyebrows rose as they approached the vehicle, his soft pink lined eyes
squinting from the reflection off the hood.
"Whoa this is your car? Sweet! How one you never showed me til now?"
They got in and buckled up before pulling out to head to the building Tsuzuku
worked at.
"Well, my workplace is within walking distance and so is the ruby district, but
for some reason I don't feel like walking today. The sun is making me feel
tired. I usually only use this car for my really long or far away missions.
Like, if I needed to go to our sister building on the other side of the city or
even out of the limits to visit the main building in the next city a hundred
miles away."
Koichi hummed and sat back to admire the fancy little controls and dials on the
dashboard.
"So the building here is not the main building? How many are there?" He wonders
curiously.
"Shinya is one of seven different virtues, and each one is in control of their
own area. This area is his of course. And then the one on the other side
belongs to Jyou, the virtue of love. She's really nice, but her sin
counterpart, Miko, is such a difficult person to deal with."
Tsuzuku stopped at a red light and takes this time to adjust his hair a little
bit.
"So, who is Shinya's sin?"
"Well Shinya is patience, so naturally his sin is wrath, a really short
tempered man named Tomo. But strangely they get along really well."
The light became green and they start moving again. It was by now that Koichi
realized they were being tailed by another car, a dark blue corvette this time.
He became nervous but figured it was probably nothing.
"So... What do the sins do exactly?"
Tsuzuku hummed softly and continued forward, oblivious to their being
followed. 
"Well they are sort of a means of keeping the virtues under control.  In case
they get too out of control or try to have more power then what they should.
It's a yin and yang kinda thing."
"So, they're the good guys?" Koichi asks. 
"Haha, of course. They would not be allowed in the city otherwise," Tsuzuku
laughs softly. "Honestly Koi-chan where do you get these silly ideas?"
Koichi blushed heavily and shrugged, looking back in his mirror. 
"I dunno... I guess I am still kind of naive when it comes to stuff like this."
The corvette was still right behind them. It tailed them for more than five
blocks now, keeping a close distance between them. He was no genius, but he was
fairly certain that this sort of behavior was definitely suspicious. But how to
bring it up?
"You're not naive," Tsuzuku says and shakes his head. "You're still young, and
have plenty to learn about our world. I don't expect you to know everything,
but it's like you said before. If you ever need anything, any questions at all,
you let me know."
 Koichi nodded thankfully and figured now was as good a time as any to let
Tsuzuku know. 
"Okay," he agrees and tears his eyes away from the mirror. "That makes me feel
a lot better. But..."
Tsuzuku frowns a little.
"What's the matter? Is there something you don't understand yet?"
Koichi shakes his head.
"No it's not that," he says quickly and looked back behind them "I don't mean
to alarm you, but there's a car that's been following us for quite some time
now and I didn't want to jump to conclusions at first but now, after almost
seven blocks I am pretty sure we are being followed."
Tsuzuku's grip on the steering wheel tightens and his knuckles turn a little
white.
"What kind of car?" He asks through gritted teeth. Koichi can tell now that
there's some heightened tension in their small space. "What color? What model?"
The pinkette looks back once more and looks closely at the make and model.
"I don't know the year, but it looks like a Corvette, dark blue in color with
LED headlights. Why does that mean something to you?"
"Are you sure it's a Corvette? Are you absolutely positive?"
Koichi's hair bounced as he nods, his eyes worried. 
"Yes, I studied cars a little bit in one of my classes before my life went to
complete hell."
Tsuzuku grimaced even more before going a bit faster. The look on his face told
him everything he needed to know. 
"Just keep watching it, I'll explain when we get there."
His overall demeanor changes to one of agitation and anxiety as they continue
on, and not once did he speak about what was going on. The entire time, through
the last ten blocks of their ride Koichi saw he Corvette continue to tail them
until they reached the parking lot of the company building. Nervous he looked
back and forth between  his hands and the mirror showing the car. They pulled
into a spot towards the front entrance and watches as the car following them
chose one at the back. Probably to attract less attention . 'Too late for
that,' he thought bitterly, there was already suspicion. 
Tsuzuku let out a deep breath and looks to Koichi with seriousness in his
voice. 
"Koichi listen to me. When we get out of this car I don't want you looking back
at the person, just hold my hand til we get inside and get to the top floor.
Okay?"
"Yeah I get it but... What's going on Tsu? Why is this car following us?"
The daemon pales and he bites his lip, getting really nervous. Right now, a lot
of unpleasant memories were playing in his head and he felt like he was
replaying an awful point in his mind all over again. He sighs heavily and grips
harshly onto the door of the car. 
"Someone who... Who came back to haunt me. A part of my life I would rather
forget about to be honest. But..."
He pauses and Koichi can tell he is hesitant to continue. He tries to connect
the dots in his head because Tsuzuku has made no move yet to exit the car. 
'So this person who was following us... Was part of Tsuzuku's life before, and
he must have hurt him right? All I got to do is protect Tsuzuku from this
person and it will all be okay.'
That's all he could come up with.  Tsuzuku takes another deep breath and opens
his door. Koichi follows and steps near him so they can look at the door in
front of them and not behind them. There is the sound of a car door opening and
that makes him panic a little bit. 
"I'll explain later okay? For now just... Stick close to me, and remember what
I said. Here."
He offers a hand and is grateful when Koichi accepts it with no qualms. They
continue to the front door, almost reaching it when a loud voice cuts through
the silence. 
"Tsuzuku!! There you are!"
AT the greeting Tsuzuku grit his teeth and urged them to go faster. 
"Don't look back," he snarls under his breath and makes Koichi shiver with the
seriousness in his voice. They kept going and the footsteps following them
become closer and closer. 
"Hey, don't be like that! I just wanna talk!" 
Finally they reached the lobby and for once in all of his years working here,
he is so freaking grateful that the lobby is congested with people. That would
prove to be his saving grace as he quickly pulled Koichi through the mass of
people to the elevators with a forceful yank. Koichi winced as he felt like his
arm was gonna be yanked out of its socket soon.
"Whoa hey-! Tsuzuku don't pull so hard..!" He complains with slight pain.
"Sorry, but we gotta hurry," he mutters, more to himself. "This is super
important."
Koichi does not elaborate and keeps quiet until they manage to slip into the
elevator by themselves. Hopefully the person following them hadn't noticed the
floor they picked. He stood there quietly and looks to his hands, still
clutched tightly to Tsuzuku's own. But he didn't let go. it seemed like the
daemon needed some comfort right now, because his hands were cold and clammy
and his eyes kept darting from the floor to the overhead lights and every point
in between. His grip was tight but not enough to be painful, just enough to
give indication that he was really stressing out. Perhaps if he should ask now
or later...
"Ryoga."
Koichi blinked as Tsuzuku suddenly spoke up. 
"Huh?"
Tsuzuku sighed again and gripped onto the railing of the elevator for support. 
"That person who followed us. His name is Ryoga, he's a demon and... My ex
lover."
So that's how it was. No wonder why Tsuzuku was so worked up. Koichi swallowed
back an sympathetic sigh and directs his gaze to his shoes, unsure of how to
continue at first. But it seems like he was finally able to ask questions. 
"...was he the one who was at the house last night?"
"Yeah... He... he came back, and was looking for me so we could get back
together. But I sent him away."
"What happened?" Koichi asked, curious. 
"About a hundred years ago, he disappeared, and without a word to me where he
went or what he was doing. I... I thought he loved me, but as it turned out he
was bored of me. So then seventy years passed and I figured out to where he had
gone. He went to the human world for that whole time and was with some vampire
werewolf mixed blood named Yuuki." 
Tsuzuku made a disgusted face as though the very idea of this person revolted
him, and Koichi could understand the feeling all too well.
"Anyway, They eloped and it... it was the worst thing I ever went through to
tell you the truth. I heard it from someone in my squadron who had gone to the
human world for a mission and saw him there. After that, I promised myself I
would never take him back no matter what. Then, he threw Yuuki away as well, so
I can only guess how that must have gone for him. And here he is now, trying to
destroy what I tried to rebuild for the last thirty years or so. And that's all
I will say for now. It's too much to think about right now."
He lets go of Koichi's hand and stares at the floor, thinking to himself.
Koichi's hand feels cold as well, and he decides that he doesn't like the
feeling all that well. 
'Who does that Ryoga guy think he is?? How dare he come back and try to make
Tsuzuku's life worse than it already was? Ugh, if I ever see him I swear..!'
It was from this point that Koichi makes up his mind. He would try his best to
keep Tsuzuku safe, and far away from this Ryoga person because he did not sound
like a good guy at all. With that in mind he once more takes Tsuzuku's hands in
his, both of them, and squeezes softly. Tsuzuku's lips quirked to an almost
smile and Koichi figures that is good enough for now. 
"Don't worry," he says quietly. "I'll be with you for support if you need me." 
Then he does smile. And for once throughout this whole ordeal, felt real.
"Thank you."
 
TBC
***** Chapter 10 *****
"You know that I'll never leave you, right?"
"Of course I do."
"Good. I love you."
"I love you too, Ryoga."
"Hey, Tsuzuku! Focus!"
Tsuzuku snapped up to attention as his name was yelled and he looked around in
surprise. Meto stared at him with worried eyes and he remembered where he was.
In his superiors office, being briefed on his newest mission. He sat in one of
a pair of large burgundy arm chairs situated in front of Meto's desk. 
"Huh?"
His mentor sighs and taps at his temple, flicking his now long and straight
blonde hair behind him.
"You were spacing out again.," he says with a sigh. "We're in the middle of a
meeting. Pay attention."
"Oh, Meto-san... Sorry, my mind was wandering."
Meto pressed his lips together and sighs through his nose.
"Is there something wrong? You seem distant today, like you keep focusing on
something else other than your job."
Tsuzuku sits up straighter and stares down at the papers in front of him on his
lap. For some reason, he couldn't focus on what was on them. Something
important he was sure, but... He just couldn't do it.
"Sorry. I just... Some things have been happening."
"Like what?" Meto asked.
Tsuzuku took a breath and prepared himself for more emotional turmoil.
"You... You remember... Ryoga. Right?"
Right away Meto's face darkened and he was making a disgusted face.
"That prick demon who left you for a freak hybrid in the human world? How could
I forget? What about him?
Tsuzuku sighed and rubbed his eyes, tired from a lack of sleep. 
"He's back."
Meto made a choking noise and stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. Fury
and anger, and most if all protectiveness, was written all over his pale face.
"What?!" He yelled. "When did he come back!? Why haven't you said anything til
now?" 
Yeah, Tsuzuku should have expected such a strong reaction...
"Honestly? I didn't want to put a damper on our work," he admits. "I knew that
personal problems would only get in the way. So I was gonna wait until after
our meeting to say anything but I was too distracted..."
Meto snarled obscenities under his breath and slumped back into his seat,
tapping his fingers to the desk top. He was angry, Tsuzuku could tell. Who
wouldn't be? Anyone who was in his little circle knew who Ryoga was, and they
were super angry at him. He may be a few thousand years old, but he was still
young compared to most of the people who worked here. He was like the baby
brother.
"Fucking hell... This is gonna be a problem... Where did you last see him?"
"He followed me and Koichi here, but I think he left. He was in a blue
Corvette. Koichi noticed him following us a while back."
"Have you told Koichi about Ryoga?"
"Yes... He dropped by the house last night actually," Tsuzuku admitted. "That
was the reason why I came in looking like hell this morning."
Meto frowned heavily and glares at the grains in the table. He knew better than
some people that Ryoga was very possessive in nature aside from being
untrustworthy. Someone like Koichi was vulnerable and in dangerous proximity to
Tsuzuku at all times. Ryoga could do some real damage if they were not careful.
"This is not good... What did he want when he went to your place last night?"
Recalling the memory made Tsuzuku cringe, so he dipped his head and tried not
to stare at Meto's face.
"He... Wanted to get back together... I told him no, that I would never. But I
think I made him upset, so now he's taken to following me. Now I'm worried
about how he's gonna act around Koichi, if he'll back off or get more
territorial."
Meto's face twisted into doubt and he sneers, completely riled up.
"Most likely the latter, you know how he is. Where is the boy now?"
"Out in the lobby with Minpha. He said it was okay if he waited for me out
there since they are like friends now."
Meto hummed in thought and stood up to pace back and forth, tapping a finger to
his chin.
"Just as well; You'll need a second person to look out for him until his
procedure; he is very vulnerable at the moment. We have to keep Ryoga as far
away from Koichi as possible until he can take care of himself."
That was probably the best option. He couldn't possibly be safe taking Koichi
out in public anymore without worrying about their safety. Shopping would be a
pain, coming to work would be dangerous. Basically whatever he did now would
attract attention to himself, and worse to Koichi. But what if...
"What if I just talked to him? Ask him why he came back. I know that guy that
he dumped is probably as hurt as I was when he first left me."
Meto thought about it, seemingly more focused on this situation than on what
was supposed to be an important meeting.
"That is plausible, but... How about this. Instead of meeting with your ex, you
try to find this... Hybrid that he left you for and talk to him? He could
probably give us some interesting information."
That was also true. Yuuki could probably provide something useful to know about
all of this. Ryoga's reason for leaving, why he left Yuuki, all of that.
Perhaps he could even possibly find out why he decided to come back. That was
what he most needed to know. So he could finally put an end to all of this and
put it all behind him.
Tsuzuku nodded in thought and figured by now he had a possible game plan to act
upon. All he needed to do first was find out where this Yuuki was hiding. But
there was a slight problem. He had no idea where to look or who to ask. Other
than, well, Ryoga himself. And he really didn't want to ask him for help. But
he would have to if he had no choice.
Meto seemed to be observing his face as he thought to himself and smiled a very
cunning smile. It was rare to see such an expression on the guys face,
especially since he was so freaking gloomy all the time. What was he thinking?
"I guess you're wondering, 'how will you find this guy? The hybrid might not
even be from around here. He could still be in the human world.' Well my
friend, I think I have just the resources you need. Come speak to me again in
about five hours, 'kay? By that time I should have some names for you to look
into if you need some help. This will conclude our meeting for the day."
It all ended so suddenly that Tsuzuku looked up in confusion and bewilderment.
"Wha- Wait hold on," he spluttered and stood up. "What about my mission? The
whole reason you called me in here?"
Meto paused and gathered up his papers from the table. 
"Well to be honest, now that Ryoga is back in the picture, you'll be far too
distracted to do this assignment. I'll just assign someone else to do it. For
now, you will be put on an entirely different case; Your own. As for the
previous case, I will probably just put Kaoru or Kyo in charge."
Tsuzuku frowned at that because it sounded like Meto was dismissing him as
being too absentminded for the job. Which he probably was, but still. Talk
about rude.
"Fine, I... I guess. What do you want me to do now?" He asked with a cross of
his arms. Meto filed away the papers at his desk and sits at the laptop sitting
on top of it. He starts typing away with a focused expression.
"For now, until I call you back, you can start by getting the paperwork for
Koichi's procedure filed. The Science department higher-ups won't lift a finger
until everything is filed correctly."
Tsuzuku groaned in exasperation and face palmed, too tired to have to deal with
the stuck up suits running the most funded area of their company. It was so
tiring having to deal with them. Plus there was the issue of not having all of
the legal papers on Koichi, which were all in the human world which meant he
would have to go back to get them. But if that was how it was supposed to be...
For Koichi's sake then, he guessed it was worth it. HE had been meaning to get
around to it anyway.
"Ugh, fine. Thanks Meto-san, for helping me out. I'll get right on that."
He stood to leave but was stopped by his boss one last time. 
"Oh and Tsuzuku. I would suggest you put out a restraining order on Ryoga for
the moment. Just for your and Koichi's safety. That will be all for now."
Tsuzuku nodded before slipping out of the door, taking a breath. Well that
whole thing certainly took an unexpected turn didn't it? First it was one
thing, then it was the next. He wasn't sure what made Meto put him in this
situation, as he was sure he could probably handle it himself without getting
anyone involved. However he also knew that with more help he would get more
done quicker, so for that he was very grateful for his mentor's help.
He continued down the hall and came into the area where he left Koichi with the
cute cat demon from before. They were giggling and talking in soft tones and
for some reason... Hearing Koichi giggling like that made his chest feel some
kind of way. And he wasn't sure if he liked that feeling yet...
Tsuzuku sighed and approached the two sitting at one of the many tables set up
around the lobby. Die was here today, which meant that Toshiya was alone today.
Minpha wasn't really working technically, since he wasn't wearing a uniform. It
still made one wonder what exactly his role around here was aside from being a
stand in for Die. Perhaps he should ask later...
Oh right, he was at work here.
"Hey," he greeted the two friends. "How are you doing Koichi? You okay?"
The cute pinkette smiled at him and angled his body in the chair so he could
face Tsuzuku head on.
"Hey. Yeah, I'm okay. Minpha has been keeping me company. How is your uh...
Situation?"
Tsuzuku scratched at his arm a little and takes a seat near Koichi to grab his
fingers to comfort himself.
"Well, I was moved to a completely different case... I can't be a part of Mia's
or the other's cases. But, I have been assigned two new ones."
"Whose?" Koichi asks with a tilt of his head.
"Ours. Or, mine and yours specifically. I have to put in a request for a
restraining order against Ryoga so I cab look for a way to keep him away from
me, and find the guy he left to gather more information. As for your case, we
have to go back to the human world and gather up some of your legal documents
so we can get your splicing stuff taken care of. Legal stuff y'know."
Koichi made a grossed out face and started to pout like a little kid.
"Ughhhhhh, I don't wanna go back. I'm gonna start having all kinds of bad
memories if I do. Plus ill have to see my sad excuse for an uncle again."
His hesitance was understandable, and Tsuzuku didn't want to put even more
stress on him than what was necessary. If need be, he would just take a few of
his buddies along with him. So he just squeezes Koichi's arm and smiles at him.
"I figured you would say that, so I have decided that I will go alone, maybe
take a couple buddies with me. I know you're not ready to go back yet. Hell you
may not ever be. But I'm gonna take care of it. Okay?"
He would try to do whatever he had to to make sure that Koichi trusted him.
Koichi's face heated up a little and he tries to hide it with an awkward cough.
"T-thanks, I guess," He says. "So... Should I stay here while you..?"
He trailed off due to his flushed cheeks becoming worse, and Tsuzuku bit back
the urge to giggle at his expense. 
"That would be best, but I probably wont have to go up til tomorrow. Today
though, we have to go to the courthouse and get some things taken care of
there, then we'll see."
"Okay. So, what should we do now?"
Tsuzuku mimics Minpha's action and leans back to stare at the ceiling. 
"I dunno. Meto wants me back in his office in about five more hours, so we have
an hour or two to kill before the courthouse opens in about three. So.. We just
hang out around here I guess."
Minpha sighs as a silence falls over their table and he leans against the table
on his elbows, staring at the clock on the wall behind Die's desk. Speaking of
which where was he anyway? 
"Where is Die, Minpha?" Tsuzuku asks after a while. "He was here when I went to
Meto's office but now he isn't?"
"Oh," Minpha says in realization. "He went to go have a small break. But he has
been gone for a long time, about half an hour now. Which is weird, even for
him."
Koichi frowned and twiddled his thumbs nervously. 
"Shouldn't someone go check on him? If it's weird for him to be late then..."
Minpha laughs nervously, his ears twitching on his head as though listening for
something. 
"I am sure he is fine, Die is a big boy he can handle himself. In fact, I think
I... hear someone coming up the elevator now."
Tsuzuku and Koichi both listened but heard only silence, to which Minpha only
laughed. 
"What's so funny?" Tsuzuku griped. "I don't hear anything."
 
"Me either," Koichi admits. But Minpha just sighed and pet at his ears. 
"I wouldn't think so; You don't have ears like I do. Ah, he's coming, I best
return to work now."
Sure enough now they heard the roaring of the elevator coming up to their
floor, then stop. Minpha stood and patted down the white dress he was wearing
and slipped on a black apron that was draped over his chair.
"What exactly do you work as?" Koichi couldn't help asking. 
"Oh, when I am not being Die's stand in, I am simply a multi tasker. I clean, I
make food, I run copies, faxes, etc etc. Y'know, a jack of all trades sort of
person... Oh. Here he comes." He began to walk to the door to greet Die when he
stops and listens more intently, a frown settling on his face. Hang on...
Something is off."
Minpha suddenly becomes agitated and the fluffy tail swaying behind him becomes
all puffed up. Now Koichi was no expert on cats but even he knew that was a bad
sign. Tsuzuku bolted upwards and made Koichi stay sitting in his seat. Minpha
by now was completely on edge, running down the hallway to let Shinya know that
there was a commotion in his building.
"What's going on?" He asks and feels a hand gripping his shoulder. 
"Shh. Hang on."
Suddenly they all heard a commotion outside with things being slammed around in
anger and a few angry voices yelling around. Two male it sounded like. That was
enough to put both of them on edge and Tsuzuku knew that something was
definitely wrong.
"Stay behind me," Tsuzuku whispers and stalked toward the door, ready to keep
anyone who was an intruder from coming inside.
Frantically Koichi scurried behind him, terrified out of his wits. Tsuzuku
waited, and waited. The commotion grew closer and closer until they could make
out Die's angry voice yelling at someone walking toward the doors leading to
the lobby. 
"You can't go in there! You do not have the legal rights to enter this
premises! Leave now!"
Who in the world was dumb enough to enter such a high security building without
the proper clearance first? Were they suicidal or something?
Just then the doors slammed open and Tsuzuku was ready for a physical
altercation, until the face of the intruder came into full view. His heart
stopped for only a brief second before he felt more anger tearing at his
already frayed nerves. 
"What the- Ryoga?? What the fuck are you doing here?! Get out!"
"I'm here to take you back. You're not going to slip away this time."
Tsuzuku growled and stepped fully in front of Koichi to protect him from view.
"No, I am not going back with you, so just... Leave us alone."
The demon was livid, and his bright yellow eyes had such a terrifying look in
them that he felt his breath stop. But he couldn't show signs of weakness, not
now. At least not until Ryoga's eyes landed on Koichi, still cowering behind
Tsuzuku. It was at this point that he started feeling really really nervous. 
"Oh," he chuckles humorlessly. "I see what's going on here."
His face becomes sad and heartbroken as he looked between his ex and the new
face he noticed just now. Tsuzuku bristled as his posture became defensive but
he was not expecting the demon to break into heartrending sobs right in front
of them. His eyebrows furrowed and he shared confused looks with Koichi.
"Ryoga what-"
"You've replaced me!" the demon whimpered and sobbed into his hands before
dropping to his knees. "I thought we... I-I thought I could..."
His sobs became too much to handle and he couldn't talk anymore. Amazement was
displayed across Die's face as he tried to register what the hell was going on.
And not too soon Shinya's footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway. 
"What's going on here?" He thundered loudly into the lobby, making them all
flinch. He spots Ryoga crying his eyes out in the middle of the room and
stormed over, calmness written all over his face. But that was just an
indication of how pissed he was. Die straightened up a bit and reached out to
grab Ryoga by the back of his neck. He didn't resist, just kept on crying. 
"I'm sorry sir," he says. "But somehow, this ruffian was able to get onto the
top floor. He managed to slip through our defenses."
Shinya studied the sobbing form of Ryoga with disdain at first, but upon
glancing over him a few times and looking back and forth between them, he
sighs, his expression softening. 
"A common demon, no one special. Demons can turn to smoke and traverse through
air ducts and ventilation systems without being detected. But such a form of
movement is outlawed in buildings without smoke detector screens." He pauses
and stands in front of Ryoga to lift up his head. His yellow eyes, once bright
with fury and anger, were now dulled with redness and tears. "Hmm. You smell of
desperation. What is is that you have been seeking, hm? You've caused quite a
ruckus in my building. Perhaps a pardon is in order if I have some sort of...
Sufficient explanation. Well?"
Tsuzuku knew it was now or never at this point.
"U-um, he was looking for me," he admitted. When Shinya pinned him with a
questioning stare he swallowed harshly. "You see... He and I... We used to
date. But he uh... Left me a long time ago for a hybrid in the human world. But
I guess he came back down and wants me to get back together with him. I denied
of course but... I guess I kinda... Made him mad?"
Shinya hummed to himself and lets Ryoga's head drop so he can stare some more
at the back of his head.
"So, this is the demon I've heard so much about. Hmm, Ryoga. Right? From what I
hear you really broke my poor Tsuzuku's heart. You know, I always told myself
that if we ever met that I would hurt you worse than you did him. But you know
what? I'm not gonna. Sometimes patience is a curse." He looks at Die and nodded
once. 
"What will you have me do, sir?" He asked. Shinya hummed and turned his back to
them, looking out the window.
"Perhaps he can cool off in one of the interrogation cells on the floor below.
Then we can get some answers out of him. Have someone help you take him back."
"Uh right. There's someone just outside the door, I'll have them help. Come on
trouble maker." 
Ryoga suddenly let out a pitiful wail and jerked free only to disappear into a
ball of smoke and caused everyone to panic. 
"Hey!" Die yelled. "Come back!"
The thick blackness of the smoke swirled and plumed up to the ceiling,
screeching in agony before bolting out of an opened screen window on a nearby
wall. He was gone, just like that. Tsuzuku didn't even get a chance to say
anything. 
Koichi still stood completely still, trying to catch his breath. The pinkette
wasn't sure what to say next, so he cautiously moved away from Tsuzuku to the
window. He looked out at the sprawling buildings beneath him and couldn't see
any smoke. So he really was gone then. All he could see was the glare of
sunlight off of the buildings in front of him. 
"He'll be back," Tsuzuku says behind him, making him turn around. He cocked his
head, confused. "He doesn't give up easy."
"Tsu..?"
The daemon sighs bitterly, his face showing just how tired he really was. He
walks up behind Koichi and puts an arm around his shoulders to look out of the
window alongside him. 
If he knew Ryoga as well as he thought he did, he knew that this wouldn't be
the last they saw of the demon for a while. Not by a long shot. 
"I'm so tired."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
He was so close! SO fucking close! 
His beloved was standing right there, in front of him. but there was a human
there with him! A human! What the hell was he thinking?! That human was so
plain looking! How could Tsuzuku do this to him??
Well... he guessed he should have expected such a reaction. He did cheat on him
with another after all. But it only lasted seventy years! The last thirty of
the supposed hundred years he was gone was spent looking for Tsuzuku again so
he could make up for his mistakes. But it was too late for that. He loved
another now, and there was no way he could get him back.
Ryoga was so upset, he couldn't even feel it in himself to feel angry anymore.
His heart was too broken at the moment. After escaping while in his smoke form,
he immediately shifted back into his humanoid body and limped back home. He
managed to hit the side of a building on his way back, and that sort of messed
up his flight pattern, and he injured his leg a little. Talk about karma coming
back to bite him in the ass.
He coughed hoarsely through his still fresh tears and struggled up the stairs
of the apartment building, only to fall to his knees at some strangers feet
once he reached the top floor of the meager four story building. But that
didn't matter. Anyone could see him for what he was now. A worthless, back
stabbing cheater. A blubbering mess of a once proud creature was all that was
left. 
He tried to pick himself back up to salvage what was left of his dignity until
the stranger stopped him with a hand to his shoulder. Ryoga looked up through
red blurry eyes and saw a strange sight in front of him. Tall, and dressed
entirely in black, the stranger had a pale face with long blonde hair to his
waist. His eyes were a shade of pretty sky blue and his lips were curved upward
in a sweet pink smile. He wore a zip up hoodie, but without the zipper done and
no shirt to expose a skinny but lean body with various scars running along his
stomach and chest. The hood was pulled just so that his long blonde hair could
frame his face. 
Who was this mysterious person? And why was he smiling like that? 
"Oh dear," the stranger purrs with a sympathetic cooing in his voice. "What do
we have here? A sad little lamb? Are you lost?"
Ryoga snorted indignantly and stood up harshly, yanking his shoulder away from
the stranger's grasp.
"I'm not lost," he snapped. "And don't call me a lamb, you weirdo. I'm just
trying to get home, so if you'd please just... Leave me alone."
He tried to shove past the stranger but he is stopped once more by a hand to
his wrist. 
"My apologies," he says quickly. "But you look like you need someone to talk
to. I can tell, your emotions are fluctuating like crazy."
The demon's eyes narrowed in confusion and he looks down to where a finely
manicured hand is gripping softly but firmly onto his exposed wrist. How was he
able to tell? Was he some kind of... Emotion reader?
"How do you-"
The stranger laughed and patted his arm with his free hand.
"Why don't we talk a little bit? You could use some company on such a dreary
day like today, right?"
Who the heck was this guy? God, he had so many questions. But he seemed nice,
and willing to talk it out. Perhaps that was all he needed was a nice talk and
maybe, just maybe, he too could move on from what was obviously a fruitless
effort of getting Tsuzuku back. 
He sighed wearily and relents.
"Fine. Come on then..." 
Ryoga lets the stranger follow him to his apartment, where they sat inside on
his couch and talked for what seemed like hours. After he was done explaining
his situation he felt like a huge weigh was lifted off his shoulders. and the
stranger listened with such attentiveness that he wondered if this man went
into everyone's homes and played psychiatrist. Speaking of which he still
didn't know his name, or even his species. But how should he ask?
"My, what a sad, heart breaking story," the man says with a dramatic flourish
of his hands. "If only all relationships lasted nicely, then we would not have
such sad tales to tell. Tell me, have you tried just talking to him?"
Ryoga shrugs his shoulders, not really sure if he thought about it all the way
through earlier in that building. 
"There was an attempt, but it didn't go well. He's still really mad at me and I
don't blame him. This whole thing is my fault."
The stranger tsked in sympathy and very boldly caresses his face. He felt small
sparks of unease crawl on his skin but he figured it was just the whole
stranger in his house thing. It would pass.
"You could not help it. Demons can't help who they are attracted to, so don't
beat yourself up about it okay?"
That was true enough he figured. While demons and daemons were similar in the
way that they both fell in love easily, only daemons had an unyielding sense of
loyalty to their lovers. Demons on the other hand had issues with loving only
one person. Curse this over sized heart of his...
"Why are you helping me?" He asks the stranger, who by now was around him long
enough for him to call very attractive. "We barely know each other if at all."
That earns him a small laugh and another stroke of his face. 
"Well, that is because you and I are very much alike in the sense that we both
have gone through very tough times in our lives. I want to find and understand
more people like us so that I can help him. Speaking of which, I know a guy who
can probably help? If you're willing?"
Now Ryoga was intrigued. 
"Who?" He asked. 
"I can't tell you his name now, but if you come with me, we can have this whole
issue sorted out. He's sort of like a... Love specialist, and he lives in the
human world. What do you say?"
For some reason, that caused him to feel even more interested. If there was one
thing about demons he was grateful for, it was the overwhelming curiosity. He
wanted to know who this guy was, and maybe he could help him to move on. There
was just one thing he wanted to know. 
"What's your name anyway? And what are you?"
The stranger smiled at him and grabs his hands. 
"My name is Layha. I'm a vampire that feeds on emotion. What is yours?"
That made sense. Sometimes vampires could feed on emotions if they wanted to.
It wasn't always about blood sometimes.
"Ryoga."
Layha pats his hand and stands up, pointing to the door. 
"Well Ryoga, my new friend, should we go? I promise, this guy I know is the
real deal."
They left the apartment with the intent to find this guy Layha spoke of.
Outside the city, more storm clouds were beginning to gather in the sky. Ryoga
scoffed. Of course it was gonna rain, why wouldn't it? As he walked ahead, he
didn't notice Layha speaking to a seemingly random crow out of nowhere. 
Ryoga looked back at Layha and tilts his head to see him lingering a bit
further back. 
"Layha? What's the matter?"
The vampire shakes his head and quickly gains stride alongside his companion
for the day.
"Nothing. Let's go, wouldn't wanna be late."
As they walked away, the crow flew away to a high off building with a small
piece of paper attached to it's beak. The bird stopped in front of another
hooded man on a high building and lets him take the paper from it's beak. He
reads the paper and grins before staring down below him. 
"Good boy, Haru. Keep an eye on him, will you?"
The crow trilled softly before once more taking flight. The man looks once more
at the paper, feeling utterly giddy. 
I've found him. Tell master I'll be back soon. 
TBC
***** Chapter 11 *****
Ryoga hasn't been seen since then. Yet despite this, Tsuzuku was as anxious as
ever. He constantly scanned every area for him, and last night he locked his
balcony door, something he would never do before. The paranoia was especially
bad when we started walking home after his work was over today. He spaced out
constantly, and I couldn't say anything to him without making him jump in
surprise. Was his past trauma really that bad that he jumped whenever I so much
as spoke? How will this affect our communication?
I sighed softly to myself as he looked over his shoulder for the hundredth time
today as we walked through our now familiar part of the city. He must have
heard me because his eyes stopped and came back to me, confused. 
"Did you say something?" He questioned in a small voice. I just answered with a
shake of my head. "Oh... Sorry."
"Don't be," I answered with a half smile. "You're tired that's all, you have a
long day ahead of you tomorrow. We both do."
Tsuzuku's lips quirk into a small laugh and he rubs his eyes. I never noticed
until now, but he looks really tired. Like he hasn't been sleeping well. There
are shadows under his usually sharp and expressive eyes, and his full lips are
dry, almost close to being chapped. This stressing out thing is getting to a
really bad point isn't it?
"I know. It's finally the day where I have to go back to find all your paper
work for the surgery... Are you sure you want to do this tomorrow though? I
mean we can wait for another time if you're not ready, and the doctors are
willing on waiting however long you want..."
He's been asking me that since we decided on an official date. But I had told
him already, it was fine. I needed to do this, for me and for him. I no longer
want to be a burden, and if I stay human I will be. That is something I
definitely don't want.
"No, I am okay, it's better to get it over with than to keep putting it off. It
will only make me sicker, you know that."
And it was true; I started showing signs this morning. My skin around my eyes
is starting to discolor to a weird blackish color and my fingernails were
turning purple. It was freaking me out and yet he wanted me to wait??
"Hell I know that, I just..." He paused and bit his lip. "...I just worry, you
know? I am here to take care of you until you can function on your own, of
course I would wonder about something like this. I just want what's best for
you."
So he was worried about me... For some reason, that makes me feel... Really
happy. A heavy feeling in my throat makes it hard to breathe and I have to look
away. Gods I am so embarrassed..!
"U-um... Yeah, I uh... Thanks," I say and smile a little at him. "But you know,
Tsuzuku... Eventually I am gonna find my own way. I'm not always going to be
with you and you won't always have to worry about me. I'm almost an adult now."
When I said that I could have sworn I saw him flinch a little bit. What was
that all about? Was it something I said?
"Yeah... But until then, Koichi. I am your guardian until then. No matter what,
I will always be here for you even after you... After you leave me."
Why does he have to look so sad? Talking about this is hard enough as it is.
And besides, it is not like I am some super important person, right? I am just
another human in this city. He's probably taken in many others besides me. 
...Why does that make me even more upset? 
"Tsuzuku..." 
I can't finish talking, I just feel too bad now. I probably said something bad
again. Ugh, my throat hurts and the pressure won't go away. He just keeps
walking to the apartment and I helplessly follow along. 
Oh dear, I've made things awkward. What do I say? What should I do?
Suddenly he stops walking and I unceremoniously bump into his back. 
"Whoa my bad," I quickly apologize. But he doesn't answer right away. "Tsuzuku?
What's wrong?"
I peeked around to look at his face, and he stared ahead silently with a stern
expression, his mouth set in a hardened line on his face. There was a crossing
just in front of us, one we always used and was full of people. Something must
have caught his eye in the crowd. He stared ahead until whatever he saw must
have vanished.
"Sorry... I thought I saw something."
"What?" I asked.But he shook his head in response. 
"It's... Nothing," He says and takes my hand. "Let's go home, I need to take
off all this leather."
I laughed a little bit and he started to swing our hands back and forth. His
skin was really warm, something I only recently noticed. Now I was really
starting to wonder about this hand holding habit of his. Didn't people only do
that if they were... Together? Like, together together? 
As flattering of a thought that it is, there was no way Tsuzuku could mean that
right? I mean look at me. Still, wouldn't hurt to ask right?
"Hey, Tsuzuku...  There's something I have been meaning to ask you."
I fidgeted and felt my other free hand become clammy a bit. He hummed in
acknowledgement at me as a cue for me to continue.
"Why do you always hold my hands when we walk? Isn't that sorta... Weird? Won't
people... Assume things?"
Tsuzuku paused the hand swinging and pursed his lips, but only for a little bit
before he just shrugs at me and continues to swing. 
"No, people do it all the time. Why, do you hate it?" He asked teasingly with a
weak grin. Weak because I knew that deep down he was being serious. Better
choose my words carefully...
"Uhh, no it's not that," I say honestly. "I just... It makes me feel weird when
people look at me funny. I have issues with myself in general."
He seemed to sigh a bit at the fact that it wasn't him I was embarrassed
about. 
"Koichi... You don't need to be embarrassed. You look nice, and hand holding is
normal. So don't worry about it. M'kay? Come on."
He continued to tug me along, and I just decided to go with it. This sort of
thing was not surprising to me anymore. 
As soon as we got home Tsuzuku changed into his usual sleeping clothes
consisting of only a single pair of sweatpants. For some reason he doesn't wear
a shirt to sleep... I for one have to. It gets cold.
I sat in the living room awkwardly while he walked around half nude. Doesn't he
feel at least a little bit of shame?
"Hey."
He called to me from the kitchen and I almost jumped. We haven't really spoken
since we got back, so hearing him suddenly made me jumpy. 
"Yeah?" I answered, trying to ignore the sight of his lean and toned body just
out in the open. Ohh man.
"Have you been back to the hospital yet? I heard that the kids in the shootings
have shown signs of coming out of their sleep, and Mia was the first."
Okay I hadn't heard of that yet.
"No... Do you want me to go see?" 
By now, I had memorized the route to the building just fine and could probably
make my way there on my own. Talking to Mia was probably gonna make me nervous
as all fucking hell, but whatever. I had nothing left to lose at this point.
Besides, he already stated that he didn't really hate me. Perhaps some amends
could be made and we could put everything behind us for some well deserved
closure. Lord knows we both need it. 
But Tsuzuku hesitated again. 
"Well... I dunno. Would you be okay on your own? Without me to accompany you?"
I nodded, trying not to answer too hastily. 
"No no you're too tired," I say and wave him off. "I'll be fine. I have the way
remembered mostly, and if I need help I can just ask someone."
But still, he makes an unsure face and fidgets. If he has something to say he
had better spit it out. I swear he still treats me like I have no idea what the
hell I am doing. 
Finally though he shrugged and steps into the kitchen to stare inside the
fridge. 
"All right I guess," he relented. "But be careful okay? If you need me you know
my cell phone number, you know Toshiya's number, and Die's and Minpha's-"
I laughed and stopped him there. 
"Tsuzuku calm down I will be fine. Honestly, you're gonna give yourself gray
hairs by worrying yourself too much. Now if you're gonna go to sleep you
should, and I will be right back."
He stared at me as I start to gather up my things again and the phone he bought
for me earlier. It was nice and had a big screen, kind of like the old one I
had before. And it was pink, of course it was pink. I have a feeling that pink
is going to be the color that everyone associated with me from now on. Oh well,
it's not like it is a bad color. I just wish I had some more diversity in my
life. 
I put on my favorite tiger stripe jacket and pulled up my hair in twin buns to
get them out of my face then walked to the door.
"Be careful, Koi-chan," he called to me once I slipped on my shoes. "Remember
to look both ways! And don't talk to people you don't know. And if some one
asks for your species be honest and tell them the truth."
He came padding over to me and checked me over a few times as I rolled my eyes
and nodded. 
"Yes mom I get it already! I'll message you if I need anything. And I'll
probably stop at a cafe for something for supper."
He bit at his lip multiple times and I had to resist my urge to sigh
obnoxiously loud. But then he puts his hand in mine for a brief moment, making
a weird face... A mix between anxiousness and worry probably. Before I can
answer his arms go around me in a suffocating hug. 
"Say hi to him for me?" He asked. "Over the course of the time he has been
here, I've learned to... Tolerate him much better than I have before. I don't
blame him anymore. Do this for me, okay?"
His sudden closeness and tight grip made it hard to breathe and I inhale
sharply under my breath. Why did he feel so hot? Or was it just me?
"D... Don't worry. I will. Now stop suffocating me..!"
He giggles and gave my arms a last squeeze before he let's go. 
"Sorry... I'm just, I just need to make sure you're okay."
I look at his eyes intently and can't help but to laugh a little albeit
bitterly. The dark circles are worse today now that I look closer. And the
melanin on his horns is starting to flake a little. 
"I should be asking you the same thing," I muttered just loud enough for him to
hear. "But really, you should hurry up and sleep. You don't look too hot right
now."
Then he's giggling and rubbing under his eyes and yawning. 
"So you're telling me that I look hot? I'm flattered."
Oh my god why did I say that?
I stutter from embarrassment and lightly smack his chest. 
"Oh stop, you know what I mean," I coughed and tried to cover up my red cheeks
by rubbing them. "But seriously, I'll be okay. Now go, take a nap."
"Okay okay fine I'm going. I'll see you later."
Tsuzuku's lips quirk a little bit in amusement, and just when I think he's
about to finally go away he surprises me again. His lips are pressed to my
cheek in one instant and then gone in the next. I freeze in place as he smirks
at me before finally disappearing. My heart won't stop pounding in my chest.
What is going on..? Why do I suddenly feel so... hesitant to leave? Don't tell
me I am getting more sick?
I try to shake it off and chalk it up to it just being a part of Tsuzuku's
eccentric antics again and my inability to really understand the enigma that
was in his head. But still, I can't shake this feeling. 
I head out the door with my new panda tote bag and the collapsible umbrella he
got for me. One thing I learned about this place was that it rained seemingly
out of nowhere so being prepared was a good thing. 
The walk was boring, spent mostly by staring at my feet and listening to noises
around me. Another thing I remember Tsuzuku telling me was that walking around
out here by myself was really dangerous. One reason being that I was still
technically human, therefore an easy target for stronger monsters and creatures
walking around out here. Two, people were notorious for being bad drivers. It
was a good idea to always listen for something suspicious. 
My time was spent a good twenty minutes with just walking with nothing
uneventful happening before I finally saw the tall hospital building coming
into view. Tsuzuku had nothing to worry about. I can do this, I'm not that
helpless. 
The inside was nice and bright with a sterile smelling air circulating in every
air. That smell always made me feel uneasy for some reason. A secretary at the
front desk notices me and I walk up to her with a small smile. Whoa her eyes
are creepy. They were all white with no pupil and red veins scattered all over
in them. 
"Hello there. What can I do for you sweetie?" She asks. I ask about Mia and the
others and she nods, turning to her computer. "Ah yes, the humans... Give me a
second here. What's your name?"
"Koichi."
"What is your current race and or species?"
"I am Japanese, and still human."
She paused only briefly before continuing.
"And are you here as a family member or as a friend?"
"Friend," I answered honestly, though I wasn't so sure we were that just yet.
She tapped away at her keyboard before grabbing a piece of paper and scribbling
something into it. 
"Here you go. The Recovery unit is on the second floor, just take the elevator
up and talk  to the other nurse on duty."
She smiled at me as she hands it over and I could tell that something about her
was weird. Just looking at her face made me feel uneasy.
"Um... thanks miss," I answered before going to the elevator. I'm just happy to
escape her gaze, I was about to get some serious chills there. That made me
wonder just who or what she was exactly. Maybe I'll just ask Tsuzuku later.
The elevator was bright gray and smelled strongly of lemons with bright
fluorescent lights that hurt my eyes. Why were hospital elevators like this?
Every single one. Even back in my old home, the clinic I frequented had one
like this. My discomfort lasted luckily for only a few seconds and I have never
been so happy to get out of one of those things. At least the one at the
apartment had color to it.... 
But enough about my discomfort with elevators, I was on a mission here. 
On this floor was the same as the one before, only with a... Sadder, darker
atmosphere. If that even makes sense to anyone. I could tell a lot of stuff
went down on this floor, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know. But Mia was here,
along with everyone else who died. I wonder how they were doing. 
There was another desk like the nurse said, with a guy sitting there instead.
He was tapping away at his computer with a bored face and I could almost feel
sorry for him. 
"Uhh excuse me?" 
I got his attention and he slowly raises his head. Then a professional, albeit
fake smile crawled onto his face. His eyes were normal looking at least. 
"Yes?"
"Um... I'm here to see a boy named Mia. He was part of the... Massacre in the
human world."
That made his face fall into a sympathetic frown and he sighs. 
"Ah I see. We had plenty of visitors earlier today to see them. Quite tragic.
Do you know this boy you're here to see?"
I nodded, trying to ignore the way he stared at me intently. 
"Sort of. I knew him in the human world for a small time."
I guess now I have his attention.
"Oh really? How long have you been here?"
Gosh why was he so interested? I only wanted to see Mia.
"Not long. A little under a week now, but I was by myself when I got here."
The man hummed and started typing something into his computer. 
"I see. Well, welcome to our lovely hospital. I'm sorry for your... Um, sudden
arrival. The boy you're looking for is just over there in room 303. Try not to
stay too late okay? Visiting hours are over at ten. It's eight o'clock now.
Come get me or push the button on the wall if you need help."
Okay then, so... That gives me two hours to talk to him. No problem. I thanked
the guy and headed to the door nearby. 
Gosh now I was even more nervous. What even were my feelings right now? I had
no idea what I was going to say to him once I got there. How do I even face him
after what he has done? It wasn't his fault, I understand that already. But
still, something inside me still felt bitter. Like a small part of my sub
conscious still wanted me to be angry and blame him. Again, a small part. I
don't even know what I feel about him anymore. Maybe if I talk to him about it
a little more I will understand then.
Here was his door now. Ugh I can feel my palms getting a tad sweaty. Shaking a
little bit I knocked on the door, and a small meek voice answered me. 
"Come in."
I take a deep breath and open the door with a low creak. Inside the room was
very dim, lit up by the light coming from the bathroom door. The curtains were
pulled open to let in soft early moon light. My breaths came out ragged and I
felt my heart hammering in my chest. There was a curtain separating what had to
be space for two beds, and the one closest to me was empty of anyone and all
made neatly with the blanket tucked in. So he had to be on the other side. 
"Who is it? I thought... I thought no more doctors were coming today."
He spoke as I closed the door and I couldn't help but to flinch. He sounded
so... So sick, and tired. Probably due to the testing that had to be done to
make sure he was okay. As Tsuzuku had told me, it was hard on some people, but
it wasn't very hard on me. 
I slowly walked towards his bed and took my time coming into his vision range.
As I did, his eyes at first slowly and lazily fell on me. Then once he must
have realized it was me, they widened a lot. 
"Koichi..?"
Something felt different than when I last saw him. But at the same time nothing
was different. What I felt was most different though was... I no longer felt
scared when I saw him. And... 
"Hi. I finally came to see you."
I just... don't feel anything.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 12 *****
Koichi wasn't sure what to say. How to begin the conversation.
Here Mia was, confined to a hospital bed and in somewhat of the same situation
as he was sort of. Except, it was worse he guessed. From what he understood,
the way that Mia got here was far worse than how he did, so his situation was
definitely worse.
Mia stared at him, unsure if he was dreaming or not, before he tried to talk.
"K...Koichi... You... It's you," he uttered incredulously. The pinkette nodded,
finally coming to sit on the recliner near Mia's bedside. The tension between
them was thick and heavy, and he struggled to find his words. When they did
come out however, it was very soft and quiet.
"Yeah... I guess I am..."
Mia stayed lying down, probably too tired to move right now. He did look like
he just woke from a nap.
"You've really changed haven't you?"
Koichi looked up as the brunette suddenly spoke, furrowing his eye brows.
"What do you mean?"
Mia smiled weakly, but that just made him feel guilty.
"You look different... You're no longer the puny second year who didn't talk to
anyone. You look... Brighter. Happier even."
A slight pink tinge crept onto Koichi's face before he coughed uncomfortably.
How did Mia notice that sort of thing?
"I suppose so," he said. "I guess being down here changes a person once they've
been here long enough."
They both stayed in an awkward silence before either of them spoke.
"Why?" Mia then asked. He looks up.
"Huh?"
Mia bites on the inside of his cheek.
"Why did you come? After all the things I did and said to you... Why?"
The question takes him by surprise and he contemplated his answer.
"Well... To be honest I still don't know myself," he admitted, unable to look
Mia in the eyes. "There's still a very small part of me that still feels like
you're the one to blame for my death, and that I should take my anger out on
you. But again... I know it was not your fault. I know that forgiveness is the
only way to restart and heal. Revenge won't fix anything. So that's why I'm
here, to start over."
Both boys fell quiet at that and it felt even more awkward at this point.
"How are you feeling?"
Mia swallowed hard and fiddled with his fingers and tangled them in the
hospital blanket he was covered with.
"...I'm doing okay. The doctors said I should be fine in a few days. What about
you?"
Koichi sighed softly and stared at his lap. What should he say?
"I'm also okay. I have to do my procedure in the morning and I gotta take care
of some more stuff."
Mia looked confused.
"Procedure? What sort of procedure?" He asked with concern. "You're not sick
are you?"
He shook his head with a half smile.
"No not really. I'm supposed to change my body to fit in down here; if I don't
my soul will deteriorate and I will disappear."
The sickly boy then frowned and stared at him with unusually blank brown eyes.
"So you are sick."
Well it wasn't like he was denying it exactly. It was just... He didn't want
anyone to worry about him. Koichi sighed and looked away.
It was as he suspected. He felt too calm around Mia, too relaxed. If you loved
someone still, wouldn't being around them make you feel nervous? None of those
feelings were being felt at all. That was the final nail in the proverbial
coffin.
"...I guess," he finally admitted. "But you are too, so don't go around
pointing fingers by yourself."
Mia didn't argue, but instead he let slip a small chuckle. That was unexpected.
"I suppose you're right... Though of what, no one told me yet." He paused to
cough a little and looks up to the pale ceiling. "And judging by the look on
your face I suppose there is another reason why you are here, isn't there? And
aren't you staying with Tsuzuku san?"
Mia could always tell when something was up, even when... When that whole thing
happened.
"Yeah but I am here alone. He couldn't make it."
"Why not? Work stuff?"
Koichi nodded in agreement, uncomfortable. For some reason, talking about the
daemon with Mia made him feel... Insecure.
"Yeahh, uh... He had some stuff to do at home. And he has to go back to the
human world tomorrow."
And by stuff he meant sleep like a log in his bedroom. But how could he blame
him, he's been exhausted lately. He needed his rest or else he wouldn't have
enough energy to do anything...
There go his thoughts gravitating to Tsuzuku again. Damn it.
"But why? Why would anyone want to go back?"
Koichi shrugged his shoulders, understanding the reason for so many questions.
"Well All of my legal documents are still there and I need them for my doctor's
visit. Otherwise I won't be able to get anything done."
"Oh... I guess that makes sense," Mia says.
"Yeah... And eventually, we're gonna need yours and the others' too if you want
to be a part of the community like every one else."
There was no other questions after that and he figured they were gonna leave it
at that.
"So... What did you need to say?" Mia finally asked. Koichi could feel eyes on
him but doesn't return the gesture.
"I uh... Aside from wanting to patch stuff up I also wanted to... Ask you a few
things, if that was okay with you."
The bed creaked with Mia's weigh as he shifted around a bit. He moved from a
lying down position to sitting up to properly talk to him.
"Yeah it's okay... But before you do I want to ask you something first."
"Sure."
Mia swallowed again and tucked a flat strand of hair behind his ear.
"What do you mean by, 'change your body?' Are you gonna... Become different?"
"Yes... You and I, along with everyone else who came here with you, have to go
through with it. Our souls are badly damaged. We need to become part of this
world, in other words we need new genes injected into our bodies so we can
survive. I have to do it tomorrow, I have what I wanted in mind already."
Mia tilted his head, curious.
"What did you pick?"
Koichi smiled and vaguely remembered what Tsuzuku told him about the bird he
picked.
"Well, I chose a Phoenix. Something about feathers growing out of my back and
being faster, or something. But I get to fly, at least what's what Tsuzuku told
me.."
AT the mention of flying Mia's eyes brightened just a bit.
"Uwahh, that's so cool," he exclaimed. "What do you think I would be?"
He seemed really excited to know more and Koichi couldn't help a small laugh.
That was how Mia was after all. Still a young teenager like him.
"I don't know, you'll have to talk to Shinya san about that."
"Who's he?"
Koichi remembered seeing the man earlier and how he had displayed weird
behavior after the incident with Ryoga in his skyscraper. He figured it would
have set any one on edge though.
"He's Tsuzuku's supervisor. He's in charge of all of that complicated stuff."
Mia hummed and tried to rein in his piquing curiosity.
"I see... That's pretty cool."
Koichi nodded, and figured it was okay to veer away from the subject once Mia
didn't keep going.
"Well, if there are no more questions, can I ask you some stuff about what
happened?"
He saw Mia become less excited and give a small slump of his shoulders. This
must still be pretty sore of a subject to bring up.
"I... I guess so."
"Okay. Now, from the top. It's okay if you don't remember every little thing.
Just tell me whatever you can remember.
From there Koichi used the notepad he found on the table next to the bedside
and used the pen he always carried around with him to write down whatever Mia
told him.
According to Mia, it all happened around lunchtime that day. He was sitting
with a group of five other friends in the cafeteria when some random crazy gun
wielding guy came storming into the school and took them hostage. Them, along
with four other seemingly random students, were all pushed to the gymnasium and
all the other students were called in as well.
With all the students inside the crazy guy pushed the ten boys he had hostage
to the ground on their knees and started spouted random stuff. Or at least it
seemed random to him.
"What was he saying?" Koichi asked at that point. Mia shivered and wrapped an
arm around himself.
"Something around the lines of... 'Our savior will condemn us all' and 'no one
can prevent death,' just stuff like that. He was fucking crazy."
Curious... He would have to ask Tsuzuku about this later.
Mia continued on, saying how when none of them were able to understand what he
was saying they were killed.
"It was awful. He started with Uruha and Aoi first... They were my best friends
besides Ice. They were the worst ones killed, he spent an entire magazine on
them each. I never saw so much blood in my life... Then he killed Ruki, and
Reita, then Kai... It all happened so fast, the screams were too much to take.
Before I knew it it was my turn. And it hurt... I didn't die until He shot me
up close at least ten times. It was... It was so horrible. I lost
consciousness. And the next thing I knew I... I was with my friends and those
other boys, and we were standing in the gym as our bodies were taken away. The
guy who killed us was dead too. That's all I can remember."
Koichi would have asked him to try to remember more, but by this point Mia was
at the point of breaking into hysterical sobs. Maybe it was best he didn't ask
after all. He could wait. Besides, what he gave to him now was good enough.
They had time.
"Thank you Mia," he said sincerely. "I'm... I remember Aoi and Uruha. They were
cool guys."
Mia smirked bitterly and wiped his eyes to prevent himself from crying.
"Yeah... I don't know what happened to them, if they're here in this building
or if they managed to go somewhere else. I miss them, they are all I have
left."
It was then that the pinkette vaguely remembered that Tsuzuku said all of them
were in this building, so Mia didn't need to worry.
"I don't think you should worry. All of you were brought here, so they should
also be on this floor somewhere, resting."
Mia sighed in relief and smiled, sitting up to better talk without wanting to
pass out again.
"After that incident in the cafeteria when you threw stuff at me I never spoke
to Ice again."
Koichi flushed with heat as he remembered the stunt he pulled when he was still
infatuated with Mia. Talk about embarrassing memories.
"Yeah about that... I'm sorry. I was fitful and I had just died. I had a hard
time getting over what happened, and I was becoming a poltergeist. Tsuzuku
saved me though, before I could do any damage to you or Ice."
The name still left a bitter taste in his mouth and he grimaced at the image of
his face in his head. Mia scoffed and leaned his head on his palm against his
knee, making an equally sour face.
"I should have known he was a bad egg... All the signs were there and yet... I
followed him so blindly. And all those things I said and did to you-"
"You don't have to worry about that," Koichi says to cut him off. "I don't
blame you anymore. If anything, I would say I was grateful. You helped me find
my way to this place. I found happiness here, Mia. More so than I could have
ever imagined. Even if you don't realize it now, you will."
And for once he smiled very happily. That was something he didn't think would
happen in a long time. But now, thanks to Mia, he found his happy place. Even
if he no longer loved him, he still thought very highly of him. They could be
friends from here on, he could hope for that much right?
Mia's eyes started watering and he finally broke down into tears, covering his
eyes as he cried.
"Thank you," he whimpered brokenly. "You'd forgive me even if I can't... Thank
you."
Koichi, unable to process the sight of a sobbing Mia at first, tried to think
of how to comfort him. When no reasonable option came to mind he did what he
felt would be the best thing to do. He stood from the seat at the bedside and
sat at Mia's side before slowly enveloping him in a hug. What he wasn't
expecting however was for Mia to suddenly return the hug with unexpected
fervor, sobbing into his shoulder with his arms wrapped tightly around his
waist. At any other point in his life he would have welcomed such a gesture,
reveled in it even.
But now, it just made him feel... Strange. Like the feeling of being wrapped in
his arms didn't feel right. It didn't match, he didn't belong here in his arms.
Perhaps it really was over for them then. Romantically speaking. So many things
were happening, and he was finally coming to terms with it.
"It'll be okay," he says, more to himself than to Mia. "It'll all work out."
Despite that though, he could feel tears of his own coming to his eyes. But
these tears, they felt like happy tears. Ones of relief, ones that would
finally tell him that yes. It would be okay. Things were finally right between
them now. They could move on and build a new life down here, one where they
could forget. So he cried too, and it felt good to do it. Like all that
suffering he went through hadn't been for nothing.
It felt like an eternity before he felt his tears drying up, and Mia's hold on
him grew weaker and his crying lessened. Mia felt so small right now, so
vulnerable. But he couldn't do anything about that. He wasn't the right one
anymore.
"Do you feel better?" Koichi croaked roughly with a throat that felt like it
was scratched with sandpaper. Mia nodded, sniffling a little before pulling
back a little from the hug.
"Yeah... I'll be okay," he says and lets go altogether. "Thanks for that... I
needed it."
Koichi shrugged him off and sat back a little to give him room.
"It was no problem... I needed that too..."
Another awkward silence. He figured he must be getting tired, but when he tried
to sit up Mia grabbed his sleeve. He looked at him in confusion at first, but
felt his body jerk in surprise as Mia stared at him with a weird look in his
eyes. He seemed... Desperate?
"Mia kun..?" He says uncertainly after a long five seconds. The brunette
stuttered a bit before blurting out what was in his head at the moment.
"Um..! I was... I was thinking about something," he says meekly. "I was...
Wondering... Before, in the gymnasium... When you said you still loved me... Do
you still? I want to know."
At that question, Koichi felt a cold chill run up his arms and cause goose
bumps to raise on them. Why does he want to know? Wasn't Mia still kind of
grossed out about that sort of thing?
"Why? I thought you didn't care for me in that way?" he whispered with a
painful lurch in his chest. Mia gulped and bites his lip, as though he was
holding in something embarrassing.
"It's bothering me... I have to know."
At first Koichi can't answer. It's hard to admit this, but it was the truth.
Perhaps Mia was just hoping he got over it, that's all?
Finally he let out a deep breath and turned his head away, his eyes downcast.
"...No," he answered. "Those feelings are long gone by now. I've moved on. Like
you wanted me to. We can still be friends though."
But then Mia makes a choking noise and he's looking back in surprise. His face
is sad, and there are hints of more tears coming. Then suddenly he began to
ramble. Each word causing more and more pain to stab Koichi in the chest.
"Okay I admit it! After you died I couldn't stop thinking about you! I tried to
forget but no matter what I did, no matter where I looked, I saw you..! I was
so used to seeing your face in school, so used to you always being there in
arms reach... For three days it tortured me endlessly. I... Realized that I...
I might..."
Please don't say it, Koichi begged in his head but couldn't voice it out loud.
No, Mia couldn't possibly be insinuating that could he? He was straight, he...
he liked girls, he hated guys in that way. He had to! Otherwise...
"Mia kun please," he finally squeaked. "Whatever you're about to say... Please
don't."
"And why not?" The hysterical brunette demanded. "Am I not allowed to feel
anything else after everything that has happened? It's all been a lie, all of
it. I don't hate the idea of two guys being together. I don't hate... I don't
hate you."
"Please stop-"
Koichi tried desperately to stop him from going any further but he kept being
talked over.
"Ice has been controlling me and my image for too long. He's wrong about me. He
always has been. But I know what I feel Koichi. I know what I feel deep inside
of me, and I... I can't keep holding it in anymore."
Time seemed to slow in that instant, and he felt more pain and guilt lash out
at him and make him feel like he was being crushed. All he could think about
was how weird it was to finally feel what he had dreamed about for months on
end. It felt... Hopeless, strange, and out of place. Then it occurred to him.
Mia was kissing him. On the mouth.
His face felt warm, but it was suffocating, painfully so. The sensation of it
made him close his eyes in shock as a second pair of lips were pressing to his.
It didn't feel at all like what a kiss was supposed to feel like. It didn't
feel heavenly, it didn't make him feel like he was on cloud nine and drunk on
pleasurable sensations. It just felt. So wrong. Mia's kiss was making him feel
wrong. Like he was betraying someone...
Why? Why was this happening to him? He thought he would finally be free from
pain and yet...
He pushed him away, as though he had been electrocuted, and stood from the bed.
Mia looks up at him with wide and hurt eyes, breathing slightly heavily. Koichi
could see more tears on his cheeks and the guilt was by now, crushing at his
throat.
"Koichi, I... I'm sorry," Mia spluttered as Koichi backed away against the
wall. "I just wanted to see... If it was true."
The pinkette swallowed hard and stared fearfully at his former crush, feeling
just slightly taken advantage of. His first kiss, stolen. Just like that.
What the hell was going on?
"I think I need to go home," he breathed out and made a bee line for the
notepad still sitting on the recliner. "Tsuzuku will be worried about me..."
Mia watched with tearful eyes as Koichi backed away from him to the door with
his eyes not once leaving him in fear of what he would do. But he couldn't let
him go yet, not until he knew, even if it was to no avail. He stood up quickly
and ignored the bout of dizziness from standing so suddenly, reaching out for
him.
"Koichi wait, I..!"
But then it was too late, and Koichi was gone with the wind. As were the last
few words on his lips as he slid down the wall, his heart torn into a million
pieces.
TBC
***** Chapter 13 *****
Koichi couldn't remember the last time he felt so awful like this. The time in
the human world was nothing compared to how bad he felt right now. 
When he had run out of the hospital it was raining, and the umbrella he brought
along probably would have been useful. But at this point he just didn't care.
The rain hid his tear streaked face as he dragged himself outside with his hood
up and bag strung haphazardly over his shoulder. The water soaked him through
to the bone but it was still warm enough to not actually catch a cold. Not like
he cared at this point.  
But Mia... He ruined everything he had hoped to achieve within the last few
days. That kiss was just the end of an already doomed hope. Him and Mia
friends? Yeah right, like he ever had any real hope for that. He guessed it all
went down the drain when he met Tsuzuku... Perhaps in some weird way, his
sudden appearance had some effect on what he was feeling. Both physically and
psychologically.
It had to be. When he showed up and rescued him, Koichi felt that he was a
literal Godsend. A savior of sorts. He was the first person to really not care
about all the things wrong with him or about his sexuality. He was, well, in
all senses of the word, perfect. He was kind, sweet, brave, and very
attractive. Yes. He was perfect. He would admit it. 
It was probably due to this mentality that his attraction for Mia started to
wane and gravitate towards... someone else.  
Like that kiss. Good lord the kiss. It made him feel... Like he was betraying
something else inside of his weird mindset. As though his first kiss had been
meant for someone else entirely. He had no idea how he was supposed to deal
with it now. He would have to start avoiding Mia now. Even though Tsuzuku had
such high hopes that all of them could even be friends.  
But no. It was all gone now.  
He sighed in despair as he walked along the sidewalk away from the window. He
debated against going home just yet, it was barely seven thirty now. He only
spent half an hour talking to Mia. And he would have spent longer if it wasn't
for... well. Certain circumstances withstanding. 
There was a line of shops and cafes lining the street that the hospital was on
just a few blocks away, and now he wondered if it wouldn't be okay just to hang
out around here for a while. He lost his appetite but still needed shelter
after all. 
Mind made up he picked the nearest one and headed inside.  
It was different from the one he got taken to that other day. It was more
modern feeling. The walls were all plain white and some very sleek lights hung
from the ceilings. The floor was made of shiny black tiles with white marbling
set into them. Signs with small simply designs of different butterflies were
hanging along the walls next to the booths. 
He chose the nearest one to the door for a quicker escape and slid all the way
in. Koichi sighed in relief and took off the hood of his sweater, grateful for
a breather if only for a moment. 
Soon a waitress came by to take his order. He just asked for some hot
peppermint tea so she would leave sooner. In distress he thunks his head down
against the smooth white table top and exhaled loudly.
Now he had a while to think to himself.  
What the hell was he gonna tell Tsuzuku? Or worse yet, what would Tsuzuku do
once he found out? The daemon had made it well known that he was very
protective of Koichi now. Especially because of Mia's presence in their lives
all of a sudden.  
And now... Things were only bound to get worse from here. Koichi might get
issues again. And soon he would have to depend on Tsuzuku for every little
thing. That would only make him feel worse. Maybe he shouldn't let this affect
him. Mia was misunderstood, he was scared. Maybe in a few days, this whole
thing might blow over. Her could go back to normal and Mia could still be a
friend. If anything... 
Koichi then realized that maybe this situation can perhaps take a turn for the
better. This maybe what he needed to finally completely move on. Mia made him
realize that he indeed had moved forward. One little struggle would probably be
worth it in the long run.
Yeah... maybe now he could finally realize he was in an actually beneficial
situation here. 
The realization of that made him lift his head from the table, a complacent
feel slowly taking hold of him. The water dripping on the back of his neck was
starting to chill but it managed to wake him up a little.
Maybe this was what Die San was talking about the first day he was here. He
needed to put his foot down if he wanted to survive. He... Had to end things by
himself. No more holding onto Tsuzuku's hand for anything.
This feeling was great to feel right now. He needed it.
Then aside from that he also felt a small bit of a new but also familiar
feelings bubbling inside of hin. As the daemon's face came to mind, he felt
those dreaded pangs of warmth, happiness, and despair. He knew what that meant.
And he was okay with that. Completely and totally fine.
It let him know that he was growing up.
The waitress was about to walk away until she notices the water drenching him.
"Um... are you okay?" She asked with concern lacing her delicate words. "Were
you out in the rain with no umbrella? You'll catch cold like that."
Koichi giggled a little bit and clutched at his tea cup. The warmth on his
fingers felt really good.
"I'll be okay... don't worry about me."
"Um... Okay."
She rose an eyebrow at him and was about to leave until he stops her.
"What's your name?" He asked. The waitress looked around nervously before
answering.
"I'm... Naoto."
Koichi hums, staring into his cup as the steam rose.
"Say Naoto... Have you ever been in love?" He peeped softly. Naoto stepped back
a little bit and bites her lip in thought.
"Yes... I have a girlfriend waiting for me at home."
Ahhh so she knew this feeling too.
"It feels nice... Doesn't it?" He asked. "But at the same time you feel as
though you're drowning in these feelings every single day. But it's okay if
that happens right?"
He sighed and stands up with a smile, hands her some money for his drink, and
leaves. All without having taken one single taste of his tea.
Koichi had decided on walking around a bit to familiarize himself with his
surroundings. If he was gonna be here forever then he may as well remember
where everything is. There was the hospital back in the direction he came from
in the North and the cafes and shops where he was more to the South. On the
west and north sides of this street were tall skyscrapers with solid glass
windows and walls. Back North and then west was the apartment but... Well he
didn't want to go back yet. There were just some things he had to think about
first.

Like these new but scary feelings he was sure wasn't a good sign. He was
certain that he was setting himself up for more heartbreak and more agony.

But who cared! He would be more matured and experienced if that did happen and
he was sure he could handle it. It wasn't like there weren't more people to
choose from in this city. He just had to meet the right people and make the
right circles of friends. Then maybe, if everything didn't work out, he would
have other options. Because if there was one thing he was certain of is that he
would be lonely without someone to fall back on.
Koichi felt more pangs in his chest and decided to ignore it, opting for
walking away from this street. He was still able to see the hospital from here
and he didn't want to look at it.

As he walked more and more before he knew it a whole half hour had passed. It
was now a little past nine p.m. By now he was certain that Tsuzuku was asleep.
If he went home now he would be up by himself and all awkwardness would be
avoided. Good then he could head back now. Before he started heading back
though he felt another headache starting to pound in his head, making him
grimace. Great just what he needed. And he didn't even have any pain pills with
him. Maybe his sickness was worse than he thought.
Looking around himself he spotted a convenience store nearby and decided to pop
in for a second to find something for his head. It was nice and cool inside but
he was still wet so that would probably not be good.
He scours the shelves and finds the pain pills he was looking for along with a
water bottle and steps to the counter. There's a young man standing behind it,
short but very cute looking. He had bright orange eyes and a pair of blonde fox
ears on his head nestled into neck length brown hair. The nametag on his
employer shirt read 'Yomi.'
He look at Koichi with very weird eyes and scours him up and down.
"Is this everything..? Do you need anything else? An umbrella or towel maybe?"
Ugh can't these people just mind their own business? He was fine. Really.
"I'm okay," he responded. "I don't get sick easy."
Yomi still quirked an eyebrow.
"You sure? It's kinda cold in here."
Koichi waves him off and took out his money.
"No really I'm fine. My home is nearby and I'll just shower off. I just need
these thanks."
Yomi still seemed like he wanted to protest but didn't say anything more before
ringing him up. Koichi was thankful he wasn't going to pry otherwise he would
be annoyed. After he got his stuff he left and headed straight for  home. It
took ten minutes to get back but thankfully he remembered to use his umbrella
this time.
Before he walked inside he stood there in the parking lot and looked up at the
sky through the clear plastic umbrella. Tiny drops of rain pattered against the
plastic and dribbles off in patterned streams. The sky was black with a bright
tinge of orange and white to it thanks to the city lights.
This was what he would see every day of his human life in Tokyo, except the air
here wasn't as polluted. It smelled nice, like water and fresh cut grass. He
guessed he should probably get used to it now, because by tomorrow he would
become a creature of fire. From what Minpha told him Phoenixes weren't too
privy to water. At least magical water. Puts out the fire on his feathers or
something  like that.
Koichi wondered what the change would to to his hormones. He hoped it would not
change him too badly. His personality the way it was now was just fine to him.
Hopefully it was all a physical change.
He sighed and started to go to the door when he noticed something... weird.
There, perched on the awning over the front glass doors, was a black crow.
Just..  sitting there. Watching him. It was really creepy how it just sat there
and didn't even move. What was it's deal?
Koichi slowly inched to the door and watched the crow closely. To his utter
dismay it followed him with beady little eyes. Once he reached the door he just
had about enough of its presence.
"Shoo," he said and tried to bat it away with his hand. "Go on get out of
here."
It suddenly squawked loudly and started to flap its wings almost in a possessed
manner. Koichi scrambled backwards in surprise and almost drops his stuff. The
crow continued to squawk and flap until it finally decided to leave. He stood
there for a second, unsure of what to do until the chill of the rain finally
started to get to him. He shivers and goes in. The receptionist waves like
usual and he does it back. But due to being more than a bit creeped out he felt
like it wasn't really that big a deal.
What was that crows deal anyway? Of all buildings to have perched on it was
this one? It wasn't like it was following him right? That would be just plain
ridiculous. Crows weren't that smart.
But then again. He was in a strange place full of weird things like that. Maybe
crows that followed people for no reason was a normal thing. Maybe it wanted
something? Either way it was still creepy.
Koichi felt the chill even more as he got off the elevator and headed to the
apartment and hoped that the hot water was full. If not then oh well he would
have to deal with it.
Once he cane to the front door he stops and takes another breath. Hopefully
like he thought before, Tsuzuku would be asleep and he could take care of it
himself. He isn't sure how his heart would handle seeing the other right away. 
Inside it was dark and quiet, so surely the other was dead out. Good he had
time. 
Quickly he set down his stuff and went to his room, shivering as he picked out
his pajamas for a shower. Now the cold was definitely getting to him. Before
the cold could get any worse he took a nice hot shower to make the chill go
away. He could only hope he hadn't gotten sick from all of that. 
Once he was certain he was okay he tiptoes to Tsuzuku's room and cracked the
door only a little. Inside the room he saw the bed but no Tsuzuku. Where the
heck was he?
"Koichi?"
A soft voice made him soon around slowly and he felt his heart jump into his
stomach and then his throat all at once.
"Tsuzuku! I'm sorry I uh... was just gonna see if you were slee- whoa what the
hell happened to you?"
Koichi gaped in surprise at Tsuzuku and found that there was something very
different about him now. Yeah there was. Tsuzuku touches his hair self
consciously and gives a small smile.
"I was in the bathroom rinsing it out. Do you like it?"
His hair was now jet black, no longer that vibrant soft blonde it was before.
In a weird way it made him so much more... sexier? Yes that. 
He felt his throat tighten up as he stared at it and couldn't help but to reach
out to touch it, to let it slip between his fingers and feel it's dampness.
"It's beautiful," he whispers. "I really like it..."
Tsuzuku stared at him with red cheeks until he sputtered and stepped back.
"U- uh sorry. I just... I just got back so..." He trails off and takes another
step away. But the daemon just smiled at him and patted his head.
"Welcome home Koichi Chan. How did your visit go?" He asked. "How was he?"
At the mention of Mia he felt his  chest pang painfully as he realized he had
some thing important to tell him.
"Well... I need to talk to you about that for a while if its okay with you," he
said quietly and looked down. "Can we talk in your room?"
The daemon can tell that something was wrong with him and his smile slipped
away to show a look of worry.
"Of course we can. Come on you can tell me anything."
He led Koichi inside so they could sit on his bed and he turns all his
attention into him.
"Okay. Tell me everything."
And Koichi did. Almost. He made sure to leave out the part where he had new
feelings but that could wait for another time. 
They talked for what felt like forever, until Koichi was far too tired to
continue on so he just slept in here. Of course Tsuzuku didn't mind. He nestled
himself right next to him and dozed off as well. 
When morning came the pair were all entwined in one another, legs included.
Tsuzuku woke up almost like he was rising from the dead and found himself
entangled in long lanky limbs like an octupus' arms strangling their prey,
minus the strangling part. He felt his body tense up as Koichi's flushed soft
skin pressed against his body. He made a soft noise in his sleep and clutched
onto him tighter. Tsuzuku felt his brain stop for a few seconds as overwhelming
emotions threatened to make him stop breathing.
Why the hell did he have to be so cute? He couldn't help but to smile to
himself and press soft kisses over and over to his forehead. Love was
beautiful.
Giving into temptation he let himself stay like this for a while and enjoyed
the feelings. But even in the peaceful morning silence his mind betrayed him
and kept straying to last night. 
He was still feeling conflicted about what Koichi had told him. Strangely
enough, it seemed like the pinkette was hiding something from him, but he
guessed it was probably not that important. 
Not as important as Mia kissing him. On his mouth. Why the hell would he do
that though? Didn't he like girls supposedly? Well no matter. He guessed he
should be happy for him. This turn of events helped him to realize that he was
over Mia now. He moved on and could look forward to bigger better things. It
was good because now, he probably had a chance. Sort of. No doubt he would need
some time. Of course they had all the time in the world.
It was for that reason that he let him sleep with him in the same bed. He
needed emotional support to get over a rough time in his life. 
Tsuzuku sighed loudly as he gave up on sleeping and gently pried himself away
from Koichi's arms to sit on the edge of the bed. His head hurt. 
What was he gonna do now? He had hoped that meeting with Mia would clear it all
up. But it was like Koichi said. This could be good. After today they can go
and talk to him and sort this out. But still. He felt an insurmountable
obstacle had just blocked his path. He had a very difficult time letting go of
things that made him upset.
It wasn't like he wanted to be this way. That's just how he was. It was in his
nature to be like this.
Well at any rate, he had some stuff to do now. Even if he was tired he still
had work to do. Last night when they were talking he told Koichi he had to go
in early to get ready for the trip to the human world. It always took so much
out of him that he needed hours in advance to get ready. He would be back
around noon time, so he also told him to go to the company building to wait for
him, and when he got back they would head to the hospital together. It was
currently six in the morning.
He got ready like he usually did in the mornings, except he had to do a double
take as he looked himself in the mirror. This black hair of his would take some
getting used to. Tsuzuku would have to freak out about it later though; he was
running a little behind schedule. 
Back in his room he stopped at the door to his closet and turned to look at
Koichi, still fast asleep in his bed. For some reason, he got some kind of
weird satisfaction from seeing him in his bed. It was weird yes, but it was no
longer a forbidden feeling now that he had some sort of chance. 
Tsuzuku gave in again and walked to his bedside to stare at him for a few
seconds. There was something about him being here that just seemed right. Like
his bed had always felt so empty before this. It felt warmer and more inviting
that he was incredibly tempted to stay in and sleep more. But no, he knew he
couldn't. Maybe a day off tomorrow for rest would be good for them. 
The days following a procedure were always hard on people. Intense pain to
accompany the change was always super intense and that was why he was still
sort of hesitant about it. It would be worse for Koichi especially because of
the creature he picked. He would feel hot and feverish for at least two days,
and he would be needy and beg for attention most likely. 
He would definitely be here with him but he had to make sure he controlled
himself. Tsuzuku's relationship with Koichi as of now was delicate to say the
least. Trusting, but delicate. Any wrong move or word could ruin everything.
And he didn't want to be another Mia. Even leaving him alone again today was
painful enough as it is, and he hated being away from him for more than a few
hours. 
But he didn't have time to think about that right now. Koichi would be fine as
long as he stayed in the company building under Shinya's and Die's protection.
And of course he had Minpha, the cute cat demon. Yeah. he would absolutely be
fine. 
Satisfied he pressed more kisses to Koichi's forehead and even to his cheeks
before going to his bedroom door. There, he stopped just shy of the threshold
and whispered in the space between them in as gentle a tone as possible as to
avoid waking him up. 
"Love you. I'll be back later." 
Then he was gone. 
What he didn't notice however was the pinkette's wide open eyes staring ahead
of himself in shock and elation. His breathing sped up and he sits up, staring
at the closed door with red cheeks. Koichi reached up and felt his cheeks, the
heat from them making him sigh softly.
"...Love you too."
 
TBC
***** Chapter 14 *****
Awarm mouth latched to his chest as he leaned over his conquest for the night.
He tangles his fingers in long platinum blonde hair and tugs just slightly to
elicit high pitched gasps and low moans. His hips snapped forward repeatedly
into an unfamiliar but welcoming tight heat that swallowed him up and conformed
to his shape eagerly. He can feel himself approaching his edge as he swallows
up those moans with his own mouth.
"Ahh... harder..! Please more... don't stop..!"
He growled lowly under his breath, snapping his hips even faster and harder.
This causes more pleased moaning and the tight hotness around him to squeeze
down on him harder.
"Fuck... stop tightening so much," he panted. "It's hard to move."
The body under him writhed and gripped his arms tight as he drowned in bliss.
"C-can't..! C-can't stop," the figure whimpered. "It's ju..just... so go- ah!
Good! You are reaching inside so deep..!"
"S...sorry," he responded. "I just can't help myself... you feel so good..."
He continued to thrust forward and suck at a smooth collarbone riddled with
hickeys previously made before, and received a heavy gasp in return.
"Yess...! I... I'm close..! Ahh, fuck... g- gonna..! Im gonna..!"
His rough rhythm continued for a while before a tightness in his stomach
reminded him of his incoming climax and he shuddered heavily.
"Ugh..! I'm close..!" He warned the figure beneath him. "Can I?"
"Yes."
He feels arms wrapping around his neck and the person's face presses into his
collarbone. A warm soft tongue began to suck and lap at his neck and whispered
one thing before sharp hypodermic like teeth drive themselves into his flesh.
The demon groaned in both a mixture of pain and pleasure as he feels blood
being drained as he neared his orgasm. Finally with a last harsh thrust
released inside the delicate body beneath him. He groaned roughly and feels a
bit splattering on his stomach from his partner followed by the teeth
retreating from his flesh to allow a strangled but pleased whimper to escape
his lips.
"Ahh! Uhnn..!"
Their movements cease and is only followed by heavy breaths and looks of lust
between one another. The blonde vampire soon smiled slyly and reached up to
caress his yellow eyed demon along his cheeks then licks up the leftover blood
from a quickly healing wound on his partners neck.
"That was amazing," he sighed in complacency. "Ryoga kun..."
The demon in question swallowed heavy and stared at his partner. His long
blonde hair was strewn about on the bed. He gathers his breath and pulls away
from the others body and falls into his side next to the blonde vampire.
"I can say the same for you... Layha San. I... I needed that."
Layha hums softly and sits up to lean against his elbows and stretch out his
back muscles.
"Mmm I did too," he trilled. "I haven't had fun like that in such a long time.
I'm so glad I found you blubbering like a baby in that stairwell."
Ryoga groaned in embarrassment and grabs a pillow to hide his face. Did Layha
really have to being bring that up now? That was so not sexy.
The vampire giggled and fully sits up to grab a pack of cigarettes on a nearby
bed side and lights one up.
"Ugh please don't bring that up now. I didn't come back to this hotel with you
only to be reminded of that."
Layha blew out a cloud and smirked and puts down the only partially smoked
cigarette. He then leaned over and draped himself over Ryoga to pry away the
pillow from his face. His cheeks are sweaty and his eyes are tired looking. He
bared his teeth in a sexy grin before leaning in for a deep kiss with such
intensity that Ryoga felt blood prickling on the inside of his cheeks. Now it
was probably the masochistic streak in him but he thought that was kinda hot.
Layha finally let go once he was satisfied and laid back over Ryoga's body like
a curtain and draws out a long sigh, reveling in Ryoga's body heat due to a
lack of his own. He grabs the cigarette and continued to smoke it.
"Sorry. but it was just so funny I couldn't help it."
The demon just rolls his eyes and sits up to steal away the cigarette for his
own use.
"You're one to talk. I've never known a male vampire to be the girl when it
comes to sex."
But Layha just laughed at him and he doesn't say anything else about that.
Ryoga finally takes another puff before he gives back the cigarette. Layha
tilts his head at Ryoga and puts a palm to his forehead, stubbing out the
cancerous stick into a nearby ashtray.
"Your emotions are completely out of wack right now," he commented. "Don't tell
me you're falling for me next?"
Ryoga huffed but still humored the vampire anyways. Layha's conversational
skills were really doing wonders to distract him.
"Don't flatter yourself," he grumbled. "Look you're cute and all, and the sex
wasn't too bad either. But..."
The vampire sighed laid down to nestle against the demon more comfortably. The
contrast between cool and heated skin was really nice.
"Yeah yeah I know," he says admittedly. "I'm not that daemon, nor am I that
hybrid you mentioned. And I am just a one time thing meant to numb a broken
heart. I get that. But you know, Ryoga kun... He won't take you back. You have
to forget about him, now sooner than later, or you'll set yourself up for more
pain. That's just how this sort of thing works."
"Hmm," he responded. "I suppose you're right."
Yeah sure, he knew that. Tsuzuku was by far, well out of his reach now. Plus
there was that human with him the other day. That human ruined every chance he
would have had left, and he didn't blame him. It was too late to be forgiven
and it was made worse by what he just did. He couldn't help it. Layha was
just... So tempting, too alluring not to make a move. Demons were too easily
attracted to things that were beautiful, he knew this well and had to learn the
hard way.
But perhaps it was for the best. He had no one now, not even Yuuki would be
willing to take him back. How could he live with himself now? He broke the
hearts of two people, one of which he deeply regretted more than the other.
But he was a demon. Maybe demons were cursed to never find love that lasted
forever.
His train of thought broke as Layha shifted to lay all over him lazily and
press his face into his shoulder to kiss and make more hickies.
"Mm just as well," he says with a lilting tone. "Now that you're gonna help me
out, you may as well completely forget about them. We're probably not going to
see them again for a while anyway. So you best get comfy with me, pretty boy."
Ryoga shifted so he could better spoon up against the vampire and let out a
deep sigh. His body ached all over now that he thought about it. Maybe when the
vampire fed off his blood it made him feel tired out. But he was grateful for
that, he had been having trouble sleeping lately.
Even though it was dark out now, it was morning back in the other world. People
were waking up and starting their day as usual while he was up here surrounded
by humans who were none the wiser.
"Yeah I know," he says. "And I'll get around to that. Just give me some time
and they will be forgotten."
Layha smirked before biting just slightly into his shoulder blades to make
another mark.
"Good. Now go to sleep, it's late and we have a lot of work to do tomorrow. I
don't wanna haul your ass around like a zombie all day."
Ryoga tsked in annoyance but did as he was told, letting go of Layha so he
could roll on his side. Out side the window he could see small droplets of rain
starting to patter against the window of the hotel room, and soon a torrent of
thunder and lightning followed after. Great.
"Yeah yeah... Night, Layha san."
The vampire smirked, albeit crudely, but it went unseen by Ryoga.
"Night Ryoga kun. I expect another round in the morning all right?"
__________________
Koichi was in a daze the entire walk to Tsuzuku's company building, his head in
the clouds. Thoughts kept going back over and over to this morning...
Tsuzuku loved him back.
He was just so freaking happy right now he could scream.
Now that he looked back on it all the signs were there in a way. The hand
holding, the protectiveness, the concern for his well being, the kisses on his
cheeks and forehead. Everything was pointing to the daemon having some sort of
feelings and now that he knew it just kind of seemed... Overwhelming. Maybe in
a weird way unknown to himself even, he kind of already knew. But still, he
couldn't help but feel a burst of happiness every time his thoughts strayed.
It's only been a few days since he was here, even fewer that he knew the
daemon. he was sure as hell there was still so much about that man he didn't
know at all. What he liked, his close friends, his favorite types of music, or
anything. It would be too quick of him to initiate anything between them right
now. Maybe waiting a bit and getting to know him first would be best. Besides,
their relationship right now was too professional. As far as it concerned
Tsuzuku right now, they were only mentor and pupil right now.
And if enough time passes he could very well change that. But first things
first. Get the transformation out of the way, and things could go better than
he might think.
With that in mind he just kept going along the same route and reached the
building. The process to get to the top was familiar by now. Go inside. Greet
the front desk. Get in the elevator. Get out of the elevator. Go through
security. Or at least that was how it was.
This morning Tsuzuku left a special key card for him so he could avoid being
stopped by security altogether.
Thank God for that.
Quickly he went into the lobby where he was surprised to find Minpha once more
sitting at the front desk instead of Die. For some reason he was all decked out
in a white and pink lolita dress with his hair all poofed out in curly waves
and soft makeup on his face. On his tail was a big pink ribbon. Confused he
walked towards him and set his bag over his arm instead of around his shoulder.
"Minpha? Where's Die san? And why are you all dressed up?" He asked. Minpha
sighed and flipped through the papers on the desk, looking unusually
melancholic. His ears were drooped and his tail listlessly trailed along the
floor.
"Chizuru is coming by later to pick me up for a date... And Die san isn't here
because Toshiya san got sick last night, so he had to stay home and look after
him today," he revealed. "Sometimes even harpies can get really sick."
Koichi shook his head and set down his bag.
"Oh no that's terrible. What happened?"
"Apparently he left the window open last night and caught a cold. That might
not seem like such a big deal but to a harpy, colds can be really fatal. So Die
san is on full watch duty. Shinya's body guard details have been left to the
other stand in, Yoshiatsu." He angled his head at another unfamiliar face
standing just down the hallway towards Shinya's office. "Hey."
The black haired male takes notice and nods back, not breaking his stance of a
straight back and his arms folded over his chest. He looked kinda small, but
Koichi knew better than to let his eyes fool him.
"Well... I hope he feels better," he says back. "But anyways, is there anything
to do around here besides read the same magazines over and over?"
Minpha giggled and pointed to the big screen television mounted in the nearby
waiting area.
"Well there is no one else here so you can watch whatever is on or play some
video games the TV. We got the new Mario Kart yesterday..." Suddenly he paused
and stared at Koichi with squinted eyes. "Hey are you feeling okay? Is the
sickness getting to you?"
Koichi knew that was coming. This morning the blackening around his nails
worsened to the point where it looked like nail polish almost. His eyes were
starting to gloss over with a thin gray film and his skin was feeling really
dry.
He looked at his fingers and made a gross face.
"Yeah... I don't feel any different but that's probably gonna change if I don't
do something soon."
"So why isn't Tsuzuku with you?"
Koichi blushed a deep red and looked away.
"He's... gonna be in the human world for a few hours. There's some stuff he has
to take care of."
Minpha hummed and stretched out his arms in front of him. Thankfully his ears
returned to their regular position and his tail curved upwards in a high candy
cane like curve.
"Oh? Like what sort of stuff?" He asked. Koichi couldn't help but giggle a
little bit. Curiosity killed the cat after all.
"He needed to get my personal info from my old life so I could get spliced
properly. I didn't wanna go. Bad memories and all that."
The cat demon nodded in agreement, sighing with a forward tilt of his ears.
"That's what Chizuru had to go through when he got here. He got so sick because
it was really hard to find his stuff. He died in a fire, so consequently his
stuff burned up. There were a lot of legal problems but finally they were able
to get his stuff."
Koichi frowned and unconsciously blinked away a small headache starting to
build in his temple. He wondered how it would go for Tsuzuku since he wasn't
sure how people handled his death. When he was still up there he was still
kinda psycho and hadn't bothered to check on his uncle or his aunt and he
didn't know if he was buried or not. There was a temptation to call Tsuzuku and
ask, but... Well he didn't want to bug him. And after what happened this
morning he would probably get all flustered. Now that he knew Tsuzuku was also
into him in that way, things would be really... Uhh, awkward.
He wasn't sure how he managed to get here without freaking out.
"Yeah well... I don't know how things turned out up there for me, so I don't
know how easy it's gonna be for him. I don't know where or even if I was
buried. My family members didn't exactly care about me."
His sad words made Minpha shake his head and fold his arms on the table.
"Aw you poor thing. And I thought my parents were bad. I guess they just care
about me too much."
Koichi quickly waved his arms.
"No no, my parents died when I was little. I was talking about my aunt and
uncle, they were my only family I had left and I was abandoned by them... But I
don't wanna think about the past. I am here to wait for him, so I'll just chill
out over here for now."
The headache made him feel a little dizzy as he sat on the long sectional in
front of the couch and takes a breath. Maybe he was sicker than he thought.
Tsuzuku better hurry before it got any worse. He took a pain pill from his bag
with some water and turned on the TV. The news was on, something he learned to
actually enjoy because of how different it was from his old world. The news
casters were so colorful and the stories were so interesting. Hardly anyone
died down here because of their healing abilities, but people did get arrested
occasionally. But lately though, he wasn't allowed to watch it because Tsuzuku
thought it was 'bad for him.'
Now there was something on involving a cafe blowing up and two third year
students almost getting killed. There was a young woman as the reporter with
long and curly black hair and a pair of intimidating looking set of horns on
her head. She looked like a weird version of what Tsuzuku was, only her horns
were straight up like a goats would be. Interested he listened closer as she
continued to rattle off details and stood in front of a secured area in the
city.
"This incident involved two young high school students from East First District
High School, both in their third years. And as you can see behind me, the scene
is currently being blocked off by caution tape and armed officers. Witnesses
report that they heard loud explosions and the smell of burning scales,
plastic, and sulfur as they walked by. Police have not ruled out any suspects
as of now, but people are suspecting the works of demons. Now the students have
been safely recovered and have been taken to the local hospital just three
blocks from here with only minor injuries including small cuts, first degree
burns on the hands, legs and face, and *MES, or magical exhaustion syndrome."
Weird. The cafe he was at last night was also three blocks from Mia's
hospital... This couldn't be the same one could it? What were the chances? Now
that he looked closer however, he could definitely make out the details of what
was left of the cafe.
"Police have also reported that they found the students huddled together after
one of them, a male Leviathan and human hybrid, put up a water barrier to
protect them from the flames surrounding the building. The other student, a
female hydra, suffered less worse burns due to the barrier. The Leviathan
however, had to receive on site medical attention as he was the worst one
affected. Once their injuries have lessened we will ask them more questions in
hopes of catching the suspects. We have yet to receive confirmation on whether
the explosion was caused due to magical or non magical means.
"We will keep you up to date on the unfolding of this event. A special
investigation will be launched to find the perps responsible for this heinous
act as soon as possible to press arson and destruction of public property
charges. Please call the number at the bottom of your screen if you have any
information regarding the case. I'm special anchor Miko reporting for EFD news,
channel 11."
The channel then changed to an overhead skyscraper camera view of the scene.
showing smoke and police cars surrounding a blackened building. Koichi stared
in shock at the screen. How did this happen so fast? Just last night he was
there, worrying over what he was gonna do and now... Damn it, and he really
liked that cafe too. Now he was feeling bad for those poor kids who were most
likely around his age since they were in high school. maybe he should go down
there again and give his regards to them before Tsuzuku came back... Ah but
then again, there was a high chance he might run into Mia again, and he wasn't
ready to face him yet.
Behind him, Minpha sighed in distaste as he walked towards the TV as well,
clutching his tail to toy with the pink ribbon.
"This is just terrible," he muttered forlornly. "This is the second attack on a
half human this week."
Koichi rose an eyebrow.
"Really? This has happened before?"
Minpha nodded, holding his cheek in thought.
"Yes. The other one happened in a hybrid only club a few days ago. I am
surprised you haven't heard of it by now."
At his surprised words Koichi shrugged his shoulders.
"Tsuzuku likes to shelter me a lot, says I am too delicate to hear about stuff
like this. He's too overprotective I swear."
They both sighed and Minpha chuckled a little.
"He's just looking out for you, that's his job after all."
'Or it could be because he loves me and doesn't want me to worry,' he thought
with a blush but didn't voice what he was thinking. Instead he just plopped
onto his back to stare at the plaster ceiling. By now the headache was growing
considerably worse even though he just took a pain killer. Maybe he really
should call Tsuzuku after all, and tell him to hurry home. That wouldn't make
him sound like a worried wife would it? HAHA no! It shouldn't, they weren't
married! They weren't even dating what the hell was he thinking.
"I guess. Still, he forgets that I lived in the worst conditions before he
found me. I am kinda desensitized to this sort of atmosphere by now."
Minpha chuckled and leaned over the couch to stare at the TV as well.
"He just doesn't want to make it worse I guess."
Koichi was ready to just give up on that when suddenly his head throbbed with
pain and he flinched, sitting up to grasp at his head and groan. Minpha stepped
back in surprise and gasped.
"Koichi kun? What's the matter? Are you not feeling okay? Should I get Shinya
San in here?"
He was ready to protest when another sharp stab pierced through his chest and
forced him to spasm and undergo a coughing for that made him feel like his
lungs were burning up from the inside out. Was this... The sickness finally
taking a hold of him? Was he going to die?
"Please... Get him," he wheezed harshly. "I... I think I'm..."
He couldn't continue as the coughs soon escalated to agonizing hacking that
soon forced up a glob of blood from his throat to spatter against the couch.
Minpha screamed in terror and ran down the hallway to Shinya's office. Koichi
clutched the couch with shaky hands and took a few seconds to breathe. The
coughing stopped for only a moment before he collapsed onto  the floor. His
vision blurred. His head swam and the blood started trickling from the corners
of his mouth.
This was it. He was too late and now he was gonna die. Again. How ironic
really.
He could hear panicked voices but his ears started to ring, making it
impossible to pick out words. But he could swear he heard Shinya's voice
barking at someone to 'hurry up and get back' before arms are cradling his body
and lifting him up. The sudden movement makes him whimper in pain and he's
thankful to feel the couches soothing feel against his body.
Soon a heavy fatigue began to clutch at him and he sighed wearily. If he was
dying then... then he didn't mind if anyone heard his mutterings to himself.
"Tsu...zuku... ple... please... come back... I need you," he whispered almost
in a daze like state. "Please... come back... come back..."
Minpha worried his lip with his teeth as Shinya paces in front of the couch
that Koichi laid on. He growled in irritation and sat by Koichi to feel his
forehead.
"Not good... His fever is really high. It's the Sickness. Its taking a toll on
his body at a much faster rate than I thought. Tsuzuku needs to get here now or
else... it will be too late."
Koichi whined as he feels a cool hand pressing on his forehead. By now his
vision is completely clouded over and his ears have gone numb. Fear gripped him
right and he feels moisture collecting at his tear ducts. He didn't wanna
die... not yet, not until Tsuzuku knew how he felt about him. He just... needed
to say something..!
"Tsuzuku... love... love you... please come back."
Then, he sleeps.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 15 *****
It was late at night in the human world, around two in the morning. The sky was
soaking the city with rain and thunder streaked across the heavens almost
constantly. Humans walked to and fro in front of a building lit up by lamp
posts and cars, if only a few, whizzed by on the higheay. The building was a
hozpital but no cars parked here except a neutral government vehicle. All in
all a very normal setting.
Inside the building wasn't as peaceful however.
Papers of all sorts went flying to the floor as an arm sweeped them off in a
flurry of rage.
"Ahh theres no time! I don't care how many things you have to do just get it
fucking done and do it faster!"
Tsuzuku screeched at the top of his lungs at a poor human lady behind a counter
at a random hospital. She flinched and tried to calm the man down. But he
wasn't having it. Koichi needed him. He needed to get back as soon as possible.
"S-sir please we're doing everything we can do right now. I don't know why
you're worried so much about someone who has already died but there are certain
procedures that n-need to be..."
She slowed down at the infuriated look on his face. Her body went cold and she
shivered. Tsuzuku huffed and and tried to take a breath to calm down. He stared
at the lady and crossed his arms.
"Look lady, I don't have to explain my reasons to you. This case needs to be
solved and those documents are crucial if we want to solve it. Just get me the
damned things and we will be on our way."
The lady sighed and typed through her computer as fast as she could before
picking up the landline at her desk and punching in a number. A few moments
pass before she behind to talk.
"Yes this is the front desk. I need all your files on case 112-34. Yes the
young high school boy. Look I don't care if the coroner is still using them I
need them now! There are agents from the government here who need them. Okay
look, if you can't send me the originals than just send me the digital copies
and I can print them out so they can have them alright? This is part of a case
that needs to still be solved. Okay. All right then I expect them in the next
few minutes. Goodbye."
As she slammed down the received she seemed to regain a bit of her boldness as
she stared at Tsuzuku and then to his temporary partner, a purple haired human
named Takashi.
"Which part of the government are you from again?"
Tsuzuku scratched at the parts where his horns would normally be before
reaching into his suit for the badge that was issued to him. Takashi did the
same so they could show them off.
"We're from the FBI, investigating a case involving this boy and a case of
cyber bullying that could possibly turn into something more. The person who had
made this boy commit suicide has disappeared after the incident and we've
launched a full scale manhunt for him."
It was true; they were indeed from the FBI. A long time ago, they worked with
the human government to create a faction of above ground agents that were from
the under world so they could help the humans catch criminals who committed
crimes that weren't in the humans normal jurisdictions. Any supernatural or
otherwise unnatural occurrence that happened and they were called to check it
out.
Tsuzuku and Takashi were two such agents, living a double life as part of the
human world and the under world. Part of the BSA and of the FBI. Only the
highest parts of the human government knew about it.
The woman just sighed wearily and typed in more info.
"So even the FBI is here in Japan... Do you mind if I call your supervisor?
Just to clear everything up?" She asked. Tsuzuku tucked away his badge and
pinned her with a withering stare.
"Lady we have no time. They will be here later today but we really have to go
soon. You can ask them then."
"Tsk. Fine. Just let me get the documents loaded and I'll give them to you.
Give me a moment."
She fell silent and started typing away at her computer feverishly. Tsuzuku
looked back to his partner with a desperate stare.
"Takashi can you wait here for a moment? I need to call back and ask Shinya how
things are right now. I feel like I'm on pins and needles since they sent me
that message a while ago."
The other agent nodded and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Sure. Go do your thing and I will stay here."
Tsuzuku gives him a nod and gets out his phone.
"Thanks man I owe you one."
He walked off outside the main entrance of the hospital and scrolled through
his voice mails, coming across the one he received only moments ago. He bites
his lip nervously and played it back.
"Tsuzuku. This is Shinya. I regret to inform you that Koichi kun has
unexpectedly and very quickly fallen victim to the after effects of the
Sickness inside his body. He's gone comatose and started muttering under his
breath. Please come back and come back soon. The sooner we get his files
submitted the sooner we can save his life. For now he has been taken to the
nearby hospital to wait for his treatment. They have him on life support right
now.
"Come back safely. He needs you. And there is something he needs to say to you
when you get back. We'll be waiting for a response."
BEEP._END_OF_MESSAGE.
Tsuzuku stared at his phone and felt tears starting to well up in his eyes.
Koichi was... He was in danger. He had to hurry or else... no. No he won't
think like that. He will do it in time. He will get back to Koichi and save his
life. Whatever Koichi had to say he would listen.
He started to record his own message before he could fully lose it. But his
voice was shaking as he spoke into the receiver. People that walked by on the
sidewalk gave him funny looks but he paid it no mind.
"Hey... it's me. I got the message.... I'm almost done here. The woman at the
hospital is getting them for me. We already have his domestic information like
family members, social security, and things like that. It took a while, but
finally his aunt and uncle released them to us. Now we need his medical records
and she is almost done. And Shinya san... Please... make sure he's okay. I need
him, I can't lose him now. I'll be home soon."
BEEP .
His fingers were shaking as he stared at the phone and wiped away the moisture
at his eyes. It was rare for him to show emotion like this. About anyone. Let
alone someone he only knew a week. But Koichi... He was special. He was a part
of him he never would have known he had. Another missing piece of him that he
found. He didn't want to lose him he just... couldn't.
"Hey Tsuzuku. Come here for a sec!"
He looked back at the doors to the hospital and saw Takashi waving him back
over.
"O-okay. Be there in a sec."
He sniffled and puts away his phone to head back inside. Takashi is talking to
someone over his own phone as he approached and the woman seemed tired of
dealing with them.
"What is it?" He asked Takashi. The man held up a finger for a moment before
handing him the phone.
"It's the main boss. He wants to talk to you."
Which boss he wondered? They did after all have more than one. There was Meto
and Shinya, but up here in this place he couldn't remember the names.
"Hello?" He asked into the phone. The voice that answered was rough and spoke
in broken Japanese. Probably American.
"Hello. Is this agent Tsuzuku of faction 7E in Japan?"
"Yes sir."
"Good morning. I am the director of the FBI. I have a few things I would like
to discuss with you if that is okay with you."
"Sure, but can we make it quick? I am in a really big hurry."
The man laughed, but it was void of any real mirth.
"Of course of course. Now, let's just get down to it. Make sure you are in a
place where no one can hear as I have some highly sensitive information to
discuss."
Tsuzuku sighed and apologized to Takashi so he could step into the empty lobby
to keep his voice as low as possible.
"Okay I am alone."
"Right. Now then. You were previously a part of the investigation regarding
that boy who fled the high school that young boy died at right? The one known
only as Ice?"
Tsuzuku flinched.
"Yeah..?"
"And you are now on the victim's case instead? Your supervisor from the uh...
Ahem, other world, has been keeping me updated on the recent light of events so
do not be so surprised."
Ha. he should have figured the humans were in on this.
"Well if you could call it that. We just want to make sure he is properly
buried and stuff. His only relatives have expressed no desire to bother with it
so we have to do everything ourselves."
The fact that he had to remember that made him so friggin' angry. How could
Koichi's only relatives throw him away like that?
"And where was the boy buried?"
"There's a cemetery near his house where his parents are located, we had him
buried there next to them."
"Ah yes... That is very unfortunate. But as I have understood, the boy's living
relatives consist of only his aunt and uncle right? His parents passed away
some years ago when he was but a child."
"Yes. They died in a car crash in a rain storm from what I gathered."
"Hmm, yes that's sad. And what of the boy? There are rumors circulating in the
grapevine that you've taken him under your wing, like an underling of some
sort."
He made sure to keep his voice down so the humans around him wouldn't hear.
"Well, yeah I have. He's doing... Well, not so well."
"What do you mean, agent? I thought every soul that went there got happiness in
return for not being a bad person?"
"Yes that's true as well, but there is a catch. If the person fails to complete
a... Procedure in time, they could get sick and die. And I... I waited too long
and now I... He's..."
He stopped to breathe and swallowed the lump in his throat. The director just
made a soft hum.
"Ah ah, say no more agent. Well, I think I just need to ask one more thing.
What do you plan on doing with this boy if you save him?"
Tsuzuku shuddered and licked his dry lips.
"Well... I'm... I'm not sure. All I know is that I... I can't lose him. He's
important to me, more than anything."
There was a moment of not talking and he could swear he heard noises, like
scribbling on paper. Finally the noise stopped and the silence is broken.
"Well agent, I think I have everything I need. Thank you for taking the time to
speak with me."
"No problem, sir. Glad I could be of help."
"Good luck agent. Goodbye."
"Good bye."
He hangs up and stares at Takashi's phone before returning to the counter. The
lady was printing off papers now and he figured they were finally done here.
Takashi took back his phone and stared at him.
"So? What did he want?"
Tsuzuku tapped his fingers on the counter and picked his words carefully in
front of the woman, who seemed eager to listen in on their conversation.
"Oh just... He asked for details regarding the uh... victim who died," he said
slowly. He didn't like saying that word because as far as he was concerned
Koichi was still very much alive. So to speak. "I just told him what we knew."
Takashi caught onto the need for secrecy and immediately nodded.
"Oh yeah, no I get it. Totally. So uh... You gonna take this stuff back to base
once you're done here? Or should I go back alone?"
Tsuzuku thought about it and figured he was in too much of a hurry to consider
doing anything else besides going straight home. Not even to see if he could
find anything else useful.
"No, you can take me back to Shibuya and I'll go from there."
Takashi already knew what was going on with Tsuzuku and where he came from, and
decided not to ask any more questions. He was young, only twenty seven in human
years, but he was very mature.
"Okay. I am sure you're eager to get back to your own faction huh?" he asked
with a sly wink. Tsuzuku chuckled a little bit at that.
"Yeah I guess..."
Their conversation died out and he sighed, still impatient and growing
increasingly worried. Why the hell did he have to be subject to this torture?
If only he had come up earlier than this whole thing would not have happened.
he was so damn stubborn, so set in his want to keep Koichi pure. But he was
just being selfish. He wanted Koichi to be pure but he himself was anything
but. It was at this moment that he just wanted to throw himself off a cliff if
just for the pure irony that he couldn't even die. Damn his immortality.
"Hey, gentlemen? The files are ready for pickup."
The woman at the desk waved a manila file in his face and he blinked back to
reality. Takashi was looking at him funny and if he could blush he would be.
"Thanks, miss. Sorry for wasting some of your time," he says and takes the file
after signing a release form. "Your patience will not be forgotten. Have a good
night."
Takashi gave her a small bow of his head as they left the building, grateful to
be away from all of that finally. Their car, an all black Escalade with tinted
windows, sat waiting for them as it got pelted with rain. After getting in
Takashi immediately gunned the vehicle to life and sped off towards Shibuya.
Tsuzuku took a deep breath and clutched the files to his chest as though they
were a sacred relic to keep safe from harm. And they were really. These papers
were what he needed to make sure Koichi was okay.
Now he just needed to find a way to distract himself.
"Ne, Tsuzuku kun," Takashi suddenly says as he speeds through the city. "Can I
ask you a question?"
Well a conversation with Takashi could help.
"Sure. What do you need?"
"Do you uh... Know if there's any chance I could uh... See that special place
of yours? You know. Down there."
Tsuzuku almost choked on his saliva in the passenger seat. What was he
implying?
"Um, w-what are you saying..?" He squeaked and coughed. "Look Takashi, you're
cute and all. And I am sure you have a lovely personality but-"
"What?!" Takashi squealed then burst into a fit of cackling that made Tsuzuku
confused for a brief moment. "Ahahaha! Is that what you think I am asking for??
Hahahaha!"
As he laughed Tsuzuku continued to sit there silently until he finished
laughing, not in the least bit embarrassed.
"What that's not it? You're not coming onto me?"
It took stopping at a red light to finally make Takashi calm down from his
laughing, wiping at his eyes.
"No! Not at all... Pffpfpfpf... What I... What I meant to say was. Pff... If it
was possible... *okay breathe...* If it was possible to see the other world
that you were from. Pffpfpfpff... Hahahaha!"
Oh. Of course it was, how could he have thought otherwise? Now he was feeling
pretty embarrassed. Tsuzuku squirmed and looked into his lap.
"I... I see... Well, T-Takashi kun... Seeing as how you're human and still
alive... I don't think it would be a very good place for you to be. There are a
bunch of like, toxins in the air that are suitable for different creatures but
for a human it's... I mean if you died it wouldn't matter because hey, you're
dead, you know?"
He laughed nervously and tried to make the awkwardness go away. Takashi just
scoffed and continued to go forward at the green light. By now, the rain had
stopped falling so people didn't have to use the umbrellas they probably had
with them.
"That's okay I guess. It's probably full of people who would want to kill me
anyway."
"No that's not true. It's just the air."
Takashi snorted and pulled up along the street near Shibuya crosswalk, where,
despite it being nighttime, there were still people flooding the walkways.
"Psh, yeah, that makes me feel so much better. Oh no, the people won't kill me.
Noo, not the people with dangerous monster like abilities, oh no not them. No,
the air will. The air. The thing everyone needs to survive."
Tsuzuku shrugged and looked at the files in his lap before putting them safely
in a black briefcase.
"I dunno what to tell you man. If I could I would show you around but..." He
trailed off and got out of the car. Takashi followed right behind him and put
up his hair.
"Meh, say no more. my time will come I guess. Until then, I will continue to do
my duty to this country and it's inhabitants... But can I at least escort you
to your... Uh... Well the place where you go back? I just wanna see. Please?"
The daemon sighed and ruffled his hair as they walked the crosswalk along with
so many other people. Takashi was still young, he would grow out of his
eagerness eventually.
"I guess, but just as far as the portal all right? I have another escort
waiting for me there who can bring you back above ground."
Takashi bounced in excitement as he walked, clearly not able to wait.
"It's underground?? Oooohhh coool. Hihihihihi."
"Takashi kun can you please pay attention? If ever I were in trouble and needed
your help, you would need to remember the building that it is in in case of
such an emergency. We're almost there."
"Pff okay then. Though, if anything, I would think that if you got in trouble
you could... Handle yourself pretty well. Compared to me anyway."
"Ohh come on, you're a great fighter. I am sure that you can handle yourself as
well. Oh, we're here."
They stopped in front of a familiar red bricked building and stared up at it.
It seemed completely inconspicuous which was probably a really good thing. His
partner made a skeptical face.
"Really? This is it?" Takashi questioned. "Doesn't look like much to me."
"Pff. That's the point, you know. Don't want any nosy humans accidentally
finding the portal to a whole other world, do we? Of course not."
Takashi thought for a second before just agreeing with a wave of his hands.
"Meh, fair point. So, where is the entrance?"
He was expecting to go in the front door but then Tsuzuku just walked around it
and into the alleyway next to it. Of course, what was he expecting.
"This way, follow me. And make sure no one is watching or following us."
Takashi looked back behind them constantly until he was satisfied and followed
Tsuzuku to a big metal door padlocked to the hinges. Takashi spluttered as he
stared at the door, getting an almost ominous feeling from it.
"Uwahhhhh! SO this is it! This actually makes more sense."
Tsuzuku took out a ring of keys and started undoing the locks one by one until
they reached one that was old and rusty, clearly different from the other newer
ones. It was here that Tsuzuku proceeded to slash a knife he had hidden in his
sleeve across his palm to draw blood, much to Takashi's horror. Then he pressed
his bloody palm to the rusty lock and waited a few seconds.
"Whoa whoa dude, what are you doing?!" He cried. "You're gonna need a tetanus
shot after this!"
Tsuzuku rolled his eyes as the lock came undone.
"Relax, silly human. This lock only opens in contact with non human blood. And
I do not catch diseases... Wait what the hell is tetanus?"
Takashi glared weakly at him and puffs out his cheeks as they open the door
together.
"Pff, you damn inhuman things and your inability to get sick... And you don't
want to know. It's not pretty."
When the door slammed closed behind them the human jumped and reflexively
grabbed onto Tsuzuku in fright.
"Oh come on, it was just a door. Quit being such a scaredy cat."
They started walking and out of nowhere Takashi flipped on a flashlight.
"Mehh, it's dark down here," he whined and shakily flashed it around. "I don't
like it!"
Of course how could he forget, humans needed light to see. Tsuzuku sighed and
lets him continue to hold his arm until they reached the end of the tunnel.
"Whoaaa," Takashi cooed in amazement. "This is so cool..!"
There a figure was standing there by the pulsating purple archway, leaning
against it in a bored way. When they approached he noticed them and stood up to
greet them.
He was another daemon like Tsuzuku was, only more.. Well, somber in
personality. He was tall and had short cropped black hair and dark makeup
around his white blank eyes. he wore a weird outfit consisting of only leather
pants and a thin see through black clinging tank top so one could see all his
muscles and scars.
His horns were the same as Tsuzuku's except the right one was broken off to
leave behind a jagged rough stump.
"Hey, Tomo san," Tsuzuku greeted the new person. "Have you waited long?"
This Tomo was different from Shinya's sin counterpart. That Tomo was, well more
carefree and more inclined to smile. This one though... Well, he was one straw
short of a one man self pity party. Plus he was really pessimistic and
sarcastic about everything.
"No, I literally just got here," he drawled out slowly in a deep timbre voice
rough with years of smoking. "Do you have what you came up here for?"
Tsuzuku nodded, patting his briefcase.
"Oh yes, I need to get back straight away otherwise I feel like my anxiety is
gonna melt my face off."
"Hmm I see. Then let us go shall we..." Just then he took notice of Tsuzuku's
partner, who was staring at him with huge sparkly eyes. "And who is this?"
Takashi gasped and bowed his head, unable to look at him for much longer.
"U-um..! My name is Takashi. I work with the FBI as well! It's nice to meet
you!"
Tomo hummed softly and walked towards the human slowly, his bare feet making
subtle noises against the cobble stoned floor. Then he stopped just in front of
him, making the human look up at him with wide eyes. Then the most miraculous
thing happened. He smiled. At a human.
"...You're pretty cute."
Takashi froze, unable to comprehend what he was hearing.
"...eh?"
Did Tsuzuku forget to mention that Tomo was a huge flirt? Yeah, he was.
Not really surprised he rolled his eyes.
"Tomo san honestly... I'm sorry about that Takashi. Tomo here thinks it's cute
to flirt with anything that walks. Which he shouldn't."
Takashi held his arms to himself and glanced back and forth between them unsure
of what to say.
"Hey no fair," Tomo says back and stared at Tsuzuku. "You and everyone else
back home keep on saying I should trying to be more sociable. I'm socializing."
"Flirting is not... ugh you know what whatever. I have no time to argue with
you. Anyway Tomo San. Can you please make sure he safely gets back above
ground? I have to go like, now."
Tomo smirked and looked back at the petrified human.
"Sure. I'll make sure to properly escort him back. Now you get home okay?
Everyone is waiting."
The daemon nodded and looked at Takashi.
"Well I'll see you around Takashi kun. Don't let Tomo scare you too bad all
right? And don't forget to lock the padlocks after the door closes!"
The human looked around Tomo's hungry wolf gaze to wave at Tsuzuku before he
disappeared through the shimmering portal. Then he was alone. With this weirdo.
Great. Well at least he was hot. That made it just a bit less uncomfortable.
"So, beautiful," the daemon said with a seducing smirk. "Ready to head back
up?"
Tomo then offered his arm for Takashi to take. Takashi tried to swallow down
his discomfort and returned the smile before looping his arm with Tomo's.
"Sure. Lead the way handsome."
A few minutes of walking later and they're back at the top by the big steel
door. Out in the city alleyway he takes in the bright lights and exhaled
loudly.
"Well, it was nice meeting you Tomo san. I should go now."
Takashi was ready to just say his goodbyes and leave, until Tomo is holding
onto his arm to keep him from leaving just yet. He spins around and stared at
Tomo for a second, unsure of what to say. The daemon bites his lip and grasped
his hand to lock their fingers together.
"Um... You know, Takashi kun..."
The human swallowed heavily and he made eye contact with bright expressive
brown ones. All of the sudden he felt his chest tighten at the intense look on
his face. The daemon seemed like he was struggling to say something important
but then after a moment just gave up. He sighed and rubbed his fingers on the
back of Takashi's hand before lifting it up to press his lips to it in a soft
kiss, not once breaking eye contact with him.
"Travel safe tonight," he says after letting go. "It's dangerous out there."
Then he hears Tomo laugh, and he can feel his heart flutter in his chest just
the slightest bit.
Uh oh. That can't be good.
"U-um... Okay. Thank you Tomo san. Good night."
And all too quickly he was gone. And the door was slammed shut. Takashi could
feel his insides churning and his heart hammering against his ribs.
DAMN it that daemon was hot.
'Fuck me.'
TBC
***** Chapter 16 *****
The very moment his foot stepped past the threshold of the portal and his horns
rematerialized onto his head he took off. Up a flight of old dilapidated steps
from a warehouse basement, to a cold main area sitting abandoned for years.
Supposedly anyway. The multiple blow up mattresses and tents sitting around a
cold firepit told a different story.
It used to be a vehicle storage warehouse, but due to a lack of workers it was
abandoned. Old cars sat around gathering rust and decay while stacked on top of
one another.
He zoomed past them and outside a set of heavy metal doors sitting just barely
on their hinges and into a rural area of the city. Grass replaced pavement in
most parts. A gravel road snaked its way past the warehouse towards the main
part of the city. Houses older then most of the skyscrapers sat along the
gravel road with no evidence of people living in them.
His car sat just along the road and he immediately hopped inside, eager to get
out of there. He threw his case into the passenger seat and sped off faster
than what was probably the legal speed limit. But at the moment it didn't
matter. He had diplomatic immunity anyway.
"I'm coming Koichi. Just wait for me," he says to himself as he sped back to
the city. There were a few more older buildings before he finally got to the
city limits.
This sky was so much more inviting than the one in the human world. Especially
in the morning.
A whole fifteen minutes passed by before he reached the hospital. He didn't
even bother to properly lock the doors as he stormed inside. Paying no mind to
the front desk he went to the surgery room which was all the way on the tenth
floor. His anxiety was by now ready to make the blood in his body feel like it
was freezing like icicles. The adrenaline rush was almost too much to take.
The elevator would be too slow, so he decided to fly up the stairs as fast as
he could. His rarely used inexhaustible stamina was something he never showed
to anyone unless it was an emergency and right now, this was an emergency.
Finally he bursts through the tenth floor door and ran to the desk, scaring the
few nurses on duty.
"Hey! Where is Shinya san! He said he was here?" He asked and gripped his case
tighter than before. The nurses whispered amongst themselves before one of them
suddenly gasped in surprise.
"Ah! Are you Tsuzuku san? You are here from the human world about that boy who
was incapacitated with the Sickness aren't you?"
Incapacitated? Was it really that bad?
"Yes. Where is he?"
The nurse quickly tapped away on a laptop before sitting up and starting down a
hallway.
"Please follow me, the surgeons are waiting on your arrival to begin the
surgery right away. The paper work can be handled by the higher ups once we
show that you have it."
They walked briskly and quickly to an intersection in a hallway to take a sharp
right turn to come to a set of large closed doors with a plaque reading
'surgery/lab department' on it. There was also the usual papers on the side of
them saying that patients with no appointments were not allowed and should have
a proper escort. A key pad was next to them and a nurse quickly typed in her
code to let him in. She didn't go in, probably not wanting to disturb the other
nurses.
"Check in at the nurses station, they will take your paperwork and the surgery
will be cleared."
"Thank you so much," Tsuzuku said thankfully and bowed a little bit.
"Good luck," he heard her say as the door closed. He said thanks in his head,
he would probably need it.
There was another hallway in here with a wider room inside with a round island
desk with some more nurses, this time in bright white medical clothes. Others
were rushing around in hurried ways and voices echoed off the sterile white
walls. It smelled very heavily of chemicals and cleaning agents in here, and
even a small underlying tone of blood.
"How is he?" One of the male nurses at the desk asked another female one. She
sighed in response to the question. Tsuzuku listened in a little closer.
"Not good," she admitted. "His blood pressure reading is barely at a ninety
over sixty, his body is starting to slow down. We need to put him under surgery
as soon as possible if we want to save his life; The phoenix genes are still in
the back freezer but they're ready to go."
Tsuzuku swallowed back a lump and confidently walked up to the desk to put the
case up onto it with a dull thud. That got their attention.
"Excuse me," he asked. "I am here to see Ko- um, the boy who passed out from
the sickness. His files are ready to go for the surgery and I was told that you
could take care of it. Now, I have to see him."
They both gasped and the male nurse grabbed for it.
"Oh! Thank you so much! We will get these upstairs right away. The patient is
down the hallway in room 12, ready to be prepped for surgery. Shinya san and
Meto san are in there with him as visitors. He may or may not be awake, you'll
have to go see. We'll tell the doctors to start the prep right away!"
Frantically Tsuzuku nodded his head, smiling widely though he was still very
worried.
"Thanks so much! I'll call if we need anything!"
He took off again, running down the hallway past the numbered doors. 1. 2. 3. A
utility closet. then 4. 5. 6. He slowed to a walk to let a few elderly patients
be rolled along down the hall in their neat little wheel chairs. 8. 9. He
decided he was close enough to not have to run and decided to instead just walk
briskly along. 10, 11, and finally door 12. There was no time wasted as he
pushed open the door and startled two people inside. It was a big room for a
single person, with all white walls and a linoleum tiled floor. His two bosses,
Shinya and Meto, sat on either side of a bedside with a still body left in it.
Koichi...
"Tsuzuku!" Meto hoarsely whispered and shot up quickly. "You're finally back..!
W-when did you...?"
The daemon panted heavily and strode inside, his emotions out of wack for the
moment. Shinya just patted his arm and walked outside to wait.
"Just now. I need to see him," he says wildly. "Let me see him."
He quickly rushed past his boss as he finally took in Koichi's form on the bed.
The poor thing looked so vulnerable. So pale, fitful as he slept with an IV
attached to his veins, pumping medication into his body to keep him alive.
Tsuzuku felt more emotions threatening to spill over at the sight of his
beautiful Koichi like this. Those once full pink lips were now a sickly pale
pink color and were chapped a bit. His hair was damp and limp as it framed his
face weakly, and his fingers laid at his side completely still. His fingers
were almost completely enveloped in a thick black substance. Tsuzuku almost
cried as he dropped to his knees by his side and takes those hands in his own.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and pressed kisses to his skin, which was cold and
clammy to the touch. "I'm late and I am sorry. But I am here now."
The light blue frock covering his body did nothing to hide the degradation of
his physical state. During the Sickness the body undergoes a magically severe
drop in weight and the bones start to protrude in obvious places. His
collarbones were jutting out, and his wrists were small and thin. His cheeks
looked sunken in a little bit and the thin cotton blanket around his torso did
little to hide his ribs.
But what he thought was probably worse, was the pale white spots and splotches
now dotting his skin along his arms, up his neck, and his cheeks. Even to his
eyelids, which contrasted against the dark circles around them.
He looked... So terrible. So fragile even that he was afraid just to touch him.
As though he could crumble to pieces. Meto sighed as he approached them quietly
to place his hand on Tsuzuku's shoulder.
"I'll give you two some time alone. They will probably want to prep him soon."
Tsuzuku nodded, unable to verbally answer as he holds delicately onto his hand.
The spirit gives him one last pat before he exited the room. Finally he was
left alone with Koichi, with his beloved beautiful Koichi. Gods how could he
have done this to him? It was his fault. His fault that Koichi ended up like
this. They hesitated and now, this boy was paying the price for it. Now, the
poor boy was little more than a shell of his former self. The Sickness, at this
stage, would be at it's second to last stage before you completely burned away
from existence.
The last stage was, strangely, the most peaceful stage despite being the last
one. Your body feels no pain, and the ugly markings across your body are
replaced by delicate, almost beautiful patterns of darkened skin all over. And
as you let the Sickness take over, you fall asleep and your body finally would
dissolve into a black void, into nothingness. You would cease to exist
completely and be remembered only by those who knew you. Your soul would simply
disappear, as if breaking apart into time space. It was a fate now feared worse
than a normal death in this world.
But it would be okay. He was here in time, and Koichi would be okay after his
surgery. Then everything could go back to normal. Hell, maybe even better than
normal. He would be able to defend himself, Tsuzuku won't have to worry. He
would... go off on his own maybe?
Wait, no. That wasn't right. No, he would stay at his side. Tsuzuku would
always keep him safe despite his probable protests. A few days would go by but
eventually he would make Koichi see how he felt. Things would be okay, and even
if Koichi rejected him he would protect and support him no matter what. The
pain would be worth seeing his beautiful smiling face again.
His train of thought must have derailed because when he snapped back into it he
found himself holding his hand again. Kisses were repeatedly pressing to his
skin and he was shaking. Tsuzuku forced himself to let his hand fall back to
the bed. A heavy pitiful breath escaped his lungs as he stands up to sit at the
bed's edge. So badly he just wanted to kiss his face to make himself feel
better. Koichi would probably not wake up right?
"You're still so pretty," he said with a heavy sigh and brushed away his hair
from his face. "I just hope that you can forgive me."
With a shaky breath he leaned over, ignoring the slight ache in his spine, and
pressed his lips to Koichi's for a gentle innocent first kiss. And although his
lips were almost ice cold it was a very wonderful almost euphoric feeling.
Endorphins of all sorts rushed to his brain and caused a momentary high.
Tsuzuku was going to make sure he wouldn't forget this moment, not at all.
His moment was interrupted however as a bunch of nurses soon came into the room
with a stretcher on wheels meant for transporting patients. He panicked and
stands up, making room for them but at the same time holding onto Koichi's hand
as they lifted him up and onto the stretcher.
"Excuse us sir, we must transport the patient to the surgery room for his
procedure," one of them chirped in a soft voice. "Please wait in the ER waiting
room until the surgery is completed."
"I understand but, can I at least walk with you guys to the surgery room?"
The nurses looked between one another before one of them finally consented.
"Yes, but only as far as the doors, then you have to wait."
He nodded and walked alongside them as they went outside. It was just that he
was so nervous he wanted to be with Koichi as long as he could.
"Yeah yeah, I understand."
They rolled Koichi down a long hallway and spat out multiple medical terms he
didn't understand. He just held his hand the whole way and kept seeing if he
would wake up even though he knew it was futile. The poor thing was delirious
and probably in his own little world. Even now, he kept mumbling to himself in
his sleep as he tossed his head about back and forth. Tsuzuku had to lean in
closer to even hear words at all.
"Nnn... pl...ease... don't leave me... love... -ou..."
Did he just hear right?
"Okay we're here," they announced. "Sir, please wait in the ER waiting room. It
will take a few hours so please be patient."
He stood, petrified, as Koichi disappeared behind two more sterile white doors
with a now lit LED 'Occupied' sign above it. What the hell did he say? He
couldn't hear it quite well.
Who did he love? Who or what was he talking to? He had to know.
He sighed heavily and sat in one of the many chairs in the waiting room,
prepared to spend his entire morning in here, just waiting. Waiting to hear
what Koichi had to say to him.
It was gonna be a long few hours.
//////////////////////////////////////
It was only two hours later when he was joined by Meto and a few others from
his group from work. Kyo and Kaoru were there, as well as another newbie ghoul
named Hitsugi.
"Hey... Where's Shinya? Did he leave?"
His boss joined him in the adjoining chair and flipped back his new long silver
hair that was covered in sunflowers and hollyhocks.
"Yeah, he had some stuff to do and he didn't want to leave Minpha by himself."
Come to think of it there were flowers all over his face and body, not just his
hair. Tsuzuku thought that was kind of weird even for him.
"Meto san... Why are you sprouting flowers? It's not even spring?" He asked
once a considerable amount of time passed. His boss scoffed a little bit and
plucked a large sunflower blooming from the corner of his eye only for a new
sprout to appear in its place.
"This happens when I get stressed out sometimes," he admits and gives up on
plucking off the flowers. "My energy goes out of wack and flowers sprout from
my body as a self defense mechanism against a potential threat. But that was
for a long time ago when my kind had enemies. Now it's just kind of annoying."
"Oh. Well, how come I never saw it before?" He asked.
"I always bailed on you when I felt my stress levels rising because I figured
that I... I didn't want anyone to know, but right now hiding isn't the best
option. Tree spirits are prideful in nature. So now you know I guess."
The flowers started to fall once their blooms were full only to be replaced by
more. As a few minutes went by there was now a small pile of them littering the
floor. Tsuzuku thought it was kind of fascinating to be honest.
"Well... How long does it last for?"
"Sometimes hours, sometimes days, it's always different. We'll have to see."
Then he didn't speak any more about it and Tsuzuku just leaned back in his seat
to wait some more.
Another four hours go by. By now Kyo and Kaoru have wandered off to do
something else, and Hitsugi just sits at another chair close by, fidgeting
uncomfortably. Probably nervous by being here with two of his superiors and the
awkward silence.
Tsuzuku was pacing back and forth when suddenly he could feel his stomach
starting to protest at the lack of food inside of his body and he grimaced. Now
of all times he just had to start feeling hungry. And it wasn't even the good
kind where it could be ignored for a small while. No, this was the kind where
he felt like his stomach was turning itself inside out in search of anything to
digest. Really anything would do. Still though, he stubbornly stayed in place.
He didn't want to miss any chance of the surgery being over soon. He was too
worried to eat, or at least he was trying to tell himself that.
Then it growled and caused more hunger pains to make him uncomfortable. Meto
must have noticed because he laughed a little bit, almost completely covered in
flowers now. His face was almost unrecognizable but he worked through it.
"Tsuzuku when was the last time you ate anything?"
The daemon shrugged, trying to will away the pangs of hunger.
"I dunno... Last night? Koichi came home late and I had dinner around eight,
but it wasn't much. I think it was just a plain sandwich..?"
Meto made a choking noise of disbelief and peeled a holly hock from his mouth.
"Dude. Go eat something. We're probably gonna have to deal with waiting for a
while. There's really no pressure."
"Speak for yourself," he grumbled to himself and licked his dry lips. "I'm far
too anxious to eat anything right now. But thank you for your concern. Besides,
it seems like you are the one who needs the concern."
The spirit scoffed again and pulled some flowers from his eyes so he could
properly speak to him face to face.
"Look man I am no doctor but... Your body is telling you that you need
something in there or else your stomach acid is gonna start dissolving
everything around it and I don't want you to end up having to be put in a
hospital bed too. Look, if you won't go do it yourself, then how about I go
find a vending machine or something and you can wait here for me? Then will you
eat?"
Well he hadn't thought about it like that. What would Koichi do if he knew
Tsuzuku put himself in the hospital for not eating? Probably nag and worry
himself and cause even more stress. So yeah maybe Meto was right.
"I guess... Okay then, I'll wait here."
Meto shook off the fallen flowers from his body and walked off to find
something to eat and left him alone, Hitsugi trailing after him with a sharp
command. That guy, always so strict even with the newbies. He was probably
scared witless.
Thirty minutes and he thought it would be forever until Meto got back. In that
time he saw the sudden 'Occupied' sign light turn off and he swore he never
stood up so fast in his life. The door was pulled open and a single doctor in a
bloody doctors outfit. The sight of the blood immediately made him panic.
The doctor looked around himself and spotted him and walked over, a tired but
accomplished look on his face. The daemon went to him and stood quietly.
"Excuse me. Are you a friend of the pink haired boy..?" The doctor asked and
peeled off his gloves covered in blood. Tsuzuku nodded.
"Yes... I'm Tsuzuku. I take care of him. Please tell me is he okay?"
The doctor nodded and peeled back the mask on his face.
"Calm down calm down he is fine. The surgery was a textbook success. His genes
have been spliced successfully thus halting the progression of the Sickness. He
was taken to the ICU about an hour ago to begin the recuperation process. I can
take you to go see him if you wish."
Relief was like a welcome slap in the face and he exhaled loudly. Thank
goodness... Koichi would really be okay then. He wasn't too late.
"Oh thank God. Yes please take me to him."
The doctor smiled, putting a hand into the pocket on his doctors coat.
"Very good. Please follow me."
Tsuzuku is nervous again, this time to see how Koichi looked now. In his whole
career he had never met another Phoenix due to their rarity, so he had no idea
what he was getting himself into.
There was a hallway leading down away from the waiting room and through yet
another set of doors and into a patient wing. Here the doctor stopped at the
nurses station.
"He is in room ten, he should be awake in a while. I will be in to check in on
him after a small amount of time for his vitals okay?"
Tsuzuku bowed repeatedly, near to tears.
"Thank you doctor. Thank you so so much. I'll never forget this."
"Ah its no problem. Now go ahead and see him."
The daemon quickly hurries to rhe room and almost throws open the door. The
room was all white and sterile smelling but at the same time cozy. There was
one single bed with one person in it. He could feel his breath leave his chest
all in one breath.
Koichi was sitting up already, awake and looking so... So vibrant and full of
brightness. The color in his hair was back and brighter than ever. But he
couldn't take in all the details right away. He was just so happy to see Koichi
again. Alive and in front of him.
The pinkette seemed to stay still before his head moved around to finally look
at Tsuzuku. And he could no longer hold himself back. He strode quickly across
towards him and in an instant had him in his arms. His body was warm, almost
hot to the touch. His breathing was steady but a very good indicator that he
wasn't sick. God's he was just so happy to be back right now.
His hug is returned with a gentle one and a soft face is pressing to the crook
of his neck.
"I missed you," he whispered brokenly. "I was late... Please forgive me."
A soft laugh that made his chest tingle pleasantly.
"Please don't think about that now," Koichi said for the first time since
waking up. "You are back now... that's all I care about."
Tsuzuku laughed and sniffles, nearly squishing Koichi in his hold.
"Yeah... I guess," he whispered uncertainty. Then he remembered something. "Oh
um... before I forget. Meto San said you had something important to tell me.
What was it?"
Koichi went still before he lets out a deep breath he was holding.
"Um... yeah I uh... i just.. I wanted to say that... This morning... I know
what you said. And what you did." Tsuzuku immediately freezes. He knew huh?
Great now what was he gonna do?
He pulled back from the hug and stared at the beds covers, embarrassed beyond
all hell.
"Oh. Um... I'm s-sorry if I uh... offended you or weirded you out. I just..."
He's ready to full on panic when unexpectedly Koichi's hands are cradling his
face in the cutest way possible. Their gazes meet and he gasped as he saw
swirls of silver and orange in his otherwise brown colored eyes.
"It's okay... cause you know Tsuzuku I also have something else to show you."
"What is it?" He asked nervously. Koichi smiled sweetly and then in the blink
of an eye their lips are touching in a sweet and tender kiss. Tsuzuku nearly
loses his mind.
This one felt so right, so amazing and the way they fit together was just... he
was ready to die right then and there from all the emotions he was feeling and
he would be okay with it. Koichi was just so damn cute and his mouth was hot
and felt so good. Did this mean he also..?
Their kids broke only after a brief five seconds but it felt like an entire
lifetime passed them by. Tsuzuku was stunned speechless. What the hell just
happened?
Koichi kissed him. Koichikissedhim. Koichikissed him!
"K... Koichi..? You... I... I-"
He just have gave up on speaking and went in for another kiss. And another.
Another. Over and over all over his face, his cheeks, his forehead, his cute
nose. Finally back to his lips where he knew he would be welcomed no matter
what. Koichi accepted all of it.
Their foreheads presses together once he got a few breaths in and he held
Koichi close. Their breaths mingled and he felt high on euphoria. He guessed it
was finally time to address the metaphorical elephant in the room.
"I love you," he whispered and finally allowed the tears to spill. "I love you
I love you I love you."
He couldn't stop saying it as he began and Koichi giggled between his own
tears.
"I love you too," he admitted finally. "I love you Tsuzuku..."
And they kissed more, unable to get enough of each other. The weight off his
chest felt so good and he knew know that he was finally happy. Finally in a
place where he really felt like everything would be okay.
If there was one thing he knew he was certain of, it was this.
He was never going to sleep alone again.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 17 *****
I feel... Weird. Like I am not myself. My head is killing me.
This morning I woke up feeling like I was suffocating. My whole body feels hot
and I can not go back to sleep. The sheets feel like they are scratching me and
they are making me feel like I'm covered in fire. I knew it was all due to my
increased body temperature but still it felt odd. The sun had yet to rise
fully, so only a small fraction of dulled light same in through the window and
black curtains.
But even through all of the discomfort I am happy. Happier than I have ever
been in my entire life.
Tsuzuku requested for me to be taken home for my recovery so I could be more
comfortable and so he could keep an eye on me. And so we could be together.
Trust him to be over protective of me, but it's not like I am complaining.
The doctor told him that I could only eat or drink cold things to help regulate
my temperature and to record it three times a day for a week at the most. And
if my internal temp ever reached more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit than he
should take me back to the hospital to get more help.
So he kept a basin of cool water right next to me if I ever felt overheated and
fed me ice cream every so often to keep me from getting too hot. Even though
the moment it touched my tongue it dissolved into a soupy liquid instantly and
I was literally drinking it, the thought counted. It was from him after all. At
least he had a fan on me all night.
He was mine now. It was so hard to believe that I just... I had to keep
reminding myself that I wasn't dreaming. But it was real. He and I were finally
able to express our feelings without having to tiptoe around each other. It was
so soon after me being here though, so I will have to work harder to make it
work. I need to know everything about him. I want to know all that I can so he
can proudly and confidently call me his.
He was sleeping next to me, just like the night before. Except there was no
space between us now this time. Even if it was stiflingly hot, I didn't want
him to leave. Tsuzuku was cuddling me from behind with his face pressing into
my shoulder blades and his arms around my waist to keep me close. The warmth
from his breath hitting my back was the only heat that I was comfortable with.
We were both sleeping without clothes except for our boxers. Anything more and
he would be lying on the floor by now.
I sighed and shifted so I could face him from the front to stare at his
sleeping face. He was just so perfect, so handsome and sweet I just felt like I
was gonna explode. I wanted to kiss everything so badly before he woke up. His
cheeks, covered in small scars. His thin but full lips, his neck, his eyelids.
His breathing was steady and peaceful. But for the moment I just settled on
smooching his lips a few times so I would not wake him up. The feeling was
still so addictive I couldn't get enough of it.
How did I ever come to deserve him? Two times he saved my life now, two times.
That is more than I would have thought possible for someone like me, but he
came through.
And now that I think about it, this is the first time I ever actually saw him
asleep. Yesterday he woke up before I did, and before I always went to bed
first. But I guess now things are gonna be different. When he brought me back,
he immediately asked me if I wanted to stay in my room or move in with him. Of
course I replied with the latter. After that he moved all of my stuff in here
to mix my own personal sense of environment with his own. My plushies lay on
their sides above our heads, my clothes met with his in the closet. Even all
the little trinkets I grew attached to in my short time here now decorated his
dresser and walls. He even changed the bed sheets to some bright pink ones to
match my hair. But he kept his usual black satin comforter.
And it was all for me.
Seriously... Where would I be without him? Probably not anywhere good actually.
I would have either been stuck a poltergeist hellbent on killing someone or he
would have been late and I would have ceased to exist altogether. Which is why
I was grateful to him for more than one reason.
Hence another reason why I needed to work hard to make our relationship one
worth having. I needed to repay him somehow right? It takes two after all.
But all that thinking is starting to make my head hurt. I didn't want to dwell
on things in the past. I have to focus on getting better so I won't be a burden
on him. Even though he didn't want me getting up and to focus on resting in bed
I knew that would drive me crazy. He was trying to look after me I know, but
there was only a limited amount of time a person could stay still.
Speaking of which, I was feeling the fever starting to make me dizzy, so I
reluctantly peeled myself away from his cozy feeling arms to pull myself up
into a sitting position on the edge of our bed. The water basin sat on a
nightstand with a clean wash cloth next to it. He told me to put it on my
forehead if the heat got to be too much. Unfortunately for me that was almost
constantly and I woke up often all through the night to pat my forehead with
water.
So I did just that and sighed in relief as the coolness touched my skin. It
took me only a few pats to make the wash cloth start feeling warm so I dipped
it back in and repeated a couple times before I could start feeling better.
Then I took a large gulp of the ice water in the cup next to the basin.
I caught a glance of myself on the nearby mirror hanging on the wall next to
us. Not sure that the sight of myself would ever be a thing to get used to. My
eyes were their usual color but with dynamic streaks of color through them and
they felt numb. My face was clear of those annoying white spots from when I was
sick and now had a red tinge to it, probably due to my fever. My skin was still
pale, but not like a sickly pale. I looked down and saw my finger tips, the
nails now clean and shiny. That annoying blackness on them before was washed
off when Tsuzuku helped me to take a cold shower last night. Also my hair was a
little bit longer for some reason.
I wonder what else was different? He said I would have wings, but I didn't feel
anything on my back yet. Maybe that would come later. As for powers, Phoenixes
were fire types, so I must have some sort of related abilities right? Once I
get better, I should ask Tsuzuku to help me find a way to discover what I could
do.
Out of nowhere I can feel movement behind me so I turn around. He was waking up
now no doubt. I swallowed past a scratchy throat and waited for him to fully
wake up. His eyes blinked slowly a few times before his arms stretched out, one
of his hands brushing against my back and making me shiver pleasantly. At the
contact he paused as his fingers touched me and let his eyes open up more. Our
eyes met and he instantly beams brighter than I had ever seen before.
"Mmm, good morning Koi-chan," he groans in a deep husky voice. Oh be still my
beating heart. Lord only knows what his voice does to me.
"Good morning," I responded and crawled back into his arms, snuggling up
against him and breathing in the unique scent that was purely Tsuzuku. "Did I
wake you up..?"
He blinked steadily and yawned. Good lord, he was so sexy when he was sleepy.
"Hehe, no. I just had a feeling I should get up. Guess I was right, but I am
just sad I missed your sleeping adorable face."
Suddenly his soft lips are pecking at mine and their slight coolness feels
really good through the heat. My eyelids fluttered and I sighed against the
feelings I was feeling. I reached up and around him to avoid losing his heat.
"Hmm... But... I just wished you would sleep more, we both need to."
He laughed and reached his arms out around me to stretch again before his hands
come to my face to hold me closer to his.
"Don't worry, we have all day to do that. I am here for you, no matter what. I
am at your beck and call, your slave for the day, or whatever you want to call
it."
"Aww you don't have to say all that," I murmured quietly. "I don't want to
think of you as a slave. Just say something like... um... caretaker. Okay?"
Tsuzuku just laughs and he put his palm to my forehead.
"Okay I guess that works. But how are you feeling hmm? Is the fever still
bugging you?"
His hand is only slightly warm but even that still feels nice.
"A little," I admitted. "But it's not that bad right now. I think I mostly just
need to take another cool shower and I'll be fine. Maybe even a bath this time
to save water."
He nodded in agreement and continued to fuss over me with his hands touching my
face and neck.
"It's just as well; your neck feels really warm. Okay. I'll draw you a cool
bath and you can wait here for me. Okay?"
He kissed me again and I felt a tiny part of me die inside. Just a little.
That's how much I have grown to love feeling his kisses now.
"Okay," I answer and give him one of my own. "I'll be here."
He smiled wide and brushed back my bangs before going into his bathroom. I
briefly touched my lips and sigh, rolling into my back to stare at the ceiling.
My heart was going crazy right now.
That guy... surely he is gonna be the death of me someday. That's fine. As long
as he comes with me then it's fine.
Only a moment later I hear the bathtub starting up and his voice humming in a
soft tune. I heard once from Minpha that he likes to sing now and again. But I
have yet to hear it for myself.
Perhaps one day I can ask him to sing for me.
"Okay. Koichi you can come in now," he calls and comes outside to lean on the
door frame. "Can you get up on your own or do I have to carry you like a
princess?"
He says that with such a teasing and suggestive tone that it made me wonder if
something else was going on inside his head. Moving a little fast there aren't
we?
"Oh please," I scoffed and sat up on the edge of the bed. "I can do it myself,
I am not some girl."
He laughed but walked up to me anyways and extends his hand towards me.
"All joking aside," he murmured with intense eyes. "It would make me feel
better if you let me at least help you a little."
Jeez why does he have to look at me with such puppy dog eyes? I relented and
let him take my hand, only for him to pull me up and I accidentally hit into
his chest.
"Tsuzuku? What are y-"
He stops me from speaking with a heavy and smothering kiss that I hadn't been
expecting. What the heck... Oh god his tongue is touching my lip..! The heat
from my fever must finally be getting to me, because my head starts swimming
really bad but to be honest... I really like it. I kissed back and allowed him
to kiss me deeper, letting his arms wrap around my waist and mine around his
neck. Why does he taste like syrup...
He pulls me into the bathroom after breaking away from the kiss only to press
me against the door for another.
Unwittingly he moaned into our kiss and I feel my bones turn to jelly. Then his
hands start to feel up my thigh very easily thanks to the fact that I was
barely wearing anything. Him either.
His voice, or rather his moans, were so freaking hot that I felt like I wanted
to hear even more from him. But now, unfortunately, was probably not the time
or place for that. Maybe, once my fever went away. But not now. See, I could
think for myself as an adult.
"Wait," I gasped hoarsely into our kiss and pulled my head away from him,
unable to breathe right. "I... I think we... We should wait... Wait..."
Instead of pulling back like I thought he would his mouth latched against my
bared shoulder and he starts kissing there, letting his hands roam all over my
body.
"Mm? Really, you want us to wait?" He says huskily as his mouth slides up to my
neck and to my ear where he playfully bites me, making me shiver. "The sounds I
am hearing from your mouth tell me different..?"
Oh, when did I start making these weird noises? There are squeaks and high
pitched noises coming out of me... Make it stop! Make it stop before I go
crazy! His hands are at my waist now, massaging my hip bones in big circles.
"U-uhm... I am but, uh... I just... I don't want to ru-ah! Rush, anything," I
whimpered through a particularly sensitive spot was nipped at. Oh my God what
is happening to me?
Tsuzuku paused his kissing and I could finally feel some of my senses coming
back to me. Is he getting the message now??
"Koichi..." He sighed and let go of my waist to cup my face and this time, his
kisses that he gave me were more apologetic and softer, not as lustful. "Sorry.
I just... I got excited. You know, I wanted for so long to be able to be this
close. To you, like this. But you're right."
I laughed a little and kiss his nose, making him blink a little.
"No I get it, and I did too. You're everything to me. Literally. You've saved
me more than once, and you're the only one I have left who cares for me. And
I..." My breath gets caught in my throat and I have to blink away the heat
making me dizzy. "I... I love you Tsuzuku."
Whoa, that was way harder to say than I thought. But I am so glad I did, he
looks really happy right now. He's smiling like an idiot and laughing, holding
onto me for dear life.
"My cute Koichi," he whispered against my lips after a sweet kiss. "I love you
too."
He hugged me tightly and I sighed in relief. Good lord I love him so much. But
I was really starting to feel hot. Feverish hot I mean.
"Um Tsuzuku... My fever is..."
He gasped softly and pulled back from me.
"Oh yeah! Sorry I got carried away. Um... Here, come on, it probably got colder
since we uh..."
I nodded and ruffled his hair before going to the tub and getting naked like
last night. I guess i just really liked to tease him. His face turns red but I
just laughed and sat in the nice cool water, feeling my fever starting to go
down. Well, since we've come this far... As a last playful tease I offered my
own hand, grinning at him cattishly and watching his face turn even more red.
"Care to join me?"
 
TBC
***** Chapter 18 *****
The doctor said I could finally leave today. Someone was coming after me to
take me to my new home. So I waited all morning for someone to come, still
dressed in my hospital gown and laying in my bed. 
But I was exhausted. I can't remember the last time I slept so badly. The
realization of what I had done still hurt, really really badly. I had hurt
Koichi. The only person I had left after I died. Stripped away his trust for
me, just like that. And even though I was super happy to hear that he loved me
the first time, I can't feel that way anymore. 
My stomach always felt like someone was gripping it from the inside and
preventing me from eating anything. I just... There was no way someone like me
could ever come back from that right? It's hopeless now. Koichi hates me and I
still... Have these stupid feelings!
Guess it was just karma then... Earlier I heard a rumor that he was in a
relationship with Tsuzuku san now, and even though it stung like lemon juice on
an open wound, I guessed I should feel... Happy for him. But I just wish I
could make it all better between us instead of all this bad blood. It could
help me and it could help him as well. We can forget about our old lives and
finally move on. Lord knows I have already forgotten about Ice.
Just then my room door opened and two familiar faces I never thought I would
see again peeked in. I could feel the dark cloud over my head lift just a
little bit. The other bed near mine was empty now, what with Masa having been
moved to a new room to be alone. So now the curtain that would have separated
us is pushed back to the wall and I got a good look at my visitors.
"Heyyy there he is," A familiar voice called. "We decided to pop in for a
visit."
"Yeah, it feels like it's been forever!" The other one says as they walk
inside. "How are you doing man?"
Aoi and Uruha? But... Why are they here? No doubt I was glad to see them but I
thought it would be a long time before we saw each other again... They were
holding their I.V drip stands in their opposite hands and holding each other's
free one. What was that all about?
"Guys!" I exclaimed in surprise and flinched as more pain stabbed at my
stomach. "W-what are you guys doing here?"
Aoi, the medium sized one with side swept black hair, scoffed at me and put a
hand to his hip. 
"What, we can't visit one of our old friends? How rude!"
But then he started laughing and Uruha just made an annoyed face. He was taller
than Aoi was and had slightly longer black hair that was wavy and framed his
face.
"Aoi shut up," He said and they walked closer to my bedside to sit on the small
love seat next to it. "We wanted to come say hi before you left. We heard the
nurses talking about it, some guy named Meto has decided to take you under his
wing."
Meto... Why is that name familiar? I feel like I heard it before. 
"Oh really? Who is he and what is he like?"
Aoi grinned and suddenly snuggled dangerously closer to Uruha, resting his head
on his shoulder. 
"Apparently he is some super important guy in this place, and super cute. But
he's really old and is filthy rich. So you're probably really well off with
him."
I rose an eyebrow, trying to ignore the fact that they were really close
together. The curiosity was starting to kill me. Maybe I should ask later. 
"What do you mean, well off?"
Aoi shrugged. 
"Well, he can be your sugar daddy or something I dunn- Ow! Heyy."
Uruha had jabbed an elbow into Aoi's side to reprimand him and I just giggled a
little bit. 
"Quit joking around," I say and shake my head. "He's just gonna take care of
me, I won't expect much from him after that." 
Aoi pouted and rubbed his ribs as Uruha ruffled his hair. 
"But anyway, you should come visit us after you get settled in your new place.
We can't leave for another few days, we're still kind of too sick."
I nodded and sighed softly, scratching at the old I.V marks on my hand, already
starting to heal up. Figures... There was far more damage done to them than to
me. I was just the example set to the others. 
"I will. How much longer do you have to stay here? Until your bodies heal up
enough to leave?"
They look at each other and make sad faces, seeming to share the same
thoughts. 
"Well... To be honest," Uruha started. "We both have a few more days. The
nurses want to keep us under supervision a bit longer to make sure we are okay
through and through. The others, Kai, Ruki and Reita as well."
The mention of our other three buddies made a bout of nostalgia from hanging
out with them hit into me. When I wasn't with Ice I was always with them
instead. They would always tease me for having puffy swollen lips like a girl,
or made fun of me for not being a smoker of cigarettes. Or at least Reita and
Kai did. Ruki didn't, trying to keep his voice from getting ruined. 
They were planning on starting a band together, and they were already really
good sounding. Ruki was a singer, Aoi and Uruha were guitar players, Reita was
a bass player, and Kai had been pretty good at drums. The five of them made a
pretty good team... Or at least, they did. All their work, all their plans.
Gone. In the blink of an eye. The thought of those events preventing them from
achieving their dreams made my chest ache in despair. 
"And how are they doing? Have you seen them?"
At the mention of their friends Uruha wilted a little bit and looked down
suddenly, biting his lips. Aoi sighed and rubbed Uruha's fingers to console
him.
"Well... They haven't woken up yet actually," he said when Uruha would not
speak. "We would overhear the nurses talking next to our room. One of them kept
saying that Ruki was still unsconcious and even though he wasn't really sick he
was just... Unresponsive. Reita too, and they shared a room like we do. Kai is
awake now, but he's really weak and can barely move his body around."
So Ruki was still letting himself sleep, huh. Hm... Maybe I should stop by his
room and leave a momento for him when he wakes up before I leave. It was the
least I could do for an old friend. I just stared at the plain white wall in
front of me, trying not to think too much about the past. At least we were safe
here, even if we weren't alive anymore. 
"And how about you guys? How are you two feeling?" I asked. They both
shrugged. 
"Meh, we're okay," Uruha says, thankful for the question. "Being dead's not so
bad. The food here is pretty good even though it is a hospital."
Aoi laughed and suddenly he's pressing up against Uruha in a very affectionate
manner. Okay something was definitely going on between these two. 
"And if we want to smoke, at least we know it won't kill us since we're already
dead, hehehe..."
They both laughed softly at each other but I could tell the pain of being
ripped away from their families and the other world still hurt. It clouded
their eyes and made their laughs sound hollow. But they were trying their best
to see the silver linings in this situation, and that made them brave people. 
If only I could feel the same. I still missed coming home to my parents every
day after school. No doubt they did too even if they tried to hide it. 
"That's good," I said with a small smile. "Now you guys can be rebels all you
want."
They both seemed to perk up at that and their moods lightened very
substantially since they have been visiting with me. I am glad they are here.
It gave me something other than Koichi to focus on. 
They stayed for another hour before a nurse came by to escort them back to
their rooms so they could be tested and I was alone with my thoughts. It was
really nice seeing them again despite our circumstances, and I would have to
remind myself to see them again before leaving with this Meto person. 
It was quiet in here now, too quiet. Now that I was alone I found myself having
more thoughts of himand the dark cloud came back to pester me. Why can't I
just... Just forget about him? Clearly there was no hope. Maybe love does turn
people into fools. It was sure making me feel like one. 
Another hour passed and I felt like I was gonna die of boredom. I could hear
people walking back and forth outside and I was so bored and depressed with my
thoughts that I was seriously considering just taking a nap. 
But then after an unbearable amount of time I hear what sounds like my name
being said from outside the room. Nurses? Or maybe that one guy is here to pick
me up?
The door opened and another nurse peeked her head inside. I recognized her, a
pale young thing with tattoo's of all sorts of designs on her face and arms.
She had a split tongue and lisped as she spoke. 
"Mia?" She said softly. "The one who is gonna take you home is here, I'll send
him in to see you now."
Oh, that must be him now. 
"Okay," I said and tried to sit up straighter. "I'm all good to go here."
She nodded in response and entered the room, and someone came in behind her.
There stood a guy; small in height with silver hair in curly ringlets around
his face to his shoulders and flowers were weaved into it all over. On his thin
body was a small black skin tight dress and he was holding a cute small stuffed
bear in his arms. There were also tattoo's covering most of his arms. He was
very... Cute..?
He seemed to be saying something to her as his mouth moved but I could not hear
anything from here. Then she scurried off and the man started walking inside,
his small black heels clicking on the linoleum floors as he approached me
slowly. His creepy bright white eyes never left mine and I started getting a
creepy feeling from him the more I looked at him. Who is he?
"Hello Mia kun," he said and sat on the edge of the sofa next to me. "It is
very nice to finally meet you properly. My name is Meto. You probably don't
remember me, but I was part of the group that helped bring you and the other
boys here after... After you died."
That's right... I vaguely remember someone similar to him being around me when
we first came here but... This couldn't be the same person? Unless they went
through hair dye like it was oxygen then it was highly possible. He had purple
hair at the time, and it was braided. 
"Hi... Um yeah I uh... Don't really remember much of what happened that day. my
memories are kind of fuzzy. But it's nice to meet you too."
Then Meto smiled... For some reason, it made me feel so much more at ease
seeing such a peaceful expression on his face. It made me finally believe that
things were gonna be okay.
"Now, before we go, there are some things I would like to discuss with you if
it is okay?"
I shrugged, trying to push away the warm fuzzy feeling in my chest from looking
at him. 
"Of course, Meto san," I agree wholeheartedly. "What do you need?"
He shifted closer and crossed his legs, showing off the thin black lace
covering them that I hadn't noticed until now. The smile was still there, and I
just couldn't look away from it. I felt like I could trust him, no matter what.
Did he have this effect on everyone?
"Good. I want you to tell me a little bit about yourself," he revealed and
leaned in closer. "Then afterwards we can finally go home. From there on, I
will tell you things about myself as well. Deal?"
I nodded, eager to tell him whatever he needed to know. I may as well anyways,
if I was gonna live with him what was the point of being strangers forever?
Besides, He seemed like someone I would trust.
"Sure. Well, my name is Mia," I started with a smile of my own. "And I am
eighteen years old..."
_________________Normal POV_________________
Things have been weird since he left that place to come here to the human
world. Layha was acting weird and making him stay home more and more often. By
home he meant an old building that him and Layha lived in now, along with two
other people. Two other vampires as a matter of fact. It made him feel weird,
being the sole demon in the company of three vampires. He was home alone with
them again today. No surprise there. Something about having some things to take
care of and needing to be alone. And trying to keep Ryoga safe, for some
reason...
In the past their two species would clash over territory and prey, but that was
before the new social constructs were in place and everything was one person
for himself in a dog eat dog world. Now their kind got along pretty okay,
forgetting all about past grievances committed by their ancestors. 
But even so, Ryoga would catch them staring at him some kind of way. Not in a
malicious or ill intended way, just... A mistrustful, even cautious way. As
though they didn't want him to get too close to them. Layha of course was
clingy like saran wrap but he had to figure, it was just in his nature to be
that way. He was an emotional person through an through. And there was the fact
that he wouldn't feed off anyone else but him, not even the cleanest of humans
out there in the real world. It was like being back in their real home when he
was here, different from the outside of their little bubble. 
The first vampire, named Haru, was a stereotypical type. Blood to live, can't
go in someone's house unless invited, and he can be killed by stabbing his
heart. However, he really liked garlic bread and spaghetti, and had a bunch of
silver jewelry pierced into his body. Sun tanning was also another hobby, but
he never got any darker than he was now.
The other one, named Tatsuki, was really an odd one, even for a vampire. He
didn't feed with his mouth, but instead he absorbed blood through his skin like
he was a living sponge. So he had to take bloody baths every three days just to
survive. Today was one of those days, and his skin was still pale pink with the
red substance still absorbing into him. 
They both creeped him out really badly, and even though they were like Layha's
brothers he still couldn't find a reason to trust them. They watched him any
chance they could, and avoided any and all conversation with him unless it was
necessary. 
Ryoga was starting to feel unwelcome here despite their albeit half hearted
attempts at assuring him that everything was fine. Still, he just... Well he
felt like they didn't want him here at all. It was just a back and forth thing
between them. But he didn't dare say a word of it to Layha. His new lover (is
that what he was? Didn't feel like it to him) was seemingly the one in charge
here. He ordered his brothers around and made them do things for him, and would
sometimes yell at them if they did something he did not like. 
He got special treatment though because of his new ties to him. He was treated
better because of his relationship despite there not being any real actual
feelings. But still, even more so than Itsuki or Haru he was trusted. Which was
weird in his opinion because well, he and Layha were not even together for very
long. 
Well at any rate at least he was away from... Them. Tsuzuku was by now, a
thankfully forgotten memory. Hopefully. Unless for some reason they crossed
paths again. Layha was so much better than him. The sex was better, and they
were so much more compatible in every way. All he really regretted from their
breaking up was the emotional strain of losing someone you loved. But everyone
had to go through that at one point in their lives, and he was no different. 
But no more. He would forget about that daemon and his toxic little human and
continue to look forward, despite his new and awkward surroundings.
Ryoga was sitting around by himself in the living room when Layha finally came
back late at night after... Whatever it was he was doing. He hadn't been doing
anything this whole time except browsing around on the human internet. It was
interesting but not really attention grabbing. 
The vampire was nervous when he came inside, not his usual playful flirty self
when he returned on days like this. That in and of itself was enough cause for
concern. Ryoga frowned heavily and closed his laptop before going to greet
him. 
"Layha? Are you okay..? You look really nervous right now?"
The vampire exhaled heavily and tried to breathe. There weren't many things
that could make him lose his composure like this, and if there were they had to
be pretty intense. Layha grasped his shoulders and stared at him, his face
serious. 
"Ryoga I... Today, I went on my usual errands and I uh... Well, there is this
friend I have who I visit every so often and he.. he wants to meet you. Today.
As soon as possible. Tatsuki and Haru, you stay here and watch the place."
Friend? What sort of friend did he mean? 
"What sort of friend do you mean?"
Layha shook his head and started to drag him out of the house, leaving behind
his brothers. 
"I can't explain right now, just come with me."
Ryoga didn't protest, not wanting to make him even more nervous. So he relented
and followed behind the blonde vampire like a faithful little puppy. It was
still early in the evening, therefore the sun was ready to set. 
Layha dragged him to his car and they sped off towards an unknown destination.
It was here that he decided to ask his questions. 
"So... Where are we going? And who is this friend of yours that I am gonna
meet?"
his sudden questioning made Layha jump in surprise, and then sigh in distress. 
"Okay look Ryoga I am gonna be honest with you. This friend of mine... Well
he's actually my... Boss."
"Boss?" Ryoga asked, confused. "What sort of boss do you mean?"
"Look it's gonna make more sense if you meet him so please just.. Save the
questions for later when you would understand better."
Okay now something was starting to not feel right here. But he didn't question
it, like always. He trusted Layha now, and no matter what he did he would
follow alongside him like a faithful follower would. Even if that sinking
feeling in his stomach was making him uncomfortable. 
Half an hour later and they were standing in front of an old brick building in
the newer part of Tokyo, close to the noisy shopping districts and major city
areas. The other buildings around them were nice and new and shiny but this
one... Was it really here that they needed to be?
Apparently it was when Layha went inside no problem and he was forced to follow
right behind. 
Instantly he was assaulted with loud thumping music that hurt his skull and he
knew why the facade confused him. It was a cover up for a night club
apparently, and it was well hidden. The bouncer seemed to recognize Layha and
allowed him in past all the lines, much to the displeasure of the humans
waiting in line to be let inside. Now this was really making him nervous.
'Layha why are we in a night club?' He asked through their recently developed
mental connection. 'Aren't you afraid of being exposed or being found out by
any humans?'
But Layha wasn't too concerned about that right now. 
'Babe don't worry; these humans are so doped up on narcotics and alcohol that
they wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. We'll be fine, just come
with me.'
They trudged through a writhing mass of bodies on the dance floor and to a back
door, where a man standing guard let them pass by without a single question.
That was definitely weird. Weren't there some rules about that sort of thing?
Through the door was dark and poorly ventilated, but thankfully the music was
muted and muffled through thick brick walls. Layha led him up a stair well and
his hands were starting to shake really bad. Then there was a door, a big thick
wooden one with metal engravings and hinges. Here, the music was by now a dull,
faint thumping. Then Layha spoke.
"Ryoga I want you to promise me that whatever happens through this door, you
will forgive me for keeping you in the dark okay?"
"Layha?" Ryoga started to question. "What are you-?"
"Just promise me okay? Promise."
As much as it gave him a sinking feeling he knew that he had little to no say
otherwise so he just agreed, ready to go inside when suddenly Layha pushed him
up against the door and started to kiss him, hard, making it hard to breathe.
Why was he acting this way? Was he... Planning to do something bad? He acted
like they were never gonna see each other again. 
When they were done kissing for what felt like forever Layha pulled away and
yanked open the door, revealing a dark and mostly empty apartment. A single
room lit by a huge stone fireplace, and a familiar red leather couch right in
front of it. And just like last time, a single black cloaked figure lounging on
it lazily, as though waiting for something. Or someone. 
 Layha took in a few breaths before he took Ryoga's hand and approached the
couch with him. And there were those feelings again, those ones of unease and
dread.
"Master... I am back. And I have brought him with me."
The figure seemed to think before it angled its hooded head at them, tilting
it. Then it spoke in a soft but overwhelming voice.  There were multiple
overlapping voices ingrained into the sound, but he could still pick out the
most singular dominant voice that was in control.
"Ahh my pet, you have come back. And you have brought him just as I asked. Well
done."
Just hearing it made Ryoga feel oppressed and suffocated under the power it
held. Layha shivered next to him and he had to wonder what he had landed
himself into this time.  The energy in this room coming from that figure was so
strong and heavy that he felt it crushing his chest.
"Yes... Thank you."
The figure stood up and approached them slowly, watching themwith
invisibleeyes. He stops directly in front of them and speaks again.
"Good, very good," the figure crooned in a gentle voice. "Tell me,Layha mydear.
What are you planning to do now hmm? With this adorable new play thing?"
Play thing? Buthe wasn't-
"I want him to help us master," Layha answered stiffly. "I believe he knows
things that may be of use to us and our mission."
Useful? Mission? What onEarth was Layhatalking about?
"I see. Well then, whatdoeshe know?"
Layha looked at Ryoga, seemingly apologetic, before answering.
"Hehadpersonal ties to the target."
Whatthe hell arethese twotalking about??
"Oh?" Thefigureasked, suddenly intrigued. "Well that certainly is
interesting...sotell me one thing new blood."
Ryoga stiffened ashewas addressed, unable to look away from the spot where
theperson'shead was.
"Ummm.... yeah?"
The figure crossed his fingers together in thought , studying him before asking
him his question.
"Do you really know the daemon by the name of Tsuzuku? Because I am extremely
interested in having him for myself."
At that sudden announcement he felt his heart drop. He really was in trouble
wasn't he?
Now he was seriously starting to feel dizzy.
'Shit... What should I do now?"
TBC
***** Chapter 19 *****
"How are you feeling? Do you need anything else?"
He felt that he just had to ask. The new instincts he was feeling had him
asking his lover every five minutes now throughout the whole day. And of course
like always the question was met with a soft sigh and a weak smile. The fever
was not nearly as bad now that Koichi was not bed ridden all the time. Now it
was calmed down enough so that he could walk himself around with only minimal
assistance. Like a few moments ago after waking up he managed to get to the
living room on his own. Still, he had to take his cool baths twice a day to
prevent his body from overheating. 
"I'm fine," Koichi laughed as he stretched out on the couch with a cooling
blanket over his legs. "It's good that you're worried about me but if I need
anything at all I will tell you."
Tsuzuku knew that. But he was just being his usual over protective self again,
like always. Koichi had become the number one priority in his life now, aside
from work that is. Twice he got questions to go hang out by colleagues. Both
times he had to respectfully decline. There was no way he was gonna leave his
baby behind, not while he was in such a vulnerable state like this.
He ran his fingers through Koichi's hair as his head rested on his lap.
"I know but I... I dunno I'm just really nervous. Your temperature rise above a
hundred and fifty this morning. In Fahrenheit. That's really really hot..."
Koichi sputtered through a laugh and squeezed at Tsuzuku's thigh.
"Well what do you expect? They told me I have literal fire inside of my veins
now. I'm gonna be hot like this for a while until I learn how to control it
better. It's good that I feel hot, it means I'm still alive and there is
nothing wrong with me. So don't worry too much okay?" At first Tsuzuku
hesitated to answer because of worry and that was okay. It showed just how much
he meant to him now. "Tsuzuku... Baby, Look at me."
He sat up and pulled Tsuzuku's face closer to kiss his cheek. The daemon looked
at him, bewildered. Wow he was being so assertive. He kinda liked that. And the
cute pet name... Who was he and what did he do with Koichi?
"Huh?" He squeaked. "What is it?
"Promise me you won't worry too much okay? Then I'll start to worry about you
and we both know that. Mkay? Promise."
Tsuzuku wasn't sure where the assertiveness was coming from but he wasn't
complaining about it. He puffed out his cheeks like a fish and squished
Koichi's cheeks to make him the same way.
"Okay but only if you give me a kiss."
Koichi smiled softly and have him a soft peck on the cheek, making Tsuzuku
smile afterwards like a weirdo. His heart was going crazy and he could hear
Koichi's was in a frenzy as well.
"Oh you're so ridiculous," the pinkette cooed quietly and smooches his bottom
lip. "But I love you for that."
Tsuzuku shuddered from emotions dwelling on his chest and he pulled Koichi up
to him, snuggling and kissing him as though he was the only line he had left to
sanity. Maybe he actually was.
Even though he felt like Koichi's skin was burning through his clothes he still
wouldn't let go.
"Love you too," he responds and kisses at the corner of his lips. "You're the
only one I'll ever need in my life. Don't ever forget that."
Koichi mimicked Tsuzuku's earlier actions and ran a hand through his lovers
black hair, still unable to quite get over the color change. But he loved it
just the same. So soft..!
"I won't forget," he promised. "Not ever."
Oh God Tsuzuku loved him so much..! There were just so many things, unspeakable
and otherwise, that he wanted so badly to already explore with the adorable
pinkette. It's just too bad they couldn't do anything really crazy just yet. At
least not for the next month until Koichi's birthday... He was already a little
overwhelmed with impatience that it was killing him.
"Do you need more ice cream?" He asked with a shaking voice and a glance at the
TV to distract himself. "You ran out again."
Koichi laughed and let himself fall back onto the other side of the couch,
content with snuggling the cool blanket against himself. 
"I suppose. If you're so insistent hehehe."
He got another peck on the lips in response before turning his attention back
to the movie on TV as Tsuzuku returned to the kitchen. He could easily get used
to this, the domestic life that is. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if this
became the normal thing for him from now on. Waking up next to his lover, not
being alone, and being safe. If he could choose this over being alive he would
pick this any day. Being dead was so much nicer because this world wasn't as
awful as the other one.
"It doesn't matter what kind right?" Tsuzuku asked. "Well, we only got one kind
but still..."
"Hahaha, no, it's just whatever you can get me would be fine," He answered
giggling. "I can't really taste it anyways, my tongue is numb to sweet things
at the moment."
"Okay, I'll have it done in a second."
Koichi could hear Tsuzuku start humming to himself and he smiled, feeling the
heat in his chest make him blush. There he goes again, being all cute even if
he didn't notice it. 
Unfortunately he didn't have time to think much about it because the next thing
he knew there was a knocking at the door. He groaned in displeasure and pulled
himself up off the couch.
"I got it," He says when Tsuzuku starts rushing around. Tsuzuku relaxed,
kissing him as he went past. 
"Thanks babe, if it's someone we know just let them in."
Koichi nodded and approached the door and adjusted the blanket around him
before opening it to greet their guest. 
"Hello? Oh! Meto san?"
Koichi was really surprised to find the spirit here now of all times. And
dressed in plain discreet clothes, not like his usual outlandish outfits he
normally wore. Dressed in only a black sweater with white graphic letters on
the side and black tight fitting pants. Even his hair was just straight down
and all black. Ruana was safely tucked into the crook of his arm as well, along
with a black tote bag with a 'Misfits' logo on it. Now he looked really...
Normal. And that was making him feel a little uncomfortable. 
"Good morning Koichi," Meto responded with a familiar smile. "How are you
feeling? Good I hope?"
  "Yes I am okay, I don't have to be in bed all the time anymore." 
Meto nodded, genuinely happy to hear such good news. He wasn't sure how we
would be if Koichi was still bed ridden. 
"That's great! So, is Tsuzuku in? If so I would like to speak with him."
"Okay. Hey uh Tsuzuku?" Koichi called and peeked backwards to address the
daemon in question. "Meto san is here to see you."
At the mention of his boss Tsuzuku halted in what he was doing and joined them
at the door. What as he doing here? And so early in the morning too? And why
wasn't he dressed like he usually was? 
"Meto? What brings you here so early? I thought you were busy with... You
know."
It was no secret that Meto had taken Mia into his home. Pretty much the entire
company knew about it, all his colleagues were talking about it like it was
some super interesting thing that had to be talked about. On the lesser side
however, he would hear his fellow colleagues gossiping about it, calling it a
scandal or a publicity stunt to get recognized. But he knew better. There was
not a single dishonest bone in his body. He was doing this for Mia, because he
was a good person. Screw what anyone else thought. 
However, Koichi would now have to be wary about meeting him now, he still
hadn't returned to normal terms with Mia yet and any meetings with him,
coincidental or not, would be super uncomfortable.
"Don't worry about him. He's sleeping and I left him a note for if he wakes up.
Anyhow, I am here on business. I wanna talk about what has been going on the
past few days and I came dressed like this because I didn't want to be
recognized now that this whole thing has happened. So can I come in or what?"
Tsuzuku stepped aside to let him in the apartment and led Koichi back to the
couch. After he was situated back onto his favorite spot Tsuzuku gave him his
ice cream and motioned for Meto to also sit. 
"Would you like something to drink, Meto san? We have water and tea."
Meto set down his bag and set Ruana next to him. 
"I'll just have water thanks, I don't wanna be here for too long."
Tsuzuku returned with two water bottles and offered one to Meto, whom accepted
it gratefully, before sitting down next to Koichi on the couch right between
them.
"All right, what is this all about? What do you have to tell us?"
The spirit takes a huge gulp before finally settling on talking. 
"Okay then down to business. We have hit yet another breakthrough in it. But of
course with every break through also comes the road blocks and we hit one too.
Ryoga was finally spotted in the human world."
Tsuzuku suddenly choked through a mouthful of water and coughed, trying to
breathe through the shock. Koichi froze over a mouthful of ice cream and could
feel it starting to instantly melt and run down his throat. 
What did this mean now that they knew where he was? Were they in danger again?
"What??" Tsuzuku almost yelled as he regained his composure. "How?? I thought
he was still down here? Who spotted him?"
His boss takes another mouthful of water before answering. 
"We have a few agents in the city keeping an eye out for clues that could help
us find out where the human runaway is. It seemed like they were getting
nowhere with no leads to follow. Then, lo and behold, one of my most trusted
agents spotted him in the Ikebukoro area."
"Wow... That was where Ice used to live," Koichi said in surprise. Meto nodded,
a serious look of concern on his face. 
"Yup. And that's not all. The reason why this is serious is because he was
spotted with someone, a vampire to be precise. Someone who is very high on one
of our most wanted lists. Here I have a photo." He pulled a polaroid out of his
jacket pocket and handed it over for them to look at. "This was taken a few
hours ago when they were seen exiting  the subway station near there. The
vampire is the blonde one there."
Tsuzuku studied the polaroid with increasing anxiety and studied the blonde in
the frame waling alongside his ex. They appeared to be oblivious of the photo
having been taken and were holding hands. Oh that arrogant bastard... Already
onto his next one isn't he? 
"Who is he?" He asked rather coldly. "I have never seen him before."
"I thought you would never ask," Meto said and takes it back. "His name is
Layha, he's a few hundred years old now. He feeds on emotions, so that is
probably how he is keeping Ryoga wrapped around his little finger. We have been
searching for him for years now, and we finally managed to get an idea of his
whereabouts. We had another agent tail him for information, and we now know
that he and a few other people were responsible for Ices' disapearance but..."
He paused and trailed off, sighing heavily. The silence made Koichi feel a bit
antsy. 
"So? What happened?" He asked. Meto made a face like he was disgusted at
himself. 
"They were talking in code. Like, they knew they were being followed and made
us lose the trail on purpose. They kept saying stuff in numbers and we couldn't
figure it out. I had to pull back my agents before they were found out.
However, we do know that they are using Ryoga as a source of information.
Information, on you, Tsuzuku."
The daemon paled and felt a cold shudder crawl along his spine. Information on
him? Like how? His personal info? Or was it worse than that? Koichi looked
worriedly to his lover and grabbed his hand to make him feel more secure. 
"What sort of info?" He dared to ask. "Not nothing big I hope?"
Meto shrugged, just as clueless as before. 
"I don't know. All my agent managed to hear was one sentence said from Layha to
Ryoga. And all he said was 'you're our best source of info on him because you
knew him once, so we need you to get more.' That was all he said before we lost
the trail. It is at this point that I would like to respectfully suggest that
we place you under protection until we figure out what to do about him."
Tsuzuku grimaced and leaned up against Koichi, feeling his body heat as a
security measure against the cold feeling in his fingers. 
"Please, me, under protection? If that ass hole and his new toy try to come
here and try anything weird then I will be ready for it. It doesn't scare me."
That was true enough he supposed. Vampires weren't all that big a deal to him.
He dealt with more than a few to know he could handle on on his own. And Ryoga?
He was probably all talk, afraid to go against what that vampire wanted. But
more than anything, he was certain that if he knew Ryoga like he thought he
did, then he would try something and try it soon.
"Well, then, can you at least find a new place? You've been in this same
apartment since you were first hired at the company. That was twenty human
years ago now, and we try to convince our employees to move at least every five
years. You are very stubborn, but I implore you to think about it."
That was true, he had been here for a long time now, at least a long time for
him. But this place was special to him. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving
it behind. There were too many memories in here, too many things that have
happened that made it all the more important to him. 
But Meto was right. Ryoga knew where he lived. And if he was now on someone
else's side then he would more than likely reveal this info to someone else.
like that vampire. And something would happen to either him or, even far worse,
to Koichi. Maybe it was time to stop being stubborn and thinking about getting
moved somewhere else. It would be for the best, for him and Koichi's safety.
So he breathed out deeply before dipping his head low. 
"Maybe you're right," he admitted lowly. "We do need to think about how we're
gonna protect ourselves. Koichi will need training once he gets the fever under
control."
Koichi made a confused face with drips of melted ice cream on his lips. 
"Training? What do you mean training?"
Meto smiled softly, straining to keep it on his face. 
"After getting a procedure done, people would be trained to fight for their own
good. Living down here is dangerous, you never know what could be lurking
around the corner or who might come to have a grudge on you and try to kill
you. So, as much as it pains me to say it, you need to learn how to fight."
He blinked and looked around, then to Tsuzuku with huge confused and scared
eyes. His lover solemnly nodded in agreement, touching his hair. 
"It's true, honey. Being able to protect yourself is one of the most important
things of living down here. Even Minpha knows how to fight if you didn't know
that."
Koichi scoffed and made an indecent noise in the back of his throat. 
"No, I didn't know that. That cute little thing can fight? Fight like how?" He
asked. 
"Well, he is a cat demon type, so he has claws and teeth as his primary means
of defense. He also has been trained in the MMA style so he could easily take
down someone twice his size. Without using his claws or teeth."
Meto nodded in agreement, finally downing the last of his water. 
"I heard he killed a potential attacker with his bare hands, on accident. He's
pretty amazing for such a small cat demon."
Amazing! Such an adorable little guy was capable of inflicting actual death
upon others? What a truly weird place this was. 
Tsuzuku rubbed his back after sensing his discomfort and kissed at the top of
his head. 
"As for you, phoenixes are fire types, so your elemental abilities will be your
first and foremost tools of defense. And when fully transformed into your other
form you can cause explosions of any size and not cause damage to anyone but
your attacker. With the right training of course. It won't be easy but we will
try. Won't we Meto san?"
The spirit nodded enthusiastically. There was nothing else he agreed with
more. 
"That's right. It will most definitely take a long time, but in the end, it
will be worth it, I promise."
He stood up and gathered up Ruana into his tote before swinging it over his
shoulder. Tsuzuku stood as well to make sure everything was okay. 
"Is that it? There's nothing else for you to tell us?" He pressed. Meto stopped
adjusting his bag to look at Tsuzuku thoughtfully. 
"Well... There is one thing I almost forgot to mention. MiA wants to patch
things up with you and Koichi, if that is all right? Honestly, it is eating him
up from the inside and it is killing me to see him so depressed."
Tsuzuku flinched at the mention of the other human before looking slowly back
to his lover for confirmation.
"Well... whatever Koichi wants to do is fine with me..?"
Koichi's fingers tightened on his ice cream bowl and he sees the once frozen
food become a soupy liquid right before his eyes. Must be the fever starting to
affect him. Disgusted he set it down on the coffee table right in front of him
and sighed. 
"If you want to it's fine with me," he answered but with a sour face that told
otherwise. He still wasn't mentally ready to see him. The pain was still there
and he was barely making it go away. It was still too early.
"Okay. I'll tell him when i get home. How does tomorrow sound?"
Tsuzuku nodded and saw his boss to the door. 
"Um, yeah that sounds fine. Let's meet here then? Say, around noon?"
Meto nodded and pulled out some sunglasses from his bag and adjusts them onto
his face. 
"Perfect. Well then, I will be going home now. And I will let you now how the
investigation is going if we find out more. See you tomorrow Tsuzuku, and I
will expect you back to work in a few more days when Koichi's fever has passed.
See you later then."
They waved as he left the apartment and both sighed heavily as they were alone
again. None of them knew what to say really. There was just so much new stuff
going on that he wasn't sure if he could sleep well tonight. 
Tsuzuku came back over to him and sat down, pulling him close for  sideways
hug. He also took notice of the melted ice cream in Koichi's bowl but decided
against commenting about it. It was just Koichi's new powers coming out in a
weird way.
"How are you feeling?" He asked. "Do you need anything to feel better?"
Koichi could say there were so many things he could need, but decided not to.
Tsuzuku was stressing out enough as it was. So he just leaned into his lover
and pulled the cooling blanket back on himself. 
"I just need a nap probably. I need time to think."
That was understandable, this morning's events were pretty hard to forget. And
Tsuzuku felt tired too. So maybe they both needed a nap. 
"Heh... You and me both. Okay, let's take a nap here then."
He used the nearby remote to power off the TV and stands up to switch off all
the lights before joining Koichi under the blanket, cuddling him from behind.
He still feels hot, but that fact was just what he needed to remind himself
that this was real, that Koichi was gonna be okay. 
"I love you," he whispered softly to Koichi and smiled as he received a small
stutter in Koichi's heartbeat as a result.
"I love you too."
Then they finally managed to doze off for some well deserved rest.
Don't worry, I'm here. I always will be.
TBC
***** Chapter 20 *****
Death is never a forever thing; it is merely a singular fleeting moment of fear
and loneliness before whatever life comes next. So don't be afraid. Embrace
death when the right time comes, welcome him like an old friend. You never know
if your next life will be the best you will ever have.
Normal POV
Things were very different now.
There was no social issues to worry about. There were no worries of being late
in the morning for school or if your friends would catch you with some girl or
guy you weren't supposed to be with and talk about it for days afterwards. And
most certainly, there was no more fear of death and what would come after it
and the immense fear that he would not be able to protect himself from death.
Because if there was one thing he knew absolutely at this time it was that he
no longer feared death like he used to. He was already here and not alive. And
he was already used to the idea of being here for a long time.
But he was alone again, sort of. He lost contact with Aoi and Uruha after
leaving the hospital and it's been two days already since he left. The
withdrawal was really starting to affect his overall demeanor. The thing with
Koichi was the worst thing though, so he felt like he had to do something to
fix it.
Mia stayed in his new room most of the time and rarely spoke to Meto when they
weren't talking about hospital stuff or anything else like that. At least not
until he asked to go and talk to Koichi to make everything better. And his new
mentor agreed, wholeheartedly he did. Meto had even said himself that this
small bout of bad blood between them saddened him to see. It was heartbreaking
in its own ironic way to see them suffering silently between themselves with no
real resolve in sight besides letting it die away as a singular painful memory
meant to be buried. Or, owning up to their own individual mistakes and learning
to set aside past grievances so they could start all over again.
That seemed like the only viable option that Meto wanted to pursue.
And so, a day later, he found himself standing in front of an unfamiliar
apartment building in the city, far from Meto's suburban two story home near
the city limits where he could see the ocean. Now he could only see top after
top of metal skyscrapers and bricked apartments. The sky was brightened with a
high overhead sun and only sparse clouds wisping away in a soft breeze.
Despite the nice atmosphere the place gave off he still felt so nervous that he
was contemplating backing out of the meeting. But Meto had such a withering and
pointed stare on him the whole time that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. He
was wearing his usual outlandish outfit of the day. A slim black dress with his
shoulders showing and his hair was long and blonde down to his waist. Ruana
wore a black leather mask with spikes on her face to match the silver piercings
decorating his lips. And to top it all off he was only slightly taller than Mia
because of his wedged grey and black sandals that added on at least an inch and
a half to his height.
"Look I can see that you're nervous," he commented in a soft voice. "And that's
okay. We really only have a fifty fifty chance of actually getting anywhere
because, you know, Koichi is different right? He's not human anymore, well not
entirely."
Mia swallowed and toyed with the hem of his shirt, a white one with a mickey
mouse skull on it.
"I know, I heard you talking about it. But does that really mean his
personality is different too?" He asked. "How different is he?"
Meto sighed as they walked inside, greeting the odd girl at the desk like
usual.
"Well... He's got phoenix genes inside of him now. Alongside becoming a little
bit bolder and unafraid of danger, he also might develop quite a temper. Fire
types are known to be easily irritated and very aggressive... Good lord I sound
like I am describing Pokemon... But yeah that's the idea."
His attempt at a small bit of humor made Mia giggle a little bit and he
couldn't help but release a small breath in the elevator after the doors
closed. But that only lasted a small moment before the nerves started eating at
him again and he bites the inside of his cheek almost hard enough to break the
soft pink skin there.
A few moments passed. Mia ignored the sharp pain of his teeth biting his flesh
and stared at the floor of the elevator. He could feel his heart threatening to
bust out of his chest. Higher and higher they went until finally they reach the
floor of Tsuzuku's apartment, and when it stops he sucks in a shaky breath. It
wasn't until they left the elevator that he felt like his legs were turning to
jelly and threatening to give out on him.
"Meto san I don't know if I can do this," he suddenly admitted with a panicked
squeak. "I... I don't know if I can face him after what I have done to him.
Tsuzuku san might hate me and... And Koichi might lash out at me and I don't
know if I can handle that..! I.. I just..."
Soon he spirals into full on panic mode at this point. Meto quickly grabs his
hands and they're warm, almost hot to the touch. His eyes keep blinking back
tears that are so close to spilling out. It's painful to see such a young boy
despairing about such things like this, almost too much to witness. Shushing
Mia softly he started trying to calm the panicky boy down with a gentle almost
mothering tone to his voice.
"Hey hey hey," he crooned and let him back up against a wall. "Hey now, you're
okay, you're okay. You're afraid and that's fine. Love is painful and getting
past it is even more so. But Mia this is the only way we can get past this.
Being in pain will only make your life worse than it is now, and if we don't
get over it Koichi will suffer too. You don't want him to suffer do you? You
two have been through enough. No more suffering, no more tears, no more pain.
You can do this. I know you can."
Slowly he pressed Mia to him for a tight hug, resting his head on his shoulder
to rock him back and forth. His panicked breaths slowed down as he trembled
helplessly in Meto's arms. It was humiliating to be seen like this, but at the
moment he couldn't bring himself to feel much else besides fear. And also a
little bit of gratefulness to the spirit for being here for him. If not for
him, then where would he be right now? Probably in some stranger's home and
unable to figure out what to do.
Mia finally swallowed past the lump in his throat and detached himself with
shaking hands and a clammy feeling forehead. His mouth dried as he looked at
his mentor for some sort of comfort, feeling soft blonde hair brushing at his
neck and seeing plump full lips in front of his face. Was he always aware of
how cute they were?
Meto smiled sweetly and brushed back his hair with his tattoo covered hand,
making him feel like the room got a tad hotter.
"There now, feel better?" He asked. Mia wrung his hands together and blushed,
looking away.
"U-um... yeah I um... Thank you Meto san. For... You know, being with me here
and all. I don't think I could ever have done this without you."
It was true that the spirit was only doing his job but. At this point he wasn't
sure if it was just that anymore. Was it really? Or was he actually starting to
care for this boy in a more than business like way? It could be possible.
Wait what?
"I'm always gonna be around for you Mia kun," he said and steps back to gain
back his personal space with a flip of his hair behind him. "Well then, if you
feel good now, are you ready to do this?"
Mia pushed himself away from the brick wall and breathes in and out a few times
before letting Meto take his hand to lead him to the apartment Koichi lived in.
"Yeah... Ready as I will ever be I guess."
But he would be lying through his teeth if he ever said he wasn't nervous.
There were just so many things that could go wrong here. The instant he said
something wrong there could be instant backlash and violence would ensue. Or
worse yet, Koichi would cry again and things would be back to square one.
Whatever happened he certainly wanted to make it as less painful for himself,
and for Koichi as he could.
And there was the whole Koichi being with Tsuzuku thing that might be really
hard to witness. Koichi needed Tsuzuku though, more than anything and he knew
that. But still, his heart would need some time to get used to seeing him
kissing and being sweet with Tsuzuku in front of his face. Especially if done
deliberately, it would be like a huge slap to the face. He would deserve it
though. Everything he has done up to this point, even when they were still
alive, just managed to go from bad to worse.
Hopefully after this meeting was over that cruel cycle would finally end.
"Okay," Meto said to snap him back to reality and away from his ever toxic
thoughts. "We're here. Are you ready to go in?"
There's an apartment door just here in front of them at the very end of the
hall. Slowly he nods in agreement and tries to calm his heart that started
going crazy again.
"Yeah, let's... let us just get this over with."
Meto knocked delicately against it and they hold their breaths for a collective
split second before an answer finally comes in the form of a deep but soft
voice calling out to them.
"Who is it!"
Mia felt his heart race as he heard that voice. It was Koichi wasn't it? It's
been quite a while since he last saw him, and on such a terrible note too. He
had almost forgotten how lovely his voice was, but now it sounded rougher, more
bold and with a sense of superiority if that made sense.
"It's us," Meto says, and really that's all he has to say about their
identities. "We're here to talk like we said we would yesterday."
There's a brief moment of no answers before Tsuzuku could be heard responding.
"Be there in a second!"
They stood and waited for what felt like an eternity before someone is coming
to the door and unlocks it to let them inside. Mia can almost instantly feel
cold chills running up his arms to create goose flesh under his shirt sleeves.
Was it normal for an apartment to feel so cold before he even ever stepped foot
inside? Seriously!
Tsuzuku is standing there, dressed in a red and black patterned long sleeve
shirt with the sleeves rolled all the way down and some faded black jeans. He
was bare footed since he was in his own home. His body language gave away the
fact that he was cold though, as his teeth were chattering a little bit and he
was using his hands to rub on his arms for warmth.
"H-hey guys," he said through a quivering voice. "Glad you could m-make it.
Come on in, we have been expecting you."
Meto shuddered and grimaced as he was hit with the cold once they went inside.
Had he known it would be this cold he would have worn something thicker damn
it!
"For Gods' sake Tsuzuku, why does this place feel like a damn ice box?" He
complained and felt the coldness starting to make him shake. Mia too was on the
brink of relapsing into hysteria again. It was a good thing he wore long
sleeves as well.
They discarded their shoes near the door and Meto closed the door behind him.
"Sorry, but I had to have the p-place iced early this morning and the after
effects of the sp-pell are still lingering around-d. It's probably gonna be
cold in here for a while b-but I am okay with it."
The daemon just smiled weakly and led the way to the living room where another
person, Koichi, was waiting for them. He wasn't wearing his cooling blanket
this time, Meto noticed. Maybe the cold in here felt good to him.
Mia on the other hand, was slowly starting to panic again, this time keeping it
to himself and letting himself shiver with fear to pass off as being cold. He
looked so different than last time. So closed up and calculating as his eyes,
steely and swimming with multicolored flecks and swirls, pierced the very air
around him and the things he looked at. He was just wearing a plain red pair of
skinnies and a black long sleeve with... a brown felt teddy bear. His hair now
was a bright fiery mix of magenta and pink, literally. Like, his hair was
literally a flame, pulled up in a high pony tail and lighting the room ablaze
with bright hues. Was this what Meto meant by really different..? His face wore
an expression that he could only interpret as agitation, what with the way his
fingers continuously played with the pillow on his lap.
Awkwardly he tries to look away and keep his mind occupied with the apartment.
Everything else seemed normal if not for the cold.
"Honestly, Do you at least have any blankets we can use? I am p-pretty sure the
flowers will come back if I don't warm up and we all know how that goes."
Tsuzuku nodded and motioned for them to sit on the extra sofa across from the
one Koichi sat on.
"Yeah yeah, I'll get the from the closet. I also have hot tea prepared if you
get too cold, it's in the kitchen so you should know where everything is. I'll
be right back, okay Koichi?"
He walked over to Koichi and briefly kissed his cheek before heading off to the
hallway, unaware of the painful lip biting that Mia was doing to himself at the
display. But Koichi also didn't seem to notice, for after the kiss and his own
lips forming a small smile he went straight back to fiddling nervously with the
pillow. His hair danced ever so slightly like a gentle breath on a candle. He
just looked so beautiful right now.
Mia could have sworn he felt another painful stab where his heart was and tried
to brush it off. He had no right to feel jealousy towards Tsuzuku, no right at
all. Koichi wasn't his, and he wasn't in any position to wish for any
possibility of them being a thing, ever.
Still, there was pain. And however much he tried to get over it he could see it
replaying over and over his head. But Koichi looked so happy at that moment,
even after something as simple as a kiss on the cheek. Whatever love or
affection he was shown he was super happy for it. Again, he deserved everything
in this world and more. And Mia felt that the opposite could be said for him.
Did he even deserve to be here? Did he deserve Meto's kindness? The new clothes
on his back? The very air that he breathed?
'Ugh why am I letting this get to me? Get over it already! You're so weak!'
There he goes again with the self depreciating thoughts. This happened when he
couldn't think about anything else to distract himself. And it was really
annoying.
"Hey," Meto says to get his attention. "Are you doing okay? Do you need some
tea to warm up?"
At first he thought about declining, but then he felt another cold chill make
him shudder and he nods.
"Yes p-please. I'm freezing," he mumbled as quietly as possible. Meto pats his
head and stands to fetch some cups for their tea. Unable to talk more he
huddles up on the couch to warm himself up, but only finds that the couch too
was like cuddling against ice.
Finally Tsuzuku came back with a few fuzzy plush blankets in hand and hands him
one with a slightly strained smile. Good timing too, he felt like he was gonna
become a block of ice really soon.
And thankfully the blankets were nice and toasty and smelled really nice. They
must have just come out of the dryer then. He shuddered and cuddled the blanket
like a lifeline, enveloping his entire body in it to block out the chill.
Koichi doesn't take one, he probably doesn't need to. Since he was on fire this
was probably like heaven to him to feel not hot all the time.
Meto came back with two hot cups of tea and takes a blanket for himself before
sitting on the couch near Mia. he sets the cup on the small coffee table in
between the couches and wraps the blanket around his arms where he felt the
cold the most.
"Why does it h-have to be cold in h-here?" Mia found himself asking without a
single thought. Tsuzuku laughed and puts on a sweater that was draped over the
couch behind him.
"This morning I woke up and I smelled smoke, so I ran into the living room only
to find Koichi's hair on fire. His body temperature rose up to the point where
he can now freely cause flames to come from his body so he had set a rug I had
on the floor on fire... He was panicking so I had to calm him down and call the
doctor. They said his body was trying to adjust to being on fire so they sent a
professional here to ice it. His body needs to learn how to adjust to different
temperatures, so that's why it's cold in here. To make his body learn and so
nothing catches on fire."
Meto nodded and sipped his tea, reveling in the steamy warmth.
"So, is his hair always gonna be like that?" He asked curiously. Tsuzuku shakes
his head and pats a now blushing Koichi on the knee.
"Only for a few more hours, that's just his powers starting to come out full
scale. The doctors say that after this small episode is over he should be fully
recovered and ready to start learning how to control his powers and his body's
overall temperature."
Well that was sort of interesting, Mia figured. So he could control himself so
that he was never too hot or cold. That was very neat!
"I see," Meto said and leaned forward. "So... Koichi, how are you feeling? Good
I hope?"
Mia listened closely, trying not to make eye contact.
"I guess," the pinkette admitted. "My head feels warm, but I can't feel how
cold it is right now. It's weirding me out. But I don't feel weak anymore, I
can walk around just fine now. Um Meto san, Tsuzuku, can we please just talk
about why we're all here? The small talk is making me uncomfortable."
Whoa. Okay, Meto was right, there was a small bout of irritation there. Best to
tread lightly from now on.
"Sorry. We'll get to that now," Tsuzuku says and leans over about to kiss his
hair, then remembers that he was on fire and leans away to kiss his cheek
again. It was such a simple but powerful exchange between them that Mia felt
another pang, this time in his stomach. He left like he was gonna be sick.
Meto could sense his discomfort and made another split second decision, looking
between the two of them worriedly.
"If you would like, we can let you two talk alone if that would help, or if we
are in the way?"
Wait what? Leave them alone?? Was he nuts??
At first Mia seemed like he was gonna protest, but Koichi suddenly whipped his
head to Meto to fixate a stare on him.
"Yes, please do that. I need to speak with him alone."
Then it was Tsuzuku's turn to protest.
"But Koichi-"
"You too Tsu," he retorted roughly. "Stop distracting me from what we're
supposed to be talking about here. Go to the store or something, just let us
talk."
His lover hesitates briefly before giving into his lovers demands and
retrieving his cup from the coffee table, smiling at Koichi as though he hadn't
just been snapped at. It was just Koichi's new powers driving his emotions up
the wall that's all.
"All right baby," he purred apologetically before kissing his lips. "We'll be
out for a while, so play nice okay?"
Koichi's hard expression softened at his lover's sweet voice and he let's his
gentler side shine through all the indifference and irritation.
"Okay," he responded back. "Give us at least an hour, we'll have everything
straightened out. And I am sorry for snapping at you."
'Hopefully soon' Mia despaired in his head. 'I can't take much more of their
affection or else I'll be sick again.'
Meto followed Tsuzuku's lead of picking up his cup and giving encouraging words
to Mia before leaving.
"Like Tsuzuku said, play nice. I don't wanna come back and find you fighting
all right?"
Mia agreed very meekly, terrified all over again at the idea of being left
alone with the now scary boy across from him.
"Don't worry," Koichi said as he spoke to them both, now staring directly at
Mia and causing him to feel like he was suffocating under the heat of his eyes.
"We'll be just fine, won't we Mia kun?"
He was speaking to him so casually! Like nothing was wrong! He was... really
different now wasn't he?
Scared out of his wits he had no choice but to agree wirelessly with a simple
nod of his head.
Soon the two mediators were out the door, and they were alone. Again. Only this
time the situation was much different.
Why did he get the feeling that something bad was gonna happen? Maybe he was
finally going a little nuts?
"So. Here we are," Koichi began and slides off the couch to stand in front of
Mia, a small sly smile playing on his lips. "Alone again, and looking for
answers."
Fear was starting to make him tremble again, really badly. The cold was by now,
long forgotten because of the heat from Koichi's new overwhelming presence. For
once in his life he wasn't sure how this was gonna end.
"I-I guess so," he squeaked, curling inwards on himself. "So um... How do you
feel?"
Then Koichi grinned, a grin so unsettling and creepy that he felt like just
with his eyes Koichi could easily burn him to a crisp right here and now.
"Oh Mia kun let me tell you," he purrs lowly and seats himself right next to
Mia on the couch, still grinning. "I feel... absolutely wonderful. How about
you? How are you feeling?"
Damn. He was in trouble wasn't he?
Oh well. As long as Koichi was quick about it then he supposed it didn't matter
if he would die or not.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 21 *****
Tsuzuku was fidgeting, unable to get comfortable.
"Are you sure they will be okay?" He asks and looks through the crowd of people
surrounding them around an outdoor cafe table. "Koichi was really giving off
some irritated vibes when we were leaving."
There's an annoyed clicking of teeth and Meto is casually mixing his spoon in a
cup of tea.
"Don't worry they will be fine," he assured and sipped at it, grateful for the
warmth. "Koichi won't be very willing to hurt Mia while he is in such a
vulnerable state like he is now. Clearly he has the upper hand over Mia now,
but... If I have come to know him like you do, then I know that he won't hurt
anyone unfairly."
That was true. Koichi was... Far too trusting and sweet for that despite his
temperament now at the moment.
Tsuzuku's face was probably a perfect mirror of the intense anxiety in his
chest. On the other hand Meto was as calm as one could be.
"Easy for you to say," he said and ignored the coffee in front of him that was
probably cold by now. "He snapped at me three times this morning and I had to
call him down with sweets and kisses. At this rate he'll go off on Mia at the
slightest slip up and I am not there to calm him down!"
Still despe his worries his boss continued to calmly do what he was doing.
"Well when you get home and see if Mia is okay then you can give him all the
kisses he needs to calm down. And if Mia needs to be consoled then I'll... take
him to see Shinya San or something. He's due for a checkup anyway."
Oh that's right. To avoid what Koichi went through he had better take Mia to
see Shinya early on and go after everything he needs and do it quick. They
didn't need another repeat.
"Good. Do it quick and don't let him get sick. Learn from my mistakes okay?"
Meto made an offended face and pushed his sunglasses away from his face.
"Excuse you. I happen to have a guy up there right now taking care of all of
it. The funeral went fine by the way thanks for asking. His parents were more
than happy in assist with the 'investigation' regarding their son's and the
other boys murders. Funny how a nicely pressed suit and a nice looking ID can
help out so much huh?"
Tsuzuku scowled at him. When did he ask? That sort of thing didn't exactly
demand his attention and he was still getting over what Mia did. As for what
his parents thought he didn't really care right now.
"I didn't... Ugh whatever. I'm glad it went okay but right now I just..."
Tsuzuku paused briefly to collect his words and tried to force himself to speak
calmly. "Koichi is unstable. He needs help and I am here to help him in any way
I can. He needs me and I need him. There were so many things that have happened
to him. It's possible that being around Mia could trigger horrible memories,
and that makes me nervous. You can't blame me right?"
His thumbs kept twiddling unbeknownst to him and his teeth were clicking
together from the after effects of the coldness in his apartment. He was there
longer than Meto was so of course he was still cold.
"No, I guess I really can't. And now that you have a trusting and apparently
very healthy relationship now that's to be expected when someone is in love.
But I am telling you to keep your personal problems away from work. That's all
I am asking okay? Mia might be a bit of an obstacle but I am working on my own
way to make sure he is doing better. Personal problems aside."
Yeah that was probably a tiny problem of his to be completely honest. There
were still plenty of biases that he was sort of ashamed to admit that he was
holding onto. In his head he was still viewing Mia as... Sort of a threat to
both his and Koichi's mental sanity. He would have been a romantic rival had
Koichi still wanted to pursue him but luckily all those cards were off the
table thank goodness. Now he was just sort of... Well in the way. Figuratively
speaking of course.
All he really had to worry about now was the prospect of making sure that Mia
realized this for himself and stepped away from his own feelings once and for
all.
"Yeah I know... I'm just... So scared. Of losing him, and of ruining everything
we've worked so hard to achieve thus far with our relationship. I know that
deep down he still treasures Mia as a friend and I respect that, I really do.
I'm just not sure if I can handle the idea of him reverting back to the way it
was and having everything be ruined."
"You won't lose him," Meto says through a blown out puff of cigarette smoke.
(Why did he always have to look so artsy doing that?) "I'll make sure Mia stays
in line so don't worry so much all right? Worry more about yourself and Koichi
and make sure that he stays happy until his phase is over with and he doesn't
kill you."
Pff yeah like that was supposed to make him feel better..! Yeah just keep him
satisfied and complacent until his little temper tantrums are over otherwise
he'll kill you! Tsuzuku scoffed and swished around the coffee in his styrofoam
cup, unwilling to actually drink it because it was really cold now.
"Ugh... I know you just tried to give me a talk to make me feel better but now
I feel even more anxious."
The spirit sighed heavily and stubs out his cigarette in frustration. Tsuzuku
knows right away that he's planning something.
"Okay look I really tried here, but if talking and cold coffee won't make you
feel better then maybe some shopping will."
He suddenly stands up and throws some money on the table and gather sup his bag
and Ruana into his arms.
"Wha- Meto san Where are you going? Ah wait!" He asked and followed his lead of
putting down money. He followed him through the crowd past the cafe and into a
part of the city with the huge shopping mall that he had yet to take Koichi
inside.
"Since you're no good to yourself just sitting down maybe you can be useful,"
the spirit retorted and strolls into a gothic themed store by a cafeteria.
"Come on! Help me out I need more lingerie!"
Tsuzuku groaned as his boss yelled loudly and attracted attention to him, a few
people looking in his direction weirdly. Quickly he followed after... Wait.
What did he just say?
"Wait why do you need lingerie?" He complained in a shrill voice.
"It makes me feel cute so shut up!"
Oh God here we go. Maybe he should just go back after all.
____________________________________________
There was silence, thick and almost hard to breathe through.
Mia was still sitting where he was before when Meto and Tsuzuku first left them
alone. Shivering like crazy and feeling the chill starting to settle in his
toes. But that wasn't why he was shaking.
'He's so scary right now..!'
Across from his Koichi was sitting still, arms crossed and his face calm. But
his hair was out of its high ponytail and flailing and burning wildly as though
a way of expressing his inner emotions and right now... He was no expert but he
was pretty sure that he was freaking pissed right now. It even changed to a
bright pastel, almost all white flame that was lighting up the room better than
the weak light bulbs on the ceiling.
It took a little over a half hour, but he was finally able to tell Koichi
everything that had happened in the last two years from his own perspective and
why he did what he did. He was here to talk with him after all, wasn't this the
point? If so then why was he so mad? He would have thought that maybe he would
be relieved to know it wasn't entirely his fault. Maybe that wasn't the case
for everything.
"So," Koichi says slowly to emphasize his words. "You're telling me. That for a
whole two years before you ever figured out I liked you, you liked me?"
He nods, trying to burrow deeper into his and Meto's blanket for warmth and
protection.
"Y-yes..." He meekly agreed. "I'm sorry... I couldn't let Ice find out. My
parents were never home and always left me to fend for myself, I had no one
else to turn to family wise. If he knew anything about that he would have
disowned me and I would always be alone..."
But that only made Koichi huff loudly and his serene mask broke into one of
pent up frustration.
"Why did it not occur to you to ever go to Aoi or Uruha's place? I know that
they would have gladly lent you a hand and yet you insisted on hanging around
that bastard you called a friend. That's the only thing that isn't making sense
to me right now."
His sharp words felt like slaps to the face and he flinches in submission. This
was probably what Koichi felt like all those times before when he was on the
receiving end of hurtful loud words coming from someone who he cared for. Karma
really was a bitch.
"Y-you probably wouldn't be able to understand... They all stayed in dorm
houses except for Aoi, and he was living with his aunt. A mean strict woman who
hated all of us and kept trying to make him cut ties with us. There were
certain circumstances that I couldn't help at all. I'm s-sorry... But it's the
truth. I wanted for so long to cut ties with him and t-tell you but... he
started getting suspicious about me and wanted to make sure that I wasn't...
Th-that I wasn't into guys... That's when he made me... When I had to..."
Suddenly there's a cool dampness under his eyes and he stops talking. Tears...
When had he started to cry? It was so cold in here that he hadn't even noticed.
Shakily he wipes his eyes and feels that the tears were already starting to
freeze. Was this supposed to be normal?
Koichi sighed even deeper and stood up roughly to snatch away the empty tea cup
in front of Mia and stalks back to the kitchen with calm collected footsteps.
He was just so cold and the tea was nice and hot, he drank it almost right
away. Now he felt bad for making Koichi get up and do it but he was just frozen
in spot even with the added heat of two blankets..
Mia shivered even worse and tried to wipe away the tears, embarrassed.
"Jeez you don't have to cry," Koichi muttered just loud enough to hear and made
him more tea. "Am I really that scary? Or is it something equally as
embarrassing?"
The pinkette suddenly covered his mouth and groaned internally to himself. That
came out really mean. Gosh he was losing it here. Behind him he could hear Mia
suck in a soft shuddering breath, almost like a sob, and he slapped himself. By
now his hair had calmed back down to its usual magenta pink hue and softly
framed his face in weird shaped waves and curls.
'Great now I'm the bad guy.'
Mia, feeling a little bit hurt from his words, bit harshly on the tips of his
fingers and gnawed on them to ease that pain. Luckily his body was a little
numb so he couldn't feel the sensations of physical pain. Just the emotional
kind, no big deal.
"S...Sorry," Mia said through a soft sniffle. "I wanted to tell you. I really
did... But I was just so scared of what Ice would do to you or me if he ever
found out too early. But... I guess it's too late for that now. We're both here
and he's still alive... But look at the b-bright side. At least we won't have
to deal with him anymore right? We... We can start over. As friends, the way it
was supposed to be. Without him."
Koichi commended him for feeling that way, for feeling that there really was
hope for their broken sick relationship. But it wasn't true. Ice was still out
there somewhere, on the loose and possibly missing or part of some unknown plan
for something sinister. He just didn't know, and that was what scared him.
"I understand how you feel, but I am afraid that is not the case here, Mia."
As he said that he brought back the tea after putting sugar in it and placed it
in front of Mia, now aware of how cold he looked. His lips were turning
purplish pink and his eyes were red with cold tears. His finger trembled as
they reached for the cup and he reveled in every last bit of warmth he could
find.
"What do you m-mean?" Mia asked and sipped at the nice hot tea, almost moaning
in relief as the warmth heated him up if only for a few moments. "I thought
that we would be free of him forever now that we are both here?"
Koichi nodded and took Tsuzuku's blanket to wrap carefully around Mia's
trembling shaky shoulders, noting the way he tensed up in the slightest way and
holds his breath. His heartbeat could be heard through the thick blankets and
it was very fast now. Poor Mia, now on the receiving end of the pain he was
feeling only weeks ago. The blonde thanks him with a small voice and he takes
in the warmth of the new layer of heat and fluff.
"That's what I thought too," he admitted and sits back on is spot to give them
both their space back. "But Tsuzuku has told me that he disappeared after you
died. Since he was revealed as having a part in my death the human authorities
have launched a full scale man hunt for him and now everyone down here thinks
he was kidnapped by someone or working for a criminal organization located
somewhere in Tokyo. No one knows for sure, but we do know that he's still out
there somewhere and he's very dangerous."
That bit of news is enough to make Mia's stomach clench up in dread and he
almost feels the need to throw up.
Oh God. If he was loose then... Then there was a possibility that he could find
them and they would have to deal with him all over again. He wasn't positive
that he could ever handle that all over again, not after everything that has
happened.
"So... So h-he's..."
He tries once more to speak but his voice comes out in panicky stutters and he
has to set the cup down to avoid dropping it all over the place. Koichi noticed
his body language and figured that it probably wasn't a good idea to reveal
that information so soon. Whoops.
"God damn it... Look Mia, I don't say these things to be mean or scare you on
purpose. I just... Ever since this morning I have been feeling the need to
just... To be honest and blunt about everything even if it means I am an
asshole about it. I over think things and my hormones are all over the place
and I am different and I just... It's a lot for me to handle okay? There are
things happening to my body that I don't hardly understand. So if I say
something mean or insensitive you have to tell me. Don't just keep it to
yourself or else I will never know. Okay?"
Still shaking Mia nodded slowly, trying to take deep breaths. He still looked
really bad besides the cold. But from what Tsuzuku told him the cold shouldn't
affect them too much since they were, well, dead already. It was just his
nerves getting to him and being a bit weak from the Sickness.
So Koichi decided to take a leap of faith and stood up to take a seat next to
Mia so he could earn up and stop shivering. Right away Mia could feel the
warmth seeping into his body already. His cheeks grew hot and he had to duck
his head into the blankets to hide it, not wanting to embarrass himself even
more than he already has. But the pinkette noticed this right away and couldn't
help but feel the grin starting to spread across his face.
Oh vengeance, no matter how little or insignificant, really was sweet.
"So then," he began and lounges back, playing oblivious to the sound of Mia's
quickened breaths. "I guess this makes us even then huh? I forgave you and
you're starting to get over me. And so now everything will be fine for all of
us from now on. Right?"
His teasing makes Mia blush even more and he felt even more accomplished
despite the mean words.
"I... I guess so," he says and tried to laugh but it just sounds really
nervous. "But I..."
Koichi twitched in curiosity as he trailed off and decided to make him spit it
out whatever it was.
"What? Is there something you're not telling me here?"
Mia shook his head and felt the warmth starting to make the feeling in his feet
come back the more they sat closely like this. They were asleep by now since he
was sitting cross legged this whole time.
"No it's just... I still... Still want to hear you say it to me honestly. You
haven't yet."
At first Koichi was gonna just scowl at him but then he realized that would
probably be really nean... and he was already mean enough. Besides it wasn't
like Mia was asking for very much. This was a good time to say it probably, not
like they were gonna get a much better chance than this.
So he just figured he would just humor him for the moment.
"Fine," he relented. "Um... Mia kun. I... I forgive you for all the stuff you
did to me over the past few years. I hope we can be friends after this."
Of course he didn't dare to try and touch or hug him. He would probably make
him overheat or something. Not a good idea. But Mia answered with a real
genuine smile this time, happy tears streaming from his eyes.
"Thank you."
But as usual, there were no fuzzy warm feelings in his chest, or tears of his
own. Instead all he really felt, was relieved. How else should he feel?
"Yeah I know... you're welcome," he replied and turns his face away rather
haughtily. "So we have half an hour to kill. What do you wanna do?"
They were already made up now so things were fine. It was okay if they just
killed the rest of their time. Mia smiled wearily and suddenly he looks really
tired.
"Actually I think I need a quick nap," he mumbles. "I couldn't sleep last night
and now I'm tired."
Koichi frowned but figured it would be awkward as hell if he stayed awake.
Besides he could use the time to himself.
"I guess. Go ahead then, I'll wake you up when they get back."
Mia looked at him with red cheeks and a smile before leaning over and lying
against the arm rest, exhausted.
"Good night..." He muttered softly and made himself comfier. Koichi sighed and
covered his body better with the blankets so the coldness wouldn't get to him.
"Night."
He may not love Mia like that way anymore, but he was certain that he still
cared about him as a dear friend. And that was all he needed right now. So he
waited until he fell asleep to finally let out a breath.
Finally, another obstacle taken care of. Now a he had to do was wait for
Tsuzuku to come back home.
I need to see you right now.
TBC
***** Chapter 22 *****
Chapter Notes
     A SORT OF NSFW WARNING HERE
It was another forty five minutes into a nice nap before Koichi was even aware
of anything that was different. He was aware of another body next to his on the
couch but it wasn't Mia. Where was he? And when had he even dozed off?
He pulled his head up only to find Tsuzuku leaning next to him, sleeping with
his knees in the floor as he used his arms to lean against the couch.
Then he noticed his hair was no longer flaming like before. Now it just gave
off a subtle smoky effect.
He was confused sure but it was in the nicest way. Then all too suddenly
Tsuzuku lifts his head, blinking away the nap he had for those short few
moments. Koichi felt heat spread through his stomach and he felt a pleasant
chill run along his body when their sleepy eyes made contact.
Then there was Tsuzuku's devastatingly handsome smile. Oh, there goes his
heartbeat again.
"Hey," he murmured sleepily. "When did you get back..? Where's Mia and Meto
san?"
Tsuzuku let out a deep breath and nuzzled their noses together affectionately.
He was just being so cute for some reason. What was that all about?
"Mmm not that long ago. Meto came and took Mia home. And that was about twenty
minutes ago so I was tired and I came and laid next to you. You're adorable
when you sleep."
Koichi made an indignant noise in his throat and tried to seem offended by
turning up his nose. But in all reality he was super happy that Tsuzuku thought
so.
"No I'm not..." He grumbled and tried to sit up. Tsuzuku followed by crawling
up into the couch and nestling himself next to Koichi for cuddles. Then the
pinkette noticed a bunch of shopping bags on the floor in the kitchen.
"Yes you are," his lover disagreed with their cheeks smooshing together. "The
most adorable and the cutest sleeping face in the world. No one can ever say or
tell me otherwise so don't argue with me."
Koichi blushed bright red and that caused his hair to give off a red puff of
smoke. Was that normal??
"That was nothing," he quickly says to hide his still red face. "That... I
just... umm..."
But Tsuzuku's intrigued grin showed that he wasn't in the least bit convinced.
Gosh he was stubborn.
"Ohhh is that so," he teased with a cat like grin. "Your cute reactions are
telling me otherwise. Is that a blush I see?"
Koichi sighed and crossed his arms but relented anyway, letting Tsuzuku kiss
his cheeks and neck.
The feeling was so nice and pleasant that after a little while he almost forgot
why he was ticked off. Then Tsuzuku was tilting his head so their eyes could
connect once more and he forgets to breathe for a brief few seconds. There was
a look of such pure and overwhelming love that he saw that it made his chest
ache. Knowing that he was the reason for these feelings was such a heavy weight
on him and yet it was a feeling he wouldn't trade for anything.
"Hey. Believe me yet?"
Koichi blinked once. Then twice. Forgive him for what now?
Oh right. Well that small display of adorableness was more than enough for him.
Of course he was gonna forgive him. Why wouldn't he? He had a far better grip
on his emotions than people might think.
Koichi let himself smile a little bit before he went for a nice soft kiss that
lasted for a few seconds before pulling back and letting Tsuzuku press his lips
to his neck in slow sliding movements. He tried to talk in shuddering shallow
breaths, trying not to let it slip that he was feeling (oh) so very good right
at that moment.
"Idiot," he mumbles, laughing. "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I huh?"
Tsuzuku reached over to clasp their hands together and kiss up along his
jawline, savoring the feeling of hot flesh on his mouth. Koichi almost gasped
as cold lips were sensually teasing his skin and contrasting nicely against his
heat. His fingers tightened in Tsuzuku's hold and he swallowed hard.
"I dunno," the daemon laughs and puffs his breath on his neck. "I'm just glad
you're not telling at me right now like before..."
Then his lips touched a particularly nice spot and he jerked a little, swamped
by the feeling of his nerves feeling like they were on fire. Which, in
hindsight, they probably were.
"Just had a uh... rough morning. That's all that was. I did not mean to yell at
you," he whispered earnestly. He feels their hands squeeze together and Tsuzuku
trails back up to his mouth in slow soft kisses that make his head spin. Now
Tsuzuku is smiling like a little kid. How was he so freaking cute??
"Don't worry about it. Okay?"
Then their kiss finally manages to deepen more as Tsuzuku slides his tongue
along his lower lip to ask for permission. Koichi allows a soft pleased moan to
escape his throat as he finally breaks under the heavy kiss. Tsuzuku's mouth
felt so nice and cool on his own hot one, and good lord his tongue..! He could
detect a hint of coffee in his mouth and clutched closer to let him in deeper.
Tsuzuku surprised him then by moaning as well and kissing deep as he could,
using his tongue to map out every line, every small crevice and plane and then
memorizing each and every part of it. Koichi wasn't sure what sort of noises he
was making but due to the desperation in Tsuzuku's actions he figured they were
probably good enough to keep him interested.
They only broke apart a little for what breaths they could get in before
connecting once more. He lets Tsuzuku pull him over and then push him down so
his back was flat against the cold couch. It was a good thing the cold was
finally starting to wear off.
Koichi gasped suddenly as Tsuzuku began to slowly trail his long adept fingers
of his clothes sides, whining as they sensually stroked at his hips and caused
him to feel even more hot bursts of bliss.
His breathing grew heavy in no time and he had to breathe if only for a moment!
Their mouths disconnect albeit rather sloppily and he gasps out loud. Even
through all that he feels Tsuzuku's mouth latch itself to his neck again,
kissing and teasing relentlessly.
"Tsu," he gasped out. "Ngh... don't you think that's a bit much..? I couldn't
breathe..."
His lover continues to kiss and explore with his hands as he spoke between
kissing.
"Can't help it... too tempting not to... you feel nice."
Koichi chuckled breathlessly and leaned his head back, trying to hold onto his
sounds that he so badly wanted to make. It just felt too good.
"Ngh... you're so arrogant," he teased and ran his fingers through raven black
hair, tugging just so slightly. "At this rate you'll make me... ahh! Make me
become weird..."
He feels teeth pressing just at the juncture of his collarbone and skin of his
neck. Probably to make a mark no doubt. That was kind of hot he had to admit...
It was definitely starting to turn him on more.
In return he hears Tsuzuku giggle a little and whisper just so by his ear to
make him shudder in anticipation.
"It's okay. You can become weird. I'm here to help after all."
Koichi flushed even worse before whimpering loudly as a hand found its way to
the front of his jeans where he could feel a different kind of heat starting to
bubble up from deep inside of him. All at once he started feeling a little
scared but at the same time excited, maybe even more so now that he thought
about it.
This was new territory for the both of them so far. Well at least it was for
him. He had no idea of the past Tsuzuku was a part of and didn't want to know.
Not yet at least.
They were here now. Together and ready to go this far at least.
"You... ngh, bully," he moaned quietly as Tsuzuku starts to rub on him through
the fabric in small slow circles, tracing his lips all over his neck. "You
were... planning to jump me from the... the moment you got back weren't you?"
Tsuzuku almost laughed in excitement as he felt a reaction starting to form
under his palm, and Koichi was as red as ever. He grinned and leaned down to
smooch all along his nose and cheeks, keeping his hand in a nice steady rhythm.
Koichi gripped onto his arm as he purred and gasped beneath him in what he
could only assume was intense pleasure.
"Mm not really actually," he admits. "I was planning on having you try out all
the new cute stuff I got you but I got swept into the moment. Your body is
super honest isn't it?"
Koichi covered his mouth with his free hand and bites on his fingers. Still
though the noises persisted. By now he was already mostly hard and it was
getting worse the more and more Tsuzuku rubbed him. Their legs tangled together
and then he could swear he heard Tsuzuku groan in his throat and it was the
single most sexy thing he had ever heard in his life. Yeah he was definitely
into it. Koichi panted and glared hotly at his lover, tears of pure bliss
prickling his eyes. Gods he was so embarrassed.
"Ngh... that's cause... its... you... that's why I... ahn..!"
Tsuzuku wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean but he'll take it. As long
as he got such a cute and innocent reaction than it was fine. Now to take it up
a notch.
Boldly he stopped to undo the top button of Koichi's jeans to reach inside just
between the fabric of his jeans and his boxers. Right away he was greeted with
the feeling of intense heat and a small dab of wetness. Koichi moaned out loud
this time and grips tight onto Tsuzuku's shoulder as a palm starts to rub
circles on him again, much more intimate this time.
"Ahh.... Damn it you... you're so mean..!" He whimpered but with a heated smile
starting to form on his lips. He was really enjoying this it seemed. Tsuzuku
smiled and made another mark just below his jawline. Small, inconspicuous even.
But there all the same.
"Oh? Well can I show you just how mean I can be?" He growled playfully through
a small kiss and started to run his fingers rougher and faster against Koichi's
hardness to make him gasp loudly. "Well now that's quite a noise you're making.
Is it starting to feel good now?"
Koichi was so lost in the sensation he couldn't even hear the noises coming
from his own mouth. His cheeks, flushed red, were now damp with ecstatic years
and his mouth opened in a long drawn out cry.
"Yes i- it does... feels s-so good! M...more," he begged. "Please more..! I
need it..."
Tsuzuku gritted his teeth as he feels Koichi's hand reaching for his own belt
to undo it. Through all of that he didn't even realize that he himself was also
hard. And now that he noticed it was very obvious. Koichi was just too sexy for
his own good.
"Koichi," he warned lowly through a groan. "If you do that I can't be... be
responsible for what I'll do."
His lover purrs lowly and started his own barrage of open mouthed kisses to his
jaw and neck, hurriedly undoing the belt to ignore Tsuzuku's warning.
"Not just me," he cooed softly. "I wanna make you feel good too... we'll feel
good together."
Having another person reaching for his belt felt so surreal, as the feeling was
such a distant memory that feeling it again so soon again almost was enough to
make him lose his mind. But if it was Koichi then he was more than willing to
ride this out to the end.
"Okay... but not here," he answers. "Let's move to our room so we can be more
comfortable."
His fingers stop to grab Koichi's so their hands are touching. Briefly he leans
in for a nice slow kiss before getting up with some degree of difficulty.
Koichi sits up and reached for him, arms outstretched and asking for him to
carry him like before. Tsuzuku gladly scoops Koichi into his arms and feels an
elated laugh brushing against his neck as legs swing around his waist to hold
on.
Koichi hung on tightly with a wide happy smile as he was carried to their room,
taking a few seconds to breathe before he was gently but firmly dropped into
the bed and bouncing slightly.
Not even a few moments later he feels his lover sit between his thighs and
their bodies are touching once again. He looks up, bewildered and then
overwhelmed as he sees a very sexy image above him. Tsuzuku is slightly
flustered as well as he kneels over him and takes off his shirt slowly while
licking his lips to show off his incredibly lean and toned chest. His mouth
grows dry and he can't help the urge to just touch every single inch of that
beautiful pale skin. His excitement increases tenfold and he can tell that
something was going to happen here. But as for what he wasn't sure yet. However
despite that he still wanted to keep going.
He wanted this for himself, he wasn't about to back out now.
"You're so sexy when you're all red and eager for me," Tsuzuku says and throws
his shirt somewhere random before starting to grind his hips into Koichi's,
making them both moan. The pinkette throws his head back and bites on his lips
to hold back his noises.
"Ngh... am not... you're the one that's... ah!"
He feels hands beginning to once more roam all over his hips then up hi shirt.
The damn thing was getting in the way! He quickly sat up to peel it away from
himself and was surprised to feel Tsuzuku's mouth attach to his chest right
away. More pleasured sighs and gasps escape his lips as he's made to lay back
down so Tsuzuku can grind into him and let his mouth and hands do the work.
Soon it grew to be too much and he was feeling constructed against his boxers,
desperate for relief of some sort.
"Too hot," he complained before reaching down between them to tug at his
unzipped jeans. "Off... please... take them off."
Tsuzuku panted as he became even more turned on at Koichi's begging and decided
it was probably time for the main thing on his mind right now. Granted he had
no intentions of going all the way today, it was far too early on in their
relationship right now and Koichi was still technically underage. So for now he
would just settle on what feel good and what would successfully satisfy both of
their desires.
"Okay honey," he agrees and runs his palm against Koichi straining arousal.
"I'll make us both feel amazing. So I'll lead you okay?"
Koichi nodded, just eager to sate his appetite. Slowly Tsuzuku stroked him a
few times before ever so slowly pulling back the fabric of his boxers and
letting Koichi out to feel the cold air. Right away his lover cried out in
surprised bliss and grips into his arms. His face was still red, probably from
the heat all over his body. And the fact that Tsuzuku was staring at him with
hooded lustful eyes that were practically devouring him alive.
"Please dont... stare at me... too embarrassing."
He was perfect, more so than Tsuzuku could have ever though possibly. Every
single line and arch of his body was napping into his brain and he just wanted
to feel even more.
"It's not," Tsuzuku disagreed. "You're beautiful just the way you are. Every
single inch and part of you is perfect and I'll always want you no matter what.
And I'll prove it right now."
All at once he yanked Koichi's jeans away from his legs and undid hi own so he
could start to press their members together, eliciting a high pitched cry from
his lover. He leaned in for a smooth sensual dance if tongues as he used his
one hand to hold them together and start to rock his hips. Koichi's voice
became lost in his throat as he realized what was happening. It felt so amazing
and good that he could barely even think.
'Oh god... His thing is pressing against me... he's frotting me! W-what do i
do?? It feels so amazing!'
He moaned helplessly and wanted to help as well, reaching a hand down to help
him. Tsuzuku groaned low and deep as an extra set of fingers began to help
stroke them together. He felt so hot and wet in his hands that he almost hit
his release right away.
Koichi panted as the sensations increased and desperately searched for his
lovers mouth for more kisses, moaning into them and letting their tongues
intertwine for a lewd dance.
The sound of wet noises and their heavy breathing was all he could hear and
before he knew it he could feel his release coming closer and closer. He whined
loudly in warning that he was close and his hand grew erratic in movement.
"Tsu..! Gonna... gonna-!"
His lover painted and continued to rock their bodies together, also close to
release.
"I know baby," he purred. "Me too... go ahead. Come for me."
That was all it took as Koichi arched his back off the mattress with such a
loud moaning cry that it hurt his throat.
"Ahnn..!"
The sheer sound of his enraptured orgasm was enough to send Tsuzuku over the
edge as well, both of them calling each other's names as they released
together, the feeling of their hot stickiness splattering all over their
bodies. Koichi whined as his orgasm lasted longer than he expected and it got
all over his hips and hand. Some of Tsuzuku's was all over him too.
Once they both came off their high he sighed deep and leaned back, staring at
the ceiling.
"Wow."
That was really all he could say right now. His head was still swimming.
Tsuzuku laughed, pulling back to flip into his back next to him.
"Yeah... wow."
They didn't really know what to say now that it was over with. And maybe they
didn't really need to. He simply used some nearby tissues to clean them both up
before pulling Koichi up against him and holding him in his arms.
They didn't really speak afterwards, choosing just to enjoy the after effects
and the feel of each others bodies and twin heartbeats.
Tsuzuku cuddles him close, kissing slowly at his forehead. Koichi feels tears
welling up and falling down his cheeks. But he's so happy that he didn't even
care. Nothing could ever ruin this. Now he could be happy, here in his lover's
arms.
Forever .
 
TBC
***** Chapter 23 *****
It's been a few minutes since we woke up from our nap after.... Well after what
we did. I still feel a little light headed from all that. He was still holding
me right in his arms and didn't intend to let me go it seemed. Not like I
wanted him to anyway, his body was still nice and cold compared to mine and it
was a relief from all the heat.
His head was nestled just on top of mine so I was only able to see the marks I
made on his neck.
My chest hurt... I was just so happy right now that I couldn't stand it. We
barely did anything though, so of course I was feeling a little frustrated with
him. Most likely it was because I'm still only seventeen that he won't do
anything to me that would be considered actually 'doing it.'
What was the big deal though? I'm already dead, and Meto-san said himself that
I'm technically immortal now. I'll most likely be this way forever, even though
my birthday is less than a month away.
He wants to preserve my honor, or whatever I have left of it anyway. Though in
my own opinion I wish he would just realize that I'm not who I used to be
anymore. Is he just afraid of feeling guilty? Perhaps I should just ask him.
"Tsu?" I peeped for the first time since waking up.
"Mm?" He hummed and squeezed my hips. "What is it?"
For some reason I don't really feel embarrassed asking about it.
"Are you waiting for my birthday for us to... you know, actually do it?"
His hands stop suddenly and I worry if I made him upset. But then they continue
and he's nuzzling oh so gently against my hair. Maybe he was just wondering how
to answer.
"Yes... I don't wanna feel like a pervert if we do it too early. I want to know
what I have to do to make you feel good the best I can. I need to learn every
single inch, every sweet spot that you have first..." he suddenly leaned down
and kisses at my ear softly, his voice lowering to a husky whisper. Jeez at
this rate I'll be wanting to do something again... "I'll make sure to mess you
up all you want so you can't take it anymore. Does that sound good hmm?"
I shuddered at his voice and felt my stomach flutter. God I just... ugh I need
to stop having those thoughts.
"You better watch out," I crooned and leaned up to whisper at his jaw.
"Whatever honor I have left means little to me, and I'll make you rethink that
promise. So you better behave yourself old man."
Yes I know he was older than me by hundreds of years and he probably had more
experience. But I was just teasing him and he should know that.
He giggled and cuddles close to me, brushing my hair back from my face.
"Hey I'm not that old," he complained light heartedly and pokes my nose with
his index finger. "I'm still a baby compared to the oldest ones in this city."
His lips are pouting but I can tell he's trying not to laugh at me. His he's
just... cute as hell..! Compared to me he was perfect, everything I could ever
wanted in someone. The fact that he even considered me was still so amazing
that I smiled bitterly.
"I know I know, I'm just teasing you," I admitted and tugged him closer to kiss
him. "I'm still a baby compared to you though. My life is like the blink of an
eye, short, worthless and not so sweet."
He made a face showing his obvious disapproval of my self depreciation and
cradled my neck in his hands.
"Hey. I'll have no more of this talk of you not being good enough," he scolded.
"Whatever life you lived up there has no more meaning down here. Down here,
you're meant to live a brand new life. Start all over again, with me next to
you the entire way. So don't think about that anymore. Okay?"
Of course he was right. I had always known that he was. I just couldn't help
it, I remembered all of the horrible things that happened to me up there and I
felt the need to let it bother me again. But I don't get why I did it. For
pity?
No. No I don't think that was why. Maybe I just wanted someone to know that I
still hurt deep down inside. But even so it was time to let that go.
I'm a new person now. I'm not even human anymore so why do I need to keep
worrying about my human life? It only made him worry and that wasn't what I
want at all.
"Yeah I know. I'm sorry, it just slips out," I said with a sigh. "I'll try not
to let it bother me."
Imagine my relief when his smile came back and he hugs me tight, his smooth
cool skin making me already feel a whole lot better.
"Good. Promise me you'll only think of what you can do. And of our future. The
two of us, together. Promise."
So he really was expecting me to be with him forever... how could I think
otherwise? I'm really such a fool. But I was glad to realize that. I guess
after all of this it was so nice to see that I had a chance. Even if I had to
die for it.
Happily ever after wasn't always just for princesses in movies it seemed like.
"I promise."
His smile was so bright that it made my chest tighten up.
"Great," he chirps and runs his fingers through my hair and pets my neck. "Now,
I know you probably want to keep laying down and snuggle some more but
unfortunately I have some important things to do. Okay?"
Disappointed I huffed and pouted but just nod anyway. Who was I to get in the
way of his work?
"Fine. I'll go take a cold shower then while you get to it."
I sat up first and stretch out after lying down for such an extended period of
time. Tsuzuku rolls over onto his stomach first before pulling off his covers
and looking for his pants. Somehow they managed to end up by the door?
"Aww Koi-chan don't pout at me," he pleaded. "I wanna keep cuddling but we're
not going to get anywhere with this case if we just mess around."
"I know. I'm just selfish, I just want you all to myself all the time... but
you're right. You need to work so go work. It's fine."
He managed to get them on and pulls me close to him so he could plant his lips
on my cheek.
"Then you and I are really no different at all, cause I do too."
//////////////////////
Not too later I was standing behind him at the kitchen counter, rubbing a towel
over my still wet hair. I stopped smoking at least.
He had a laptop in front of him and had his black framed glasses poised
carefully onto his nose. He looked so smart with them on. Hehehe...
"So? What's the deal with Ice? Have they figured out what happened to him yet?"
I asked and sat beside him. "I may not like him but..."
Tsuzuku nodded, tapping away at his keys.
"Coincidentally yes. Meto has been keeping me up to date with that case.
Apparently the spy wandering the city managed to figure out what happened and
why he had disappeared so quickly. There's an unknown group taking refuge
there, and they are kidnapping male teenagers and taking them somewhere, though
we dont know where to because he always loses the trail. Ice is the third
teenager to be kidnapped so far, and we're afraid there might be more."
"Kidnappings? But why?" I asked. "And for what reason?"
He shakes his head, leaning back in his seat a little bit. I could tell he was
frustrated because he was furrowing his eye brows again. He always did that
when he got frustrated like this.
"We don't know yet, but if I were to guess at anything, there might be some
weird person or inhuman being out there loose among the humans who is
kidnapping them for some personal and inhumane reason. We need to find out why,
and for what reason, before something really bad happens."
Ugh, great. And just when I thought things might be okay again, then something
like this pops up. I keep forgetting that just cause it is okay for me does not
mean it is the same for everyone else. There are other inhuman creatures up
there too, not just down here. And not everyone is like Tsuzuku, good and pure
hearted. There are bound to be people who are awful and evil and want nothing
more than to cause trouble.
So really there were only so few options that I could logically think of off
the top of my head.
"Then they need to stay up there longer if they want to find out more. As much
as I hate to hear about one of your agents getting into danger like this we
have no other choice."
"Mhm, I understand that completely, but... Oh, hold on a second here."
Suddenly his computer makes a pinging noise, probably a new message of some
sort. So he clicks a few times and he pulled up a screen with a few messages,
but I couldn't read them because they were just garbled lines of text and
symbols I didn't recognize.
"What in the world is that?" I asked. "It doesn't look like an actual message,
it's just gibberish. Could it be spam? Tsu?"
He was staring at the screen, not talking, but his face was really pale. Maybe
he could understand it? Was it some sort of language that only existed down
here?
"No, I... It's not just gibberish," he finally says. "I can read some of it,
but the rest is in some sort of code. Hang on a moment, let me message Meto
san."
He opens a new window and types a message rapidly before sending it off. There
is a small moment of silence and I feel a weird sense of anticipation.
"What does it say?" I ask nervously. His throat bobs nervously and he taps his
fingers on the counter, thinking.
"Well, it's mostly just words, jumbled around to make it seem incomprehensible
but I know better. This language is mine, or that of my own species, but
they're placed in random conjectures and it's kind of hard to... Uhh, figure
out everything. But... Um, well... It appears as though uh, Ryoga and that
vampire, Layha. They know where I live... And they... Uh oh..."
Uh oh? That did not sound good.
"What? What is it?" I asked. "What's wrong?"
He stared for a few seconds before looking at me, a sense of fear lurking in
them that wasn't there before.
"They... They're the ones who... who kidnapped Ice. And now they want me."
"Ohh... oh dear."
I guess so uh oh! What the he'll are we supposed to do now??
"Yeah... Meto is not gonna like this at all, and now security will have to be
upped and tightened to protect against them should they try anything..."
My stomach flipped uncomfortably, and I no longer felt hungry like I did only a
brief moment ago.
"So... what does that mean for us..?"
Tsuzuku was no doubt just as afraid as I was at this point, because he pulled
me towards him and hugged me, burrowing his face in my shoulder.
"It means we'll have to move out sooner than I thought."
__________NORMAL POV__________
It was supposed to be an off day for him, with no missions and no cases to
worry about. No suspects to chase after, and no humans to mingle with. Just a
nice and calm day relaxing at home with his video games and anything else that
might have entertained him on a day like this.
But honestly that all sounded boring to him. He didn't want an off day just to
stay home, rather he wanted an excuse to come up to the human world for the
first time in a long time. It was only a few days but to him it was too long.
So he begged his superiors to allow him one last day of traveling around before
he finally accepted his so called 'day off.' At first they were insistent that
he take a break, saying that he needed the off time because of how much he had
been working himself lately. But he managed to at least get them to agree to
the idea of him having his day off up there for a little while. They worried
that he would become too addicted to messing around and never want to come home
for a long time.
However he himself did not think that way. He knew he was fine, fine enough for
one more day at least.
So that was how Tomo, the gloomy but perverted daemon with one damaged horn,
found himself strolling into the warehouse where he knew the all important
portal was. He looked back one more time to make sure he really locked his car
before leaving it behind...
Well it will be fine without for an hour or two. Maybe ten, he never knew with
this sort of thing.
He was heading off to meet someone today, a sort of coworker who happened to be
human and knew about who he was and what he did. They met before, a few days
ago when he welcomed back Tsuzuku from a mission. This human and Tsuzuku were
partners sometimes, something he kind of grew to envy a little bit. Just a
little.
Tomo brushed it off though and decided that he would not let it bug him. Today
would be a good day. He deserved it, especially after that particularly
dangerous mission he just completed. Meto-sama had best be happy with that
information he managed to dig up on that vampire and his new pet demon. There
were plenty of things he had heard about them so far, but it was all due to
what he knew the demon did to Tsuzuku in the past that he knew he did not like
them, not one bit.
(Was it just him or was the sun unusually cold today? Huh. Weird.)
At any rate the other daemon was much younger than him, therefore more
susceptible to being naive about some things, so therefore as an older sibling
type, he needed to protect him at all costs.
And the same could be said for all his kind, young and old, experienced and
vice versa. All of them were the same, and yet different. They all needed to
stick together no matter what. They were all family, and would stay that way no
matter what.
Which was why he wanted to work harder. He was aware of the information that
Tsuzuku received a few hours ago around two P.M. on his laptop from an unknown
sender. Such a threat had sent the entirety of the company into hysteria and as
expected, every worker was expected to no longer travel alone and they
stationed two different agents near Tsuzuku's apartment until he could find a
new place. Which might take a while.
The warehouse basement was as dark and abandoned as he expected, save for the
occasional baby wyvern scurrying away from him as he approached, or a few mice
here and there. All the more to give off the abandoned vibe and keep out
trespassers. Even if it did creep him out, he couldn't complain.
The portal was just through a big metal door on the other side of this room,
locked only with a blooded padlock that only reacted to a few people, all of
whom worked for or in close proximity to the BSA. Security measures that so
far, worked really well.
He unlocked it after slicing at his palm and entered the familiar room made
entirely of stone. The walls were cracked and overgrown with moss, the floor
tiles had a few vines popping out of them, and the ceiling was falling apart.
But this portal was old, has been here for hundreds if not thousands of years.
They didn't destroy the area around it, rather preserved it and built around
the portal to protect it. The public knew about it, they just didn't care much
for it despite it being an almost sacred place.
A lot of them didn't ever want to come to the human world, fearing they would
be discovered and taken away.
The half human citizens sort of felt homesick on occasion, but like everyone
else they stayed away too. So it was in every one's best interest that the BSA
take control of it in order to let their agents safely and effectively travel
between the two worlds.
Tomo carefully locked the door behind himself before stepping through the stone
archway and into the swirling purple vortex, feeling the familiar but still
goose bump inducing feeling of his body being transported at the speed of light
through time space and into a new dimension, feeling how the world around him
shifted, twisted and bent to allow him to exist in a different world.
And before he knew it he was already there, in the human world. The room from
before was not as old as the other one, with smoother well taken care of floors
and a neater set of walls made of recently built blue tiles. This portal was
only recently discovered, the old one having been destroyed about a hundred
years ago. This one was built as a replacement for the one that used to be in
America, somewhere in the Grand Canyon he remembered.
He rubbed away the goosebumps and pressed at his horns to hid them away like
usual. He stared down at his clothes, a plain white T Shirt with a grey graphic
zip up sweater and black jeans with his favorite converse sneakers. There was
someone waiting for him out there, and he hoped he was not late.
The long stairway was a welcome sight after a few days, and the few short
moments it took to get to the top felt like forever to him. Then there was the
big metal door leading to outside. Excited he quickly unlocked the door and
pushed it open, immediately assaulted on all sides with the smells and sights
of everything a human city had to offer. The atmosphere here was so much
different. Humans all smelled the same as a species altogether. But each one
had their own unique sort of undertone to them to tell them apart. Almost like
a personal bar code, except with scents.
And he figured that was what made the humans so neat. Back home every member of
every species smelled the same. The daemons smelled like the earth, spirits
smelled like a mix of sage and flowers, leviathans like the ocean, et cetera et
cetera. But humans all smelled different.
Just like the one he came to meet, standing right next to the door and waiting
expectantly with a large smile on his face. His pretty purple hair was all tied
up and framing his face in just the right way to make his heart skip a beat. On
his body was a blank and white striped over sized cardigan and white skinny
jeans, along with some cute one inch platform checkered sneakers. His eyes were
lined in black.
"Tomo-san!" the human squealed excitedly as he saw him. "I am so glad you're
here!"
Tomo felt an almost impossible to resist urge to just hug this lovely boy but
was glad when it was done for him.
"Hello Takashi," he greeted with a laugh and hugged the smaller body back. "I'm
glad to see you too. Have you waited long?"
The cute human stepped away and shook his head, smiling brightly.
"No, only like a few minutes. Did you run into any problems coming back up?"
Tomo shakes his head, grinning from ear to ear. He locks the door and they walk
around towards the front of the building.
Oh yeah, this was technically a date right? He was so enraptured by Takashi
that he just couldn't stay away.
"No, it was fine all the way here. So are you ready to go?"
His flirty mode was on now so hopefully Takashi wasn't gonna be creeped out by
that. He held out his arm in invitation. Takashi didn't seem offended by that
and gladly linked their arms together.
"Of course! I'll lead the way yeah?" He chirped and started tugging him away.
"I know a great place nearby with some amazing sweets!"
Tomo couldn't help but grin even more. Takashi was seriously so cute..!
"Of course. Let's go then cutie."
Oh yes, he was definitely starting to like being up here. Work could wait a
little longer right?
***** Chapter 24 *****
If there were ever a time that Tsuzuku has truly felt real fear, it was really
nothing compared to how he was feeling right now. Mostly though, it was fearing
for Koichi's life, not just his own. 
What was he supposed to do now? He was in so much danger being here, and so was
Koichi now that they were together. This no doubt just have triggered some deep
rooted resentment to take place so yeah, he and Koichi were most likely to
blame for this whole fiasco. But still, there was no way he would give Koichi
up for anything. Not even these threats were enough to scare him into leaving
him behind. 
Still, regardless of that he should have known that Ryoga would make a move,
knowing him as long as he has. Demons were possessive enough to the point of
going as far as threatening people regardless if they didn't get what they
wanted or if they did. And now he was experiencing what that was like first
hand.
Now he knew he had to leave. He couldn't let it slip that he was moving either,
or else something bad would happen earlier than expected. Earlier, he received
a message from Meto that even if he had no where else to go to just pack up
anyways. He just knew that he needed to leave as soon as possible. Maybe they
could even stay at Shinya's place for a short time while they looked for a
place. 
As sad as it was to leave this place behind he knew he had to. There were many
fond memories created here, both good and bad. Koichi by far though was the
best one so far. Still, every place had a time limit and this one had finally
reached its own. 
He and Koichi had already started packing things up into boxes when the
pinkette suddenly stopped what he was doing to stare at the gray painted wall
next to the bed. His mind had started wandering again, and he couldn't help but
wonder if they really were serious about leaving this apartment so soon after
he just got here. In this short time he was here he grew to really love this
place. 
Tsuzuku noticed that he wasn't doing what he was supposed to and tilts his
head. 
"Koichi? Baby what's the matter?" He asked. "Something bothering you?" 
Hearing his lover's voice made him snap back to reality and he shrugged,
listlessly putting down the clothes he had in his hands. 
"Yeah I just... I'm gonna be sad when we have to leave," he admitted in a soft
voice. "I mean... This is my home too, and now we have to leave because of your
crazy ex boyfriend and some creepy blood sucker... What do they want with you?
Why are they bothering us? Why can't they just leave us alone? I didn't go
through all the terrible things I did only for it to all go to waste. And now
we have to leave, just when I was starting to be happy again..."
He stopped talking when he feels a painful lump forming at the back of his
throat and it takes every ounce of his control and dignity not to break down
crying right then and there. Tsuzuku drops what he was doing as well to walk
around the bed and envelop Koichi into his arms to comfort him. Pressing his
head into his shoulder he makes sure that if he does start crying, Koichi would
have somewhere safe to do so. 
"Shh I know I know," he soothed slowly and started to pet his hair slowly. "I
know how you feel. This is our home, and it always will be, even if we leave.
And who knows, maybe we can even come back here once this whole ridiculous
thing is sorted out. We can get back to our lives, and no one can bother us
anymore, and we will be happy no matter what. Doesn't that sound nice?"
Koichi sniffled and hugged tightly onto Tsuzuku, afraid to let go. So many bad
memories were starting to assault him from all sides and he felt an even more
painful lump in his throat. 
"That's if we can," he replied with a bitter laugh. "I just... There's an awful
feeling that won't go away. It keeps making me feel like nothing will work out
the way we want it to and I won't be able to protect you or... Or even myself.
And I'm scared. I'm so scared Tsu. Of losing everything, and of losing you. And
I don't want that... I really don't..."
Finally he can't stop the tears and he's sobbing like a baby against Tsuzuku's
shoulder. This was the same feeling as before when he was still alive and
living in his own personal slice of hell. This rough unadulterated feeling of
helplessness, of not knowing whether or not you were strong enough to get
through what you would call life anymore. This was similar to that, except now
he really did have a reason to be terrified. This wasn't just his own teenage
angst and social problems bothering him now. This situation was real, real
enough to make him feel like he really was just a helpless little minnow on a
fishing line in a large ocean full of sharks that wanted to make him an easy
snack. 
People here, they weren't just helpless humans like upstairs. They had the
power to really do legitimate damage if they wanted, and he probably could too
now that he was only half human. But he was still inexperienced, unlike those
people out there who were born here and knew what they were doing. So no, he
had no idea how to handle psycho man hungry vampires or insane jealous ex
boyfriend demons. There were things that they were capable of that he couldn't
even comprehend. And now they were being targeted by those very people? His
happy life in danger of being stolen away before his very eyes? Of course he
had every right to be terrified. 
"Don't think like that, Koi-chan," Tsuzuku chided in as gentle tone as he
possibly could, as though consoling a young child. "We will get through this,
and even if you are unable to protect me from everything, I swear on my own
life that no matter what, I will protect you. And no one, not Ryoga or any one
else can take you from me. I'll be your happy ending, all right?"
Koichi could feel gentle wet trails on his cheeks and realized that there were
tears there now, running like little streams on his face. But he was no longer
ashamed of letting them being seen. At least it wasn't as bad as he thought it
would be. And crying in front of Tsuzuku felt oddly... Soothing. 
"I'm sorry... I got carried away in my emotions again," he laughed weakly and
tried to wipe at his eyes. "But yes... I understand. I'll try to remember that
you're here for me, and that I am not alone anymore. And thanks for... Letting
me cry into your shoulder like that... I'm so embarrassed right now..."
His lover just laughs and squeezes him tightly, nuzzling his hair like he
always did. 
"Oh my poor, pretty little Koichi," he sighed and pulled back to cup his face
and squish his cheeks together. "What am I to do with you? Of course you can
always cry on my shoulder if you need to, that's another reason why I am here.
To comfort you through anything that is bothering you and to remind you that I
love you, that I am always going to love you. And If I need you right back, you
will be there for me too. Right?"
Koichi smiled and pulled Tsuzuku's hands from his cheeks to smile through red
puffy eyes still wet with tears. 
"Yes... Of course I will. I love you too, Tsu. You always know what to say when
I feel awful."
Tsuzuku couldn't help but to press kisses to his face all over repeatedly,
making Koichi giggle a little bit. Then he kisses ever so tenderly at the tear
tracks on his face, making the pinkette's heart skip a beat. 
"Good, there's my beautiful smiling Koichi," he approved. "Now, let's dry those
alligator tears and we can continue packing up yeah?" 
Now that he had a good moment to cry, Koichi felt a weight lift off his chest.
Maybe that was what he needed, a good cry. So he agreed, this time more
resolute in his promises to himself that he wouldn't start crying again. He
cried enough tears to last him a life time, no use wasting any more time crying
his eyes out. Now that he had Tsuzuku with him, he knew that he finally had
someone else to fall back on should something ever go wrong. And that was all
he could ever ask for. 
It took nearly three hours, but they had finally managed to get everything
packed into boxes. All the paintings on the wall and furniture would have to
stay however, as there were no real plans to get them moved yet. This was all
spur of the moment, so that would have to wait until they had a definitive
place to put them. 
Die and Toshiya managed to come by with a couple friends who owned a large
truck so they could move their stuff out. Meto must have tipped them off. He
and Koichi were told not to lift a finger as no more than five people began to
haul their boxes outside, staying in the lobby. It was sort of surreal to
witness this, seeing their stuff being moved out of what used to be their
home. 
But Tsuzuku guessed that feeling would go away as soon as he found somewhere to
go. For now though, he figured Shinya's place was good enough. So they found
themselves in front of his place not half an hour later after sending him a
message and getting the green light. But he didn't tell him to take his stuff
inside seeing as how they didn't want to seem imposing. So Die and Toshiya had
their things moved to a storage unit just outside the building.
Things were finally starting to look up for them.
But Tsuzuku noticed Koichi standing unusually still up against the wall in the
elevator. Was he still feeling bad?
"Hey," he says as they ride the elevator up with only a few things in their
arms. "Are you okay?"
He reached over to touch his arm, feeling how his skin was a normal temperature
now that a few hours have passed. The pinkette sighed and wrapped his arms
around himself, looking down. 
"I... I just... I think I need a nap. This whole day has just been... Well,
really overwhelming so far."
Yeah that was understandable. Going from being not friends with Mia, to being
sort of friends with him, to having to leave their home? All in one day? Anyone
would need a nap after that. 
"Oh yeah... Maybe I do too. Shinya has a spare room that people can use. We can
use that."
"Yeah," Koichi agreed and smiled up at him, grasping his hands. "Will you sleep
beside me? I don't want to be alone."
"Of course I will," Tsuzuku said and pets his hair. "As long as you need me.
I'll be here."
Koichi hummed in contentment and decided not let it bug him too much. 
"Good. You know I will always need you right?" 
"Mhm. And I you," he says earnestly. "Honestly, how have we lived without each
other for this long?"
His lover shifted to put his arms around his neck to press closer, a heavy
breath leaving his chest.
"Dunno, but I sure haven't been living, merely just surviving. But meeting you,
then falling in love with you, has finally taught me to live. And now I don't
think that I could ever want anything or anyone else. Only you."
Tsuzuku was by now fairly certain that he loved his precious pinkette a
thousand times more every single day. Every thing he did, every thing he said.
Nothing failed to burrow its way deep into his heart and slowly start to
overtake everything. Soon there would be so little of his awful past left that
he would no longer remember hardly any of it.
And he would gladly take it over remembering, because the past was an awful
thing to think about for the both of them.
Finally the elevator stops and they leave to go to Shinya's place, greeting Die
at the door as usual.
"Hey man," the redhead greeted with a sad smile. "Shinya is waiting for you.
The guest room is clean and ready for you to use. Your stuff is in the storage
unit outside, the largest one there is. Here is the key."
Tsuzuku took a small key on a key ring and grasped tightly onto it.
"Thank you Die-san," he says with his own mirrored smile. "This means a whole
lot to me, to both of us. We promise to pay you back somehow once I find a new
place."
Die laughs and waved dismissively.
"Haha no don't even think about that right now," he says and let's them into
the building. "We're doing this because we love you, and as our little brother
we have a duty to make sure you're safe. So I'll have none of this repaying
talk do you hear me?"
Tsuzuku sighed but still was happy. Even if Die was a shifter and not a daemon,
he still thought of him as a brother. He always knew how to handle things.
"Thank you," Koichi says gratefully. "You're really helping us out here."
Die once more dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
"It's really no problem at all. Now I bet you're eager to probably take a nap
or something but Shinya wanted to see you in his office when you got here."
"Okay. We'll go right now. Thanks man."
Koichi followed along quietly, wondering what Shinya wanted. Was it about them
staying here maybe?
Well they would just have to see.
"I know you're probably tired but we have to go see him. Maybe he can help us."
"Help us how?" He wonders. "Find somewhere? But where would we go?"
Tsuzuku takes his hand to comfort him, leading him past Minpha and towards
Shinya's office.
"I don't know," Tsuzuku admits. "But... maybe he'll have some ideas. We'll have
to trust him."
Yes Koichi knew that. It wasn't that he didn't trust him, he was just nervous.
There wasn't much that could cheer him up right now. Except for sleep.
Tsuzuku knocked on the door, waiting for a response tensely. Koichi gripped
tighter on his hand and bites his lips.
"Come in," a soft melodious voice finally answered. He let his lover tug him
inside. Shinya sat at his desk, looking as lovely and as vibrant as ever. And
now there was a second person in here with him, a tall and very handsome man
standing just to the left side of his desk. He too was also incredibly good
looking it almost seemed unfair. His eyes were stern but soft at the same time,
and his face was smoother than he would have thought possible. And even Tsuzuku
had a few dimples when he wasn't even smiling. Who was he? 
"Good evening Shinya-san," Tsuzuku says as they walked in and warily approached
the stranger. His boss still had that aura around him that could lift anyone's
spirits. "You wanted to see me?"
"Welcome. I'm glad you could make it," he responds. "And yes I did actually,
there was something I needed to speak to you about. But first, I want you to
meet Tomo, my sin counterpart, or otherwise known as wrath. And my very close
friend. He came all this way from the other end of the city. It's his first
time visiting the building since it was rebuilt."
Oh, so this was Tomo. Koichi remembered hearing about him once, but never knew
what he looked like. Tsuzuku himself was still very young, so he never had the
chance to meet him up until this point. 
"Hi there," The tall man said and a surprisingly warm smile came across his
face. "How are you? I am here on behalf of my own faction across the city, and
to oversee extra action on the case involving the human world. You must be
Tsuzuku and Koichi, Meto-san and Shinya here were talking very highly of you."
Oh god Meto was talking about them? Jeez what all did he say? Hopefully nothing
too embarrassing.
"Yes we are," Tsuzuku answered and kept a hang on Koichi's hands. "It's nice to
meet you too."
Tomo came forward and shook each of their hands before resuming his position
beside the desk, letting that small smile slip from his face. Okay that was
kind of creepy.
Shinya smiled wide and stood up to walk around and face Tsuzuku. 
"Great, I am glad you're all acquainted. Now we can get down to business."
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Tsuzuku asked. His boss sighed heavy and
leaned up against the desk. That wasn't good.
"Yes well... There are two things we need to talk about, good and bad."
Koichi met his lover's eyes, a million questions swimming in them. Tsuzuku then
figured that the good news would be best to get through first. 
"Okay... What's the good news first?" He asks. "The bad can come last I guess."
That was probably expected because his boss nodded with a nonchalant look on
his face. 
"Yeah I figured that. All right, good news first. We found a nice place for you
to stay, permanently if you'd wish, or for however long you would like to if
your old place is still important to you."
Wow that fast! Shinya's work really was impressive..! That means they didn't
have to impose on his space!
"Really? Where is it? Can we see it?" Koichi asked excitedly, hopping in place.
Shinya had to laugh a little at his enthusiasm. 
"Of course you can, after a good nights rest here of course. It's a nice two
floor employees only exclusive loft penthouse about three miles from here, a
shorter distance than your old apartment. I had it under my name for about a
year, but no one lives in it. There is a maid who goes there and cleans every
day around noon and cloaks it to hide it from potential dangers. It's in case
of emergencies, so it is mostly empty save for a few pieces of furniture in the
living room and appliances in the kitchen. In fact, most of your stuff is being
prepped for moving over there if you said yes..?"
Tsuzuku thought about that for a little while. A penthouse huh? Normally he
wouldn't want to think about that sort of thing for himself, as humble as he
was. But if Shinya said it was already paid for... Still, he didn't want to
jump into anything right away. He had to make sure he knew what he was getting
himself into. Koichi seemed into it but...
"I would have to see it and look around first to make a solid decision," he
says. "Just in case, you know?"
Koichi tsked and crossed his arms, making a pouty face. But Shinya understood
well enough and shrugged. 
"Fair assessment. It would be nice to see the place before any decisions are
made so we can go early in the morning if you would like."
"Yeah I guess that would be a good idea," Tsuzuku says and frowns. "So... I
guess we should hear the bad news now?"
At the turn of topic, Shinya suddenly became a little more... Forlorn, for lack
of a better word. Maybe even regretful. Yeah that most definitely was not a
good sign. 
"All right. Now Tsuzuku, keep in mind that this bit of news may shock you,
maybe even horrify you, but it is important that you know. That goes for the
both of you, because it concerns your overall well being in the long run."
"Please don't sugarcoat it for us," Tsuzuku says and pinched at the bridge of
his nose. "If it's indeed really bad, then we deserve to know all of the
details in full."
His boss looked back at his counterpart, concern gleaming in his gentle eyes.
Tomo nodded solemnly, urging him on to speak as though silently supporting him.
Finally the brunette folded his hands together as he walked back around his
desk to sit in his spot, his hands finding their usual resting place atop the
lovely wooden desk. 
"Well... To be quite frank... We have many reasons to believe that we have
finally managed to track down the whereabouts and status on the human, Ice, and
all the other missing boys from both this and the human world. As it turns
out... Ryoga and the vampire have indeed been the ones to track him down and
kidnap him. They also have cloaking magic surrounding them, the exceptionally
powerful kind though, so they were able to stay hidden for this long. And now,
thanks to our undercover agent, we now know what it is that they are kidnapping
young attractive males for. I'll tell you this right now, it is not a pleasant
thing and is an abysmal stain on this and all other worlds like it."
A deep pitting feeling of dread settled in Koichi's stomach, and he had to
wonder what the hell was so bad that was making even Shinya so uncomfortable
like this?
"What is it? Please tell us so we know why they are after him," he begged.
Shinya looked up at him, sadness in his usually gorgeous sparkling hazel eyes. 
"Well... They're running an underground prostitution and slavery ring. Right in
the middle of Shibuya. And Ice is in there as well."
Oh... Oh god. So this was what they were planning. To kidnap Tsuzuku and make
him a prostitute, a slave almost. But...Why were they doing this?
The news felt like a huge punch in the gut, and Koichi had to physically hold
his mouth to prevent his breakfast from coming back out. He was just... So
disgusted right now. How could anyone do this? Was there really no good left in
existence after all? Beside him, his lover had gone unnaturally pale, shaking
like a leaf.
"So... So the reason they want to get to me is because... They want to make me
a..."
Tsuzuku bit his tongue, unable to so much as utter any part of the words. This
was what he felt earlier, that fear that felt so hard to get rid of by any
regular means. It felt like he was being crushed, a fear so strong that it made
the sensation of breathing more and more difficult for him. But this fear
wasn't for himself, no far from that. 
Instead it was for Koichi, and how well he would take the damage if Ryoga were
to somehow become successful. He was deathly afraid for leaving him alone, for
not being there when he needed him. But worst of all, he was afraid of anything
even remotely similar happening to Koichi himself. The very idea made him want
to scream and throw things, or even steal his lover away, quit his job, find a
secluded tower somewhere and never come back out. He would be very content with
just spending his eternity with his lover where they would be safe. And no one
could do them harm.
Or maybe even that penthouse Shinya was talking about. Yeah, that was sounding
really nice right about now.
Maybe what he had suspected all along really was true. Ryoga was gone, there
was no more hope of ever seeing him back in the light. And for that reason,
Tsuzuku could finally understand why Shinya was so sad. 
Poor Ice. Maybe he really didn't deserve such a horrible fate after all. And
that was saying something.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 25 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Recording Date: 11/20/17
Facility/Establishment: Bureau of Supernatural Affairs: Medical Division
Doctor/Nurse/Worker Identification: Nurse's Aid (Identity Classified)
Subject/Initial(s): Classified
Subject Species/Blood percentage: *Kodama - 100%
Sex/Gender: Male
Reason for Evaluation: Recently witness to emergency situation and one of only
very few witnesses. Brought in for questioning.
Audio clip:
'Can'tyou guys find someone else to do this? Those higher upsdon'tpay me enough
for doing jobs like this all the time...
'Ugh, honestly, this sort of thing is waaaaaay out of my jurisdiction. I mean,
I'm a goddamn nurse in thechildren'sward for Planet's sake! And a mediocre one
at that, I just happened to be in the area and had this report thing thrust
onto me and therefore it screwed up my rhythm.
'Or what little of it actually exists now...
'The big bossed in the company told me that I had to fill out this damn report
stating in what detail I possibly could of what had happened to me only a brief
moment ago. And if I didn't, well I would have a considerable cut taken out of
my pay for the week but you know what? I don't care!
'I would rather go back to taking care of those poor destitute children in my
ward then deal with criminals who are also psycho crazy vampires. No one wants
to deal with them and yet here I am! Is the whole universe against me?! It sure
feels like it!
'Imean, indirectly of course, I have been told more than once that I don't
actually have to become involved with the vampires, just to help treat a few of
the poor unfortunate souls that managed to get found and be rescued. I haven't
been told the details just yet, but I'm not sure if I wanna know.
'Ugh whatever. I guess I better start with the report and get it over with.
'As I've stated beforehand, I was just passing through the surgical ward to
visit a friend when those victims arrived, completely out of their minds and
babbling incoherently, something about 'needing more' and 'wanting to please
him.' I don't know, they were like half dead when they got there.
'Anyway, lucky me just happened to be one of the only few nurses wandering
around the ward and I got spotted by one of the first responders and was told
to immediately tell a doctor to start prepping for surgery.
'Of course it is at this time thatIstart insisting that they had the
wrongnurse,Iwas in the wrong ward at the wrong time, and the most I
dealtwithwere children who, at the most, had severe colds or evensomethinglike
pneumonia fromplaying outsidetoo long. Hell even my own tiny baby niece was
here for a while. Scraped upknee,fellof her new bike with no training wheels,
that sorta thing.
'Thesevictims, something was really wrong with them. It was far more thamIhad
expected to see to bequitehonest, andIfeel like images of their haunted and
gaunt facescakedin heavy cream make up and sickeningly bright red lipstick will
forever be burned into the back of my eyelids. It took forever to get the blood
cleaned up from their skin and clothes.
'Everything about them just screamed vampire plaything, and even the
mostdullminded workers of this ward could see it as plain as day. Ithinkif you
live long enough you learn torecognizethe signs of malicious vampire activity.
The pale almost translucent skin, severe blood loss, and to top it all off a
veryveryrough case of Stockholm Syndrome. The victims becomeaddictedto daily
bloodletting that they start to crave for the feeling of fangspiercingtheir
flesh.
'But this case in allitsseverity was far worse than anynormalvampire victim
case any one has ever worked on. My friendtoldme that there was
alsosomethingelse done to them, atechniqueofbrainwashingknown only to the most
ancient andknowledgeableof the vampire species.
'They are known simply as the Old ones,vampiresof thepurestblood exceeding even
the most oldest of spirits or beasts inhabiting this world. Theycause whatis
known as STS, or SoulTearingSyndrome. I think he said something about them not
only suckingawaytheir victims blood, butalso theytear away a small tiny portion
of their soul as well in order to take full controlofthem.
'Now, everyone whos anyone knows that soul manipulation in and of itself is
very complicated and verydifficultto manage,provingnearlyimpossibleif
youdon'tknow what the (expletive)you'redoing, pardon mylanguage...
'And these poor things were so messed upIwassurprisedthat they were still aware
of their surroundings enough to plead and beg for 'more, always more.' No doubt
they were seeking out someone to bite them again, since they had teeth wounds
everywhere on theirbodies. Not even their faces, despite being covered in that
garish makeup, were free of the marks.It'slike they were walking cork boards
for crying out loud.
'To top it all off these victims were all humans! Poordefenseless
innocenthumans! Nowthateveryone is certain they have been touched and suckedon
byOld vampires theycan'tgo back to the human world, they would have to go
through rehab and make a new life down here. If they survive the rehab process
of course.It'snot at all pleasant from what I hear. Plus the policewouldhave to
find a way to explain their suddendisappearanceto the human populace, make up
some bull (expletive) story of how theysuddenlyjust disappeared yada yada yada.
Work work work. I do not envy them one bit.
'And sinceIwas in the middle of it allIhad the honor (not really)tofill this
thing out and assist some doctorI don'teven know in surgery prep. (He was
pretty cuteI'llgive him that.)
'Still, back to the topic at hand, this wholethinghas just been... very
unsettling and creepy to witness first hand.Vampirescreep me out, regardless of
age or intent. I mean, having to live off of the very stuffthatflows
throughsomeone'sveins? Kind of unnecessary if you ask me, butI don'twant to
seem likeI'min any way biased against them. GrantedIdo have a few vampire
friends but...they'repeopleI'veknown for ages. Of course around themI dofeel
comfortable.
'But an unknown andnewvampire threat lingering around? And with the possibility
of them being Old ones? Ummm hahaha nope!I'lltake my child snot and cartoon
'get well soon' band aids thank youverymuch! NowI'llhave to take back every
instance thatIsaid working with children was horrid and noisy,becauseto be
frank,I wouldrather have to wait on them instead of soul damaged bloodless
husks.That'stoo much for me. Leavethatto the professionals.
'I think thats everythingIcan remember. Am...am Idone here? CanIgo home now? Ok
goodIneed a good nap, maybe for a year or two. You guys know where to find me.
'(By the way amIgettingpaidfor this?)'
End Audio Playback.
/////////////
It was around two or three in the morning when Koichi found himself once again,
awake. A cold sweat clung to him like a second skin, making him feel sticky and
uncomfortable. His breathing was heavy and his chest hurt. His throat felt
hoarse as though he had been screaming but... beside him Tsuzuku slept as
soundly as ever. So there was no way he was.
Maybe he was just thirsty? It did feel a little bit hot in here despite the
nightmare he just had. But just like any other time he couldn't for the life of
him remember anything. Maybe that was for the best.
With a resigned huff he pushed away their familiar black and grey comforter and
let his feet touch the floor, grateful for a cool carpet underfoot. Shinya's
place really was nice, he was just really nervous about being here.
Something... didn't really feel right. Like there was a sense of foreboding
deep in the pit of his stomach. And whatever it was, he wasn't eager to figure
it out.
Koichi pulled a thin sweater over his mostly unclothed body before going for
the door, careful not to wake his lover.
The hallway was dark, lit dimly only by a red bulb down the hall where Minpha
usually sat by Die. This building was weird at night, what with him having
become accustomed to it being bright and inviting. The TV would be on the news
and he would expect to see all sorts of neat stuff on it.
But now it was quiet... too quiet. It made him uncomfortable but he didn't even
know why. Lights reflecting from the city bounced around on the walls just
barely, enough however so he could see where he was going.
The kitchen lights... They were on? Someone else was up as well, and there was
no one else here besides the owner himself and a guard stationed outside. So
most likely he was in there.
He approached the kitchen slowly and peeked around the corner, seeing someone
sitting at the counter on a barstool in only jeans and an overshirt with no
sleeves, their back facing the door. And there was no mistaking that long
brunette hair so...
"Come on in Koichi-kun," Shinya suddenly chirps softly. "Have a seat."
There was a bright light bulb on in here, making him squint. Another bar stool
was there, so he figured that was the only place.
"Can't sleep?" He asked when he sat down. "Sorry if I'm bothering you."
Shinya laughed and pushed away the papers in front of him, reaching for a cup
of what seemed to be coffee.
"Of course not," came a soft chuckle. "I was just going through some of my
reports. And to answer your question, no I cannot. I've been in here since
everyone went to bed. Working."
"On what?" He asked. "The case with the vampires? And the victims they found
yesterday?"
Shinya nodded, his half smile very so slightly betraying his inner turmoil. He
was very troubled, that much was as plain as day. It seemed like something
about this particular case really hit close to home.
"Oh... and the victims? What of them?"
"Well, according to the employee that happened to be witness, they have
successfully completed surgery and are now recuperating in the hospital's
intensive care unit. The audio file was saved to my and every other boss's
computers. I have yet to meet this person, but I'm sure he's a nice guy."
Yeah he remembered. There was an audio file that Tsuzuku shared with him a few
hours ago and he could only faintly remember some of it. And there were a lot
of passive aggressive comments in there, but he knew that person couldn't be
blamed. After what he heard on it? Just thinking about it made him shudder.
Those poor people... getting used like that. He was so glad that he wasn't a
vampire. Now the idea of them made his skin crawl.
So he was even more certain that he was never gonna let them get close to
Tsuzuku ever.
Koichi sniffled tiredly and looked around, noting the sink, full of unwashed
cups and a few plates. He never knew why, but for some reason he always had to
look at someones kitchen to figure out what type of person they were. It seemed
like Shinya was the type to put off stuff that seemed unimportant until later.
Interesting...
"So... are you planning on meeting this guy? I'm kind of interested in finding
out who he is myself."
The man sighed, sifting thoughtfully through the papers.
"I've thought about it, so maybe. I don't know many of the nurses in the
medical department. Perhaps I will ask to go see him. I'll admit, I too am very
curious."
Koichi nodded and suddenly coughed roughly, remembering his scratchy throat and
why he came in here in the first place.
"Well, I might just go back to bed. I just came in for a glass of water so..."
Awkwardly he ambled out of his seat and stepped to the sink for a cup and some
water.
"All right. Good night Koichi kun," Shinya agreed. "I'll see you in a few hours
to take you to the new condo. You and Tsuzuku deserve it."
Shinya's kindness really knew no end did it. He was so glad to have found a
friend in him, seriously.
Choked up a little bit he set down his cup, not sure how to respond.
"I uh... Yeah. We'll see you later. Night."
He sipped a little more water before slipping out of the kitchen to head back
to the room.
For some reason, he really felt like he wanted to pay Shinya back in some way.
Even if he was denied he felt really determined. Maybe he should ask Tsuzuku to
help.
Thankfully he managed to slip quietly into the room, and didn't wake up his
lover as he laid back down. It took a while, but he finally managed to fall
asleep not much not longer.
There were no more nightmares all throughout the night.
Morning came quicker than he thought. One moment he was snuggling up close to
Tsuzuku. Next he knew he was being pulled up by the arm. Frustrated he growled
and tried not to seem like he was awake. But Tsuzuku wasn't having it.
"Come on love it's time to get up. I know you can hear me."
Koichi sputtered and groaned as he tried to wake up, all sorts of sounds and
tired moans leaving his mouth.
"Ughhh... noooooooo...."
There's a sudden feeling of weightlessness and he feels his head lull to the
side. Was he floating?
"Oh all right, I guess I will carry you. We deserve some more sleep after all
of this. I can't deny my precious his beauty rest can I?"
So Tsuzuku was carrying him. Guess that was why he felt so light. There was a
blanket over him so he was nice and warm.
"S'right," he slurred in a half asleep stupor. "Now... shut up... I'm
sleeping..."
Tsuzuku hugged him closer, pressing his face to his shoulder.
"Oh Koichi... I love you so much. You're so cute."
But he didn't hear him. He was already asleep again, content to be carried to
wherever they were going.
The next time he woke up he was in another bed, softer and more familiar
feeling than the one at Shinya's place. It was dark in here, wherever the heck
here was. There were three plain white walls and the fourth was a wall of thick
barely see through red stained glass. On one of the walls was a bay window
taking up most of the space and letting in a lot of daylight. Koichi stood up
and yawned before going to the window to look out before immediately feeling
his stomach do a flip. He was really high up here with a nice view of the
skyline and the large sun was still pretty low. Must still be morning.
Beside him was a sleek black nightstand with a glass cup full of water. Most
likely it was left there for him by Tsuzuku. He was always so thoughtful. He
downed the water quickly and immediately felt much better. Now to search for
that damn elusive daemon he called his lover.
"Tsuzuku?" He called and went to a big black wooden door located on the wall of
glass. "Where are you?"
Through here was an unexpected sight. It was all one big room as big as a two
story space. Beneath him was a white simple stair case made of thick enforced
glass grafted into the whitened walls all around them. He could easily see the
kitchen and living room from here. Everything was silver and black and super
shiny.
And sitting right in the living room on an all too familiar leather couch was
his lover, looking exhausted as he nodded off. Was he working himself harder
than usual?
"Tsu? Are you okay?" He squeaked over the railing on the stairs, slowly making
his way down. The daemon slowly lifted his head, coming back to reality. His
head turned to the source of the voice and his eyes finally landed on Koichi.
"Oh. I didn't realize you were awake. How are you feeling?"
Koichi reached the bottom of the steps and looked around, still marveling at
the size of this place.
"I'm okay but more important than that. Where are we?"
Tsuzuku rubbed his eyes and stood up to bring Koichi into his arms. Always the
romantic.
"This is the condo of course. Well, Shinya stepped out for a few moments to get
some coffee. He'll be back in a few minutes. Are you up now?"
Koichi nodded, reddening a little. Tsuzuku squeezed him before letting him go.
It was barely morning and he was already blushing.
"Yeah. I'm up now. So... this is the place huh?" He asked as he looked around
once more. "Its very nice. Too nice."
"What do you mean? It's a nice place, what's not to love?"
As enthusiastic as Tsuzuku was to finally be here he couldn't help but think
that maybe they were a little out of their league here. Everything felt so
sterile and it all screamed 'rich person' to him. Too fancy, now he didn't want
to be in debt to anyone. Why was he so excited to be here again?
"How are we going to afford this?" He asked. "Surely there are other places not
as expensive?"
Tsuzuku laughed a little bit and leaned onto the couches arm rest.
"Do not worry. Shinya-san ones this place. He doesn't have to pay anything. As
for us, since I'm like family to him he isn't charging me for anything besides
getting our own food and stuff. So don't worry. The place is ours, at least for
a little while."
Sure he was one to talk, but Koichi still had his own crippling humbleness to
worry about. He was used to being able to pay people back for their kindness.
But now? No way that was gonna happen.
Oh well. If Tsuzuku said it's fine then it must be fine.
"Okay. I'll stop... Worrying so much..." He mumbles and walks around his lover
to sit on their couch. "As long as I have something that's familiar to me here
then I'll be content."
Tsuzuku slid next to him and pressed their hips together before tugging
Koichi's chin over so their eyes met.
"You'll be happy here," he promised with a smile. "We both will. No one will
even get close enough to get us. I'll never ever let that happen. This place
will be our new sanctuary."
Koichi's eyes fluttered as soft lips pressed on his own for a heavenly kiss
that made his stomach flip. No matter how many times Tsuzuku kissed him he
still couldn't help but shiver in anticipation. Now he was more and more
excited for his birthday in a little while. They could do much more than
kissing...
Amazing how a simple kiss could cause his train of thought to derail so
quickly.
He pulls back a little bit to breathe before staring up at his lover, his
breathing erratic.
"Tsuzuku... I..."
Suddenly there's the sound of a door opening nearby and he snaps his mouth
shut. Tsuzuku tsked and looked towards the steel plated front door, now holding
onto Koichi's shoulders.
"I'm back," came a gentle voice. "I've brought a friend with me."
Tsuzuku stood up and tugged Koichi along. Shinya stood in the alcove by the
door, along with someone else he didn't recognize. A man, very tall with jet
black hair and a stern gaze. But there was a slight smirk there as well, making
it seem like he was silently taking in his surroundings. His irises were a pure
white with normal pupils. All in all he seemed normal.
"Shinya-san," Tsuzuku greeted with a smile. "It's been an hour but I'm glad you
made it back. Who's your friend?"
The taller guy looked around himself, taking in the sights. Then out of nowhere
he whistled, impressed.
"Whoa nice place you got here. Are you renting?" He asked with a little laugh.
Shinya smiled and shook his head.
"Sorry but this place has already been taken over. Anyway, Tsuzuku, Koichi. I
want you to meet Ruka. The person from the audio file I showed to you."
Koichi's interest immediately piqued and he stated stared at the man, suddenly
nervous. This person, he was witness to a those horrible things he heard on
that tape. Those humans, covered in bite marks and blood... The very thought
made him nauseous.
"Good mornin'," he says. "I'm Ruka. Nice to meetcha. Shinya-san has already
told me who you guys are. Tsuzuku-San and Koichi-kun. Correct?"
"Yeah. That's us. Nice to meet you too. I'm a daemon," Tsuzuku says and places
his hand on Koichi's shoulder. "Koichi is half human and half Phoenix. He's
also my-"
Ruka cut him off with a wave.
"Yeah he's your boyfriend I know. Shinya told me already."
So he knew about them?? Oh God what else did Shinya tell him...
"Oh. I... I see. Well then um... yeah he is."
Tsuzuku became uncomfortable and avoided eye contact. But Ruka must have
realized that because he rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on I didn't mean anything mean by it," he sighs. "What I mean is... I
have a boyfriend too. His name is Yomi. Ahh my darling Angel. He's a Kitsune.
He used to live in the human world but he came down here around a hundred years
or so ago. I was barely around a hundred and seventy years old at that point.
We met fifty human years ago during a turf war between the Kitsune's and my
people, the Kodama. Now we're inseparable."
Koichi peeked at his eyes, now curious.
"What's a Kitsune?" He asked. Ruka grinned, happy to explain.
"Well, you see little lamb. They are a scared race of fox spirits belonging to
the earth. They symbolize bravery, cunning, and ferocity. Kitsune's are meant
to be seen as a good luck symbol to everyone who lives in this world. Since
they are so pure, as such they are one of the few species of creatures that
cannot be spliced together with human genes. Kitsune's can only be born, not
created. Does that make sense?"
"I... guess so," he admitted. "But why were you having a turf war with them?"
Ruka sighed, not as excited for this question as he was for the other one.
"Well you see, the Kitsune's are almost exactly the same as the Kodama. We're
spirits, we symbolize good luck, et cetera et cetera. So, you can imagine the
hostility between us because of the competition. We both want to be the best at
what we do. I used to hate them until I met my Yomi. Now I love him with all my
heart, and its all thanks to a stupid turf war. Ah sorry, I'm rambling again."
Well he was certainly... interesting. But why did Shinya bring him here?
"So what was the reason for your visit?" Tsuzuku asked as though he knew
exactly what he was thinking. "Are you here to help?"
The Kodama made another disgruntled noise and sat himself carefully onto the
leather couch. He seemed worried about touching it...
"Fricking rich people... um well, boss man here also told me that there was a
psycho demon and a vampire after you. And that they are tied to the vampires
that might be doing this to those humans. I was moved to the surgical ward and
taught how to treat those people correctly.
"So, Shinya decided that it was in your best interests to know someone who
knows how to deal with symptoms of STS. Just in case any of you are bitten and
need to be treated. Humans are weaker than us, so treating someone of magical,
immortal, or spiritual blood is easier than treating someone of mortal blood.
That's where I come in."
Wow this guy sure talks a lot for someone so small. Tsuzuku looked at Shinya to
confirm the story. Once met with a small nod he turned back to the small
creature.
"So... like an on hand nurse?"
"Yeah I guess so," he says. "Just think of me as being at your service when you
need me. I live down the street with Yomi so I'm never too far if you need me.
I am trying to reach doctor status though, which might take me a while. Working
with actual life or death situations is far more appalling than working with
children."
That was probably true. But perhaps it would be good to have him around. They
might never know when there could be a location leak and Ryoga found out where
he was. And he certainly didn't want that.
So with a resigned smile he finally managed to agree.
"Well I don't know any other people who might know how to do that, so welcome
to the team I guess."
Ruka grinned again and his eyes flared a bright silver. He stood up in a flurry
and hurried to the door.
"Yes! You won't be disappointed okay? I have to rush home and tell Yomi the
good news! Thanks again Shinya-san! See you Tsuzuku and Koichi! Call me if you
need anything!"
"Goodbye," Shinya called to him. "We'll call you."
The door fell closed, and it seemed a little less gloomy in here without Ruka.
Then Tsuzuku realized something.
"Wait. How are we supposed to call him if we don't have his number?"
Shinya just chuckled as he went to the kitchen for a cup of tea.
"Do not worry. I have it and I will tell it to you before i leave for the day.
Tomo is at the company waiting for me, so I cannot stay long."
Tsuzuku and Koichi both knew by now that Shinya was good at remembering things,
so no need to worry for now. But still, something was bothering him.
"Tsuzuku?" He asked and sat back on the couch.
"Yes?"
Koichi squirmed and looked around himself, feeling a little anxious.
"Um... it's probably nothing but... Is it just me, or did it seem like he was
really acting weird?"
Tsuzuku frowned.
"What do you mean weird? He seemed normal to me," he says. "Did I miss
something?"
"His body language... He seemed nervous and shifty around us, like he didn't
want to actually be here. You really didn't see it?"
Maybe he was the only one who noticed?
"Hm... I didn't but... I trust your judgement on this. We'll keep an eye on him
just in case there is something off about him. Okay?"
Koichi nodded, relieved that he wasn't being told he was crazy. As long as he
knew that Tsuzuku would believe him, then everything would be okay.
TBC
Chapter End Notes
     *Kitsune - Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as
     possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom.
     According to folklore, all foxes have the ability to shape shift into
     humans. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability
     to trick others-as foxes in folklore often do-other stories portray
     them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
     **Kodama - These spirits are considered to nimbly bustle about
     mountains at will. A kodama's outer appearance is very much like an
     ordinary tree, but if one attempts to cut it down, one would become
     cursed etc., and it is thus considered to have some kind of
     mysterious supernatural power.
     (If I got anything wrong I apologize)
     (Refer to the internet for more info.)
***** Chapter 26 *****
It's been about a week since the first time they met Ruka. They only seen him
once since then. Total coincidence.
Not once did they hear about any thing involving the vampires they were
watching out for being in the area. The whole hiding thing seemed to be
working.
However, they did hear about more victims needing to be rescued. Surprisingly
enough, it was still down here in this world, not in the human world like he
was expecting them to be. But at least they didn't have to go too far.
It was all on purpose it seemed, considering there was a note attached to the
door where they were found. A pair of teenagers were surprisingly the ones to
find them there while skipping school. They were probably so scared that they
would never skip again.
It was in a secluded area in a slightly more upscale part of the city with huge
shiny skyscrapers and modern buildings. There was an alley with backdoors to
what looked like different types of businesses. A staircase leading to an
underground basement was where they were found. The top part was a ten story
apartment building. The location sent shivers up his arms because of the close
proximity of only ten blocks away from Shinya's place.
The fact that it was almost midnight and raining hard wasn't helping.
"What does the note say?" Tsuzuku asked Kyo as he was the one who found it. The
ghoul made a face and pulled it out of his pocket.
"Dunno. Haven't read it yet myself. Hmm let's see here," he says and cleared
his throat to read. "Have fun with our leftovers! They didn't really feel
important enough to keep around, so we decided to let you have them! Good luck
trying to find us. And tell Tsuzuku that we'll be bringing him home soon. We're
very patient. But Big brother is eager to get his hands on him. Love, H."
Everyone looked at him after that, showing either pity or something along the
lines of... despair almost. At least he hoped it was.
But most of all, who the hell was H? A code name perhaps? Maybe. But he didn't
even know any vampires with a name starting with H.
Why was he here again? Oh yeah he wanted to be.
Tsuzuku and some of his team were some of the first ones on the scene almost
immediately, much to Meto's dismay. He insisted that Tsuzuku stay hidden but of
course those words fell onto deaf ears. Might as well forget about it for now
he figured, Tsuzuku was as stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be. That meant
with no one to protect Koichi at home he would have to stay with Shinya.
"We'll dwell on the note later," he says forcefully to quiet down the small
unsure whispering he was hearing behind him. "Right now we have a job to do.
Kaoru, please kick down the door."
With little more than a small grunt the stoic ghoul cracked his knuckles before
delivering a swift kick to the large wooden door, effectively breaking it off
it's hinges.
What they found inside was easily one of the more disgusting and heart
wrenching sights they have ever seen. The sick smell of salt and rust permeated
the air like a thick suffocating blanket. Tsuzuku almost lost the contents of
his stomach the moment he passed the threshold of the building to find out
more.
Bodies littered the floor of the abandoned dirty building, easily around
thirty. All alive but just barely, hanging onto a small thread of life. They
writhed on the cold hard floor while covered in their own blood, in pain and
moaning for help. Some were draped over each other while others were curled up
alone in a corner. They weren't caked in make up like the ones before, instead
they were all just covered in blood all over and their faces were
unrecognizable. Bite marks were everywhere, covering their entirely naked
bodies and doing little to hide multiple bruises and the way their bones jutted
out every which way. A clear sign of severe malnutrition and neglect. There
were also a few dead ones though, unfortunately. For them help came just a
little too late.
"Oh god," he heard one of his team mates mutter under his breath in disgust.
"What on Earth is this?! Were they left here on purpose? Those scum sucking
bastards..!"
Tsuzuku turned up his nose as he side stepped the whimpering creatures, pity
settling heavy in his stomach.
"Yeah. Well we can't just be angry about it," he points out. "We have to get
these people to the hospital. Or else they won't make it. Come on, let's call
an ambulance over here so they can be transported safely. And we'll need to
burn the dead ones so they don't come back turned, so... There is a crematorium
not far from here. I'll let Shinya and Meto know what we found. After we're
done, this place needs to disappear."
His team mates all agreed simultaneously before starting the dirty work. They
piled up the dead bodies on top of each other, of which there were only a few
thankfully. About two or three. The ones still alive were helped up and cleaned
if the blood as best as possible with what little towels they brought along.
Kaoru called the ambulances as ordered, requesting for as many as they could
get. Tsuzuku flips over a body to identify their gender before reaching for his
phone. He called a speed dial number and after the third ring came a lovely
voice, one he was surprised to hear.
"Hello?"
His eyebrows rose in bewilderment.
"Koichi?" He asked. There was a little intake of breath on the other side.
"Tsuzuku? Is that you?"
His tended shoulders relaxed a little at hearing his lovers voice. But why?
Granted he was more than happy to hear it but where was Shinya?
"Babe... what are you doing answering Shinya's phone? Where is he?"
He heard a gentle but exasperated sigh.
"Well hello to you too... Shinya-san went to the hospital to visit one of the
victims of the vampire  incident. I think one of them managed to go through
surgery successfully and is willing to talk."
Did he hurt his feelings? He didn't mean to. Smiling ruefully at himself he
attempted to console the temperamental pinkette.
"I'm sorry love I just... things are a little tense right now. We found the
place we were tipped off about. Its... Well let's just say that tensions are
high."
Koichi hummed in acknowledgment, seemingly over his initial irritation.
"What happened? How many people were there?"
This whole vampire thing was starting to freak him out too, and for good
reason. Attacks on humans were unacceptable to anyone with a decent sense of
morality.
"Around thirty, about five of which were casualties. We're waiting for the
ambulances right now. I'll probably be back later to pick you up."
Koichi chuckled a little bit.
"Don't rush yourself. I'll still be busy a little bit so... Minpha is here
helping me out."
A few days ago they went to the nearby high school to get him a schedule and
were pleasantly surprised to find out he only needed three classes to pass.
Graduation was in early December if he got done in time. Right before his
birthday on the twenty second.
"Right, okay then Koichi. I'll let you go but don't forget to tell Shinya about
this place all right? He'll want to come see it. And tell him we're heading to
the hospital. I love you and I'll be back later."
He heard Koichi giggle at that.
"Okay I will. I love you too. Don't rush yourself like I said. Bye Tsuzuku."
"See you honey."
He hangs up and feels the small smile on his face widen a little. Talking with
his lover always made his soul feel at ease.
Minutes later he could hear the sound of a few ambulances outside and went out
to greet them. There were ten in total, with enough room for more than enough
people to ride in them. Then there was one black vehicle for transporting the
dead. Nasty business sure, but someone had to do it.
Tsuzuku oversaw that everything according to plan, and that no one else died.
Once the ambulances were loaded up he and Kaoru got into his own car to follow
the ambulances to the hospital. Kyo rode in one of the ambulances to make sure
the nurses did their jobs right.
The ride was silent and tense. Kaoru wasnt much of a talker when his smaller
counterpart wasn't around. Tsuzuku wasn't sure what it felt like to have a
partner attached to his hip everywhere he went. Koichi didn't count because he
was his own independent person now and didn't need his hand to be held.
Kaoru was probably uncomfortable, but the silence was insufferable.
"So uh... I guess this means the vampires were are looking for are um... back
in the city..."
His friend stares at him from the corner of his eye, a small grunt leaving his
throat. That made him feel even more uncomfortable.
"I guess so," he responded. "Thought that was kinda obvious."
Nervously he coughed, his grip on the steering wheel starting to feel a bit
sweaty.
"Yeah probably... um..."
Suddenly he's surprised when Kaoru turned his head away before speaking to him.
"You know you don't have to force a conversation with me," he says. "I'm
content with a silent ride but if the silence really is too much for you then
turn on the radio or something."
Right. Why didn't he think of that? He never listened to the radio much, only
when he went on long drives. But he did like music enough to appreciate it.
"Maybe you're right. Sorry I'm just not used to this sort of quiet. I'll turn
it on quietly."
Tsuzuku switched on the radio and was met with the sound of the comforting
sound of rock music. This would do for now, as long as it wasn't idol pop or
something. Kaoru went back to being his silent moody self. Tsuzuku sighed under
his breath, feeling his good mood slowly fizzle out.
Now he wasn't sure if he could keep his promise of not rushing himself. At this
rate he couldn't be more eager to go home and cuddle up with Koichi in their
soft warm bed...
Now that he thought about it, it has been a while since they did anything fun
together. By fun he meant.... well that thing they did before. Maybe taking
baby steps in this relationship was what they needed here. There really was no
need to hurry. Even if it was killing him that they couldn't do much beyond
kissing and a bit of messing around, he knew that waiting and being prepared
was a good thing. And also he didn't want to feel like a creep.
But maybe Koichi was just as frustrated as he was. He seemed disappointed that
they didn't go very far last time, even going as far as to pout whenever he got
the right chance to do so. But it wasn't like he was being this way to
intentionally torture him, he just wanted to wait for the perfect time. He knew
they both wanted something different to finally happen, something exciting.
Maybe later he should ask Die for some sort of way to spice up their life
without actually going as far as the actual sex. Just something that would make
him feel less frustrated and more excited for what was to come.
He even had it all planned out. On Koichi's birthday he would go all out for
him. They were gonna spend all day together, maybe go see a movie and have a
nice dinner somewhere in the city. Koichi loved the ferris wheel in the Ruby
district, so that felt like the perfect place to set the right mood. Then when
they got home he would initiate his plan into motion and they would finally go
all the way. It sounded perfect in his head so far, he just hoped that his
klutzy self wouldn't mess it up.
Without realizing he managed to spend most of the ride enveloped in his own
thoughts and now they were nearing the hospital. It was then that his cell
phone rang.
Quickly he turned down the radio and answers without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Tsuzuku. It's me."
"Oh. Shinya-san. What is it?"
"Koichi-kun has told me what you found at the location given to us. You're on
the way to the hospital now, correct?"
"Yeah. We're right behind the ambulances now. The blazer with the dead bodies
are heading straight to the crematorium."
Shinya's breath hitched and Tsuzuku could tell that the news of there being
dead people wasn't what he wanted to hear.
"...I see. I'll be here whenever you get here. There's an unknown group here as
well saying they want to talk to us. Maybe they want to help, I don't know yet.
Just be cautious when you get here. But I'll need yours and Meto's help with
this."
Tsuzuku gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling even more tense. Who was
this group? What do they want? He just had to get there and find out.
"I understand. I'll call Meto and tell him we need his help. We'll be there
shortly, we're about three blocks away."
"Good. Most likely he'll bring along Koichi, so be careful with what you say
around him. If he asks, be truthful, but don't scare him with all the gory
details."
That's right... Koichi would have to come along because then there would be no
one to look after him. Die would most likely be there too.
"Okay I will. See you in a bit Shinya-san."
"I'll be here in the lobby. Goodbye."
The line clicked and was replaced by a low steady dial tone. Tsuzuku frowned
and put his phone on vibrate before dialing Meto's number. Now he was even more
certain that something was going to happen soon, he could feel it in his gut.
"Shinya-san?" Kaoru asked. Tsuzuku nodded. "What does he want?"
By now, Tsuzuku could see the very top of the hospital from here. The
ambulances kept their sirens going so they could arrive quicker probably.
"He said that he would be at the hospital by the time we get there. And...
There's a group of people there looking for me. He's not sure who they are, but
they don't seem hostile."
The ghoul hummed in thought before turning away again, staring at the streaks
of water down the window.
Tsuzuku's phone trilled twice before the answer came.
"What is it Tsuzuku?" Came an irritated answer. "Have you anything new to
report?"
Meto sounded tired, what was he doing?
"Yes. That tip we received about the victims turned out to be true. We're doing
by them to the hospital now. But I just wanna tell you you should probably get
ready and come down. There's a group of people there looking for me and Shinya
wants you to bring Koichi as well."
There was a few seconds of silence before he heard a but if shuffling in the
background.
"Okay. We'll get ready and come by. Did he say who they were?"
"No," he admitted. "But he has reason to believe that they're important."
"All right. Give us a few minutes, Mia is here and they were in the middle of a
horror movie."
He almost forgot about that guy even being there, he was just so stressed it
from all that was going on.
"See you later then. Bring Mia too."
"Bye."
He hung up and puts it in his pocket, feeling a chill on his arms. Now he could
see the turn off to the hospital. The ambulances turned their signals on and
one by one pulled into the emergency lane.
"You're heading to the entrance?" Kaoru asks. "Then I'll head to the emergency
room from there."
"Okay."
Tsuzuku pulled into the main lane heading to the main entrance and parked
towards the front of the building. From here they both got out to go to the
door.
"Good luck. You probably don't need it though," the ghoul says lowly before
heading off towards the emergency.
"Uhh.... thanks? I guess?"
Why was he always so creepy? Honestly. Well that's Kaoru as he always was.
Oh well that wasn't important right now. There was something he had to do after
all.
He jogged the little ways up to the door and entered the lobby, surprisingly
devoid of people. He saw Shinya right away,  standing near the elevators with
three people he never saw before. A tall brunette headed man in a suit, a full
blooded shifter from what he could smell. Feline specifically, just like Die
was. And of course incredibly beautiful.
Beside him were the other two, a couple from what it seemed. The woman was
small and had pure white hair with white eyes. The man had short black hair and
all black eyes.
Both were half human half leviathan. There were a lot of those things around it
seemed.
Shinya caught sight of him and waved him over. He listened and invited himself
into their little circle.
"I'm glad to see you here safely," Shinya says. "I hope the mission went okay?"
Tsuzuku shrugged.
"Thirty people, five casualties. That's as okay as it gets I suppose. So who
are you guys?"
The brunette man smiled at him, pulling out a piece of paper.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Tsuzuku-san," he said with a wide smile. "My name
is Sakito, I am from the city about a hundred miles from here, under the Virtue
known as Love, or Jyou. I work as a private investigator and with missing
persons. I understand that you are the guardian of a young boy known as
Koichi?"
Koichi? What did he want with him? Immediately he grew defensive.
"Yes... What about him?" He asked with narrowed eyes. "You're not here to take
him away from me are you?"
Sakito shook bis head with a smile.
"No no, do not worry I'll do no such thing. We just want to talk."
Tsuzuku almost sighed in relief until the man with black hair spoke, his face
set in a stern expression.
"Don't be so sure of that, Sakito-san. We're here to take him home with us."
Wait what? Who the heck are these people?
The woman nodded, her face worried and hopeful. Tsuzuku sneered at them, now as
defensive as ever.
"Who do you people think you are? I am his guardian here, so how dare you think
you can come here and try to take him away from me? He won't go. Anywhere."
The couple in return became just as defensive. The man stepped up to Tsuzuku,
his face rough with age and angry.
"No, how dare you, daemon. The boy will come with us, whether you like it or
not."
"That isn't for you to decide," Shinya suddenly said. "Had I known this was
what you came here for I would have explained it all fully before he even got
here. Koichi is legally under Tsuzuku's guardianship, given to him after his
death. His aunt and uncle had relinquished that right from the moment his soul
crossed into this dimension. The first agent to claim this right was Tsuzuku,
so therefore you cannot take him until the proper paperwork is filled and the
proper procedures have been taken or he decides willingly to go with you. Both
of which could take up to six months I might add. Plus, the boy will be
eighteen in less than a month, so it would be pointless to do any of it."
The man grew even more angry. The woman however became sad and tears were
making their way down her face.
"How dare all of you?! We came here hoping you could help us and here we are,
once again being denied our rights to have our son back!"
....oh. Oh dear. This was what they were here for? It suddenly made so much
sense to him at that point. These people.... were Koichi's parents. They came
all the way here to find him and now...
Tsuzuku felt a huge weight settling in his stomach, making him feel nauseous.
What if... What if Koichi wanted to leave? What then? He had to tell them... He
was not just Koichi's guardian, but his lover as well.
"I... You're his parents... I didn't know. But... There's something important I
have to say."
"And what is it this time?" The man asked, exasperated. Tsuzuku sucked in a
breath.
"Koichi he... he's not just under my guardianship... he's... well its like
this... We're... We're in love. Koichi and I are lovers."
He clenched his eyes shut, preparing for the worst. Yelling, insults, anything.
But he was met with silence. What was going on? He opened his eyes again and
saw them both standing there, eyes wide with shock. The woman was crying, this
time with a small smile.
"Koichi..?"
Tsuzuku's eyes widen and he turned violently around, making direct contact with
soft hazel and orange eyes. The soft pink hair and gentle face gave away all
the emotions he was feeling. He was here. And he heard everything.
"Koichi, I..."
He couldn't find the words to say anything. Instead he reached out for his
lover, feeling soft fingers in his own. He would support him, no matter what he
did.
Koichi smiled at him and walked to his side, facing the couple before him with
teary eyes.
"Mom? Dad? Is it really you? It's me, your son."
TBC
***** Chapter 27 *****
My parents... What are they doing here? I thought they went to heaven? What did
they do..?
Tsuzuku gripped onto my hand, murdering soft words to encourage me in my ear.
"It's okay. Go ahead."
He lets go of my hand and I feel scared without it. But he's right. It's been
thirteen years since I seen my parents, I can't back out now.
"Mom... dad... it's really you guys? I'm not dreaming?"
My dad... He looks so different. His hair was grey when I last saw, now its all
black. And my mom, her hair was white! What the heck!
"It's us darling," she spoke in a sweet voice to me. "Please... come closer.
Let me look at you."
She held out a hand to me like what Tsuzuku did, and I feel my heart hammering
in my chest. Tentatively I took it, letting her tug me close to her. Right away
her arms are around me and I can feel warm tears falling down my cheeks. She
was really here... I'm not having a nightmare.
"Mom... How did you get here..? I thought you... You were in heaven this whole
time... But you guys were here the whole time!"
Why am I getting so upset over this? They were with me now, I should be happy.
Maybe it was because they did something wrong in order to get here in the first
place?
She patted my hair, something she usually would do when I cried as a kid.
Feeling it again made me experience so many emotions at once. Sadness,
happiness, desperation. Feelings I couldn't understand when I was younger. Now
that I know what they are, it makes everything seem like it makes a lot more
sense.
"I know I know," she cooed in my ear. "I don't know how to explain this to you
without making you upset though... If only there were a better way to explain."
"Explain what?" I whined. "What aren't you telling me? Did you do something
wrong..?"
I cried into her shoulder, desperate to feel the happiness I was expecting to
feel. Now I was just feeling bad. What if they hurt someone? Are they being
punished?
"No of course not," dad suddenly says with a gentle tone. "Look can we.... Go
somewhere to talk? Here is not the best place..."
I looked up and saw how hard my mom was crying as well, but dad wasn't. He
never cried around me for some reason. Sniffling I turned my head, feeling my
heart do a flip when I saw Tsuzuku standing there next to us, a strangely
melancholic look on his face. Why was he looking at me like that? 
"I have a place," Shinya says and turns away from the elevators. "Tsuzuku, do
you think it wise to regroup back at the company building? They are staying
with me for a while, so best to take them there early."
Tsuzuku looked away from me and I felt another pang. 
"I guess so. Who will ride with me then?"
My answer was immediate and I pulled back from my mom, surprising her. 
"Me. I want to ride with-"
"No. Absolutely not," my dad suddenly said, making me feel frustrated. "You
will ride with your mother and I, and we're going with Shinya-san."
I sighed, staring at the floor. Tsuzuku tsked and crossed his arms. If there
was one solid thing I remembered about them it was my dad's stubborn and over
protective streak.
"And why can't he? He's under no obligation to listen to you at all. He can
make his own decisions."
He was always standing up for me like this... What have I done to deserve this
man?
"You claimed to be his lover," dad said with an air of disapproval. "You are
aware that he is only seventeen right? How do we know you aren't claiming to be
in love with him just to take advantage of him later on? I don't trust you, and
I don't approve of this relationship."
Once again I sigh, this time loudly to catch his attention. 
"Dear please," mom said and wiped her eyes. "This is no time for arguing. If...
If Koichi wants to go with him, then we should respect that. After all, we
really have no authority over this anyway. Let him decide."
Dad puffed up at first, but let out a resigned grumble and crossed his arms. 
"Fine then. Who do you want to ride with then? Come on tell us."
I bite my lip and look between them, feeling torn. On one hand, I wanted to go
with Tsuzuku. I needed him, I need his warmth beside me, supporting me. I need
to know that I have someone beside me who I could trust. Lovers were supposed
to do that, right?
On the other, I wanted to go with my parents. It has been thirteen years since
I saw them, I don't know a thing about them. There were so many questions I
needed answers to, and they had them. 
At first, I was starting to lean more towards going with Tsuzuku first. But
then again, who said I had to ride with one or the other? 
"What if," I started and reached for Tsuzuku. "We all ride together? All of us,
I don't want to go with one or the other. And I am sure Shinya-san doesn't want
to be bothered by our problems. Right?"
I looked hopefully between them, at Tsuzuku, mom and then to dad. Tsuzuku
smiled at me and reached for me, presumably to pet my hair. But dad cleared his
throat and made him freeze in his place. 
"It wouldn't bother me," Shinya says. "But you're right, you have things that
need to be talked about amongst yourselves, make up for all the years you have
spent apart. Even Tsuzuku needs to be involved now that he is a part of your
lives, so go ahead and go with him. I'll leave after everything here has been
settled."
"Shinya-san..." I smiled at him and went for a hug, one he gladly gave to me.
"Thanks, for everything you have done for me so far. It means so much to me, it
really does."
He laughs softly and pulled back to place his hands on my shoulders, his famous
smile making me feel much better. 
"It's nothing really, I do this because I care. Now, go on then. I won't keep
you."
I nodded, happy to hear his approval before reaching for Tsuzuku first and
grabbing his hand. My dad could make disapproving looks at him all he wants, It
doesn't matter to me. He may be back again, but I can handle myself now. 
"Come come, we cant be late," I chirped as I tugged Tsuzuku along outside. "I
have so many things I want to talk to you about, both good and bad. And I call
shotgun!"
It was already getting cold outside the hospital, so I stepped closer to
Tsuzuku to get myself warmed up. It was the little things in life. We headed
straight to his car that was parked nearby. i still can't get over how pretty
it is. 
"You handled that so well," I hear him murmur to me with a smirk. "I thought
for sure that I would have to step in at some point."
I laughed and snuggled up to his side, reveling in his body heat. Now that my
fever was gone I didn't feel as hot as I did before. Pity, that.
"Please, hun. I can handle anything now, some silly emotions aren't gonna trip
me up."
"So mature, I almost feel jealous..."
"Yeah you better be."
Behind me I could hear my mom giggle a little bit and the sound made a small
fluttery feeling appear my chest. I would hear it when I went to bed at night,
a sound that soothed and comforted me. It was nice to hear it again after all
this time. And then there was my dad, making a coughing noise to get me to let
go of Tsuzuku's hand. I ignored him as per usual. 
Then I heard him whisper to my mom, low and annoyed. 
"Do they have to be so close like that in front of us? Can't they show more
decency?"
My mom just slapped at his arm, not amused. 
"Oh come on," she retorted. "Look at how happy he is! Are you gonna deny what
you're seeing in front of your very eyes? Stop grumbling like a child."
Despite that he kept grumbling but didn't say much else til we reached where he
was parked. At that point I heard him make a choking noise. I turned around and
found him staring at the car with hearts in his eyes. I take it he liked
cars...
"Eh..? Eh?? That... This is your car..?" He asked in disbelief. Tsuzuku nodded
and fished out the keys and unlocked it with a beep, shrugging. 
"Um Yes? Was you expecting anything less of me?" he said, almost smugly. "Or
were you expecting me to have gotten here in the thing next to me? I feel like
I should be offended here."
That's true. Next to us was a beat up pinto that looked very ancient. The green
paint was worn and chipping to expose the metal body underneath where rust
began to eat away at it. The fender was missing and one headlight was broken. A
real mess, I feel sorry for who ever has to drive it honestly. 
My dad whistled and ran his fingers over the sleek black paint, almost foaming
at the mouth. 
"How did you afford such a thing? These models are beyond what a normal person
could afford..!" He mumbled and grasped the handle gently. "I am almost afraid
to touch it."
I rolled my eyes and sat in front after Tsuzuku opens the door for me, I thank
him and close it myself. 
"Well sir, with all due respect I am not normal," Tsuzuku says with a smile.
"Now, are we gonna stand around all night or can we go?"
"Yes, as soon as my husband stops ogling this car like a little kid. Come on
dear, you can ask him all about it when we're riding in it."
My mom was always the one in charge, even when my dad tried to make it seem
like he was. It was kind of funny actually. I looked back as my dad got in and
slid onto the seat, feeling the soft tan leather under his fingertips. He
swallowed hard and tried to keep his breathing under control. 
"Oh my... Is this... Is this real leather..? Oh lord oh my goodness..."
"Dad... Do you need to take a break?" I asked and put on my seat belt. "Cause
if you want to ride with Shinya-san you can."
"No, he'll be fine," mom says with a nervous smile. "Right? You'll be fine
right honey? Now put on your seatbelt so we can leave."
Tsuzuku started up the car, and I swear my dad almost had a heart attack at the
noise it made. Meh, he''ll be okay. 
"So, um, Tsuzuku was it..?" he asked softly, still shaking as he put on his
seat belt. "What exactly do you do?"
Tsuzuku started to pull out and I stared ahead, curious as to how he would
answer that question. It was different every time I heard it. 
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain," he admitted. "I work for Shinya."
Is that all he had to say?
"Ohhh that makes sense," my mom says. "We had mentors at one point, but it's
been years now."
Dad gruffly agreed with a small huff, and I could tell he was remembering
something unpleasant.
"Yes, I can still remember him clear as day and how he made moves on my wife."
Mom laughed and I looked over to see Tsuzuku with a small smile on his face. At
least things were not tense as before.
"So," my mom started and I can hear an eagerness in her voice. "How did you two
meet? Like, under what circumstances?"
I guess it has been long enough of a time to tell them. it doesn't bother me
that much anymore. Still, he looked at me for approval and I nodded, grasping
his arm. 
"It's okay. You can tell them, I'm okay with it," I say. "They need to know."
He nodded slowly and takes a breath. "Well, you see, I met him almost four
weeks ago now, in Tokyo. It was after... Well, after he died."
Both of my parents went silent, and I could tell that we were venturing into
dangerous territory here. It was best to tell them the truth. 
"How did you..?" My dad started but was afraid to ask the question. 
"How did I die? Well, it went like this, and I don't want you to get mad at me
okay mom? I actually... killed myself. If you must know." 
A moment of silence, and I can hear my mom sucking in soft breaths to attempt
to stop crying again. 
"Koichi... Why did you... How could you do such a horrible thing to yourself?
What have you done to deserve such a thing?"
"Koichi-" Tsuzuku began but I cut him off, staring out ahead of us as the rain
once more started to pelt the glass. 
"No, they have to know. Look mom, dad. I won't sugar coat anything for you to
make it hurt less. I killed myself because of who I was. I didn't like who I
became, who the world made me turn out to be. As I got older I knew I liked
guys, but my friends found out and they all left me behind. You guys were gone,
aunty and uncle didn't care about me. No one did. And the one person I did care
for treated me like the lowest piece of garbage to ever walk the planet. I
loved him, and I killed myself for him.
"But you know what? After all of that, after I went crazy and haunted the
school for three days Tsuzuku found me and stopped me from killing him in my
rage. He found me and took me under his wing, cared for me, and made me feel
important for the first time in my whole life since you guys were killed. Now,
I am happier than I ever was when I was alive. I have a home, and someone to
call on when I am sick or lonely, someone to love and to love me back. That
someone is Tsuzuku, and I am not sorry, but I will never ever give him up.
Ever. Say what you will, but I love him and he loves me back."
Wow that really felt good to get off of my chest...
"Koi-chan..." 
My mom's voice was low and full of emotion, and I felt a lump in my throat. Dad
sighed heavily in response before muttering just loud enough for us to hear
him. 
"Hmph. I guess you really are grown up now," he said. "A far cry from the
trembling little boy we left behind so many years ago. And just as stubborn as
ever, but I guess you got that from me didn't you?" 
I laughed a little, and reach over to grab Tsuzuku's hand in mine and give it a
squeeze, feeling my heart flutter when he smirked just the tiniest bit. Every
time he does that I swear a tiny part of me dies and goes to heaven.
"Yeah maybe so," I agreed. "But that's what makes me who I am now."
My mom giggles again. I am glad she got over my death so quickly. I don't like
it when people dwell on that. 
"So, what of that boy who made you... Um, you know."
Tsuzuku decided to speak for me at this point. 
"Funny story actually... As it turns out there was a second person involved,
another boy. He hated the idea of two guys being together, so when he found out
that Koichi liked his friend he immediately turned the whole school against
him. The boy that Koichi liked before actually is like Koichi as well, and was
in love with him as well. The other boy didn't know, and made him be mean to
Koichi to make him kill himself. 
"That boy is now missing somewhere in the human world, and the other boy that
liked Koichi is here. He died after a gunman got into his school and killed him
along with nine other students." 
"Yeah, now I guess we're sort of friends," I say after he is done. "He comes
over to play video games sometimes. Weird how things turn out, but it was all
worked out in the end."
It also felt good to know that Mia was my friend now. After I got over him it
was a relief to know that I wasn't hated by him. He still likes me though, so I
am still working on that.
"And the other boy? Is he still loose?"
"No," Tsuzuku says and grits his teeth. "We know who has him, but it's another
long story. One that I don't want to talk about now."
Uh oh, another sore subject. Maybe it was time to change it. I quickly do that,
laughing nervously. 
"Ahaha, so! Mom, dad, how did you guys get here and not Heaven?" I asked
quietly, hoping for an honest answer. Thankfully my mom was quick to answer.
"Oh that, well you see, we crashed during a horrible rain storm. As it turned
out, we were hit head on by an eighteen wheeler. The driver was drunk, so
therefore it counted as murder. And as we all know, dying like that rips the
soul from the body, and takes away any and all chances of going to heaven. So,
we were found by our mentors and brought here. Somehow you managed to survive,
and you were only five."
"You were passed on to your aunt and uncle as a hope that they would take care
of you," my dad continues for her. "But I guess that didn't do any good those
heartless demons... Anyways, here we are. We've been living in the nearby city
for the last thirteen years but we didn't know what was going on with you at
all."
"We knew that was a good thing," mom kept going. "It was good because it meant
you were still alive somewhere, alive and healthy. But then, a week and a half
ago we heard of a new phoenix type being created in this area. And phoenixes
are rare, so it was exciting news. So we hired Sakito-san to track you down and
he did. Now here we are together again."
I see... So they've been here this whole time? The faction Tsuzuku was in
stated that agents in their own factions were not supposed to work on cases or
in areas that didn't directly involve their own. So there was no way either
Tsuzuku, Meto, or even Shinya could have known where they were. But I guess I
shouldn't be too surprised. 
"Well, we're here," Tsuzuku announced, stopping the cars engine. When did we
pull into the parking lot? Maybe we just got so engrossed in talking that I
didn't notice. 
"Great, I need to stretch out my legs again," I say and take off my seatbelt.
"All my stuff better be where I left it or I swear to God..." 
Tsuzuku laughed and got out first, coming to my side to open my door for me. He
was showing off so bad to my parents wasn't he? Once again I roll my eyes but
graciously accept his hand to help me out of the car. Behind me I thought I
could hear my mom squeal softly. 
My parents got out as well, and after my dad ogled the car one more time we
headed for the main entrance to the building.
"Is Mia still here?" Tsuzuku asked once he took my hand again. I shrug and curl
our fingers together. 
"He was when I left. Minpha was in charge because Die had to go off and do
something else.But as far as I know, he's here."
"Mia?" My mom asked. "Who is he?"
I figured she was gonna ask that. 
"Remember that boy I told you about? My enemy turned friend?" She nodded.
"That's him, we were hanging out before I was told to go to the hospital."
She made an 'ohh' noise before settling into a nice pace next to my dad behind
us. It felt so surreal to have them behind us, and it made me nervous. I hope
they don't think that I am gonna break up with Tsuzuku or else I'll be so
angry. 
As if he were reading my thoughts Tsuzuku's hold on my hand grows a tad tighter
and when I look up at him he's staring straight at me. His eyes are locked onto
mine and I feel a bit calmer. 
"Relax," he tells me as we walk in the front door. "It'll be fine."
Well, for his and my sake, it better be. 
"Hey," my dad suddenly says loudly. "Tone down the PDA would you?"
"Honey!" My mom scolded and for the hundredth time tonight my eyes roll so far
back I swear I can see the back of my skull for a second. But I smiled anyways,
keeping a tight hold on my lover's hand. I really did miss having them around
me. Even if they did make me wanna scream.
Parents.
TBC
***** Chapter 28 *****
Chapter Notes
     NSFW, non-con, elements of rape, bad and vulgar words and some blood
     play
     READER DISCRETION ADVISED
It's dark, cold, and wet. The smell of water mixed with mildew and rust is
enough to make one almost want to vomit.
An underground cavern hidden deep within the Earth echoes with faint activity
with only the slightest bit of light. There is a metal door leading down into
it's deep twisting insides, down a long hallway lit only by the smallest
candles possible. It's lined with countless cells, the bars rusted but
resolute. Another door at the very end, also of bars but seeming to be very
recent due to the lack of rust. It's locked by a large unassuming padlock, it's
keys nowhere in sight.
"You've heard abouts it right?" 
A hissing voice as cold as death whispered roughly through this set of cold
steel bars set into the damp stone wall. Moisture drips from above ground,
creating wet trails and the sound of dripping every three seconds. A pair of
hands grips the bars, white like the palest moon light and smooth as marble,
and just as cold. Fingers curled around them tighter, long nails black and
sharp like daggers.
Eyes as red as blood peer through the objecting obstacles, gleaming with
malicious delight as they glare upon a writhing, weak, and unconscious body
inside the cell. With little more than a cold dirty mattress to lay on, the
body writhes in pain and shivers with the chill. Dressed in little more than an
old pair of jeans, ripped and dirty, it was no wonder really. Skin, once pink
and warm with life, now was bruised and pale, cold like death. 
"Yes," another voice agrees with a snicker. "They are looking for hims, their
search knows no limits."
A second pair of hands, similar, joins the first.
"Indeeds, but luckily for us theys cannot reach this place," the first says.
"We keeps him safe, because master says we musts. This place, and our pets,
must always be protecteds."
Another snicker, amusement lining his next words. 
"Yes, or we mights go hungrys. Master leaves it up to us to keeps us from going
hungrys. And we do our jobs so well."
Both voices erupt in a cacophony of giggling, rife with insanity. The body in
the cell whimpers once again, but falls silent. They only stop once they hear a
loud banging of a metal door at the other end of the hallway. Fear grips the
pair as they hurry away from the cell to greet the newcomers into their cavern,
skittering like rats as black cloaks rife with holes and tears trailed behind
them like shadows. 
"You're returned," they both cooed in a twisted echo of one another. Another
pair of people walk through the hallway, both as different as night and day.
One, blonde and tall. The other, black haired and slightly smaller. The blonde
one looks upon the pair of twin monstrosities in front of him and makes a
leering grin to flash sharp pointed teeth.
"Have you misbehaved at all?" he asked with a sharp look at both of them. They
squeaked, bowing low in compliance to the terrifying man. 
"N-no," the first one says. "We watched over hims as we's have been told..!"
"We did nothings wrong," the second says. "We only observed and kept him
company. We did not lay a fingers on him we swears!"
Satisfied, the blonde one dismisses them with a hissing bark.
"Begone then! Go be pests somewhere else and behave, then you might just be
lucky enough to get some leftovers."
The twin pair both bow repeatedly, their pale faces twisting into happiness and
eagerness.
"Yes, we leaves right away! Thanks you master, thanks you!"
They scurry away, leaving the mismatched pair alone. The second man, the
smaller one, looks at his blonde companion with dead grey eyes that once were
bright and vibrant yellow. A cold shell of a former demon. But that was okay,
his new ones would replace the old ones soon enough, or so Layha told him. As
for what color they would be, he wasn't sure. His new sharp teeth tingled with
hunger.
"Is this the place?" he asks. His companion nodded as they walked along to the
end cell. 
"Indeed it is my precious," he purrs. "He has been expertly hidden in here this
whole time and now you finally get to meet him!"
The newborn blindly follows along until they reach the cell, where the vampire
reached into his leather jacket and pulls out a rustic metal ring with multiple
keys on it, both of ancient and brand new condition. He picks out the newest
one, a simple padlock key, and undoes the metal padlock on the cell door.
"So the whole thing about him running away wasn't true?" he asked, to which the
vampire shakes his head. They go inside and the blonde one puts his keys back
in his pocket. He grins as they look down at the body, seeing one of a boy with
shaggy black hair. The boy's face is beautiful, tragically so. His cheeks are
sunken in and scars of all sorts peppered his once smooth skin.
"No, but no one else besides us has to know that. He is our little secret
okay?" he chirped and stared at his fledgling with adoration. "Now, help me get
him to the preparation room so he can get cleaned up. It's time that we finally
broke him in for use. He'll be enough to sustain us for a small while,
especially you now that you and I can share him."
Confused but not one to argue he helped his vampire companion by hoisting the
boy's body up into his arms by himself so they could take him away. The new
strength he had really came in handy.
"Does He know about this place?"
"Of course he does, I would not keep this place a secret from Him. Now what do
you say?"
"Okay. But can I go first? I'm hungry."
The vampire laughs softly as they exit the cell and make for another part of
the cavern. 
"But of course," he says and comes up behind his fledgling to caress the boy's
face. "I can't deny my new love his first tribute meal. We will break him in,
then you may take whatever it can to satisfy your hunger. Then it will be my
turn. Sound okay?" 
Belly aching with pangs of starvation, Ryoga nodded. He hadn't eaten yet since
he was born this morning, so he was starving. To think just last night he was
still one of those creatures he now detested, those pitiful demons in his home
world. How could he have been anything else than what he was now? A vampire,
one of pure blood like his companion. Or, should he say lover now. 
Damn that daemon, damn him to hell. He could die a million deaths for all he
cared, all he wanted now was his lover, his beautiful Layha. Just thinking
about that man made his blood boil in anger. 
And even besides that, it took all of his strength not to just bite into this
boy here and now. The smell of human blood made his mouth water, his teeth
itching and eager to pierce through soft warm flesh to feel warm liquid
quenching the burning fire in his throat. But for Layha's sake, he abstained.
"Come, this way now." 
They reached the metal door again and went through it, coming into another set
of hallways, around five, branching off in different directions. They took the
first one closest to the door and went through a dimly lit hall, this one
slightly smaller than the one they came from. There were three doors in here,
two on each side and one on the end. They went straight to the end door and
kicked it open, startling a small group of around five timid female vampires.
Each one squeaked in fright as Layha approached and they bowed repeatedly. 
A bathroom, surprisingly well furnished with a tub and shower head, along with
multiple types of soaps and smell good stuff. The walls were even tiled..!
"Welcome back Layha-sama!" they chorused. Layha turned up his nose. 
"Get this boy cleaned up," he orders and has them take the boy from Ryoga.
"Prepare him, get him ready to be used for the next few hours. We're breaking
him in today so be gentle. Use the immortality spellI taught youso he doesn't
die."
The females all squealed in delight and pet at the boy, touching his hair and
face and commenting on his smell.
"Of course," one of them says and bows to him again. "We'll be very careful
with him!"
Layha crossed his arms as he addressed her, contempt dripping in each word. 
"Bring him to my chambers once you are done," he says and starts to leave. "And
for all your sake's, don't even think about taking one single bite of him."
He and Ryoga left with a slam of the door, not giving them time to answer. Once
in the cavern, he quietly slips an arm around Ryoga's waist, feeling frisky all
over again. 
"Come on love," he crooned into his lover's ear. "We best get into the mood if
we want to make your first feeding successful and enjoyable."
Ryoga could feel heat rising in his body as Layha used the Voice on him, the
one that always got him excited no matter what. In response he let his hand
slip low to grasp at a curvy waist, running his fingers along the planes of
skin through a pair of skinny black pants. His lover let out a pleased purr in
response, leaning up to playfully nip at his lover's throat. 
"I can't wait to see what you look like when you feed," he groaned as they
approached one of the doors in the same hallway. "You'll look so perfect and
sexy covered in blood... Just the thought of it makes me so fucking hot and
turned on."
Ryoga sucked in sharply, feeling aroused even though they only had sex not even
two few hours ago. Still, being as eager as he was, he was more than welcoming
of the thought. 
Not saying anything, he lets his lover push him into the room that served as he
and Layha's temporary bedroom in this sprawling labyrinth of corridors. Their
feet was met with carpet and they were barefooted in seconds. As soon as the
door even closed Layha's clothes were mostly off his body by now, dropping to
the floor in record time. His moans are soft and demanding as he is pushed back
onto the large illustrious bed and is straddled rather forcefully by Ryoga. The
very dominance his lover exuded at times like this made the very core of his
body ache with desire. Layha's naked body feels hot now that they were both
around the same temperature, and he can't help but to run his fingers all over
those soft hips, his flat belly and curved spine. 
"Mm, Ryoga," Layha moaned and wrapped his legs around Ryoga. "Baby... Please,
touch me. Set me on fire, make me scream and beg. Make me yours, make me 
submit ."
Well since he asked so nicely...
With a lustful groan Ryoga pulled him in for a rough kiss, using his tongue to
invade and probe a willing mouth and elicit soft whines. Teeth click and nibble
and he takes care not to break skin. But it's still enough to send his lover
into a frenzy. He can already feel Layha's hard erection pressing into his
stomach through his thin shirt, making him sticky. 
"Do you want me?" he asks and reached down to grab his hard length in his hand,
starting to slowly pull and tug. "What do you want me to do to you?"
Gasping Layha arched, fingers clawing at the bed sheets.
"P-please, Ryoga," he begged. "F-fuck me please, make me scream! I want you to
fuck me until I cry! Make me bleed and beg like the little whore I am..!"
Ryoga panted, stripping away his clothes as fast as he could so he could get to
touching him again. By now he was also fully hard and aching to be buried in
his lovers sweet and burning heat, engulfed fully to the hilt. But he liked to
be evil, and this was the only time he got to enjoy  being the one in charge.
Layha whined as Ryoga roughly began to grind against him, now both fully bared
to their skin. The feeling of hard flesh against hard flesh was hot, obscene
even. Ryoga used one hand to grasp both their lengths in one hand and start
stroking in a rough rhythm. Forbidden feelings of pleasure flowered inside of
Layha and made him moan wantonly.
"Ahnn... ah! Ryoga please..! I want, I need you! I need you inside me now!"
Ryoga smiled, flashinghisown new sharpened teeth.
"You sure? You don't want to wait til our food gets here?" He asked with a mock
sigh. " That's disappointing."
"Ugh..."
Layha then hissed softly, a sound he only ever made when he was with Ryoga like
how they were now. It was a sound so erotic, so laced with pent up lust and
desire that the very sound of it made Ryoga growl in response.
"Don't you hiss at me," he says with a smirk. "I know how much you love the
wayI teaseyou likethis don'tyou? You love it when I'm mean to you like this,
whenI denyyou your right to come or touch yourself. And you love whenIget rough
with you. You crave it, you beg for it.Don'ttry to tell me that you don't. So
go on, tell me that you don't want it. I dare you to."
His blonde lover gasps in response to feeling a sudden tug on his hair, a small
sting following after. When did Ryoga's fingers even get there? He jerked and
crossed his arms over his eyes, even more turned on. Sadly that meant that no
one was touching him anymore and that served to make him even more irritated
and desperate.
"Unnngh who cares," he moaned and tried to createmore friction between their
bodies byarchingup his hips. "I just need you! We have all night..! The food
isn't going anywhere."
Ryoga thought about it, wondering if indeed they had all night? Didn't they
have other stuff to do? Other than fuck around like this of course.
"I guess you're right," he admits. "Still, it's fun to be mean to you. But I am
at my limit as well."
He grabs Layha's legs and pushed them up to his chest, exposing his most sacred
place on his body but he didn't seem to mind, instead he welcomed the sudden
exposure with a soft moan. He splayed his arms out behind him on the bed and
bites his lips, feeling tiny trickles of blood running down his chin. Ryoga
knew why he did that but still, despite the sweet smell tempting him to capture
those full lips in his he kept his eyes downwards. Curious he rubbed his
fingers over that sweet spot, making his lover squeak in response.
"Still so eager even though it's been a few hours," he comments with s chuckle.
"Such a lewd body you have, Layha-san."
His lover pouted but said nothing else, wiggling his body as invitation. 
"Hurry up..! I'm still wet from last time so just... Put it in already!"
Well who was he to deny such a straightforward invitation? 
"Ugh, all right all right," he agreed and made those legs wrap around his
waist. "So bossy."
Layha cried out in pleasure as he was all so suddenly filled to the brim,
unable to take a breath. His whole body stretched to it's limits around his
lover's shape, bringing a slight but pleasant stinging sensation. One that he
grew used to almost immediately. Giving him no time to adjust Ryoga began a
fierce rhythm, thrusting his hips into tight heat that knew him well but never
got enough of. 
"Ah! God, Ryoga... More!"
Pathetic whimpers fell from his lips as he wrapped his arms around his lover,
gasping and cursing from the blissful pain making his hips ache. 
"Fuck," Ryoga swore. "Tighten up some will you?"
Thrusting harder he earned himself a loud cry, groaning in satisfaction as
Layha clamped even tighter around him and made it harder to move. But that was
how he liked it after all. 
"Nngh! SO good... So so good... Fuck, harder! Please, make me scream!"
That wasn't so hard to do since he was already close to hysterics but he obeyed
anyway. His hips snapped forward roughly, making his lover even more pathetic
than before. Ryoga finally gave into his urges and claimed his lover's lips,
careful not to taste any of the blood that was there only moments before. The
sound of skin on skin made his arms feel chilled. The echo in here was
ridiculous. Layha's moans and the sound of his body sucking him in so eagerly
was bouncing all over the walls, making it hard to think. 
"You're so dirty Layha-san," he snarls lustfully and spreads his legs further
apart. "Taking me in so easily... You really are such a slut for me aren't
you?"
Layha clawed at his beck, making him hiss. But the pain felt nice, it only
heightened his senses further. 
"Ryoga..! Yes.. I am.. I'm-"
A sudden knocking at the door made his attention stray. Panting heavy Layha
growled at his lover. Ryoga knew what he wanted and pulled himself out of his
lover's heat so the latter could wobble to the door. Every time...
"Who is it!" He snapped, ready to lash out. "Who gives you the right to
interrupt me?"
"It's us," squeaked a soft female voice. "W-we have your human all cleaned up
like you asked! He's ready!"
Well they were certainly a speedy bunch weren't they? It's only been a few
moments since they left them to their duties. Vampires really were an amazing
species.
"Ah good," Layha says and opened the door wide, no longer as irritated as
before. "Well then give him here."
There were only two of them now, with the human behind them, dazed from
whatever sort of drugs they gave him. He didn't seem at all embarrassed by his
nudity in front of them, and they didn't either. Ryoga rose an eyebrow but
decided not to comment. Layha took the now mostly clean human into his arms,
his mouth watering. Confused the boy idled in place, eyes glossy and unseeing.
"Here..! We weren't sure if you wanted us to get him ready for a gathering,
so... We didn't put any clothes or make up on him... We only bit him him a
little to calm him down with our venom cause he would not stop struggling when
he woke up."
Layha smiled then, amused in the most particular way. 
"No you did good, sometimes it's necessary. We're going to be using him for a
few hours, and he isn't ready to be shown off just yet. He will be though, but
not anytime soon. You are excused ladies."
They both bowed and scurried off so he could close the door. Excited Layha
examined the human boy up and down, licking his lips as one would when seeing a
tasty piece of meat. And that's all he was really. Food. Ryoga leaned forward
and waited for Layha to command him what to do next. 
"What a darling you are," the blonde purrs in the human's ear. "We're gonna
have lots of fun with you tonight aren't we? Ryoga dear, doesn't he look and
smell absolutely delicious?" 
Ryoga could smell him again, only this time it was sweeter since it wasn't
masked by fear or dirt. His stomach rumbled again and he almost lost all his
control. Layha pushed the human back onto the bed and made him scoot up to the
headboard. 
"Yes," Ryoga agrees as he lingered over his lovers shoulder. "Good enough to
eat even." 
Layha giggled and scooted upwards to caress and run his hands all over the
boy's body, smiling in delight as the human cooed in response to the soft
gestures. They really drugged him up good, now he was little more than a
mindless blood bank.
It was dark, and cold. He couldn't think straight... Why was his mind so hazy?
"Uhn... Where..."
Where was he? He couldn't remember... His drug induced mind could not
comprehend much at this point beyond physical contact. His body felt heavy, his
mouth dry and scorching hot. Water... He needed water... All around him he
could hear soft spoken words and gentle touches on his skin.
"Well, let's dig in shall we?" 
Nodding Ryoga scooted up as well, letting his eyes wander all over a pale body
rife with healed scars and pale spots due to dehydration. But his blood still
pumped fabulously through his body, making his cheeks flushed pink and his
heartbeat as strong as ever. He lifted a delicate and thin wrist to his mouth,
noting the way hazy eyes lolled up in their skull in pleasure as he started to
kiss there and felt a strong pulse beneath his lips. Layha ran his cold tongue
along the main artery on his neck, kissing and suckling as though he were
tasting a sort of sweet candy. Straddling the human all the way he rocked his
body against him and made him moan before he glanced at his lover, eyes
darkened with a different kind of lust. 
"Well? What are you waiting for?" he asked with a sharp grin. "Go ahead, have a
bite."
Ryoga swallowed and once more started to kiss along his wrist, then up his arm,
his shoulder, all the way to his neck where he found the pulse was the
strongest. He kissed and nipped to gain a sigh as a reaction, before his fangs
finally pierced soft flesh. Sweet bliss made his eyes roll back and he moaned,
the taste so heavenly he didn't even register the protests at first. Greedily
he sucked more, and more and more. The feeling of warm heaven rolling down his
throat and soothing the burning fires made his whole body stand on end, feeling
goose bumps raising on his arms and his neck. Arousal from such a feeling was
becoming evident, and he started to crave some sort of relief. 
"Ngh... No! Stop, please... Hurts..!"
The humans dulled mind could barely comprehend what was happening, feeling only
intense and unbearable pain. Gods it hurt, it hurt so bad! Hazy and blurry he
looked around, only seeing strange shapes and colors moving in a way that he
grew dizzy. 
"Shh, shsh," Layha murmured to him to soothe his anxiety. "It will feel better
soon, so just hush."
He glances at his lover, greedily sucking down mouthful after mouthful of life
giving redness, seeing the way it smeared messily all over his mouth and even
began to trickle down his neck. It seems he was right, it was so hot to see him
like this... The very sight of it made him moan in arousal and reach down to
touch himself as he kissed away the red droplets going down their prey's neck. 
Soon enough, the unbearable searing pain grew to a dull uncomfortable pressure,
not hurting as much. Numb from whatever was making him unable to think the
human trembled from the sensations, unsure whether to cry or moan from the
intense feeling. Soon, the numbness gave way to a more pleasing sensation, one
of sweet warmth and tingling all over his body. Was it supposed to feel this
good? Faintly, he hears a whisper at his ear but can't make out any words.
"Good," Layha purred and kissed his lips. "You finally seem to be feeling it.
Well then, allow me to also have a taste before we get back to the good part."
The blonde licks up more stray droplets before finding a good spot and biting
down, hearing a soft gasp in return. He didn't know what it was about male
humans but they taste so much better than females did. Against his leg he can
feel the tell tale signs of the human becoming aroused, and that makes him
giddier than he thought. He forced himself to detach from the wound, reminding
himself that this was Ryoga's meal tonight. So he wouldn't get in the way
besides the occasional taste now and then. 
"He's ready," Ryoga hears Layha say softly and he lifts his mouth away from
where he bit down. "I think it's safe to say that we can start breaking him
in."
His face was still dripping in blood, but he did not mind at all. He goes in
for a hot, blood induced kiss with his lover before he's being pushed away.
Layha smirked at him before straddling the human's waist, grinding all up and
down to give Ryoga a show from behind. 
What the heck was going on? Suddenly he feels a warm sensation around his legs
and the heat in his lower body increases. 
"Am I to assume he will be the one to please you this time?" he asked, his lips
quirking upwards in an amused smile. 
"Yes, and you can please him in return. He will love it, I promise."
Oh he had no doubt in his mind that he would. He just needed a bit of time to
adjust seeing as how, judging from the lack of preparation between his legs
those female vampires didn't really 'get him ready' well enough. Probably to
leave it up to them. Oh well, he wasn't complaining. 
"Do we have anything to get him ready with?" 
Layha sighed, turning himself around so he could face his lover. 
"In my pocket, I brought a little something to help out," he says and watches
with eagerness as his lover pulls out a bottle of plain unscented lubricant
from the human world. 
"How troublesome," Ryoga complains as he situated himself between the humans
legs. Layha purred in agreement. 
"Right. Unlike vampires, humans cannot produce it on their own, so we have no
choice if we don't want to hurt him too bad. Now, come on let's go I'm getting
impatient."
Ryoga uncaps the bottle and applies a nice amount to his fingers before
bringing the human's legs up to his shoulders where he could bite. He feels
around down below, rubbing a good bit of it to his entrance and pushing it in
without warning. The human suddenly jerked, gasping out a weak protest. Ryoga
felt even more fueled by this and shoved two more inside, uncaring of if he
hurt him that badly or not. The innate urge to make this human submit was
inexplicable and hard to resist. Layha laughed as the human squirmed to get
away, thrusting himself suddenly down onto his dripping and hard length with a
moan.
What the heck? Why was he on his back all of a sudden? And why do his hips
suddenly feel like they are on fire?
"No... Pl... Stop..! Hurts!"
He felt a raging fire erupt suddenly as something warm and wet started to
trickle down his thighs, and his most sensitive place stung horribly. Then, the
worst sensation imaginable tore through his body, making him scream.
Ryoga yanked out his fingers and aligned himself with the human's entrance
before viciously pushing inside, earning himself a scream of agony. But that
only served to excite him, seeing blood coming from that oh so sensitive place.
The human began to whimper softly, gasping softly as his body was abused and
used in the worst way.
"He feels good," Ryoga rasped out as he began a series of harsh and rough
thrusts. "I could learn to love this sort of thing."
Bringing up the humans leg he kissed and sucked at his calf before biting into
the flesh there, moaning as more sweet liquid flowed down his throat. The sight
of his lover bouncing up and down on the human's lap also helped in aiding the
intense fire igniting in his belly. They exchanged kisses and shared the blood
from their newest prey.
Moans and soft screams echoed throughout the room for hours after that, ignored
by all the smart passersby beyond their door. The curious ones stayed in
curiosity, mouths watering as they listened to food being eaten.
This was the humans life now. This was what he was chosen for. And as intense
pleasure swamped the feelings of pain, his screams turning to sighs and moans,
he couldn't for the life of him remember anything beyond the feelings he was
receiving.
Who am I?
" Ahnn .. more..."
Who...
His body tingles , and he arched as he was forced once more to come all over
himself and inside a different body he did not recognize. The pleasure was too
much..!
"You probably can't hear me," Layha whispers against his ear as hips blindly
moved against his. "But you don't have a name anymore. Your whole world
revolves around me now. You are no longer the human boy named Ice. You.... ngh,
are now only food. No one will save you. No one will care. They won't want back
a used, pathetic blood bag like you. You. Are. Mine."
Not... yes... He was not a human. He was food...
"M-more...More!"
Because in all reality, what good were humans for other than food and to please
their masters? Well that was easy to answer.
They aren't good for anythingbutthat. 
TBC
 
***** Chapter 29 *****
It has already been a couple of hours since they got here, and still hardly any
progress regarding their relationship has been made.
Koichi was about ready to tear his eye balls out of his sockets he was so
frustrated. And by the looks of it so was Tsuzuku, looking just as irritated
the poor thing.
Koichi's parents kept droning on and on about how he was 'too young for a
serious relationship' and 'he needs guidance that only a parent can give.' Of
course he insisted he wasn't a child anymore, that he could handle himself but
again, his pleas fell on deaf ears. 
They sat around Shinya's meeting room, sitting in the few chairs there were to
occupy. The man himself sat quietly at the head of the table, silently
observing and playing peacemaker. It was a good thing Mia and Meto had already
left a little while ago or else things would get awkward.
"You're just not," his father said as he rubbed his eyes wearily. "You're still
our son, and we have a duty to uphold as your parents to keep you safe."
Guess he knew now where his stubbornness came from.
"Oh well, pff, you've you're sure done a heck of a good job so far haven't
you?" He shot back, to the surprise of his parents. "I know where you're coming
from, I really do. And I appreciate the concern. But I will not stand by idly
by while you try to break us apart. It won't happen, never in a million years.
So forget it."
His mother sighed, a tired quiet sigh.
"Koichi..." she began and stared seriously at her son. "We're worried about
you. We haven't seen you since you were five and now... look at you, almost a
grown man now. Of course we want to be a part of your life for as long as we
can. Your birthday is coming up and I feel like... if we don't do something
now... we'll lose you forever."
There she goes again, pulling the pitiful act. But what part of staying with
Tsuzuku meant he was never gonna see them again?
"Mother please," he began and held his head in his hands. "Being with him does
not mean I will be away from you forever. I'll still be here, I'll still be
your son. Nothing is gonna change that. Unless... You plan on leaving after
this? Because if you are I'm not going with you. You can visit, and we can
visit, but it's never going to be long term."
Tsuzuku almost smirked at them before realizing how incredibly rude that would
be. Instead he cleared his throat and addressed the couple before him.
"Look, you have no reason to worry. I am more than capable of providing for
him. He's already proven himself to be independent and strong even without my
help. And being his guardian, it is also my duty to remind you that, until he
turns eighteen, he cannot go anywhere long term without me. Until then, he is
free to go anywhere he chooses, be anyone he wants. Besides, he's still
recovering from his surgery and that will take more time than you might think.
He's younger than you, so it will take longer. But I'm going to be here for him
through all of it."
His parents grew even more anxious at that and his mother bites at her
fingertips. A bad habit he supposed.
"And what exactly are you planning on doing?" She asks. "From sitting here and
looking at you I can see that you are not able to live on your own at all. What
are you doing with your life? How do you expect to be a fully functioning
adult? You left school, so now what?"
Tsuzuku smiled, one that showed haughtiness and a tiny bit of arrogance if one
squinted just hard enough.
"Funny you should ask. I spoke with the principal of a high school nearby, they
have an online program and we have him already ready to finish up. He just
needs a few more classes then he'll be good to go."
Koichi nodded frantically, thankful that Tsuzuku remembered. His mother still
seemed dissatisfied with that answer.
"An online program? Isn't that for students who are like delinquents? My son is
not a delinquent!"
"Well, speak for yourself," he says to  them with an eye roll. "Since you've
been gone mother, things have all gone downhill for me. The no good aunt and
uncle of mine made sure of that."
At the mention of his other relatives his mother perked up.
"What about my brother?" She asked. "Is he doing well? Have you been behaving
for him? What did he do? Has he been treating you well?"
Tsuzuku inwardly flinched, knowing that the subject of his other relatives was
still a topic up for heated debate. Koichi curled his lip and tried to keep his
composure. To blow up in front of his parents would not be good at all. But he
couldn't help but to ramble because he was just so pissed off.
"Your 'brother' cared more about his wife than me, a small kid at the time. He
made it explicitly clear that he did not care for me at all, and I was left to
fend for myself for most of my life. I dressed myself for school, I fed myself
every morning. I taught myself how to read and write because one day I hoped
that when I got old enough and graduated, I would finally be able to leave them
behind and be happy. But no, I had so many issues to deal with besides them.
"There was Mia of course, and we've already addressed that. But even before him
there was a point in my life that nothing ecen seemed important anymore. No one
cared about me. No one wanted to help. So that's how I ended up here. Tsuzuku
found me before I could turn psycho and start killing people, saving my soul
from damnation. Then again, when the Sickness took over my body a second time.
So no, they didn't exactly do a good job of raising me."
Koichi took in a deep breath and finally fell quiet, leaning back in his seat
and crossing his arms to ignore all eye contact. His parents wwre stunned from
the sudden outburst, unable to respond right away. Tsuzuku took it upon himself
to step in yet again to avoid any awkwardness between them.
"Yeah so... that's how it is. It's more than just a feeling of gratitude, or a
sense of wanting to compensate in some way. I truly love him, and I feel like
he loves me back. He needs me, and I need to be here for him no matter what.
So, again, I have to ask you to let him decide for himself. If he wants to stay
then he'll stay. If he wants to leave, then I'll let him leave. It's up to
him."
With a flinch Koichi looked at his lover with wide eyes. A million questions
were raised in that instant and he could only find the heart to ask but one.
"Tsu... I... I want to stay with you," he said and reached for his lovers hand,
ignoring the way his parents looked at him. "Never ever do I want to leave, not
when I turn eighteen or even a hundred. I always wanna be with you."
Tsuzuku twines their fingers together, feeling more than relieved. Shinya let
out a heavy breath and stands up to stretch out the muscles in his back.
"Well, you heard the boy. He wants to stay, so I would suggest for you to just
leave it at that," he says and begins to walk away. "It's getting late. You
guys should probably head home."
He addressed the younger couple and gave them a stare before going out of the
room. Koichi's parents sat quietly for a moment before his mother spoke up.
"Koichi I... I never knew that he did that to you," she whispered in a heart
broken tone. "I'm so sorry, baby. It's just that, I always thought... thought
he cared about you, about me. About our family... Guess I was mistaken... I
swear if I ever see him again it'll be too soon."
She trembled with unshed tears and turns to her husband for comfort. He in turn
rubbed her back and soothed her with soft words before turning to speak to his
son. His eyes were still stern, but in a different way this time.
"We get it Koichi," he says. "We fully understand that this is what you want
from now on and that it will make you happy. But... It will take some time
getting used to, so don't blame us okay? We're your parents, it is also our job
to make sure you're happy."
Koichi nodded, pressing against Tsuzuku with a less irritated attitude. At last
they were beginning to see the bigger picture here.
"Thank you mom, dad. You'll see, this is what I really want to be happy. And
being with him makes me happier than I could ever be. I'm not leaving him
behind at all. Even if he tells me to, and my life depended on it.. I couldn't.
I love him too much to leave him."
Wow... He was really determined wasn't he? Tsuzuku knew then, that he couldn't
let this boy go. Swallowing a lump in his throat he grasped tighter onto his
fingers, feeling his rushed pulse beating wildly beneath his warm skin. 
"We may not like it," his dad says as he stands up to leave. "But... Please
don't be a stranger son. We're here for you, through anything. So... We'll be
here for two more weeks in Shinya-san's spare room, so make sure to visit us as
much as you can until then." 
"I know dad," Koichi responded. "Thank you. I'll come visit tomorrow after I
get a few hours of work done. Good night."
His parents both silently excused themselves from the room and left them alone.
It was quiet, pleasingly so. The older couple seemed to have taken what tension
from their conversation was left over. Now they were once more in their own
little bubble. 
He was the first to break the silence.
"Koichi," he says softly. "Hey."
Their eyes connected, and he could see those small flecks of orange and silver
reflecting the dim light above their heads brightly. 
"It won't go as far as that," his lover promises and stands up from his chair
to come closer and sit on the edge of the table as close to him as he could. "I
know you won't ever tell me to leave, will you?"
Tsuzuku stands up to face the pinkette, settling himself comfortably between
his legs to hug him and feel his soft warm body against his, feeling his slight
shivering. 
"Of course I won't," he promised and pressed his face into his neck. "Because
even if anything does happen, you'll be ready. I'll make sure of that. You and
I can face it together."
Even with their skin touching like this so closely, with hardly any space left
between them, he still wanted to be so much closer than he was now. He was
impatient for some reason, but why? 
"Yeah I know," Koichi responded. "And I... I want to thank you. For standing up
for me, for everything you did for me. For... For being with me through all of
this. You're the only one I need, the only one who... who has been there for
me. And I..."
His lover squeezed him tight, unable to say much else after that. But Tsuzuku
knew what he was trying to say, and he wasn't going to force any more words
from him. 
"I know I know," he whispers. "You don't need to thank me with words, because
just being with me, and loving me as much as I love you is more than enough
thanks, it's all I'd ever need."
He runs his fingers through soft pink hair, kissing just at the top of his head
sweetly. It was comfortable, just standing here with him and not saying a word.
He could hear his heartbeat slowing down to a normal pace now that they were
relaxed. His breathing was steady but shallow, he didn't know why. 
After about just ten minutes of silence Koichi finally shifted to lift his
head, rubbing his eyes. 
"Tsu," he murmured and stared up at him. "Take me home?" 
Oh god that voice. It sounded so pitiful and meek that he could feel his heart
nearly crumble right in his chest. Tsuzuku nodded and cupped his cheeks before
pressing the sweetest of kisses onto his lips and earning himself a blush.
"Of course, you look tired. And you have to start classes in a few more days.
As for me, I probably have to help out with the vampire victims."
Koichi turned up his nose, and pushed Tsuzuku back so he could hop off the
table. 
"Ugh, I don't envy you for that. But let's go already, I don't wanna be around
my parents any longer than I really have to. They're annoying when they want to
be."
He learned that in only two hours, quite amazing if he did say so himself. 
"Okay, let's go then, I wanna take a nice hot shower before I sleep too." 
He led Koichi outside by the hand and they greeted Shinya in the main room. He
nodded at them from the living room where he stood by Die and Minpha. 
"We're leaving now," He says as they gather their jackets from the nearby
closet. "We'll see everyone in the morning."
"Okay," Shinya answered. "I'll see you in the morning Tsuzuku."
Koichi waved to Minpha as they left, yawning as the tiredness finally caught up
to him. Tsuzuku slips an arm around his shoulder and leads him out of the main
room into the hallway, then into the elevator where they stood pressed up to
one another for heat. 
Tsuzuku held him close as he could, pressing kisses every so often to his cheek
or the top of his head, even down to his knuckles when he got his chance. And
it was enough for the moment. Koichi still shook every now and then, hinting at
just how strongly impacted he was by all of this. And he didn't blame him. He
had to put up with so much that anyone would be affected. But even so, he was
being so strong and putting on a brave face for his own sake. Maybe even for
Tsuzuku's sake. 
The pinkette's arms were around his waist as he burrowed his face into his
shoulder. It was when they reached the ground floor that he finally saw the
cracks in Koichi's calm facade start to appear. His lips started trembling and
his whole body started to shake. It was coming he knew, that breakdown he was
expecting for the last couple of hours. 
"It's okay," he murmured to him as they left the building and approached his
car. "We'll be home soon."
His lover nodded, trying to hold it in as best as he could. His breakdown could
wait until they got home. But to do it here, he didn't think it would be
appropriate. 
The whole ride home was quiet, and Koichi stayed curled up on his side of the
car, taking deep calm breaths to himself and gazing out of the window up at the
bright city lights so he could think. Tsuzuku gave him his space, knowing he
needed it right now. That was okay, whenever Koichi changed his mind he would
be there. Tsuzuku glanced over at him now and again, making sure he was okay.
But he didn't dare say anything, afraid to ruin the moment. 
When they finally got home, he almost had to carry Koichi inside, he was
shaking so badly. The elevator ride was just as quiet as before, only now he
had to physically shush him with kisses and whispers to keep him from freaking
out too early on. 
They reached their floor, and it was at this point that they were almost
running to the front door of their new home. 
And the very moment their bodies crossed the threshold of the condo all of
Koichi's walls that he worked so hard to build up was crumbling away in
seconds. Like mere dust in the wind, Tsuzuku felt him collapse in is arms in a
bout of tears and became an emotional wreck. Slowly he lowered them to the
floor, holding his lover in his arms as he cried those heart wrenching sobs.
Koichi wrapped around him and didn't let go, his eyes red and puffy as he tried
to speak through a haze of tears.
"Ts-Tsu... zuku," he whimpered. "I l-love you... I love you so so much, please
don't leave me... P-please. If y-you leave me, I would die... Please don't..."
Tsuzuku felt his heart break at hearing those words, knowing the same went for
him. Koichi's pain was his pain after all. 
"Shh hush," Tsuzuku says and cradles his head to his shoulder. "I'm right here.
I would never do such a thing to you, I would not be able to stand it if I did.
I love you too, I will never ever make you leave. I need you, Koichi. I need
you to live. Please understand that. There now, let it all out. I'm here."
His lover only cried harder, staining his shirt with salt and despair.
Sniffling Koichi lifts his head, his eyes the very mirror of anguish mixed with
hope. 
"Promise me," he demanded. "P-promise me you'll never leave. And that we will
always be together. Promise."
Tsuzuku decided not to answer verbally, but with another series of kisses. This
time these ones weren't as soft, instead now desperate and eager for attention.
Koichi whined and kissed back, allowing Tsuzuku to enter his mouth with his
tongue and bruise his lips from the sheer force of his kisses. Fingers tangled
in his pink hair, tugging ever so slightly to make his head rise up if it went
too low. There was no lust in this kiss, no desire for sexual contact. More
like it was a security blanket, a way of knowing that neither of them were
going anywhere. But he liked that. He liked feeling secure in these arms, he
liked the feeling of demand in those lips. It made him feel... Whole.
Tsuzuku brought him closer, feeling goosebumps on his arms as Koichi moaned
into their kiss. He didn't resist or pull away and seemed just as eager as he
to make the pain go away. 
They kissed desperately like this for what seemed like ages before the need for
oxygen finally made itself known and forced them to break apart. Koichi still
had fresh tears, running down his face, and his lips were moist and swollen.
But he seemed satisfied, and that in and of itself was enough to please him.
Gasping for breath he brought their faces together, bumping foreheads with him
as their breaths mingled. 
"My Koichi," he growled softly. "Mine, only mine. No one else's."
Koichi wiped his tears away, finally gaining some control over his cries. 
"Idiot... Of course I am." 
Tsuzuku smiled, leaning in for one last soft but breathtaking kiss that had his
heart mending itself and soaring high into the clouds. Lastly their fingers
connected, and he oh so gently tugs on Koichi's bottom lip with his teeth.
Finally, it seemed like the both of them would be okay. At least for now.
"And I am yours, forever."
***** Chapter 30 *****
Their morning started as early as around six A.M. the sun was barely starting
to rise and peek over the horizon. The sky was just starting to show those tell
tale bursts of soft hazy light. It seemed like a peaceful morning like any
other. But it really wasn't.
It all started when an unbearably hot and searing sensation caused Koichi to
jerk awake and scream outward in pain.
His back was burning! Why did it hurt so much? Falling to the floor he gasped
and whimpered, grasping at his back to feel flames licking at his fingers.
His anguished screams caused Tsuzuku to shoot up from the bed and when he sees
his lover in agony on the floor, he knows something is wrong.
"Koichi!"
He scrambled out of bed and tried to reach out for his lover only to step back
as Koichi's body gave off an intense heat wave. Then it hit him. The smell of
flesh burning and sizzling, a smell so sickening that he almost lost the
contents of his stomach.
"Help... help me Tsu," came a strangled cry. The heat increased and suddenly
his hair burst into all white flames and he cried even more. "Tsuzuku what's
happening to me?!"
His spine twisted and contorted, giving off more of that awful smell. And there
was an eerie sound akin to gruesome popping and tearing skin along with more
fitful cries of pain. Then he saw it. Or rather saw them. A pair of wings,
small and pitiful with fuzzy white down, had burst from the skin on his lovers
back and tore through his night shirt. Wings. His wings were coming out now?!
Of all times?!
"H-hang on! I'll get some help!"
Tsuzuku grabbed his phone from the nightstand and sends a frantic text to Meto
before trying to help Koichi again.
SENT: 6:15 A:M
-Meto-san! Please come to the penthouse quickly! Something is happening to
Koichi I don't know what to do. I need your help.-
"Ahhh..! Stop... Make it stop..! Stop..!"
After what seemed like an eternity they finished sprouting and the heat wave
subsided, leaving behind the faint lingering traces of the smell of charred and
burned skin. Hurriedly he reached over and felt his lovers forehead only to
pull away. His skin was sizzling, literally. Koichi panted wearily, his voice
scratchy and rough as tears still poured from his eyes. He looked up in
helplessness, shaking like a leaf. His hair went back to pink and died out,
going back to normal.
"Koichi... I... your... your um..."
Tsuzuku stuttered, unable to speak. What would he even say? How was he supposed
to tell him that there were now two white wings sprouting from his lovers body?
It wasn't exactly abnormal but... well, it was a little um... a little early.
Too early in fact. Shouldn't this have come later? He was barely recovering
from the surgery for hells sake!
"What..? Is there something wrong with me?" He peeped with a sniffle and shaky
fingers. At least he didn't seem to be in agonizing pain anymore, though it
probably still hurt to a certain extent. "Tsu what..? Tell me."
Carefully he inched closer, cautiously reaching out to touch him. Thankfully,
the intense heat subsided and left behind a thin sheen of sweat. Koichi gasped
against his touch and leaned closer. He probably left nice and cool. A welcome
relief from the stifling heat.
"Nothing baby," he responded and gently pressed his fingers to his lips.
"Nothing at all... are you in pain anywhere? Does it still hurt?"
Koichi shuddered and winced as he pushed himself back onto his hind legs to
kneel closer to his lover, his small white wings fluttering in response. He
seemed to notice because he paused suddenly.
"My back... still hurts," he admits. "It feels weird, like there's something
there that shouldn't be. What's happening to me?"
Tsuzuku wasn't entirely positive, but he had an idea of what was going on. Now
that he thought about it, he remembered faintly what the doctors at the
hospital said. Faintly, for he was far too engrossed in making sure his love
was okay. Now he wishes he listened closer.
"Hang on... let's get this off of you, it must be uncomfortable."
Carefully he lifted away the now ruined all white t shirt, wincing when Koichi
flinched.
"Ouch..! Ugh, it hurts," he complains. "Make it stop hurting please,
Tsuzuku..!"
"I'm sorry I'm sorry," he soothed and quickly threw away the fabric somewhere
nearby before gingerly helping his lover to stand. "Let me look at your back
then we'll figure something out."
Koichi nodded and slowly turns around, still weak from the quick episode. What
Tsuzuku saw made his stomach tighten and his heart lurch up to his throat.
Right behind his shoulder blades were the small wings. And around them wasn't
ugly and burned skin like what he had been expecting. But instead there were
black tattoos, small yet intricate, dancing and curling around where the tiny
feathery appendages jutted out. Contrasted against Koichi's pale skin they were
very... so very beautiful. They kind of reminded him of crop circles, the
really elaborate ones.
Entranced by them he couldn't help but to reach out and touch one just under
the left wing. It fluttered again in response, and Koichi shivered. Did it
hurt?
"Ngh... don't touch there... it feels weird..."
Tsuzuku blinked in surprise. That noise... sounded oddly arousing..?
"Sorry," he says and rubs at his lovers lower back. "Did that sting?"
Koichi shakes his head.
"No but... just tell me what the hell just happened and why my back feels
weird."
Tsuzuku let out a breath and bites at his lip. This wasn't gonna be easy. But
really, when was anything at this point?
"Well... I think it would be best to show you first," he says and starts to
lead him to the bathroom. "I'll call for help once you see."
Confused Koichi follows along, still shivering and in slight pain. But it was
felt more like a very minor bee sting and it was manageable.
They walked in front of the mirror and he lets Koichi figure it out on his own.
"Ugh... I feel like I got hit by a car, my head is killing me. What is going...
on."
Koichi finally catches sight of the wings on his back and grows even more pale.
His eyes widen and he twisted around to look at them better, panicking.
"Uwahh?? What the heck are those??" He cries out in alarm. "Are... are those...
my wings?"
He seems like he is about to break down yet again so Tsuzuku calms him down by
grabbing on his arm, using his soft voice that he used in situations like this.
"Ahh Koichi calm down, you're okay," he says and carefully hugs him close, not
touching his wings. "You're gonna be fine. We'll... We'll figure something out.
Just calm down okay?"
Koichi hyperventilates and hugs closer, pressing his face against his neck.
He's shaking again, and in turn causing the small feathery wings to shake as
well.
"I'm sacred Tsu," he admits in a low whisper. "I'm... I'm not ready for this.
I'm really not..."
Tsuzuku kisses his head, starting a rocking motion back and forth. There's
another lump in his throat, but he tries to swallow it down to talk.
"I know baby I know. But I'm here for you... you're not alone. Just remember
that." When Koichi doesn't answer at first he pulls back and tilts up his chin
to make eye contact. "Hey. Look at me, Koichi."
His lovers pitiful eyes stare back at him, still sort of red and puffy.
"Tsu... What do we do?"
Tsuzuku faltered a little, then decided it would be best for now to keep him
calmed down until help could arrive. They were in a really tight spot right
now, How the hell was he supposed to have expected this? It's only been but
days since the surgery, even fewer since he started getting over it. And now
his damn wings were starting to grow in? Those genes really couldn't wait could
they.
"I don't know but, let me at least try to make you feel better okay? I can't
stand the idea that my poor Koichi could be in pain right now. Let me help?"
The pinkette hesitates at first before nodding.
"Okay... Make the pain go away. I trust you, Tsuzuku."
A huge weight lifts off of him and he smiles wide, pressing kisses to his
forehead. He was so afraid that he would not let him help. But now, he was more
than happy to know that was indeed not the case.
"Good, now, let me go get the stuff for burns and try my best to help you. I'll
be right back."
His lover kissed his cheek in return, and sat shakily on the edge of the
bathtub to wait.
"I'm... not going anywhere."
A bitter smile lights up his face, and he looks away. Tsuzuku smiles sadly and
slowly slinked away, feeling a tiny bit guilty. He wished he could help more
but... Well, he couldn't handle heat all that well. If it went anywhere near
even ninety degrees he felt like he might die.
But, if it was for Koichi then he would endure it. For as long as it might
take.
Tsuzuku looked around for his medicine before spotting it up high on the
fridge. Why was it there? He goes to get it but is surprised when there is a
knock on the door.
Grumbling he went to answer, only to find a very distressed Mia at his door and
panting heavy. Why the heck was he here? And why was he dressed up like he was
going to a funeral? Black pants, black shirt...
"Mia-kun?" He asked in surprise and suddenly felt a little exposed. He was only
wearing sweatpants after all. His shirt was still somewhere in the room.
He looked like he just sprinted a few miles. Did he run here or...
"Tsuzuku-san," he says with wide eyes. "Meto-san got the message you sent a
little while ago... What's wrong with Koichi? Why do you need help?"
"Whoa whoa whoa, why isn't Meto with you? Why are you alone?"
Mia asks if he could come in and after he's allowed in starts pacing around in
small circles.
"Meto-san is... He had to go. He got called out early this morning from Shinya,
right before you sent us the message. They found... another vamp nest full of
people who were kidnapped. Only... only they were all dead. None of them were
alive. I... I got dropped off about two blocks away and ran the rest of the way
here to tell you."
Oh, well... That that certainly was reason for panic. But that still didn't
answer his questions.
"Damn it... All right but... that still doesn't tell me why you're here in the
first place," he says and goes to fetch the med kit. "You aren't a doctor, so
what gives?"
Mia followed him into his room despite being suspicious and answered the best
way he knew how.
"It's not like he didn't tell anyone else. Shinya-san got the message as well,
and he'll be here soon. I just wanna make sure he's okay."
We'll, it's not like he could say no at this point. They were already this far
after all. With a heavy heart he finally relented. But he wasn't that happy
about it.
"Fine. But, don't stare okay? It's kind of... Well..."
"Stare at what?" Mia asked. "What's wrong with him?"
It was at this point that he wasn't exactly sure if he wanted Mia to see him.
He was vulnerable and in pain, plus... Those tattoo's seemed very intimate and
personal. Of course he would probably feel very jealous if someone else saw
them. But personal feelings aside, this was Koichi's friend now, jealousy or
none. He had no real reason to hold Mia back other than his past feelings.
Tsuzuku went towards the bathroom, grasping the door handle. It was now or
never.
"Just... Come on, he's in here. And like I said before, don't stare."
Mia nodded, still confused but curious about Koichi. The door slowly creaked
open just a smidge and Tsuzuku peeked inside. Mia stood behind, unable to see
inside.
"Honey?" He called. "There's someone here to see you."
"Who?" Came a soft voice. Mia shivered as he hears that voice, sounding all
pitiful and weak. Tsuzuku looked back at him with dark and warning eyes that
screamed 'don't try anything' at him. And he understood that, because he was in
no position to wedge himself between them. None at all.
"We're coming in," he announced and pushed it open wider to allow the visitor
inside. What Mia saw had him reeling back in surprise. Koichi sat with his
unclothed back to the door, his new wings and tattoo's in full view. The pale
skin seemed even paler than before, and the lingering smell of smoke was heavy,
almost suffocating.
"Mia?" Koichi asked in alarm but made no move to get up, probably too tired to
do so. "Why are you here..? Where is Meto-san?"
Tsuzuku walked up behind him to touch his shoulder before sitting on the spot
next to him. Mia sttod by the door, still too shocked to say a thing.
"Meto couldn't come, he... found more victims. None were alive this time, so
it's really serious. Mia decided to come by and help while we wait for Shinya
to come."
Koichi smiled weakly, turning his head around to hide his face.
"I'm glad you came," he murmurs. "I'll need a little moral support from now
on..."
Mia swallowed hard, unable to walk any closer for fear he might step on a few
boundaries.
"You... I... What... what happened to you?" He finally asks. Koichi slumped a
little bit.
"It was the weirdest thing," he started. "This morning, I was sleeping fine and
the next thing I know there's an intense pain all the way down my back... I
felt like I was burning to death, thats how bad it hurt. Then my head started
feeling funny, and these... things showed up on my back. I've been feeling weak
since then."
He still looked beautiful though, at least in Tsuzuku's own opinion. He opens
the medicine bottle and pours a little on his fingers, feeling how cold it was.
"This might be a little cold," he warns as he applies a little to the tattoos.
Koichi hissed, but not in pain. More like relief. Tsuzuku took that as a sign
to continue, and spread it slowly over his spine, by his shoulders, and over
smooth tattooed skin.
The black lines felt like small indents on his fingers. They almost looked like
they were trying to form a pattern or a secret message. But from what he could
tell, he couldn't decipher any if it. The Phoenix language maybe? Hell if he
knew, he didn't know any other Phoenixes around here.
"That feels a little better," he says as Tsuzuku finished up. "The cold feels
nice. Thank you."
"Of course," his lover responds and kisses his cheek. "I couldn't bear to see
you in pain any more. So do you feel good enough to come back to the living
room? I already know we can't go back to sleep."
Koichi's arms curled around his chest as he held himself insecurely.
"I... I don't know... these wings make me look so... strange. I feel
embarrassed just looking at them."
His lover rose an eyebrow.
"Why? Aren't you at least a little glad that the splicing was a success?" He
asked, to which Koichi suddenly bristled. He spun around, staring at him with
wide fiery eyes.
"Look at them! They're so... so... small! I thought... I thought they would be
bigger. But I..."
He trailed off, feeling ashamed. His wings dropped a little as well, seemingly
tied to his emotions. The daemon puts the medicine down before snuggling up to
him, nuzzling his neck and his face all over. Mia once again felt the need to
leave the room, so he did. Their affection this early in the morning didn't sit
well with his emotions right now.
"You're beautiful Koichi. These wings, they may seem small now. But I have no
doubt whatsoever that they will grow bigger and more lovely as a little time
goes by. You'll see."
His lover seemed to need that little bit of encouragement for a smile, small
but still there, lit up his face.
"Yeah... you're probably right... I just... let my worries get the best of me.
I'm sorry."
Tsuzuku shakes his head and cups his cheeks, pressing their noses together. It
was times like this he was more than grateful for these small moments of close
contact. To be comforted was something Koichi needed more than anything.
"No no no, don't be sorry. Just remember, I'll always be with you no matter
what happens. I'll never think you're not good enough. I'll never leave your
side if even for a moment. All right?"
Koichi nodded, accepting a soft light hearted kiss.
"Mhm. I love you, you idiot," He answers with a laugh. Tsuzuku mirrored the
sound, pressing his lips anywhere he could.
"Yes but I'm your idiot. And I love you more."
///////////
He managed to find Koichi a low tank top so he didn't have to cut into any of
his shirts. It hung just over his shoulders so his wings were hidden but could
breathe. Tsuzuku himself also put on real clothes in the form of jeans and a
black and white striped shirt that was a few sizes too big.
Koichi ambled to the living room and chose his usual place on the couch.
Sitting with Mia like this felt kind of awkward, so he didn't say much at
first. Luckily his lover was the first to speak.
"When will Shinya get here?" He asked Mia. "I can't afford to take Koichi
anywhere on my own. He needs a hospital."
Mia shrugged, a gesture he rarely made nowadays.
"I don't know. All he said was that he would 'be there soon' but he didn't even
say when."
A few minutes of awkward silence go by before there is yet another knock at the
door. Koichi and Mia both sigh at the same time.
'That is probably him."
Tsuzuku rubs at Koichi's back before getting up to answer it. The pinkette
squirms, suddenly nervous. What would he think? Beyond Tsuzuku and Meto, Shinya
was the one he wanted approval from the most.
The door opened and there stood Shinya. Still somewhat dressed in sleep
clothes. His face was concerned and he had dark circles under his eyes. Right
behind him was Tomo, his counterpart. He was the only other one dressed like he
was going somewhere.
"Good morning Tsuzuku," his boss says and bows his head. "Sorry for showing up
so early like this."
"Shinya-san," Tsuzuku greets. "Its no oroblem at all. I'm glad you made it.
Please come in."
"Thank you."
They come in and immediately Shinya sits at Koichi's side to check on him.
"Koichi-kun," he says and takes his hands. "Please, tell me what's wrong. Are
you not feeling at all well? Do you feel sick?"
Koichi anxiously looked away, still very worried about how this conversation
might turn out. He just hoped Shinya would understand.
"It's nothing too bad I... I just started... sprouting my wings this morning,
and it was really painful. We just thought... someone might want to check on
me."
There's an audible intake of breath, and he half expected to see a look of
disdain cross his face. But to his surprise, the revelation seemed to excite
him. His eyes were wide and he held his breath for a brief few seconds before
he's... smiling.
"Is that so? Oh thank goodness," he says, relieved. "I thought something might
have gone wrong. I'm glad that's all it was. Still, it's a little early for the
wings to have already started developing. Don't you think, Tomo-san?"
He turns to look at his partner, seeing how he was less tense as before. Tomo
was probably nervous too. He nods, coming to stand near Shinya and examine
Koichi closely.
"Yes, but I think early is good. It means the new genes inside of him are
flourishing well," he says with a soft smile. "Well enough to take immediate
effect. So, Koichi-kun. Can we see them? We should probably take a look at them
before we determine if he needs a hospital or not."
Koichi swallowed and looks to his lover for confirmation. Tsuzuku nods, walking
behind him to pet the top of his head.
"It's okay Koichi. Just show them and we'll know if you're okay. That you are
okay."
Well, as long as Tsuzuku was here then... It should be fine. Besides, Shinya
looked more than ecstatic about the news and just as eager to see them.
"Um.. okay. Here goes I guess..."
He turned around, faltering for a second but it was long enough for Shinya and
Tomo to get a look of the small outlines against his shirt. Koichi inhaled and
slowly started to lift away his shirt so they could see, letting his wings out.
They fluttered in response to the cool air and seemed to be aching for freedom.
"They seem kind of small now," he says quickly when Shinya doesn't say
anything. "But... they'll get bigger right? Shinya-san?"
He angled his head backwards to look at him, only to find the smile had slipped
away. Shinya... looked scared. His face went pale and his breath came out in
shallow puffs. Even Tomo looked unusually shocked, even going so far as to take
a step back. Was something wrong with him after all?
Tsuzuku seemed to notice the uncomfortable look on Shinya's face and he
frowned.
"Shinya-San? What's the matter? Is something wrong?"
Shinya slowly stood up, shaking a little bit before turning away to look at
Tsuzuku.
"They're... they're white," was all he managed to squeak out. Koichi pulled his
tank top back down and curled up, now feeling even worse before.
"Are they not supposed to be?" Mia asked when his friend grew self conscious.
"Is white a bad color?"
Tomo could tell Shinya was becoming overwhelmed and decided to speak.
"They shouldn't be white," he says and helps Shinya to sit at the counter.
"It's genetically impossible."
"But why?" Tsuzuku asked. "Granted, I've never heard of a white Phoenix before
but... why are white wings an issue?"
Shinya took a deep breath and stared at him.
"You were not supposed to hear about them at all. White Phoenixes... Are
supposed to be extinct."
Wait what? But... But he was white? What does he mean by that? Koichi can
already feel more tears prickling his eyes.
"Extinct..?" He mumbles and looked at the ground. "I'm... wrong? I'm not
supposed to exist?"
"No no you're not wrong. Of course you are supposed to exist," Tsuzuku assured
and say near him to hug him before pinning a harsh stare at Tomo. "What do you
mean extinct? Where did they all go and why is Koichi one if them?"
His boss folds his hands together, concern etching his eye brows together.
"Well, to put it simply... your kind Tsuzuku, the daemons, exterminated them.
Every single one."
Tsuzuku felt like his heart was being crushed, and he suddenly felt queasy. His
kind... was responsible for the extinction of an entire sub species..? But
why...
"I... I don't believe you," he bit out. "We... I couldn't have... I don't know
about anything like that!"
Tomo sighed, a heavy and pitying noise that made him bristle with anger.
"You weren't supposed to," he reveals. "This happened almost two millennia ago,
and the Daemon elders wanted everything kept a secret for fear of losing their
standing with the public. If you want, I can tell you all about it."
Koichi started to cry again, and Tsuzuku hugged him close to comfort him. He
grits his teeth and stared at the wall, feeling more sad than angry right now.
How was he supposed to feel? Should he even trust them with information like
this?
But then again, it was a chance to learn about the history if his kind. This
was his chance to know everything. So he takes it.
"Tell me everything. Don't leave out a single detail."
TBC
***** Chapter 31 *****
Four thousand years ago
It was peaceful back then. Creatures and spirits of all types got along well
without wanting to kill each other every few minutes.
Even the lowest and weakest of spiritsgot along well with the other creatures
despite having no special qualities about them. They were seen as wholesomeand
innocent beings, their problems seen as nothing more than petty things.
The villages were small but happy, and little to no wrong doings were ever
done.
Despite all that however it all seemed more than a little... lackluster.
Everyone was the same, treated each other the same, no one to really look up
to.
So the high council, a group of the oldest and most wisest of the most well
known creatures that watched over this section of their world decided to do
something about it. They needed a type of leader, not too powerful that they
themselves would be overtaken, but just barely enough so they gained the
people's respect .
The oldest three of the council, the virtue Patience for that time period, an
eight thousand year old Leviathan, and a seven thousand and five hundred year
old Daemon, decided to ask the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, watching over them for
help.
They pleaded with her to send them a new type of creature, one that would
symbolize eternal peace, humility, and power to the rest of the world. The sun
Goddess heard their pleas, but would not listen at first unless they did her a
few favors.
"Bring me one female of the six different types of creature that reigns over
fire," she asked. "Only if they are over the age of five hundred years old, are
wise for their age, and willing to pledge eternal servitude to me. I need a new
Council of assistants for myself and the starting ingredients for your new
creature. If you can do that, then I will consider your request."
Her requests was taken gladly, and thus began the hunt for willing young
females for Amaterasu. The search took well over a month, but soon they had
well enough young ladies that fit her description.
A salamander, a young dragon spirit, a cherufe, an Efreet, one hellhound
spirit, and one Lampad spirit. Once they were all rounded up they took the
girls to Amaterasu's palace high in the clouds and offered the young girls to
her.
Amaterasu was very pleased with the line up, but felt that something was
missing.
"Hmm... This . This will do very well," she says after examining each woman.
"But... hmm, I need one last favor. I realized what sort of creature I want to
create, so this should be easy."
"What do you need, O Goddess?" The humble Daemon elder asks her. "Whatever you
need, we will get it."
Amaterasu smiled at them, and sent them on another search. This time, she
required a pure eagles feather, but not one of this world. They needed one from
Earth instead.
The elders were shocked but complied nonetheless. None of them had been to
Earth in centuries, so they had no idea what it would be like. Or what sort of
life forms what be inhabiting it.
Nonetheless, they constructed a portal to the other world deep under a mountain
side and with their combined skills successfully completed the gateway.
On Earth, things were were much more different than what they wereusedto.
Thesenew creatures were roaming around. Humans they were called. A simple,
plain, but very fascinating race. But very... confused.Lost, wandering
withoutmuchpurpose beyond that oftheirancientGods. Their faith and the fear it
instilled in them was all these early humans knew their whole life. Blood
sacrifices and the like back then was normal.
Andsince they werein the part of the underworld underJapan, theysawthings that
were all too much like that. Young maidens and princes were all being
sacrificed left and right to what they believed to be their Gods.Buttheywere
nothingmore than false deities, monsters in disguise to make a quick snack out
of theirsacrifices.
But it wasn't in their jobs to worry about humans . Someone else would have to
deal with it. They were only here to find one thing.
This search took alittle whilelonger than last time. Eagles were not
exactlyoutin the open. After many weeksofsearching and searching they found
anestof the. high up in an unknownmountainrange.
A mother and two chicks, both ofwhomwerereadyleave the nest. They watched these
eagles forabouta week before anything interesting happened. The two Eagles left
thenest togo find food and the Elders took thisopportunityto look for any
feathers.
Luck seemed to be on their side for there were a few of their feathers left
behind. And all they needed was one.
With the trip a success, the Elders returned home and returned to Amaterasu
with the feather. The sun Goddess was more than pleased, and took their
determination as more than incentive to now listen to their request.
"Return to me in three more days," she instructed them. "And my assistants and
I will come up with your new creature. Have faith in me, and I will provide."
The three days passed by without incident, and as promised they returned back.
What they were met with was more than any if them could have imagined .
Two creatures, not just one. Well, more like two types of one creature. Large
birds resembling a type of peacock and the size of a small car stood beside the
Goddess proudly. One, a bright sunburst mix of orange, red and yellow; a symbol
of diversity and uniqueness, the very epitome of their world. It's tail
feathers also resembled that if a peacock except it was all in flames. It's
talons were black and the eyes a fiery topaz orange.
The other was a pure snow white color, having no other pigment besides the blue
in it's its eyes and the grey of its talons. The feathers emitted a bright pale
fire, giving off little to no heat. This one a symbol of purity and power.
They were perfect in every way. The three Elders were more than pleased.
"Many thanks, oh lovely Goddess Amaterasu," theychorused. "They are perfect,
but what do you call such magnificent beasts?"
Amaterasu smiled at them, a cunning look telling of light hearted mischief.
"That, my dear friends, is uptoyou. Nurture them, guide them. Teach them to be
good and spread them all across this land. Then the right name will come to
you. Now, please,Ihave worked many hours. I need my rest as do all deities do.
Leave me,I will checkon their progress in a few years time."
The Elders left Amaterasu to rest from her work and set out upon their newest
quest .
Fast forward a hundred years later, and the new species is now flourishing in
this world. Long ago they had decided on a name for them. Phoenixes they would
be called. And their original goal had already been realized.
People and beasts of all types began to recognize the Phoenix as a symbol of
respect, honor, courage and power. They were looked up to, the model citizens.
The colored Phoenix, happy and uplifting even on the worst of days . The white
ones, stoic but humble, making people see how unique their lives really were.
Life was as good as it got. Peaceful, no wars broke out and sickness was rare.
It seemed like nothing could go wrong.
But of course, things always seemed to in the worst possible way.
A peaceful one thousand and five hundred years passed before anyone noticed
anything wrong . At first it was the kids in school who noticed it. The
students who were perfect and had feathers that glistened like snow, began to
bully the other kids for being different. They said they weren't pure, that
their genes were dirty and mixed up. Not perfect, like they were.
They even picked on the colored Phoenixes , their cousins who shone like the
brightest orange sun. Saying that they could never be as good as they were,
that they were not pure and were tainted with common filth.
The sunburst Phoenixes had no choice but to back away, to separate themselves
entirely from their 'Cousins.'
Things only began to go downhill from there.
They began to develop secret meeting places just for their own , not letting
anyone less than a pureblood White Phoenix inside. And that's simply what they
wanted all along. To isolate- no. Separate themselves from the common people ,
from the impurities and scum of the world. Or so they led themselves to
believe.
Soon, the entire magical world began to realize just how far gone the White
Phoenixes were, how arrogant they became when they realized they were looked at
like they were Gods. Now they really started to believe they were.
Fast forward another five hundred years and everything was in pandemonium. The
High council was in constant war with the newestsourceof unrivalled power in
thecity. The Pure Blooded Organization, another highcouncil comprised
entirelyof White Phoenixes only. They even had an entire section of the city to
themselves,blocked offfrom the rest by high barbed fences and angry racist
guards ateveryentrance.
It wasthecomplete opposite ofwhat theElders wantedto happen. Instead of order,
theyreceivedchaos.
Amaterasu disappeared, her temple having been abandoned for what seemed like
centuries. So she was of no help.It's likeshe did not want to see the monsters
that her'children'had turned into.
The first Phoenixes , both white and sunburst, were nowhere to be found . As
though they had just... disappeared.
This civil war raged on and on for what felt like forever. The High Council and
thenewlyestablished Daemon Task force held many meetings with their allies,
thesunburst Phoenixes, to figure out what to do. Only the highest ranking
Phoenixes of course.
These meetings would go on for hours, often leading to nowhere but arguments.
"We need to speak to them, make them realize where they have gone wrong,"
someone would say. "These creatures are lost, misguided. We need to bring them
back into the light."
"No! They are no longer deserving of our hope, or our help," someone would
disagree loudly . "They need to be punished! Nay , they need be exterminated!"
"There is no need for such extreme action," came the reply. "I am sure
Amaterasu-sama will help us-"
"Fool! We have no choice! This city, these people, are in danger. All
becauseourso called'Sun goddess' couldn'tmake just one of those abominations
could she? She justcouldn'thelp but to let slip a little bit of her arrogance
when the thingsweremade. And now she's abandoned us! Where is your Goddess now?
Thesepure bloodedpests believe that anyone notof theirkind deserve to be
ordered around like beasts, like slaves. They want power, theywantto control
us. WellIsay wegetrid of them!"
This stretched on for days, weeks even. Finally , after many a temper was lost
and rising hostility there was but one thing left to do.
" We have no other choice," the eldest, Patience, said with regret in his eyes.
"This is beginning to affect the magical fabric of our world. We aren't
supposed to fight like this... We are supposed to be in sync and yet..."
The next two oldest agreed completely .
"They disrupt the natural order," spoke the Leviathan. "Andtherefore theymust
be..."
He looked to the Daemon elder for him to continue, and that he did with heavy
eyes.
"Eliminated."
Of course the decision was met with mixed responses. Some in agreement and
enthusiasm. Some in disagreement and sadness. But most of it was by none other
than the sunburst Phoenixes. They loved their cousins to death. Of course they
didn't want to see an entire section of their race eliminated because of their
egos..!
One sunburst , a young male with fiery blonde hair, tried to reason with them.
"Please there has to be another way," came the response. "Please, we can help
them I know we can."
But he was swiftly silenced. Patience stood from his spot at a long wooden
table in a huge auditorium, looking at his allies seriously .
"Silence. This has gone on long enough. They may have been an integral part of
our society at some point. But those times are long gone now. They are a threat
to us, to our way of life, to everything we've ever known . It's time that we
took proper action. Unfortunately for us, that means..."
He paused, unable to shake away or swallow down the lump in his throat. But
someone else spoke before he could continue.
" That means what? The genocide of an entire race?" Came an upset reply. "And
what of their children? Their elderly? The innocent ones who have no idea that
they are wrong?"
He sighed and looked around himself, sadness weighing on his heart.
"And that means... We have a lot of work to do."
This meeting would prove to be the most important one. And the last. The new
organization comprised entirely of Daemons began a long and gruelingtraining
periodthat lasted for over a year. They had to make sure that they were more
thanstrongenough to take on an entire faction of angry and power hungry
Phoenixes.
Soon enough, the Daemon army marched upon the forbidden section of city with
only one set of goals in mind; find and kill.
The White Phoenixes were taken by surprise, having not been prepared for one
and not expecting an attack this early. And so began one of the shortest but
most bloodiest invasions in the entire history of the magical world.
No one was spared, and no one was asked if they wanted to surrender. It was
just... find and destroy. The daemons were still young but unable to control
their emotions as well as their strength. The enemy had no chance whatsoever
against such a a fierce adversary.
Finally, after a mere short but hellish four hours it was finally over.
Bodies linedthe streets, young and old. Thedaemonswerepulledout of the front
lines so clean up could ensue. Civilians from theotherside were instructed not
to come outside under anycircumstancesuntil everything was figuredout.
Of course, this day did not come without its consequences .
An entire species, created by Amaterasu herself. Gone, in only a few short
hours. The world would surely never be the same after this. But... It was for
the best, for magical kind everywhere.
Then of course there was the disposal of all the evidence. The only way to
truly kill a Phoenix forever was to douse the corpses in a special kind of oil
made from a mix of flowers before setting them ablaze. This was to ensure that
they couldn't just be reborn from their own ashes.
About a week after the incident things sort of returned to normal. But it was
like they had expected, he commonpeople were meeting the news with a mix of
happiness and of course, outrage.
"We didwhathad to be done," the Elders stated whenquestioned aboutwhat they had
done. "Theywerelittle more than beasts turning against their own kin. Had we
not acted,surelythey would have acted against us as well. But knowing their
habits, they would have enslaved everyone. So, our actions have paved thewayto
years of peace."
And so, with the death of an entire species and the disappearance of Amaterasu,
things in the magical world went back to normal. Or as normal as things could
get for them.
The High Council soon managed to make people forget that such creatures ever
even existed. It took a little over a thousand years, but they were successful.
They would soon enjoy another two thousand years of peace in the future ,
unaware that they had indeed made one grave mistake.
You can't really exterminate an entire species can you? At least, not in so
short a time.
THE PRESENT DAY
The room was silent save for the sound of multiple heartbeats at once. It was
tense, and believably so. So much information was hard to take in all of a
sudden, and no one who didn't know this knew what to say just yet.
"So... This whole time there's been an entire extinct species," Tsuzuku begins,
disbelieving. "And... It was it all because of my kind? Of what we did?"
Shinya sighed, clearly not in a good mood.
"Yes, and regretfully so. Had I been the one to be there I would have tried to
do something different. I'm glad they told me this, sure. But..."
He trails off, too upset to continue. Tsuzuku took that as initiative to
continue asking questions. 
"Is that why a lot of the Phoenixes are rare in this particular city? Why
hasn't anyone told me of this? Why doesn't anyone else know?"
"Because it was the will of the oldest Elders." Meto suddenly snaps at him, a
look of regret haunting his eyes. "Back then, their word was the law since
Amaterasu disappeared. If everyone knew, we would probably be turned against.
Old and bad blood is something that needs to be forgotten, not brought up over
and over again. That's not how the world works anymore. It was a terrible day,
and looking back on it would only do more harm than good."
At once Tsuzuku looked at his boss, feeling betrayed just in the slightest. And
this whole time, Meto knew everything and never bothered to say anything? He
didn't even know how he felt about that anymore. 
"I see. So you knew what my ancestors did and kept it a secret from me.
Fabulous. Just really great, really."
"It wasn't just you," came the retort, just as irked. "In fact, you are the
only daemon that knows now. The others from back then, their memories were
erased while they were still young so they wouldn't start having doubts. And
since then, not one daemon that has been created has ever been given
information on these events. Not one, except you." 
Well that was certainly something to digest wasn't it? Yeah no pressure at all.
He decided it was best not to speak right now, not while he was angry and there
was a chance something hurtful could leave his mouth. 
"So that Patience you talked about. That wasn't you?" Mia asked Shinya, the
first time he spoke in a while.
"No, I am still very young, I'm only a thousand years old. The Patience from
that time is old and retired somewhere in the Bahamas, I don't know."
At that response Koichi scoffed, his sadness having already turned into anger.
"So if Tsuzuku's ancestors slaughtered all the White Phoenixes then how the
hell am I here?" He demands with a rise from his seat. "I'm supposed to be a
sunburst Phoenix, and yet I am a white one. So what gives?"
Tomo crosses his arms and looks away, but he seems like the only one willing to
answer such a question. Meto had to sit by Mia to keep him from asking unneeded
questions or say anything not necessary. 
"See that's the thing," he stated in surprise. "We don't have the slightest
idea. Back then, technology was primitive at best. No one investigated the
aftermath, no one searched for any possibly survivors. It was the least
efficient but quickest way there was. Now though, in order to figure out this
mystery we need to do some heavy testing and investigate further now that
technology is in it's prime. We'll need your help with this of course, Koichi-
kun."
Koichi exhaled, tugging at his hair and pacing in front of the TV. Tsuzuku had
to grab his hand as minutes passed by without him responding any other way. He
stopped pacing and looks at him, desperation all over his face. But Tsuzuku
just smiled, even if it was sort of weak. Still, every time he saw it his heart
felt a little more at peace. 
"It's okay," his lover assured him. "We'll be okay, and we'll figure this out."
Maybe he was right. They were not going to get anywhere with this by staying
angry. If they wanted answers, they had to work for them. 
"I know I just... I need to be alone for a while, maybe do some more work to
clear my head."
Truthfully, school was the least of his worries at this point what with
everything else going on. But he had to get it out of the way didn't he? Shinya
and Tomo decided it would be best to wait until the tensions were lowered.
Tsuzuku decided to walk Koichi to the steps but were both stopped when Meto
spoke again. 
"Koichi-kun, how is your work coming along? Are you almost done?"
The new Phoenix hesitated at first, but decided to be truthful. 
"Yes, I managed to finish two of them last week, and I have two let before I
can leave school for good."
The spirit seemed pleased, smiling as he had Mia go with him to the apartment
door. 
"That's good, soon you will be your own person, Koichi. And we can really use
your help. Mia is also looking to finish as well, so maybe you two could be
classmates again."
Mia looked away, blushing up to his ears. He probably was having bad memories
about school again, just as he would expect. But Koichi was glad to hear that.
At least there would be some sort of normalcy to their lives again. 
And speaking of Mia...
"Have you decided on your splicing yet Mia-kun?" he asks his friend. "I haven't
heard anything about that."
The blonde turned back to him, his cheeks still red and flushed. 
"Well... It's a tie really," he admitted. "Between a skin walker and a hydra. I
always thought that transforming was cool, but so are snakes."
Skin walker? He never heard of one of those before. A hydra yes, but...
"What's a skin walker?" he asked. Tsuzuku answered that question for him. 
"It's... another rare creature. They are similar to shape shifters except that
instead of just animals they can also become humanoid in shape. They're rare
because they're originated from America. Native American to be exact. They're
supposed to be sacred and are very sneaky. A long time ago they hid from humans
because they were, for some reason very easy to spot hence their need to be
sneaky. Now though, they are spreading throughout the magical world, but are
still rare, hence their value."
Somewhere by Shinya and Tomo a phone rang, probably about their work or
something. 
"A good choice if you ask me," Meto says and lifted his hands up. "But hey,
that's just my two cents on this matter. Anyway, we should get going. I have a
lot of work to do, reports to fill out."
Tsuzuku was ready to let them go before Shinya once again, interrupted them. 
"Guys you might want to come see this," he says urgently. "Today maybe." 
Oh great, what now? The four of them regroup in the kitchen so Shinya could
show them whatever was so important. He pulls up his phone's mail app and opens
the newest one. 
"I just received this e-mail from Kaoru. Looks like one of Layha's vampire
buddies was just caught in the act of fornication and feeding with a human and
has been captured."
Tsuzuku scanned the message, feeling his stomach start to feel funny. he wasn't
sure how to describe it though. 
"To Shinya-sama. I am thrilled to inform you that we have managed to catch a
suspect involved in this vampire business. We have him quarantined in the
basement level of the Security Building thanks to some high level anti vampire
seals. Please, bring your best agents, we need answers. Interrogation seems to
be the only leverage we have. We'll be waiting for you to arrive. From Kaoru."
Tsuzuku gave back the phone, not sure if he was happy or a little... well,
unsettled. 
"What should we do?" Mia asks. "We have one of them, but who knows if he will
even talk?"
Koichi bounced on his heels, his earlier frustration long gone. 
"Only one way to find out really," he says and tugged on Tsuzuku's sleeve.
"Let's go ask him, or, interrogate him I guess." 
His enthused lover seemed to be looking for anything to distract himself from
his new problems. And who could blame him? Question was, is this really such a
good idea?
"What do you think?" He asked his superior. Meto shrugged, sort of neutral to
the whole thing. 
"Could be worth a shot. It's not like he's going anywhere."
"And truthfully," Shinya says with a sly grin. "If this vampire doesn't
cooperate right away, all the more reason to vent out your anger on him right?"
That was true. At this point, anything that was handed to them could work
really. As long as they got somewhere. 
"I guess so," he finally says. "Well... We'll meet you there, yeah?" 
Meto nodded, getting on the hype train like all of them already were.
"Yeah sure. We're leaving first."
Maybe this was the right step in the right in the right direction that they all
needed. 
Once everyone left Koichi and Tsuzuku went back to the room and were getting
all ready to go not too much later, until the pinkette noticed one tiny
detail. 
"Hang on. Tsuzuku?" he asked his lover who was dressing all in black leather
like what he first met him in. 
"Yeah babe?"
Koichi took off his tanktop and showed off his wings, their color still
unsettling to him. 
"How am I gonna hide these?"
 
TBC
***** Chapter 32 *****
It's really been a long time since Koichi understood what it meant to be afraid
for no obvious reason. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that
seemed unexplainable. But he was sure feeling it right now. He and Tsuzuku
arrived here at the company building not long after they received the message
from Kaoru just a few moments ago. And now they were in the elevator going down
for once.
He had never been down here before. And from the anxious way Tsuzuku was
behaving he hadn't either. Hell they had to be given a special security code
just to access the bottom floors. There must really be something serious down
here.
Koichi bites on the tip of his left thumb in impatience, a habit he picked up
unwittingly from Mia. He tended to do that when he grew nervous about
something.
"Hey. It'll be okay," Tsuzuku says to him as he noticed the worrying. "We'll
get our answers as soon as we are done here. Maybe if we ask the right
questions we can finally solve this horrible case and we can catch whoever is
pulling the puppet strings. Then we can put this whole thing behind us."
His lover nodded at him, grasping his fingers to comfort him. Koichi responded
with a nod of his own, already hearing his heart calm down.
"Okay... let's just hope that... we find what we need down there."
Personally, Koichi could safely say he was beginning to dislike riding in
elevators. Especially this one.
Tsuzuku watched the dial on the elevator door count away the floors below them
the further they went with a growing nagging at the back of his brain. -4. -5.
-6. There was something telling him that this was a really bad idea. But...
They had to try. They needed to figure this out.
Finally, the blasted elevator stops at negative eight before stopping fully.
Koichi was never so happy for an elevator to stop. That is, until the doors
dinged open slowly. What was beyond the doors sent even more chills down his
spine and all over his body.
A corridor, long dark and made of grey lime stone with dripping wet crevices.
The floor was made of chiselled and old stone, the ceiling the same way. Red
dim lanterns hung sparsely along the way, and only caused an even more eerie
feeling to settle on them both. Down at the end of this corridor was a big
door, presumably metal based on the gleam it gave off from the lanterns.
Tsuzuku was now a hundred percent positive that he has never been down here.
Ever.
Stepping out felt like they went back in time or something. As thoigh they were
in an old castle, or even a secret tunnel. Even a... a dungeon.
Which was precisely what it was. They came here seeking out answers and if they
had to fight for them then so be it.
"What is this place? It's so creepy, I don't like it," Koichi peeped and
grabbed onto Tsuzuku's arm as they started to walk. "I don't like the
atmosphere in here."
"You can say that again," Tsuzuku says and puts an arm around his lovers waist.
"It's definitely creepy. But... here, hold onto me. I'll be beside you the
whole way."
"Thanks. I'm still not used to this whole idea of there being a medieval
torture dungeon down here. I thought these people had more morality than that.
Or at least better facilities..."
Tsuzuku had to laugh at that, squishing Koichi's cheeks with his lips in a
chaste kiss.
"If you have not grasped it already, we aren't exactly human. We may be
civilized and have a sense of intelligence. But deep down, we're all still
beasts at best. And what better way to deal with a beast than with beastly
ways? Vampires are vicious but very hardy. It takes a very... huge effort to
even get them to speak their names if needed. A great deal more if we need
information."
Oh yes. He had almost forgotten that morals were different down here. Excessive
force was apparently not frowned upon. Koichi could see an animalistic gleam
shining in his lover's eyes, almost like bloodlust.
"That's scary. You have a scary look in your eyes," Koichi says with a nervous
smile and only half joking. "Are you okay?"
Tsuzuku takes his eyes off the hallway to look at Koichi with a soft smile.
That look was gone thank goodness.
"Don't worry, I won't be the one interrogating here so you can relax. We're
just here to... observe."
Even so, the very thought that Tsuzuku might be enjoying himself at the
prospect of torture seemed unsettling to him. That was probably just his human
instincts getting in the way.
"Okay I guess. Now let's just get out of this scary hallway, I don't feel right
in here."
His lover laughs and grasps at his fingers tighter.
"It's okay I'm here," he assured and went on to examine their surroundings as
they walked. "Wow would you look at these walls? This place is ancient, how
come they never told me about this place before?"
"Maybe cause it was supposed to be a secret for a while?" Koichi suggests. "The
knowledge of there being a torture chamber down here wouldn't exactly sit well
with me."
Had this knowledge gotten out to the public there would be straight up chaos.
People would be think it would be okay to return to their violent pasts and
settle things on their own. But what they should know by now was that violence
was only legally accepted within organizations and only if certain protocols
were met.
"Yeah I know. It's just that... with all the things they have been hiding from
me, from us, up to now... I kind of feel like secrets should no longer be
getting in the way. You know?"
The metal door finally was within arms distance and they both collectively felt
relieved.
"I understand. But maybe there are some things that need a right time to be
revealed. That's all I'm saying. There comes a time for everything, and I'm
proof of that."
It's true, Koichi was by far the best thing that could have happened to him.
There was a point in his life that he always felt depressed, deep in his own
hole of self despair and no hope. But now that Koichi was here he would be
okay.
At least, they would be if it weren't for this whole vampire mess. But he would
not let that bother him for now. Tsuzuku stops walking just before the door and
pulls Koichi in for a hug, inhaling the sweet smell that was purely his lover.
"Well yeah, what life could I have ever lived without you?" He asks and cups
his cheeks to make him imitate a fish. "You're so cute and perfect and you're
all mine. Mine mine mine."
Koichi pulls back to laugh, feeling his chest swell with a flood of
indescribable emotions.
"Don't be selfish, there is plenty of Koichi to go around," he giggled with a
devious grin. "Though I would have to say you probably get the best piece huh?"
"Hehe I better," Tsuzuku says with a slow open mouthed kiss to his lips.
"Otherwise you and I are going to have a serious conversation about being too
generous."
Koichi smirked, letting himself be pushed up against the wall near the door
with hands holding his hips down. Suddenly the atmosphere in here changed from
being dark and gloomy to one that was perfect for this sort of thing. His chest
felt hot and excitement buzzed through his veins.
"Oh yeah? And what if I'm too generous? What are you gonna do about it?"
Tsuzuku growled and gripped his hips tighter before leaning in close, their
noses touching and breath mingling. His eyes darkened like before but this time
with a different sort of lust.
"I might have to lock you away so no one can get to you. I'll be selfish with
you all I want to be."
Koichi tried to retort back but was lost under a suffocating kiss, only able to
muffle his words as their arms wrapped around each other. His words were lost
under a sea of heat and passion. God DAMN it Tsuzuku was such a good kisser.
Their tongues tangled and danced as a small drawn out moan trickled out of
Koichi's mouth.
Fingers went up to weave through his hair and hold him closer, their bodies
pressing as close as their clothes would allow that would not seem too obscene.
Koichi gasped through the kiss as his hips started to feel a little tingly, hot
even. But it felt good so he encouraged the hand that was pressing on it to
keep going, wiggling his body back and forth. That must have been the right
button to push for they broke apart only by centimeters before teeth are gently
but hotly tugging at his lip.
"Shh, don't talk anymore or else I can't promise I'll be able to behave
myself," he warned when it seemed like Koichi was going to respond with a witty
response. "Be a good boy and just maybe I won't punish you later for
antagonizing me."
Koichi pouted and went for another kiss, softer this time but just as hot.
"Are we seriously gonna wait an entire month..?" he complains and lets his arms
snake around Tsuzuku's neck. "It seems like too far away and I really am
starting to get impatient. I want you so bad, Tsuzuku. I can't take it
anymore."
With a sympathetic smile he cups Koichi's cheek and runs his thumb over a full
and plump lip.
"I know love, I am too believe me. There is nothing I want more than you right
now but... We have to wait. Your birthday is the best day possible for this you
know? We'll make it the best day of your life. A trip to somewhere nice, a
wonderful dinner, cake, presents..." he paused to take Koichi's hands in his
and lift them to his mouth to kiss his knuckles, smirking playfully. "And best
of all... me."
It was enough to send the pinkette's heart into overdrive. Good god he loved
this man so much it hurt. He had some really good points though. His birthday
would be all the more reason to wait. And to hell with what his parents might
think, he was gonna do it whether they approved of Tsuzuku or not.
Laughing a little bit he hugged his lover tight, satisfied beyond what words
could possibly express.
"Okay, fair point," he mumbled with red cheeks. "Then you better make sure that
I have the time of my life on that day or else I will be really disappointed."
His lover laughs and grabs his hand before backing away to give him space, but
not before snatching one last kiss.
"Gods I love you Koichi... Trust me. I'm very certain that we're never gonna
forget that day. Ever. Or any birthdays after that, for many years to come.
Although I can promise that later on I can uh... give you a small taste if
you'd like?"
He didn't give Koichi time to answer as he swings open the heavy metal door,
their hands still intertwined. But at that little promise of what was to come
Koichi could already feel the tension in his stomach get worse, in the best
way. Now he couldn't wait to get home and see what Tsuzuku had in mind.
With that they entered a completely new room, this one just as old wet and dark
as the hallway previous. Their friends were already all here and waiting for
them probably. There were a few chairs, old and wooden, but mostly everyone
just stood up straight. Shinya and Mia were the only ones sitting. It was a
wide and tall room, about fifty square feet and around ten feet high with red
lanterns hanging about, one on only three of the four walls. Pretty impressive,
but not so much as what was on the far end wall.
A singular cage, about ten square feet and very cramped looking, barely enough
room for two people to move around comfortably. Inside was a person, probably
their suspect everyone was talking about. There were two heavy iron chains
keeping him tied to the wall behind him, and a padlock keeping the door secure,
and Kyo and Kaoru stood on either side just in case. There was even a big round
light dangling above the cage, but it wasn't on. That was probably the best
means of torture they had.
It was too dark to make out any discernible features on their prisoner, even
with their somewhat enhanced sight. However one could easily make out the
distinct red glow of insanity induced and heavy eyes. A lingering smell of
diseased mutated blood hung in the air.
A new chill crept along Koichi's arms as he realized what kind of situation
this really was. A vampire, a real live vampire. He had never met one that was
of ill intent before, and this might not be the last he realizes. It all just
seemed... very surreal.
"So you're finally all here," the vampire suddenly spoke from inside the cage,
his voice low and hoarse from misuse. "Here and ready to try and wring answers
out of me huh? Heh... hahahahaha... ehehe..."
Tsuzuku's eyes narrowed and he looked to Meto and Shinya for answers.
"He's been silent up to this point," Meto admits with a shrug. "A few moments
ago he said he could smell you coming closer. His instincts are remarkably on
point. As is his... resilience to normal means of persuasion."
"Yes," came a leering hiss followed by a throaty chuckle. "And it isn't too
hard to pick up on sexual pheromones either. Have you two newcomers been making
out? I can smell the lust on you like you're wearing a second layer of clothes.
Honestly, how unbecoming, ehehehehehe... And I thought I was the impolite one."
Tsuzuku flared up in anger as Koichi coughed uncomfortably. Luckily he didn't
have to say much.
"You shut your dirty mouth," Kaoru suddenly barked at the prisoner. "You have
no room to speak, you filthy abomination."
But all he got was more laughter in return followed by painful coughing. Sounds
like he was already in some sort of pain before they even got here. What was
going on?
"Please," the vampire croaked. "I've already come to peace with what I am, even
if I didn't want it at all. And you know what, I'm in a good mood. I'll give
you the information you want, for a... small price."
Shinya stands up and approached the cage, but still kept a reasonable distance.
"And what is it that you want? Your freedom?"
Another laugh, this one sounding very condescending as though he didn't enjoy
being made a fool of.
"Just hold back on the torture a little okay? That's all I am asking really. So
what do you say hmm?"
They all looked around one another, silent and pondering. It was after a brief
minute and a half that someone finally spoke.
"I don't trust him," Tomo says with a hateful glare at the vampire. "His forked
tongue is good at weaving lies to try and worm his way into our minds. I say we
kill him and be done with it."
"As I expected of wrath," came the amused answer. "But I spin no lies on this
occasion, only the truth. Besides, I don't have much to lose anyway even if I
don't tell you and I am tortured until my soul is finally plunged into hell."
Shinya thought as he paced around before going back to his seat and leaning on
his palm.
"Settle down Tomo. We can't let ourselves be carried away by anger. We need to
think this through rationally. He has information vital to our cause. To kill
him right away would be such a waste."
"And it's such a good story too," the vampire laughs in a hissing tone. "it
would almost be a waste not to tell you. I'm just itching to spill my guts to a
bunch of strangers."
His words hung in the air like some sort of incentive for them to accept his
proposal. If he was really willing to give away free info then... who were they
to deny such an opportunity?
"I say we let him talk," Tsuzuku suddenly says. "If what he says is true then
we can use him. If not, you can always torture him more."
"Good idea," Tomo says. "We'll wring whatever we can out of him. It's like win/
lose. And he can start be telling us who he is."
The vampire laughs, his chains jangling as he did so. His answer came as a low
rumble.
"They call me Juri. I'm a new born, hence my... embarrassingly easy capture."
"Who were you before you got turned into a vampire?" Shinya asks. Juri laughs,
his head lolling about lazily.
"Ahh an interesting question. Funny thing is, I used to be a demon. I'm glad
that life is behind me, being a vampire is so much better."
A... A demon?
"But... how were you able to transform from demon to vampire? There is no such
magic that can accomplish such a thing," Shinya argued. "Unless, by some freak
chance... You were involved with the old ones."
Juri suddenly started to laugh, a throaty gurgling that sounded utterly
painful.
"Ahh my master... I miss him so much already. But I love him, enough to
willingly sacrifice myself for him. I was weak, therefore I must pay the
price..."
So it was true. One of those things really is out there. Shinya knew he was
headed in the right direction, he was just hoping he wasn't.
"Who is your master?" Tomo demands. "Tell us, now."
Juri takes a breath, his chest heaving with each inhale as though he were going
through a great deal of effort.
"Don't know his name," he admits. "But he is master, and master always gets
what he wants. Even if I myself have failed him there are others. Others who
will make sure master is successful..."
Tsuzuku shuddered before deciding on an important question.
"Where is your master's hideout?"
Juri lifts his head, his eyes visible but not his face.
"Don't... don't remember. Only met him once. But... master made me this way.
And I must be useful in some way. To make sure he is never found and he can
continue working towards his goal."
Everyone in the room stilled in shocked silence. What exactly were they dealing
with here?
"And what is that goal exactly? World domination? War with the humans? What?"
"No No No, master is not so petty as to want the entire planet to himself. He
knows he cannot control all of them. No, what he wants is something... more
personal than that. And he'll get it one way or another."
"And what's that?" Tsuzuku asked. As he did he can feel those creepy red eyes
land on him, pinning him to the wall eerily.
"Why, he wants you of course," Juri says matter of factly. "The lovely daemon
everyone keeps talking about. And... Oh? Well well."
The vampire sniffs the air and starts to giggle maniacally.
"What? Spit it out vile creature!" Kaoru barked at him. Juri takes another
harsh breath before speaking again in a serious low voice.
"And you have another rare species don't you? That lovely little pink and white
Phoenix there. Oh master would love to get his hands on him. How much is he
worth?"
Anger boils in Tsuzuku's veins and he rushed the cage, grabbing the bars with
such force he could swear that they would probably be indented by his fingers.
Koichi takes a step back, fear rushing through his body. How did this vampire
know what he was?
"You won't touch him," he snarled animalistically. "You won't so much as lay a
finger on him! You hear me? You're better off dead or left for dead down here
for all I care. And so is your so called master. I don't care if they torture
you, I don't care if you're left with nothing but your memories. He will never
succeed. And I will never go to him. Ever."
Juri once more laughs, this time it was quieter and more strained.
"Oh believe me," he says. "Master always gets what he wants. Even if I have to
sacrifice myself... This world shall know of my Master's true power. He will
always... always be successful. And I'll make sure of that."
Out of nowhere Juri bites down on his cheek, spasming in out of control jerky
movements that cause his chains to rattle noisily. At first everyone is stunned
before they realize what was happening. Shinya switched on the light and rushed
forward.
"Kaoru! Get in there!" Shinya ordered. "We cannot lose our only source of
unformation!"
Kaoru hastily undoes the padlock with a huge old key and rushed into the cell
to make sure Juri wasn't trying to kill himself. The vampire gags and jerks
about, a milky white foam bubbling from his mouth. His body jerks a few more
times before he goes still. Kaoru checks his pulse.
"Still alive but barely," he sighs. "His heartbeat is faint. What should we-"
He's cut off as Juri jolts awake, panting and gasping for air. His eyes wildly
look around, the overhead lights finally showing his features for what they
were. Juri was young and very beautiful, but one could see he was troubled.
Teeth marks littered his body all over, showing how he was used before.
"Wha.... where... am I? Who are you people?" He mumbles fearfully and backs
away from Kaoru. "Why am I... chained up..?"
What the hell? Kaoru frowned and grabbed his hair, tugging on it to make Juri
whimper in pain.
"Do not lie to us snake," he snaps. "Playing dumb won't get you anywhere!"
Shinya watched their exchange with a cold chill, fearing the worst.
"Ouch! Stop, you're hurting me!" Juri cried out. "I really don't know! Please
stop it!"
Kaoru suddenly noticed a small medicine capsule casing on the inside of the
vampire's cheek and forcefully shoved his fingers inside to grab it. Juri
choked and yanks his head back, tears now prickling his eyes.
"Sir. There's something in his mouth. It looks like medicine or some kind of
spell."
"Bring it here," Shinya says wearily and sits down. "We'll have the labs
analyze it and see what is going on."
Kaoru gave Juri one last glare before exiting the cage and locking it behind
himself. Juri curled his legs to his chest and whimpered silently, a pathetic
display really.
"It seems as though he has wiped his own memory," Tomo says. "Though we won't
know for sure until we get that capsule analyzed. Get it upstairs Kaoru. We'll
take it from here."
"Yes sir," Kaoru agreed and began to leave. Tsuzuku and Koichi both stand up
against the wall next to the door, still shocked about what the hell just now
happened. But at least now they knew what they were dealing with here. But it
still wasn't enough information. They needed more.
"Well. I certainly wasn't expecting that," Meto says with a shake of his head.
"To think he would erase his own memory for the sake of his master... Amazing."
Tsuzuku nodded, still holding right onto his lover who was shaking a little
bit.
"It's okay love," he soothes him. "We'll be okay, and we'll figure something
out."
Koichi grabs his hand, pressing closer.
"I know. We always do. Don't we?"
TBC
***** Chapter 33 *****
It took a few more minutes, but Tsuzuku and Koichi were both able to get to the
top of the tower where Shinya was with the rest of their friends. Juri was
taken to the hospital where doctors could check him out and see what they could
do.
"So what do we do now?" Mia asked once they were sorted in the living room.
"Since his memory is gone..."
Shinya shook his head, arms folded as he paces in front of the TV.
"Well we won't know for certain until the results on that medicine caplet come
back. Until then, we'll just have to figure out what to do with him regarding
where he should stay."
Tomo decided at that point to speak.
"I still think we should kill him," he says. "We may not be able to get
whatever information he knows back out of his brain. He's already useless if he
can't even remember anything."
Shinya made another exasperated face for the millionth time that day. Tomo was
always so quick to jump to conclusions.
"Tomo please... if he is indeed useless regarding information then we will find
a way to make him useful somehow or another. However, if there is a way to get
his memory back, then we will do it. I don't believe that we have to kill him."
Tomo rolls his eyes at Shinya and stalks to the kitchen, grumbling to himself
under his breath. Honestly Shinya adored that man but sometimes he let his
temper get the very best of him, even for Wrath. He needed to learn how to keep
his emotions under control, at least in his own opinion he did.
Tsuzuku on the other hand still wasn't too sure what they should do. Juri was
an asset but also a threat. If he stayed around and somehow got his memories
back, what if he tried something? There were so many possibilities of things
that could go wrong.
However, there was still a chance that he may never get them back. What would
they do then?
"And if he doesn't?" Mia asked again. He was unusually chatty today. Shinya
must have realized this as well, for he rose an eyebrow.
"Then we'll have to hope we can conform him to our ways. Make him a better
person than he used to be. The future is full of uncertainties right now, so
the best we can do is wait."
"Hmph. One can only wonder how long that will take," everyone heard Tomo mumble
from the kitchen. Of course, everyone was inclined to agree.
It was almost two hours later before Shinya got results from a half witch half
shifter scientist named Leda, a few floors down from over the phone about the
half chewed medicine caplet they found. And of course it wasn't good news.
He and Tomo had gone back to his office when the call came, so they immediately
took it.
"So, what can you tell me about what you were able to analyze?"
"We've done multiple tests. The capsule itself was made of a thin but durable
plastic that could be digested by stomach acid. But since you found it still in
his mouth albeit bitten in half, we were able to see what sort of compound was
inside. A mixture of nightshade and juniper berries, alongside a strange black
powder. A few more tests have been done regarding its composition but... to no
avail. It's like nothing we've ever seen before."
Shinya frowned as he tapped on his desk, writing down what he heard.
"Nightshade and juniper berries... hmm, a memory degradation spell. Just as I
had suspected. And this black powder, you don't know what the effects of it
are?"
"Negative. But there was enough clinging to the capsule that we can afford to
do a little more research. We're running a few more tests, so we'll let you
know if we find anything useful or interesting."
That seemed to be all that he was going to be told for now, so he decides to
leave it at that for now. Setting his pen on the desk he starts to hang up.
"Excellent. Thanks for your hard work, I look forward to hearing from you
again."
"Thank you Shinya-san. I will report back as soon as I can. Talk to you later."
"Good bye Leda-san."
Shinya hangs up with a click and pinches the bridge of his nose, feeling a
migraine coming on. Concerned for his counterpart Tomo pats his shoulder.
"You okay? Need to take a break?" He asks. Shinya just smiles, reaching up to
clasp a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine. Just... a little stressed is all. Nothing to worry yourself over."
Tomo laughs and ruffles his hair.
"Yeah you say that but you realize it is my job to worry about you, right? Your
well being ties into my own after all."
Patience stands up and grabs his paper, his smile now faltered just a bit.
"Trust me, if something was wrong I would let you know. Now come one, someone
has to go visit our new friend at the hospital."
Wrath watches as his virtue walks out the door, staring wistfully ahead as the
door swung open and he was soon out of earshot.
"Again, you say that... But are you really telling me the truth?"
/////////////////////////////////////////////
Moments later Tsuzuku and the others were all caught up on the new information,
though Meto himself still wasn't all that satisfied.
"Great. Now we have a new problem. Of course."
Mia looked at his mentor briefly before looking around the room.
"So what now? Wait even longer?" he asks.
"What more can we do?" Kyo growled and thunked his head repeatedly onto
Shinya's table. "We're shit out of luck if that bloodsucker can't tell us
anything. I tell you, that nasty little trick he pulled was just one of many
reasons I want to knock his head off his shoulders."
Beside him Kaoru chuckled darkly, tapping fingers against the smooth surface.
"Hahaha, as bloodthirsty as always Kyo. Just keep your murder boner in your
pants okay?"
Kyo's head shot up and he glared at his partner, a dangerous look in his eye.
"You can't tell my murder boner what to do, Kaoru!" He snapped. Kaoru just kept
laughing at him. Tsuzuku looked at them and rolls his eyes but couldn't deny
the small amused smirk that crept onto his face.
"Those two are ridiculous," he heard Koichi mutter. "Is there anything those
two can't find something to laugh about?"
"I guess not," Mia says with crossed arms and a laugh of his own. "At least
they're being optimistic about the situation we're in. Right?"
Koichi just turns up his nose, not impressed. Tsuzuku pats his knee then nearly
jumps out of his seat as his cell phone starts to trill at high volume. Even
Koichi managed to get spooked a little.
"Ugh honestly," Tsuzuku mutters and grabs it to answer with an annoyed voice,
not even bothering to look at the caller ID. "What is it?"
"Tsuzuku-san!" A familiar and cheery voice greeted. "What's up dude?"
The daemon had to raise an eyebrow at that.
"Tomo-san?" He asked in bewilderment. "What the hell-"
"Hey Tsuzuku, can I ask a favor?" came the interruption. "I need your help
buddy."
"Wait, wait wait wait, hold on a second," Tsuzuku spluttered and takes a
breath. "Why do you sound so excited? I've never heard you talk like this
before. Did something happen?"
He hears a deep intake of breath on the other side and can't help but grow even
more curious.
"Okay look, I don't have a lot of time to explain but... I'm in the human
world, and I'm meeting up with that human friend of yours for a... ahem, well
we're meeting for a date."
Tsuzuku feels his throat constrict from surprise and coughs repeatedly, trying
to get a grip on himself before he can suffocate.
"Wha?? Takashi? You're actually meeting up with him?" he asks incredulously. "I
never thought you would actually see him again."
An awkward chuckle and he can tell there's something the other daemon isn't
telling him here.
"Well... To be completely honest, we've uh, been meeting off and on for almost
a week and a half now. I just can't stay away, you know? I just can't."
It takes a few seconds of more still silence before everything in Tsuzuku's
brain unscrambles and he finally speaks.
"Oh. Oh my God."
"What. What are you-"
Tsuzuku suddenly burst out laughing and startled everyone in the room. Koichi
just stared at his boyfriend, his eyes narrowing.
"You're totally hot for him, aren't you?" He screeched over the phone and
couldn't help but to laugh more. "Oh my god!"
"No! Well, I mean I could be but... who knows okay?" Tomo says defensively.
"And no this doesn't mean I'm just stringing him along. I feel something
Tsuzuku. I feel something weird every time I see him and our eyes meet, every
time he talks in that sweet soft voice of his or when our fingers touch
together. It's just... I don't know, but it makes me happy and I am pretty sure
he's happy too and I don't know what's happening. All I know is that it is."
Tsuzuku calms down enough to realize what was being said and it once more
clicked into place.
"Whoa. Um, well from what it sounds like Tomo-kun," he says and looks at his
lover with a smile, making Koichi avert his eyes with red cheeks. "It sounds
like you got infected by the love bug. And you got it pretty bad."
AT first he doesn't hear anything and he wonders if he's said too much. Then he
hears more soft breathing.
"That umm... that makes more sense than it should honestly," came a soft
answer. "Thanks. I needed that."
"Heh? I thought you wanted advice?" Tsuzuku asked hurriedly.
"Don't worry my friend. You just gave me more than enough," he says sincerely
with a chuckle. "Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes. Bye!"
"Wait. Tomo-kun-"
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
Tsuzuku pulls his phone away from his ear then stares at it as though it might
come alive and bite his face off. At the same time he looks up and sees that
the majority of the people in the room are staring at him.
"Well?" Koichi asks. "What the hell was that all about?"
It seems like he just asked the question everyone seemed to be thinking, and
they all awaited his answer. His lover just stares back at his phone, now
smiling a little bit.
"Just a friend asking for some advice."
No one really asked anything else after that.
Somewhere else far away, a familiar head of purple hued hair bounces along as
footsteps echoed along a pavement sidewalk. Excitement fuels his energy as he
rounds a few corners of random buildings and through throes of random people.
He's so excited and for good reason. He was meeting with someone today, and
this meeting was hopefully one that would go very well, at least he hoped it
would. Tomo said to meet him in the 'usual spot,' probably the entrance to the
portal as always.
Takashi felt his heart give an anxious flutter in his chest, and he paused
walking to press the front of his striped shirt down his body and make sure his
pants were at least decent. He hoped he looked okay, this was sort of a date
after all. He wasn't sure if that was what he should call it though, Tomo might
not think so. A meeting between two new friends? Yeah probably. That thought
alone was enough to damper his spirits just a little.
Oh well, what did it matter? He would endure it, even if it meant that they
would stay just friends.
'Okay. You can do this. Just get it over with.'
Takashi takes a few seconds to calm his heartbeat before continuing on, seeing
the top of the familiar brick building from here. All at once his heartbeat
accelerated once again and his earlier moment of calm seemed to have been
pointless. Through more people and one more city block before his new favorite
street came into view. And of course, right in front, was Tomo. Dressed head to
toe fully in black (of course he was) and looking dapper as fuck. Ha. He seemed
to be waiting patiently, looking calm as one could be.
"Tomo-san!" he cried out once he was close enough. The daemon turns his head
and their eyes connected. Dang it there were the flutters again.
"Taka-chan," Tomo greeted him with a sleek smile and playful eyes. "I'm glad to
see you have not forgotten our date."
Takashi's breath left his chest and intense happiness overtook any fear he had
previously. So he did think it was a date... That alone was enough to make him
so freaking happy.
"Of course I haven't forgotten," he giggled as Tomo instinctively takes his
hand. "Have you been waiting for very long?"
Takashi shivered as his fingers curled into Tomo's, the feeling familiar and
safe but no less invigorating. He just hoped to God that his palms wouldn't get
sweaty.
"No not at all," Tomo says as they awkwardly loiter about in one spot in front
of the red bricked facade building. "I just got here no more than five minutes
ago. So, where are we going today?"
Takashi smiled wide to show how excited he was and just like last time started
to drag off Tomo, whom as always showed no complaints.
"There's a new scary movie that just came out. We should watch it together!"
"Well sure," Tomo laughs. "What's it about? I've always wanted to see what
humans considered to be scary."
"Pff hahaha. Okay then. It's a paranormal movie, y'know, ghosts, haunted
houses, exorcisms. All that good stuff."
"That is considered entertainment?" Tomo wonders as they kept walking. "But
that's just like my job to deal with ghosts."
Takashi shrugged, his mood not in the least bit lowered despite Tomo's
skepticism.
"You do remember that humans aren't used to dealing with this sort of thing
right?" He asks. "I might know about your world and have met a few um... not
human people. But to actually deal with ghosts is new to me. And they still
scare people."
Of course, how could he forget that. That was very insensitive of him probably.
As an apology he puts his arm arm around Takashi's shoulders and pulls him
closer.
"Sorry. I'll see it with you, and I'll sit right next to you in case you get
scared."
Takashi pouts at first but starts to laugh, pushing at his chest just barely.
Tomo feels his breath hitch as he was touched, making his self control suddenly
drop a few pegs.
"And you won't mind being my personal heater for a few hours do you?" He
giggled. "It gets pretty nippy up here this time of year."
To his surprise Tomo curls his fingers against his shoulder, squishing him
closer if that was even possible.
"Nah. As long as it takes Taka- chan, I'll be here."
A few minutes passed by and they found themselves in a nearby theater, waiting
for the movie to start in a dark auditorium, high up at the top and watching
the beginning previews play themselves out. But even with the slight darkness
and only one cup of soda between them Takashi could not deny that he was very
distracted right at that moment. Every second that ticked by made his arms feel
tingly and goosebumps raise on his arms.
Tomo was so close..! He could hear every soft breath, all his heartbeats, even
the small shuffling he caused when he tried to get comfortable. Feeling all
this caused his awareness of this man to go up even higher. He tried to keep
his eyes glued to the screen but couldn't concentrate on the preview that was
playing. Something about a ouija board?
"Takashi? Are you listening?"
Hearing Tomo's voice so suddenly makes him jump and he blinked, looking over at
his date. His face was amused and his lips were quirked up in a smirk.
"H...huh? Oh uh. Sorry, i was just... watching the screen. What was you
saying?"
"I was asking what the movie was about," he laughed. "But your eyes were never
leaving that screen."
Takashi blushed before looking down at his lap.
"Sorry haha. But anyways, it's about a creepy doll that's possessed by a demon
and this family buys it, but they don't know it's haunted. I think it's evil?
That's all I know, we'll just have to see I guess. I heard it's super scary but
it's good."
Tomo laughed and poked his cheek.
"Sounds good honestly, I've heard of plenty of haunted dolls, though not
haunted by demons. That's new but not impossible."
That made the human suddenly curious.
"So, since demons are real and can walk around like normal people... How do
people think they can only be like, in spirit form?"
Excited suddenly, Tomo jumped at the chance to answer.
"Ahhh okay, this is a very common question asked by humans who work with us.
See, normal demons, and daemons like myself, are in physical bodies when we're
created. Demons are created by Satan and Daemons are created out of thin air.
We're both created to be the perfect soldiers and never meddle in affairs we're
not supposed to. But, when we stray from what we're supposed to do, our bodies
die and we're forced to look for whatever bodies we could. We daemons are much
more compassionate, but demons are more likely to become aggressive.
"Demons come to this world and are sometimes found out by humans and therefore
their existence has been proven. However, we daemons could never survive in
this world in spirit form, so we stay down there."
Takashi gaped at him. He never knew that before.
"Wow. Is that why we never hear of anything like daemons in this world?"
"Exactly," Tomo says with a satisfied look. "We never exposed ourselves, so
people don't know we really do exist. So demons do, and people know. That's
very interesting."
This night was proving to be very informative on Takashi's part. He wanted to
ask more questions but suddenly the voice announcing the movie starting boomed
through the theater. The lights dimmed even more and people became quieter.
"Oh! Oh! It's starting! Be quiet now!"
"Psh okay. It better be good."
/////////////
They were only like a quarter way into the movie when the scares started and
Takashi was jumping at every little noise. The whole time Tomo was just so...
So...
Impressed. This movie, however fictional it was, was actually pretty accurate.
The flashing lights, moving things around, creepy noises. But even if it was
pretty accurate, it was pretty tame to some of the stuff he has seen in his
world. Still, it was entertaining.
At one scene, the main character was standing in a basement in some apartment
building and the elevator would not go up so she had no choice but to go up the
stairs and a demon was stalking her. That part scared Takashi so bad he
screamed and clung onto Tomo's arm, hiding his face.
Tomo sighed and brought him close, patting his head.
"It's okay, it's just a movie."
Admittedly it was amusing watching all the other humans screaming and jumping
out of their seats. This demon in the movie was clearly just a person in a
mask. But it was pretty cool he guessed.
It only got worse as the movie dragged on and the scares increased and everyone
was literally screaming. It took every ounce of self control he had not to
laugh.
Soon it was over and they walked out, and Takashi was shaking but he looked
happy.
"That was such a good movie!" he exclaims as they walk out of the theater. "I
like scary movies, even if I was screaming through most of it. So, what did you
think?"
Tomo shrugged and resumed putting his arm around Takashi to tug him close.
Outside the air had grown a little chillier, and it looks like Takashi did not
bring a sweater. And were those storm clouds?
"Ah it was pretty awesome," he says. "Pretty accurate, but nothing compared to
the real world. Demons are way way more vicious."
Takashi looked up at the sky, scrunching up his nose in disgust.
"Huh. I can only imagine. Eww are those rain clouds?? Ugh and I didn't bring a
sweater!"
Tomo was hoping it would go past them but felt a drop on his nose. Maybe not.
"Uh oh, it's starting to rain, what should we do?"
They were planning on going to have an early dinner somewhere but... Oh well.
Looks like they had to change those plans.
"Um, well my house isn't too far away. Wanna go... hang out there and order
pizza or something? Watch another movie?"
His house..! Come to think of it, he never had been to Takashi's place before.
Maybe this was a good chance!
"Sure. We had better hurry if we wanna beat this rain, so lead the way. Again."
"Pff okay. Come on then, let's run for it."
Takashi let go of his hand and started to run off, forcing him to give chase.
WHo would have thought that only moments later a downpour would soon damper
their running a little bit. He caught up to him and they approached a quaint
two story building somewhere in a rural neighborhood. So he lived in an actual
house? He must get paid pretty good to support himself on his own. They burst
through the gate around his house and to the front door, soaked through their
clothes but neither of them seemed to care much.
Takashi's thin shirt clung to his chest and his hair was plastered to his face,
streaming rivulets of water. He looked so... sexy. God damn it. Pushing away
his thoughts Tomo followed him through the door and into the entrance foyer,
both dripping wet but Takashi was laughing as though he was having fun.
"Whoo! I haven't ran through the rain like that since I was a kid! That was fun
haha." He turned to Tomo, who was smiling like an idiot. "Are you okay? Do you
need the shower first?"
"No but, Takashi?"
The human pulled his hair tie out of his hair to start shaking it out, letting
small drops fall to the floor. He had no idea that Tomo was looking at him with
a certain glint in his eyes and a new type of hunger growing in his chest.
"Yeah?"
His innocent voice finally cracked the last piece of Tomo's self restraint and
the words just tumbled from his mouth.
"Do you have any idea how god damn sexy you look right now?"
His mouth snapped shut as he noticed Takashi freeze. Did he... go too far?
Wait, why was he smiling again?
"You've waited far too long to say that Tomo-san," he says and flips his hair
back. Tomo tries his hardest to redeem himself and explain what he meant.
"Wait I didn't mean-"
Takashi stopped him with a finger to his lips, smirking before walking off to
the main area of the house. What the hell was going on?
"Oh uh uh, no take backs. Now get over here, I been waiting all day for this."
Cautiously he followed along and Takashi made a bee line for the bathroom.
Wait, what was he doing?
"Takashi, what are you-"
"I don't want to get sick, and since you didn't know to bring an umbrella you
have to take responsibility."
Tomo realized where this was going and hell, he was into it. Takashi didn't
seem to be rejecting him. This was a good sign.
"Fine. But if I go too far with my 'responsibility' then you can't blame me."
He enters the bathroom only to find the warm shower already running and Takashi
mostly stripped down to his boxers and his wall finally came crumbling down
altogether. Now he just wanted to push him against the wall and just...
"Ugh I'm cold," he says and grabs his last piece of clothing. "Hurry up and get
in here so we can warm up. This is all your fault."
Of course it was, but he wasn't gonna complain.
"Yeah yeah, I'm coming," he mutters and starts to strip as well before getting
into the stall with Takashi. Not even seconds later he had the breath knocked
out of him as lips as cold as death latched onto his in a hot kiss.
Takashi moaned softly as Tomo grabs his shoulders and pushes him up against the
shower stall, heating up their kiss even further. They broke apart and Tomo
used this brief moment to soak in what was in front of him, letting eyes burn
the image of Takashi's naked and wet body into his brain.
"God damn it," he growled lusts though posessed before pulling Takashi's face
to his to kiss his lips even more. "I was hoping to take this slow but you...
you really know how to rile a guy up don't you?"
Takashi smiled cattishly at Tomo and pulls back. Then he had the nerve to just
start washing water over his body. Weren't they in the middle of something..?
"Well I just wanted a taste. For now," he assures when Tomo is ready to
complain. "But I'm not giving you any more til I'm sure I'm not sick. So Tomo-
san... come closer?"
Oh he wanted to play games did he? Well it took two to play this game.
TBC
***** Chapter 34 *****
A few hours later
The soft sound of rain patterning against a window echoed into a dimly lit
room, the sky outside still gray and gloomy but peaceful. The sun was having a
hard time piercing its bright rays through the clouds and only made the fog
seem worse.
But that was okay. Right now, two occupants in this very room could not care
less about the weather outside. This little dark but cozy bubble they had going
was perfect, and the rainy ambiance outside only added onto that.
Two bodies, one warm and the other cold,tangled together in a mess of limbs and
mingled breaths, letting the silence surround them comfortably.
Yeah it was safe to say that Takashi was feeling very accomplished right about
now. Feeling Tomo curled up behind him with his face nestled against his neck
and their legs tangled together felt like his own little slice of heaven.
Neither of them really cared that the both of them were more than a little
sweaty. Despite that, Tomo was still cool to the touch. And his new lovers
coldness did wonders for his own heated body temperature.
"Tomo?" Takashi peeped, the first time he spoke in the last few hours. "Are you
awake?"
They had already moved past honorifics, now having passed comfortably into a
first name basis. Since they were both adults after all, neither had time to
worry about silly childlike first steps.
"Mhm. What is it?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," he hears as a murmur against the nape of his neck. "You can ask me
anything."
At his rough and sexy voice Takashi paused and felt a spine tingling buzz go
through his body and took a few seconds to revel in the sensation before asking
his question. His chest was pounding with anxiety.
"What... does this make us?" He asks, holding his breath. To his relief he
received a gentle kiss to his ear in response.
"Well, what do you think we are?"
Well that didn't help. Pouting he started grasping at straws.
"Um... friends with benefits?"
Tomo shakes his head, cuddling closer.
"No, think higher."
His heart starts to hammer louder, and he excitedly asked again.
"Um... Boyfriends?" he asked in a high voice.
"Umm a little higher."
At this point the human is ready to lose it at that point.
"Newlyweds?!"
At that, Tomo laughed nervously and rubbed his hip in small circles.
"Um, maybe a little bit lower. Think... lovers."
As he finally said that Takashi felt his body start to shake, but he was happy.
So Tomo really thought of him so highly? He didn't think that this sort of
thing happened.
"Really..? You think I'm your... lover?"
Fingers, cold to the touch, combed through his tangled but soft purple hair,
eliciting soft sighs of pleasure in return.
"Of course I do. Boy friends doesn't feel as intimate is I would like. And
friends with benefits just feels insulting."
"Haha... sorry. But I'm happy. I was hoping we would be more than that after
all."
"Good," the daemon says and draped himself closer. "Now, please don't doubt
yourself anymore."
Takashi purred as Tomo continued to caress his scalp, feeling warm and safe as
the little spoon position he was in at the moment. Still, he couldn't help but
to keep talking, commenting on the little things.
"Your fingers feel so nice right now," came a gentle whisper. "Please keep
going."
Tomo chuckled and pressed kisses all over where he could reach, causing
shivers.
"I live to please."
He continued his massages and used his free arm to curl Takashi's body even
closer under the blanket. Cuddling after sex always felt more intimate when the
both of you were not wearing clothes, which was how they both preferred it.
"Yeah, don't I know it," Takashi giggles coyly and stops Tomo's hand so he can
turn around and come face to face with him. "Hm... I just... I can't believe
we're here right now. Together like this. And after... hehehe, well you know."
His lover cups his face gently and plants a gentle smooch chastely against his
lips. No lust, just sweet sweet affection.
"How did I manage to find you?" He murmurs, more to himself than to Takashi.
"So... so lucky. So lucky."
Tomo brushed at his bottom lip, nothing but the purest of intentions in his
eyes. A warm blush creeped up Takashi's face and he's forced to duck his head
low. This guy... he was too cute for his own good sometimes.
"You have to thank our mutual friend for that," he laughs in response. "I'm so
glad I chose this line of work, otherwise I'd never have met you. Or any of the
good friends I made along the way. And if anything I think I'm the lucky one
here. It's almost hard to believe."
Tomo tilts his head, thoughtlessly running his fingers over the cute beauty
marks he found where ever his eyes could see.
"What do you mean?" He asks in genuine confusion. Suddenly Takashi pulls away
from his touch to sit up and sits over the edge of his bed, very melancholic
all of the sudden. Tomo follows and sits on his knees behind him, still
confused about his behavior change. "Takashi? What's the matter?"
The atmosphere change was enough to pop their metaphorical bubble and thrust
them back into the real world. Which was a real shame, he was quite enjoying
their little space to themselves. The rain patter seemed louder, but it
probably wasn't.
Takashi's purple cotton comforter is only just barely keeping him covered,
pooling around his waist and letting his hips stay exposed. With his long hair
cascading down his back and still somewhat messy he looked like he just woke
up. Even though he hadn't slept for the past few hours now...
"I mean... look at me. I'm a plain human, nothing about me is special except
for my brain. And possibly my somewhat okay looks but still. There are so many
people out there just like me and I just... I don't feel at all adequate. And
then I look at you." Takashi swivels around, staring desperately at Tomo.
"You're different, special. Perfect. Hell you're from a whole other dimension,
a whole other world. You're just... So so much more than what I could possibly
hope to be. And that makes me feel so... insecure."
Takashi turns back around and stared at his carpet under the bed, doubts
clouding his lovely eyes. Tomo frowned, not liking the way he depreciated
himself like that. What he needed was a nice healthy boost of self confidence.
And perhaps maybe a good make out session. Possibly both.
"Hey," Tomo says softly but sternly. "Look at me. Takashi look at me."
He uses his left hand to reach around and cup at Takashi's cheek again and pull
his face to the side so he can look at his eyes. Such beautiful eyes, the most
amazing ones he has ever seen. And that was no exaggeration. Even after dating
two sirens and one demon before this, there was no competition as to who he
preferred.
"Tomo..."
He was shushed with a finger to his lips and a serious gaze.
"Here I am looking at you. And, well... You're beautiful," he murmurs. "Your
eyes are probably one of my favorite features on your face. Alongside your
pretty full lips that are so kissable. And your cute nose, even that adorable
little beauty mark right on your left cheek. And aside from that you're smart,
funny, and most of all brave. Not many humans would have been able to handle
this sort of thing, but you're like a part of us. All I see in front of me is
perfection. Your humanity is what separates you from everyone else Takashi. You
see? I would never ever think you're not 'adequate' enough, because there is no
one who can compare to you. Or come even close. You're the only one I'll ever
need. Ever. For the rest of time."
His sweet words were enough to charm even the coldest of hearts, and make a
person with even the most stern facial expressions crack a happy smile. And it
worked. If only a few seconds before it was replaced with another harsh
expression. One of doubt and uneasiness. But worst of all, he saw fear.
"And so what if I am? Let's say I am the one you want. That's all well and
good, but for how long? I'm human, mortal. I'll age, I'll grow old, and
eventually I'll die. You... You're an otherworldly being, immortal, incapable
of aging or dying. What will happen in twenty years time? Or fifty? When I'm
gray feeble and useless? You'll still be young and handsome. Our lives, our
backgrounds are just... so different. How long are we going to last? I'm just
scared that this relationship is only going to set us up for pain."
He should have known this conversation was coming, sooner or later. Who would
have thought it was sooner. Sighing softly Tomo moves to sit next to his
lover's left side and puts an arm around his waist and starts to rub up and
down. He could still see a small pink mark he put on Takashi's body only an
hour prior, still right above his left nipple. He just couldn't help it.
"Takashi... please don't think that way. You're young, of course you're going
to think things like that. And I understand. But, we also have plenty of time
to think about that. I'm not going anywhere. Should a time come around where
you feel like you won't need me anymore... I'll still need you. If you're that
worried, I'll give you some time to think about it okay? I don't have all the
answers now but... please promise me you'll think about it."
His soft spoken voice calmed Takashi's nerves enough so he could talk without
letting his voice quaver like he wanted to cry. Tomo was being so nice..!
"I will. Thank you for... for everything. I don't know anyone who would be this
nice to me."
Tomo smiled at him, a genuine one it seemed, and leaned in for a slow kiss.
"And you know why?" he asks against his lips. Takashi shrugged, deciding to
play along. By now his troubles were mostly behind him.
"Why?"
Tomo smirked that usual cattish smirk of his suddenly the atmosphere once more
flipped a full one eighty.
"It's cause I love you."
Tomo whispered in a low voice, enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck
stand to attention with excitement. And at those words Takashi felt Tomo's arms
wrap around him tightly in a hug, and felt more heat in his chest. Soon the
daemon had managed to coax him back onto the bed with Takashi seated firmly in
his lap underneath him to grasp at his hips gently but firmly. He stared down
at Tomo, seeing nothing but trust on his face. Yes, he was fine with this.
Totally fine. His own version of those words slipped from his lips before he
realized what he was doing.
"I... I love you too."
That made Tomo look so happy, and before he knew it they were at it again. But
was he so sure he did? Well, he had time to think about it. He was too busy
crying out his lover's name in a flurried and heated daze to think too much
about it right now.
/////////////////////////////////////////////
Another hour and a half later and these two lovebirds were occupied in
Takashi's living room, sitting huddled close together underneath a kotatsu he
pulled out because of the cold nip in the air. On the table top Takashi had his
laptop typing away while Tomo had a few papers in front of him and was
scrawling away. Both had decided that since they were technically working
together on the same case, why not try and work at it for a while? The hours
they had set out for their date were long since over, and both had deadlines to
meet after all.
Didn't mean Tomo had to leave though, so he could still work even while away
from home.
That also sort of meant they had to go back to honorifics again, since Tomo was
in all rights and purposes Takashi's senior by many years. The human was
starting to get bored though, they had been working non stop for the past half
hour with no breaks. Just as he thought that he felt his stomach rumble with
hunger. Right, they had fogotten that this whole day was supposed to be a
'dinner' date and got caught up in other... things.
Tomo heard his stomach growl and smiled, putting down his pen and the small eye
glasses he had on. He was smiling, probably amused a little bit.
"You're hungry. You should find something to eat, Taka-chan."
The human smiled in embarrassment and looked back at his screen. He had most of
his newest report done, nothing a little break couldn't get in the way of he
supposed. The deadline was not for another four hours, and he needed to get
more things for his fridge anyway.
"Fine, I guess I can take a walk somewhere and find some things to bring back,"
he says and begrudgingly left the cozy heat under the kotatsu to stand and
stretch. "There's a convenience store nearby. Is there anything in particular
you want for a snack, Tomo-san?"
The daemon smiled and stood up as well, watching as Takashi put on his shoes
and jacket then started to look for his umbrella.
"I doubt the stores here have what I would really want but... anything sweet if
you can. If you bring some stuff back for dinner I can make us something."
Takashi paused to stare at his lover and wrung his fingers together.
"Ohh you don't have to force yourself to do that for me," he argued quietly. "I
can just bring back some instant noodles or something."
But the daemon waved him off dismissively before heading for the kitchen,
determined.
"Nonsense! Just... let me see what you have first then I'll send you off."
Takashi once more tried to argue, not wanting someone else to go out of their
way just for him. Especially when that someone was his lover.
"But Tomo-san I really don't think-"
He's interrupted suddenly as there was a very urgent knock on his door. Tomo
stopped rummaging through cupboards to look at the door, now cautious.
"Were you expecting someone?" He asked. His lover frowned, stepping closer to
his door. It was no secret that he was involved in this case, especially not to
people like him. Maybe...
"No," he replied quietly. "Maybe its... just one of my friends dropping by? Or
something relating to work?"
Tomo came up behind him, now on edge.
"It had better be, otherwise I am not letting you take one step out of that
door."
Hmm, maybe having a somewhat overprotective lover had it's ups and it's downs.
Takashi rolled his eyes before deciding to be bold.
"Who's there?" He called out loudly so his voice could carry outside. "If you
have no business being here then you need to leave."
There's no answer, and instead the mail slot under the door suddenly clicks and
a single envelope falls to the floor. Both of them are stunned momentarily, and
Takashi shivered. The envelope envelope was all black and had small words
written on it with silver ink. But he couldn't really read it from where he was
standing.
Tomo crept up behind him and glanced at the small black letter over his
shoulder, now undeniably very curious.
"What do you suppose it says?" Takashi muses out loud.
"Dunno," came a curious reply. "Though I hope it's nothing that we need to
worry about. Go ahead, pick it up."
Nervously Takashi goes to do just that, slowly inching forward to the door
before leaning down and grasping the envelope in his fingers. It was thick
paper, most likely to prevent curious onlookers from opening it. He glances at
the small words and reads them out loud.
"Important; for Takashi-san only."
Tomo joined him and looked at the letter with apprehension. Something didn't
feel right.
"I dunno about this Takashi. Maybe you should let me open it."
Thoughts of refusing came to refuse nd, but given the circumstances and his
involvement in the world Tomo was from he wasn't sure if he should take that
chance. What if there was a drug in it? Or a deadly poison? He just didn't
know, so maybe it was best to let the expert handle it. Biting his lip he hands
it over.
"Umm... here. Open it. I don't trust it one bit."
Tomo takes the letter and feels it in his hands, able to make out some sort of
thick paper hidden inside. Maybe they were just being paranoid and there was
something harmless inside. At any rate it pays to be careful. They walk into
the kitchen and he looks around for a knife.
"Okay let's see what we have here," he mumbles as he used it to tear its top
off, half expecting a plume of dangerous smoke or toxins to come pooling out.
"Huh."
Nothing. Nothing but paper. Now even more curious he grasped two pages of paper
folded up and yanked them out. It was just normal latter paper with black ink
scratched into it.
"What? What is it? Is there poison in it??" Takashi asks. "Something
dangerous?"
His lover shakes his head, holding up the paper for him to see.
"Its just paper. And it's addressed to you."
Frowning the human slowly takes the papers and unfolds them to start reading
out loud.
"Takashi-san; do not be alarmed at this letters sudden delivery. You may not
know me personally but I am a friend, and you can trust me. Although right
nowIcannot reveal my identity just know thatIam here to helpyouand your
friends.
"I know you're looking for the vampires that are attacking all of the humans
and half humans down below, andIcan help. I have seen the monster's lair first
hand, and although I cannot disclose their location right now I can give you a
few hints.
"There is an address down below, I want you to go to It as it soon as is
convenient for you. I left a gift for you, one that will prove most useful to
you and your friends. I do not help most people like this, but for this
particular situation I have no problems with it at all.
"This problem won't go away on its own, Takashi-san. We need to fight if we
want a future worth living in. These vampires have strayed from the path that
was laid out for them, and in return our world's have fallen into chaos.
Please, for the sake of your world and my world, let's work together to bring
these unholy monsters to justice. And all our sacrifices thus far were not in
vain.
"I look forward to meeting you some day, though not just yet.
"Your friend, A.
"P.S. I also would like to keep sending you letters, so if that's okay with you
I will continue to do so."
Once he was done, another huge weight was lifted off of his shoulders. But that
only made a new one appear, one that felt much like... responsibility. Whoever
this person was had personally delivered this piece of information to him, and
now they had a secret friend helping out. He looked over at Tomo, who was
frowning and had his arms crossed. There was a steely look in his eyes, one he
didn't see too often.
"Takashi let me see that please."
His lover holds out his hand for the letter, and Takashi obliged by putting it
in his palm.
"Tomo-san?" He questions. "If what this person is saying is right, then... We
have we a new job to do don't we?"
Tomo read the letter over and inspected the words closely, trying to figure
anything out. The address down below was unfamiliar to him. And who the heck
was this 'A' person?
"Yes we do. Where does this address point to, do you know it?"
Takashi took back the letter and inspects the address and was able to proudly
say he knew where it was.
"Yes, and ironically enough it's close by."
He lets a small silence settle between them before Tomo speaks up.
"So are you still hungry? Or can this not wait?"
Takashi smiled at him and folded the letter up before stuffing it into his
jacket pocket.
"Well maybe we can find something on the way huh?" He suggested. "Cause I do
not know about you but I want to figure this mystery out as soon as I can."
His lover smiled at him and came to stand in front of him, putting his hands
precariously on his hips.
"Sure. I'm just as curious as you. But... honestly?"
He leans closer, and Takashi takes a deep breath in surprise.
"Hnn?"
Tomo's face is now dangerously close. What was he thinking?
"I'm not sure if I have enough energy to do anything right now. And I could...
sure use it right about now."
Suddenly he hoists his lover up against the door, pinning him to it with a
sneaky grin. Takashi gasps softly as his back presses against the hard wooden
surface and feels his legs wrap around Tomo's waist and he has no choice but to
wrap his arms around him to prevent himself from falling.
"What the- you're not serious? You wanna go again?" He asked softly as Tomo's
mouth presses to his neck repeatedly in small kisses. "We've already done it
twice today..."
But there was no denying that he was getting excited again, judging by the
small noises leaving his mouth the more his lover kissed him. Ah the joy of
youth. Takashi purred quietly as Tomo slipped a hand under his shirt and
started to rub at his sensitive nipples. God damn it why was he so good at
that?
"I know but I can't help myself," Tomo whispers and brings Takashi's face close
so they had better eye contact. "Now that you're all mine I don't really have
to restrain myself do I?"
He didn't get to answer as his mouth was claimed in a hot and heavy kiss, one
that made his toes curl and his body burn up.
Yeah... Yeah they could definitely wait.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 35 *****
Deep piercing darkness blanketed a sparsely furnished apartment, disrupted only
by the crackling orange yellow glow of a humble brick fireplace. This familiar
setting, although warm and cozy, was still somewhat empty. And covered in a
generous layer of dust. Three occupants, as always, kept this room from feeling
too empty. Two of them stood right behind a huge couch in front of the
fireplace, keeping a watchful eye on the one on the couch, covered in black.
One of them, medium sized with fair brown hair. The other, slightly smaller
with longer blonde hair. Both carrying the tall tale eyes of vampires. Their
conversing was soft, feather like as their words were lighter than air. 
"So? What happened? Did Juri really get caught?" The brown haired one mused
softly in annoyance. "How disappointing."
There's a shifting from his partner and an irritated sigh. Not concerned, not
even worried. Just annoyed. Despite his face seeming calm, there was a deep
frown making his features seem colder.
"Yes, unfortunately so," came an equally as disgruntled answer. "It was during
an attempted nesting process. Him and four others were trying to subdue new
humans when a different human working against us discovered him. They escaped,
but he was not so lucky. And neither were the humans it seemed, as all of the
attempts to subdue them resulted in their deaths."
The first one who spoke ground his teeth, seemingly growing more irritated as
the seconds ticked by. 
"Honestly, how hard is it to just subdue a few humans?" He grumbles under his
breath. "And where is he now?"
The blonde one looks at him, still frowning. 
"Luckily for us, he managed to execute his emergency back up plan should he be
captured. He is now being held in a hospital near their base and can't remember
a thing. He told them about our master, though not too many details were
squeezed out of him."
Sure that was the case, but admittedly neither of them really knew how long
this momentary good luck would last. Neither knew what was in the medicine
distributed to all of them, just that it was a single use and only for
emergencies. That alone was enough to satisfy his questions. All but one.
"Good. Last thing we need is another distraction to get in our way. So... what
are we gonna do if he comes back?"
The blonde one laughs out loud at his question, as though it was the funniest
thing he heard all day. 
"He's not coming back!" He says with a creepy grin once the laughs were all
out. "Once you've been apprehended it's game over. The medicine wipes all your
memories, hopefully permanently. There's no way he's coming back to us. One bad
apple spoils the rest after all. We'll just have to hope that they decide to
kill him. He'll be useless without those things getting in the way."
As he finished speaking the figure on the couch decided to stretch his body out
on the couch to let more heat escape his cold little bubble of space.
"Ryoga, Layha, my dears..."
Both vampires immediately came to his side, akin to obedient puppies , kneeling
down on their knees in a respectful bow.
"Yes master?" they echoed.
"Be good boys and find my favorite pet,I'm gettinglonely without him. Oh, and
wheneveryou get the chance... please keep looking for the other one, the
daemon. I am growing rather restless without him by my side as he should be."
Ryoga's left hand twitched as his former lover was mentioned (yet again) and he
struggled not to scream  out angrily. But his master was more important than
that now, he couldn't let his feelings get in the way. As the cloaked figure
reached out with both hands for them to take, he and Layha took them both
without hesitation. Ryoga still got shivers evertime he took his hand. The
feeling of his skin still set him on edge. His skin was cold and perfect, yet
thrummed with dark energy deep beyond the top layer. 
He could feel, sense the dark power inside of him at just his touch, and he
could tell that this being was of no world like he had seen, not even from his
own. Which was what made him so interested in him. So he would follow him, to
find out more, to learn just what made him so unique.
"We will make our move at your command master," Layha murmurs softly. "Just say
the word, and he will be yours."
Their master coughed softly, wheezing breaths making his lungs ache.  
"Good. Then... Get it done. Our plan starts now, regardless if one of our own
has been taken, we can't let that stop us. Soon... We will have our revenge and
the new world will be ours."
Ryoga felt an eerie shiver along his arms, and looked at his new lover, or
rather his mate as he learned to call him. Layha was grinning, a creepy
bloodthirsty grin that he had only seen when they were hunting. He was excited,
it showed in his body language. And rather than feel a little excited as well,
Ryoga could only feel that something was... off. 
But like he knew all this time already. There was nothing important about his
opinion. All he had to do, all that he was expected to do, was follow and obey.
So he would. 
And besides, it was about time they got this whole thing into motion. He was
seriously starting to become impatient. 
"Of course Master," Layha agrees. "It will be done right away. Ryoga and I will
round up a few of our nest mates and begin right away." 
Layha feels the cold hand on his grip a little tighter before he gets his
answer. 
"Good. I look forward to your success my dears," he purred. "Nothing would make
me happier."
////////////////////////
It was true what they said. Juri was completely at a loss for his memories, as
he was hours before. The nurses and doctors despite their skill were baffled by
this. None of them had ever seen such a powerful type of amnesia, so therefore
they knew nothing about how to cure it. So they kept him in a solitary
confinement observation room so no one else could get to him. 
His room was plain white with silver tiles on the ceiling and a big two way
mirror on one of the walls, of which an observation room was on the other side.
Juri was laid up in a single twin bed with an IV drip by his side, keeping his
vitals under control. A few transfusion blood packs sat on a table by his side,
alongside a tall metal cup with a straw most likely filled with blood. He was a
typical 'drink blood to survive' vampire, a commonplace amongst the species.
Shinya and Tomo were the first to visit him, to ask questions about anything
and everything. But all the vampire could remember was his name and what he
was. That was literally it. He couldn't remember family, he could not remember
friends. Nothing that could point to a sense of identity. It was all very
frustrating to say the least. And there was still no word on what was going on
with that caplet. 
There was always a limit to someone's patience, even for Shinya. And right now
he was getting very close to reaching that limit. He and Tomo were still
standing outside Juri's room, observing him from the mirror as he slept in his
bed, looking exhausted.
"Still no word from Leda?" He hears Tomo say softly next to him, his own temper
starting to show. 
"No, but I have a feeling we should not be too impatient. Good things come to
whose who wait for them."
"Oh please," Tomo sighs and rubs his temples with his fingers. "I don't need to
hear your lectures. I know you don't believe that yourself so don't push it on
me." 
Shinya smiled wistfully and shrugged. Tomo was always too smart for his own
good. 
"Hey, it was worth a shot," he admits. "I needed a way to calm you down
somehow, you look like you're ready to burst through that door and beat him to
death in his sleep."
"And it is taking all of my self restraint not to at this point," he growled
lowly and snapped his eyes open to glare at the mirror. "Seriously, what if he
is useless? He's a vampire, one that came into contact with a species we
thought long gone. He's tainted, useless. There is no real reason to keep him
alive."
Once again, he was letting his personal feelings get in the way of logic. And
like always he needed someone calm enough to remind him that they needed to
think things through logically. Shinya was glad to be that person, mentally
exhausting as it was. 
"Like I told you before," he began and gently placed a hand on his
counterpart's elbow. "There is a very strong possibility that the effects of
the medicine are only temporary, and he will gain his memories back. Then we
will get the answers we need. Just calm down."
His soft calming voice was the very epitome of reason, and it had a very
powerful effect on those who heard it. Tomo's shaking from his anger lessened
and the explosive emotions began to ebb away for a sensation of calm. How the
heck did Shinya do that? Oh, right.
"Fine, but if he does indeed prove to be useless, at least give me the say in
what we should do to him. I'm wrath, you can't deny me my time to shine for
once." 
No, no he couldn't. Wrath needed an outlet every so often didn't he? It
probably wasn't healthy to just hold it in. 
"Yes yes, you can be in charge of discipline should things turn out
unsatisfactory. Sound good?" 
Tomo huffed and leaned back against the hallway wall, smirking to himself just
slightly. 
"You're damn right it does..." 
Shinya left it at that and they continued to observe quietly, watching for any
signs of sudden. movement. It took another hour and a nurse checking on Juri
one time before Shinya's cell phone buzzed in his pocket. All at once his
earlier anxieties came back to him and he fumbled for it for a few seconds
before answering. 
"H-hello? Ah, Leda-san." 
Tomo whipped his head to the side to stare at Shinya, listening intently.
Thanks to his advanced hearing, he heard every word perfectly. 
"Shinya-san? I have some news for you, good and bad. Which would you like to
hear first?" 
Uh oh, not this cliched situation. Of course there was good and bad news. How
wouldn't there be? Nervously Shinya bites at his fingers and glances at Tomo
wordlessly for help, knowing he can hear all of it. But Tomo knew that this was
not his own decision to make. 
"Whatever you choose to do," he answered. "It's not my place to say."
Patience just paused his nail biting and made a decision. 
"Well... Give me the good news first, to lessen the bad news."
On the other line, Leda can be heard sighing roughly, sounding tired.
"Well, the good news is, miraculously, the medicine found in those caplets was
indeed a memory erasure spell. But, we have discovered that it is indeed a
temporary spell, and Juri will regain his memories." 
Shinya and Tomo both collectively felt a huge weight off their bodies, but it
wasn't time to relax just yet. 
"Ah, that's good to hear. So? What of the bad news?" 
Leds hesitated a few seconds before answering in a low voice. 
"Once they come back, he will die."
Well, shit. 
Shinya frowned, confused. Why would he die if they came back? Unless... If what
Leda was saying was true, then... It was a suicide pact.
"Of course," he murmured quietly. "It all makes sense now."
"What?" Tomo asked him, still wondering. "What's going on? Why is he gonna
die?" 
It took a second but Leda finally picked up on what Shinya was thinking without
him even saying anything.
"I would like to answer that," Leda interjects. "The black powder was a very
powerful curse, a time bomb essentially. It affects the mind and wipes it of
any and all memories. Once the very first memories start to come back, the
curse will treat those memories as a threat and release slow waves of it's
toxins. And getting those toxins in his brain will lead to sickness, bit by bit
until he's very sick. 
"Don't you see? This was a suicide mission. He did this knowing he would
probably die.  And he did it with no qualms or problems whatsoever. From what
you told me based on what he said before he triggered the curse, his 'Master'
gave it to him just in case this very situation presented itself. Clearly his
underlings are very easily expendable in his opinion. Whoever this 'Master'
figure is, he must be very powerful if he can convince them to throw away their
own pride like that." 
This was very disturbing news indeed. A vampire, on a suicide mission. Who
would have thought? Normally these creatures were very prideful and coveted
their immortality. Even if this immortality was easily remedied by a few known
ways, still they didn't let that stop them did they? 
And now there were who knows how many vampires running around out there,
declaring allegiance to an unknown entity out there for whatever reason they
had come up with. This really wasn't good, not good at all. 
Frustrated Shinya grabs his hair and stares at the mirror, unable to speak for
a few moments. It was just... So much information to soak in.  Now what were
they gonna do? If Juri died then how would they get the information they needed
before it was too late?
"How long?" he asked Leda. 
"Huh?" 
"How long until his memories come back? We need to be prepared." 
The scientist hummed in thought and the sound of rustling papers could be heard
on the other side. 
"Mm well... Judging from the results, the memories themselves were buried deep
within his subconsciousness. Since vampire's are extremely intelligent It won't
take very long at all. A week, maybe two at the most. But not very long."
Great, that was hardly any time at all. What to do what to do? Shinya, for once
in a very long time, was at an utter and complete loss at what to do. This
wasn't gonna be easy he knew. But they had to try something.
"I understand," he says finally. "I will let my team know. Thank you Leda, for
everything you have done to help us. It means so much to us and the rest of
this company." 
Leda chuckled, a sound he really needed to hear at that point.
"You're welcome, but... It's really no big deal," came an earnest reply. "I'm
always around to help if you need me. I look forward to telling you new details
in the future Shinya-san."
The line goes dead, and Shinya lets out a held in breath. Now they had more
work to do. When was it ever easy? 
"Well, come on, Tomo. Let's go relay the new information. Hopefully we can
think of something in time."
"Of course," his counterpart agreed. "Lead the way away from this place. My
need to tear this place apart is growing stronger every second I am here."
It was mere minutes later that they had told this new information to their team
and had everyone up to speed when the most unexpected thing happened. Tsuzuku
and Koichi were waiting anxiously in Shinya's living room when his cell phone
rang again. The screen flashed with an unknown number with no name on it. But
how did a stranger get his number? Warily he picked it up and answered in a
tense tone.
"Hello?" 
"Hello?" Came the frantic response in a light and airy male voice. "Is this
Tsuzuku-kun?"
The daemon quirked an eyebrow in surprise. That voice... he knew it well, but
how did they get his cell number?
"Takashi?" He asked. "How did you-"
But then he was cut off.
"There's no time!" The human shrieked at him in a higher octave than usual.
"I'm calling you to warn you! You're in danger!" 
His voice was shrill and panicked, enough to cause all the warning bells in his
head to go off like fireworks. Beside him, his lover stared at him, now
concerned at seeing his eyebrows furrowing. 
"Warn me?" Tsuzuku asked and frowned heavily. "Warn me about what? Where is
Tomo?" 
"You have to hide! Tomo-san and I were walking in Tokyo when we overheard some
vampires taking about you! They said they were gonna do something terrible! So
Tomo went to warn the members of his team and asked me to warn you first.
Please you have to hide! Get somewhere safe!" 
He was now very frantic and it took a good minute to calm him down. He walked
into the bathroom so he could talk to Takashi alone. Koichi stood outside to
make sure he would not be disturbed.
"Okay, tell me what the heck you are freaking about? Speak calmly and I'll see
what I can do."
Takashi breathed out heavily and he sniffled. 
"There's a spy among you, your team. They... The vampires know where you are
now, and they said... They, they said..." 
He was stuttering and close to hysterics again. That really wasn't necessary...
"Takashi please calm down," he urged. "Just... Tell me." 
He heard a shuddering breath and a soft whisper followed closely behind.
"They're gonna kidnap someone close to you, but I don't know who. They're gonna
try and use them as leverage against you so you would go to them... Please
Tsuzuku-san, you can't let this happen. They don't know that you know yet, so
maybe you have some time. Please, please be careful. Hide, come above to the
human world, just do something!" 
Oh great! There was a spy? But who the hell was it? It wasn't Juri, he had no
memories. He couldn't think of anyone who would want to do this to him. It was
too crazy, and he trusted everyone in that room outside. But.. Maybe that was
the point? For him to lower his guard and trust everyone?
He had to find out though, before it was too late. 
Koichi was probably still waiting for him like everyone else, so he decided to
leave the bathroom after assuring Takashi he would be fine. His lover still
stood there, waiting. Once Tsuzuku came out he was all questions right away. 
"What's going on Tsu?" 
Tsuzuku grabs his hand and pulls him close, now fearing for his safety. If what
Takashi said was true then... They really were in danger. And since this might
be his last chance...
"It's starting," was all he said before tugging Koichi close to him in an
almost crushing hug. "I... I need you to stay by me, Koichi. No matter what,
don't ever leave my side." 
His lover swallows and wraps his arms around him, burying his face in his
shoulder. He knew what Tsuzuku meant. Whoever he was talking with knew
something, and it scared him. Someone was after his lover, and now they were
acting on it. So whatever he had to do, whatever Tsuzuku needed him to do...
"I love you Tsu, never forget that okay? I won't let them take you from me."
Tsuzuku kissed him on his lips softlypouring every ounce of love he had for
this boy into it as best he could.
"I love you too... My Koichi. I'll never ever let you go."
Whatever he had to do. All he had to do was say it. 
TBC
***** Chapter 36 *****
Chapter Notes
     It's not supposed to be 'Sexy' just so you know. This is a feels
     chapter, so lots of emotion in this one. Sadness, tears, fear, etc
     etc.
It had only been seconds, mere seconds, across the threshold of the apartment
that Tsuzuku had Koichi on top of his hips as he sprawled on his back on the
wooden floor, smothering him in desperate kisses and trapping himself beneath
his body. Of course the younger boy had no problems with it, wrapping his own
arms tight around his lover desperately. Tsuzuku ran a hand, cold and shaky, up
his shirt then pushed it up and away. He pulled from the kiss only briefly in
feverish ecstasy to breathe before deepening the kiss further.
Koichi was confused. Where was this coming from?
It took the feeling of trembling and clammy fingers starting to tweak his
nipples for him to figure it out. A soft moan slips out of his lips and he
arched downwards, grazing his growing erection into Tsuzuku's own.
In a split moment of reprieve from lips he sucked in heavy breaths, feeling the
pleasure all over his body. Tsuzuku latched his lips onto his throat, sucking
and kissing every plane of skin he could reach.
They were scared. Both of them.  And that was what was fueling this sudden fit
of passion. They both knew that they didn't really know if they would come out
of this unscathed. Sure they could not be killed now, both daemons and
phoenixes were immortal. But... if any of them were kidnapped, it could be
forever. What would be the harm in just... exploring? Sure they both had a
small taste before, but it wasn't enough. Not at all.
Koichi moaned again as Tsuzuku's heavy breaths mingled with the kisses as his
hand continued teasing, fondling until he was nice and perky. Then he pulled
back so he could slip off his tank top to let his wings breathe the cool air
around them. He gasped in relief and leaned down again, desperate for more
kisses.
They needed this. He needed this.  Knowing that neither of them were in any way
immune to fear made this situation that much more real.
Tsuzuku looks up at his panting blushing lover, caressing the new pink marks he
made on his neck with long fingers, tracing them and making Koichi purr. Then
he traced back behind his neck, down his spine to the shoulder blades where he
caresses the soft white tufts of feathers he learned to love so much in such a
short time, rubbing them obscenely slow. Koichi stared down at him, his lips
pink wet and swollen. His eyes were full of lust, but also a deep lingering
sadness that made tears prickle at them and threaten to fall.
"Tsuzuku," he crooned through the heat he felt on his body. "Do you love me?"
The daemon paused his caresses in confusion, staring up at the Phoenix with
glazed over eyes. What kind of question was that?
"Of course I do," he murmured and pulled himself up so he could come eye to eye
with his lover. "There isn't anything or anyone in this world or any others
that can make me stop loving you."
The answer didn't seem enough to please his lover, for Koichi just pouted at
him at and hugged him, his eyes trailing downwards shyly. His chest heaved with
uneven breaths as he struggled to speak.
"Then prove it. Hold me, Tsuzuku. I can't take it, I cannot wait anymore."
Hold him? He didn't mean that did he? But he wasn't old enough yet...
Tsuzuku frowned, becoming serious. As much as the idea was tempting to him he
couldn't just let morals be thrown away so easily. Where was their promise?
"Koi... baby believe me, I want you. I want it so badly, and I am sure you do
too. I can tell. But..."
Koichi then became more indignant, wiggling his hips in his laps and causing
their bodies to rub together and make Tsuzuku's self control suddenly drop down
quite a bit.
"What. Cause I'm still 'underage?' I'm immortal Tsuzuku. Just like you are. Age
is nothing to me now, I'm gonna be in this body forever. What's the point in
waiting anymore?" He grabs Tsuzuku's hands and brings them around his waist,
leaning in close to tease his lips with his breath. "This body isn't changing,
so you have no reason not to make it yours. I want you Tsuzuku. I want you to
hold me. Make me yours, if you really do love me. Please."
He was near tears at this point, truly desperate. Tsuzuku could feel the
tremors he was giving off through their clothes. Koichi still had his hands
grasped in his own and used them to drag them down his sides then to his hips
where they stayed. His skin was warm, but he was still trembling. Not as bad
though, the feeling of familiar hands must have calmed him down.
Damn it, he was playing really dirty. Koichi knew that Tsuzuku immensely loved
the feel of his legs. Like expected, Tsuzuku's hands stayed there even after
Koichi let go. He was too distracted, now smothered under Koichi's own kisses
with his tongue included. The sound of wet heavy noises leaving their mouths,
obscene in a way, made his whole body turn on in an instant.
Koichi was right he realized. He wouldn't age, he would not get any older. He
was stuck a seventeen year old forever. Even though his birthday was coming
up... what was the point? Then he remembers that he too, was created at a young
age. His body now was in the appearance of someone only twenty five or six
years old. He was never going to get older either. Both of them were stuck in
these bodies forever. Like statues with life, eternally young despite their
lived years.
That thought made him think more about what his lover said. What was the point
in waiting? Morales? His own sense of justice? The sake of Koichi's eternally
stuck soul?
He wasn't sure now. All he could think about now was the body curled up to him.
His mind was flooded with images of Koichi under him, squirming and sweaty
while crying out in a soft sweet voice as his name.  It was... His tipping
point, so to speak.
"Koichi... I..."
Koichi watched his lover's darkened eyes after he broke from the kiss. The pure
desire he saw in them sent shivers down his back and he knew Tsuzuku was ready
to break. All he needed now was just a little bit more of a push. Coy, and
trying to ignore the beating of his heart as he leaned in and gazed into
Tsuzuku's eyes, using one hand to touch his cheek before whispering in the
sweetest voice he possibly could.
"Please. Take me, now."
He had little time to think as he was suddenly hoisted up in his lovers arms
and he had to reach around his neck in alarm. Tsuzuku gets to his feet and
stomps towards the stairs up to the bedroom. Koichi swallowed hard, knowing
what he had done.
This was it he thought. They were finally going to do it. He held onto his
lover right and pressed his face into his shoulder, feeling just the smallest
hint of fear.
But he was allowed that much at least right? He never had sex before,
considering the way he had lived before and all. No one really taught him
either, so he only knew what he saw in manga, magazines, and movies. Which was
the basic stuff.
Surely, Tsuzuku knew. He must have had plenty of experience with his many years
of being alive. He...
The thought of someone else touching his lover and his chest pulse with pain.
No one else will touch him now. The fear went away as he thought that, replaced
with anxiety and impatience. He wanted it and he wanted it now.
Now in the bedroom door Tsuzuku gently tossed him onto the bed where he scooted
backwards up against the headboard as Tsuzuku followed him closely, crawling on
the mattress like a predator. He was definitely broken now, muttering under his
breath about 'not playing fair' and how 'he tried to wait.' Koichi knew it was
his fault but so what? He was still young, and it was also a dangerous
situation for them both. He needed a stress reliever. And Tsuzuku was his
stress reliever.
"You can't back out," he growled at Koichi as he corners him up against the
head board, his lips wet with his tongue. "Not at all, unless you really can't
take it. This is on you now, so take responsibility for whatever I do to you."
His dark lust laced syllables echo into Koichi's skull and he shivers. The
heated atmosphere turned even worse at that, and no sooner does he nod shyly
Tsuzuku's hands pull him backwards and starts to claw at his pants with the
intent to tear them off. His button and zipper are undone, and all the while
his mouth is latched onto his chest, his hot tongue circling around his cute
pink nipples. The intense pleasure makes Koichi gasp out loud.
"Hhhn..! Ah!"
His fingers gripped hard into the sheets of the bed as cold fingers find his
aching flesh and start to stroke him, delicate and careful yet desperate and
hurried. Hot pants came from the pinkette in the form of his lover's name, just
like before. Passionate, pleading and insistent.
Scared. Scared to let go. Terrified of being alone. He wanted to be closer,
Koichi's body was like a fly trap he didn't want to escape from.
"Koichi... Koichi," Tsuzuku repeated over and over like a personal mantra. His
mouth rose up to his neck, his tongue licking and sucking lightly on the marks
like an apology. Koichi's fingers on his left hand rose up to tangle in long
black hair and caress softly over his horns, tugging on one as he moaned and
gasped as his body spasmed.
"Tsu... please it... I need it," he whispers. "Please, take me now. Please."
Paralyzed with desire he couldn't move as Tsuzuku started to pull his pants
further down his legs, letting his body now become fully bared for his eyes to
feast upon. Tears streaked both of their faces as their mouths connect in more
kisses, trying to meld as close as their physical bodies would allow. Koichi
then takes note of the huge bulging in front of Tsuzuku's pants, his own flesh
begging for relief. As they once more stopped to breathe he decided to take
matters in his own hands.
Forcing away the stone like feeling in his limbs he cupped his fingers around
the fabric and squeezed the flesh, making his lover groan.
"Do you want me?" He cooed into Tsuzuku's ear. "Do you?"
"Yes," came a rough reply and more kisses at his neck. "And I'm going to do so
many things to you that will make you unable to live your life without me
again."
Koichi smiled, satisfied now, and gently pulled him closer for a soft kiss on
the lips. Tsuzuku was so funny.
"I already can't."
Tsuzuku had by now pulled him onto his lap so Koichi was straddling his legs
and he was able to feel everything against his over sensitive body. He let out
a strangled sound, something akin to a moan or a cry. His lover grasped his
hips and started rocking his body against Koichi's, kissing all over his chest
and neck.
"Uhn... ah, Tsuzuku please... I can't... I want it..!"
His lover chuckled, a dark sounding noise holding tighter onto his body.
"Of course. But I'll have to prepare you properly before we try anything crazy.
Okay?"
Koichi cried out again as Tsuzuku's fingers went under his body to touch at his
soft spot that was already really sensitive. Then he bites his lip as they
begin a slow running and caressing him, moaning every few seconds. Tendrils of
heat crawled through his body and he felt Tsuzuku's hard flesh pushing up into
him. But then he stops suddenly.
"This isn't gonna work," he heard Tsuzuku mutter against his neck even as his
fingers continued to play with his skin. "You're not wet enough yet. I'm not
ever gonna try to push one in or else you'll get hurt."
Frustrated Koichi looked around before remembering something random but
hopefully useful. There was a bottle of massaging oil that Minpha gave to him a
few days ago that he never used yet. He heard thanks to one book he read before
that something like that should be useful, and it was organic with nothing
harmful in it.
"Tsu... top drawer, bedside table," he peeped softly, coming down from his
momentary high. "I... I have something in there."
Without a second's hesitation Tsuzuku reached over the small distance over the
bed to the table and shuffled around in there before pulling out a tall
smoothly rounded bottle with a clear pink tinted gel like substance inside. A
grin lights up his face and he stares at the pinkette with relief. The earlier
tension was already gone. 
"Well well, this is unexpected of you. So, you're really sure you want to keep
going with this? I'm giving you one last chance."
But Koichi just growled weakly at him, his wings fluttering wildly in response
to his mood.
"Don't you dare," he said in a hopefully threatening voice before pulling the
daemon's face close to his own. "Don't run away from me. I'm not gonna let you,
and if you do I'll never forgive you. Got that?"
Tsuzuku's chest throbbed with emotions and he felt more bolder than before.
With a smile he pops open the bottle and with the utmost care he suddenly
drizzled the cold but pleasant smelling gel all over his lover's bared chest,
letting it drip all over and after a decent amount popped it closed before
tossing it somewhere nearby. Koichi tilted his head forward to rest on
Tsuzuku's shoulder, mewling in pleasure.
The daemon uses both hands to spread the oil into his skin, rubbing his chest,
his hips, and then all the way downwards but not letting it touch Koichi's
erection. He still wanted to put his mouth there later on. He kept going lower
until reaching his desired place, hot and soft, moistening him up with small
circular motions to make him sigh softly in response. They waited long enough
he figured, so he only said one thing before going for it.
"I'm putting one in, don't squirm too much."
Koichi's voice rose a few octaves higher as he feels a piercing sensation in
his lower body, but not the painful type. Just... intrusive, unfamiliar. A cold
wet middle finger gently pushed inside of his body, curling and pressing at his
insides, made his skin feel hot against the cool sheets.
"Ahh! Ngh, Tsu... hurry!"
He gasps again as it curls inside, teasing and stretching before the intrusive
feeling goes away and he's already used to the feeling. Soon a second one is
added and he squirms a little to adjust himself. Tsuzuku groans softly and
smothers himself in Koichi's shoulder.
"Wow you're sucking me up so good," he comments l. "You're so hot and tight
inside I feel like I'm gonna lose it."
'I am already losing it,' Koichi thinks as those fingers begin to work him in a
slow scissoring pattern, causing the tightness to just ever so slightly get
looser and looser. Soon it feels like it really isn't enough and he whimpers,
wiggling his hips to push them deeper inside.
"Please... I can't anymore! Just... do it! Put it in I can't take it!"
Tsuzuku huffed under his breath and continued to stretch until he felt it was
okay. Then he pulled out his fingers only to push his own pants down his hips
and press up against his lover, grinning as he held him close.
"Fine. I wanted to go slow but since you asked so nicely..."
With a sharp gasp Koichi moans loudly as something large and hot slips into
him, filling him to the brim.
"Ah! Not so fast..!"
There it was. His virginity, gone just like that. Well at least it was
Tsuzuku's now. That made him happy even if his hips were stinging a little bit.
Panting heavily he holds on to Tsuzuku's shoulder for dear life, accepting the
hands around his waist and soft kisses to his forehead. The daemon was no
better, his chest was tight and he had to resist every urge not to just throw
caution to the wind and become like a beast. Koichi felt so hot and tight
around him, better then he could have possibly imagined before. Cautiously he
ran a hand over his smooth flat belly, revelling in the small lines and few
beauty marks he found there.
"You okay? Want me to stop?"
Koichi squirmed in his lap but made no move to leave.
"No," he breathed out and cuddles closer. "Just hold me... give me a few
seconds til I'm ready."
His lover distracts him from the strange feeling with gentle soft kisses, using
his tongue to soothe away his fears and rubbing his hips. The whole time he has
him in his lap Koichi's breath is small and shallow but shows no indication of
pain. This feeling was new, very alien to him. Of course he needed time to get
used to it.
After a few brief moments Koichi's lips are at his ear, grazing them and
puffing out hot air. The very feeling of it made his body shiver.
"Move."
That was all it took before Tsuzuku really did lose it. He pulled Koichi down
so he was draped over him while he himself stayed on his back. His hips began
to move on their own, his hands gripping into his hips as he began to thrust
slowly upward into wet tightness. Koichi's voice then turned high pitched and
loud as he fell forward on his arms, meeting each movement with his own. More
tear tracks replaced the old ones still on his cheeks and he tried to silence
his moans by buying his lips, but the sounds still persisted.
Tsuzuku frowned upon that, and reached up to tug on his arms to pull him close.
"It's okay I'm here," he whispers. "Just tell me if it's too much for you okay?
I'll move more."
He tried being as considerate as possible for his lover, going slow and holding
himself back. His sweet moans and breathy pants of 'it feels good' and 'please
don't stop' were enough to tell him he was doing a good job. He kept crying
though, and when asked why, Koichi would only respond with him being scared.
Tsuzuku asked 'why are you scared?' Koichi just looks at him as he stops moving
to let him talk, and the most heartbreaking whimper leaves his mouth.
"Because I can't let this be the last time. So don't hold back anymore, flip me
on my back, mess me up all over. Just do what you want to me I don't care.
Otherwise..."
He didn't really need to say much otherwise. His words were understandable.
This might be their one and only time to do this, if what Takashi had said held
any real danger to them. Tsuzuku shouldn't worry about being careful. This was
their time, their moment to do as they wished. Or else it would seem
lackluster.
"I understand," he murmurs and flips him back like he wanted him to. "If your
wings get sore you may blame me if you want. But I can't hold myself back
anymore."
True to his word his hips picked up the pace, thrusting harshly into his lover
as he held up his legs. Koichi's loud voice bounced all over the walls, urging
him on. The immense fear coupled with the pleasure made him cry harder, the
tears streaming non stop.
"Koichi... Koichi!" Tsuzuku panted.
"Ahh! Ah, Tsuzuku..! Please, I'm-! Ah!"
It continued like this, each of them desperately hanging onto one another for
closeness well into the day and even to when the sun was ready to set.
Breaks were few and far in between. They didn't need it, they only needed each
other.
Hours later they were exhausted, laying on the carpeted floor by the bed with
their legs tangled together and the blanket pulled off to cover up with. Sweat
cakes Koichi's hair to his forehead and his chest was covered in new and hours
old marks. Tsuzuku was no different. His horns were sore because of all the
tugging though but he didn't mind at all.
He held Koichi close, cradling his head against his chest as even more tears
poured out and made his eyes puffy. But they were satisfied, so that was
probably what made the tears seem not so bad now.
True, they might have gone a little overboard since Koichi was still only a
virgin before all of this. But he didn't seem to be bothered by the soreness in
his shoulders.
All he needed, what they both needed, was the feel of each other's skin and
silence. It would be enough for them, for however long it would last.
Hopefully this wouldn't be the last time.
 
TBC
***** Chapter 37 *****
Chapter Notes
     A little shorter than normal
It had been a few days since that incident in the penthouse, four to be
specific. Koichi had begun to develop severe paranoia, growing increasingly
tense and anxious whenever he and Tsuzuku were separated for any length of time
and clung to him wherever they went. Trips out of their home were rough, and
the once trusting air around their friends had become thick. Even his parents
were not really allowed that close anymore.
Tsuzuku had noticed how rough his pinkette lover had become over the course of
a few days and, ashamed as he was to admit it, used sex to calm him down when
he started to have panic attacks. Which could last up to an hour if it was bad
enough. He tried not to say anything about it though, as both he and Koichi
became addicted to their private time together and his lover asked for it
whenever he was bored or had nothing else to do.
Aside from that, their lives seemed to take a dramatic turn from what was
considered to be normal, at least for them.
It was because of this that he had taken to doing most of the things needed
around the house by himself, making sure to always be in view of his boyfriend
at all times. Koichi insisted that they always be together, or else someone
would snatch him away and vice versa.
The wings on his back had grown more that three times in size, now unable to be
hid. He started having to buy clothes made specifically for people with wings
like his, and now his old clothes were pretty much useless. The black swirls
and tattoo's had grown bigger as well, though their color faded to a soft grey
and were almost unnoticeable unless you looked really close. Tsuzuku wasn't
complaining about that, of course he knew that someday they would come to this.
Hell, he had already paid the maid that came by just this very morning to go
get more just in case. She was more than happy to really. Getting paid to go
shopping? Hell yes.
Koichi was very specific with what he wanted too. Tsuzuku was glad that he had
found himself a sense of identity in this time of crisis.
Also this morning after the maid dropped off his clothes and left Koichi woke
up before Tsuzuku did, waiting patiently for his lover to wake up. He laid
there on his right side, tangled up in his blankets, staring wistfully at his
face. Every few seconds he would reach out and touch his face sighing softly in
adoration and admiring his own self made hickeys all over the daemon's neck. He
knew they weren't something anyone should be proud of considering they were
essentially just bruises, but the arrogance in his blood was making it hard to
think otherwise.
His wings drooped behind him off the bed, now somewhat in the way now that they
were bigger. The feathers that had fell off were in a box somewhere, something
about donating them to hospitals he didn't know. But it was so painful feeling
each new feather come in along with his muscles and the bones stretching and
growing to go with them.
It was last night when it started and lasted for around three hours. He didn't
want Tsuzuku to leave his side despite how much blood there was or how gruesome
the sound of bones snapping and flesh tearing were. Seriously, he was starting
to realize how strange he had been acting lately.
Koichi's whole body ached. He would look in the mirror sometimes and see teeth
marks in his shoulder or right in between his thighs. Now he was starting to
think that maybe these past few days they may have been going a little
overboard. He couldn't really help it. Tsuzuku was amazing in bed and where
ever else they had done it so far. The quick healing his body adapted to
prevented his hips from getting sore. But the hickeys stayed just a little
longer because they were not bad injuries.
Even in these few short days, both of them so many things about each other.
Sensitive spots, favorite things and positions. Even their most secret
fantasies. Even Koichi was surprised to learn these things about himself. For
example he learned he had a thing for tugging and pulling his lover's horns and
sweet but dirty talk. What the heck had happened to him?
He hadn't even realized his musings had gone well into late morning before
Tsuzuku finally got up as well. Their eyes met briefly and Koichi smiled at
him.
"Good morning," he chirped, unusually hyper for so early in the morning. "How
did you sleep?"
Tsuzuku groaned and popped his back before answering in a sleep heavy voice.
"Mornin'... I slept okay. How did you sleep?"
Koichi yawned, snuggling to his lover for closer contact.
"I slept good too. Especially since you were besides me."
Tsuzuku smiled widely and ran his fingers through his hair, marvelling at how
soft it was.
"That's good. How long have you been up?" He asks. Koichi hums and leans into
his touch, practically purring like a kitten.
"No more than a few minutes now," he admits. "I was waiting for you to get up."
Their fingers easily find one another and link up, an automatic response
really. Any all around intimacy seemed to increase as well as their hyper
awareness of one another.
His lover huffed quietly and brushed at his neck at the base of his skull,
smirking.
"Aww you waited for me?"
Koichi shuddered pleasantly at his voice. Dang it now was not the time to start
having those kinds of thoughts. He squeezed his thighs together and fought back
the tingling heat in his stomach.
"Nngh... Yeah I was..."
Tsuzuku noticed his averted eyes and lip biting, instantly coming to the most
logical conclusion.
"Are you... okay?" He asked just to make sure. "Do you need my help?"
Koichi, not wanting to seem too needy, declined and tried sitting up so his
wings could fold back in.
"No no I'll be fine," he giggles and tries to keep the squeak out of his voice.
"Let's go take a shower okay? I have something I want to ask you."
Tsuzuku watched him go to their bathroom and stretched again before sitting up
to join him. What did Koichi want to ask? No doubt something weird. And he
wasn't too sure if he could go at it again, Koichi's lust was almost
insatiable.
"I'm coming," he called when Koichi says his name. The bathroom door was left
open and he heard the shower come on. Still unclothed from the night before he
hobbled unsteadily inside and found Koichi standing in the large three person
tub with the shower head in his hand and warm water cascading over his body. He
stood at the doorway briefly, still marveling at the beautiful white limbs
sprouting from his lover's skin. The way they contrasted against his pink
tinted flesh and folded against his shoulders looked so ethereal, like he was
an actual Angel.
It was ironic really, considering how he looked like a demon himself minus the
creepy eyes. Tsuzuku laughed and bites his lip, not noticing he was staring
until they Koichi turned around.
"Tsu?" He peeped softly. "Is something wrong?"
The daemon shakes his head and gets in behind him to feel his back, tracing his
fingers over the tattoo's and through the beautiful feathers. No doubt they
would be useful later on if memory served him right. After Koichi reached full
maturity the feathers would still be soft but when threatened turned into pure
blazing hot fire.
"You're like an Angel now. My own personal Angel."
He just brushed softly at the base of Koichi's right wing and felt a tremor in
the warm skin just under the feathers. A sensitive spot perhaps? That would be
useful to know for later.
But at his words Koichi scoffed a little bit, looking back to let the warm
water trickle like little waterfalls through his fingers.
"Please. We both know that even if they look pretty these wings are forever
going to be a reminder that I'm not supposed to exist. That I am wrong and my
genes are completely wrong, that I am the last of an extinct species. So please
stop reminding me," he sighs and scoots up to let Tsuzuku closer. "But I don't
want to hear anything about that right now, I have something I want to ask you
remember?"
His lover hums lowly in his throat and slides a hand up his shoulders,
caressing the new muscles there despite Koichi's obvious displeasure of them.
Tsuzuku is sad at hearing his words at first, but lets a face of disbelief come
across his stern features.
"Don't talk like that," he murmured, quiet but forceful enough to gain
attention. "We don't know that for sure. There could be more, you might not be
the last. Don't let what they said get in the way of your happiness, because
seeing you sad makes me sad as well."
Koichi's lip trembles just a bit and he puts the shower head back on it's
holder on the wall so the water now sprayed over them both. It was nice and
hot, just how he knew Koichi liked it. Even if it did make his skin a little
bit red he endured it.
He must have thought over his words because he's turning around in his arms and
huddling closer, now shivering despite the heat. Tsuzuku can't help but to hold
him closer, feeling his wings and how they in turn were shaking. Fascinated he
watched the warm droplets roll off the waterproof feathers like rivers. He
smiled then, still stroking them fondly and watching the steam encapsulate them
in a hazy white blanket.
"I just... I can't get over how beautiful they are," he whispers and pressed
his face to Koichi's neck so he could feel every breath on his own back. "So
white and unique... just like you."
He didn't dare use the words 'pure' or 'perfect' to describe them. After what
they heard a few days ago? No way, he would not even dare. And it seemed to be
a good decision, the pinkette had needed a moment to breathe and just let out a
deep held in breath.
"How do you manage to do that..?" He mumbles against his skin. Tsuzuku knew
exactly what he was talking about but didn't pertain to that directly.
"What did I do this time?" He asks innocently with a hidden and devilish smirk.
Koichi's fingers tighten on his sides insecurely.
"Your voice... it's enough to make me feel completely at ease with my self, yet
it makes my heart go completely crazy. How do you do that?"
Laughing a little bit Tsuzuku pulls back to look his lover in the face, seeing
how bright pink hair was messily pasted to his pale face yet he still looked
so... what was the word? Oh yeah. Tempting. He saw the hidden questions in his
eyes that asked one thing in a million different ways. Please. His own body
throbbed and he swallowed hard, brushing his wet bangs from his face.
"Koichi... Put your hand on my chest," he mumbles hotly. His lover tilts his
head, confused.
"Huh? What for?"
The pinkette hadn't meant to sound so indignant, but the stubbornly prideful
streak in him was starting to show and it did not like being bossed around
without proper reason. Tsuzuku sighs and grasps his hand to do it for him, his
own raven black hair falling around his eyes in a dripping wet curtain.
"Just do it," came a low reply even though his hand was already there. And what
Koichi felt made butterflies in his stomach flutter. His emotions were back
full force and he couldn't push away the sudden dryness in his mouth. His
fingers curled and he kept them there longer than what would have probably been
necessary.
THUMP THUMP.
THUMP THUMP.
THUMP THUMP.
Tsuzuku's heart was going absolutely insane. What was going on with him? Koichi
wants so badly to ask, and it's killing him inside because he can't. There are
no words to describe fully what was in his head. A million thoughts race across
his brain and he feels breathless. Was his heart beating so fast because of
him?
"I... You... I uh..."
Still, he can't even talk, and its frustrating. But his speechlessness is more
than understood by his lover.
"You see? We calm each other down, but we also send each other into a weird
spiral because of one thing we have in common," he whispers and holds tight.
"You and I are meant to be together Koichi. From the moment we met a month ago,
to finding out we loved one another, to knowing about the terrible past our
bloodlines shared all those millennia ago. You were always mine, and I was
always yours. Fate dictated that we find each other and nothing, not vampires
or demons or strange genes, is ever gonna change that. Do you see now?"
Yes he saw now. He always saw. Koichi always knew why, it just wouldn't come to
him in that moment of helplessness and vulnerability. Curse his inability to
perform under pressure. The new feelings that arose in his chest overpowered
his earlier self depreciation and he whimpers helplessly.
I love you. I need you. I want you. So much. SO fucking much.
But he can't say it now, he's too overwhelmed knowing he would hear it right
back. All his earlier actions of the last few days hit him, and a sense of
happiness and shame mix together in a confusing but very simply put concoction
of chemicals in his brain.
What was he doing? Clinging so desperately to his lover like this and acting
like a damsel in distress... Honestly, he was starting to feel so disgusted
with himself. He promised himself he would protect Tsuzuku with all he had, how
could he do that if he was as helpless as a newborn babe without its mother?
Koichi flinches inwardly and finally manages to calm himself down and listens
to a now steady heartbeat in his lover's chest.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Now he was remembering what he wanted to ask. Now it was more important than
ever.
"Tsuzuku," he chirps. His lover pressed a kiss to his hair, breathing in his
smell.
"What is it hun?"
His hands tighten around Tsuzuku's midriff more, his voice finally coming out
crystal clear with what he wanted of his lover. The last thing he would ever
ask of him, starting now.
"Remember when you said you wanted to teach me how to fight?"
His lover paused only briefly before continuing to stroke his skin. 
"Yeah..?"
His lover looks up at him, eyes serious. 
"Can you teach me now?"
 
TBC
 
***** Chapter 38 *****
A single clumsy topple to his butt on a wine colored carpet after losing his
balance was all it took for there to be an exasperated sigh behind him. A bead
of sweat trailed down his forehead and he flinched at the pink scrunchie
tugging on his hair. They had been going at this balancing act for a while now,
and he was getting very frustrated.
"No no no, you're doing it all wrong. Like this, see?" 
At that Koichi sighed and stayed on the carpet where he was, crossing his arms
and legs to pout at his lover who was just condescending him a little bit.
Tsuzuku was currently balancing on his left leg effortlessly with a fashion
magazine in his hands as he nonchalantly turned its pages. How was he doing
that? Or better yet...
"Why are we doing this?" He asks. "I thought you were gonna teach me how to
fight. Not be a god damn ballerina."
His lover smiles and closes the book to join him on the floor, placing a hand
on his knee with a gentle voice. 
"I am," he replies and tapped the magazine to his head. "Balance is key when it
comes to fighting. Out there in the real world, life and death choices are made
every day. Battles are fought, and people are hurt if they don't know what to
do when they're being threatened with death. There's no time to idle about.
Now, do it again, and try to hold it longer than ten seconds this time." 
He kisses Koichi's cheek briefly before standing and resuming his position and
opening a page, not even seeming to be affected by gravity. His calmness is
kind of infuriating to Koichi and he stands to wipe away the sweat. He takes a
breath and tries again, throwing out his arms and spreading his wings to avoid
toppling over yet again. The feathers flailed about wildly and he has to put
down his foot to avoid falling (again.)
"Ugh! How the fuck-" 
"Koichi," Tsuzuku says to cut him off and steps over to him. "You are letting
yourself become too agitated. Your center of gravity is all whacked out. Here,
let us try something else. I'll try lifting up your wings around in a way that
you can comfortably stand without wanting to fall. Tell me where it feels
really good okay?"
Standing behind him Tsuzuku gently placed a hand under his elbow and one at his
waist and tried to straighten out his lover's wings from their previous ruffled
mess. His body heat was felt through their clothes and Koichi swallowed hard,
feeling a flush rising on his cheeks. Gods this was embarrassing. They had sex
how many times this week? And now when Tsuzuku isn't even trying to be flirty
he starts blushing. What the hell. 
"U-um... Okay," he agrees. Tsuzuku slowly pulled them up behind him, inching up
higher and higher past even his shoulders until... "Ahn..!"
Suddenly he shuddered at feeling warm sensations caressing inside the muscles
on his wings and tried not to moan out loud at how good it felt to let the
feathers spread out at this height. Was it supposed to feel like that? His
lover smirked and stopped them where they were. Perfect spot it seems. Then he
lets them go and they stay in that position, the now four foot span of feathers
and muscle arched right over his head. Now he really looked nice and relaxed
even if he was shaking with new feelings.  
"Good, we found your sweet spot," he comments and idly pets a stray feather,
letting it run through his fingers before putting his hands onto his hips to
steady him. "Now we can continue with the exercise. Lift up your leg like we've
been doing."
The pinkette does so and gasps softly under his breath, feeling all new
sensations he never felt before and it felt nice. So nice... He slowly looked
back, eyes wide. They had never felt this good before..!
"H-how... How did you-?" 
"What, this?" Tsuzuku asks innocently. "It's a little something i picked up on
from the internet. Apparently the Phoenixes, when their wings are stretched out
at just the right angle, it feels really good. Kind of like what sex feels
like. Or even flying. This sweet spot is indicative of a bundle of nerves
stretching in the wing to move around better, therefore allowing for
comfortable flight and less air borne accidents. It's different for each
individual person."
Tsuzuku had done research on this? Just the thought of his lover looking into
this sort of thing had redness tinging his cheeks.  
"Um... Thanks... It feels nice..." 
Tsuzuku smiled even wider, looking very very pleased with himself. 
"Does it? Good, very good. Now, I'm gonna let go of you now, and try to hold
yourself up better this time."
His lover backs away and his body heat is gone, but he still managed to feel
the high of having his wings stretched out, and found his sense of balance to
be strangely centered. He didn't wobble at all, and managed to keep his arms
straight out to his sides with his wings doing the same. All the while he feels
a smile start to form on his face and he excitedly looks to his lover for
praise. 
"Look! I'm doing it!"
Koichi was expecting to see approval on his lover's face, or some sort of
indication that he was proud of him. But what he saw made his smile falter.
Tsuzuku's face looked... sad. Distressed even. What was he doing wrong? Granted
Koichi knew it took him a while but now he had it. Was he not proud?
His chest panged painfully and he got back on two feet, feeling confused. Even
his wings dropped from their sweet spot back to being lifeless limbs on his
back. The euphoria from before was gone, leaving behind only anxiety.
"Tsuzuku..? What did I do wrong?" he asked hurriedly. "I-if I did something
wrong then I'll correct it right away-"
Tsuzuku suddenly sighs loudly, cutting him off for the second time. Slowly he
came forward and holds his lover's cheeks, staring deep in his eyes. 
"It's not you baby, of course it isn't you," he whispers and runs a thumb over
his bottom quivering lip. "I'm just... The whole teaching you to fight, to
defend yourself, and eventually how to kill... It's making me feel like... like
I haven't protected you well enough. I... I just feel like even having to teach
you these things is... it's messed up." 
Messed up? But why? He should have known what he wanted by agreeing to this in
the first place..! Thinking that he might be having second thoughts made
Koichi's temper flare up seemingly out of nowhere. 
"Why is it messed up?" He asks indignantly and tries to push away the tremor in
his voice. "Why can't I learn how? Is it because I seem too soft? Or I am too
weak? Or is it because you want to keep me hidden away like a good little wife
should be? Safe from any and all harm?" 
He tries to pull back but Tsuzuku uses a soft voice to calm his lover,
squishing his cheeks together. 
"No no no Koichi listen to me," he whispered and held his cheeks closer to his.
"It's none of those things. Not at all. It's not that I don't want you to
learn, because I do. It's that... I don't want you to have to use what I teach
you in the first place. That's what I don't want." 
Now he was being even more confusing. Huffing Koichi looks back in his eyes,
his temper now giving way to feelings of inadequacy and his brain was starting
to hurt from this roller coaster of emotions. 
"Then why?"
Tsuzuku takes a while to answer, pulling back his hands to slowly grasp at his
fingers and interlock them in his before bringing them to his lips, kissing
each knuckle and line in his pale lover's flesh. Then his voice came out, soft
and hushed, scared. 
"It's selfish, but I don't want to see these beautiful fingers that I love so
much... to be covered in blood, or to  anger to be the cause of pain and
suffering. Of death."
Oh. 
Koichi's breath left his chest and he felt tears brimming in his eyes. 
"Tsu I... Had no idea you felt that way."
Tsuzuku didn't want him to become a senseless murderer, to be the cause of
death and suffering. All he wanted was to keep him as far away from being a
monster as he could, to keep the human side of him in control. But that was
silly wasn't it? He may be half human still, but being human was what led him
here in the first place. Being human made him feel weak, helpless and soft. 
But here, after getting a new life and a whole new identity, he didn't feel so
hopeless. This was his second chance to being happy. He didn't want to be
human, he just wanted to be himself, to be Koichi. And that Koichi was part
Phoenix whether he liked it or not. Tsuzuku had to realize that even if it
scared him. 
"Do you understand?" Tsuzuku asks. "Why I feel this way?"
The pinkette hums quietly and pulls back from his lover's grasp and away from
him entirely, walking to their kitchen to grab a clean dish towel. All the
while he feels his lover's gaze on him as he keeps his back turned. 
"I understand what you're trying to say and do," he begins in a soft voice.
"But you have to understand that I wanted this for myself. I want to be able to
protect what I have. I want to be strong enough to protect you, and Mia and
Meto. And everyone else. I'm not some weak human who is waiting for someone to
rescue me every time I am in danger. This is me now, Tsu. I'm half monster and
if I can't use that to my advantage then what's the point?"
He used the towel to dab at his forehead and takes a breath to turn around,
finding Tsuzuku still standing there looking melancholic. 
"Koichi... I... I just... feel weird. I know, like I said, it's just me being
selfish. I just need time to get used to this. That's all."
But would he really? Koichi had every reason to doubt that. Maybe this wasn't
going to work out after all. The training part, not the relationship part.
Heavily he drops the towel onto the marbe kitchen island and rubbed his eyes.
As much as it pained him to think about it he knew he had to bring it up.
"Tsu... Maybe I should find a different teacher after all," he says softly.
"We're not gonna get anywhere if you keep letting your feelings of me not being
pure anymore go to your head. I need someone who is determined to get me in
shape for what I know is gonna be a very hard and strenuous future. I just
can't deal with that kind of distraction."
As he finished speaking an even worse sadness was lngering on Tsuzuku's face,
and he had to wonder if maybe he said it too strongly. 
"But... I just..." He paused again and walked around to Koichi's side of the
island and hugged him tightly. Maybe Koichi was right. He did let his own
personal feelings get in the way sometimes. "Maybe you're right. I'm too
selfish to continue teaching you. But who else is gonna help? We have two days
until Juri regains his memories and there is no way you can learn what took me
centuries to learn in two days."
That got Koichi to thinking. Perhaps Meto could help? Takashi did say he and
Mia were not suspects last time they called him yesterday and could be trusted
wholly.
"Maybe Meto can teach me a few things?" He suggests. "I might not be able to
learn all of what you know but it might be enough. You know it has to be, and I
know it. We don't really know when they'll strike at us but... I have to be
ready."
He had a point. Tsuzuku couldn't keep sheltering him like this. It would be
looked at like he thought of Koichi as a prize or some sort of trophy. Which he
wasn't, not at all. He was equal in every way, even if their species was the
sole thing separating them. That didn't matter because to him every one was the
same despite any differences. They ate, they breathed, they lived. 
Except now, the vampires were beginning to make him think of them as an
exception to this principle. 
So of course, he had no grounds whatsoever to argue in any way. So with a heavy
mind and heart he agrees, nodding his head in response to the earlier
statement. 
"This is your decision, whatever you want to do is fine." 
Koichi smiled wide, finally seeing a look of calm on his lover's once troubled
face. 
"Thank you Tsuzuku," he whispers and hops up on the counter before bringing
Tsuzuku closer to him with his legs around his waist. "It'll work out, you'll
see. Everything will be fine."
The daemon wraps his arms around Koichi in a display of affection, nuzzling
their noses together with a small laugh and gently caressing his lover's wings.
His pinkette returns the favor by wrapping his own arms around Tsuzuku's neck.
"How can I deny you your happiness?" he murmured back. "That's all I could ever
want. Your eternal happiness with me."
Koichi shivers again and tried arching his wings up again, smiling as the sweet
spot was found again and his feathers literally trembled under every little
touch. Tsuzuku pulled him even closer, leaving little to no space between their
bodies for more heat.
"That's right, with you," he answered. "There's no one else."
Gods he hoped so. Like he had stated before, Tsuzuku wasn't too fond of
sharing.
The daemon's horns still ached from the night before but he ignored it, he was
getting too excited right now. Hastily he hooks Koichi's legs around his waist
tightly before dragging him off to the couch nearby.
"Do you promise?" He asked teasingly as he drops Koichi to the soft carpeted
floor in front of the TV. "I'll be the only guy for you? Forever?"
By now his pants were straining against his heated skin, and by the way he felt
Koichi arch up into his hips he was no better. His lover laughed at him and
pulled him down for a short but deep kiss.
"You already know the answer to that. Now shut up and hold me idiot."
Koichi made a quick mental note to himself to call Meto later before his mind
was completely turned to mush in his lovers arms.
Ignorance, however brief or played on it might be, surely was bliss.
//////////////////////////
"So. He's holed up in an apartment, with that... half human, near the hospital
they're keeping Juri in. And on the top floor penthouse no less."
A deep powerful voice echoed into a dark damp room high above crowded city
streets. Spiders and webs covered every inch of the bricks making up the
borders of the room but it bothered no one in particular. The source of this
voice lounged in his usual spot in front of a fireplace, warming up his cold
and ancient bones. Another presence is near him on the floor, head bowed in
subservience and lips red with freshly sucked blood from his wrists.
"Yes. I've been observing them very closely for a while now," he responds and
smacks his lips. "Since their discovery of our old nest where the humans were
being kept we've had to move them around to keep them on their toes. The plan
is nearing its end. What will you have me do now?"
He receives a deep thoughtful him in response, a cacophony of mixed voices and
sounds that made his spine tingle. He pulls his wrist away and caresses a long
finely manicured black painted claw under his pet's chin, making him shiver.
"Mmm... well, I think its time for my arrival don't you think?" The figure
chirps, receiving a nod to his question. "Good I thought so. Make the
preparations for my appearance. We need to make sure no one is any wiser to
what we are planning. I've waited too long for this effort to be wasted."
A quick bow and a quivering 'Yes' is all he is given and he grins widely to
expose two pairs of sharp teeth.
"Good. It's all coming together. I'll be seeing you soon love. You may be
excused."
His pet kisses his hand before standing and beginning to inch back towards the
door to the apartment, slow and pensive.
"Thank you master. I look forward to your arrival tomorrow morning. Good
night."
He leaves the apartment and in return the figure is once more on his own. As it
has been for years. But not anymore, not if he had anything to say about it.
With creaking joints and a cold puff of breath he stands up, slowly as not to
disturb the fire giving him warmth. Slowly the cowl over his head slips off
with a flutter and the figure runs his fingers through his soft platinum blonde
hair that reached just below his shoulders. Full cherry red lips upturned in a
giddy smile as he walks to a nearby mirror and glances at himself and giggling
the whole time. He admired his eyes that he lined with black and touches his
soft pale cheeks.
Then a Polaroid picture taped to the wall catches his eye. A tall dark haired
beauty is it's main focus, and every time his eyes fall on it his chest
flutters in excitement. With a soft dainty hand he caresses the plastic
surface, running his moist tongue over pointed canines.
"Soon, Tsuzuku my lovely and dear daemon. You will be mine. Maybe I'll bring
your little toy along and tear his psyche apart piece by piece and let you keep
him as a pet. We'll have to see when you get home."
TBC
 
***** Chapter 39 *****
A few hours later
"This is the place?"
Well if memory served Takashi correctly, yes it was. He looks at his lover with
a nod, still feeling a little skeptical himself.
"I'm uh... pretty sure. I'm not sure what to say though admittedly."
The couple now stood at a two story building a few blocks away from the human's
house, built of dirty red brick and white plaster. What Takashi didn't expect
were the 'CONDEMNED' signs posted everywhere in front. Beside it on each side
were tall skyscrapers, making it seem out of place. What the hell did that
mean? There were a few places they had been to after the first letter arrived
at his house. This was the fourth, one for each day since the first.
The letters following were much simpler than the first, giving only locations
and small words of encouragement. This... item they were supposed to find. It
kept changing locations, being moved. They never found out who or what was
doing this. But they had to be getting close by now.
"Yeah that's true," Tomo agrees. "Where even to begin? I guess we should just
go in and see what's going on here."
"You're right," Takashi agrees. "The sooner the better."
To say they were both nervous would be an understatement. Heading in an unusual
and sketchy building wasn't always the smartest thing to do. Especially what
they were dealing with in this place. The location written in the letter didn't
lie though. But who was this 'A' person? And why would they want them to come
here?
The answer must lie somewhere in there. They both walked slowly up the
cobblestone stairs leading to the entrance of the building and knocked on the
old wooden door with a very archaic brass knocker. No answer came so they just
went inside without one. It creaked slowly, showing such a dark inside that it
was hard to make anything out.
"This is sort of spooky," Tomo comments softly as they walk inside. "Don't you
think?"
"No kidding," Takashi mutters when suddenly the door behind them slammed
closed. Takashi jumped and clutched to Tomo in fright. "What the hell?!"
The now pitch darkness allowed no light in from the outside, as they could see
no windows and even if there were, they were probably covered up to block out
light. Whoever lived here must be kind of... crazy.
Takashi heard Tomo shuffling next to him then heard the door jiggling. He
patiently waits a few seconds before his boyfriend's voice echoed in the space
between them, low and concerned.
"Umm... Takashi?"
Uh oh.
"What..?" He asked nervously. "Open the door already."
Tomo paused and jiggles the door again before responding.
"It's locked."
Well fuck.
"...what?"
Tomo sighed, exasperated.
"It's locked. Look. Well I mean listen."
He jiggles it even more to show how it won't open. Does that mean that they
were trapped here? For who knows how long?
"Ohhh great! Now what?"
Takashi threw up his hands, accidentally smacking Tomo in the face.
"Owww. Hey."
"Oh. Sorry babe."
They stood there in silence and an awkward situation soon arose. Tomo was now
grasping his pant leg, probably thinking it was his shirt or something.
"Tomo-san?"
"Hmm?"
He shivered as fingers soon slid down to his thigh and he sighed.
"Babe... I love you. But this is not the time to be feeling me up. Talk about
inappropriate, jeez."
There's silence and Tomo could be heard swallowing hard.
"Takashi... are you touching my ass right now?"
Takashi frowned and clutched his fingers together.
"No... my fingers are crossed in front of me. I'm not touching you."
"Well neither am I."
The groping on his thighs now reached dangerously close to his crotch and
terror started to make his skin crawl. If Tomo wasn't touching him... then...
Oh fuck .
"There's something in here," he whispered in alarm. "Tomo!"
"Shh I know," his lover murmured back. "It's touching me too. Don't. Move. A
muscle."
The dark atmosphere then began to feel much colder as the groping fingers
touching him now rose up, fondling his most intimate places where only Tomo was
supposed to touch. A feeling of disgust washed over him and he tried not to
scream when suddenly, the groping stops. He breathes out in relief and
instantly reaches out for his boyfriend. Upon feeling a hand in his he hissed
softly, clasping it tightly.
"Tomo?" He squeaked. "Is this you?"
His heart nearly leaps out of his chest as he is pulled to a familiar warm
body, feeling much less scared. The atmosphere around them had a chill and the
smell of weak mildew lingered in the air. He really didn't like being in here,
especially now that there was an unknown entity in here feeling them up. And
Tomo knew for certain that humans, unless they were desperate, didn't feel
people up. It had to be something else in here. 
"Yes its me. Come on, we've gotta find a way out of here. My eyes still have to
adjust to the darkness but I can see a bunch of over turned tables and chairs.
But there is a door nearby. Let's go, I'll lead you so you don't trip."
"Okay..."
Slowly they walked and Tomo led him over a smooth stone floor and around
invisible obstacles he could not see before they stop. Now Tomo could see a
little better of what was around them, and could make out a bar counter next to
them along with a lot of neglected bottles and broken plates. He looks behind
them and doesn't see anyone else, concluding that there was probably a very
sneaky ghost or spirit in here. But there are over turned tables and booths
scattered about along with a dirty looking place in the middle of the room made
of linoleum instead of stone like everywhere else with old grey scuff marks. It
looked suspiciously like... 
"Hmm," he hums softly, catching Takashi's attention. 
"What? Do you see someone in here?"
"Mm no but... There are tables and chairs in here, so I am guessing this was
some kind of night club or restaurant, or something, and there is a dance
floor. But it's been abandoned."
"A nightclub?" Takashi questions. "That's kind of odd don't you think?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll have to find out. Through this door that is."
Takashi may have been getting the creeps from this place, but he knew that
letting that get in the way would only slow them down. He nodded, knowing that
Tomo could see him. Hopefully no more ghosts would feel them up like before.
The stairwell inside here was just as dark as everywhere else, but it felt less
cold. There was also a slight draft in here, coming from somewhere up top. Tomo
looks up, and noticed a tiny orange glow from behind a door. There were twelve
steps in total before a landing before the door. There was also an emergency
escape outside the window, he could tell by the faded sign above the door.
There was only one way to go.
"Let's go up. See what we can find."
Takashi nodded, following slowly behind his boyfriend up the steps. The door
came in view and he swallowed again. He wasn't sure what would be in there, but
if he was getting such horrible strong feelings screaming at him to leave and
get away, then it could not be good. His instincts were on high alert once it
creaked open, and immediately his stomach was assaulted with nausea.
"Ugh, gods," Tomo says in disgust. "What is that?"
A horrible strong scent of salt and rust assaulted them on all sides. Or, as he
instantly knew it... blood. Takashi knew it as well, having been in enough
crime scenes to know the smell well enough.
Only question was, why were they smelling it? Was someone playing a sick
twisted joke on them? Or something worse?
"I don't know what we are gonna find, but we should be careful," Tomo says.
"Don't know if we're going to deal with anything supernatural or not."
"I wouldn't worry," Takashi responds. "If it's something scary, you'll be okay
right?"
Tomo opens his mouth but a sudden ear splitting screeching cuts him off. They
both immediately become on edge and swivel their heads around for the sound.
Then it hit him.
It was coming from somewhere downstairs.
"Move!"
Tomo hissed sharply and grabs Takashi before pushing him into the foul smelling
room and shoving the door closed behind them. The screech grew muffled but it
was still loud. They both panted harshly and tried not to let the arid air in
here make them gag. It was just as dark in here as it was out there. 
"What the hell was that?!" Takashi all but yelled. "What could make such an
awful noise?"
Tomo frowned and looks around the room cautiously to make complete sure that
there was no one else in the room with them. Nothing. Just an old over turned
red velvet couch and a few scattered chairs. On the wall adjacent to them was a
fireplace, cold and having no heat to it. Every window that he could see had
been boarded up with thick planks and painted over in black so no light could
come inside. There were no obvious reasons as to why it smelled so heavily of
carnage in here. But as the screeching outside continued to grow increasingly
agitated he knew they had no choice but to stay here. 
"I don't know," he admits. "But there has to be a way out of here. We've been
led here for a reason, so we have to find that reason. Come on." 
He takes Takashi by the hand like he always did and starts to lead him farther
back into the building, where he saw a hallway with two bedrooms and a bathroom
nearby. This place wasn't very big, may suited to two people at the most.
Nothing was in any of the bedrooms, just abandoned cobweb covered mattresses on
old broken bed frames. But no sign of blood. 
However when they inspect the bathroom the intensity of the odor escalates and
Takashi almost straight up hurls. The bathtub... was filled with blood, old and
stagnant, developing clots on the sides of the tub. Two corpses, distinctly
those of young humans, one male and the other a female. Their abdomens were
pierced clean through and hung up on rusted dangling meat hooks by the
underside of their cracked ribs over the tub, mutilated and decomposing for who
knows how long. Their bodies were long since dried up though, having no blood
left in their systems. Now all that was left behind was gross, pale and sickly
flesh, stripped of all life. 
At least now they knew where the awful stomach churning smell was coming from.
Takashi's very few years of experience could not have prepared him for this.
Beneath him, the very sight of the carnage made his legs crumble and he went
toppling to the floor on his knees. His stomach tightened and he dry heaved
before crawling backwards. 
"H...how... How can anyone... do this..?"
 Tomo is at his side at an instant, holding him as they look upon the horrid
sight left behind. The human starts to hyperventilate, feeling very much out of
his league.
"Shh, it's okay. We'll find who did this, and they'll pay for it. But first I
need you to calm down. Come on, let's get out of here." 
Takashi was all too glad to escape that nightmare, backing away fearfully on
his knees as the door closed and he could push the horrible image from his
brain. Luckily his stomach began to settle and the urge to heave was not as
strong as it previously was in that room. Tomo kneels down beside him, rubbing
his back and whispering soft encouraging words to his lover. Stil, he was
trembling with fear and anxiety, feeling gooseflesh on every part of his body
it could reach. 
"I never want to see something like that ever again," he whimpers. "Please... I
want to go home... I can't do this anymore." 
Tomo bites on his cheek and pulls him close, reveling in the heat of his skin
and the soft but rapid thudding of his heartbeat. What did it feel like he
wondered? To see the atrocities of the vampire world for the first time all
over again? He remembered his first ever experience with insane and
bloodthirsty vampires hungry for blood and power. It was one of the worst
things he had gone through. And even though he's been alive for a few centuries
now, he has yet to have been desensitized from it. And now poor Takashi, an
innocent human, had to witness it for himself.  
"I know love I know," he murmurs and cradles him close. "Had I only inspected
that room before you we would not have had to see it. This is all my fault, but
don't worry, I'll fix it."
Takashi looks up at his lover, tears streaming down his cheeks. His lips are
shaking and he stuffs his face into Tomo's jacket to take some much needed
breaths.he just needed some time to get over the shock, that was all. Then he
would be fine.
"Just... give me a second," he whispered softly and settles cross legged on the
floor. "You should look around some more, see what you can find."
First he was hesitant to leave Takashi alone. What if something got into this
room and tried to get him? He wouldn't be able to rescue him. That was what he
feared most. Not being able to save his beloved was his worst fear right now.
But Takashi was right, they needed to figure out why they were here in the
first place. Then they could go home safely.
"Okay but... hold on a second."
As he was ready to agree something very spine chilling just occurred to him.
"Eh? What is it? Tomo?"
"Shh," his lover responds then puts his finger to his lips. "Do you hear that?"
Takashi listens closely and felt his heart drop. All he heard was... nothing.
Complete and pure silence.
"The screaming has stopped."
Both of them sit there, listening to each other's ragged breathing and feeling
steady heart beats through their interlocking fingers. Neither of them noticed
when the noise stopped, too busy with looking around to really keep track of
it. And now that it was gone neither of them knew what to do. Tomo licks his
dry lips and slowly starts to stand up so he could have a look.
"Stay here," he commands. "I'll look outside."
Immediately Takashi is on his feet and clings desperately to his lover, shaking
his head. 
"Please! You can't! It's probably a trap!" He whimpers urgently. But Tomo knows
it very well may be, he didn't need him to tell him that. He sighs and pulls
Takashi into his arms, brushing away the tears on his cheeks. 
"I know, it probably is," he admits. "But we can't get out unless I know it's
safe. So I have to." 
Still, Takashi was deathly afraid of being left alone by his lover. Sure he
knew he could probably handle whatever was on the other side of that door....
But what about him? He didn't want to be alone, not in here of all places. He
may be an FBI agent, but never in his whole life has he felt this helpless. 
"Please! I don't want to be alone! Don't-" 
"Takashi," Tomo suddenly interjects with a soft but stern tone. He holds his
face for a second before pushing back his hair from his eyes. "I'm not gonna
leave you alone, not even in a million years. I'm just looking outside to see
if it's safe. Now please, stay here where I can see you. And this is an order,
not only as your lover but as a superior." 
Damn it, he just had to play the age card didn't he? Unluckily for Takashi that
meant he could not go against direct orders from someone above him. It would
violate his sense of morality and a few rules. Simpering a little bit he lets
Tomo go, unable to resist any further. 
"Yes To- Uh, I mean sir," he says shakily and sits back down. "Please... be
careful." 
Tomo leans down to his eye level one last time and smiles at his lover, going
in for one last small kiss to his lips. 
"I will, you know I will be. Now please, stay here until I say it's safe.
There's no telling what I might do if you were in danger because of me." 
The human wipes his tears with his sleeve and nodded.
"I will." 
Satisfied with his answer Tomo stands back up and slowly makes his way to the
door, the tense silence making the hair on his neck stand. He could hear every
tap of his shoes on the wooden floor, sounding unnaturally loud. Behind him, he
could still hear the frantic breathing coming from Takashi and the thrum of
blood beneath his skin. He depended on these noises to keep him going, knowing
they meant he was still safe. Finally, he gets to the large door trapping them
inside this hellish place and puts a shaky sweaty hand to the door handle,
gripping it to keep himself from turning back. 
With a great and awful creaking it peels away from it's rusty hinges to
reveal... an orb, just about three feet from the door. One that Tomo instantly
recognized as being a human spirit. It was small, about the size of a baseball,
and colored a soft pale turquoise with a pulsating white center. An aura of
wispy rainbow colored light encased the orb, reminiscent of a tadpole. It even
had a thin but noticeable tail wriggling behind it. It hovered there for a few
seconds before an ethereal voice decided to speak in the few feet between it
and Tomo. He stood there in awe, unable to move. 
"Help me... Please help..."
Tomo was stuck in a stupor before finally snapping out of it and backing up a
little bit to put more space between himself and this... strange being. 
"Who's there?" He hears Takashi whisper quietly. "I heard a voice." 
Well, he figures it may be time to tell the truth at this point. 
"It's... There's a spirit here like we thought, but it's... human."
He starts backing away even more further into the room and in turn the orb
follows him inside, it's movement similar to swimming and he reaches around to
close the door behind it. It seems to be observing him at first then it turns
its attention to Takashi. But from what Tomo knew about the temperment of
spirits it didn't seem malicious. Just... scared, lost and confused. 
"What?" Takashi chirps. "I don't see anything." 
Well obviously. Unless they were psychic, humans could not see spirits unless
they knew someone who was a part of the under world who could help them. And
luckily for him, Tomo knew just the thing that would help.
"Come here," he says. "It's safe, it won't hurt you." 
His lover stands up and slowly came closer like he was told and stands by Tomo,
curious. The orb slowly began to travel around them to the middle of the room
before stopping. Tomo pulls Takashi close as they look in it's direction. Tomo
gently pressed his lips to Takashi's ear and whispered a strange chant in his
ear so he could see the orb.
The human slowly began to see the orb in front of them, gasping softly.
"That's... I..."
Rendered speechless he's unable to speak, simply staring at it. Tomo takes his
silence as a means to talk himself. He glances at the orb and frowns.
"Who are you?" He asks. "Why are you here?"
It floats there for a few seconds before it speaks again, displaying
intelligence.
"I...Ilived here," it began slowly.  "Mywife and I... we lived here. But he
came...Theterrible man, many weeks ago he did. He killed us, took over our
home..."
Well that explains why there were things scattered about in here, but there was
only this one spirit here. He didn't see another one.
"Is that you in that bathroom?" He asks. "Who are you talking about? And where
is your wife's spirit?"
The orb makes a soft whooshing noise, like it was distressed, before answering.
"Tortured... He tortured us, drained us of blood... She escaped... went... to
heaven... I stayed behind, stuck... banished to bottom floor... But he, he is
unnatural. He is a monster. He... he has no sense of morality... He is a
monster..."
He couldn't possibly be talking about the old ones could he? It was possible.
He just needed to tell them more.
"I see. Who is he and where did he go? We neex to find him right away so he can
be locked up and I can help you move on."
This spirit, from what he could tell, was pure. No wrong doings, a complete
model citizen, therefore a free ride to heaven. Takashi looks at his lover with
worried eyes before the orb continues.
"Nn... a vampire, an old but powerful one... where he went, don't know... He
left...Justhoursbeforeyou got here. He... made it seem abandoned, set a trap so
no one could get in...Butyou two... broke through the trap easily... down below
he... set up an imp downstairs to scare people off... but stillyou got here.
The trap has been broken.... can leave..."
"What was that horrible screeching that we heard when we got here?"
"You've... broken a protective seal... left on the door. Was supposed to keep
the door locked so no one could come in... But you broke it... The imp screamed
because it died... you saved me, saved yourselves... thank you..."
The orb trembled and went on a circle before it rose up to the ceiling,
bouncing along the surface in a display similar to an animal trapped in a cage.
Tomo clicks his tongue in sympathy and looks at back at Takashi.
"That's kind of a relief don't you think?" He asks. "That means we can go
home."
A flood of relief makes Takashi smile wearily and he nodded. All he wanted was
to go home and fall on his bed with Tomo right next to him. That's all he
needed was sleep.
"Yes... I want to go home Tomo. Please."
"And we will, but first, I need to set this soul free. He has been through
enough and he deserves to be happy."
Takashi knew that Tomo had a huge heart deep beneath his somber attitude, so
this display of selflessness was nothing too surprising. Still, it made his
heart feel better after what they had just been through to know that he was
this kind.
"Okay. You do that."
The daemon pays his head and decides to address the spirit one last time before
continuing with the send off.
"Before I send you off, can I ask your name?"
The spirit stays silent for a brief moment before he answers in a soft scared
voice.
"Rame... my name is Rame. Thanks."
Then he was gone, a bright light having erupted in the room and cleansed the
room if only for a few seconds. And then it was dark, and they were alone.
Neither of them really spoke, just deciding to leave, to walk out of that place
forever never wanting to go back. They found part of what they needed anyway.
At least, they hoped they wouldn't.
Once back downstairs, they both noticed the change in atmosphere. It was
warmer, less creepy. It was cause of this that Takashi felt more comfortable
being here, but that didn't mean he wanted to stay of course.
As they reach the door Tomo noticed a piece of paper stuck to the door. Quickly
he tears it off and decides to wait until they were outside before reading it.
The door thankfully came open and the sudden light of day made them both squint
roughly.
"I'm so glad to be out here again," Tomo heard Takashi whisper but was too
engrossed in reading the paper to reply. "Hmm? Tomo what is that?"
'Well done you two. The mystery is closer to being solved. But do not relax
just yet, for your most important trial awaits you very soon. Friendships will
be tested and obstacles must be overcome. Come find me at this last address,
and we shall talk more. I'm waiting.
A-.'
"Takashi. Let's go home."
His lover agrees and they hold hands tightly, starting the walk home. All the
while, the note is burning a figurative hole through his fingers.
The address on the note confused him. Why was it this one of all places?
It was Takashi's.
TBC
***** Chapter 40 *****
The day after
It had been a weird morning for Koichi so far.
He came to the company building just like he always did with his lover by his
side. They were told to meet Meto at the sixth floor for their day to start.
Everything seemed normal as normal could be, except for the part when they
caught Mia and Meto attached at the mouth as the latter was pinned to a wall in
front of the room they were in with his legs firmly around Mia's waist.
Such a situation had caused... quite the awkwardness to settle between them,
and now of course he couldn't even look see his friend in the eye anymore
without seeing that again in his head.
They broke apart from each other panting and blushing. But at the same time Mia
was smirking just a little bit.
'It just sort of happened,' Mia had responded when questioned about it. 'One
after another, things tend to happen you know. Meto is so cute.'
What the hell was that supposed to mean? He didn't want to ask any more for
fear of treading into unnecessary territory. So he gave up for the moment and
decided to push it away for later. At least he was over his feelings for Koichi
now, so there were no problems right?
So now, they stood here face to face with more questions than answers between
them. He had never felt so uncomfortable in his life.
"I know I have only a day to teach you this sort of thing, plus a few more
hours give or take. However, with your cooperation I shall do my best."
Meto was very understanding of the situation and agreed to the last minute
training that Koichi had in mind. They were now at a random floor in the main
building in a firing range. Meto had put some protective goggles on and
instructed him to do the same.
It was just him and Meto in here while their lovers waited outside. They stood
in front of the test targets and began to discuss what to do. Meto held a black
weapon in his hands, a handgun from what he could see. A sudden chill ran down
his spine. 
"Why are we here?" He asks. "I thought you were going to teach me to use my
powers."
"I will, but not now," he responds. "Since you're in no way going to learn to
use your powers fast enough, just this should be fine until we have more time.
Now, let's start shall we? I picked out something simple for you, a starter
weapon. Here, this should do fine." 
Holding it out, he motioned for Koichi to take it from him. But he was nervous,
Koichi had no experience whatsoever with firearms. And to have to learn to
control one in a day? They had quite a day ahead of them... 
With cold shaky fingers he takes it, letting it's unfamiliar weight settle in
his fingers. Just feeling it's cold lethal metal against his skin made him more
uncomfortable. He knew he had no real reason to complain though, Meto was
right. Given his now very short temper, he knew he would get very frustrated
with his powers if something went wrong. This was probably his only option
right now. 
"I understand," he sighs and holds it up to examine it. "So, what do I do? Just
aim it?" 
Meto laughs and has his own gun ready, looking very professional as he pulled
the safety back. 
"First, and I have to stress this a lot, always make sure the weapon is on safe
mode before handling it. So you won't accidentally shoot yourself. I mean, even
if you did, you'd heal like right away... but still, that's like your main
safety priority."
Psh, like that was going to make him feel better. 
"So what about vampires? Are they gonna be able to heal right away if you were
to shoot them?"
"Well, of course we'll be using silver bullets when push comes to shove. Even
vampires with an immunity to silver find it painful. It'll be enough to slow
them down so we can attack them properly."
This went of for about twenty minutes of him just explaining things. Outside,
Tsuzuku and Mia restlessly wandered around in the visitor lobby. It was just
them in here now, and being alone was still sort of... awkward. But it wasn't
as bad as it used to be now that he knew Mia and Meto found each other. About
damn time too.
Tsuzuku sat in a couch in front of a plasma screen meant for visitors, and he
heard Mia pacing around in front of the door to the range. Still so restless as
always. Just like a kid. Sort of. From what he knew, Mia had successfully gone
under surgery in the time that he and Koichi had isolated themselves and was
now recovering very well. He only had to rest for one day and was up and ready
to start over after that. Still, he was the same nervous wreck Tsuzuku had
known him to always be. His soul was strong, unwilling to give up. Maybe it was
because of that very reason that he needed a much shorter recovery time. 
Despite that, he was jumpy. The whole time Tsuzuku was trying to focus on the
screen and whatever programming was on, but that was proving a little difficult
right now.
"Mia-kun, why are you pacing around so much?" he asks. "You're making me
nervous."
"Sorry," the new half hydra muttered quietly. "I'm just... very anxious right
now. Knowing that my best friend and my now boy friend are handling guns in
there is making my skin prickle."
Yeah he had to be seriously on edge right now. But he had no real reason to
really be nervous. 
"Well, I don't think you have to worry too much about Meto, he's an expert in
firearms, the best actually. Why do you think he's the head of my team? Not
because he's a great leader, not because he knows how to take control. Yes he
is both of those things, but he's in charge because of his skill. If anyone can
teach Koichi about these things, it's him."
Of course, Tsuzuku knew that he should be worried too. Koichi even playing
around with a gun sounded like disaster. Still, he didn't feel worried. From
what little knowledge of Phoenixes he had they were fast healers and resistant
to all sorts of painful things. Their bodies deflected foreign objects that
would otherwise seem malicious and unfamiliar. So even if Koichi hurt himself
his body would repair itself right away and it would be no big deal.
"I guess," Mia finally says. "But it's normal for me to worry. The new genes
inside me are messing up my emotions." 
Tsuzuku looked behind him, seeing the boy nibbling on the tips of his thumbs
and otherwise making himself out to be very on edge. 
"Well, come over and sit. It's not doing you any good just letting your worry
run rampant. Let's have a talk, we haven't had one in a while. It could help
ease your mind." 
That seemed to be what they both needed. Since the whole thing with past
feelings he had been hesitant to let Mia close. Now that he had Meto though,
there was no reason not to right? 
Mia stopped his nibbling and came over to sit next to Tsuzuku, still rigid as
he squirmed in his seat. A few seconds passed by and they hear the muffled
noises of gun fire in the other room. It made him uneasy just listening to it,
and more horrible memories of his death came flooding back to him. Maybe
talking about it would help. 
"It's not just knowing they could hurt themselves," he started out of nowhere,
gaining Tsuzuku's attention. "It's... Hearing those noises makes me remember
when I died. When I was murdered..."
Ah. He had almost forgotten about that. Tsuzuku sighed and leaned back, not one
for physical means of comfort right now. 
"Well, I guess I understand now. You might have a bit of PTSD. I'll let Meto
know to be careful in the future. But you know Mia-kun... Knowing that you have
these fears is the first step to getting past them. It might take time and lots
of patience, but it would be worth it all if you succeed. That's important. Ah,
speaking of which, Mia-kun. Can I ask a question?" 
His sudden curiosity about his boss' new lover couldn't be helped, so he
changed the topic very quickly. 
"What is it?" Mia asks. Tsuzuku smirked at him. 
"So, if you don't mind me asking... How did you and Meto get together? I'm very
curious." 
At this question he can see Mia's overall demeanor change. His nervous posture,
stiff and very closed up, becomes very shy but confident at the same time if
that made sense. 
"Well... About three days ago, I woke up from surgery and he was there next me
in the hospital. He looked so nervous and worried but relieved that I was
awake. Seeing him there made me feel something deep in my chest, in my heart.
His face was wet with tears but he was smiling. In that second I could swear...
I never saw anything so cute in my life. My heart immediately began to reach
out for him and I knew then that... He and I were so blind. What we wanted,
what we both had needed was right in front of us this whole time. That and...
heh, he was kissing me until I couldn't breathe. It was kinda hard to ignore my
feelings after that."
So Meto was the first one to initiate things huh. Interesting.
"So? Who's who in this relationship?" He inquired with a sly smile. Mia
laughed.
"Well, considering how red he got when you caught us kissing this morning? I
can safely tell you that there's no way he would be able to top me."
Mia was top? Also interesting! There were so many things that Mia was telling
him that he could use against Meto in the future... for as long as he could
remember Meto seemed like the dominant type, taking charge however he could.
And even if he never knew a single thing about his private life he had assumed
that he would also be dominant when it came to sex. But now, that was being
disproved right in front of him. Strangely though that wasn't too big a shock.
"Oh my," Tsuzuku giggled quietly to himself. "A spirit as old as him being
topped by an eighteen year old kid..."
"Hey," Mia complains. "I'm not a kid anymore you know."
"Yeah yeah I know, I was just teasing," Tsuzuku admits. "But you know, you
should be careful with him."
Since they were dating now it wouldn't be wrong to bring this topic up right?
"Eh? Why? He seems okay to me."
Tsuzuku took a breath, wondering if Meto would be okay with Mia knowing what he
was about to tell him. It would be a warning with friendly advice.
"Well... about two hundred years ago, he was in a really strange relationship
with some shape shifter from the human world. And... after it was over it
really affected him. He has been afraid to love for the next hundred years
after that. He's okay now, but just... take care of him okay?"
Mia frowned, unaware of that.
"What happened? Did they break up horribly?" He pressed. "Did he hurt him?"
"No no, it's nothing like that," Tsuzuku assured him. "Sayula was a really good
guy, he loved Meto with all he had in him, and he was a damn good agent. But,
unfortunately, unlike Tree spirits and daemons like myself, shape shifters can
be killed. Very easily in fact. We got involved with some really strong
vampires and... well, I think you know where I'm going with this right?"
A horrified expression plastered on Mia's face as he felt cold chills on his
spine. So... Meto's previous lover was... killed by vampires? Was that why he
hated vampires so much? Most likely so. Every time that guy thought about those
monsters a grim and hateful expression was on his face. Now he knew why.
He sighed and held his arms to himself sub consciously, unable to shake the
feeling of dread in his stomach.
"I... didn't know," he answers softly. "He never told me."
Tsuzuku nodded, not surprised at all.
"He doesn't really like to talk about it. It took him years to accept his
death. And now that you're here, you can help heal him. Show him that like us,
Hydra's can be just as strong. You're stronger than lesser creatures like shape
shifters, and can last millennia if you survive right. But even so, I do want
you to be careful."
His words lessened the load on his shoulders and he slumped in his seat.  He
wasn't really sure if he could help Meto fully heal from what sounds like a
painful experience. But he would try his best.
"Thanks, Tsuzuku-san. It really means a lot to me to hear you say that. And
also... I want to say im sorry."
Yeah Tsuzuku knew this would come up.
"For what?" He asks though he knew he was sure what was going to be said. Mia
hugged and clasped his fingers closed, biting his lip.
"Well... for everything really. Being friends with ice, and hurting Koichi,
making him come here... and taking his first kiss of all things? I just... I
feel horrible about all of that. I know its been weeks since then but... It
still keeps me up at night. So I wanted to say that I'm sorry."
It was good he was apologizing for all of that, but at the same time he didn't
really need to. Tsuzuku and Koichi had both forgiven him long ago when they
found their love with one another. The problems of the past were long gone, and
Mia was now Koichi's best friend. It felt good to him, knowing that tje
pinkette had taken Ice's spot in Mia's life. Now they were on the road to total
forgiveness.
"You don't have to apologize for that anymore," Tsuzuku says and pats Mia's
shoulder encouragingly. "What Koichi and I had forgiven you long ago, so dont
let it beat you up too much. You're his friend, and mine. And now you're an
important person to Meto as well. He needs you, so you shouldn't make him
worry."
That was true Mia figured. Koichi never talked about what happened, preferring
to just forget about it. He had thought that it was Koichi's way of holding a
grudge, but knowing that it was the complete opposite made him feel a ton
better. Still, it was also good that he apologized.
"I just wanted you to know how I felt is all. But knowing that I've been
forgiven makes me feel a lot better."
Well Tsuzuku couldn't really deny him of that.
"Great. It's good to know everything is settled. Now, are we done worrying
about them now?"
Mia smiled, a real one this time that really made his eyes sparkle.
"Mhm. Thanks for letting me talk about it. I wasn't sure who else would
understand how I really felt."
Tsuzuku nodded, now completely ignoring the television.
"Its Okay, I'm always around to listen. So. There was one other thing I want to
know. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to though." Mia cocked his
head, a sign for Tsuzuku to continue on. "Has anything involving your new genes
happened yet? Hydra's are reptilian like creatures, so I was just wondering if
any scales showed up on your skin yet."
A hydra typically began to grow his or her scales about three to four days
after the surgery. But sometimes if the body accepted the genes right away it
began earlier than that. And judging from the surprised look on Mia's face that
was probably the case here.
"Well now that you mention it.... I have been noticing discoloration on my
upper arms. Maybe you can look at them and tell me?"
Now Tsuzuku was very curious. Mia was wearing a plain grey zip up and was
starting to take It off when the doors opened suddenly and they turned to see
who it was.
It was... Die. And some tall blonde guy neither of them saw before. He was
really attractive and had bright ice blue eyes that seemed really unnatural.
His body was covered in nothing but fancy leather and lace with some three inch
platforms to match. His lips were bright red, in contrast to his deathly pale
skin. His eyes seemed to land on Tsuzuku right away, and they stayed on him as
they approached.
"Die?" Tsuzuku asked in confusion. "What are you doing here? And who is this
guy? Why aren't you with Shinya?"
The shape shifter smiled wide at them and pats the strange guy in his shoulder,
not noticing the way he shyed away from his touch.
"Don't you worry, Tomo is with him. I'm just here to see how you guys were
doing, and to introduce someone new. This is Aryu. He's a vampire."
Immediately Tsuzuku stood up and bristled, all his alarm bells going off. Mia
also backed away, becoming wary.
"What are you doing Die?" Tsuzuku growled. "You of all people should know
better than to let a filthy blood sucker into this place!"
Aryu didn't seem affected by the term, instead smiling wide at him and pushing
his long blonde hair behind him, his fangs gleaming under the dim
fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling.
"Oh you dont have to worry about me," he laughs with a wave. "I'm no one too
important. I actually have information about the vampires you're looking for.
Unless you're too biased against my kind to not listen when someone innocent is
trying to help."
"Innocent?" Tsuzuku growled. "The whole reason we're in this mess is because of
your kind. It was because of them that humans are going missing and half humans
are being attacked!"
But Aryu just sighs.
"And I'm saying, once again, that I really have nothing to do with any of that.
And if you would just listen to what I have to say then you'll understand why
I'm here."
Still, Tsuzuku didn't feel right. This guy was giving off some eerie vibes and
he didn't like it. Still, even if he was a vampire he could have vital
information for their case. This was no time to let his grudge against those
blood suckers keep him from learning new things. He relaxes a bit and crossed
his arms.
"Fine," he relents. "But we'll be keeping an eye on you. I'll go get Meto and
Koichi, they should know as well."
As he says the names and walks to the door of the shooting range, he could have
sworn he saw a glint of malice in Aryu's eyes. That definitely set off more
warning bells. But he pushed his suspicions away for now. He opens the door and
calls to his lover and friend.
"Meto, Koichi. We have a visitor."
"Okay," Meto calls. "We'll be right there."
Still. The whole time he was talking, not once did Aryu look away from him. He
would have to keep a closer eye on this one.
TBC
***** Chapter 41 *****
It was tense. Enough to feel like Koichi could cut through the air like a hot
knife through butter. A cold eerie feeling settled on his skin and not even the
fires burning in his veins could help make the chill go away.
Mia had gotten too intimidated and decided to go home on his own, saying that
he would come back later after the vampire left. Meto accepts a soft kiss to
his cheek and a worried glance before Mia is out the door and gone.
Aryu didn't seem affected by the tension, smiling hugely all while Meto and
Koichi had gone into the lobby. Die seemed pleased with himself that Aryu was
here, probably proud of himself for being able to find a non hostile vampire.
At least so they were led to believe. Tsuzuku still didn't trust him despite
what Die would say otherwise.
And after telling this feeling to his lover the pinkette seemed to share that
sentiment fully. He noted the creepy stares his lover was receiving and quite
frankly he didn't like it. Hopefully, and this was saying a lot. It was all
just a misguided display of affection and nothing too... sinister.
So he and Tsuzuku kept to the edges of the lobby as everyone got settled to
hear this so called news that the vampire had.
"Why don't you start with how long you're going to be here," Meto says to the
vampire. "And how did Die find you anyways?"
Aryu's grin widened and he chose a spot on the couch where Tsuzuku was sitting
only moments before.
"Well, I heard that you guys were looking for special info. Info that I
happened to have. And trust me when I say I'll only be here for a little while,
no more than a few moments at the most. Just so I can get everything off my
chest." He pauses to accept a can of soda from Die out of a nearby vending
machine. "Thanks. Anyways as I was saying, about a few days ago I was just
minding my own business in the subway station near here and I was headed home
from there when a shady looking dude showed up and stood behind me while we
waited for the train. I thought nothing of it at first, but when he started
talking I knew that there was something off about him. I knew he was a vampire
by the way he smelled like blood and cinnamon. We can find other members of our
own species by scent so that must be how he found me."
"Well what did he say?" Mia asked. Aryu seemed to zero in on him, his icy blue
eyes unnerving to even look at for more than a few seconds.
"He said, and I'm just quoting him on this one. 'You look strong, like you're
more than able to handle yourself. We'd love to see you at our place later,'
then he gave me this note with an address. After he gave it to me he just
straight up disappeared, the shifty bastard."
Aryu gives a piece of paper to Meto and trying to avoid touching him. The
spirit warily takes it and reads it, a furrow appearing in his eyebrow. That
could not mean good news.
"'All hail the Purebloods?' Hmm... This is worse than I expected. It seems like
they're developing a superiority complex. And these vampires, they only have
just this one place?"
"I doubt it," Aryu sighed and sipped leisurely from his soda. "If I would have
went with him there's no doubt in my mind that he would tell me about the other
places they have. It was kinda dumb to give a random vampire directions to a
criminal hide out. What amateurs. The least they could have done was at least
ask me who's side I was on but whatever I guess."
Again, Koichi felt a chill on his arms from the way this man spoke. Like he
was... trying to say how much better he would be. Like the guy who gave him the
note was a complete idiot and he could have done better. And still, he
continued to grin like nothing was out of the ordinary. It was creepy.
"Where is this place?" Tsuzuku decided to ask Meto. "Is it close by?"
The spirit hands over the note to his subordinate, his face grave even through
the delicate spring colored makeup and silver white curls. No matter how
delicate he looked there was always a stern personality underneath.
"Well, this can't be good news for us," Meto says once Tsuzuku is finished.
"It's close by, too close in fact. There's an abandoned building not far from
here. That's the address on the note."
Like Meto said, the place specified was an old warehouse like the one they used
to house the entrance to the portal for travel to the other side. Except this
one was much closer. Only fifteen blocks away from here and it used to
distribute some kind of expensive but now useless anti-Sickness medicine.
As they spoke Aryu was looking around and taking in his surroundings, not as
worried about the whole thing. He was suspiciously calm about it. A normal
person would be on edge at the very least. Again, Koichi had to wonder if it
was just the paranoia talking.
"So yeah. I guess I helped find one of the hideouts or whatever. Die-San was
out in front of the building when I got here, and luckily for me he was head of
security. I told him and here we are."
So that was it? He wasn't going to ask for anything else?
"I also told him that if he could tell you guys then you'd reward him."
Oh of course he did. The more Koichi got to know Die the more he realized how
much of an air head he really was. Who else just let a random vampire with
shady information into a high security building? For all he could tell it could
be a trap.
Meto seemed to understand that for he then spoke up again. His face was now
more serious, distrusting even.
"There's only one way to know if this information is legit. We'll scope the
place out, get an idea of what's really going on. If what you said is really
true and there are vampires in this location, we can start making arrests then
you'll get your reward."
It was after this that an even bigger from appeared on his face, like it would
split open his lips at this point. Gods he was creepy.
"Oh I'm actually pretty well off, so I'm not really interested in a reward. I'm
just here to tell you guys what I heard because I'm an upstanding citizen who
wants to keep the city safe. That's all."
Yeah Tsuzuku had every reason to doubt such a claim. Why wouldn't he? Aryu is
creepier than hell even if he claims to be on their side.
"So what are we going to do now?" Koichi wonders out loud. "Are we all gonna
go?"
That didn't seem like a very good idea, especially not right now. Someone
needed to be here just in case. Tsuzuku was ready to protest until Meto did it
for him.
"No. You and Tsuzuku stay here," Meto says. "We need someone to look out for
Shinya's safety. Die and I will take a few agents along with us to check it out
and we'll send Yoshiatsu as Die's stand in for a few hours and another to look
after our visitor here. Then we'll come back and continue what we were doing."
Speaking of which... where was that slippery daemon?
"I'll go give him a call," says Die after fishing out his phone. "I'm sure
he'll be thrilled to look after our guest."
As he walked out to the stairwell with the receiver to his ear Meto and Tsuzuku
started talking amongst themselves as Koichi lingered by the door leading to
the bathroom.
"So what should we do?" The daemon asks. "If Aryu can be trusted or not, what
do we do? Just let him walk?"
"If he is innocent, like many of our vampire citizens are, then we have no
choice but to let him go. However..." He looked back at the oblivious Aryu
swinging his legs back and forth off the couch while staring at the TV. "He'll
be incarcerated in our dungeons. If any evidence suggesting that he is indeed
involved with the horrible rogues then we'll have no choice but to kill him.
Along with many we've already captured."
They walked a bit further away towards the back room of the lobby, out of ear
shot of Aryu. Koichi notices them slowly inching away and decides to return his
attention to the vampire so he didn't try anything funny.
"He's creepy," Tsuzuku finally admits. "I don't like the idea of letting him
run free."
His boss sighs and scratched absentmindesly under his chin.
"Yes I know, he's really giving off some strange vibes. But that's how these
past events have forced us to feel. Hopefully its all just a case of misguided
paranoia."
Yeah he hoped so too. Better paranoia than his suspicions being confirmed. The
idea of letting a potentially dangerous vampire run around with them up here
was not sitting well with him.
"I hope so. In any case you had better start getting ready for your little
trip. Me and Koichi will take him up to Shinya's floor and keep an eye on him
there."
"That sounds good," Meto agrees as they head back. "Ask him questions if you
can, and see for yourself if he's trustworthy."
"Sure."
They approached Aryu but didn't sit near him, instead standing nearby the couch
he was sitting on. Koichi noticed this and also gravitated closer but didn't
sit down. After a few seconds of watching Aryu closely as he watched the moving
shapes on TV Meto finally spoke up.
"So. Aryu was it?" He asks. "So why exactly have you decided to snitch on your
fellow vampire? Wouldn't what they are doing seem more... I don't know,
appealing?"
Aryu's legs stopped swinging, and he looked down with a sigh. Almost like he
was disappointed that Meto would even start to assume that. 
"One might think it would be, but no, it isn't. Not to me," he says and looks
up with an unsettlingly calm smile. "What these poor kin of mine are doing now,
it makes my heart ache. They are killing without reason, with no sense, no
morals. Just, gorging themselves on innocent blood because they believe they
have a right. To see them doing this is just... I've been around for a long
time, centuries, and I have never seen such a terrible display of violence
against the poor humans. Their creators would be so disappointed to know that
this was how their children are behaving. It's not right. So the only way of
redemption, I believe, is death. It's the only way to cure their God complexes.
Is that not reason enough?"
"That's not curing them," Meto says back. "We're literally going to be killing
them. That doesn't make you upset?"
The vampire softly twirled a strand of his hair in his fingers and looks at the
TV, though his eyes seemed glossy and unseeing. Uninterested.
"A few bad apples spoil the whole bushel, as they say," he responds. "If we
continue to let these guys run free, more of my pure kin will be spoiled and my
whole bushel will be rotten. That's not something I want at all. So I want to
stop it."
Well... He he sounded sincere enough Meto figured. Even if he seemed creepy,
now that he knew that Aryu was an old vampire he could put a reason to the
intimidating aura and haughty attitude. Old vampires always had an air of
aristocracy around them, like they were royalty. And that was probably the
reason why these rogues were doing what they were doing. To increase their
power. Speaking of which, there was something he really needed to know.
"So what are your powers like? Do you have any special abilities like your kin
or are you a normally wired vampire?"
Aryu turns up his nose, once again displaying some hardcore haughtiness. Almost
arrogant in a way.
"Oh goodness me, no. My blood is pure thanks. Those of us with abilities
outside the norm are considered special, mutants even. I'm not like that. I'm
just a plain old vampire who can turn invisible, run faster than the average
marathon runner and see in the dark. That's all."
So what does that mean for his mutated kin? Well right now Tsuzuku couldn't
ask, he would later if he found the time.
Meto ran a hand through his silvery curls, suddenly very tired. This whole
ordeal has been stressing him out to the point that he might start blooming
again. That first incident was just embarrassing.
Soon enough Die came back and had a worried look on his face. Right away
everyone became tense again.
"Meto, Tsuzuku, I have something very important you might want to know."
Oh no not more bad news. The daemon and spirit exchange looks before ushering
Die over to where they stood.
"Die what's wrong?" Meto asks. "Did you get a hold of Yoshiatsu?"
The shapeshifter fidgets a bit and clutched tight into his phone.
"Well I... yes I did. But as we were talking he told me something...
distressing. We have security personnel all throughout the city right? The ones
near your house Meto-san, saw Mia arrive safely at home. So don't sorry this
isn't about him. However, as I was speaking with Yoshiatsu he said that before
I called he tried to reach Tomo-san. The other daemon that is. But he wouldn't
answer. He's been in the human world for three days now and he hasn't contacted
us. Not even the human he's associating himself with can be found."
Tsuzuku shuddered, a feeling of dread now taking over his body. Does that mean
that they were...
"Die. What are you trying to say?" Meto pressed. "You haven't tried calling
them back or asking any agents up there if they had seen him?"
"I tried everything," Die admits with a sigh. "The last time anyone even saw
them was a few hours ago when they were on their way home. They took a shirtcut
through Shibuya crossing then... Nothing. I'm afraid that they seem to have
gone missing. Yoshiatsu will be here shortly to give us some more details. So
for now we should head up to the top."
Tomo and Takashi were missing? What could have happened to them? Last Tsuzuku
knew, those two love birds were busy with their own thing to really check in
but... still, he'd expect a small text here and there. But now that Die brought
the subject up he really hasn't heard anything in the last three days.
Now Tomo was a tough guy, one of the best fighters in this place. How could he
have gone away without at least sending out some sort of a warning? Unless...
unless whoever it was that managed to get them knew that Takashi was human,
just a weakness and used it against him. It was possible.
Meto's face grew even more grim but he was probably relieved to know that Mia
had gotten home safely.
"I see. Understood. We'll see if we can send out more people to look for him. 
For now we will head up too. Come on, that means you Mr. Blood sucker."
Aryu scoffed and took his time standing up as he looked back at the TV.
"Aww. But I was watching that," he pouted. "Rude name calling by the way. I
thought you guys were professionals."
They all went to the door and Tsuzuku rolls his eyes at the childish vampire.
"We'll go to first name basis once we know you can be trusted so get used to
it," Tsuzuku snapped back at him. "Koichi come on."
"Go ahead without me," his lover calls as he goes to the bathroom. "I'll catch
up with you guys."
Tsuzuku nodded and they pushed a still sulking Aryu into the stairwell,
disappearing. Koichi sighed and goes to the sink in the bathroom so he could
fix his hair and makeup. He needed to think to himself for a little while. A
heavy breath settled in his chest.
What was he doing? This was real life, he knew that but... he didn't even think
the afterlife would be this scary. When he came here, he didn't think he would
be dealing with vampires and his fellow humans being targeted by them. Only a
month ago he was still in his old world and worrying about school and what to
do about his now very petty worries.
But this. This was life or death. At any point a vampire could get to him and
Tsuzuku would try risking his life to save him. Or vice versa because he knew
if Tsuzuku was brave or dumb enough to try them he was too. Though he knew that
Tsuzuku would have a higher chance of actually succeeding. This whole thing was
just... it made his head spin.
What was he going to do now? He wasn't sure but he would figure it out.
Koichi brushed back his hair and pins it back into place and starts to fix up
his smudged make up.
Only minutes later he hears the door open again. Weird, didn't they just go
upstairs?
"Koichi? Meto? Are you guys here?"
Mia? What was he doing back? He quickly finished fixing his eyes and then went
back out to greet his friend. He was sweaty, like he ran all the way here. But
he's only been gone for a little while. So why did he come all the way back?
"Mia? What's the matter? What happened?"
Mia panted hard and tried to catch his breath in between hurried words,
hunching over.
"Koichi... you... your house... I went by and... saw... some vampires! They
were trying... to break in! I came back... to tell you. Not to go home alone...
whew my legs are killing me..."
Koichi swallowed hard, feeling goosebumps raising on his arms. But his home was
in the other direction from Meto and Mia's. What was he doing there?
"Why did you go there?" He asked and tried to help by patting his back. "What
if they saw you? You'd be in danger right now."
The hydra finally caught his breath and stood up straight to look around but
noticed they were alone.
"Where did everyone go?" He asks. Koichi frowned and looked towards the door.
"Well... they went up to the top and took the vampire with them. Come on, we
should go tell everyone right away."
Mia nodded, wiping his forehead. He deserved a good rest after this.
"Right. Let's go."
They rushed to the stairwell and just as they did, the power went out. Then
they were in complete darkness. Koichi sighed in frustration, feeling Mia grip
onto his shirt.
"Fucking hell."
 
TBC 
***** Chapter 42 *****
"Mia?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you see anything?"
"No. Can you?"
The pinkette squinted and found that he could see but only a little bit. The
shapes of the stairs could be seen as shadows and he suddenly thought of
something. Of course..!
"No but... Hang on. Let me try this."
He held out his hand and tried lighting a flame in his hand.
Thankfully it worked and a small pink flame soon lit up the room from the palm
of his hand. He stared for a second before he laughed breathlessly. He actually
did it! And it didn't hurt! It felt more like a... a tingling and numb but
pleasant sensation in his palm.
"Uwahh!" Mia exclaimed loudly. "That's so amazing! Your powers really have come
a long way huh?"
They began the long walk up the stairs and Koichi laughed again, letting the
flame bounce around in his fingers.
"I... I guess so," he agrees. "Though I have a feeling that this is not just
what I can do. I'm gonna need more training if I want to really see my
potential."
Mia returned his words with an enthusiastic nod before wincing very noticeably.
Was he hurt? Koichi frowned but didn't want to seem intrusive so he lets it go.
Maybe he'll bring it up later on his own.
"That's awesome. Meto says that since I'm not an elemental type being my powers
will be different. Hydra's are like snakes and grow scales once at a certain
age. There are two different types. One that is venomous and one that can spit
acid. I'm not sure which one I am yet though. Only time will tell."
Maybe that was why he was wincing, his scales were growing in. But if it wasn't
too painful then maybe he shouldn't worry.
"Maybe. I just hope you don't have to experience the pain that I did when I
changed. It was the worst thing I ever went through physically."
The stairs echoed uncomfortably loud under every footstep and they would flinch
every so often. Did the dark atmosphere always make things seem louder? Right
now, the both of them were just anxious to get to their lovers.
"Even if I did. What makes you think I couldn't handle it?" Mia asks. "I've
been through my fair share of troubles. I was in a gang for God's sake. They
jumped me just so I would be accepted. That. Was painful. I think I could
handle a few scales pushing into my skin."
Well he sorta had a point. Fire burning in your veins or a few scales pushing
through his body... yeah maybe the fire really was the worst one. Still, would
it kill Mia to accept the worry from his friend?
Koichi pushed the small fire ball up higher above their heads to illuminate
their path upwards. They silently climbed their way up to the top, not saying
much more in the subject. There would be time for it later so he decides to
speak of something else.
"Ne, Mia-kun... how do you feel about Meto-san? I know you care about him but,
how much?"
Mia frowned and thought about his answer before he spoke. A contemplative look
crosses his face.
"Hmm. That's a good question," he admits. "I mean I know for sure I adore the
guy. But... do I love him? Hmm."
Oh dear another awkward question. Koichi mentally smacked himself.
"Its okay, you don't have to answer right away if you're not sure yet. We have
some time to talk about it."
He continued to ponder on the question and didn't realize that Koichi had
stopped until he almost ran into him. They were now just on the landing below
the the top floor and Koichi's fire dimmed just slightly to create less light
than before.
"Koichi? What's the matter?" He whispered. "Why are we stopping?"
The pinkette looks up and sees a dark looking shadow figure lurking just
outside the door to the top floor. Like the shape of a blob or a really
disfigured person. It just... hovered there ominously. It seemed to be
listening through the door.
"Shh," Koichi hisses. "Look, up there."
Mia looked up to where he pointed and he must have seen it too because he was
crouching low. Koichi pushed him back behind a wall that turned the corner to
the landing and they peeked around. The air felt many degrees colder and their
breath formed small clouds.
"Who is that?" Mia wonders.
"I don't know, but its blocking our way."
Koichi swallowed back his shock and decided to ask the thing what it was doing.
"Hey! Who are you?"
It didn't seem to notice them there at first, but at Koichi's voice it seemed
to make it bristle with surprise and suddenly the temperature dropped even
further. Then there is a weird pulsating noise coming from it that made the
both of them freeze in place. The shape then morphed into a now very distinctly
human shape before it slinks off over the railway, disappearing into the
darkness. Koichi and Mia rushed to try and see it, but it had already gone.
Koichi kicked the rail in frustration and glared at the door. The ball of fire
grew brighter in tunes to his anger and Mia stood there just as dumbfounded.
"Come on, we should go tell everyone what we saw. Shinya will want to know that
there is a creeper lurking in the building."
Mia nodded and followed Koichi through the door.
"What was that thing and what was it doing in the stairwell?" Mia wonders out
loud. Koichi sighs.
"I don't know, but we'll ask Shinya."
The top floor was just as dark as everywhere else but very narrow, so he kept
the flame close to his body. Once they approached the door to Shinya's lobby
they heart a weird noise behind them. The same low pulsing that they heard in
the stairwell. Koichi whipped around and saw the shadow again. Now standing
behind them. Mia gasped and shuffled behind Koichi and all went still.
The tension rose with every passing second they kept still. The shadow being
stood there just ten feet away, a dark aura surrounding it and pulsing in tune
with the strange noise. Mia feels an eerie chill settle back on his skin and
the itch in his skin felt like a thousand needles scratching at him.
What was it doing? Why was It here? Koichi wanted to ask, but somehow he knew
that deep inside he wouldn't get his answers. There was a feeling that this
entity wasn't here to talk. Just to... observe? Maybe.
"Who are you?" He asks anyway. "What do you want from us?"
Like expected it did not answer, but he knew he had to try anyway. Instead, it
continued to pulse and give off it's eerie aura before something unexpected
happened. It actually began to speak.
'I... I am the eyes, the ear, the heart... my master is awaiting his arrival...
you are in the way... They warned me about you, that my progress might
otherwise be impeded. But I... I will not... fail... I must not fail..!"
It's unnatural body body twisted in a backward bend before it slimmed back into
a shadowy blob before rushing ath them, knocking them over with a loud
screeching howl. Mia cried out and barely caught Koichi before he could hit his
head against a nearby door handle. The shadow disappeared yet again, and they
were left there, confused on the floor. By now the light had gone out, Koichi
having lost his concentration long ago.
Mia panted heavily, cold and shivering. He checked his body for any injuries
before asking his friend.
"Koichi are you still here?" He murmurs.
"Yeah," the pinkette answers. "But... Mia..."
The soft and scared gone of voice caused him to grow concerned.
"What? What happened?"
A sudden pink flame showed up and what he saw made him pale with dread and
shock. Redness was soaking through the front of Koichi's shirt from what looked
like his stomach. Blood.
"I... I think it... It tried to kill me."
The pinkette coughed and the light dimmed, turning from pink to red in color.
His hands were shaking and he was holding his stomach. Immediately the smell of
blood was filling the air. Salty and rusty, and it made Mia feel sick to his
stomach.
"Oh my God, Koichi! Hang on, I'll go get help! Please stay here and don't
move."
Mia gently brushed at Koichi's arm in a supportive way and ran to the door
before bursting through it.
Koichi blinked back hazy tears and only just then the pain began to make his
body ache. The magic and fire in his veins swirled angrily and tried to heal
him. But for some reason... The wound would not close. The blood continued to
pour out at an alarming rate and the last thing Koichi could make out was the
panicked voice of his lover calling his name and the feeling of soft warm lips
pressing to his forehead. Then he was pulled into sweet merciful darkness.
That's all he saw here. Darkness. Was he dreaming? Yeah probably. When he got
nervous and fell asleep in such a state he had very weird, very lucid dreams.
This one was no different. He couldn't walk, couldn't speak. All he could do
now was simply wait as his body dangles helplessly, floating as if in water.
Watch as a swirling blackness cascaded and unfolded in his subconscious. Then
small sparkles of light, pink and small like lightning bugs, began to flicker
and dance. Then he saw them grow bigger and bigger, to there they were now the
size of small birds. Then he realized the sparkles weren't just light, no. It
was fire.
Dozens of birds made of pink flames were now swirling and dancing around him,
making small chirping noises in his ear. Soothing and gentle, their chirping
soothed his once anxious mind and he lets himself enjoy the show and sounds.
But then, he sees it. More darkness, unnatural and creepy, forming in front of
his face in an ominous cloud. Right away the birds go from being peaceful and
soothing to loud and agitated. There was then a metallic sounding screeching as
the birds began to move in a flock of angry squawks and squeals. Then the flock
began to... merge together. Koichi felt a lump appear in his throat as he
watches the birds now become one bird. It was huge, the size of a large bird of
prey. It was now next to him, just flying in place right there and acting
agitated. Koichi looked around then noticed the dark cloud now hovering only
twenty feet away. Then they began to charge one another and he saw a bright
piercing light.
He wasn't sure what happened next, but he woke up, alone and breathing hard,
and on Shinya's couch.
What was that all about? His dreams never usually got that weird. Could it be
the stress getting to him?
The wound on his stomach was finally closed but the blood was dried and making
an angry rusty brown stain on his shirt. The first thing that came to mind was
that he was most definitely never going to wear it again.
We'll at least his body managed to heal itself.
Luckily there was a replacement waiting for him on the armrest so he quickly
threw off the dirty shirt and pulled on the soft black shirt. The lights were
still out though. So that was a pain he was gonna have to deal with. He groaned
sleepily and forced himself up to his feet before deciding to look for his
lover and his friends. Not able to see a thing Koichi once more summons his now
trusty ball of pink light. Slowly he ventures to the outside of Shinya's
office, where he hears voices. Tsuzuku's was the one he heard the most. There's
a soft velvet bench next to the door.
"Yes he's healed, but that still doesn't minus the fact that there is an
unknown and murderous entity lurking in the building targeting him!"
"We know that, and he knows that," he hears Shinya say softly. "I think he's
finally been able t fully understand the danger of this situation. He's
practically in the fire pan at this point. But he's a strong young man. Why do
you think he's been able to get this far? After everything hes been through in
the human world? He's special, his soul is not easily broken. He'll be fine. We
all will be."
Koichi felt a pang in his chest. They were worried about him. But at the same
time they knew he would be okay. Yes he knew he was through a lot and was able
to handle it physically. But at the emotional level? There were more than
enough times where he felt like his mind was literally going to snap. If it
wasn't for Tsuzuku then... well who knows where he would be right now.
He sighed again and decided to make himself known. The door was creaky and gave
him away as he went in.
"Tsuzuku?"
In the office there were a few soft but well lit lanterns set up so he let his
fire fizzle out.
His lover stood just in front of Shinya's desk, the very image of a worry wart.
He looked very stressed out but upon seeing Koichi he smiled so wide it looked
like his lips would split. The others were there too. Die, and that other
daemon Yoshiatsu, whom was a stoic statue. Even Mia was standing nearby with
his arms wound tight around the much smaller Meto. Aryu was standing in a
random corner behind Die, an oddly distressed look on his face. Everyone else
though besides him looked relieved to see him up and about.
"Koichi," he breathed out in relief and welcomed his meek looking lover into
his arms for a tight squeezing hug. "I was worried the healing would take
forever and make you sleep for a long time. Are you okay?"
As his heart pounded in his chest Koichi snuggled into his lover's chest. Oh
how he loved this feeling to the moon and back..! Tsuzuku pulled Koichi out the
door into the hallway so they could have some privacy. But they leave the door
open so the light could drift out.
"Tsuzuku, I'm okay, really. The healing didn't really bother me," he assured
him and pulled back to look in his lovers face. "What happened anyway? All I
remember... was seeing that shadow and it... rushed at me. I saw blood and I
passed out then I... woke up on the couch."
Tsuzuku looked around at their friends and sighed before gently brushing a hand
through Koichi's soft pink strands.
"Well... You were not normally stabbed like I had originally thought. The wound
on your stomach was caused by a spirit. Whoever it was, they were strong, and
were able to... rip a hole through your body with it's own soul. There were
traces of poison around it, though not enough to really hurt you. Still, it
slowed down your body's natural healing process so you passed out after
losing... a lot of blood. Mia was freaking out, and so was I."
More pangs, but thankfully those of relief. Knowing that he was doted on would
normally have annoyed him but after the attempt on his life he was never more
happy for it. Nothing could ever beat the feeling of being safe and in his
lovers arms. Nothing at all.
"Whoever it was," he mumbled and pushed his face back into Tsuzuku's chest.
"They're a coward for having done it while the power is out. If they ever show
their disgusting self here again..."
"I know baby I know," Tsuzuku says and began to rock them back and forth
gently. A naturally nervous habit. "You're so brave Koi-chan. I almost don't
recognize you from the cute trembling little Koichi I saw standing outside that
house."
His lover rolls his eyes but smiles, his cheeks pink.
"Funny," he mumbles softly. "I'm no longer a child. I know something is going
to happen now though. There's no more time left. There's a battle coming Tsu. I
can feel it deep inside me. And... I saw something."
Tsuzuku let's Koichi pull him to the bench so they could sit down, and takes
his hands in his own.
"What did you see?" asks his concerned lover. "Something when you was
attacked?"
"Mm not quite," Koichi answered. "When I was asleep I had a dream. It was
weird, and I can't help but to feel it was... important somehow."
That got his attention. Tsuzuku tilts his head and presses closer, curious.
"What happened?"
Koichi swallowed dryly before beginning to rattle off the details of his dream.
"It was dark, and I was floating in my own mind for a while. Then, I saw a
bunch of pink lightning bugs starting to fly around me. They turned to birds
and it looked really pretty. They were dancing around me and chirping a lullaby
to me. But then I saw a black shadow starting to show up. The birds freaked out
and their song became discordant and screeching. And in front of my eyes they
began to... push together to make one big bird the size of an eagle. They had
like a... some sort of standoff. They rushed at each other like they were gonna
collide and then... I woke up."
When he was done, Tsuzuku had a look of worry and curiosity on his face. What
did this odd dream mean? He didn't know but. Like he had thought many times
before. Maybe Shinya would know.
"That's strange," Tsuzuku finally says. "I've never heard of Phoenixes having
prophetic dreams. Then again, I've never known hardly anything of Phoenixes...
Still. It's very strange. And this was all that you saw? Nothing else?"
"Yes," the pinkette answers and slides his fingers into Tsuzuku's. "That's all.
I'll ask Shinya about it later. Right now, I just want you to hold me."
As they silently sat there hand in hand with his head settled on his lovers
shoulder, Koichi felt another cold creepy chill settle on his skin. An uneasy
feeling twisted his stomach and he swallowed. Something was wrong here, he
realized anxiously. Very wrong. Of what it could be he had no real immediate
idea. But some strange gut feeling told him not. To look down the dark hallway.
Good thing too. For just beyond him and his unaware lover just meters away was
the swirling of a black mass building into a solid human form. Then a voice
that made his blood curl. Horror iced through his veins as he turns his head
against the droning noise of protest in his head, deafening.
'I will not. Fail.'
Screams. Darkness.Tsuzuku's lips at his cheek.
Despair.
TBC
***** Chapter 43 *****
N ormal POV
Koichi... wake up. You have important business to attend to. Wake up my
dear... 
Wake up...
Wake up . 
////////////
Koichi's eyes snap open and he gasps, breathless. Another voice.
He fell asleep again didn't he?  Or more like he passed out. With a weary sigh
he tries to regain his bearings. It was so bright... 
"Ugh... What... What's going on..?" 
A bright light made his eyes close again and he tried to lift his body. But a
heavy weight was settled over him. Like... a body? Koichi groaned softly and
tried to make his eyes come into focus. 
"Tsuzuku?" 
Tsuzuku had him trapped under his body against Shinya's carpeted floor,
unconscious but he looked fine. So he was sleeping as well. What happened back
there anyways?
Why was there suddenly dome of white light trapping them? Was he dreaming
again? But he had only just woken up after the attempt on his life.
A quick pinch to his cheek made him realize that he was indeed awake. And this
was really happening. He finally was fully awake and tried to get a hold of his
strength to push his heavy lover off him. He must have fallen on top of him to
protect him from whatever happened, but that did not explain this odd bubble.
It gave off heat whatever it was, and he was already feeling a sweat breaking
on his skin. 
He reached out to touch it, feeling it pulse under his fingers and it felt like
the plastic of a hot water balloon under pressure, about to pop. It was not so
hot so it would burn him but it was still pretty hot. 
"Tsu... Tsu wake up," he urged his lover. "We gotta... We gotta get out of
here. Tsu wake up!" 
He slapped his lover's face repeatedly and tried to push him off but he was
still too weak from sleep. Luckily Tsuzuku began to stir and sleepily rolled
off his smaller lover. Koichi breathed out in relief and took the time to sit
up on his knees so he could properly observe his surroundings. Still just
outside Shinya's door, but the small dome of light trapped them with the bench
against the wall. It was no more than five feet tall and seven feet around so
standing up was a no go. 
His lover woke up slowly but came to much quicker. Confused noises leave his
mouth as he sits up. Koichi crawls over and feels his forehead. 
"Koichi?" Tsuzuku mumbles. "Is that you? What... What happened?" 
Feeling unsure Koichi pressed closer to his lover, his arms forming a tight
ring around Tsuzuku's chest. 
"Yes its me," he mumbles. "I don't know, but something else is happening, I
don't understand." 
He shivers as fingers start to comb through his hair to calm him down. Tsuzuku
always did this as he got nervous. And it always worked because right now he
could feel his nerves going away. Now Tsuzuku was fully awake and rubbing the
sleep from his eyes. 
"Oh. We're in a bubble," he says rather nonchalantly. "I was wondering what was
happening."
Did that mean he knew what this was? 
"You've seen this thing before?" Koichi asked with a tilted head. 
"Yeah, Meto can make them to protect people but..." he paused to let his
eyebrows crinkle, letting a bead of sweat trickle down his face. "His bubbles
are purple, not white. And they don't give off heat, not like this. Bubbles are
low level but very versatile types of defensive magic. I wonder who made it..."
He also reaches out to touch but as he did the bubble seemed to react
negatively and he hisses, pulling away in pain. Koichi gasps with worry and
inspects Tsuzuku's fingers. There were small but angry pinkish red burns all
across his fingers, like he had willingly put his fingers into open flame. What
the hell? When he touched it, it wasn't that hot. Was it because he had fire
inside of him so it didn't hurt? 
"Are you okay?" he asks and gently caresses the now slowly fading marks. "Does
it hurt badly?" 
His lover makes a soft breath and he smiles fondly at his overly worried
lover. 
"I'm fine. See? It's already healing up." 
Koichi held his hand and watches the pink lines slowly grow more and more skin
toned until they completely disappeared. He sighed in relief and brought those
once burned fingers to his face so he could kiss repeatedly at them and
apologized over and over. 
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I'm sorry."
Tsuzuku laughs and used his free hand to softly touch his lover's cheek. Such
soft skin, always so cutely tinged with pink. Though now, he was sure the pink
had to be from the heat. Still, he always looked so radiant. 
"Don't apologize," he whispers and tilts up his head. "It was my fault, I
stupidly touched it without knowing what it was." 
Koichi felt his heart throb and he pressed those fingers even closer, but now
smiling with almost tears prickling his eyes. A barrage of indescribable
emotions bubbled in his chest and he sniffles.
"It's not just that," he says quietly. "I... I can't help but feel like... It
was my fault that we're in this situation. I just... I'm so helpless. The
littlest thing can mess me up and I can't handle that anymore..."
He's about to become hysterical when Tsuzuku starts to gently shoosh him in an
effort to calm him down. It hurt him to see his adorable lover crying and in
such a slump. All he could do now was try to calm him down like this.
"Koichi... I could never blame you for this. Not ever. It's all just a weird
accident, something we could not control. I don't want you to blame yourself.
So please don't cry."
Koichi nodded, but still the sniveling continued.
"I love you. Please don't ever leave me. Please. I can't take the thought of
it..."
Tsuzuku shook his head and pressed soft sweet kisses to the top of his head. It
was the little things after all, little things that showed just how much he
loved and adored Koichi even if the whole world felt like it was tearing itself
apart.
"I love you too baby doll," comes a soft warm whisper to his hair that makes
Koichi shiver with delighted goosebumps. "I will never ever do such a thing. I
promise."
Minutes passed and the pinkette finally calms down a little more. But he didn't
let go of Tsuzuku, not even until after they noticed the bubble getting...
smaller? What was even happening? Tsuzuku worriedly held Koichi close,
examining the bubble as it gives off more heat. Now, there was only four feet
in height and the circumference lowered to four and a half. 
"We need to figure out how to get out of here," he murmurs. "We're not safe in
here. It at least I'm not. We have to find Shinya and the others."
Koichi knew that. But would it be selfish of him to say that he was actually
enjoying their time in the bubble? Anyone might have thought so. In retrospect
this was probably not the best place for them to be trapped together but it
happened any way. So he didn't date bring that up and decided to stop cowering
like a small little child and tried to figure out what exactly was happening.
Letting go of Tsuzuku he crawls forward and inspects the bubble closer,
touching its warm plastic like surface. Then an idea came to him. 
"Maybe if I... Pop it?" he wonders. "If it is like a bubble then maybe it can
be popped?"
Tsuzuku pondered that for a second, knowing that no other solution came to
mind. Aside from their makers and a sufficient amount of force bubbles of this
caliber could not be popped by anyone. But what if... since it was a fire type
bubble Koichi could manage it?
"It would not hurt to try," he encourages and pulls his knees to his chest.
"You better hurry or we might be stuck in here."
It was then that the bubble shrunk again to only three and a half feet from
what he could tell. Now he was getting worried. Hopefully they would not burn
alive in here. Sure they would heal but... There were better ways of
suffering. 
"I better hurry," Koichi panics and tries poking the bubble as hard as he
could. Nothing. He tried to push it, adding more and more pressure. That seemed
to only make the bubble shrink a little more so that was not good. "Damn. What
should I do?" 
I believe you already know what to do.
"Huh?" 
A voice suddenly echoed in the bubble and he looks around then at his lover,
whom was sitting there watching him closely. 
"What is it?" Tsuzuku chirps and crawls to him. "Are you okay?" 
"Yeah, but... I heard a voice just now. It said that I already know what to do.
You didn't hear it?" 
His lover just frowns, not a good sign.
"I didn't hear anything," he admits. "Are you feeling okay?"
Koichi squeezed his eyes shut in frustration as Tsuzuku feels his forehead for
unnatural heat. But he pushed him away and pressed at the bubble once more. He
knew he had heard that voice and he knew he wasn't going nuts.
"Yeah I just... I know I heard it. But I can't hear anything now. It's gone."
Like he said, the source of the voice was unknown and not saying a thing.
Koichi sighs when the bubble didn't budge again and sat back on his haunches to
let his head drop in his hands. Were they gonna be stuck here? Until someone
popped it or until it scalded the flesh from Tsuzuku's bones over and over
forever? Gods he hoped not. He didn't know if he could even bear the thought.
"You must think I'm going crazy," he sighs and laughs bitterly. "Maybe I am. I
wouldn't even be all that surprised."
Oh God here go another one of his pity parties. Beside him he could hear
Tsuzuku exhale through his nose.
"Love. Look at me." Tsuzuku gently brought up his face with two fingers, gazing
at him with stern but gently smoldering eyes. Instantly his knees go weak, it
wasn't even fair when Tsuzuku did that to him. "I dont think you're crazy.
Maybe you're right, and there is a voice speaking to you. Who am I to say there
isn't? Don't forget where you are now. We're in a world where these sorts of
things aren't surprising. What im trying to say is... I trust you. If there is
a higher being out there watching over you then I'll trust whatever you decide
to do. Always."
He gently kisses his lips, another tactic that he used to calm his lover's
frayed nerves. Soft but chapped, Tsuzuku feels his warm Koichi's lips are and
gives him more after the first. He loved these lips so much. Even if they were
chapped or dry or smeared in pink lipstick, he still loved them.
The same went for Koichi. Every sweet sound or word that came out of his
lover's mouth made his worries seem to literally melt away. Hearing his name
brought literal peace to his soul. Whatever was left of it.
Allowing the kisses to be pressed to his lips he's almost ready to drown in the
heaven like sensations when the bubble suddenly wobbles like a bowl of Jello
before out of nowhere it pops. Just like that. Both of them are stunned for a
few seconds to comprehend what had just happened. They were met with darkness
before Koichi is standing up in relief and ready to cry. The power power is
still out but that no longer mattered.
"Tsuzuku! It's gone! We're free!" He chirped breathlessly and tried to adjust
to the sudden darkness.  "Come on we have to find the others."
Surprised but eager Tsuzuku stands up as well and they enter Shinya's office.
No one was there. Like it was just... deserted. What on earth was happening?
Panicked Tsuzuku scours the office and finds a piece of paper placed on the
desk. He grabs it and reads it out loud so the nervous Koichi could get him.
"Tsuzuku. Koichi. If you're reading this then you've finally been freed from
that bubble you were trapped in. We were all attacked by a dark shadow like
creature and the office was deemed too unsafe. We fled above ground to the
Human world to Die-San and Toshya's friend's house. 'We saw a bunch of vampires
at both your place and mine so don't go home, plus some were seen in the
hospital and prowling around the main headquarters where you are. We've
evacuated the buildings so no one is there. We're not safe here anymore. Please
meet us at the shop above the entrance to the portal.
"Shinya's worried about the both of you, as is Mia and myself. We've even
convinced some of Mia's friends and their mentors to come along so no one would
be kidnapped or hurt. They have taken the city. It is lost to us now. Please be
careful on your way up, vampires are everywhere. Looking for you. We've warded
the building and your car against vampires, and we've warded the building to
the portal. But from there you're on your own. And meet us here soon so we know
you are okay. I'll explain more later. Meto."
As he finished Koichi frowned and felt his heart clench very painfully in his
ribcage. It felt so suffocating. The human world... did they really have to
leave this place? But this world was his home. He wasn't ready to leave just
yet.
"We have to leave?" He asks softly. "But.."
He can't even complete the words left on his tongue, too distraught to think
straight. His lover comes close and they examine the paper. It was definitely
Meto's handwriting. So there was no way it was a forgery. Tsuzuku brought
Koichi to his chest and kissed his hair. He knew this situation would be
stressful, knowing that the human world had many painful memories of when he
was alive. To force him to return there was just... So cruel.
But their survival might depend on it.  From what Meto said in his note the
vampires were finally executing their master plan to weed them out. But it
wouldn't work. Not after all of this.
"I know love I know. You don't want to go back. But we're no longer safe here.
We have to go somewhere they can't go. Which is up there. Sure they may follow
us but... We'll be safe. We don't even have to deal with your past life if you
don't want to. We'll stay at the shop. I just want to get you somewhere safe."
That's all he ever wanted, for Koichi to be safe. All his life he fought hard
against pressure and distress only to lose and end up here. To give up now
without another much grander fight just seemed like the cowardly way to go. And
that was not how things worked with him.
As a daemon he let his heart and actions speak for him when words couldn't,
that was what made him who he was. Someone who didn't give up, especially now
that he had someone he loved and needed to protect. That someone being Koichi
of course.
"Then... We... we should go," Koichi says quietly onto Tsuzuku's shoulder. "If
what Meto says is true and there are vampires prowling the streets for us... We
need to leave. Just hang onto me, and lead us down with your night vision."
With a quick nod Tsuzuku takes his hand and they start to leave the office.
Meto didn't even say what happened after they were attacked or where the dark
shadow figure went. But they had to assume that it was still around even if it
was warded in here. So Koichi didn't even dare to make any light for fear of
giving them away.
"Come on," Tsuzuku says as they turn the corner to the hallway and to the door.
"We don't have time to find any weapons. We just have to run."
Then a thought occured to Koichi as thry ran down the steps.
"What about Juri? He'll die alone and we won't be able to find out anything."
Even in the darkness of the stairwell he could feel the scowl appearing on his
lover's face.
"We can't do anything about him now. Our safety is top priority."
As much as Koichi wanted to protest against the seemingly cruel turn of events
he knew it was futile. Anything Juri might have known was now lost. And they
could not do anything about it. Despair settled in his chest and he continued
to follow his lover, keeping an eye open for anything out of place and any
creepy cold feelings that would tell him that someone else was here.
Luckily they reached the landing to the lobby without incident and they push
open the door quietly, their legs sore from running all the way and their
chests heaved and struggled to find air. Still nothing in here. Good, they
would have time to properly catch their breaths. As they peered around the now
empty lobby Koichi could feel a frigid silence lingering in the air. It didn't
feel right, he was so used to hearing and seeing signs of life in here. Now...
Tsuzuku takes him around the lobby as they found a knapsack in the
receptionists desk. In it was a bunch of flashlights, matches, a bottle of
peroxide and a first aid kit. Perhaps they could be useful in some way. After
looking around some more for more things they could use they go to the door.
This was it. Now or never, Koichi figures to himself. Inside his chest he could
feel his heart thudding and pulsing with anxiety. Beside him Tsuzuku was no
different.
Tightly their fingers clutch together, and the daemon heaved a heavy sigh.
"Okay. Now... when we get outside, never let go of my hand. It's still parked
in the back of the lot, so its still a ways away. It'll be risky. We can't stop
for anything. Not to breathe, not to look back. Do you hear me? We can never
come back. Not until the vampires are all gone, then we can come home."
Koichi felt his heart squeeze painfully. This might be the last time they would
ever be here. Depending on how well the next few weeks or months went.
Hopefully. It wouldn't be. Saddened by the thoughts he threw himself into
Tsuzuku's arms, new tears pickling his eyes. The feathers of his wings trembled
as they feel the familiar warmth of Tsuzuku's fingers threading through them.
"Yes I understand," he said tearfully. "I love you Tsuzuku. No matter what
happens to us, I always will."
Tsuzuku wasn't one for tearful words and instead brings up Koichi's head to
kiss him. Hard.
The kiss burned with an intense desperate passion, the heat from their mouths
searing with pain and hopeful tears. They refused to let such a moment go to
waste. Tsuzuku's tongue pressing and caressing his own was a familiar comfort
and they stood there for only moments, moments that felt like an eternity.
Koichi's breath lost itself as they broke apart and tears streamed from his
eyes. Tsuzuku ran his fingers through the feathers one more time before
smiling, one that only made Koichi feel worse.
"Ready?" He asks.
"No," Koichi says truthfully. "But what choice do I have."
His lover chuckled lowly and places a hand on the handle to the elaborate glass
door. Outside of the glass soft patters of rain fell from a darkened and
starless night sky, painting them with clear streaks. A clock nearby ticked the
early minutes of three a.m. away. It was late, so it had to be morning in the
human world by now.
"You and me both."
And they ran. They ran and didn't look back not even once. The cacophony of
hisses and growls of their names soon reached them and panic settled on his
clammy skin.
Vampires of all sorts were starting to surround them, flooding out from the
alleyways behind the building as they ran for the couple.
"Don't let them escape!" Came a hissing growl. "Master must not be
disappointed!"
That voice... Tsuzuku growled as he recognized it and they ran faster. So close
now... Behind him he heard countless growls and footsteps draw nearer and
nearer. Soon they would be able to grab onto them and they would be caught.
Koichi was ready to break down from the intense fear when suddenly he heard it,
a soft delicate voice chirping into his ear.
'Do not give up. You can make it. Believe in yourself. Push them away.'
Spurred on by a burst of courage he spread out his wings behind them and a hot
tingle goes up his body. Bright fiery flames engulfed the white feathers and
the light caused many hisses of pain behind them. It bought them more precious
seconds and those seconds were what allowed them to finally climb into the car
that was painted in strange white symbols. The wards glowed as they slammed the
doors and all around them an invisible bubble prevented the mass of teeth and
snarls from coming any closer. His wings died out, and the feathers were back
to their plain white.
Starting the car up Tsuzuku smiled at him with relief and hugged him close,
breathing in his lover's scent who was still fearful but also just as relieved.
They hugged tightly but... soon their relief was short lived as a voice echoed
into the night into their bubble. One that made fear prickle down Tsuzuku's
spine.
"You can't run from us forever. We will. Please our master. It may take weeks
or months but you can never escape. We will bring you home Tsuzuku!"
As they started to squeal out of the parking lot the daemon did not dare to
look back even once. But Koichi, with an overwhelming effort did out of
curiosity. There, standing no more than five feet from where they were parked
only seconds ago, was a group of faces he could never forget.
Ryoga and Layha. Eyes yellow and glowing with demonic hate. Between them Layha
had a leash in his fingers, leather and black. And in between them, on his
knees with a black mask on his face, no clothes and a spiked collar around his
neck... was Ice.
He knew then as they sped through the city and out of it's limits to the portal
that all was lost. Ice was gone. And so was his home.
Koichi cried all the way there, his heart sad and heavy with grief.
I'm so sorry.
TBC
***** Chapter 44 *****
Normal POV
Morning came agonizingly slow, and as the sun began to peek over the horizon in
many hues of pink and purple the couple finally reached the other side of the
shimmering purple portal to the human world. They were tired and cold but safe,
at the expense of having to leave Tsuzuku's beautiful car behind. The portal
just wasn't big enough to fit it through, and Tsuzuku was sad about that sure.
But it was warded so it should stand against the vampires long enough.
The cold room under the brick building was just as dark and foreboding as
Koichi remembered. Memories of first meeting his lover came... flooding back
like a tidal wave. Painful. But he was thankful. Without Tsuzuku surely he'd be
insane. Still, he didn't think he would be back here again so soon. His whole
body ached as he remembered how tired he felt when they first got here. Like
not even dying could make such an awful feeling go away. Even now he was
starting to feel that way again. Was the air here in the human world always so
heavy? It felt like he couldn't even breathe right. Could be the panic getting
to him.
Thankfully Tsuzuku was very understanding of his lover's very apparent distress
and didn't try to initiate conversation. Instead he keeps him close and holds
tightly onto his hands, feeling warm but clammy hands in his own as they
climbed the steps to the alleyway. By now, he noticed that Koichi's wings were
lackluster looking but didn't feel the energy to ask about it. He probably
looked exhausted right now. They both were despite having been passed out for
who knows how long.
He could always ask later. They had time to make up for it after a nice sleep
somewhere.
Once the door leading out to the alley was in sight Koichi stopped walking and
forlornly looked back down the steps. His vision was good enough so he could
see but barely. Now he was feeling that same tiredness as before. But for a
different reason. His heart ached with loneliness, of just... not even
belonging. And that was true. He didn't belong here. Not in this city, not in
this world. His heart was already aching for home. Homesickness was no feeling
that was strange to him but he hadn't felt it in such a long long time. He felt
it every single day that he was alive. But not for the place he laid his head
to rest every night and cried himself to sleep. Not to his so called 'aunt and
uncle' That didn't love him. 
No. His parents were his home and after losing them he had no home. 
At least not until he found a new one in Tsuzuku. And the home he built with
him in that now long lost apartment he woke up in. Meeting Tsuzuku's eyes with
his own, settling into his new home and... having support from the daemon
through the whole thing. 
Now it was all gone. Just like that. How could this happen? Sure Tsuzuku was
okay and they were together still. But what were they gonna do now? He still
felt helpless. The little time he spent with Meto did next to nothing and now
any leads they had were by now all gone. Juri would be a pile of ashes on a
hospital bed by now if he was still even relevant to the doctors in the
hospital. They hadn't gotten word from Leda yet either. 
Now it was back to square one. 
"Koichi? Are you okay love? Why are you crying?" 
His lover's soft voice snaps Koichi from his slump and he slowly turns around,
not even bothering to try hiding his tears. Those once bright eyes burned but
he didn't blink them. 
"I'm sorry I... I was just thinking about some things," he murmured before
using his sweater sleeve to wipe at his tears. "About... how I already miss it.
And I wanna go home but I know we can't anymore. And my heart hurts."
A heartbreaking sigh leaves Tsuzuku's mouth and he's saddened as well. Koichi
can feel that Tsuzuku knows what he's talking about because he feels it too.  
"Oh my poor baby bird," Tsuzuku whispers and pulls him in for a crushing hug.
"I know how you feel. I want to go home too. And we will, I promise. But first,
we have to... figure out our bearings in this city first. We'll settle down
somewhere nice then we'll come up with a way to drive the vampires out of our
city. Out of our home. So you'll have to bear with me for a while."
Baby bird? Was that a new pet name Tsuzuku just made up? Oh God it was so
cheesy it made him almost cringe. But at the same time... hearing that made his
heart feel so much better. He smiled and burrows his face into Tsuzuku's
shoulder. 
"You're such a dweeb," he giggles and sniffles. "But... I like that. Keep
calling me that from now on okay?" 
Tsuzuku laughs and it's a sound that does wonders for Koichi's mental
stability. Despite it's... very nerdy and derpy sound it still made him feel a
little less homesick.
"Of course I will. My beautiful  baby bird. It has a ring to it doesn't it?" 
Koichi nodded and feels himself warm up in Tsuzuku's arms, not realizing how
cold he was until it had gone away. For the most part.
"Yeah... It's nice. But don't you dare call me that in public or I will
literally destroy you." 
"Heh. Duly noted. Now... We should get going, they're waiting for us." 
Honestly he was a little disappointed. He liked being here now, it was as close
back to home as he got. And even though he knew he could not go through that
portal for a long time... it brought him some comfort. Maybe he could come back
and visit sometime. That thought was what was able to tear his eyes away from
the darkened stairwell.
"Okay. But... What should I do about my wings?" 
They drooped behind him and he looked at Tsuzuku for help. There was really
only one thing they could do. Sneak into the building above to find Shinya and
ask him about it. 
"We'll have to smuggle you out," he says with a sigh and touched one of the
feathers. "More likely than not humans are already on their way to work and
school and what not."
It was a Thursday after all. Koichi should have known that. But time was a very
strange thing since it was different here than down there. By now, it would be
around midnight at home even if it is morning here. He sighed and nodded. 
"Okay. Let's go, I don't wanna grow an attachment to this place more than I
have." 
His lover takes off his coat and gently placed it around his shoulders so his
wings were no longer in sight. Already though Koichi could feel how suffocated
they felt. It's like his wings had minds of their own, they wanted to always be
free and never covered up. It was uncomfortable but he had to endure it. 
"Let's go, can't keep them waiting."
After pushing back his horns Tsuzuku takes his hand and unlocks the door.
Thankfully the early morning did little in terms of light and there was only a
misty grey fog settled on the outside walls. The door know was wet with dew and
the brick walls dripped. They quickly lock the padlock before looking around.
Koichi felt his chest tighten again as he saw a few humans milling about around
the entrance to the alley way. 
It felt strange, not seeing different creatures walking around up here. Now it
was only humans here, and despite how he had only been down below for a short
time it was a huge shock to him. He had gotten used to seeing diversity, now he
only saw... plainness. More bad memories were gonna come he was sure of it. 
"Let's go, it's cold," he mutters softly and pulls Tsuzuku's jacket closer. His
lover looks around before they make a break for the mouth to the alleyway.
Koichi looked around and was thankful for there only being a few humans around.
The streets would soon be crowded though. 
Once it was cleared of people they walked in the main doors of the quaint
little building and were immediately assaulted by total darkness. What was
this? A power outage? He looked around the small but warm shop, seeing nothing
but vases and clay sculptures. Even the cash register was off.
"Shinya?" Tsuzuku called out. "Anyone? It's us, Tsuzuku and Koichi. Hello?" 
Koichi's eyes finally adjusts and he can tell that the place didn't look
deserted. Just... dark. Was it to protect Aryu? The human world was a hostile
place to vampires after all, even if they somehow managed to get by it still
was very alien to them. 
"Guys? Is that you?" 
A sudden soft voice suddenly came from a spiral staircase nearby and Koichi had
to squint even harder. Soon he saw a familiar face finally peek out at them. He
gasped in relief. 
"Mia!" 
His best friend runs out and they hugged tightly, with Mia almost in tears he
was so relieved. And... were those fangs peeking out of his mouth? 
"Oh my God it's you! I thought you were gone forever! We were so worried about
you we almost lost hope!" 
"Yeah... we finally made it," Koichi says as he hugs tighter. "Though I can't
say I'm happy to be back here."
Mia laughed and pulled back before pulling out a cell phone to send off a
message, most likely to Meto. It looked rather new. 
"Hang on, I'll let the guys know you're here. They'll be so relieved to see you
here after such a long time."
Confused Koichi crosses his arms with a perplexed look.
"But... We haven't even been gone that long. Have we? Tsuzuku?" 
He turned to his lover who only shrugged in response. Mia tsked and gets
Koichi's attention, his face the very picture of seriousness. 
"Koichi... You guys have been gone for over a week. We were starting to lose
hope but... You're here. And looking very much alive. So I'm just happy you
made it."
A... week? But that made no sense! How could they possibly have been asleep for
a week?! Tsuzuku frowned heavily and clutched his head as a headache began to
form. 
"Wait wait wait. So... We've been inside a damn bubble for a whole week?" he
asked. "Bubbles don't usually last a week." 
Well that would explain the tiredness he felt in his limbs. 
"They don't last that long?" Mia questions. "Hmm, that would explain why Meto
put you in one, he wasn't expecting you to be gone for long. How did you know
you were in a bubble though?" 
"Meto? But... this bubble was white. Meto doesn't make white bubbles, his are
purple." 
"And it could not have been me," Koichi added. "I don't even know how to make a
damn bubble."
At this Mia was even more confused. He stashed away the cell phone and gestures
for them to follow him up the staircase. 
"That doesn't make sense. When we were attacked, he immediately rushed outside
to bubble you. We had no choice but to leave you behind and hope that you would
rejoin us after we left the message. But it sounds like someone else was
watching over you. If it was none of you or it was not Meto then I don't know
what to tell you. Only that it could have gone very badly."
Koichi and Tsuzuku were met with a warm and dimly lit loft space when they
reached the top of the stairs. There was a small kitchenette in one corner, a
couch with a TV in fornt of it, and two rooms with closed doors. He could only
assume one was a bathroom and the other a bedroom. It was as big as a standard
apartment but definitely nothing fancy. Though it was small it definitely very
cozy in here. There were a few heaters going to keep it warm, so he had to
assume from this that the power wasn't out at all. Just not being used. The
windows were all blocked off with heavy curtains though so that definitely
seemed weird. The only lights were coming from the heaters, and that wasn't
much.
"So... why are all the lights out?" Tsuzuku asks as they sit on the couch. "Is
there any particular reason?"
Mia sighs and goes to the kitchen to start a kettle on the stove. Some warm tea
sounded really nice to Koichi right about now. 
"Well, the thing is, Me and Meto are looking after Aryu for a while. He was
attacked very viciously and is still recovering but he'll be okay, he's
sleeping in the other room right now. The lights here are not suited for a
vampire to be exposed to for a very long time, so we are keeping them off for
now. He usually wakes up around midnight, and he just went to sleep not that
long ago. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you guys. But there is something you
should know." 
As he finished getting the kettle going he comes back to sit near them on an
adjacent arm chair. He looked very distressed about something. Tsuzuku frowned
and made a motion for him to continue talking. 
"Well, let's hear it."
Judging from the terrified look on Mia's face, whatever he had to say wasn't
good. Still, if it was useful...
"Well... Aryu is... Well, was I should say... An Old One." 
Wait. What? An... old one? As in the reason they're in this mess in the first
place? KOichi knew there was something off about him!
"What?? Then why are we protecting him?" Tsuzuku growled and stood up in a
rage. "Shouldn't we be doing something about it?"
Mia stood up and barely prevented the raging daemon from stomping into the room
where the vampire was and pushed him back. 
"Hey hey hey I said he was! Calm down!" 
"What do you mean, 'was?'" Koichi asked and felt an equal amount of anger
building up in his chest. "Once a bad vampire always a bad vampire. Why are you
defending him?" 
Mia glared at them both, intent on not letting them get close to the bedroom.
What was with him. 
"Because the Aryu I have come to know is not like that anymore," he says
firmly. "Being an Old One just isn't about being an old and powerful vampire.
It's an entirely new thing, like a disease, a parasite if you will. It's an
entity that possesses old vampires and leeches off their life force to keep
itself alive under the guise of a powerful vampire. Once they deem their host
unfit they leave and find a new body and their old host body is left to die, is
supposed to die. But Aryu survived and he sought us out to help. So now he's
important to us. We need him."
That was unexpected. So... this whole time, what they thought was a powerful
being was just a parasite? And it leeched off of unfortunate vampires? So Aryu
was... He was now one of them then. A refugee, a defected vampire who wasn't
even supposed to be alive. At that Tsuzuku's anger died down and he sat back
down but still huffed with annoyance and he let Mia know that with a sideways
squint. 
"Fine. But I'll be keeping a closer eye on him. If he tries something funny
he's not gonna be around much longer."
More likely than not, if what Mia said was true then they needed Aryu to stick
around and remember vital pieces of information if they wanted to learn the
enemy's weakness. It might be the only way to purge their city of the vampire
menace once and for all. He may not like it too much but they really didn't
have much of a choice.
"So what do we do now?" Koichi asked as he paced the loft's small area. "Does
he remember anything?" 
"Nothing solid, yet," Mia admits with a toothy pout. "He said his memory was
very spotty at best, but he does have small hot flashes now and again.
Hopefully he'll remember something important soon. I have a feeling we'll need
him in the long run." 
Tsuzuku studies the loft closer and notes the pictures of unfamiliar people
hanging on the wall. It then occurs to him that he has never been up here
before, just on the lower level. 
"So where is everyone?" He decides to ask. 
"Oh, they're out securing more territory as we speak. Die and Toshiya have
human friends in high places so we'll all need some place to stay. Meto should
be coming back soon though."
So they were already starting to build a new life here huh? Just how long were
they planning on being here? Koichi didn't want to be here any longer than what
was absolutely necessary.
"What about us?" He asks. "We don't have anything much from home but we can't
stay here forever." 
The kettle whistles to get their attention and Mia stands up to tend to it. 
"Don't worry. Like I said, Die and Toshiya have friends who will help us out."
"And has anyone heard from Tomo or Takashi yet? I'm really starting to get
worried about them." 
They hear Mia shuffling around with cups and the kettle and his voice lowers
quietly. 
"No... I'm afraid not. Still nothing but... don't lose hope. I'm sure they're
both okay."
Easier said than done, Tsuzuku thought with another annoyed huff. Still, even
if they were okay... wouldn't they have at least sent out a message saying
where they were? 
A sudden buzz in Tsuzuku's pocket alerted him to a call and he quickly fished
it out. As he glanced at the screen his heart did a flip in his chest. It was
Tomo..! Speak of the freaking devil!
"Ah! H-hello?" He answered shakily. "Tomo is that you?" 
"Tsuzuku-san!" a frantic Tomo cries into the receiver. "Please help me!
Please!"
"Whoa whoa calm down!" Tsuzuku urges. "What's wrong? Tell me so I can help!"
"It's... It's Takashi! Please he's... we were attacked and I... I couldn't help
him and now I... he's... I can't deal with this right now!" 
"Tomo. Please, tell me what happened! Where are you?" 
It wasn't like the other daemon to sound so frantic about anything. What on
Earth was the matter with him?
His voice dropped to a low whisper but still just as frantic and hurried. 
"We... We were at this building, and Takashi was... I think they bit him... A
vampire managed to attack him as we escaped and now he won't wake up. There's
so much blood. Please! You have... have to help us! I think he's dying!"
Then there's a low buzzing noise before the line goes dead. And Tsuzuku is left
stunned, staring at his phone as though it were on fire. Koichi and Mia share a
glance, a knowing one that held little to no understanding.
What... the hell just happened?
TBC
***** Chapter 45 *****
Normal POV
It had been a really stressful morning so far, and it wasn't even eight yet.
Koichi and Tsuzuku decided to wait downstairs for the rest of their group to
return, fighting off the ever present and lingering exhaustion. It was a good
thing Aryu was asleep, or else he would not be able to handle being in this now
very lit up environment.
Shinya and the others came back not too long after the phone call was received,
and were all more than relieved to see them back safe and sound. Though soon
Koichi noticed, after a hugging session with Toshiya and Minpha, that Die was
nowhere to be seen, along with Kyo and Kaoru. And neither were Mia's five
friends from school. What was up with that?
He asks his now very scaly best friend about it and receives a reassuring pat
on his head.
"Don't worry. They're safe. Toshiya and Die took them to a safe place to stay.
Which is where we'll be heading once you and Aryu are all ready to go. I'm sure
they'll be thrilled to see you."
Speaking of which, the friends in question soon arrived thereafter. Two of
them, both looked human like Mia said. But they looked more than able to handle
themselves if it came down to it. Shinya brought them closer to introduce them
to Koichi and Tsuzuku.
"Tsuzuku meet Die's friends. They'll be helping us for as long as they're able
to."
The first one was kind of short, with soft black hair cropped to his neck. His
skin was pale as snow and his eyes were like ice. Still, the natural pinkness
in his lips and loud thumping under the all black suit he wore confirmed his
human identity.
The other one was a little taller than he was with long silvery hair and honey
brown eyes. He too wore an all black suit. They stood just behind Shinya near
the door with confident statures.
"Pleased to meet you," the shorter one began. "My name is Yoka. This is my
associate Kei, but he doesn't talk much. We're indeed friends of Die and
Toshiya, and we've been helping people from the other world for many years now.
We hope you will treat us well in the coming weeks."
In a display of classic Japanese manners both bowed lowly to the group of
people around them. Tsuzuku and Koichi are taken aback for a split second
before responding back in the same manner albeit sloppily. It's been... quite a
while since he had to do anything like this. It was kind of strange.
"It's nice to meet you too," Tsuzuku says back. "I'm sorry if we caused any
stress by being gone for so long."
Yoka waved him off in dismissal and shoes his first real smile since they got
here. His friend on the other hand continued to stay still like a statue.
Didn't the guy talk at all?
"Nonsense, it was just a misfortunate turn of events is all. So don't blame
yourself."
That was what Tsuzuku was worried about? Koichi was glad just to be alive. But
they did have different reasoning probably. And Tsuzuku was far more polite
than he was.
Shinya then made a point to gather their attention to himself.
"Good. Now that introductions are out of the way we should catch them up on
current events. I'm sure they're dying to know what's going on. But not here.
We should head out to the new safe house they have set up for us."
"But... what about Aryu?" Mia asks with a worried face. "We can't leave him
behind."
Hr must really care about his nee friend. Shinya softly ruffled his hair and
walks up the spiral staircase, expecting him to follow.
"Of course not. We'll have to wake him up and see if he's ready to make the
trip."
Mia followed like a little puppy dog after its master and with Meto in tow as
usual. They must have really developed quite a bond in the week they were gone.
Koichi almost felt a little... jealous. Just a little.
"In any case," Yoka continues. "There are two others that are there liking
after your friends as we speak, Tatsuya and Shoya. They're like guard dogs for
hire if you can call it that."
So like body guards? He could have just said that...
"So has anyone heard from Leda?" Tsuzuku wonders. "I want to know what all
happened while we've been gone."
Yoka looks at his partner before rubbing awkwardly at his neck.
"Well... thing is... The one known as Leda... He died. In the attack on the
hospital, he was... only one of many that lost their lives protecting everyone
there. But a bit of good news if... You're willing to hear it."
At this point, anything good would suffice. Especially after all this bad stuff
going on anything would put his mind at ease.
"Yes. Anything you can tell me. Anything."
"There was news of the vampire being killed as well, however someone found a
journal that belonged to him and smuggled it here. In his last moments he kind
of went insane and scrawled down whatever was in his head with his own blood
before turning to ashes. We have it on hand if you'd like to have a look. It's
only a few pages but... It's still something to go on."
A journal written entirely in blood? How... typical. At least for a vampire.
Koichi had to admit though the idea of it was very interesting.
"Yes. Yeah absolutely," Tsuzuku replied. "I can look straight away."
Yoka began to search for the book he mentioned before the taller one, Kei,
leaned over and mumbles in his ear. Whatever he said made Yoka hiss through his
teeth. That can't be good news. Not with their luck lately.
"What?" Koichi asked. "Is something the matter?"
Yoka made another uncomfortable face and meekly sits at a chair by the door.
"Well Kei just told me that... we left the book at the safe haven in our rush
to get here. We'll have to return there for you to read it."
Oh just great! Koichi sighs exasperatedly to show his annoyance.
"Ugh then let's get a move on, we don't have time to waste."
His lover nods but gently linked their fingers together.
"As soon as Aryu is ready," he assures. "We have to be considerate even if we
don't really trust him."
"Yeah yeah I guess."
"Don't trust who now?"
They both looked to see the vampire in question coming down the steps and
shielding himself from the lights. Mia and Shinya were just behind him. He
looked really pale, very deathly so. He wasn't wearing any make up and there
was a bit of... blood on his lips. Koichi frowned at that but figured it as
probably just a vampire thing.
"You aren't talking about me are you?" Aryu chirps with an unusually giddy
smile. "It's okay, I wouldn't trust me either. Not after what I've been
through. Now what's this about a trip? Are we going somewhere?"
Mia bounds up behind him and smiles widely. Meto's a bit more wary however.
"Yeah, we're going to a safe place where the vamps can't get to us."
"Cool," he says with a tired yawn. "I... I'll probably need a longer nap. I'm
not usually up at this time of the day. These lights are killing my eyes."
Psh, vampires.
Shinya nudges the vampire a little bit, probably to remind him of something.
"You may, but on the way there I'd like for you to tell us everything. About
your past, before you got possessed, and what you remember during that time."
Aryu's chipper attitude falters just a bit and for a split second Koichi could
see apprehension there. Maybe he was just a tragic character trying his hardest
to find happiness after a life of struggle. If so, they had more in common than
he would have thought.
"I... guess," he finally says after a few moments of silent thought. "Um... We
should get going before the sun gets any higher and travel becomes impossible
for me. I have lots to tell you."
"Of course," Yoka answers. "Let's go, there is a passenger van waiting outside
for us all to travel in. I suggest getting your things together for the journey
as it's in a very rural part of the city. I'm sure you'll enjoy it there."
After much preparation and hiding Aryu under many thick blankets they finally
piled into the vehicle and sped away from the building and the ever increasing
amount of humans at the Shibuya crossing.
The van thankfully had incredibly dark tinted windows so Aryu could safely look
out the glass and observe the city. Everything he saw made his eyes light up
and even Yoka, who was busy driving, had noticed. Kei sat in the passenger
seat, as silent as always.
Koichi could almost relate... though he had to admit it wasn't with wonder. He
was reminded of how much he hated this place each time he saw someone smiling
and laughing. It made him feel even more homesick.
"It's... been so long since I was able to look upon humans and not see just
food," Aryu reveals with a not so enthusiastic sigh. "It's... strange. These
people have lives, people they love, people they hate. I... I can't even begin
to tell you how much seeing them like this in a now sane state of mind makes my
heart heavy with regret."
Mia pats his knee assuredly, showing their friendships true colors. Meto seemed
kind of jealous too. Now that he thought about it, he could see Mia was hanging
around Aryu a lot lately.
"It's okay. Just... go slow as you like, we have plenty of time ahead of us."
The vampire nods and takes a deep breath. One could see the gears in his head
turning if they concentrated long enough. Koichi sure could. They They were in
for quite the story it seems. He settled comfortable against his lover as Aryu
started to talk.
"Before I got possessed by... by the parasite," he begins in a low wavering
voice. "I... I was living in the outskirts of Tokyo. Here in the human world.
I've been around since the seventeen hundreds, which to a lot of old vampires
isn't actually all that old. But apparently it was enough to attract it. I was
only into my one hundredth spring when it happened. I met a young man named
Hyde, who seemed human enough and we fell in love with each other. Mistake
number one, but I'll save that for after.
"We started going on dates and seeing each other more often at night.
Occasionally I'd go to his family house and we'd sneak to a small cave beneath
a waterfall where.... well, let's just say we had a lot of fun haha... not long
after we realized our feelings was when it happened. We were there as usual
but... there were five people there before us. All vampires from what I could
tell but from a different coven than mine.
"I apologized to them for intruding on what looked like a very private place
and they understood at first. But when they saw him they... became aggressive.
At first it didn't make sense but the more they spoke the more it started to
click into place. I didn't want to believe it. Mistake number two.
"Hyde was a vampire hunter. They could tell just by his smell. At first I tried
to defend him but... imagine my surprise when he didn't even deny it. It got
worse when... he told me that is meeting was no coincidence, and that he was
supposed to kill me. My heart broke into a million pieces. I felt like I could
not trust anyone anymore. He tried to tell me that he really did love me and
didn't kill me because of that. But it was... too late."
Aryu took a few seconds to pause and almost looked close to tears. This was
weighing on him so heavily that Koichi wasn't sure how he felt anymore. He
wanted to distrust Aryu because he was a vampire but... what if what he was
saying was true? Could it be that he was just trying to push away all the bad
thoughts and memories so he could be happy even if it came off as forced?
"So... what did you do?" Mia asks once he's gotten a hold of himself. Aryu
sighs.
"Us vampires were not supposed to deal with vampire hunters and getting
involved with one was a death sentence. Of course nowadays there are good
vampires that help hunters find bad ones but this was then. I had to threaten
him to make him go away and never to come back. The five vampires that were
there told me I did the right thing by making him leave. They kept coming back
to visit me at my hideout even after many weeks had passed. I welcomed their
company even if our covens were different. But then the leader said
something... weird. Even for our kind.
"I don't remember his name, but the leader of this little group spoke to me
like I was a part of his coven. He said that I was young and my heart was still
susceptible to giving into emotions. This was what should have  set them apart
from other vampires. He said... 'There is a way for you to close off your heart
and only see humans as what they are; food. Come with us and we'll help you.'
"I shouldn't have listened. I was a fool to but my heart was still in pain from
Hyde. I was angry so I listened and followed them to their family home.
Naturally, this was mistake number three.
"There was a huge castle situated deep in the mountain range outside the city,
and they made me feel welcome there. It was all a ruse I should have seen
through very easily. I stayed willingly for four days and three nights, and the
fourth day was when it happened. They took me to a tower high up in the castle
where they strapped me down to a bed and brought out a small wooden box. I got
scared and they tried their best to calm me down, saying that what they were
gonna do would make me stronger, a better vampire.
"The leader opened the box and took out what looked like a bottle made of red
glass with a very elaborate stopper. He made me ingest it but it was not a
liquid like I had thought at first. It was disgusting, so wrong and gross and
unnatural.
"It was a blob of viscous material and tasted a lot like coagulated blood clots
that rotted away to bring far from consumable. I gagged and tried to make them
stop but they forced more more and more of it down my throat til the bottle was
empty. Whatever it was, I violated me all the way down to my stomach and I
wanted so badly to throw it back up and get the hell out of there. They were
bad news I knew right away.
"But they forced a muzzle over my head, tightened my restraints and kept me in
that room for two whole weeks. I started losing my mind only two days after
whatever it was. I got so delusional I started seeing my Creator. I saw friends
I saw my human family... I even saw Hyde. It wasn't too long after that I came
back to my senses. Sort of.
"I was still trapped in my mind but there was a new madness there. I started to
believe whatever they told me. Humans were food, nothing was good about them,
vampires were the superior race of mortals and immortals. I began to see the
world as they did and that was what they wanted.
"This madness kept me in the dark for the next few centuries and I never saw my
Creator again after that. Then... about a week and a half ago the... thing
inside me decided I was no longer fit to be it's host and it forced its way out
of me. I threw up so violently and awfully that it should have killed me. I
don't know why I didn't but... here I am. Fully sane after about three hundred
centuries give or take. Whatever it was is still out there though, so it's up
to us to find it and get rid of it before it takes someone else captive. I
still remember all the horrible things I did when it was in me." He paused
again to look at Tsuzuku with watery eyes, full of pain and apology.
"Especially to you guys. I could still feel my body but I was screaming deep on
the inside as it controlled my every thought. My every action. It was obsessed
with you, I was obsessed with you. It made me feel... so awful. So much so that
I wished I could just die. But then it finally ended and I was still alive
somehow. And thankfully, I retained a lot of that information, and here I am to
help take them down once and for all."
Everyone was silent after he finished telling his tale. Mia was close to
horrified tears and Shinya had such pity and sympathy in his eyes it was felt
through the whole cab. What a horrible awful life Aryu lived. Forced to live
through centuries of pain and forced to do all those awful things. Tsuzuku was
certainly amazed that this guy's mind hadn't snapped under all that pressure.
Maybe his will was stronger than he might have thought. Even Yoka and Kei were
listening attentively in silence. 
Well... This certainly was a lot to take in. Their suspicions were only halfway
right it seemed, Aryu was the cause of all this pain but at the same time he
wasn't... really the one they could blame. Confusing how that sort of thing
worked. 
"So... where did it go?" Mia peeped quietly. "The... parasite that was inside
of you."
The vampire grips his head as though feeling a headache coming on. 
"That shadow thing that attacked us and almost killed me again? That was it,"
he reveals. "It will have most likely taken on it's own physical form by now
but it will be weak. It needed my body to incubate itself in and it's weakened
me as well. Though, I'm sure that if we're to try and kill it within less than
a month we might be successful. Hopefully."
Now Koichi felt really bad about not trusting this poor soul. He was suffering
too, on the inside. Now he was doing whatever he possibly could to make all of
this right and make the pain go away. Hell anyone would if they were in his
position, so he assumed anyway. 
"So, you know what can help us defeat them," Tsuzuku says after the stunned
silence becomes too much to bear. "You heard it's thoughts, so you know it's
plans and what it plans to do. We need to take them out and fast, before... why
a month? Is there some reason?" 
At this question Aryu flinched and gripped his sweater sleeve tight. His whole
frame trembled with anxiety.
"Yes... There is one other thing... I forgot to mention," he mumbled fearfully
and looked up, tears finally rolling down his cheeks as he struggled to keep
himself in check. "And it's not good. In one month, if it gets here and eats
enough humans it will become the strongest vampire to have ever existed. And
nothing we can do can stop it. It will take and take until nothing is left.
Every non human species will be either killed off or enslaved. Resisting humans
will be exterminated while the rest of them will be turned into nothing but
cattle fodder for their new God, bred to be nothing but food. It will be the
literal end of the world. And it would be... all my fault."
TBC
***** Chapter 46 *****
Normal POV
The group reached the safe haven on pins and needles after hearing such a sob
worthy story. Poor Aryu was wrecked emotionally and physically. He no longer
tried to plaster fake smiles to his face and opted to be real about how he felt
instead of hiding behind a mask. It was probably for the best, his fake smiles
were kind of creepy.
The safe haven was actually pretty big, but from the country back roads they
took there you couldn't see it through all the forest and brush surrounding it.
But as they pulled up the gravel road to a huge brick wall with a wrought iron
gate to the house one could see it was more than that. It was more like an
estate f sorts. And an old one by the looks of it, early Victorian in design,
Not the classic Japanese like they had been expecting of somewhere in Tokyo.
There was a central building as tall as four stories with two wings extending
to it's sides and a huge tower right in the middle. Along the pathway to the
house were countless patches of very pretty but untamed wildflowers in many
colors and sizes. They grew all the way up the vines to the central tower and
immediately Koichi felt like he wanted that to be his new place.
The gate opens slowly to let them in and they pull up to the front next to a
big round water basin. It was vall very impressive but now that they were
closer, Koichi could clearly see the vines crawling up the three story building
and a few broken windows here and there. Was this really where they were going
to stay..?
"Whoa," Mia exclaims as he hops out of the van. "This place is pretty
impressive. Are we really still in Japan?"
"Indeed we are," Yoka answers. "Not too far from here is a very haunted forest
so... watch your backs if you ever go adventuring around here. Let's get Aryu
inside so he won't be exposed too long."
Mia and Shinya shielded Aryu with the blankets and hurried him to the front
door and pushed it open. Koichi and Tsuzuku follow right behind them and into a
warm but dark entrance hall of the mansion. It's only lit by a single oil lamp
hung up on their right. There are a few benches in here, probably for people
who have to wait to be seen. There's a set of double doors leading to the rest
of the house.
"Haunted huh," Meto says as they let Aryu out. "I forget, you humans can't see
spirits like we can. Maybe I'll go give them a visit and see if I can't help
them cross over."
Yoka shrugs in response.
"I keep forgetting who I'm dealing with here. Anyway. Let's get you settled in
and we can look for your other friends that were in trouble."
Shinya and Mia decided to go on ahead and take Aryu to wherever they had to.
Tsuzuku and Koichi decide to linger around the main foyer instead to have a
better look. It was really wide open in here, a chandelier hung from what
looked like a thirty foot high ceiling. This was the first floor, and a nearby
carpeted staircase on their left led to an upper level that they could not see
from here so they would have to go up. There was an unlit fireplace just in
front of them and lots of empty picture frames hanging up on all the walls. To
their right and left were doors that led to different wings of the estate and
most likely more doors up the steps. Underfoot was a surprisingly nice red
plush carpet with black and white patterns criss crossing through it. It was...
very nice. Koichi's earlier hesitation was somewhat eased.
It would be nice and try to be happy here. He and his lover deserved it after
everything they have been through so far. Who knows, he could be really content
here, just... hopefully not for too long at least.
"This place is really nice," he comments and hauls his backpack higher up his
shoulder. "I just... hope it isn't too bad."
His breath hitches as he feels an arm snake around his waist and pull him close
to a warm body, his heartbeat accelerating. Tsuzuku's breath is soon at his ear
as a low humming. He automatically presses closer and feels the other's desire
as body heat through their clothes. Did it just get hot in here?
"Mhm. I just hope our new room has walls that are as soundproof as they look,"
Tsuzuku whispers softly in his ear. "You and I have some... alone time to catch
up on."
Oh... So that's what this was about. Tsuzuku was getting turned on at the worst
possible time again. To be honest ever since all this junk started he hadn't
given their sex life too much thought but now... Yeah he could feel the
knawing, raw hunger deep in the pit of his stomach, and feeling a hand snaking
under his sweater to touch his lower back wasn't exactly helping. Tsuzuku's
voice did wonders to him and his body's ability to control it's impulses. In
the best way possible of course.
"Uh... yeah," he responds squeakily. "Should... we ask Yoka to show us where
we're..."
He couldn't even finish he was getting... very hot under his sweater. It was a
good thing he was wearing loose pants. Damn his inability to handle situations
like this...
"To our room?" Tsuzuku asks in a suddenly nonchalant voice as he gropes the
skin at his hips sneakily. "Why yes, let's go get 'settled in.' Yoka is there a
room already ready for us?"
Completely oblivious Yoka and Kei start leading them away.
"Certainly. Right this way gentleman, we'll leave it to you to settle in at
your own pace. When you're ready feel free to come downstairs and talk."
Tsuzuku pulls his hand back and gives the flustered Koichi a wink as the human
leads them up the stairs and all the way through a cozy carpeted hallway acting
as a small den and to a totally not suspicious metal door set into the wall.
Various paintings of landscapes and animals hung on the walls but did little to
nothing to ease the heat the pinkette began to feel.
But the otherwise very aroused and very impatient monster clawing its way to
the surface of his brain did not register that feeling too much. All he was
excited for was the idea of a warm bed, a darkened room and the feeling of his
back getting sheet burned as his lover ravaged him mercilessly. Yeah... he
could go for some of that right now. He totally wasn't tired anymore.
The walk grew tedious after walking through two or three hallways of just about
a few hundred feet and he began to complain. Tsuzuku began to once more pester
the skin of his lower back at the same time, making his breath hitch.
"Ughh how much further, I'm tired," he whined like a child. "I just wanna  go
to sleep for a thousand years."
Though between him and his smug faced lover that wasn't the case here. Not
entirely anyway.
"No worries, it's just ahead here up these stairs through the library. I'll see
you to the door and you can find your way around from there."
The couple purposefully trailed behind their human guides so Tsuzuku could
sneak a gentle pinch to Koichi's hips, making him giggle in response.
"Psh, not in front of the humans," Koichi tried to hiss but lost his steam as a
breathy kiss was placed just under his ear. "Ngh, cut it out! There's plenty of
time for that when we're alone..!"
"You know you love me," came a simplistic response and more kisses.
He tried to hold in his giggles but he couldn't help it. Tsuzuku knew all his
weak spots by now the bastard... By now their legs were just moving
automatically rather than actually thinking about it.
"Well here we are!" Yoka announces loudly as they approach a staircase that
really seemed to come out of nowhere. "The doors to the library and your new
place are just through here! There is an adjoining bathroom and shower so feel
free to freshen up. It's still early but we still have so much to talk about
after all. And you'll need this to get into your room."
Tsuzuku takes his hand away so he could take the heavy metal key that Yoka
gives to him and gives the humans a nod. The staircase leads them up to another
short well lit hallway where there waited a big wooden door with a plated gold
sign reading 'LIBRARY' bolted to it. Here they stopped and he addressed their
human friends with another bow. Yoka seemed to like that a lot.
"Well, I do hope you'll be joining us for lunch later after you've slept for a
bit?"
"Of course we will. Thanks for helping us out, it really means a whole lot to
us."
Koichi quickly mirrors his lovers gesture and keeps his head low to hide his
embarrassment.
"Aha it's no problem!" Yoka says cheerily, still oblivious to the earlier
display of blatant PDA. "Any friends of Die and Toshiya are friends of ours,
right Kei?"
As he elbowed his stoic partner in the side Kei glowers at Yoka and sighs.
"Yeah yeah," he mutters, much to the surprise of the couple. They never heard
him speak before.
"Well we should get going," Yoka says we Kei refuses to say much more than that
(thankfully.) "Shoya and Tatsuya, they're our other friends by the way, will be
arriving shortly with more supplies to keep us going. So come down when you
can. Okay bye!"
He drags Kei back downstairs and finally they're alone together. As soon as
they push open the doors however Koichi could already feel Tsuzuku's fingers
once more starting to slide under his shirt but he pushes them away. Now he was
feeling all the collected filth on his skin and didn't exactly want his lover
to be subjected to all that.
"Hey hey hey, let's at least take a shower first. I'm pretty sure you don't
want to taste week old sweat on my skin."
Tsuzuku pouts at first but he's probably thinking the same way. Good thing too.
"Okay okay. Let's go then your highness."
Koichi looks around only briefly before they head up even more steps that led
to both the second level of the library and what looked like a private area
further up. Another door closed. Tsuzuku quickly unlocks it and they are
greeted with darkness. Koichi flips a nearby switch and his eyes widen.
"Whoa..! This place is awesome!"
There was a huge living area with antique furniture scattered about and a far
off area with a screen for privacy folded up against a dark red brick wall and
finally the jewel of the room. A giant King sized bed pressed up against the
furthest wall. It had a canopy and everything..!
Luckily for them it was, and it was really nice despite it being... very old
fashioned in design. But the sink was new and the water system looked recent as
well. The tub had gold claw feet and was all white with miniscule black
marbling with a gold shower head to match. There was black and white checkered
tiles as the floor and all white wallpaper. Shampoos and soaps were scattered
about on some cupboards thank goodness.
"Ugh I feel gross," Koichi says with a twisted up expression and starts to pull
off his clothes. "Are you gonna join me or just stand there?"
Tsuzuku eagerly follows suit and the shower turns on at a pleasant spray. He
and Koichi scrub soap over their bodies and through their hair before putting
in the stopper to let the tub fill up.
"Let's just enjoy it in here okay? A week without a shower has me all messed
up. Come sit in my lap for a bit."
Tsuzuku grins cheekily and pulls Koichi down into his lap as they plop into the
water. The warm water steadily surrounds them and steam begins to cloud up the
mirror over the sink. The pinkette let's his wings spread over the edges of the
tub to breathe, sighing in relief. Koichi stretches and allows Tsuzuku to rest
his head on his neck.
"You have such a soft spot for showers don't you."
"How else would I be able to see my lover naked and it wouldn't be awkward or
overly sexual?"
Even as he says that Tsuzuku just wouldn't stop running his soapy fingers over
his exposed chest. The hot water made it hard to see his own legs but he kept
them tangled in those of his lovers.
"Hehe, such a perverted old man..."
A deep amused chuckle vibrates against his throat.
"Mhm and this perverted old man wouldn't have it any other way. Your skin feels
really nice when it's wet."
But Koichi had to admit. It's been quite a while since they've had time to
themselves like this. Being able to have Tsuzuku's arms around him and to be
all snuggled up in his heat was... well it was more than he could ask for.
"You're such a total kiss up," Koichi says with a light smooch to Tsuzuku's
jaw. "But that's what makes you so cute."
Tsuzuku cooed in obvious self satisfaction before gently rubbing at what looked
like a small bruise on Koichi's left shoulder blade, right under where the wing
connected to his body. Where did that come from? When they fell? Probably.
"I aim to please. Shall I wash your wings for you? I'm sure they must be
feeling kind of uncomfortable."
Well well well, it wasn't too often he got an offer like that. Eagerly he
accepts, scooting off his lap to make space and pulling his knees to his chest.
The water level was high enough now so he turned it off, leaving behind a
steady dripping.
"Knock yourself out."
They silently sat there in the warm water and he couldn't help the delighted
moan of relief when soapy fingers worked their way through his feathers and all
over his muscles. Already he could feel the collected filth washing away. As
Tsuzuku brushed over the spot just where his wing sprouted out a pleasant
tremor rocked through his body and made him feel weak.
"Ooohh right there," he purred. "That's the spot..."
At his reaction Tsuzuku laughs in response.
"What an interesting noise you just made, I shall have to remember that for
next time."
"Yeah you do that, I ain't ashamed."
"Of course of course."
Koichi sighs in contentment and let's Tsuzuku continue. It felt really nice,
now he was feeling sleepy again.
It was then that he... felt a very peculiar sensation. Not physically, more
a... nagging feeling inside of his brain. Was he forgetting something?
Something... important?
No it... couldn't be could it? Already?
"Tsu?" He asked without turning around.
"Mhm?"
"What's the date today?"
"Well darling it's.... the... oh. Oh dear."
"Ummm what?"
He's suddenly being pulled around to face his lover who looks very serious.
"Koichi. It's the eighteenth. Of December."
For some reason Koichi's brain failed to do the math right away in his current
exhausted state. He frowned and tilts his head in confusion.
"Yeah..? Am I forgetting something?"
Tsuzuku laughs exasperatedly and cups Koichi's face to bring him closer,
pressing the softest of kisses to his lips that sends his heart into overdrive
once again. The amount of emotions unfathomable to him in his eyes is...
overwhelming.
"Love, your birthday is in four days. You'll finally be eighteen, an adult."
Then it finally dawns on him and he's gasping in realization. His birthday was
in one week!
"My... my birthday. Is in four days."
He suddenly felt another weight settling in his chest and he felt his brain
stop for a few seconds. All the while Tsuzuku is fussing over him like a worry
wart.
"Oh my goodness, we've been so busy with all this vampire nonsense and moving
around that we've completely forgotten! I'm sorry I forgot, but I'll make sure
you'll have the best birthday ev...er. Koichi? Love what's the matter?"
He feels sudden hot trails on his cheeks and quickly wipes at them. Why was he
suddenly crying? Maybe he was just too overwhelmed with all of this that his
emotions couldn't take it all at once. But by no means did it mean he was sad.
No, in fact he felt rather... happy. He would finally be his own person. Free
of the problems that plagued him as a teenager. Sure he'd never age again
but... still.
"Thank you, I... it's nothing bad. I'm just... so happy," he says, sniffling
but smiling wide at his lover. "I'll finally be able to see myself as an equal
with you. I won't be a kid anymore. I'm happy you're here. I know that just
having you beside me is enough to make it the best birthday ever."
Relieved Tsuzuku holds him close again and kissed his cheeks a few times before
hugging him tight. Koichi felt his heart jump in his chest as he feels the
others heartbeat equally as excited as his. He wished this feeling of belonging
would never ever go away.
"Good... I was worried that you might not want to celebrate it at all, but I
swear I will make it a good one."
Koichi burrows his face against Tsuzuku's shoulder, not wanting to let go. Was
it possible to feel such... overwhelming happiness?
"I know you will."
After a while they were forced to get out of the now lukewarm tub after rinsing
off and dressed in available night clothes that Yoka must have left behind.
They buried themselves under thick plush blankets and silky smooth sheets and
tangled their bodies together comfortably. Koichi could not think of anywhere
else he would want to be right now. This right now, to him, was absolute
heaven. For now, he just needed one thing.
"Tsuzuku?" He mumbles against his lovers chest.
"Mm?"
He leaned up for a gentle kiss.
"Love you."
What he's not expecting is for Tsuzuku to suddenly lift him up and onto his
body so he's being straddled and was being smothered under lips and a warm
inviting tongue. Well now he was awake again.
"I love you too Koichi," Tsuzuku breathes heavily when he finally lets him
breathe, smiling like an idiot. "Happy birthday."
The next thing he knew his clothes were gone, Tsuzuku was between his thighs
and he was indeed, on his back like he'd envisioned earlier.
Now this. Was heaven.
TBC
 
***** Chapter 47 *****
Normal POV
Hours passed, and soon the sun was already ready to sail high above the horizon
of trees surrounding the estate. Koichi woke up still in his lover's arms but
with a hot sweat on his skin. Slowly he peeled himself away from Tsuzuku and
drags his sleep heavy body to the bathroom to cool down. It was a good thing
they decided to clean up after their little... Well, their quick little romp
through the sheets. Otherwise, he was certain he wouldn't be waking up covered
in just sweat. That would be kind of gross.
His hair was a mess after having slept from morning to early evening. His eyes
had trouble opening and in the mirror he could see many pink marks all up and
down his neck and on his chest. There were even some near his nipples for God's
sake. Tsuzuku really needed to rein in his lust. Still, Koichi couldn't
complain. It was nice to have time with his lover after such a long time. Yes a
week was a long time, anyone would think so really. Especially that airhead
daemon of his.
Oh well, beggars can't be choosers. He wouldn't give it up for the world.
Speaking of which, they still had to go have a talk with their new house
buddies. They had stuff to do. And as much as he would like to stay up here
that would be incredibly irresponsible. Totally unadultlike.
In the other room he heard Tsuzuku start to mumble in his sleep and sighed.
What was he gonna do about him?
A quick teeth brushing and change of clothes later he's pulling a comb through
his hair and kicking his lover in the side to wake him up. Not too hard of
course.
"Oi, wake up you doof," he says and starts to get dressed. "We got things to
do. Your friend is still in danger remember?"
Tsuzuku groans and rolls on his back.
"Ugh what time is it..?" He sleepily asks and their eyes briefly met. "Oh...
Good morning..."
Koichi felt his irritation ebb away at how cute his lover was being and
couldn't bring himself to be irritated any more. God's he loved him. He sits
next to his lover and pets at his hair, so long and jet black just the way he
loved it. It was just weird not to see the horns there, as he was used to them
being there. Now, he was just normal looking. Like... like a human.
"Wake up, its time to go downstairs," he murmurs quietly. "You and I need to
look for your friends."
Sure he wanted nothing more than to snuggle here forever but... well.
"I know... It's just, I was hoping that I'd wake up and this would all be a
dream. That you and I would be home, safe, and Tomo would be too. And I just...
I don't know how much longer I can take."
He puts his head in Koichi's lap, fully vulnerable and showing his emotions on
his sleeve. It was hard on him, yes. And Koichi knew that it was because of him
that Tsuzuku was in danger. If he wasn't here, then would things be different?
Would Tsuzuku be able to handle himself on his own without someone to hold him
down? Thoughts of being alone swam around and he bites on his fingers before
gently massaging Tsuzuku's neck and caressing his face, feeling soft lips
pressing to them in scared butterfly kisses.
"Tsu... when we get out of here," he begins softly. "We'll be happy again.
Right?"
Tsuzuku shifts and stares up at Koichi, the bags under his eyes faint but
noticeable. He must be so exhausted lately.
"Will we?" He inquired in a hoarse voice. "Do we deserve to be happy?"
Koichi frowned and gave Tsuzuku a gentle tug on his hair. He was supposed to
agree.
"You're supposed to say, 'yes we will,'" he berates. "Honestly, this whole
vampire deal has messed with your brain. What you need is some way to let off
all this negative energy."
As he said that Tsuzuku's eyebrows rose.
"I can think of a few things," he said with a purring grin, to which Koichi
blushed in dismay. This pervert..!
"No I don't mean... well I guess sure but I'm not gonna be up for that every
single day. Have some decency."
Tsuzuku pouts but shrugs snuggling his head closer in his lap and kissing at
his stomach.
"Pff okay love whatever you say."
"No, I meant what did you usually do to blow off steam before I showed up?"
There's a brief pause as he thinks.
"Well, before when my life meant nothing to me? I killed the awful monsters
infesting the city. But now that you're here... I don't know."
"What do you mean monsters?" he asks. "I thought everyone in that world was the
same as you and me."
"Well, yes," Tsuzuku says and he sits up for once, stretching out the kinks in
his back. "But you know what I'm talking about right? You've seen the vampires
that have went bad, the ones we couldn't save. Sometimes they become a threat
to the civilians and we have no choice but to... Dispose of them to protect
people. And ourselves."
Oh... yeah he knew that already. But did Tsuzuku really think of them as
monsters? Well they weren't human sure, but still. Monsters was kind of like...
like the kettle calling the pot black. Neither he or Tsuzuku were human either.
What did that make them?
"Yeah, I understand," he sighs and leans close to Tsuzuku for a forehead kiss.
"I just... I'm not sure what to do anymore. I'm scared and I want to go home.
But we can't."
"Oh baby I know," Tsuzuku murmurs sadly and cups his face, their eyes
connecting. "You're scared, I am too. But Koichi... As long as we're together
and nothing comes between us, to me, wherever you are is home. And there's
nowhere else I would ever want to be."
/////////////////////
Aryu's voice was the first thing they heard when they managed to make it back
downstairs. Telling more things he remembered most likely. They met with their
other friends again in the den. Meto, Mia, and Mia's five friends were there.
Aoi, Reita, Ruki, Kai, and Uruha, with Aryu as well. All the while Kei and Yoka
stood nearby.
"Where's Shinya?" Tsuzuku asks them. Mia shrugs.
"Him, Tomo, Die and Toshiya have all gone to the city to search for the missing
agents. We don't have much things to go on though."
"Oh. When will they be back?"
"Dunno."
Oh well that was helpful.
"Aryu here was just telling us things that he remembered when he woke up," Meto
informed them. "Have a seat, let's listen to what he has to say."
Koichi knows that this could be their chance to learn something new and useful
so neither he or Tsuzuku object. There's another couch next where Meto and Mia
sat and they join them there. Mia smiled at Aryu, who looked distressed.
"Go ahead and and continue."
Nodding the blonde takes a deep breath, holding his arms to his chest closely.
"I remembered... some things. It's been about ten days since the parasite has
left my body. Maybe more, I can't tell. But I can still hear his voice, hear
his thoughts, his intentions, feel the evil in his soul and how... how horribly
strong it made me feel. I... can still see everything he made me do, hear all
the screams of his victims, the pleading for him to stop hurting them. It...
It's hard telling the difference from reality and dreams lately. And I can
still see, feel what he felt, like he left some part of him behind."
He paused to shudder and looks up at Koichi, then at Tsuzuku. His eyes are wet
and full of worry.
"And as for what he wanted, before it was just to have you for himself and lock
you away. But after we got stronger and he saw what the world had to offer...
He wanted it for himself. He wants everything. And he still wants you. Both of
you would do really. Even now, I can feel the harboring obsession he had for
you deep inside me. Just looking at your face makes my skin crawl with want and
it's scary. Even the pain of when I was rejected by the parasite is nothing
compared to this. So all I really have to ask is for you to stay away from me
as I adjust to being my own person. Then it will be okay."
Well, if it made him uncomfortable being around them, then Koichi would gladly
listen to him in that aspect. But of course Tsuzuku didn't seem to get that.
"Now hang on just a moment," he says firmly. "Wouldn't that make it worse? If
we stayed away from you, your thoughts would only get worse. We're your
friends, we're supposed to help you. Not let you wallow in self pity like this.
That would go against what little of our moral codes we have left."
Koichi could not believe Tsuzuku had that in him. Since when was he suddenly
buddy buddy with Aryu? Still, he was right. This vampire was now a crucial part
if their little team and if anyone could help flush out those blood sucker
nests, it was him.
"That's right," he finally relented, staring at Aryu. "Friends stick together.
And they help each other. Til the end."
"That's right!" Mia piped up. "Like me. I want to help too!"
The look on that vampire's face when he heard his new friends say that,
straight up, was like he had just recieved a gift from God. Tears began to
streak down his cheeks and make his long dead, unbeating heart ache with
unknown emotions. Friends...
"Are you all right?" Meto asks in concern. Aryu nodded, waving his hand.
"I'm fine, it's just... It's been so long since I've heard that," he says and
wipes at his stinging eyes. "Slaves and a horde of mindless followers is one
thing but... It doesn't compare to someone having your back. Thanks guys... I
already feel a lot better."
And that was true, the urges to utterly control the daemon in front of him was
already mostly under control. Just the after effects taking a toll on him he
guessed.
Before, all he had for company was that slippery vampire Layha, and his creepy
demon lover Ryoga. Not to mention... the one that would come to his old hideout
and warm his old bones when he got lonely. What was his name again..?
Ahh for the life of him he couldn't remember. All he could remember though was
that he was a vampire with an ability to see different outcomes to different
futures for different people, all depending on their actions. He would have him
only do the things that would directly affect the possibility of him succeeding
in his plan.
But now that he was no longer possessed, he had to wonder what happened to that
one. Hopefully a slow painful death.
"What else do you remember?" Mia asks. "Anything about the vampires or what
they're planning next?"
Aryu taps his chin in thought, trying to dig into his memories. It was fuzzy,
but something was finally coming to him.
"Yes... A building, specifically one of western architecture. A brownstone
building a lot like those in.... New York? It's a two story, and... umm, it
looks abandoned. There's a fireplace and a creepy old couch in front of it.
That's all I can remember, but I know this place. It was where I stayed
sometimes when I had business here. We should go find it."
"That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen," Meto disagrees. "No doubt his
underlings will have already either destroyed the place or have cleaned it out
entirely, leaving no traces behind."
"Yeah, or it could be a trap," one of Mia's friends says. Reita from what
Koichi's memory served. "There could still be something there but you guys
would be dumb to go and see."
"Hey now," Aoi says. "So what if it is a trap? Are we just gonna ignore the
possibility of finding clues in lieu of a little trouble? I say they go for
it."
Both of them continued to argue until finally one of the other ones, Ruki,
tugged on Reita's spiky brown hair.
"Ok, you're both in time out," he says. "That's all I have to say. Other than
Aoi's plan being the only one I can think of that might work. But what then? If
it is a trap what are we gonna do about it? What if someone is kidnapped?
Seriously injured? Even killed?"
Wow they really had issues with each other didn't they.
"Boys settle down," Tsuzuku says. "We have a little bit of time to figure out
what to do so don't worry about it. Now, the question here is now what to do
but who we need to look out for. The vampires that Aryu spoke of will more than
likely be skulking around the city as there are more portals scattered about
the world instead of just the one. If we're lucky, we'll have time to look
around the city and find clues before they catch wind of us being here."
Oh leave it to Tsuzuku to take control and calm people down. Koichi smiled to
himself and felt his stomach give a small flutter. That was kind of hot...
"Guys. Shinya and the others are back," Yoka announces out of nowhere. "He's
got someone with him."
Someone? Tsuzuku stands to greet his friend, only to see... Tomo?
"Tomo!" He screamed and ran to the other daemon, only to find him... bleeding?
"Oh my gods what happened to you? Where's Takashi?"
Blood poured from steadily healing bite wounds on his neck and arms, staining
his pale skin crimson and what was left of his pants were in tatters. Takashi
was nowhere to be seen. What the hell happened here?
At his lovers name, Tomo's face is pained, and an agonized groan leaves his
lips.
"Takashi... attacked... gone. I... couldn't even save him. They took him... Had
to run. please, save him... ugh."
He suddenly collapsed onto the ground unconscious, the wounds healed but the
carpet was now stained a deep red color.
Koichi gasped in horror at the sight, feeling his stomach clutch painfully.
Meto quickly ushers the other five boys off so they wouldn't see and left Mia
behind. Both of them stood there, unable to speak as the scene played out
before their eyes.
Takashi was gone? But... What happened to him?
"We couldn't find his counterpart I'm afraid," Shinya sighs as they lay Tomo on
a couch. "He was attacked by a vampire judging from the way the marks looked.
We searched and searched but there were no traces of him. If we want to know
anything else, we'll have to wait until he wakes up."
Who knows when that would that be?? They had to find him now!
"But Takashi is only human!" He complained. "The vampires will kill him, or
worse turn him! We need to find him now!"
Shinya grits his teeth and makes a face akin to indecision, before looking at
the two unknown people behind him. Humans, one tall with brown hair and the
other with black hair and a little shorter.
"Shoya. Tatsuya. Take this daemon to a clean room and have the helpers get him
cleaned up. We're going out to find him."
"So soon? But we just came back?" Tatsuya asks.
"I know, but this is important. A human is in danger, namely one who is
important to us and our cause. We'll look for him, and comb the city looking
for him if we have to. We'll go back to where we found Tomo here and start from
there."
As they began to plan it out, Aryu clenched his knuckles tightly and breathes
out heavily, standing up to get their attention. The smell of blood coming from
Tomo would have been enticing if it weren't for the fact that 'Vampire' was
written all over those bite marks. That was enough to keep him at bay, so for
now he felt like he could once more be helpful.
"Actually," he begins. "I know where you can look. And I can help too."
/////////////////
Stop! Please
He wanted to scream, so badly he wanted to scream. But the words just wouldn't
come out. It hurt, it hurt so bad. Teeth were tearing into his flesh, the
feeling akin to being licked by fire. His clothes were ripped to expose new
areas of flesh once unbitten only to be torn into and suctioned on for the
sweet red liquid flowing through his veins. His back scraped roughly against a
dirty asphalt ground as about three or four vampires gorged themselves on his
blood.
Slowly, slowly. His mind spun and the excruciating agony was only dulled by the
exhaustion of blood loss settling into his body, and his silent screams turned
into groans of pain and desperation. Sleep... He needed to sleep... His eyes
closed and he was just so ready to die.
I'm sorry Tomo. I love you. But I wasn't strong enough.
He could hear them talking, voices growling and greedily slurping.
"He's so small and tasty," one of the monsters moaned through mouthfuls of
blood. "Are you sure you don't want a taste of this?"
"No," came an eerie multilayered voice. "You deserved this my loves. I'm proud
of you, this could be your first kill as my first newborns. I'll find someone
else to eat but for now, just enjoy him."
But before he could finally be pulled into the sweet depths of the darkness
tugging at his sanity, he hears it. A sweet, angelic and melodic voice calling
to him from deep in his psyche.
'That's a boy, my dear Takashi. You're almost home... I'm here. It'll all be
over soon.'
"Mm... mama?" he whimpers, his body jerking as his arm spurted crimson liquid.
"Is that you..?"
The monsters ignore him, chalking it up to delusional ramblings of someone
close to death. But... Takashi knows better. It was the same voice from before.
"Oh my dear Takashi you've been so brave," comes the voice again, only louder
and definitely not in his head. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, but now it's
time for the atonement. Are you ready to see your loved ones again my love?"
It was a physical voice, one that was actually right behind his attackers. The
monsters stopped feeding and turned at the voice, hissing and snarling at the
entity.
"Who are you?" The evil echoing voice hisses. "You're intruding on my feeding
time!"
Beyond his tears, he can see... a figure. A woman, deep ethereal black hair and
an all white kimono. She was glowing, literally.
"Oh my children, you should know better than to piss off a Goddess. You've hurt
my darling boy for the last time. Now, I shall make you pay."
Then the most beautiful light is blinding him and the monsters are all
screaming in pain and terror, finally the pain stops. But before Takashi can
hear or see the rest, he's already unconscious.
TBC
***** Chapter 48 *****
Normal POV
Takashi awoke in a strange place with a start, jolting upright only to sink
back when his head spun. This place... where was he? It was dark but warm.
There was a... fireplace nearby with a fire raging away to keep it warm in
here. He looked around, finding himself on... a very horridly familiar couch.
He sits up slower, the head rush fading away. 
This was... The building from before. The one he and Tomo found those bodies
in. Why was he back? After he left... damn. He couldn't remember a thing after
he was attacked. And where was Tomo anyway?
"I am glad you are awake, dear. How do you feel?" 
'That voice!'
He turned to see a woman. The same one saw in that alleyway he was attacked in.
Long white kimono, pale skin and deep black hair.
"Who are you?" He asks. "Why am I back here? Where's Tomo?"
The woman was standing near him but moved slowly to sit near him, like she was
gliding. Who was she?
"Your beloved is safe, do not fret yourself. He escaped and now he's with your
friends. I brought you here after fending off the vampires who attacked you,"
she says in her sweet calming voice. "It has been a whole day since you've been
asleep. Don't worry; I cleansed this place of all the evil that soaked into its
walls and now it's safe. It was... bloody. Very bloody. But you're okay now.
And no doubt you're relieved to be alive."
Takashi would say alive was not quite what he was feeling. His whole body felt
like there were cinder blocks weighing him down. Not to mention his throat
burned with thirst.
"Here," she says and gingerly pats his head as she hands over a water bottle.
"No doubt you'd be thirsty after all of that."
Takashi eyes the woman closely and eagerly swallowed down mouthful of water,
the soothing liquid alleviating the burn.
"Thanks... So who are you anyway? Why did you help me?"
She smiles wistfully while crossing her legs, dainty as a flower.
"You can call me Ama. Though, I think you'd be more familiar with Amaterasu.
The sun goddess. Or... what's left of me anyway. I want to help because these
vampires have disrupted the life balance of the world by needlessly killing and
it drains my powers each day."
Amaterasu. The sun goddess. Just saved him from a bunch of vampires. 
"Uhm... I'm not dreaming am I?" He asks as he heavily leans back. "And you're
the one who sent me the letters?"
She smiles, one that even in the dark dreary room made him feel a little
better.
"No dear one. I'm not, rest assured I'm very real. And I needed to find you and
help before it was too late, so I tracked you down before leading you here."
"So what happened to you?" He asks once the initial shock wears away. "A friend
told Tomo who told me you disappeared many years ago. Why show up now?"
The sub-goddess weakly holds up her head to stare at the boring white ceiling.
There was an old tiredness there, anyone could see it.
"I didn't just disappear," she stated. "After I created the White Phoenixes and
pleased the High council, I fell into a power deprived coma. I haven't woken up
since then until weeks ago. The vampires cast a sleeping curse on my resting
place to prevent me from intervening in their plans until it was too late to
stop them on my own. This has been going on for thousands of years and only now
is it starting to be noticed by the common people."
Too late for what exactly? Ever since he found out about this whole vampire
thing weird stuff has been going on. This was by far the weirdest though.
"Before what was too late?" He asked cautiously. Amaterasu scoots over closer,
her eyes sparkling sadly.
"They were targeting you from the beginning, and I wanted to keep an eye on you
to make sure they wouldn't hurt you."
"But.... Why would you want to help me?" He asked with a frown. "I'm just
another human, with simple problems and a simple life. Just... caught up in
something I have no business being in."
As he says this Amaterasu looks troubled, her face mirroring disbelief. She
then slips his hand into hers, and her soft skin brought an overwhelming
feeling of nostalgia for his mother. Strange.
"You are not just another 'Human' Takashi. You're very unique and brave. You're
far more special than you think. And it's because of that you were able to find
your place in this world and find your beloved. Unfortunately, the moment you
and him were seen together it was like a big red target sign was plastered to
your back. They've been watching you, and they finally made their move but
hours ago. I was late but... I made it. And now you're here and we can get to
work."
"Work?" He asks. "What do you mean?"
Amaterasu smiles but very sadly, and he can tell that she knew something and
whatever it was, it was not good. Takashi wasn't so sure he liked that very
intent look on her face.
"Takashi. You and your friends are going to help me defeat these monsters
prowling the streets. If we can't do that, I may die. Along with all of my
beautiful creations, including you."
Takashis brows furrow in confusion.
"Me?"
She sweeps back her hair and winked, patting his knee.
"I'll tell you about it some time soon. I know where the base with your friends
is, and I'll send word to your beloved that you are safe and of my return to
this world. For now, you should head home to rest some more. And maybe you
should change your hair color. Purple suits you, but you're still a target
after all."
Ugh of course he should No doubt the vampires would be looking for him now that
they know what he looked like so he supposed she would be right about that.
There was just one thing he wanted to know.
"Uhm... can I ask you something?" He says nervously. She nods, a cue for him to
continue. "How did you get all my blood and junk back into my body? I thought
those monsters fed on me til I was almost empty."
Amaterasu just gives him a sly look, her lips twitching ever so gently.
"Even weak goddesses can't give their secrets away."
////////////////
Takashi left the building and went home in a daze, still a little bit woozy
from sleeping. He knew he needed to rest somehow. He would have started to look
for Tomo anyways despite what she said, but considering he had no idea where to
even look he was at a loss. So that would be something to 
But he was worried, if not a little stressed out at the moment. No doubt Tomo
was looking everywhere for him. And he wanted to find him so bad, to tell him
he was okay and he no longer needed to worry. But Amaterasu said not to go to
him until he's done her a favor first. Yet he wasn't sure how to do that favor
for her at the moment.
All she wanted him to do was find a reason for him to keep fighting. He told
her a simple answer at first.
'To stop the vampires,' was what he said. But she wasn't satisfied with just
that. Too common of an answer she said, that he needed to come up with
something far more important. His own personal reason for wanting to save this
world and the other world. But how was he supposed to pick one answer? There
were so many he wanted to say.
For Tomo? Most definitely. For his family? And all their families? Of course.
What other reasons would there be?
He'd have to think on this one. No doubt it shouldn't be too hard. Or at least
he hoped so.
Takashi made sure to pull up the good of his suspiciously red stained sweater
as the rain outside began to come down like waterfalls.
His home was about twenty minutes away on foot, but the rain made him spend an
extra ten being more cautious of his surroundings. His house looked so gloomy
looming just ahead in the grey atmosphere, the slanted roof letting the rain
pour off in sheets. He shuddered from the cold wet air and hurried inside so he
wouldn't get sick before going to lock his door.
Home... according to the clock over his closet door, it was around five in the
afternoon. He was gone for almost a whole day since the last time he was here.
And a week since the first letter came in, maybe longer.
December twenty first. In a few days it would be Christmas. He didn't even have
a tree nor did he have anything planned.
What would he even do? The holiday season just seemed very petty to him
compared to all the other important things going on. Like trying his hardest to
prevent a psychotic parasitic vampire from taking control of the world. He'd
have to call his mother and tell her he wouldn't be home for the holidays this
year. Maybe not anytime soon either.
Takashi sighed and went to the laptop on his kotatsu, seeing how the screen was
still opened. It was painful, seeing two half empty cups of coffee still
sitting there. He and Tomo had only planned on going out briefly to re-scan the
area around that bricked building only to be attacked.
Tomo lost him around a corner in some back alley behind the building And was
forced to run for help. Takashi could still feel the monsters teeth tearing
away at his flesh and it made his body ache.
Why did Amaterasu save him? He was human, and not important at all. She was a
goddess, certainly he was just a speck to her right? But she was the sun's
power incarnate. No doubt there was at least some sympathy to be felt inside
her body. She seemed reasonable enough, and for that also trustworthy.
Still, there was a nagging feeling inside him that she wasn't telling him the
whole story about why she saved him in the first place. Something of great
importance. 
He sighed softly and closed his laptop before going to the bathroom, ready to
get into his shower only to catch his reflection in the mirror and stop. Seeing
his face, he grimaces in distaste. 
"Ugh, how did she let me leave the building looking like this?"
His clothes were a wreck. Torn in some places and otherwise tattered, but they
were strangely clean. Amaterasu must have gotten out all the blood stains
before letting him come home. He slips off his clothes and notes the marks all
over his body, shuddering. Teeth marks, lots and lots of them. They bit
wherever they could get to his blood, and that included his legs as well.
Thankfully, they didn't get to his more precious bits and for that he probably
had to thank Amaterasu. Tomo would probably be pissed if they did. 
Surprisingly it didn't scare him as much as he thought it would. Maybe his
brush with death numbed him to the shock.
"Thanks Ama-chan," he says and goes to find his hair brush. "I wonder if you'd
like me to call you that from now on. It has a nice ring to it." 
Seeing his hair in a right mess, tangled and in dire need of a brushing,
Takashi rummages around in his cabinets under the sink to find a bottle of hair
bleach. There were no other colors, so this would have to do. For now. Flashes
of Tomo and hearing his whispered words in his ear made him pause for only a
second and feel a stab of guilt in his stomach. Tomo loved his hair, it was one
of his favorite things about him. Or so he said. So getting rid of it would
probably be a huge change for him to get used to. Didn't mean it wouldn't hurt
though. 
Takashi heaves a disparaging sigh, taking it out of its pony tail to get ready
to dye it. 
"Sorry Tomo," he mumbles and starts to brush his purple hair for the last time.
"But this purple hair you love so much has to go. Otherwise we're both in
danger."
Getting the purple out was more of a hassle than he thought. But he managed,
and after a grueling four hours of waiting he stared at himself in his mirror.
Clean, safe, but now very very blonde. He still couldn't believe what he had
done to himself. It was so... bright. It's been so long since he had last been
blonde, five or six years now. Ever since he decided on purple he's always made
sure it stayed that way.
Now though, he would have to suffer through it. Besides, now that he had a good
look at himself in the mirror, he thought it would be pretty cute. There was
just... something about it that wasn't enough. It was long and straight, so
maybe he should change that too. 
He puts on some jeans and a thick black sweater before heading out again,
making sure his hood was up as he ventured into town looking for a salon who
could help him out. 
He stood at Shibuya crossing not long later, staring up at the red bricked
building that he first met Tomo in not too long ago. Why was he here? Maybe his
feet instinctively led him here but, there was a feeling he should be here. But
not now, he had things to do. 
There was a strip mall not far from here, and he made his way there slowly,
looking behind himself every so often. He couldn't help it, he was paranoid
now. 
The chime of the door for the salon he went to chimes as he stepped in, and he
goes straight to the cashier. 
"Hello!" she greets. "How can I help you today?" 
He self consciously reached for his hair, biting his lip. Was he really gonna
do this?
"Hi... Um, yes I would... like a haircut. And... possibly a perm."
She nodded, typing in what he wanted. 
"Of course. And will you be paying cash or credit?"
"With a cr... Um, cash," he corrects. Too risky, he might get traced if the
vampires started looking for him. 
"All right, come this way," she says and leads him beyond the counter to an
area full of mirrors and hair dressing chairs. There were only three other
people in here. 
"I'll have you tell the hair dresser assigned to you what you want her to do,"
she says and sits him at one chair next to an older lady. "She'll be over in a
few moments."
He thanks her as she returns to her post and he sighs, waiting. He always hated
the waiting. Too bad he didn't bring his phone, he could be looking for a new
apartment by now. 
"Excuse me," comes a weak voice. He looks beside himself to the little old lady
int he chair next to him, wearing a hair dryer on her head. 
"Um, yeah?" he asked nervously. She smiled at him, the crinkles of her mouth
deepening. 
"It's not often that a young man wanders into a hair salon," she says with a
laugh. "What is it you fancy in a place like this, hm?" 
Was she... judging him? Gods he hoped not...
"Uhh I just... want it cut by a professional," he says and tries not to let the
accusing tone in her voice get to him. "I... don't rust myself with scissors.
That's all. Why?"
She hums and coughs slightly before leaning back in her chair, the loud creak
of her joints giving away her age. 
"Well, your hair is beautiful the way it is. Why do you want to cut it?" she
croaks softly, all the accusation gone in place of genuine questioning. So she
was just concerned. Damn Takashi felt like his brain was all messed up.
"Well... My... lover and I like it but... It's time for a change," is what he
answers. "New year's eve is coming soon, and it's time for a new me." 
And maybe that was true. It was time to put the old Takashi in the past and
allow himself to find new things to do with himself. 
The woman coughs again, this time a bit longer than the last one. 
"Oh to be young and have time," she sighs. "I would love to have such beautiful
hair again. Now, it's a hassle just keeping it healthy. If I had the time or
energy, I'd be a walking rainbow."
More coughing. At this point he's concerned for her now. 
"Are... you okay?" he asks. "You know if this is too stressful for you..." 
"No no dearie I'm okay," she says and chuckles after her coughs are over. "This
ol' biddie still has some kick left in her old bones I can assure you. I just
need my inhaler is all." 
She reached into the purse at her side and uses the inhaler she mentioned
before sighing in relief. 
"Do you have asthma?" he asks softly. She nodded, but she looked unconcerned. 
"That I do," she says with a smile. "But that's never stopped me before. I used
to be a singer you know."
This woman seemed to have an air of satisfaction about her, so he figured he
shouldn't worry too much. Besides, far be it from him to be concerned over the
well being of a stranger when he wasn't on the job. Speaking of which his
deadline still had to be met... Ah well it could be done later. 
"Hmm, okay then." 
"What's your name dearie? I would like to know the identity of my temporary
conversing partner."
At this he paused in hesitation. Should he give out his real name? That too was
very risky. But then again, and he felt silly for worrying, she was just a
harmless little old lady. What harm could she do?
"It's... Takashi." 
Her face brightens and she nodded in acknowledgement. 
"Mmm it's nice to meet you Takashi-chan. What a nice name. My name is Momo, but
you can just call me Oba-chan if you'd like."
Momo huh? She was cute, for a little old lady anyway. 
"Thanks Momo-san. It's nice to meet you too." 
Finally a hair dresser came out of the backroom and greets him with a smile,
putting a plastic cover over his front. 
"Hello there! My name is Saya. I am your hairdresser for today! What would you
like me to do for you?" 
He stared at his reflection in the mirror, once more fingering the shoulder
length strands. He took a deep breath, and slid his fingers up til they were up
to his neck. 
"I want to cut it this far. And get a perm as well." 
She grinned, holding up a pair of hair cutters. 
"Okay! Leave it to me!" 
The whole time he spoke to this new woman and the Oba-chan next to him, not
once did he notice the dark silhouette lurking just outside the door to the
salon. What he did feel however, was the unnerving sense of dread he felt all
up and down his spine. 
'Maybe I am a little too paranoid. But now I know what my reason for fighting
is. Momo i really nice'
TBC
***** Chapter 49 *****
"So. You've found your reason?"
Takashi nods, certain of his answer.
"I think so." 
"Then? Let's hear it."
He takes a deep breathe, forcing his nerves back down his throat.
"The people need me. If not for myself, then for them. That's my reason."
"Good, then you're ready my boy."
Takashi stared into the mirror of the bricked building, seeing his new
reflection for the first time. Short blonde hair permed to his shoulders and
dark make up on his eyes and lips. This was...definitely a transformation from
his usual thing. His fever only lasted a little bit when he came back thanks to
the information and new memories Amaterasu gave to him. It still made him
nervous.
"Are you sure he'll accept me for who I am?" 
There was a possibility that Tomo would see him as not being as pure as he
thought. Moreover he was scared. Coming back from that salon made him realize
things about himself that he never noticed before. He wasn't who he thought he
was, at least not on the surface. And he had Amaterasu to thank for that. She
sat on the couch by the fireplace, wearing more casual clothing to blend in.
"Trust me," she says softly. "I think after all of this, he'll just be glad to
know you're alive and safe. And definitely not vampire food." 
Takashi stared at himself a little longer before turning to look at her,
desperation in his eyes. 
"But... I'm different now. I'm... not who I thought I was. Thanks to what
you've given me, I remember everything about who I was before. Tomo thinks I am
human, but now I remember I never was. What should I do?"
Amaterasu comes to stand behind him, hands on his shoulders and using the
mirror to look into his eyes. Just being around her felt like his soul was at
ease, like he belonged with her. Not in thatway though. No, more like... he got
a motherly feel from her. Like she was his protector, his guardian. And after
what she revealed to him, it wasn't too hard to understand why he felt this
way. 
"Just breathe, Takashi," she coos to him and gently pats his head. "Look at
you. You're beautiful and radiant. There is no way he won't accept you for who
you really are. Do not deny the love he has for you, Taka-chan. He loves you
very much, I can feel it. Something like this will not be enough to deter him
from that. So just breathe, and focus on what you know you feel for him as
well. It will be okay, dear." 
She was right. he was getting too worried over this. And... who's to say Tomo
wouldn't accept him? If anything, now that he wasn't as fragile as he thought,
he could finally feel more like they belonged together. Even with their
species' somewhat bad history that was all in the past now. 
"So... Can you tell our story to me again?" he says once he calms down and runs
a brush gently through his hair. "I just... want to make sure I remember
everything you tell me before we go." 
He called it their story because that was essentially what it was. His origin
story, and her own reason for disappearing.
"Certainly," she concedes happily and waits until he's done and sitting next to
her to retell the story she told him only moments ago. "Thousands of years ago.
Long before humans became the dominant species on this planet and they were
still at the mercy of nature and other non human things, life was simple for
them. They thought they were the only ones who were sentient, who could
understand the greater workings of things. And it was thanks to this hubris
that they never bothered to understand what really existed beyond what they
wanted to understand. What they could never understand.
"Right under their noses was a deeper meaning to life, a stronger much more
magical flow of time that their mortal minds could not comprehend. And even if
they knew, they tried to dismiss it as being a trick of the mind or a thing of
legends. Humans were scared of what they could not understand, and tried to
cover up such things with logic and reasoning, unknowing that they were merely
mortals in a world of magic.
"There existed many beings, beings that transcended time and death for
millennia upon millennia. Vampires, demons, angels, Phoenixes, etc etc. These
beings did not interact with humans because of their hubris and affinity for
warring with each other over the simplest things. Humans became a topic
unspoken of, and only the few species that needed humans to survive bothered
with them. 
"Then, there came a time when a new species was created. Gorgeous beautiful
beings that could hold the sun in their finger tips and create light even in
the darkest and bleakest of times. The humble and beloved Goddess Amaterasu
created two new beings of this type. The hard working and powerful Orange
Phoenix with plumage the color of the rising sun. And the White Phoenix, who's
bright personalities and white pure feathers could rival the sun Goddess
herself. They were meant to bring the different species' together by way of
their humbleness and efforts to be the best role models in the magical world.
"Many years passed peacefully with the help of the new species, but that peace
was soon to be disrupted. 
"The white Phoenix began to grow distasteful of those not of the same pedigree
of whiteness as them. They grew arrogant against their orange brothers and
sisters, and their minds warped to believe that they themselves were the only
pure ones and that no one else was sure like them. It grew to a point that they
demanded respect when they did not deserve it, and this became their eventual
downfall. 
Amaterasu paused, a sad light shining in her eyes.
"The High Council decided simultaneously that they were a threat and needed to
be dealt with. And so, the Daemon Elder decided that his own were the best ones
to do the job, and thus the White Phoenix threat was dealt with swiftly and
unmercifully. 
"They spent so much time bragging and making themselves seem perfect that none
of them knew how to fight or defend themselves properly, so they did not stand
a chance. So came their deserved but tragic end. 
"But what no one knew, a single woman had not been present at the time of the
carnage, but her husband was not so lucky. This woman came back only to find
herself a fugitive and it was difficult just to stay alive and not get caught. 
"The woman would do anything to protect herself from the stigma of being a
White Phoenix, so she fled to the human world where she stayed undetected for
thousands of years. 
"It was here that she learned that her species was not as flawless as they
thought, and she grew more and more accepting of that. Her overall attitude
towards humans also changed, and she knew there really was nothing wrong with
them. 
"It was only during the turn of the twentieth century that she met, fell in
love with, and married a human man and they had a child together. A half human
half white Phoenix hybrid, the first of his kind. They spent the first five
years together happily. 
"Then, word got out to the authorities from her world that she survived, and
they launched a manhunt for her. Terrified for her husband and her child, she
made the ultimate sacrifice. She turned herself over to them, but only after
taking her son and putting him under a spell that would make him fully human
and sealing his powers. She tell her husband to take him and run before she is
caught and killed. 
"The child and his father flee, but the father grows miserable without his
wife. Knowing that the child had no chance of being happy with him alone and
knowing he needed a motherly figure in his life puts the child up for adoption.
A human woman takes him at the age of six, unknowing of who he really was, and
raised him as her own. He would live for many years as a human.
"The spell would last only until a certain event dictated the release of his
powers, and only then. And when that time came, he would give up his human life
and become who he truly was. A pure white Phoenix destined to save the world
from a dark plague. His name would be remembered for years to come. The end."
As she ended her story, Takashi stared at his fingers, seeing many white
tattoo's circling and encompassing his fingers. His back itched and he resisted
the urge to scratch at them. 
"I think I'm ready, Ama-chan. I'm ready to go to him."
"Of course dear. I'll send and envelope telling of your return with something
of yours."
He stood up and stared at himself one last time in the mirror, then at the huge
white feathered limbs sprouting from his body. He smiles, tucking them back
into his body and sighing. 
"I'm coming home Tomo."
/////////////////////
The day passed as uneventful as one would expect. It was now December
twentieth, two days until Koichi's birthday. And only five until Christmas.
Yet as one could expect from a situation such as theirs, none of them were
feeling much of the Holiday spirit.
Well that couldn't be said for Yoka and Toshiya. The both of them tried their
best to cheer everyone up with the decorations they hung up around the estate
but... well there wasn't much to be felt from them. 
What's worse, Koichi and Tsuzuku were paranoid again and stuck to themselves so
Tsuzuku could make time to train him to use his powers better, at the expense
of his own body. He was sore all morning from last night but he finally learned
how to make his wings disappear so he could hide them.
Meto and Mia gave most of their attention to Aryu and his recovery, getting him
blood bags from the hospital thanks to Yoka and his 'connections' with people
in the hospital. Mia's five friends stayed apart; Aoi and Uruha stayed in each
other's rooms all night while Ruki, Reita and Kai stayed together in Kai's. In
fact the last time anyone even saw them together was last night at dinner. So
that was odd for them.
Even Shinya was devoting his time to research and making phone calls, making
Tomo really worried.
The other daemon was finally healed enough to be awake, but he was on edge. It
was obvious, he was worried about Takashi of course. He wasn't sure if he
survived the attack or if he was now just vampire food. Either way, each
passing hour of just waiting around in the foyer and not doing anything about
it made him aggressive.
Koichi was certain that at any moment he could snap at someone, so he made sure
not to antagonize him when they interacted. Which was rarely.
Which was why when he and Tsuzuku were taking a break from training that
something odd began to happen.
This estate was built into the side of a small cliff as a security measure, so
there were no windows on the backside of the building. There was however
windows on the top where his room was, so he could see all around the property.
The cliff also added leverage for an additional area to be built outside the
library below his room. A patio with a fence was outside and wild flowers grew
in abundance as well as many trees to protect against peepers and trespassers.
It was about midday when he noticed from this very patio that there was a
strange black car approaching the estate down it's long gravel road. That was
unusual, as the only vehicles that came here were white. They knew no one with
any black vehicles far as he knew.
"Hmm... talk about suspicious." At first he though it not important until he
realized something else. Yoka told him that if he saw anyone else coming here
and Yoka wasn't expecting them then...
He frowned and threw on his shoes before going to find Tsuzuku, who had gone to
get more medicine for his wings. He found him in the small den leading to the
foyer talking with Shinya about something, a bottle of medicine fiddling in his
fingers as they spoke. 
"So yeah I... he finally learned how to hide them, and the tattoo's are hurting
less," he managed to hear him say before he was noticed. Tsuzuku lit up,
excited. "Koichi-"
"Tsu!" He yelled out and almost bowled into him. "There's... there's someone
coming! A strange black vehicle! Yoka told us to be on alert in case anyone
else comes!"
Shinya grew concerned and he looks at Tsuzuku with serious eyes. Were they
found out by their enemies already? It hasn't even been two days that they have
been here.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this. Yoka and the rest of the humans have gone out
so no one should be here but us. Hopefully it's nothing but to be safe, you
should stay hidden up here. That means you too, Koichi." 
Of course, Koichi had no problems with it. He was pretty much a ticking time
bomb at this point, being unpredictable and all. So unnecessary collateral
damage was to be avoided as much as possible. However, that didn't stop him and
his lover from peeking around the wall separating the main foyer from the upper
floor curiously as Shinya descended down the stairs slowly. 
"Who do you think it is?" he asks his lover, who shrugs.
"I don't know, but if Yoka wasn't expecting anyone today then it could be any
number of people." 
Then a terrifying idea swarmed Koichi's thoughts, watching Shinya approach the
entrance hall before disappearing from sight to go out the main doors. 
"What if they found us?" he squeaked in sudden fear. "I don't want to move
again! I barely got used to it here!"
As he feels a panic attack coming on Tsuzuku pulls him back beyond the wall and
gently grips his fingers, staring into his eyes. All at once Koichi found
himself entranced. Damn, that always worked.
"Koichi look at me. Just calm down. Breathe." 
The nervous pinkette does just that, slowly inhaling and exhaling like how he
was taught. It became necessary when the panic attacks came out of nowhere and
if he didn't want to spontaneously erupt in flames and destroy anything.
Thankfully the exercise works and none of his body parts light aflame. 
"Good. Now, just relax. What did we discuss?" Tsuzuku asks him softly yet
firmly. Koichi swallows. This was something they came up with in case the panic
got to be too much. A comping mechanism if one would have to into specifics.
Still, it worked. 
"To not let let my fears get the best of me," he answered quietly. "Honestly,
how do you keep doing that?" 
Tsuzuku grins at him, playing the oblivious card again. But Koichi knew him
well enough now that he could see through it very easily. Didn't make him any
less cute for trying though.
"How do I do what?" he still questioned smugly. Koichi wanders a bit further
away to the den and Tsuzuku follows closely.
"Calm me down so easily, it's like second nature to you now. I don't understand
how."
The daemon just smiles at him, and Koichi feels his chest give a familiarly
painful throb. He actually had to sit back on one of the couches to calm his
increased heart rate. At least now he wasn't anxious.
"Like I said before, it just feels like instinct now. Whenever you're in
distress, I want to make it go away. And whenever you look like you're ready to
break from all the stress that's weighing you down, I want to help shoulder
some of it to make you feel better. I don't want you to leave me out and deal
with everything alone. Does that makes sense?"
Of course it did. that was just common sense for lovers to feel that way.
Koichi felt helpless again as his lover displayed his soft side, one that he
rarely showed to anyone really. Just one of themany and ever increasing reasons
that Koichi absolutely adored him to death. So he couldn't help the small smile
on his lips that betrayed his turmoiled thoughts and reached for his lover,
feeling their fingers intertwine together like he wanted. 
"You're such a softie," was all he managed to answer back as Tsuzuku took a
seat next to him and their shoulders bump together. 
"Yeah I know," Tsuzuku says with a grin. "But we all know that's why I'm so
hard to resist." 
Koichi was ready to retort with another comment but the sudden foot falls
coming up the steps make him bite it back. Tsuzuku stands up in response, his
face once more serious. 
Imagine his relief when he sees it's only just Shinya, and now with a curious
envelope in his hands. Shinya seems relaxed enough, pleased even. And so he has
no more reason to worry with just that and all his stress seems to lessen if by
a little at least. 
"So? What's going on?" he asks him. "Who was at the door?"
Shinya holds up the envelope, which seems to have been opened. 
"Friends," was what he answered with. "I think it's time to pay that grieving
friend of ours a visit."
"Who, Tomo?" he asked, raising an eyebrow when he receives a nod. "Why what's
going on?" 
His boss begins to lead them to the other wing of the building where Tomo's own
room was, handing them the envelope with a glint in his eyes. 
"Here. You should take a look at this for yourself."
Tsuzuku takes it and reads it over before letting out a deeply held breath. 
"Seriously?"
"Let me see," Koichi says impatiently and grabs the envelope. Reading it over
once, he had to reread it a couple times before it sunk in. It... couldn't be
true could it? "Takashi is..."
'To Takashi's loved ones. 
'I am pleased to tell you that your friend is not in danger. He is safe, I am
helping him find his way to you as we speak. Do not worry he will be there in
no time, and you can continue on your journey. 
'As for who I am, I think you'll find answers when we arrive. But just know
that my arrival may be a huge turning point in this battle. 
'There is a fight to be won for this planet, and you all must be there to help
whether you like it or not. 
'Takashi is special. In fact, him and the boy named Koichi have more in common
than you think. And I think what is inside this envelope with this letter may
hint as to his importance. I look forward to seeing you there soon. Then we can
work together to take our worlds back together.
'A.'
Koichi reached inside the envelope, and what he found made his heart leap into
his throat. 
"Koichi... I think you may not be alone after all," Shinya says as they reach
Tomo's room down a long carpeted hallway. The pinkette sighed, looking at the
object in his hands wistfully. 
"Yeah... I guess not." 
Carefully, he tucked the all white feather back into it's spot, safe from
harm. 
 
TBC
***** Chapter 50 *****
Chapter Notes
     It's mostly focused on a few of the shifty characters this time, a
     sort of 'dark side' perspective if you will, so it's longer than
     normal. I hope you enjoy this!
     Also another warning for blood, mind breaking mentions, and overall
     creepiness
Normal POV
In the dark coldness of a carpeted room there was an eerie silence that
permeated the air. Picture frames of many memories lay broken on the floor, and
every window was covered with thick cloth. The only lights came from a single
dim candle and the eerie yellow glow of three different pairs of eyes along
with one bright red pair. The darkness was welcomed as none of them had any
troubles seeing in the dark.
One of them,blonde and tall, shifted uneasily and approached the red eyed
person sitting in a familiar but desecrated desk now stained with blood and
fresh teeth marks. A broken laptop sat somewhere nearby, smashed in response to
it's clear sentimental value. Sickening.
"Master... Everything is ready for the Claiming, but you're not well yet," he
says softly with fidgeting fingers. "Please take some more time to rest and get
used to your new form before we take any action." 
The red eyed creature just huffed in irritation and sipped leisurely at a glass
goblet filled with fresh blood, a scale covered boy's corpse lay at his feet
not yet cold. His long blonde hair was now to his shoulders and curled
elegantly, and he wore a simple outfit of black leather trousers and a white
old fashioned blouse. Blood ran down the sides of his mouth in a terrifying and
silent but loud display of power. One that, according to his subordinates,
would not, under any circumstances, be challenged. Not even Layha, especially
after having his emotional sensory powers being bound and leaving him to
flounder about cluelessly. 
His voice was deep, powerful, seducing . As one would expect of an otherworldly
being like him.  
"Please, the less time that is spent just lazing around waiting for my body to
adjust, the more time that we can put our plan into action," he says with an
echoing and stern tone directed at his subordinate. " Layha my love, I grow
weary of your concern. The less you worry about my body and more about my
wishes the better it will be for you and me. Stand down."
The blonde yellow eyed creature wished to retort with more concern, but the one
in front of him was no longer the Master he knew. That one was weak, still
incubating deep within it's previous host and able to be persuaded into other
plans of action. But this one no longer needed a host to survive, leeching off
of another vampire's life force. No. This one was far more powerful, something
ancient and unholy, something to be afraid of and reckoned with. So in
submission he cowered backwards to stand beside his red haired lover, their
matching eyes meeting in silence. The third pair of eyes stood by the doors as
a guard, his face stoic and covered in bluish protruding veins.
"Of course Master," he says softly. "Should I do anything else before we
start?" 
There came a thoughtful hum and a soft tapping of long black claws to his
goblet.
"Hmm... Yes you can in fact. I want to see your little pet before you turn him,
he's so cute and I want to feed from him one last time to ease his pain. Then I
will be ready."
Layha shivered in response and trembled with heat. His master knew how much it
turned him on when he fed from and debaushed his and Ryoga's pet. It was so
adorable and empowering watching his pet squirm and gasp under sharp teeth not
belonging to him and use his glazed over eyes to scan the area for his real
Masters, he knew who he belonged to after all. Even as he struggled though, the
pleasure of being fed from regardless of who it was made his head fuzzy but his
throat ached without his vocal cords after they were torn out so there was
little he could do. Besides, Layha had been planning on fully turning him later
today anyway. So why not?
He screamed a lot when they had to do it, and it was hard to watch him writhe
in pain as teeth tore open his throat. But it would be better to not hear him
protest and instead only moan and sigh as he was fed from. Breaking someone's
mind to train them for only a few things was not easy but it was all worth it
in the end.
"Of course," he answered with a low bow of his head before turning to his
lover. "I'll bring him in, please wait for me here." 
His red haired lover nods back, their lips meeting in a brief but meaningful
kiss. 
"Yes, I'll wait here."
Layha slipped out into a shadowed hallway and let's the door slip closed. Ryoga
looked nervous. This whole room reeked of his ex lover and with it came a pain
that he would rather forget. He stood there by the desk of his Master with
twiddling thumbs and a watering mouth at the scent and sight of red liquid on
his Master's lips. Dark condescending eyes met his own uneasy ones. Then there
is a blood stained smile showing off two sets of fangs. 
"Mm Ryoga ," comes a soft commanding voice. He froze under the scrutiny of such
deep eyes and he felt an uneasy twinge in his stomach. Being in his presence
still made him uneasy, but he figured he would be used to it in no time. 
"Y-yes Master?" he inquired meekly. There's a black clawed hand raising up and
motioning for him to come near. He does, slowly and calculating he steps ever
closer to the powerful being. 
"You do not need to be shy around me anymore love," comes a sweet purr and a
claw is being pressed to his throat. "I can hear your stomach rumbling and I
can see the lust in your eyes. You are hungry aren't you?" 
He was, but it wasn't like he was going to admit to that so rudely in front of
his Master. Even if his stomach ached for food Ryoga would stick it out. So he
swallowed down the burn before shaking his head, not breaking eye contact even
if it made him uncomfortable. 
"I will eat later," he tried to assure his master and smiled. "Please, you
should-" 
He's cut off suddenly as an even more enticing smell hits his nose, and he
realizes in shock that during their staring contest his Master had sneakily
sliced open one of his own wrists with his claws, the deep crimson spilling
onto pale skin. The deep primal urge to feed soon made his throat burn and an
involuntary whimper escapes his lips. 
" Ngh ... I..."
He couldn't speak he was so hungry. And clearly his Master was anticipating
this. Grinning he used the hand at his throat to ease him onto his knees in
front of him, like a beast on a chain being enticed with meat. 
"Really, do not force yourself to tough it out for me," comes a deep purr
barely heard over the ravenous thoughts buzzing in his brain. "You may have
some now, but quickly before your lover comes back. I know how jealous he gets
of you. Come now, don't be shy." 
Ryoga growled softly and took the wrist offered to him before lapping his
tongue over the crimson streams, gasping in pleasure before his fangs sink into
soft squishy flesh. A torrent of sighs and hums fall from his Master's mouth as
he fed, taking in mouthful of mouthful of blood. 
" Ngh yes," his Master moans. "That's it... take as much as you can. Ah..." 
Noises of pleasure made Ryoga bite harder, now completely lost in a feeding
haze. Meh, he would deal with it when Layha comes back. 
///////////////////////////////
Layhasteps slowly away from the room towards the one next to it, one he
familiarized himself with mainly because of it's smell rather than the
surroundings. There was a cacophony of smells in here, ranging from those he
knew to those he didn't care to know. Two in particular stuck out to him like
sore thumbs. One he knew fromRyoga'stelling. A subtle hint of metal and
cigarettes mixed with something... sweet. He wasn't sure. The other a mix of
burnedmarshmallows, some kind of perfumeand fresh linen. 
Tsuzuku and Koichi . Both of their scents mixed together in this room very
strongly, so he had to assume that they stayed in this room together at some
point. Ryoga didn't like being in here, and that was understandable. Now, his
vendetta against his ex was now bordering on... obsessive. Just a little bit
but it was becoming a bit worrying. He kept saying that he would try and forget
about the love he harbored for that guy but lately... 
The attempts at taking captives for their ransom have been unsuccessful to say
the least. That purple headed human was supposed to be their leverage. But the
three flegdlings in charge of his capture came back empty handed and very hurt.
Burns all over their bodies indicated that they were interrupted. 
And Ryoga was not happy at all. In fact, he had been so upset that they failed
that he actually slaughtered all three of them in his rage. Their Master did
not stop him from doing as he wished, which rose a few questions. 
But at any rate it was not his place to ask questions about what his master did
or didn't do. Even if it meant... feeling a little jealous of their
relationship. He was here to serve his Master. No matter what. Even if lately
his Master has been preferring Ryoga's company lately.
'Whatever. I'm  not gonna let it bother me.'
There was a bed in here, one that was similar to the one that his Master was
using in the other room. On it was a slumbering figure, not wearing clothes and
wearing a black suede collar studded with small red diamonds. Long and messy
hair framed a gaunt pale face sunken in from undernourishment. Layha approaches
the bed quietly, and puts a hand on a scar ridden cheek. There are healed and
fresh bite marks all over this skinny body, something Layha looked upon with
pride.
"Pet wake up," he murmurs. "Our Master wants to see you. Get up."
There's a shuffling and sleepy noises before his pet finally wakes up in a sort
of daze, his eyes fluttering tiredly.
" Ngh ?"
Layha just barely resists the urge to have a bite and pats him on the head with
affection.
"Come on pet, my Master would like to see you. Its time to put on your chain."
There's a spark of excitement at the idea then his dulled eyes are worriedly
looking at the table next to the bed where his chain and collar have been left.
He hated that thing, it made his throat hurt. But his master would probably be
upset if he didn't wear it so he had no choice.
Slowly he crawled onto his knees, still tired, and nuzzledLayha's leg, whining
in his throat.Layhasmiles at him and touched his scar ridden spine. Ever since
he became so obedient like this their mission has become so much easier.
Keeping him in a cage was no longer necessary as his mind devolved into wanting
only a few things at all. His masters, sex and feeding times. Food was the
least of his worries but still necessary.
The chain is fastened to his neck Layha caresses his face and pushed away his
bangs, feeling his heart swell with pride.
"You look so sweet and tasty, I'm sure he'll enjoy your taste a lot. Come with
me."
Layha leads him out of the room and into the hallway on his knees. Ice squirms
a little as the collar strains at his neck but doesn't wander far.
"You know now to behave like a good boy right?" Layha coos to him oh so softly
outside the door to his Master's new room. "We don't want a repeat of last time
now do we?"
An uncomfortable chill went down the boy's spine and he whimpered, shaking his
head in protest. His master smiles, happy. He didn't want that to happen
either, staring at the long jagged scar across Ice's throat with a mix of
disappointment and deeply rooted satisfaction. It wasn't like he wanted to.
But... that time Ice was screaming and misbehaving so very terribly so he had
to. It was the only way to assure his safety in the hands of powerful creatures
who could easily crush his skull between their teeth alone. 
That would be such a waste honestly. Of both a young beautiful face, lovely
body, and delicious blood all in one.
"I'm coming in," he announces as the door to the room creaked on its hinges.
"Here he is Master. Just as you wanted." 
The scene that greeted him was one that made him... admittedly a little
suspicious. The guard was nowhere to be found and Ryoga stood a little closer
than before, and his face was flushed and there was a speck of red on his
otherwise clean shirt. Master let him feed from him. Again. This wasn't the
first time and from what Layha could see it definitely was nothing new. Ryoga
obviously didn't trust him with this information, and neither did his Master.
Obviously, since they both went to such lengths to hide it. And that hurt.
Was this really how they were gonna be now? 
Layha feels his chest pang in his chest as he was unable to decipher the
emotions on Ryoga's face apart from the anxiety. And his Master seemed pleased
with himself in thinking Layha didn't catch them. But he knew. The very
sensually charged atmosphere gave it away even without the use of his powers. 
"Good," his Master nonchalantly chimed in. "Bring him here, I want a taste."
With a trembling hand the blonde leads his beloved Pet to his Master, making
the boy crawl into his lap. His mouth ached as his master settles his arms
comfortably around Ice, whom trembled under the other's cold creepy touch.
"Have you been a good boy?" he asks the trembling boy. Ice bites his lip but
nods, his eyes wide and glassy. "That's good. You look as tasty as you always
have." 
The blonde vampire swallowed down his heated stare and tried to will away his
sudden arousal at seeing pale lips starting to attach to Ice's neck, sucking
and kissing on his still sensitive scars to squeeze out soft sighs and gasps.
"Do you want some time to yourself, Master?" he ground out between his teeth.
"Ryoga and I can give you some privacy."
Ice protests with a whimper in his throat and squirms. But his Master either
ignored his discomfort or it bypasses him altogether because he nodded, idly
caressing the fair skin presented to him. Admiring his scars and the lovely
collar around Ice's neck he slips a tongue over his lips, hungrily soaking in
every plane of naked skin and the veins pulsing in his neck with fresh sweet
blood.
"Yes, I want to have a moment with him if you don't mind."
Ice's eyes slowly trail behind himself, whimpering as Layha stepped away from
him and tears threatening to spill from his eyes. Layha pets his head to assure
him, smiling as he leaned into his touch. 
"It's okay darling," he murmurs. "I will be nearby but you need some quality
time with my Master if you want to get along. Okay?"
It wasn't hard to understand Ice's discomfort, his Master was the one who gave
him a lot of the scars on his stomach after all. The rest were, thankfully, of
his own doing. 
Ice trembled and whined again but dipped his head down, his nonverbal way of
saying he understood. 
"Good boy," Ryoga purred to him and gives Ice a smooch to his cheeks before
stepping into the hallway. Layha sighed and mirrored the action, savoring the
feeling of cold but soft skin under his lips. 
"He'll treat you nice. We'll be out here guarding the door." 
"Good, I'll call on you if I need you. Now leave us."
As he steps away to the door he idly makes note of the sudden gasp coming from
Ice, but doesn't look away. Then as the door closes there is the soft and
unmistakable sound of teeth sinking into flesh and soft gasps of pain. But the
door is already closed so he can only hear the muffled noises of Ice's cries
through the door. But that wasn't why he was tense.
Then he takes a deep breath and composes himself as they stand near the
entryway. Ryoga cast a sideways glance at him and notices his anxiety. He
smiles and reached for him, lacing together their fingers and not noticing the
way Layha tenses up. 
"Don't worry he'll be okay," he assured his lover. "You know Master won't
willingly hurt him, he's too important to us."
Layha glowered at his own inability to mask his emotions and sighed heavily. 
"I know," is all he said. Ryoga frowned at his coldness. 
"Then something else is bothering you isn't there?" 
Oh he was playing the innocent card huh? No doubt his Master made him swear to
that secrecy. For some reason, that made him angrier than it should have
probably. Something inside him was so close to breaking under all the weight
and now it hurt to keep it in.
"Why yes there is," he answers and yanks his hand away with lightning speed and
pins Ryoga to the wall behind them, piercing him with his eyes and inhaling the
scent of his master all over his clothes, masked by Ryoga's cologne but only
barely. "I know. Don't think I don't, not even for a second." 
The red head splutters and tried to hide his surprise with worry, obviously
trying to play at indifference. 
"What's wrong with you?" he asked and tried to move away from the wall. "You're
starting to scare me."
Layha finally growls at him at grabs the collar of his shirt, yanking their
faces together in anger and feeling his own body buzz with adrenaline. But most
of all, he ached with pain.
"What's wrong with me?" He snaps into his face. "I can tell you were feeding
from him again. Seriously I can smell him all over you, Ryoga. His smell is
soaked so deeply into your skin that I can't even smell myself anymore. Or Ice,
or even yourself! You reek of himand only him. I can tell, you can't hide it
from me anymore."
Ryoga's face pales and he swallows. Obviously Layha knew now, what point would
there be in trying to deny it? 
"I... Layha, babe please I can explain-" 
"No," Layha snarls and jerked away from him, stomping away to the living room
only down the hallway and sucking in deep breaths to try to calm himself down.
"I just... I know you've been feeding from him secretly, I've known for a
while. And it hurts to know that you can't even trust me with this information.
Why are you hiding it? What makes you so special when he was myMaster first? I
just... I don't understand. Why." 
By now, tears of deep crimson began to drip from his eyes and he huffed, wiping
at them desperately. It hurts. It hurts so bad. Why couldn't anyone trust him? 
"Layha..." 
Ryoga's voice is barely above a cracked whisper, and he sounds just as
pained.But his wounds were still fresh, and a sweet voice wouldn't ease him out
of his pain that easily. He was still too angry and in pain.
"Why can't you trust me?" he says and drops onto the couch in despair, holding
his head as more crimson trickled between his fingers. "Why can't you? Why why
why?"
Soft deliberate footsteps come behind him, not wanting to startle him.
"I'm sorry. But you... probably wouldn't understand," comes the answer. "No one
can. No one but him."
A spike of pain pierces Layha through his chest and he bites his lips hard,
feeling the skin split open and a small stinging as blood pooled from his
mouth.
"is it because of him?" he asks bitterly and his thoughts stray to the images
of a certain tall dark haired daemon that this entire mission was so centered
upon. "Is it because of your connections to that guy that you've developed this
oh so special connection with the Master?" 
Ryoga sucks in a breath, and he can tell he hit the nail right on the head. 
"I loved him," Ryoga says softly. "And I hurthim. Then he hurt me in return,
and I probably would have left it at that. But Master made me see that it was
more than that. Master presented to me an opportunity that I would have never
had before. I found you. I found a meaning to my life that I never had before.
And Tsuzuku... he needs to be taught a lesson. I have memories of him that
Master needs. and he can only access them if I feel from him and he feeds from
me. It's the only way."
Layha snorts indignantly and wipes the tears from his eyes. No other way huh?
How cliché.
"Then why am I here?" he asked brokenly. "If he has what I don't then why keep
me around? Clearly you still love him, you're practically obsessedwith him and
getting him into Master's hands. Why?" 
He was ready to just block out any and all answers until he feels the couch dip
next to him and a pair of arms around his neck. While he would have liked to
shrug him off and go cool off somewhere else he was just too tired.
"You have what Master or Tsuzuku could never hope to give me," comes a soft
whisper. "And I can prove it." 
Layha frowned wearily and looks up at his lover, his eyes bleary. 
"And what's that?" he croaked. Ryoga smiled at him and unexpectedly leans
forward to trail his tongue over his cheeks, licking up the drops of red and
cleaning up his face before grabbing onto his hand and pressing them to his
chest. There he feels the steady breaths going through his lungs in place of
the usual heartbeat. 
"You made me," he answered. "I need you to breathe. Master may have accepted me
but it was only because of you. I owe my life to you, and more than that... I
love you. Tsuzuku is still priority but it's spite and only spite. I want him
to suffer, and I want his little half human to suffer too. We can do that
together."
Oh gods how Layha wanted to just push him away for being the way he was. But...
deep down he knew he no longer had the strength to push him away. He was right.
Layha still loved Ryoga with all his heart that just... he couldn't be angry at
him for too long. Even for something serious like this. 
"And you know," Ryoga continued and presses his face into the crook of Layha's
neck. "His blood isn't as tasty as yours, I was just hungry is all. And the
idea of sex with him kinda creeps me out." 
A laugh, weak but genuine, bubbled out of Layha's chest as Ryoga's tongue
slipped with that morsel of information. All the stress from before seemed to
melt off his shoulders and he slumped against his lover. 
"I'm glad you think so," he says and wraps an arm around Ryoga, tired from his
fit of rage and jealousy. "I'd have to kill you otherwise." 
"And I'd let you," Ryoga admits. "I'd bet my life on what I said to you. I
would."
Layha sighed and turned his neck to stare at his lover, still upset but only a
little. He trailed his hand up Ryoga's thigh to fondle him between his legs. He
would need a firm disciplining.
"I still have to punish you though," he growled lustfully. "So look forward to
that, babe." 
Ryoga shivered under his touch and moaned softly, squeezing his thighs together
as heat pooled in his stomach. 
"Ungh oh yes," he whined. "I want you to punish me. I deserve it." 
Oh God's Layha loved Ryoga's masochistic streak so much, it turned him on so
bad. He squeezed a bit harder, feeling Ryoga harden in his fingers.
"Hey, Master wants you back in the room to discuss the plan."
They both turned to the rooms and saw the guard standing there, his face stoic.
Layha and Ryoga both sigh in disappointment before getting up and walking to
the door hand in hand. For now Ryoga's punishment would have to wait until
later.
"Thank you," Layha said to the guard as they entered. "We'll take it from
here."
Their master sat at his desk as usual, with Ice settled in his lap and
breathing heavy. A splattering of his own semen was all over his stomach, the
Master's hand and the front of his shirt, staining the white fabric with dark
spots. But the old vampire seemed pleased and he sucked and laps up the blood
from the wound on Ice's neck as he curled his fingers gently around Ice's ass,
grasping and spreading him wide.
Layha and Ryoga both collectively felt their bodies flush at the sight, and
immediately knew exactly what had gone down in here. 
"So nice of you to join us," he said and eyed his subordinates with dark lust.
"I've had my fill and he behaved very well. But it's time to take this to the
next step and make him one of us. Come." 
The two lovers dragged their feet forward and approached their pet from behind,
pressing their bodies up against Ice's back and using their hands and mouths to
explore all over the scarred skin. Ice mewled under the touch of six different
hands, pleasure once again crawling through his thighs and his breathing
quickened. 
"Hnnn... Ah... ah?" 
The human stiffens as Layha dug his claws into his pet's hips, causing him to
simper in pain.
"Sorry for this baby," Layha murmured against his ear as he pressed kisses
there to assure him. 
"But we need you to be on your best behavior for what we're going to do now,"
Ryoga continued. "So please don't make a fuss."
Ice couldn't decipher those words quick enough before a sudden pair of teeth
are sinking into his neck. Intense pain began to shoot through his veins, but
it was different from what feeding felt like. Dull and throbbing, making his
body feel lethargic.
"Hngg! Ungh... Ahnn..!"
Then a second pair sunk into his spine, right under his neck. His body locks up
and the pain paralyzes his limbs as Layha pressed him into his Master tightly.
Faintly he can feel a cold hand once more stroking his already hardening length
but the pleasure was being drowned out as acid was starting to pump deep into
his veins. His voice was lost under the pain and his body slowed down. His
chest began to burn and his lungs strained to gulp in oxygen. 
'What's.... happening? Why is Master hurting me? Please stop it..!'
Then there is a voice at his stomach, one that sent chills up his spine. 
"There's a good lovely pet," the Master purred and stroked him more. "Don't
worry, it shall all be over soon. You're excused for now, cat. Tell me more
when you come back." 
As he bit down and made Ice whimper more in pain and pleasure, the guard bowed
his head and began to excuse himself and ducked out of the room. 
"I'll be back soon, Master, and with more information on the enemy." 
Then he walked away and to the steps, pulling his tightly braided hair out of a
ponytail into curls around his face and pressing down his cute lolita styled
pink dress to appear presentable. 
Then just as he reaches the door two cute little cat ears pop out of his mop of
pink hair, twitching as they picked up on a long drawn out scream of pain from
the other room. Silently he smirked and walked out, the veins finally sinking
into his skin, hidden from sight.
Once on the streets of the city hsi stomach growls.
"I need to eat something. I'm starving."  Perhaps that cute boyfriend of his
would do. He pulls out a cell phone and dials a number, letting his sickly
sweet voice take over. On the third ring an excited voice picks up. "Hey love.
Are you free tonight?" 
A pause as he listens. 
"Good! Cause I'm in the mood for something tasty. How about dinner?" 
In response to an enthusiastic reply he grins, running his tongue over his
sharp canines.
"Awesome, I'll be there in a few. I'll see you there, Chizuru."
TBC
***** Chapter 51 *****
Tsuzuku POV
The letter was hidden by Shinya in his new room, and made sure that no one
would know where it was. Just in case evidence of Takashi's existence might be
incriminating to them in some way. 
There was an eruption of noise in the estate not too long after Shinya brought
the letter inside. Everyone was excited once news got around, and it was soon
common knowledge that my friends had survived. 
To say I was relieved would have been an understatement. Takashi was young but
he was one of the first real friends I made out here in this world. He and I
went back a few years and I valued his presence when we were working together. 
Hearing about the attack made me nervous and agitated. But the mysterious
letter eased that a little bit so whoever sent it, I had to be grateful to
them. This meant he was coming home and would be reunited to Tomo, but what was
most important was his obvious ties to Koichi. 
Both of them. White Phoenixes. What was once an extinct species has now been
increased to two. It was amazing, and knowing that Koichi was not alone has
made me feel so good. And he no longer had to feel bad about being the only
one. 
Though... I have to admit, having two White phoenixes will more than likely
worry Shinya a little bit. Not because he thinks they are dangerous, but
because he is worried for their safety. Vampires hated the white Phoenixes a
long time ago, and having two of them here would be like putting a target on
our backs. It was a good thing Tomo and Shinya thought to vamp proof the place,
Aryu being the sole exception of course. 
I was happy to know he was coming back. It meant less time worrying about him
and more time with Koichi. We haven't spent time together in so long that was
just for us and only us and I get the vibe that he was starved for affection.
He would stare at me often when we were training together, and I felt guilty
about not giving him any of my attention.
Maybe I should do something about that.
We had a mole sniffing around the city, and if his sources were reliable then
the vamps would make their move (whatever that move was we still have no idea)
in less than the allotted time given to us by Aryu.
I want to make that time for us. His abilities were well developed by now that
I didn't have to worry about refining them. I just want him back, the lovable
Koichi he used to be when he got here. This whole situation has put such a
damper on the both of us, like the color was just sapped out of his spirit. 
Maybe having a nice day with just us would be what he needs. But first I wanted
to see Takashi back safely.
Right now me and him waited with Shinya, Wrath, and Tomo in the dining room in
the lower left wing of the estate. We've been here for a little while now,
waiting patiently for Takashi to come back. 
"Koichi," I hummed quietly to him and looks at me slowly, a dull sparkle in his
eyes. 
"Hm?" he responded back tiredly. 
"Um... I want to speak to you for a second," I say softly and jot my head in
the direction of the pantry door which was also the way to the basement. "May I
have a moment?" 
Koichi rubs her eyes and smiled at me, nodding his soft pink tresses. 
"Oh, yes of course. But what about..." 
He pauses and looks at the very anxious Tomo pacing about near the nearby
bricked fireplace. Poor thing has been like that for ten minutes now. Maybe he
needs to see Takashi before me as they have a much deeper bond. I shake my
head. 
"There isn't much I can do about that right now," I admit and touch Koichi's
hand. "The best thing we can do now is just wait. I just really need to talk to
you."
Finally he lets up on his worry and stands with me before we go towards the
pantry, but not before Shinya stops us.
"Where are you guys going?" he inquired with an upturned eyebrow. "Aren't you
looking forward to Takashi coming back?"
He asks this and I can see that Tomo has paused his pacing to look at us
intently. 
"Don't worry," I assured them. "I just need to talk to Koichi for a little
while. Just yell for us when he gets here."
Tomo let his murky eyes drop back to the floor and continues to pace but now
with less aggravation.
"Of course," Wrath says with a dip of his head. "We'll call for you."
"Thanks," I say back with a smile and we hurry into the pantry, closing the
door with a soft click.
This was a somewhat medium sized room with many shelves and cupboards stuffed
with food and a couple chairs for some reason. As well as that there was also a
door set into a stone with a flickering light bulb hanging above it on a chain
switch. That was the basement, and also the place Aryu preferred to have his
room at since there were no windows for the pesky sun to come into. It was like
a labyrinth down there though, so I haven't gone down there much.
Once I sit in one and he stands against the wall nearby he turns to me,
expectant. 
"What did you want to talk about?" 
His voice lilts ever so slightly and I can tell that he is tired. Restless
nights full of nightmares have prevented either of us from sleeping good these
past few days. 
I press a palm to my eyes, rubbing them to try and keep the flickering light
from giving me an early headache. 
"I miss you," I begin in a quiet voice. A startled breath escapes his chest and
I look up, seeing him staring at me again.
"Tsu?" he wisps just barely above a whisper, his calmed facade steadily
cracking with each passing second. I keep going, unable to keep in how awful I
feel for doing this to him now of all times. 
"It's just... I miss being able to spend time with you when we aren't cowering
in a closed off room afraid for our lives or when I am not training you how to
mercilessly kill vampires. It's just... been so hard lately. You're not
sleeping, you're hardly eating. And I... I don't know how much longer I can
take of this. I need you back Koichi. I need the Koichi from before all of this
mess started, the one who smiled regardless of his situation. Who could walk
freely with his head high and not lowered in fear. I miss you, I miss you so
somuch."
My chest hurt so badly. He was right there, yet at the same time so far away.
It was like the vampires had sucked out what light he had inside himself that
wasn't already broken from when he was suffering as a human. What few pieces he
had left and starting to rebuild were taken and I want them back. 
But right now I can't even look up, I felt so awful. Koichi is breathing
heavier now, and I can tell he feels exactly the same. 
"I... Tsuzuku I'm sorry," he finally squeaked brokenly, his voice catching very
audibly. "It's... It's not like I want to be this way. I'm just so terrified,
terrified that they will take you from me, and I'll be alone again. And knowing
that they might possibly do that just is... so scary. Every night I stay up til
ungodly hours just to make sure you're safe and no vampire is snatching you
away. That constant fear is keeping me from... anything. I'm sorry." 
I sniffle and try to hold in tears, looking up at him and taking in his face's
numb expression. Gods he was still so beautiful. His full plump lips always
looked so wonderful even if they were chapped. His eyes, still so vibrantly
colored even with the lost spark. Still, so so vibrant and beautiful...
"Don't be sorry baby," I say to him and extend my arm, desperate to feel him in
my arms. "Don't ever be sorry for something you can't help."
He immediately complies to me and sits himself into my lap, curling his arms
tight around me and I do the same. Warm... so so warm. This. This was another
thing that I missed so much. Just holding onto him like this. When was the last
time..?
"I just can't help it," he whines and pressed his body flushed with mine. But
this was more for security than anything. "That's the human side of me talking,
and lately I have trouble controlling how weak I feel. Sometimes... I start to
panic so bad that I feel like a child again. And I missed you so much too."
He trembled like a leaf and it took all I had not to burst into tears. So
fragile, he was like a tiny deer barely learning how to walk. And it pained me
to see him in such a state.
"It's okay," I murmured to him and trailed my fingers through his hair, which
was losing some of its pinkness now that I look closer. "I"m here I'm here.
Nothing is gonna happen to us. Not to you, or me. Or anyone else. I will keep
you safe. And in return..."
My face finds his neck and I bury it there, feeling the strong hot pulse of
blood under his skin as a sign of assurance. That he was here with me now, and
he was okay despite the fear we both felt. 
"And in return, I'll try my best to keep you safe as well," he breathed out and
sighed heavily. By now, I could feel warm wet tears dropping down my back. "I
will, I'll prove to you that I can. I will."
And I didn't doubt that for even a second. He's become so strong thanks to our
training, and now I feel like with the proper hands on experience he could do
anything. 
"As long as you aren't reckless," I mumble into his skin, practically
worshiping the sound of his steady heartbeat. "I do not want to know what I
would do if you were hurt. The entire vampire population would be leveled in a
single night."
His body vibrates as a rare laugh rumbles from his chest, a sound that was in
low supply these days. Hearing it again made my heart soar with delight. Maybe
he wasn't too entirely gone, he was still here in my arms. Just... not all the
way. 
"I could say the exact same to you. Don't go being the hero even though you're
older. We're in this together. Remember that, and nothing will get in your
way."
Slowly I nod and sigh, breathing steadily to keep my head clear of unwanted
thoughts. 
"Not even my sadistic ass hole of an ex.." 
He laughs again but I can tell this one felt a little more real.
"Yeah, especially him," he agrees and his arms tighten. "Fuck him."
I can't help but laugh too, and it feels good. 
"We'll be okay," I whisper to him once the dryness leaves my tongue. "Soon we
can put this whole thing behind us. The vampires will leave us alone, and we
can go home. And all the sooner I can hold you in my arms for as long as I
want. Days even. If possible."
Koichi's arms slide into my hair and pulls back from me only to lower his face
to mine and bump our noses together, a gesture so simple but one I knew meant
the world to him. He used it as a security blanket for himself, one of many now
that I think about it.
He came up with it a few weeks ago actually, a sign that he loved so earnestly
and honestly without the use of over complicated or too sexual signals. Sweet,
innocent, but powerful. It had its effect on me too, I was hooked from the
beginning. I liked it a lot, just goes to show that you don't need to make out
and have sex constantly to show how much you love someone. Though those are
pretty nice things to have.
"Of course," he cooed softly into the small space between our lips. "Ifpossible
doesn't even begin to describe it. We can go hours, days, without leaving home.
It will be perfect. Just us, no one else." 
Oh man that did sound so very amazing right now. It didn't even have to be
about the sex at that point. Just us alone, doing nothing but hardcore
cuddling... I have a total cuddle boner right now, not gonna lie. 
It was now very close to his lips, and the puffs of breath condensing between
us made the once chilly room feel warm. I couldn't help it, I wanted to kiss
him so badly right then and there. So I do.
"Sounds like heaven," I purr and press my lips to his, feeling him melt against
me pretty quickly. A soft aroused noise I couldn't quite pinpont practically
leaks from his lips and the heat becomes near unbearable. I gasp and snake my
fingers deeper into his hair and deepen our kiss, feeling him wriggle as I
dominated his mouth with my tongue. 
Koichi seems to understand that privacy was limited because he breaks the kiss
only to push the other chair up against the door handle to prevent anyone else
from coming in before we go back to kissing. 
Gently his fingers pull on my hair but that only makes me hotter, a groan
spilling from my throat and into his mouth. Perhaps the pantry wasn't the best
place for this... Oh who cares. It's been so long that I was able to enjoy the
kisses we shared. My hands leave his hair and go to his waist, where I caress
his hips and goad more beautiful sounds from him.
I want to keep going but a sudden knock on the door interrupts us and I feel
disappointed. Shinya's voice is just outside, soft but hurried.
"Tsuzuku. It's time."
Koichi milks our kisses just a bit longer before pulling away, his cheeks
flushed and his lips moist. 
"We just had to pick this place didn't we?" he laughs breathlessly with a dimly
lit fire in his previously dulled eyes. I smirked and pressed once more gentle
kiss to his lips before he crawls off my lap and tries to fix his hair. Even
though he didn't really need to.  
"Yeah well, I like dark quiet spaces. This place isn't half bad." 
He hides his laugh behind his hand and moved the chair away sheepishly. 
"No, we're not coming back here again to make out. Our room is just fine, and I
don't want Aryu or anyone else to catch us in here. That's embarrassing just
thinking about it." 
Well of course I didn't either... Letting him just be in the same room creeped
me out even if we were sort of friends now. 
"I know I know. It's just got a nice atmosphere in here is all." 
Koichi opens the door and right away we start hearing clamoring noises coming
from the foyer to the left of us through a set of double doors. He looks at me
with  a confused look before we go see what all the noise was about. Maybe
Takashi was here? 
"Tomo!" 
A high voice squealed out loudly and I knew right away that it was indeed him.
There were three people by the main doors and I spotted Tomo as one of them
right away. And the look on his face gave away every emotion he must have been
feeling because it was hard not to look away. Elation. Relief. Happiness.The
sheer emotion coming off him could probably be felt a mile away.
There was a blonde curly haired male standing there, squished tightly into his
arms. Was that Takashi? And the third person... A woman? 
"Hang on," I say to Koichi as he starts walking towards them. 
"What?" he questions. "Don't you want to go meet him?" 
I nod and take my eyes away from the scene for a second. 
"I do but perhaps not now," I answered and take his hand. "Right now, they need
some time to themselves. It's best if we let them have their space. Besides,
you and I aren't done talking." 
Koichi seemed to understand what I was trying to say. These two lovers needed
time. Takashi was almost killed, of course he needs comfort from the person he
loves the most. And I was willing to give that to them. 
"Then... what should we do?"
The only thing we could do right now. 
"Go back to our room I guess," I say and lead him around the couple and their
one person audience. "We'll talk to them later. Come on." 
As we headed up the steps on the left hand side of the foyer I looked back at
the third person and feel a hot flash at the back of my neck.
"Takashi! I'm so glad you're safe..! I was worried sick! I'm so sorry! I'm so
so sorry I shouldn't have left you I was so stupid. You almost got killed and
it was all my fault."
The woman was watching us with a sly but friendly smile on her lips. As we
left, she winked at me and put a finger to her lips. Who on Earth?
"No... It's not your fault," Takashi assured him and his voice grew harder to
hear the higher we went. "There was no way you could have fought them on your
own... I'm just so glad you're okay." 
They hugged tightly and as I watched them disappear behind the wall of the
second floor a thought occured to me suddenly. That woman... She couldn't be
could she?
"Tsuzuku?" 
Koichi pulled me from my musings and I snap out of it. Smiling I shake my head
and put an arm around his shoulders, not wanting to worry him.
"It's nothing. Just thinking is all. We need to talk about what to do for your
birthday." 
He beamed at me, suddenly excited. 
"Okay then let's do that." 
Still. Even now as we walked I couldn't help but to think back to what I had
suspected before. That woman... was Amaterasu. I'm very sure of that.
TBC
***** Chapter 52 *****
It was the day after Takashi came back that Tsuzuku and Koichi had learned what
was in store for them should they fail.
Koichi's birthday was tomorrow, but more than likely they wouldn't have time to
do anything about that. If what Aryu had told them held any water of course.
The vampires would make their move any moment, any day. Now that Aryu had most
of his memories back he could finally say with confidence that he knew most of
the plan.
First the Old vampire was planning on completely taking over the city that was
under Shinya's control. Check.
Then, build a powerful regime of control over the city that consisted of fear
and submission. Well, not quite check according to Shinya's steady stream of
info. Still, the other points were worse if he ever gets that far. After that
it would be to develop a system of control over the half humans and turn them
into vampires before their half creature genes could take over. Any human souls
that would arrive would immediately be turned as well. The city would then be
overrun with vampires both full and half. 
Then eventually the other six would be next. Humility, Abstinence, Kindness,
Liberality, Diligence, and Chastity. Just the thought alone was terrifying.
Control the cities, control the people, and ultimately control the whole
magical world, to put it basically. 
All the species that would resist the rule would either be banished to the
dangerous outlands or the human world. Or worse, they would be forcefully taken
into slavery or killed, death clearly being the better option here. Who would
want to be a blood slave after all? Tsuzuku sure didn't. Which also meant that
they had to intercede in this plan before it could reach it's final steps,
telling them that a return back home was inevitable. Fighting the vampires
would not be easy, but these sorts of things never were.
After that, Aryu had trouble remembering the details. But if one was smart
enough they could possibly piece together what might happen in theory. 
Tsuzuku himself had one very terrifying theory. Once they had control, he
predicted that the Old vampire, still bent on having him, would send his most
loyal underlings after him and try to take him away to be... a sick plaything
or whatever he was looked at as. A prize, a piece of meat meant for his sick
satisfaction. And unfortunately, from what Aryu said before as well, he was
planning on taking Koichi captive too. Keep them as his bed warmers pretty
much. And it was sick.
That alone was enough to send Tsuzuku into a rage and he was angry for hours
after that. He could not let that happen at all, no matter what. Making sure
Koichi was safe was his utmost priority right now, and as skewed and biased as
it was it was his main way of staying sane. If Tsuzuku couldn't keep him safe
then there was no reason to fight. 
Koichi was worried about him though. By no means was he in any condition to
actually fight alongside his lover in a real life or death situation. Defend
himself maybe, but to inflict actual death? Well, maybe in a clumsy and lucky
way. But not swiftly and precisely as he was sure his lover could do no
problem. He would be a liability, of that he knew very well.
Plus, even though he said many times before that Tsuzuku was not qualified to
teach he let him do it anyway. As there was little Meto could teach him without
getting a little too close into his personal bubble. Thus making him
uncomfortable and eventually going back to his lover to continue the training. 
Now he knew the basics of his abilities so far. How to control his temper and
use it to his advantage, using his anger to create a wide and powerful ring of
fire that came from seemingly nowhere. Being calm or being furious would
determine the stability and power of the ring. If calmly enough, he could make
a ring last for up to a minute and in a perfectly round ring. 
If angry to the point of seeing red or scared to the point of hysterics it
lasted but seconds, however it was far more destructive and was like a
shockwave instead of a ring, blasting outwards like a massive tidal wave of
energy. This was his most powerful ability so far, however considering the toll
it took on him afterwards he rarely ever wanted to use it. And the few times he
did were all, luckily, on the stone patio outside the doors to the library.
(And seeing as how it was now winter, the chances of wild fires were very
slim.)
The wings on his back were by now, fully grown and with some effort he could
actually pull them into his body to hide them and appear human. It hurt like a
bitch, but it was satisfying feeling them contort and push into his spine and
make the tattoo's on his back disappear so he could look normal. Just like his
lover did. And for now that would be enough. 
Koichi was in the library all day, looking up books on their species as best he
could. There were plenty on Daemons, but since white Phoenixes were supposed to
be extinct there was nothing of any value. There were some on his cousins,
which for now would have to be enough. 
He stuffed a random book into a zebra striped backpack on his back and left for
the main estate foyer where he knew his lover was waiting for him. The plan was
to have a date into the city disguised as a recon mission to search for clues
on the vampires currently in the area. They would look like any normal couple
on the outside, but they weren't of course. 
There was just one thing he was nervous about. 
What if he was recognized? After he died, his face was in obituaries and on
news channels all over the city. So he wouldn't be surprised if anyone did.
That would impede their progress and force them to keep to the shadows. And
that was... Not good for either of them. Maybe after all this time, people
forgot about him. Hopefully. 
Maybe Shinya could help with that.
The foyer was dark, as it was still early in the morning. Tsuzuku waited for
him as usual. Though now one could say that he was- looked different. Koichi
knew it was inevitable at this point in time. It still made him sad.
His lover had no choice but to chop all his lovely hair off and make it
shorter, but he was still as gorgeous as ever. It was once more a bright
bleached blonde, like when they first met. Seeing that shade again brought him
so many emotions he want sure what to do with himself.
As much as he knew he would miss that adorable mop of long black hair that he
loved so much he knew that had no choice really. And the nostalgically speaking
it was nice to see him blonde again.
Koichi slowly sauntered up to his lover, still unable to take his eyes off him
even for a second. Tsuzuku wore plain but classy dress pants and a button up
black jacket with the sleeves rolled up and a red undershirt. So even for a
date slash mission he was looking very classy. And he was showing off a new
shiny nose ring that seemed to make his dark lined eyes pop.
Like a famous person mingling with mere peasants. That's just the kind of aura
he gave off.
Their eyes meet and he blushed deeply at seeing the happy light sparking in
Tsuzuku's eyes and the intense smile on his face. It was probably due a little
bit to what he was wearing...
"There you are," his lover called to him and he froze a little but relaxed a
second after. "You look nice today love, as always."
As Tsuzuku's takes his hand Koichi flushed again and looks down at himself and
his outfit. Aryu helped him pick it out, bless his undead heart. And his
excitement was over the top, so of course Koichi couldn't deny his help if he
so insisted.
"I told Aryu that I wanted to be subtle to blend in but he insisted on it since
its my birthday tomorrow..."
He was up for most of the morning with that vampire getting his hair fixed and
makeup done. Something he hadn't done in a long time.
He wore a white corset that has black lace tying it up and exposed his belly to
the outside world, along with his shoulders and hip lines, of which disappeared
into a pair of skin tight leather pants that had slits and cuts in them to show
off his milky white skin. Those were tucked into some calf high suede boots
with buckles and spikes all over them, adding an inch to his already ridiculous
height.  
At least he got to wear this pretty lacy over shirt he left unbuttoned around
his shoulders to hide the tattoo's burned into his skin and the fleshy scars
where his wings usually sprouted from. That would be bad.
"Well I would say he chose a good look for you," Tsuzuku literally purrs into
his ear and pulls him close. "Though I do think the pants are a little
revealing. If anyone even thinks about looking at you I won't like that too
much."
Well seeing as how Tsuzuku absolutely adored his legs that was understandable.
But being peeked at by strangers was not on his agenda of things for the day so
he didn't have to worry. Besides, it was either these or a pair of leather
shorts, and there was no way he was wearing something like that in public.
"Of course," he sighs and presses the corset down further, his cheeks red.
"Though I can say the same for you, Mr modesty."
Tsuzuku laughs nervously, and- good lord- runs his fingers through his hair.
Who even does that anymore? Koichi felt his heart give a small stutter he and
hid his face in the palm of his hand.
"Um... I'm so glad you think so," Tsuzuku murmurs. "Meto helped me pick it out
too. You really like how I look even if it's for a mission?" 
Of course he did. Tsuzuku looked positively gorgeous no matter what he looked
like. Even during the mornings when his hair was messy or his eyes were
blinking out of their sleepiness, even if he had a tiny bit of saliva from deep
sleep lingering on the ridges of his mouth. No matter the case he still looked
amazing. Koichi used his hands to first pull the top tighter around himself
before gently reaching up to run his own fingers through the fringe in front of
Tsuzuku's eyes. Gods those eyes, they were absolutely stunning. Koichi could
look into them all day.
"You look so amazing Tsu," he peeps softly as they stand inconspicuously in the
foyer. "Mission or not though, I like your style no matter what."
Tsuzuku must have liked that very much because the next thing Koichi knew there
are soft lips pressing to his briefly, but it is enough to make his body feel
like he was high on some kind of illegal drug.
Their lips finally leave one another and he bites on his bottom one, unable to
suppress his inner glee from kissing his lover. God he felt like it was the
beginning of this relationship again. The blushing bride and insecurities type.
"We... should probably get going," he peeped and curls his fingers against the
front of his shirt. Tsuzuku nodded, knowing that getting carried away in the
foyer where anyone could walk in on them would not be the best of
circumstances. As tempting as it may seem.
"Okay. Yoka lent us the keys to his car, we can use that. And for now, just
keep your head low and no one will recognize you okay?" 
They begin to walk away to leave until a voice, loud and chipper, stops them
from the doors to the kitchen. 
"Hang on! Don't leave just yet!" 
Koichi turns and sees Aryu running towards them, an excited glint in his
otherwise dull eyes. He had his long pretty blonde hair framing his face in a
curtain and a dark sweatshirt around his body. 
"Aryu? What is it?" Tsuzuku questions the vampire, who stops at them just a few
feet away bouncing on his heels. 
"I have something for you Koichi, something special! I think you'll thank me
for this." 
Aryu smiles wide and reached into his sweatshirt pocket before pulling out a
necklace, a small opal and silver model of the planet Saturn on a shiny gold
chain. He hands it over, his fingers practically pushing the charm into
Koichi's palm. 
"What's this for?" Koichi asks in confusion. Aryu folds his hands behind
himself, a million secrets on his lips. 
"Well, I figured that even after all this time, people remember your face and
name from when you were human. So... I've been training with Meto to create a
spell just for this occasion. That charm will wipe every human in a mile radius
of their memory of you ever existing so you can interact with them as you
normally would. Wouldn't want your birthday to be ruined by being mistaken as a
ghost come back from the dead now would we?" 
As he says this he's rocking on his heels, obviously very proud of himself. He
came such a long way honestly. As for Koichi, he felt... so thankful to have
him around. He would have never thought about that himself to be quite honest.
Koichi felt an emotion he couldn't fathom bubbling in his chest. This solved so
many problems!
"Wow... I... I don't know what to say," he stuttered and clutched the pendant
close. "Um... Thank you. So so much."
Aryu grinned, his toothy grin now doing less to intimidate him.
"Hey. What are friends for right?" he says and looks to Tsuzuku, smiling. "Now
you lovebirds better hurry along. Don't wanna be late for your date."
Koichi nodded, and made the split second decision to pull Aryu into a tight
squeezing hug.
"Thank you."
The vampire sucks in a sudden breath, unused to feeling such intimate contact
with anyone other than... Him. But no. That was then, this was now. No time for
lingering in the past.
"Yeah... Um... You're welcome."
Koichi pulls back and smiles widely, almost apologetically.
"We're going now. See you later then."
As he and Tsuzuku walk away he remembers one last thing.
"I'll let you guys know if I remember anything else!" he shouted out and ran
off up the stairs. "Be careful!"
Tsuzuku tsked, but lets a smile appear on his lips regardless.
"He's adorable. I'm glad we decided to trust him. No doubt he will be crucial
to us down the road."
Koichi nodded and takes his hand as they once again head out of the estate.
Outside was the car Yoka let them borrow, a beautiful but old school impala
that had probably seen it's fair share of messes. 
"Yeah I don't doubt that," Koichi says and climbs into the passengers side,
waiting for his lover to do the same. "He just needs time, that's all." 
Aryu had been through unimaginable things for most of his existence, of course
he needed as much time as he could get. Koichi was just glad he survived the
ordeal of being rejected as a host. 
Tsuzuku closed his door and starts the car, smiling the whole time. 
"Well, first things first," he says and starts to pull the car out of the
driveway to the long gravel driveway that would lead them to the highway. "What
do you want to do first?" 
Koichi stares at the pendant still in his fingers before slipping it over his
head, feeling an immense wave of security wash over him. This thing really was
enchanted. 
"I dunno... You told me that there was someone you knew wandering the streets
who knew stuff right? How about we meet up with him? Maybe he knows something
else." 
Huh. Tsuzuku hadn't thought of that. Maybe they should get the most important
thing out of the way first. 
"All right. His name is Sena, and I know where he patrols, so meeting up with
him should not be too hard. But after that, what I had in mind for us
hopefully, maybe... dinner somewhere? Then after that some shopping or
something... Fun?" 
His voice cracks and trails off, as though he were nervous. Aww, was he getting
butterflies? Koichi giggles and stares out at the scenery passing them by,
feeling his chest flutter excitedly. Today was gonna be a good day, vampires be
damned. Even though it was subtle, he knew very well what his lover was
suggesting and now he was excited.
"Sure. I would love that Tsu," he answers. "But nowhere too expensive okay?" 
Not realizing he was holding in his breath Tsuzuku let's out a deep relieved
sigh.
"Oh come on love, you wound me. As your lover I am allowed to spoil you once in
a while," he laughs and used his free right hand to take Koichi's in his own.
"Especially considering your birthday is tomorrow, I would expect nothing less
if it were me. Besides, it's not like I can't afford it."
Koichi wants to argue against it, but Tsuzuku seems so eager to prove that to
him. So why not? This could be their last chance after all. He probably needed
this as a way of mentally preparing himself for what was to come. 
"I get it I get it," he chirped but didn't take his hand away. "Fine then, if
you so badly want to spoil me then by all means go for it. Don't say I didn't
warn you though, I can be kind of demanding."
He left that last part as a suggestive undertone, blushing madly. Tsuzuku
grins, catching on instantly.
"So? Hotel or back here tonight?" he asks. "The estate is nice, but its been so
long since I've been in a hotel."
After a whole mile and a half of gravel road he finally pulls on to the highway
and they make their way to the city, the sun glaring at them even off of
faraway sky scrapers. 
Koichi knew that Tsuzuku was planning on pulling out all the stops for him, and
he loved that.
"Your idea sounds nicer. I love hotels, especially ones where we can't be
bothered."
Their fingers automatically curl together and Tsuzuku is grinning in
satisfaction.
"Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. Just count on me today, okay?" 
Not using a verbal answer Koichi squeezes his hand in response, another silent
gesture. And that was all Tsuzuku needed really. 
He just hoped the day went smoothly and nothing interrupted them later on.
***** Chapter 54 *****
Why was this happening to them? What had Minpha done to deserve this? As far as
Koichi knew, the cat demon was the sweetest most adorable thing ever, but now
that image was ruined... 
Tsuzuku looks at him to see the distress written across his normally happy
features and he sighs heavily with guilt.
"I'm sorry."
Having taken off the corset and dressed only in a pair of lacy pink underwear
the pinkette remained under the silky red duvet, trembling with anxiety and
despair. At the same time Tsuzuku took another call a few seconds later, but it
only lasted just as long as the last.
"What... happened?" he managed to croak out once Tsuzuku broke off the phone
call. "Who... who hurt him? Who killed him?"
The look on Tsuzuku's face was... one of rage. But something about it felt very
misplaced. 
"I... I don't know how to tell you this baby," he sighs and sits on the edge of
the hotel bed, now dressed in his pants from before. "That was Shinya... He
said he is coming over here with some very bad news, so we should get
dressed... But he did tell me... a few things about what was happening. And it
isn't gonna be pretty."
That alone was enough to make Koichi feel even worse. Oh his poor friend...
What happened?
"Please... I need to know," was all he asks. Tsuzuku sighs and decided that
sugar coating would probably be more harmful than helpful. Best to just... tell
him right?
"Look," he says and brings Koichi close to him so they could embrace, a hand
going around his waist and the other finding his fingers. "Just... don't blame
him okay? What I am about to tell you, don't let it skew your thoughts of your
friend, as I know how much he meant to you. When he was... spotted back home
last night, he was going to his boyfriend's house... He was infected with
whatever Sena was talking about, and it made him attempt to kill the
boyfriend." Minpha was... infected? But... what did that mean? "The vampire
that killed him is actually on our side, as part a sub unit of spies snooping
for info at the behest of Shinya. They had no other choice, he was selling
information on us to the... the other vampires. His boyfriend was rescued, but
that was all he managed to tell me, I am sure he will have more information
later." 
"So... he was the traitor that we were warned about..?" Koichi choked, feeling
his chest tighten with disbelief. "But... why? Why would he do this to us?"
Tsuzuku holds him closer, reveling in his body heat for comfort. 
"Well... When the vampires attacked him, he threw up a black snake like
creature before dying, so we can only imagine he was cursed or something. They
managed to kill it thankfully, so it can't infect anyone else. Whatever else
there was, Shinya will explain it when he gets here. I'm sorry, I know how much
you cared about him. But he was too far gone."
How was he supposed to be... How was he supposed to react to all of this?
Slowly he pulled his sore body out of the sheets, his attitude now at it's very
lowest. Tsuzuku held his hand out for support, and Koichi takes it to stand up
on shaky legs. But he can't resist hugging his lover tight, still emotionally
distressed. 
Just thinking about it made him want to scream and protest vehemently, but his
current state would not allow it. All he could do now was think back on how
long he and Minpha had been friends and wonder from there where it all went
wrong. Sure they lost contact after they came back here but... who kows what
sort of things he was capable of since he was infected? 
And being a non vampire, he could easily go back and forth between this world
and the other. Information was just a hop skip and a portal away. Koichi just
had to thank the lucky stars that vampire wards could not be destroyed except
by the person that created them.  
"All this time, Minpha was that close to us and he-"
-KSCHHHHHH-
A sudden electricity blackout makes his words catch in his throat, and spikes
of fear go up his spine. The darkness was coupled with an intense chill
settling in the room. 
"Koichi don't move," Tsuzuku hissed at him. 'Stay close to me."
Oh he wasn't moving, his legs were literally rooted to the ground right now.
His toes started to idly curl into the soft fabric of the underfoot carpet and
he shivered. Having some clothes on right now would be really nice.
"What do we do?" he whispered softly. "Stay or go?" 
The dark room was soon coming into focus as his night vision kicked in, and
Tsuzuku looked just as nervous. This darkness was unsettling even for him. His
lover looks around before pulling him to the window, where they could see just
how high up they were. A thirty floor room seemed romantic at first, but a
hasty escape in lieu of a nice view was probably a better idea to begin with.
The sky was dark, the last sliver of sunlight having been swallowed by the dark
pregnant rain clouds hanging over the city. Small wet streaks slowly began to
patter against the glass, blurring the rainbow hued lights.
Tsuzuku frowned and stared down below at the parking lot, where he spotted the
car they came in.
"Hmm... Get some clothes on, we need to go. Now."
Nodding Koichi hurried to his bag where he remembered buying some clothes that
would cover him up better than what they arrived in. A mickey mouse sweater
(screw wearing a shirt right now) white skinnies, but he decided the same shoes
would work. Tsuzuku came away from the window to throw on his jacket, also
neglecting the concept of a shirt. They both stuffed the things they had with
them into their bags before hurrying out of the room. Leaving it a mess was the
least of their worries right now.
Tsuzuku would most definitely not be getting his security deposit back
though...
In the darkened hallway, Koichi had to avert his eyes down so no one in the
hallways would see the glow coming from his eyes. People were peeking their
heads out their doors, confused and worried with lights from both small
flashlights and phone screens. As they passed by he could hear the discordant
whispers and concerned murmurs. People gathered in the corridor, staring at the
stairwell expectantly. 
"Is the power out on all the floors?"
"Where are the maintenance workers?" 
"Mommy? Where is daddy?" 
Even the discordant fussing of a small child could be heard through the
hallway, making his chest twinge. 
Koichi just wanted to get out of here quickly, he was having bad flashbacks to
when he was knocked out back at Shinya's building. Unknowingly he shivered and
pulled the sweater neck further up his face. Tsuzuku noticed this right away
and used one arm to put around his waist and hold him in a gentle hug as they
walked. Now the door to the stairway was close, a welcome solace away from so
many humans at once.
"Don't panic," Tsuzuku pressed as they push open the heavy door. "Just breathe,
and we'll get through this together. Luckily it seems as though just this
building is out, though I doubt such a light thunder storm is the reason." 
Koichi bites his lip, his anxiety now through the roof. But he listened to
Tsuzuku, taking deep breaths to calm his heartbeat. Since the elevators were
out, there were multiple people complaining and on their cell phones,
thankfully ignoring them as they walked by.
 "Maybe the power lines are just... overloaded?" he asks himself. "This would
happen at my old school sometimes, the power would just go out for no reason
other than overuse."
Really, any excuse right now would put his mind at ease. But knowing their
luck... he was feeling a little foolish thinking of anything other than a bad
reason. Still, Tsuzuku seemed more than ready to accept it, even chuckling a
little bit. 
 "Yeah that could very well be the case," he agreed with a smile. "Silver
linings as they say."
His phone beeps again and just as he goes to answer it Koichi stopped dead in
his tracks, forcing him to do the same. The pinkette could feel that...
something was wrong here. A cold frosty feeling similar to the one he felt in
the hotel room settled into his bones and he practically felt ice collecting on
his skin. Despite that though the air felt electric, causing the hair on the
back of his neck to go up. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to
stop and listen. 
A sound, small and minute like the dropping of a pin, pinged off the ceiling of
this stairwell and back to him. His ears perked up and he suddenly felt a
change in the airflow around them, creating an uneven vortex of cold and heat.
He didn't dare to look up though, as he feared seeing something he knew was
there. In a corner. Waiting for them, stalking them, hunting them. This feeling
was familiar, and it was obvious what had just happened and what they walked
into.
A trap.
In that instant Koichi knew they only had one option. Fight or flee, and right
now he was in no condition to fight. No while his hips still ached and he was
still vulnerable. His next words leave his mouth as a desperate hiss.
"Run..!"
Like a bat out of hell, he grabs Tsuzuku's hand and forced his legs to carry
him down the stairwell, knowing that they should at least make it to the next
floor, as there was no way in the nine Hells they could outrun whatever that
thing was for twenty nine more floors. 
Tsuzuku didn't have to be told twice, following without a single objection and
no words. The feeling grew worse and his enhanced senses picked up on every bit
of it. With each step the air grew more discordant, colder, more sticky. Like
the very air around them were like a spiders web and they were the helpless
insects. With each step they triggered vibrations, beckoning forth the faceless
beast after them. 
They ran only a little further before Koichi felt a painful twinge start to
appear in his legs and back. Damn..! He was still sore! Why did this have to
happen on such a day as this?? Just as they approach the door to the next floor
his legs tremble painfully and he gives out on the landing platform, his lungs
burning and legs aching. Tsuzuku skidded to a stop and picked him up bridal
style, knowing how much pain he must have been in right now. 
"Don't stop," Koichi panted as he clung on for dear life. "Just... get us to a
window or something!"
Tsuzuku all but burst through the twenty ninth floor door, breathing in
mouthfuls of oxygen and looking around for any form of solace. Behind them the
door closed and Koichi was never more relieved to see other people around. They
were just as confused as the people on the floor above, and didn't seem to care
about the strange two people bursting through the door. 
But at least that was another problem avoided. Tsuzuku allowed himself a brief
respite as he hugged his lover close to his chest, his legs like jelly. Koichi
clung on tightly as well, burying his face into the crook of Tsuzuku's neck. 
"Thank God," he gasped and leans against the plastered wall behind him to catch
his breath. "I thought for sure we would be caught..."
The pinkette shivers violently, unable to push away the fear nagging at the
back of his mind.
"Tsu I'm so scared," he finally peeped. "How are we gonna get out of here?"
His lover hugged him even close, desperate to the point of melding their bodies
together. 
"I dunno... Hold on."
Looking around, he could see other people looking out their doors and an open
window down this hallway. Perhaps that could be their way out, but... With all
these people around, he could not see them getting out without attracting
attention. They had to avert their attention somewhere else. Otherwise they'd
be stuck here until the power came on and the elevator was fixed. Whatever was
in the stairwell, he knew that they were not after the humans, just them alone.
Could it be another vampire? Or something else entirely?
Checking his phone, he noticed another message from Shinya. Not good news as
always.
VAMPIRES IN BUILDING. They have begun to attack our city. Meet me outside. NOW.
Well maybe if they weren't an easy three hundred feet in the air right now they
could but thanks to Tsuzuku's stupid ideas they weren't. But maybe if... They
ask one of these people to use their bathrooms then they could slip out of
there quietly? It could work, it had to. What other choice did they have?
Besides, it wasn't like he hasn't scaled hundred foot buildings before.
"Play along," he says quietly. "I have an idea. But you have to keep your head
down and look as pitiful as you can."
"What are you planning?" Koichi asked. not understanding at first because he
was already pretty pitiful. But as his lover walked towards a woman with a
small boy in her arms he could tell that he was definitely plotting something. 
"Excuse me miss," he began to gain her attention. She looked at the strange
couple with wary eyes, immediately bringing the child closer to her. 
"What is it?" She peeped. 
"The power had gone out while we were leaving. My girlfriend and I were coming
down the steps but she has fallen and hurt her leg pretty badly," he lies
smoothly with a sheepish smile. "Is it alright if we use your bathroom so I can
make sure it isn't too serious? It will only take us but a few moments, then we
will be out of your hair."
Girlfriend? Koichi knew he was very feminine but to be called a girl..! If this
were not a serious situation he would be fuming right now.
"Oh dear," the woman fussed as she looked over Koichi, now worried. "Are you
sure you're alright?" 
Suddenly put on the spot he floundered for words but luckily his distress
prompted Tsuzuku to lie again, and with an even sweeter smile this time. 
"She's mute, talking isn't exactly something she is comfortable with."
The woman stepped aside and holds open her door. 
"Oh! I am very sorry, the bathroom is right through here. Please, take your
time."
Koichi smiles gratefully and nods, while Tsuzuku slowly strides into the room. 
"Thank you so very much, we won't be but a few moments."
They close the bathroom door behind them and Koichi sighed in relief, motioning
for his lover to set him on the closed toilet seat. Around them were used
towels and a pair of swim trunks the size of a child and a woman sized swimsuit
hanging on the shower curtain.
But aside from that, did Tsuzuku seriously just call him a girl and get away
with it?
"Girlfriend huh?" he questioned with raised eyebrows. "I feel bad for her
believing that very obvious lie."
Tsuzuku just shushed him with a finger to his lips. 
"Shh, you can't let her hear us. Now, there is a window above your head,
perhaps we can squeeze out of there and scale our way down."
Indeed, above Koichi Was a small but manageable two panned window with a view
of Tokyo tower from here. It looked barely big enough to fit them, and that
would have to work. Hopefully no vampires would see them from up here. And at
least the rain stopped. For now.
"How do you plan on getting us down from up here?" he asked. "We're more than a
hundred feet in the air, and I still can't fly with these pathetic wings of
mine."
His lover sighed heavily and gave him a serious look paired with a weak smile. 
"You're just going to have to trust me. Now open the window, it's time to go
home."
Well when did Tsuzuku ever turn him down the wrong path?
"Okay... I guess I am getting sick of being away from safety."
He turns around and climbs up onto the seat to pry the window open, only to see
a thick screen there. Probably to discourage jumpers. Frowning he turned
around, lifting an eyebrow.
"Now what?"
Tsuzuku smiled. 
"Just push the screen out, you're strong enough to do that right?"
Was Tsuzuku questioning his ability to... do things like this? And why did that
make him more upset than what was probably intended?
"Um, yes. Just watch me," he snaps and forcefully shoves the mesh screen from
its frame with a screech, watching as it plummeted to a dark alleyway below
them, hearing a dull thud and a crash not long after. Satisfied he huffed and
gave his lover a pointed stare. Tsuzuku laughs, though one could tell he was
tired. "Satisfied?"
"I never doubted you for even a second Koi," he answered and touched his back
to reassure him. "Here hold this, I should go first so I can find some good
footing, then you come out after me and I can carry us to safety."
After grabbing his bag Koichi gingerly removed himself from Tsuzuku's way, now
a little ashamed of his haughty attitude just now. Tsuzuku was just trying to
help... right? So why did he feel a need to prove himself worthy of such a task
like this? Maybe that was what he had intended? So he didn't feel... useless?
"Come on now, I can't hold this ledge forever or someone might see me."
Oh right. Jeez when did he climb out? Maybe he was more pulled into his
thoughts than he thought. Now he was already outside the window, more than
likely stepping on an edge out there somewhere and holding onto the windowsill.
Koichi crawled over the edge of the sill and looked over the edge, feeling a
sudden rush of adrenaline from being so damn high up. 
"You still sure this is a good idea?" he asked, now worried again like before.
Tsuzuku chuckled a little. 
"It's fine, what other choice do we have really? Come on, I've got you."
Again, he was right. Still how was Tsuzuku planning on doing this anyway? Guess
he'd just have to find out. Koichi breathes in deeply, thanking his lucky stars
he did not have a fear of heights that would have made attempting this
otherwise impossible.
"Please don't drop me," he pleaded as he adjusted the bags on his back before
he eased his way out of the windowsill legs first and then poked his head out.
"I don't think I would be able to save myself if you do."
Now he dangled precariously above the city, only a small slip away from certain
death. Now he had to wonder where exactly that mesh screen had landed. 
"No, I wouldn't dream of it, love," Tsuzuku promised with a small beckoning
gesture. "That's it, just a little more." 
Koichi finally was able to ease himself into his lover's arms, his breath
escaping into the cool air as a small cloud. He heaved a sigh of relief and
lets Tsuzuku's arms go around him as a security blanket. 
"There you go," Tsuzuku coos in his ear and adjust their position a little
more. "That wasn't so bad was it?" 
Looking over Tsuzuku's protective arm around him he could now see the city
sprawled out beneath and around him, and it was very lovely to look at. 
"Well no, it is actually quite nice up here. I'm not heavy am I?"
"Of course not, I can hold three of you easy," Tsuzuku laughs and closed the
window. "I'm sure she won't come looking for us any time soon. Now, is there a
nearby roof? Maybe I can jump us to a safe place."
Holding in his breath he looked around near their spot, spotting a very close
roof maybe ten feet from here. It shouldn't be too difficult a jump. 
"There's one right behind and below us," he answered and shuffled the bags
better so they would not fall. "About ten feet away and another twenty feet
down."
"Right," Tsuzuku breathed and looks over his shoulder. "Koi I'm gonna need to
move you to my back so I can't drop you. Can you do that?"
Again with the questioning. Of course he could. But Koichi made sure not to be
too offended and just nods. After some struggling he managed to hook his arms
and legs around his lover, holding on for dear life. Tsuzuku looks for the
ledge carefully, ready to make the jump when a sudden noise through the window
catches their attention. 
"They went through here." 
"Find them! Don't let them escape!"
Crap..! They were followed all the way here? Through the glass window he saw
the darkened silhouettes of two people rushing into the bathroom, neither of
whom were the woman.
"Oh no, vampires??" Koichi questioned. Tsuzuku scowled. 
"Most likely they followed our scent from the stairwell... Hang on to me." 
A rush of wind blew past his ears and the sudden vertigo from dropping a sudden
twenty feet straight down twisted his stomach into knots, making his whole body
feel like he jumped from a plane without a parachute. 
The feeling was brief, but catching the end of the roof made his organs catch
up with his body and he felt winded. 
"You okay?" Tsuzuku asked as he clung to the side of the building expertly, now
outside another window it seemed like. Still dizzy Koichi nodded, swallowing
and sucking in oxygen to his best extent. Adrenaline pumped through his brain
and he felt like he was on a strange fucked up high. Was this feeling what
everyone meant when they said he would love the feeling of flying? Phoenixes
were bird types after all, and he hadn't gotten the chance to learn how to fly.
"Yeahh I just... feel a little winded was all," he admits and laughs softly.
"Man if we weren't being chased by bloodthirsty vampires right now I would ask
you to take me building jumping more often."
Though they had no time to laugh as there was a sudden loud noise above their
heads, akin to a window being slammed open forcefully. Koichi feels his
adrenaline hike up more as an eerily distraught face peeks out of the window.
Dark hair, menacing white eyes, and a snarl cruel enough to make his body
freeze over.
And then they make eye contact. And he can feel the rage radiating off from
this creature in waves and it makes him feel like hurling. And then he's
smiling, like a predator cornering his prey. His voice, Gods his voice. It was
so creepy and inhuman that just hearing it made Koichi's ears feel like they
were going to explode.
"Found you."
That was when he knew they had to nope the fuck out now.
"Tsu," he whispered. "Go."
"Huh?" comes a confused answer but he just wanted to get away from this
terrifying creature as fast as possible.
"Just go!" he hissed and pulled none to gently onto Tsuzuku's hair to pry him
away from the building. Hissing in pain Tsuzuku spared no glance upwards for
fear of what he could see before literally throwing himself across the ten foot
gap to the roof, his fingers clutching the rough concrete roof before pulling
them both over the edge. Koichi crawled onto the flat roof, taking in more
breaths to calm his heart. His lover kneels on his knees, just as breathless as
he was.
"Are you okay?" Tsuzuku asks once they find each other's hands. The pinkette
nods, welcoming the arms around his neck. 
"Yes... I'll be okay." 
But he spared one more glance upwards, feeling his blood run cold. The figure
still stood there, his eyes evil and cruel and a smirk so eerie he knew this
creature was no one he wanted to mess with. Who the hell was he?
"We should go," Tsuzuku says as the rain decided to start up again. "We need to
find Shinya, and there will be more of them soon if we stick around."
Well yes of course he knew that. But... he just had to know one thing that was
bothering him. 
"Who are you?" he asks more to himself than anyone. But he was certain he was
heard, because as they stood up to leave he could have sworn he heard an
answer. 
"The name is Haru. And you'll be seeing more of me, lovelies."
Maybe he should not have asked. 
***** Chapter 53 *****
Chapter Notes
     Sorry for being late with this! I've been busy with some things!
     NSFW FOR THIS CHAPTER OFC
It was as beautiful a day as ever, if a bit nippy. There was hardly a cloud in
the sky save for the occasional wayward wisp. But from what Koichi understood
of this world, Tokyo was very unpredictable when it came to the weather. So he
and Tsuzuku made sure to pick up an umbrella once they made it to town and
started walking around. There was a hotel near where they parked so that was
probably their best bet for now. So they kept it in mind as they went about the
city.
So far, he got his nails done in bright silver and pink, and had his hair
curled before being braided and letting it sit on the side of his head in
cascades. Then Tsuzuku took him to a piercing parlor where he got a faux
diamond pierced into his bottom lip. It looked really nice on him honestly, and
was almost instantly healed thanks to his body's healing abilities. Once it was
done Tsuzuku had to be pushed away more than once so he couldn't continuously
kiss and nip at it with his teeth. He said it was sexy too, which was a big
plus.
Then they spent more time shopping for random things that caught their eye.
Koichi found more clothes and Tsuzuku said he found a secret in some... adult
oriented store. Of which he knew he wanted to try later when they were alone.
Just thinking about it made his whole body quiver with excitement.
But they had stuff to do, so there was no more time to play around. At least
not until later.
Shinjuku was always his favorite place to go when Koichi was feeling lonely. It
was near a train station and packed with people looking for excitement. But
that made him nervous. Everyone was looking at him and Tsuzuku either like they
were celebrities or freaks of nature. Of which one though he wasn't too sure.
Humans... He wasn't quite sure how to mingle with them anymore. Being an
outcast tended to do that sort of thing to you. Not like he did it much anyway
before this, but since being with Tsuzuku back home he learned how to be
sociable...
"Hey."
He hears a soft voice in his ear and jumps, shivering. Tsuzuku is looking at
him with concern, his arm around his waist as usual. Was he daydreaming again?
"Huh?"
His lover's smile returns, still just as worried as before.
"You had this glossy eyed look in your eyes, like you were off in another
world, hypothetically speaking. Is something the matter?"
Koichi blushed and looked away, feeling a thudding in his ears.
"No I was just... Thinking about how much I still hate being around humans, how
homesick I feel. Now that I'm different from them, I feel even more alienated.
You know?"
They stopped in front of a shop selling contact lenses and Tsuzuku's hold
around his waist tightens. He did that when he got nervous. That and there were
a gaggle of school girls ogling Koichi like he was a piece if candy. Didn't
they have school or something?
"If you feel overwhelmed, we can always go find a room now. You don't have to
force yourself to do this."
As much as the idea appealed to him Koichi knew they had to do this. If he
could not adjust to being around them how was he supposed to be expected to
save them? So he shook his head and grips tighter onto the clothing bag in his
fingers. A hotel room could wait.
"No. No I'll be fine," he quickly denies. "Lets just... Keep walking and find
Sena. Please."
Tsuzuku hummed thoughtfully, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Koichi's soft
pink curls.
"Okay. But whenever you need a break just let me know okay?"
God he was such a worry wart. But that made him feel secure strangely enough.
"Of course I will. You know that. Now come on... Let's go."
Tsuzuku nodded and kissed his head again before they continued walking. This
particular part of the city was one long strip of buildings filled with shops
and establishments, so you could see from one end to the other for at least ten
straight blocks. They were currently in the middle, seeking out another head of
curly pink hair.
"So... Who is this Sena guy anyway?" Koichi finds himself asking. "Is he a
human or..?"
"Well... He is a human yes, but much like Yoka or Takashi he is very skilled
and trained how to take down vampires. So we're going to need him with us when
push comes to shove. Speaking if which..."
He paused talking and squinted at something far in front of them. Koichi looks
for himself, unable to see what he was looking at.
"What? Do you see something?" he asks.
"Yeah I... Think he is over there, in front of that restaurant. Come on."
Tsuxuku takes his hand in one swift motion and starts to drag him along through
the throngs of brightly colored people towards a small brick building with the
words 'café in bright pink neon plastered all over it. Now Koichi could see a
person sitting at an outdoor table, scanning the crowds through thick black
rimmed glasses. Bright pastel pink hair was pushed sideways in a messy braid
and an all black outfit let him blend in yet stand out at the same time.
"That's him?" he asks breathlessly and struggles to keep up.
"Looks like it," Tsuzuku answered. "They told me he would be easy to spot.
Looks like he is looking for us as well."
They approach the front of the café and slowly come to a stop in front of the
mysterious person. He looks at them, his carefully lined eyes sparking with
recognition.
"Ah. Tsuzuku," comes a soft but strong voice. "That would be you right?"
Okay so this was definitely him.
"Yes, and this is Koichi," Tsuzuku answers.  "We were told you could help us."
Sena straightens out his posture and nodded, motioning for them to join him in
sitting down.
"Yes yes of course. Please sit, we have much to discuss and not a lot of time.
I have another appointment in about half an hour so we should keep this brief."
Koichi sits next to Tsuzuku as Sena digs around in a nearby black tote bag and
pulls out a black shiny folder.
"So what exactly is the information you have for us?" Tsuzuku questions him.
"Yoka spoke very highly of you so it must be important."
Sena looks around their table for people, seemingly paranoid of his
surroundings. That would have been weird has the circumstances been different,
but Koichi felt exactly the same way. After making sure it was okay he began
speaking.
"He flatters me, its really not my place to say I am not flattered though. Well
first things first. As you can tell I am a human and I can be trusted. As for
what I do, the FBI employs me as a vampire hunter under the guise of an
investigative journalist. This job has provided me with ways necessary for
procuring information regarding this... Vampire infestation. Yoka and I have an
arrangement. I risk my life for info and he provides me with the necessary
protection that comes with this sort of job.
"Now... I won't beat around the bush here. Bad things are going down and we
don't have a lot of time left before shit hits the fan and we're all literally
screwed. Now from what I understand, there is an entire sub-coven of vampires
deep in the underground of this city. They're different from the normal covens,
the ones that leave humans alone. These ones are snatching up humans and
vampires alike, and we can't find them until its... Too late for them."
There is a sudden drip landing on the table and it only takes Koichi a split
second to realize that it was a tear. Quickly the human wipes his eyes and
sighs, scowling. Sena was clearly more affected than he was letting on. Did
he... Perhaps know someone who was taken?
"Sena-san?" he peeped quietly. "Are... You okay?"
The human nodded and struggles to gain his composure.
"Yes I just was... Remembering someone who was taken from me."
Koichi knew right away that the feelings he was having were more than
understandable.
"My... My lover. Ricko. He's a vampire. The sweetest and kindest one I have
ever met. And then... One day he just... Snapped. He became hostile to me after
some vampires attacked us and he got bitten by one of them. After failing to
kill me he fled, but I knew he had gone after them to join their coven. I knew,
because when he attacked me he was blabbering on about 'seeing the truth' and
'needing to please his master.' He was gone and I... Have devoted myself to
finding a cure. But if it comes down to it... I may have to kill him."
Sena takes a shuddering suppressed breath and slowly continued on, his voice
lowering to barely above a whisper as his face hardened.
"You have to understand something here. They are not normal vampires. There was
something... So wrong with him. There was an insanity in his eyes that... I
have never seen before. Its like something was inside him, infecting him like a
disease and controlling him.
"You have to be careful, one bite from one of them could mean being lost to
whatever was controlling him forever. This I know from personal experience more
than anything. This has to be widespread knowledge in both the vampire and non
human communities before it gets too out of control."
Sena finally stops, seemingly relieved to get this heavy information off of his
chest and lowering his head into his palm. Koichi immediately felt pity for
this poor guy. Human or not, he was more in tune with their world than other
people, therefore he was more relatable regarding what he was feeling. Knowing
how it felt to love someone, so dearly, he knew losing Tsuzuku would literally
destroy him.
And from the looks of it, Sena was pretty much emotionally wrecked. Looking
even closer, he could see the dark circles under the eyeliner around his eyes.
How long had he been suffering for?
Tsuzuku sighed as well, clearly emotionally affected right now. He shared a
sympathetic look with Koichi, clasping their fingers together.
"Sena.... I'm sorry."
Blinking away tears Sena sniffles, a humorless laugh falling from his lips.
"For what? You didn't kidnap my lover and turn him against me," he mutters.
"And I don't need your pity. I just need to know if you're here to help get him
back or not."
Oh they were. Koichi was more than certain of that. They were here to get back
at these bastards for taking over their lives. There was nothing else that was
as important as that.
"Don't worry," Koichi pipes up. "You are not the only one who has been
affected. We'll get him back, along with everyone who was taken. All we need to
know is how to start."
The human displays a small sign if hope in the way his head lifts and a smile
appears.
"Thank you. I'll tell you one more thing before I go. There is a small den
about ten blocks from here filled with friendly vampires who managed to escape
their clutches, finding them should be no problem what with the way it looks
and all that. I would suggest going to see them for more information as I have
not been able to get close enough, as they don't exactly trust humans. They
should know something. But I do have to suggest resting up before going to see
them, as they can be... very spontaneous. That's all I really have to say. So
if you'll excuse me..." 
Before either of them can ask Sena is standing up an packing away his stuff and
heading away through the crowd.
"Well... That was certainly... Informative," Tsuzuku mumbles. "He disappeared
so quickly though I didn't get the chance to ask him what the address was. What
does he mean by spontaneous?"
Koichi stared in the direction that Sena disappeared, feeling a lot less
enthusiastic about their day. But Sena... he was just a victim as they were
now. Having a lover taken so suddenly certainly wasn't on his agenda of things
he wanted to happen. They had to fix this, and fix it soon. However... Right
now, he was feeling a little overwhelmed as more and more people began to
notice them. Perhaps something warm in this cool environment would do him
good. 
"I dunno but... Maybe since we're here we could get something to drink and
then... head to a hotel? I know it's barely five in the afternoon but... I'm
tired."
Well truthfully he want tired. It was more like an excuse to finally have a
moment with Tsuzuku. Thankfully he didn't have to say much more, because
Tsuzuku stops him with a finger to his mouth. Probably more sensual than he
intended it to be though, because he had to resist letting it slip past them
and into his mouth. 
"Ah, say no more," comes a gentle assuring tone. "I'll get us something and
then we can go." 
Then he smiled and kissed at his temple before walking into the building. 
"Thanks."
He just had to hope no vampires tried to snatch him up while he was waiting
here. Looking around himself he spotted another small group of of three girls
staring at him from afar. They all looked about his age, maybe a little older.
College aged. Great. He gave them what he had hoped was a warning glare before
turning around to ignore it, feeling the tattoo's on his back burning very
uncomfortably. 
Yeah he definitely hated being around humans. 
/////////////////////////////////
Returning to the hotel took a few minutes longer than either of them probably
wanted but at least now they knew they would be safe. 
Tsuzuku got them a honeymoon suite high on top of the hotel with one queen
sized bed for them both and a lovely view of the city from two huge bay
windows. All the decor was white and bright red, hence being a... honeymoon
suite.
But that didn't matter right now. He just wanted... Affection. Affection that
only his lover could give.
Koichi toed off his shoes at the entrance before pushing Tsuzuku up against the
wall nearest the bathroom, lips latching to the exposed collarbones in
desperate heavy kisses. Tsuzuku chuckles deeply, his arms going around Koichi's
slim waist.
"Eager aren't we?" he murmurs and shivers as a warm tongue slid over his
jugular. "I should have known you were lying about being tired."
Koichi purred and cupped the front of Tsuzuku's pants, his kisses open mouthed
and hot.
"I am. Got an issue with that?" He cooed and squeezes, feeling Tsuzuku flinch
under his fingers and grinning in response. "There were so many people around
us staring at me and it made me uncomfortable. I need you to make me feel
better..." 
Koichi was ready to take the initiative until Tsuzuku's hands lowered to the
hem of his over shirt and tugged at it, eager to remove it and look upon the
bare skin there. 
"I will," Tsuzuku promises and finally pulls the offensive fabric away. "But
can I just say, this is the last time I ever let you go out in public so
skimpily dressed like this. So many people were staring at your stomach." 
Then he yelps as cold fingers slip under the corset covering his spine, moaning
in his throat as they caressed the upraised tattoo's on his skin that spread
all over his back. Slivers of heat began to pulse in his ears, and his body
literally turned to jelly. 
"Ungh... Tsu, you know my tattoo's feel funny when you... touch them..." 
Then he's gasping again as Tsuzuku yanks up his head and forcibly shoves his
tongue in for a deep kiss, and he's literally a puddle in his arms. Tsuzuku
then decides to leave the corset on him and switches their positions so he was
the one pinning Koichi to the wall. Their kiss deepens and Koichi eagerly
throws his arms around his lover for support and hooks a leg around his waist.
Between their bodies he can already feel how hard Tsuzuku was through the front
of his pants. And he was no different. 
"Mhm, you definitely feel so tense love," the daemon laughs. "Am I the cause of
this?"
Koichi's fingers find their way up to soft blonde tresses and he tugs on them,
loving how they felt in between his fingers and how Tsuzuku groans as he pulls.
Though he had to admit, he sorely missed there being big beautiful horns for
him to grab onto here. But this would do for now. 
"Ugh Tsu," he whimpers. "Please. I need you..."
His lover gladly scoops him up and throws him on the bed before yanking off his
own shirt, showing off every inch of his lovely physique. Koichi literally
drooled every time he set eyes on his lover without clothes on. It made the
strain in his pants even worse and he audibly whined, biting onto his lip and
resisting the urge to yank them off himself. 
"You're so needy tonight," Tsuzuku chuckles giddily as he pushed apart Koichi's
legs where he saw a prominent tent through his skinny jeans. "Look at you. What
a naughty boy, Koichi."
A playfully sadistic smile creeps onto his face and he gently runs his fingers
across his lover's thighs before grabbing at them like an animal to yank them
away. Koichi lifts himself up to help him take them off and quietly sighs in
relief as they were finally gone. Now dressed only in his corset, his body
shivered at the cool air of the room. Tsuzuku's eyes soaked in the image of his
lover, splayed out for only him to see. He already had a small collection of
pre against his stomach.
Neither of them spoke at that moment, too eager to get to the best part of
their day so far. Tsuzuku revealed his secret gift for his lover, which turned
out to be a very flowery scented bottle of strawberry scented lubrication and a
cute pair of pink knee high stockings with strawberries on them. This kinky
asshole... 
"What the hell..?" Koichi giggled and sat up to press their foreheads together.
"You're so weird, but it's cute... Put them on for me?" 
An elated smile lights up his lover's handsome face and he knows he was in for
an amazing night. Slowly Tsuzuku makes him scoot back against the soft satiny
pillows shaped like hearts and brought both Koichi's legs up to his shoulders
and hooked them over. Here he kissed lovingly at them, slowly sliding the
strawberry stockings on slowly, inch by inch, using every precious second to
trail his lips along Koichi's calf until they were fully on. 
The whole time, he never took his eyes off of Koichi's, keeping them on
himself. The stockings were so soft and warm, a total contrast to the cold
fingers sending him high into the clouds.
"Tsuzuku, you're not being fair," he whined as he flopped back against the
pillows, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. Tsuzuku just ignored that
comment before pushing himself between his legs. 
"Just let me spoil you tonight," he says with a smile and starts to undo his
own clothes. "But just keep that corset on okay? It's sexier than hell right
now."
Koichi giggles and readily accepts the kiss to his lips and the hands on his
hips. Soon he feels Tsuzuku gently grasp his erection and starts to keen in his
throat, his mouth going lack and allowing an adventurous tongue inside. 
"Mmm..!" he moaned softly as he feels Tsuzuku start to prep him with three
digits coated in the scented gel. Tsuzuku smiled and keeps up the assault of
sweet kisses and pushed deep into his lover, pulling them back and then back in
until he was certain it was fine, pulling them out much to the pinkette's
dismay. 
"There, I think you're fine. Tell me if you don't feel good okay?" 
Koichi only takes a second to breathe before he's gasping breathlessly as
Tsuzuku pushed deep inside to the deepest part of him. The familiar stinging
pain accompanied by sweet blissful fullness has him trembling, feeling like he
was already to come just from this. Tsuzuku is groaning lowly, almost like a
growl. He's holding his legs close to his chest, his eyes easily taking in
everything. A single bead of sweat trailed down his otherwise calm face.
"God you feel good around me, so tight..." 
Koichi incoherently moans out loud, desperate for friction and gripping himself
for relief. 
"Please move, I'm okay," he pleads. "Just move..."
His lover caressed his face one last time before letting his legs go around his
waist and pressing as close as possible with his arms over his head before
starting to move his hips, slow but deep into silky warm depths. Koichi bit on
his tongue as intense pleasure seeped into every inch of his body, rendering
him a helpless puddle against the sheets. Every sound leaving his lips is
practically dripping with lust and neediness.
It kept up like this for a while, just slow and steady, until Tsuzuku's rhythm
suddenly picks up speed and intensity. Sweat beaded down Koichi's forehead, but
the daemon didn't seem to care as he kissed and smooched his face lovingly.
Soon it became too much to handle and he gripped tight onto Tsuzuku's arms.
Heat began to coil inside his stomach, telling him he was so very close. His
legs squeeze tighter onto his lover's body, urging him on for deeper and
harder. Tsuzuku of course eagerly accepted the invitation and once more plunged
deeper and harder.
"Gonna come..! Tsuzuku please!"
His hips began to ache as Tsuzuku pounded him into the sheets, losing his voice
with each second and only able to whine and moan quietly under the intense
bliss rolling through his body. The daemon groaned again, his rhythm becoming
erratic. His voice was raspy, deep and so fucking sexy.
"Ugh... Koichi... can I come..?" 
"Please," his lover whispers softly, eyes crossed and tears blurring his
vision. "Can't! Take it anymore..!"
Tsuzuku frantically gasps as he angles deeper, finally finding that elusive
little bundle of nerves deep inside of Koichi and pressing it over and over and
eliciting high pitched squeals from the pinkette who was now seeing stars
behind his eyelids. He kisses at Koichi's eyes, his lips brushing away the
tears.
"Come on... Come for me Koichi."
Only seconds later he gives one last brutal snap of his hips forward, sending
Koichi into a spiral of whines and loud blissful cries as hot splurts of
release coats their stomachs. 
"Hnngg! Ahh, Tsu..!"
Koichi's intense release makes him tighten up and Tsuzuku groaned again, riding
Koichi deep into his orgasm before pulling out at the last second with an
obscene sound and quickly coming all over his lover's flat lovely belly. 
Both of them are panting, high and drunk off the pleasure all at once.
Tsuzuku's arms give out and he pushed himself into the crook of Koichi's neck,
kissing and inhaling deeply. Minutes pass, and neither of them really speak for
fear of ruining such a perfect moment. 
It wasn't until about ten minutes of intense cuddling and silent sweet kisses
that Tsuzuku finally speaks, his voice rough with satisfaction.
"Koichi?" 
"Mm?"
The pinkette hums softly as arms hold him close, protectively keeping him from
moving. 
"Happy birthday." 
The sheer intensity of the happiness in those words was enough to make him want
to cry. Sniffling he hugged even closer, kissing Tsuzuku with all he had in
him. 
"I love you Tsuzuku... So so much. Thank you." 
The daemon does not answer with words, but with a soft cooing noise into his
ear and a kiss to the outer edge of his cheek. They once more settle into
comfortable silence and intense cuddling. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could
ruin this beautiful moment. It was perfect, and Koichi knew that this was
absolutely perfect. 
About two hours of dozing off and on the loud trilling of a cell phone is
suddenly echoing through the room, popping their bubble. Tsuzuku groaned and
buried his face into Koichi's shoulder. 
"Ugh I don't want to," he whined like a little kid. "Please don't make me..."
As much as Koichi knew he mirrored that statement, Yoka did say to always
answer his phone. So he sighed and gently tugs on blonde hair, adoring the
softness of it as always. 
"You should answer it, it could be important," was all he mumbles in response.
"I don't want Yoka to get mad at us even if it isn't important."
He sighs even deeper but finally pushed himself up on his arms and leans over
the bed to reach for his phone in his pants pocket, scowling before answering
it without looking at the screen. 
"Hello?"
Koichi watched him silently, his stomach dropping as the once bored expression
melted into one of distress and disbelief. 
"What? Are... What?" 
Oh man, that was most likely something very serious and bad. Great. Just what
he needed right now. Tsuzuku is still distressed as he listens to the person
talk. 
"Tsu, what's wrong?" he asked. As he spoke there was a sudden spike of fear in
the daemon's eyes as the line goes dead. "Tsuzuku. Talk to me, please."
His lover just stares at his phone in shock, half expecting it to come alive
and bite his face off. 
"Koichi... It's... about Minpha."
"What happened?" 
Tsuzuku bites his lip, now fully aware and sitting up in the bed, dropping the
phone onto the carpeted floor. Koichi felt his heart leap into his throat at
the next words that left his mouth. 
"That was Kyo on the line. Your friend... been found dead. A vampire... killed
him."
***** Chapter 55 *****
Chapter Notes
     Please leave comments if you enjoyed this chapter! :D
"Hey. Are you all right Koichi?" 
Well due to the near death fall he wasn't sure. But the good news was that
neither of them seemed to be hurt really badly. And the ache in his legs seemed
to steadily ebb away as they waited at the edge of the roof. The rain was a
light drizzle, but it was cold. Almost time for winter. Koichi never liked this
time of the year for many reasons, now he was sure he would have even more.
"Yeah I guess so. I just need to catch my breath for a few seconds... I just
hope n humans saw that stunt you just pulled."
That was true. The last thing they needed were curious eyes watching their
every move. And Tsuzuku knew that he might have pushed him a little hard back
there. But it was either this or get caught. Lesser of two evils as the humans
liked to say.
"What a day huh?" he chirps softly as he lay flat against the roof. "I never
would have thought that things would turn out this way."
Yeah... What an understatement. Being chased by power hungry vampires and a
psychotic demi-God? Koichi snorted. A glance down at the time on his phone
tells him that it was about two minutes after midnight. His birthday... 
"Happy birthday to me," he muttered with a sigh. "But nonetheless... I guess I
am an adult now."
He stands and looks back up, seeing the window to the bathroom now closed and
dark. At least now they knew that there was no way they were followed here. The
roof was desolate of only them and a subtle silence. It would have been nice,
circumstances not withstanding. 
A few seconds later, they both see the entire hotel once again flash brightly
with lights. At least now the humans would not be without light. Tsuzuku
breathed out, feeling the rain his his face.
"Hey. Koichi." He turns his head, finding his lover scooting even closer to him
and putting his arm around him to pull him in close. "Happy birthday baby,
sucky as it may be."
Well now he felt so much better. Weird. But he still smiled and leaned closer
for a kiss. Now he knew that after all this, he needed some hardcore cuddling
with Tsuzuku. No sex, no words. Just being enveloped in his arms would be nice.
"Thanks... This was a dumb idea but I am glad we did it."
He gets his wish as Tsuzuku calmly pressed their lips together before
standing. 
"Yeah me too," he says. "And we should probably go. Shinya is still waiting." 
"How we gonna get down from here?" 
Tsuzuku looked around on the roof before spotting a service door nearby that
must have led to the rest of the building. That must be it. 
"Come on, we should be able to get out through there."
He helped Koichi to his feet and takes his own bag before they trudge to the
doors and shove it open. Its dark but strangely warm in here. And from what he
could tell, there was no strange feeling from earlier. Which meant they were
finally safe. As for where they were, it looked like a stairwell leading down
to another door. At least he wasn't as sore as before so he could walk no
problem. 
For some reason this place made Tsuzuku feel uneasy, but not in the danger way.
More like, he had a feeling they should not even be here. Like they were
trespassing. Where the hell were they?
"You should call Shinya and tell him where we are," Koichi suggested as they
enter the next area. "He's probably worried."
"Of course. Give me a moment."
There was another hallway. But once he got a hold of his surroundings he felt a
pang in his chest. 
"Uhm... Maybe we should turn around..."
Smooth linoleum floors. A seemingly endless ambiance of silence. The smell of
ammonia and citrus cleaning products. And educational posters on the wall? 
"Did we just break into a hospital?" Tsuzuku asks himself as they kept walking
despite Koichi's discomfort. "Figures... No wonder why I was getting that funny
feeling earlier. We should not linger here for too long."
Koichi did not like the odds of them ending up in a place like this. He hated
hospitals, especially after what happened with Mia a few weeks ago. 
"Why would a hospital be next to a hotel?" he wonders out loud as they pass by
an abandoned nurses station. It was dark but he could see very dim light coming
from one of the rooms. "And where is everyone?" 
That question was soon answered as they saw a sign next to a bathroom door down
the hall. 
"Floor closed for Maintenance?" Tsuzuku says aloud. "What maintenance?"
Koichi looked around and spotted the elevators by the nurses station and tugs
on his lover's sleeve. For some reason, he felt even more uncomfortable being
in a place that should have been filled with people but wasn't. A chill raised
goose flesh on his arms, making him shiver. Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was
this place. All he knew was that he didn't like it.
"Come on, this place gives me the creeps," he murmurs quietly. "I don't like it
here."
"Of course," Tsuzuku agreed and led him to the elevators and pushed the button.
"I'll send Shinya a message." 
The elevator was thankfully, well lit once it came to their floor, and being
bathed in light gave him a sense of relief. Once Tsuzuku pushed the button for
the lobby he sighed in relief and settled against the farthest wall from the
door. Tsuzuku was right there with him, setting his mind somewhat at ease.
But still, the cold feeling would not go away. Perhaps dwelling on it would
only give him a brain aneurysm so he pushed it away. For the moment, he
burrowed his face in his sweater and held the backpack on his back closer to
him for warmth. Right now, these things felt insignificant. But to ditch them
now would only be a waste of money. And right now, he really needed to know
something important.
"Tsu?" he peeped. An arm goes around his shoulders and he accepts it
wordlessly.
"Hn?" 
He shuffled closer. 
"What are we gonna do now? Go home? Or seek out the vampires Sena told us
about?"
True, they were both at a loss at what to do now. But to go home after such an
event seemed like the cowardly way to go. This was important, and Tsuzuku knew
then that they had no other option but to go straight to the next part of their
mission. 
"We have to find them," he finally answers with a solemn expression. "I know
that you're tired. And I am too. But since they're on our side, they'll let us
hang around for the night yeah?" 
Koichi hadn't thought about that. Who better to combat hostile vampires than
other vampires?
"Sounds good... Thanks."
Tsuzuku hugged him close and he couldn't help but love that feeling. 
"No problem baby."
The rest of the ride soothed his nerves and he finally managed to relax a
little more. Maybe being on that floor made him paranoid. Either way, he was
glad they were finally away. 
The elevator slowed to a halt on the lobby floor and they were met with the
hustle and bustle of a busy hospital. Another thing to soothe his frayed
nerves. Nurses walked to and fro, and patients waited in waiting areas while
TV's mounted on the wall droned in the background. Slipping out should be no
problem. 
"Just keep your head down and we won't attract attention," he hears Tsuzuku
mumble to him as they make a beeline for the glass doors leading to the outside
world. "Shinya is at the car waiting. Once we get outside, we have to walk to
the hotel parking lot as calmly as possible."
Oh Gods more running. Koichi groaned but nodded anyway, knowing he didn't know
of anything else to do. 
"Ugh fine." 
Tsuzuku grinned at his childish behavior. 
"Or would you rather have me carry you again?" 
Well the prospect was rather nice, but with all these humans around? He
grimaced and laughed nervously.
"I think I will be fine... No offense."
"Hm, none taken at all," his lover answered. "Now, hold onto my hand. I don't
want to lose track of you, as we don't know if there are more vampires out
there or not."
They approach the doors and he takes another breath to calm his nerves. Again,
there was that uneasy feeling from before. But why was he feeling it? Was it a
sign? All of a sudden he finds himself worried about Mia and Meto. That wasn't
good, his intuition never failed him before in situations like this. Perhaps
calling to check on his best friend once in the car would be a good idea...
"All right, I'm ready. Let's go."
grabbing onto his lover's hand they calmly made their way to the darkened
parking lot of the hospital where he could see cars and people doing their
normal thing. Pulling in, leaving. Humans with old people or children. Just
normal life in front of his eyes. It all felt so surreal. 
And kind of strange, as these people had no idea of the horrible creatures
plaguing their streets right now. If only they knew how fleeting moments like
this were. They would probably think twice about declaring themselves the
current dominant species. 
But maybe he was just thinking too hard. Sometimes he did that without noticing
until later. 
"We should be careful, the rain is making the roads slippery." 
Koichi nodded as they reached the sidewalk and began to walk to the hotel next
to the hospital. Still, the placement seemed strange to him. But whatever. At
least they were finally on solid ground after all of this. If he saw more
stairs or another elevator again it would be too soon. But at least now he
could sense the area around him for danger. However, he was still freezing. It
was at this point that he was glad he had literal fire in his veins. 
More hot sensations lit his back alight with warmth, but it wasn't painful. It
heated him up like no blanket or other source of warmth could and for that he
was grateful. 
Without incident they reached the parking lot of the hotel after walking
through a brief set of bushes and spotted the impala near the back of the lot.
That made Koichi nervous. It was a prime location for being jumped that's for
sure. Still, if anything were to happen to them... He would protect Tsuzuku
with everything he had. 
"There," Tsuzuku suddenly chirped. "I can see him in the backseat."
Indeed, with his advanced eye sight the pinkette could see the familiar light
headed man just waiting in the car. They broke into a jog and reached the car
without incident. Koichi practically threw himself into the passenger side
while Tsuzuku did the same in the driver's side. 
"There you are," Patience sighed in relief as he spots his friends. "I was
starting to worry that you were not going to show up."
Well they almost didn't. But that was a story for later. Chuckling humorlessly
Tsuzuku finally pulled the vehicle out of the parking lot and heads in the
direction that Sena directed them to, keeping his eyes peeled for any
suspicious looking buildings.  
"I'm pretty sure I hate buildings higher than ten stories now," he answered.
"Anyway, what was with the message you sent me? Did you see the vampires that
had been in that building?" 
"Yes, two of them. But... I saw them jumping the roofs in the opposite
direction. Perhaps after realizing you were gone they high tailed it."
Tsuzuku's grip on the steering wheel tightened, turning the skin around his
knuckles sheet white. He was pissed, that much was obvious. Koichi shuffled
deeper into his seat, still tired but doing his best to listen for anything
important. 
"Damn it... The cowards... As soon as they saw their chance they bolted.
Anything else?" 
Shinya hummed softly, a thoughtful noise considering their current situation. 
"Actually yes," he finally says after a brief moment, seemingly remembering
something important. "Mia and Meto found a vampire skulking around the property
lines of the estate. He has been captured and sedated, and shackled to an anti
vampire cell in the basement. It would be best for us to return home as soon as
possible." 
So staying with the nice vampires was a no go now. But still, the least they
could do was visit, get more information and see if it could possibly be of
use. It was worth a shot. Tsuzuku still kept his eyes glued to the street and
looked for any obvious signs of vampire activity. the non malicious kind of
course. 
"I see. Well... We still have to meet up with some people. Vampires, nice ones
this time. Sena directed us to them for information."
"Sena? The human informant?" 
So Shinya knew him? 
"Yeah. He said they knew some things, things that were important to us." 
There was no answer right away, but Koichi just figured Shinya was mulling over
the new info in his head. Finally he answered, his voice calm. That was just
like him, Koichi thought to himself.
"Understood. But no more than twenty minutes, we have more important matters to
deal with."
The car grew silent, and Koichi took this time to breathe deeply when something
hit the roof of his mouth. It was a subtle scent, seeming to come from his
lover. The pinkette shuddered and quietly inhaled again, now letting the scent
of Tsuzuku invade his senses. 
Before, it was only a subtle mix of fresh rain and flowers. Now though, he
could very distinctly pick out other things mixed in. He smelled the earth,
pure and clean like after a heavy rain, as well as a tinge of cherry blossoms.
It was powerful and deep, making him almost reel back in surprise. But aside
from that, there was also another slightly more subtle smell as well. It was
smoky, like charred wood after a fire. But it wasn't bad. It was pleasant, yet
seemed out of place for his lover for some reason.  
He was about to say something about it when suddenly Tsuzuku gasped and brought
the car to a slow crawl. They had managed to find themselves in a darkened
neighborhood about ten blocks away, right where Sena said the place might be.
The street lights were dim, and not a soul was in sight. Even all the houses
seemed abandoned, but none of the doors or windows were boarded up. So people
lived here all right.
This had to be the area right? Koichi looks out his window and scanned the
various buildings for anything of importance, almost forgetting about the
earlier scent. 
"Do you see what I see?" Tsuzuku then muttered slowly, almost as if in awe.
Koichi scrambled to look out of Tsuzuku's window, unable to due to his
seatbelt. 
"I believe so," Shinya responded. "Hmm, strange. Imagine that."
"What? What do you see?" he pressed. Tsuzuku was looking straight to his left
and stops the car finally, but leaves the car idling. 
"This building... Something about it just seems obvious. Let's have a look,
we'll know if we get closer."
Slowly Koichi unbuckled himself and left his bag behind as he stood out of the
car and turned to look at the nearby building. Thankfully the rain had stopped,
leaving the streets slick.
The house was... kind of obvious he guessed? It was a two story Japanese home
as one would expect of Tokyo, only painted all in black. In fact, most of the
buildings in this area were painted in dark colors. The fence around it was
high and there was no name on the mailing box in front of the house. 
But that was not what made it obvious. It was the sudden smell that hit his
nose as they walked even closer. A thick spicy like smell began to prickle at
his nose, and it made his mouth feel dry. The more he smelled, the more he
recognized the smell. Aryu kind of gave off this smell when he got close
enough. Spicy, but pleasant. Like sweet cinnamon candy and vanilla frosting
oddly enough. He had always thought it was perfume or cologne, so why was the
smell here? And was he always able to smell so well? Hell he could smell the
awful smog high above their heads but only slightly.
"Do you smell that?" he asks his lover as he glanced once more at the building.
"It... smells like Aryu's perfume." 
He then noticed Shinya give him an odd smile. 
"I am glad your senses are coming out in full force, but this smell is not of
Aryu's perfume," he giggled and took a small sniff of the air. "What you are
sensing is the universal scent of all non malicious vampires. You just haven't
been around others to know right away. It's like a signal to other magical kind
to let them know they mean no harm. This place is covered in the scent, so this
has to be the place. Come on, we must not keep them waiting."
That was strange. He had been absolutely sure it was of Aryu alone. 
"All good vampires smell like this? So... what do the evil vampires smell
like?" he asked softly. Tsuzuku grimaced and gave a dramatic sigh. 
"It's a terrible thing," he began. "It's similar to this one but... there is
another scent mixed into it. Unlike the pleasant cinnamon-y smell it's much
more intense. It's like raw unadulterated spice mixed with the smell of blood.
It's a power display, used both to seduce someone and exert their power over
those they deem inferior. If we manage to get close enough to smell one, you'll
see what I am talking about." 
And judging from the scowl on his lover's face, he had experienced it more than
once. And from the sound of it, he didn't really want to know what it was like.
He stayed silent and clung to Tsuzuku's arm and pressed close for comfort. He
never knew it before, but now that he was close enough he could smell his lover
very deeply like before. Letting it comfort him he watched as Shinya walked up
to the metal framed wooden door and slowly rapped on it with his knuckles.
There was a not so subtle evil vampire ward etched under the door handle.
A few seconds pass by before there is an answer. 
"Who's there?" came a soft voice. Male obviously. Shinya looked at Tsuzuku as
he answered. 
"Friends of Sena's, we were told to come find you."
There was a thick pause before the sounds of many locks being undone could be
heard from the other side of the door before it slowly creaked open. It was
dark inside, but a pleasant warmth seemed to be coming from deep inside.
There's a dreadfully pale man standing there, tall with long raven black hair.
He wore a deep black sweatshirt with a deep neckline and faded grey jeans. He
seemed nervous, his eerie but soft yellow eyes slowly taking in the three
arrivals. His head tilts and he flashed a smile, his canines visible in a
friendly manner. 
"So you were the ones the human has sent our way," he responded slowly. "You
look tired friends. Come in come in, I am sure you have much you want to know.
Please close and lock the door behind you."
"Thank you, we won't be very long as we have other business to attend to,"
Shinya answered as they enter the darkened house. "Your hospitality is much
appreciated nonetheless."
Koichi and Tsuzuku let the door fall closed and start to do the chains and
locks like before. All the while Shinya and the pale vampire stand just in the
entrance hall. 
"So to whom do we owe the pleasure?" he begins, his powerfully calm aura
pulsating into the room. The vampire seemed pleased at Shinya's manners,
smiling in a now less nervous way.
"My my, how gentile," he laughs. "You may call me Asagi. This is my home and
where I keep my coven safe. And you are?"
As he spoke he led the way through the entrance hall where they removed their
shoes as was customary and followed him into a living room slash kitchen area.
It was warm, probably due to the space heater plugged into a nearby outlet.
There is a couch and love seat set in front of a dark plasma TV mounted to the
plaster wall. A glass display case with a few gaming consoles and disc cases
inside of it sat right under the TV.
All around the room were bookshelves filled with, well, books. Both hard and
soft cover, old and new. Some Tsuzuku recognized from their world, written on
subjects known only to their kind. It almost felt like... home.
"I am Shinya, but you may know me better as Patience." 
Asagi gasped and squealed happily. 
"Oh my! It is truly an honor m'lord! I will make sure to hold my tongue to the
best of my extent, so do excuse me should something unsavory slip."
"It's nothing," the light haired man says in response. "The honor is all mine."
Asagi looked back at Tsuzuku and Koichi, who had been observing quietly this
whole time.
"And you two are?" 
Tsuzuku held Koichi close to him, emphasizing their obvious relationship.
"My name is Tsuzuku, I'm a daemon. And this is my lover Koichi."
The pinkette gives a shy wave.
"I'm a Phoenix," was all he said, not daring to say the white part like he had
learned to. Still Asagi seemed pleased. 
"It's really a wonderful thing to have you here in my home. Not many visitors
come to the neighborhood, human or otherwise."
They all look around for a few seconds, taking in the scenery.
"This is a lovely place," Shinya said sincerely as he glances around. 
"Please excuse the heater," Asagi began as he motioned for them to sit. "These
late January winters get dreadfully chilly at night, so we need to keep warm as
much as we can. I'll set some tea on for us, so please make yourselves at
home."
Tsuzuku and Koichi take the loveseat as Shinya takes the couch. Asagi moves to
the kitchen where he fills up a water kettle and sets it on a stove. 
"You said there were four others," Shinya began. "Where are they?" 
The vampire mixed some tea leaves together and wiped his hands on his pants. 
"My youngest Tsunehito and oldest Hiroki have gone after food as our stock has
become low, but they should be getting back any minute. Hide-Zou and Ruiza are
asleep but I will go wake them up in a moment."
As he spoke he got out eight different cups, probably anticipating his
companions to return very soon. Once he has them set onto the counter he goes
to the couch and sits on the arm rest near Shinya.
"You don't have to do that," Tsuzuku says quickly but Asagi just shakes his
head, smiling. 
"No no I must, they both have information vital to your cause. Which, by the
way, is an astounding act of bravery I have not seen in my many years alive. I
must do what I can to help, even if it means putting my coven under the
spotlight."
"So this is your coven," Shinya responds as he knows he cannot change their
host's mind. "Are there more of you then? Covens are usually at least ten
strong."
Asagi faltered at the question, his smile slipping away to be replaced by a
look of intense melancholy and regret. 
"Yes, there were... at one point ten of us. We lived in the Homeland then."
"The Homeland?" Koichi asked in confusion. Asagi laughs, suddenly very
flustered.
"My apologies, I forget that not many call it that anymore. We lived where we
all used to call home I am sure, in the city under Love's jurisdiction. But...
well, after this whole thing with our bretheren going feral and attacking
humans and half humans alike we fled. But not after... he got a hold of my five
youngest fledglings. They were but decades old, still adjusting. It still hurts
to think about them."
As he spoke his face dropped more, and one could easily see the intense sadness
and longing in his eyes. Losing someone he created... it must have been hard.
Lord knew Koichi could relate.
"It's okay, you don't have to talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable,"
Shinya responded in a calming voice, putting a delicate hand on Asagi's arm.
"Let us just talk about what we came to discuss for now."
The dark haired vampire seemed to appreciate the sentiment, for he once more
smiles and bites at his lip. 
"Thanks. Well, I'll be right back. And if anyone knocks don't answer it, I'll
be back in a second."
Asagi disappears down the hallway just a few short steps away and they wait
patiently. Koichi wants to talk but is unsure of what to say. It isn't until
Shinya's phone quietly begins to chirp that he holds his mouth closed. Sighing
softly he answered it, his eyes straying to the ceiling. 
"This is Shinya. Mhm. Oh... Well, where did he go?" He suddenly becomes alert,
and his once calm demeanor becomes tense. "...I understand. Well, I am afraid I
am still in the city with Koichi and Tsuzuku but we will come back as soon as
possible. Yes. Of course."
He stood abruptly and hung up, starting to pace anxiously. Not good, of course.
When could they just catch a break?
"What happened?" Tsuzuku questions. Shinya frowned, seriously on edge. 
"Another vampire sighting, and he managed to kill one of the humans keeping
watch on the other one so he could break him out no doubt." 
Tsuzuku growled and stood up as well, still holding onto Koichi's hand.
"Shit! Then we must return immediately. I am afraid this little meeting will
have to be cut short."
As he said this Asagi came from the hallway with two other people behind him.
One blonde with silvery blue eyes and the other with black hair and brilliant
emerald eyes. Both were sleepy and yawning, rubbing their faces. 
"Here they are," he says but stopped once he felt the tension in the air. "Is
something the matter, m'lord?"
As much as it would be lovely to stay he knew they had no other choice. 
"I am afraid there has been a rather dire change of plans," Shinya says. "We
must return to our base at once. There was an attack on a human, and the
vampire we have in captivity might escape."
Asagi paled and he gasped in concern. 
"Oh dear! Well... I am not certain how I can help but..." He then paused and
began to think of something. "Actually there may be a way. If I may speak." 
"Anything would help," Shinya answered. "But whatever it is, we must hurry."
Asagi looked to his underlings with worry and determination. Perhaps if...
these two went along? Ruiza was still young but he was not the youngest, so he
could be okay. Hide-Zou would protect him in the event anything happened
nonetheless. The things they knew were important, so if they were to go help in
some way...
"Ruiza, Hide-Zou, my lovelies," he began softly and took each of their hands in
his. "There is no time to explain, but your Creator must ask a heavy favor of
you."
He just hoped it would work.
//////////////////////
A black hooded figure stands in a now completely redone room that reeked of
blood and other... fluids. He has his dark haired head spotted with black
feathers bowed in front of a figure on a silk covered bed, also stained with
blood.
"So... You let him get away? Pity. I have expected better of you by now. But
failing three times is inexcusable."
A flinch, followed by a deep regretful sigh. 
"My deepest apologies," comes the meek answer. "They... They were too quick so
I had been unable to-"
But his words catch as he feels a cold clawed hand reach under his chin, sharp
claws forcing his head up so he could look into deep cold red ones. Just
looking at them made his body freeze over with terror, despite the creepy sharp
toothed grin. 
"Do not try and feed me your excuses," comes the spat out reply. "You have
failed to catch them despite the obvious trap we managed to set up even from
here. And for that, you have to be properly punished. And you know how that
goes don't you dear?"
Once again, fear rendered the figure helpless and immobile. No. Not again..!
"Please, just give me another chance-"
But a sharp pain at his throat forced him to stop. Deep claws have buried
themselves deep into his flesh, and deep rivulets of red have already began to
paint his skin red. A burning agony electrified his body and he remained frozen
in place. Cruel eyes are burning in rage, but the almost melancholic looking
smile would throw anyone off.
"My dear, precious Haru... Once upon a time you may have been useful to me,"
comes a gentle but icy purr. "Vampires of your caliber and species are rare
after all. But after many years and many failures, perhaps it is time to retire
your services hmm?" 
A painful pressure clamped down on his windpipe, and the dagger like claws
pierced even deeper. Unable to breathe, Haru spluttered for air as a single
black feather was suddenly yanked from his head. Desperate he tries to pry the
fingers away from his throat but that only served to make things worse as the
grip tightened. Through blurry tears he can see the precious feather in his
Master's claws along with an evil smile. Was he going to die? But he couldn't
die. Not here. Not right now. 
"Mngh... Mas... ter... ple... please," he choked. The lack of air was already
making him dizzy. "Please... I'll do... anyth-thing!"
But by now, he was sure the claws had reached the important fleshy parts, and
blood was like a waterfall down his throat and staining his dark clothes. The
eerie figure was as nonchalant as ever, his smile sweet and long blonde hair
framing his face. But the most eerie thing happens. The claws leave his throat
and he's able to fall to the ground, coughing and choking for breath through
the blood cascading down his windpipe. 
"Yes I do believe you have said that before," came a thoughtful answer. "Three
times too many. Go. Do not dare to show your face here again, or it will be the
last time you ever do."
Hurt, and with a now very thick coating of blood in his throat the vampire
cried softly at his Master's feet before an unsettling screech leaves his
throat and he turns into a puff of smoke, disappearing out the hallway. 
"I'll never forgive myself... I don't deserve to live..!"
All that was left in his wake was a single black feather. Somewhere down the
hall, the cry of a raven echoed through the blood stained building for the last
time.
TBC
***** Chapter 56 *****
It started raining again as soon as they left the city, though now it was worse
than before. What was once small peaceful plops against the window turned into
violent and loud thudding against the window of the car. Koichi was just
thankful that Tsuzuku knew his way around a vehicle otherwise they would
otherwise have had to wait it out. Koichi stared out at the bleak darkened sky
through the blurry streaked glass. Even the windshield wipers were having a
tough time wiping away the torrential downpour.
Despite this though, Tsuzuku kept his speed just slightly above the speed limit
of sixty even out of the city. Luckily the estate was no more than ten miles
away. Still, this speed made him nervous. 
That and looking back to talk to Shinya earned him an eyeful of the vampires.
They seemed much more intimate than he imagined those in the same coven to be.
He was sure that siblings weren't supposed to be so tangled up in one another
as they currently were, with the blonde snuggled under the other's arms and his
legs in his lap. Weren't they siblings or... something like that? Well he
didn't know how vampire covens worked. 
"The rain is ridiculous," he sighed and settled back into the seat. "Are you
sure you are okay driving in this?"
Tsuzuku shot him a charming smile only briefly before continuing to concentrate
on the slick roads. Luckily not many humans were not driving in this weather. 
"I'm fine hun. Take a load off for a while."
Koichi was grateful that Tsuzuku tried to not make him worry, but still. Maybe
this was the best time to ask the two vampire fledglings in their backseat what
they knew. 
"So what was that things that Asagi sent you with us for?" he asked them as
they sat silently in the back. Their silence and intimacy was making him a
little unsettled.  Hide-zou, the darker haired one, held his smaller companion
close as he could without it being too weird. 
"Sena knows this much already, and if he trusts you then I suppose we can. We
found and raided what was once their base in the human world but it has since
been deserted and they all moved to the Homeland. The base was an old World War
Two bunker that they renovated for their use. Their main reason was to use it
for holding half humans and other victims for turning and brainwashing for
their so called 'Master,' though many did not survive."
This time the blonde one spoke. What was his name again?
"There were many casualties," he began somberly. "Many humans died before we
could save them. And those that did survive had to be taken to a rehabilitating
center nearby that is solely for our kind.  Though a lot of them were...
broken." 
Okay that was a term he hadn't heard before. Koichi frowned and turned in his
seat to look at them with a worried expression. 
"What do you mean broken?" he asked, though he dreaded the answer. Hide-Zou's
facial expression changed from bored to disgusted. 
"Broken is a term us vampires use for when a human is being changed but not in
a conventional way. Their makers use intense torture and feed from them at a
fraction before death and use sex to make it normal. We look down upon such a
barbaric method, and deemed it as 'breaking,' as that is generally what happens
to the victim."
This time Shinya spoke, his face calm and collected. 
"No doubt we have already seen this in action a few weeks ago when we
infiltrated that den not far from the company building," he mused. "Though I
did not know the term at the time."
Now that he thought about it, Tsuzuku did remember when that happened. And it
was awful. So many people died. And all because of this method..?
"I remember," he says. "And like Shinya said, I didn't know what that was
either."
"It's a term that doesn't get around much, so not surprising. I guess you
should know though, it may be useful. Anyways, we managed to catch two workers
who looked after the fledglings. But they died without their masters to
overlook their development." 
Again, a new term.
"What do you mean workers?" 
Ruiza growled, though it sounded more conflicted than aggressive. 
"A worker is a creature that was supposed to only exist in myths, at least to
our kind. They are created only by Old Ones, and seeing two of them was...
surreal at best. They are like vampires, but... more primitive I guess is a way
to describe it. I guess they are just... lesservampires? They... oversee the
making of other full blooded vampires, make sure they have enough blood and all
that. Like how a queen bee would have worker bees, it's just like that."
"I never knew lesservampires were a thing," Shinya said. "Though nowadays I
guess things should not surprise me anymore."
Tsuzuku wanted to add more to that but he knew that they were approaching the
turn off now so anything else they had to say they had to say it now. 
"Do we know anything else about what they are planning?" he inquired. Hide-Zou
once more scowled in return.
"Not much else from what you guys probably already know. Take over the city,
turn the humans into his personal blood bank, blah blah blah."
Ruiza nodded, crossing his arms.
"And the fact that he wants to enslave most of the vampires he hasn't already,
make them into a personal army. It's sickening really."
So did they not know why he was doing it? Well maybe Sena did not know
everything. 
"You know why we are involved right?" 
Hide-zou shook his head and crossed his arms.
"That was what I was hoping you could tell me," comes the indignant response.
"Sena doesn't tell us everything you know."
So they didn't know that they were probably the whole reason this started. If
only he hadn't met Ryoga that one day... Maybe this would not have happened.
Their lives would not have been interrupted and things would be not as sucky.
"That old bag of bones is after me and Koichi," he finally said, sighing.
"Apparently I have something special he wants though I am not sure what that is
yet. I am sure it's nothing though."
But with their luck he would be surprised if that wasn't the case at all. He
just wish he knew the answer to that.
The vampires seemed surprised and exchanged meaningful looks with one another
before the blonde haired one spoke in response.
"So you're the elusive daemon and Phoenix 'fugitives' that them vampires are
after."
Koichi rose an eyebrow.
"So you have heard of us."
"We have. We just didn't know you two were the ones," Hide-zou says quietly.
"We just thought you were people who wanted to help us. As vampires, we tend to
hear things whispered around in the creature underground. But our Creator said
that if we did run into you, to be grateful for your help."
That too was not surprising. Asagi must have had ties to the other side before
coming here and that was why they knew these things.
He probably would have spoken longer, but the turn off for the estate
approached and Tsuzuku was forced to cut off their conversation. The dashboard
read twenty eight minutes after midnight. Driving onto the gravel road took all
his concentration as the way was muddy and water hydroplaned across the
asphalt. Since the road was at a higher level this caused the water to torrent
down and flood the road, making for a very messy and bumpy entrance.
"They said there are vampires here, so we have to be prepared for anything. No
doubt Aryu is waiting for us to come back so we can tell him what to do."
Shinya sat there briefly as they went along the gravel road before his phone
rang again. He grimaced and picked up after only the second ring.
"Shinya here."
Even from the front seat, Koichi heard a frantic voice on the other end of the
line. It sounded like... Aryu. Gasping for breath like he just ran a marathon.
"Shinya! Please hurry! There are two other vampires here and they are trying to
kill everyone! I... I barely managed to get to a phone to call you!"
"Aryu. Aryu please calm down. Please calmly say what is going on."
But the vampire was not listening too well, still panting and sounding
terrified. 
"They were chasing me. I.. I can't find anyone! Takashi and Tomo got out. Yoka
and the other humans are in danger. I-I can't do it alone! They....-ook them...
-lease hur-"
But before he could say any more else the line goes to static and then to the
dial tone, not even giving Shinya a time to respond. The sheer panic caused his
emotions to go haywire and he stuffed the phone in his pocket.
"Tsuzuku," he barked. "The situation has become dire. Hurry." 
"What's going on?"
In the rear view mirror he can see his boss make an upset face, one so rare he
felt a lump swell in his throat. He knew that Shinya was absolutely livid.
"The estate is under attack. If we do not hurry, we may lose more than just our
home."
"Vampires?" Koichi questioned, receiving a nod shortly after in response. "W-
what should we do?" 
"What else can we do?" Hide-Zou comments with a scoff. "We have to fight, there
is nothing else to it."
Fighting wasn't exactly something he could do right now. He barely learned how
to hide his tattoo's for crying out loud! 
"But... I don't know how to fight," he answered in a small voice, feeling just
as terrified as he was only an hour prior when they were being chased. "We
just... kept running this whole time. And..."
As his voice falters Tsuzuku's grip tightens, and he takes a deep breath to
clear his head that was swarming with vicious thoughts.
"I know you're scared Koi," he answered seriously. "But now is not the time to
be doubting yourself. Our friends are in danger. Sometimes the only way we can
really learn how to do things is to do it in the moment and worry about
consequences later."
Yes, Koichi knew he was right... He was still so scared though. What if they
failed? What would become of Mia and Meto, or Aryu? Or even the humans he had
come to be so fond of?  
"Tsuzuku is right," Shinya added softly, though his voice trembled. "The
situation has taken a drastic turn. I fear that this may be our only chance for
you to learn the extent of your powers and how they can help. Otherwise all may
be lost."
Koichi swallowed fearfully and once more attempted to stare out of the window,
seeing a familiar set of lights appearing through the storm. The lamp posts
seemed to be the only lights on, as everything else was plunged into darkness.
"There is no time to dwell on it, princess," Hide-Zou says sternly. "Asagi-san
sent us here to help and we intend to do just that. Now pull on your big boy
pants and let's kick some vampire ass." 
Tsuzuku pulls the car to a slow halt just shy of the front door and they all
pile out with Shinya in front, Tsuzuku and Koichi behind him then the other
vampires. Right away, they were hit with cold air and an uneasy atmosphere
lurking within just the entrance hall. Every light was out, so he had to rely
on his night vision to see. 
"Spread out, look for survivors," Shinya instructed as they enter an abnormally
dark foyer. "If you see any vampires, hide. If you come into contact with one,
orders are to kill without hesitation. You two, go with Tsuzuku and Koichi,
they need to be protected at all costs."
Hide-Zou and Ruiza nod grimly, their faces somber but full of a fire Shinya
knew was the thrill of a potential hunt. Their eyes blazed even in the darkness
and he felt a small sliver of hope if very fleeting. Still, it was there. 
"We understand. But what will you do?" Ruiza questioned. Shinya just smiles,
though it is nowhere near as jovial and carefree as it usually was. 
"I can handle myself if push comes to shove," came the answer. "It's gonna take
more than a few rogue vampires to take me down. Now go, hurry. I'll search for
Aryu, you search for the others." 
Tsuzuku stepped forward and put a hand on Shinya's shoulder.
"Be careful. I don't want to hear about you getting hurt."
The smile lingers, but this time it grows just a tad wider. 
"I should say the same thing, you have someone you have to protect. As do I." 
As he makes for the bottom left wing of the building Tsuzuku calls out to him
one last time. 
"We'll meet back here in an hour. One. Hour."
Stopping Shinya looked back, his smile now to his eyes but with a sadness he
had never seen before.
"We will see."
Then he was gone, closing the doors behind him with a click. Now they were
alone. Koichi began to feel an even deeper sense of dread he hadn't felt before
and he almost could tell how much of an emotional toll this was going to have
on Tsuzuku. His lover stood there, watching the door with an intense
melancholy. He was worried, and he had every right to be.
But Shinya was years and years ahead of him, both in age and experience. So he
had no reason to worry. Right?
"He'll be fine Tsuzuku," he assured his worried lover, placing a hand at his
back. "Right now we have humans that need saving. And our friends need our
help." 
Tsuzuku seemed to finally come to his senses, blinking slowly and shaking his
head. 
"Yeah no I.. I know he will be. It's Aryu I am worried about. I know he was one
of them at one point. They know him and he knows them, inside and out. So who
is to say they won't try to persuade him back to their side?" 
So that was what he was worried about. That Aryu would be persuaded to the dark
side again like when he was infected. Now that he thought about it, Koichi
could see how that would be a problem. But standing around here wondering
wasn't going to do anything about it. 
And apparently the vampires acting as their extra eyes seemed to think the same
thing. Ruiza impatiently taps his foot as Hide-Zou said what they were both
thinking.
"If you're that worried, then we should get a move on. There could be eyes on
us at this very moment. You have a duty to uphold daemon, whether you like it
or not. Asagi did not send us here to mosey along like helpless babes in the
woods. Now is the time for action." 
Tsuzuku sighed deeply and looked back. He smiled apologetically and took his
and Koichi's things to set them on the floor at their feet.
"Guys... I'm sorry. Let's go upstairs first, I have a feeling that something
that may be up. But first things first Koichi. We're in our own territory here,
it's best we look the part."
His blonde hair parted to make way for the glorious horns sprouting from his
head, showing him for how he truly was. A daemon in a world of humans, an
immortal among mortals. And Koichi was no different. 
He took off his sweater and did as his lover taught him, breathing in deeply
and shutting his eyes as he felt the muscles in his back start to contort and
stretch, allowing a deep burning sensation to begin licking at his spine. It
hurt, but only a little. It felt like fire was splitting his skin apart but he
liked it, considering he had fire inside of him at all times. Finally two boy
structures erupt from his skin, illuminating the room around them in a fiery
white and blue blaze but only for a moment. The flames flickered before dying
away, leaving only the white feathers in all their glory. Even the vampires had
to take a brief step back. 
"Amazing. So this is what it is like to see pure light," Ruiza comments as he
stared in awe. "Asagi never told us you were a White Phoenix."
Tsuzuku's chest swelled with pride as his lover pushed his wings out
successfully without help, and couldn't help but marvel at the size of them.
Now they spanned Koichi's body twice over, reaching above his head even when
folded behind him. The pinkette exhaled a breath and took a shaky step back. 
"I'll explain it later. C-come on, we should go," he says after being the focus
of attention for a few seconds. "I'm getting nervous the longer we wait." 
Tsuzuku realizes he had been staring and takes this as his initiative to take
the lead. 
"Let's go towards Mia and Meto's room, if they aren't there then we should at
least find clues as to their whereabouts. Koichi, please make one of your
lights. We may need it."
"Of course," Koichi says and holds out his hand. A single pink and white flame
the size of his pinky finger appears in his palm and he concentrated to force
it to grow to fit his whole hand. "I hope that... wherever they are, they're
okay."
The steps echo under their every step and seemed to make the estate bigger than
it was, and that unnerved him very greatly. With three blood thirsty vampires
on the loose, he had no idea if any of them were watching them or not. And it
creeped him out to no end. Just as a precaution, he made sure to link himself
to his lover, not straying even a step away as they enter the upper left wing
of the building. Here were four main bedrooms, on of which was Mia and Meto's
It was down on the end, though that was what made this all the worse. 
"Their room is down here," Tsuzuku states as calmly as possible despite his
nerves. "Though it would do us good to check every room."
The hallway they stared at was as ominous as it got. At the far end of the
hallway was a light post mounted on the wall, it's bulb dimly lit and
flickering frantically as though trying it's hardest to come back to life.
Koichi shivered and almost let his flame die out from the shakes. 
"This is the worst," he grumbled as they slowly made their way down the plush
burgundy carpet, passing the first wooden door cautiously. "It's like anything
could reach out and grab us at any second."
"Just keep your head clear," his lover says back with an assuring squeeze to
his hips. "If anything happens, I am here with you every step of the way. Now,
I'll open the door. Be prepared for anything. You two should stay out here just
in case anything happens."
The last part he directed to the vampires, who were silently on guard this
whole time. Hide-Zou gave him a single incline of his head, his eyes flashing
defensively.
"You can count on us, but hurry it up, this place gives me the creeps."
The daemon slowly reached for the brass handle of the large door, letting it
stay there briefly to prepare himself before pushing it open. The creaking is
like a horrible screeching to their enhanced ears and Koichi flinches. Inside
is just as quiet, but the curtains have been pulled back to allow the sparse
light from the outside lamp posts to filter inside. Though it does not do much
to lessen the dread. Koichi aimed his light around the room, careful not to set
anything ablaze as he did so. In here, he could smell a very familiar lavender
and mint scent that made his heart twinge. 
"This is Shinya's room," he mumbles softly, almost so no one could hear him at
first. "And I can smell Wrath in here too. But... no vampires. The room is
clear."
Tsuzuku looked around the room briefly but didn't find anything of substantial
use. They exited and shook their heads at the silent look Ruiza gave them. They
move to the next door, which was just as empty. Just the smell of Wrath
lingered about. Now all that was left was the last door.
A huge bay window took up most of the bricked and plastered wall next to the
door, showing the dark abysmal weather outside and an occasional far away
strike of lightning. Maybe this weather was an omen of sorts. Or maybe Koichi
was just getting too far ahead of himself due to his fear.
"Open it," he says as Tsuzuku hesitated in front of the door. His lover briefly
looks back at him and pushed it open, once again met by darkness. In here,
Koichi was hit with his best friend's scent. He smelled like a sea breeze on a
calm summer day, mixed with a type of citrus. But of which type he wasn't too
sure. Meto's scent was also there, and he was reminded of a forest with huge
trees and fresh spring rain. Both scents mixed together seamlessly to create a
time stamp on the whole room, telling him something that calmed his nerves just
a bit. 
"They were here a while ago," he revealed as he walked about. "But they fled.
This scent is about twenty minutes old, meaning they can't be far." 
"Good, this is good," Tsuzuku answered with a half smile as he too wandered
about. "That means they must be safe... right?"
Koichi shrugged and walked to the drawer beside the bed on the far end of the
room, searching through it. At first he saw nothing but scraps of newspaper and
a few white crumpled sticky notes, thinking nothing of them. But one of the
notes had a... strange scent on it. Not like anything he had ever smelled
before. It smelled a lot like... decaying flesh and coagulated blood. It was
subtle but just a brief whiff made his stomach curl in on itself. It was awful
but he knew it had to be a clue. 
"Tsu. Look at this," he said and gives him the note. "I think I found something
but I don't want it near me."
"Why is that?" Tsuzuku asked and inspects the note. "What's the matter?"
he slowly unfolds it only for it to be completely blank save for a small symbol
engraved into the bottom corner. That would not be so bad if... it wasn't
written in blood. Maybe that was why it smelled so horrible, it wasn't normal
blood. This was from something terrible, something foul. And he just hoped that
whatever it was, it was not in this room. 
"Do you think... something happened to them?" he asked. "Maybe we're missing
something."
Tsuzuku frowned and seemed to catch onto the rising tension in the room,
stuffing the note away for later inspection. He quickly scanned the room for
any danger and let out a breath when he found none. But what Koichi said was
true, just because they were no longer here did not mean they were safe. They
had to look at this from all aspects. 
Now Aryu did say that Takashi and Tomo had already fled the estate. But as for
the humans, they still needed to be found. their rooms were across the way in
the lower right wing just down the stairs.
"Maybe. But we should look for Yoka and the other humans, there is no way they
can last for long on their own. Come on."
Leaving the room they meet up with their body guards and make the trip back
downstairs where they quickly cross to the door leading to the right wing. Here
there were four more bedrooms, only smaller than the ones upstairs. He never
learned all of the rooms they stayed in, but doing a quick sweep of all of them
showed nothing. Only mixed scents since every human shared a distinct scent
pattern before delving into something unique. But they were all mixed up so he
couldn't tell who was who. Which didn't help at all. 
As he let his thoughts trail off a sudden phenomenon caught their attention. 
"Do you guys feel that too?" Ruiza questioned, baring his teeth. "I don't like
the sound of that."
"Me neither," his companion agrees as they listen closely. Beneath their feet,
a dull but repetitive thumping could be heard. It lasted for all but fifteen
seconds before stopping altogether. That could not be good. Shinya must have
found something, or someone. Tsuzuku bolted to the doors of the wing and holds
it open. 
"Come on, it's coming from the basement. Shinya must have something."
He takes Koichi's hand as they all but run to the left bottom wing across the
foyer, throwing open the doors to the main living area where a dying fire
glowed in the fireplace. It's embers weakly spit and coughed, trying to stay
alive. Someone was here and it was recently. 
"The basement is through those doors," Koichi says as they rush to the pantry
doors just nearby. "We can catch whoever it is off guard."
These kinds of moments made Koichi really wish he was just dreaming. But
everyone had to face reality at some point didn't they?
The stairs into the basement were just as dark as everywhere else, so Koichi
had to use his light as guidance as they practically ran down the three flights
of steps before entering into a large corridor. A sudden feeling began to
prickle at his skin and he froze. Here he stops his companions from going any
further, telling them to be quiet. 
"Listen," he whispers. "Can't you feel that?" 
Indeed, as Tsuzuku focused he could feel a web of energy coming from the
hallway, specifically the first large door to their right. It was cracked open
just a little, and he could just tell that something was amiss. He pointed out
the door, angling his head to the vampires who looked ready to pounce. 
"You two go first," he mutters silently. "Once we hear something we'll come
inside."
Hide-Zou grinned as he cracked his knuckles. Ruiza just bared his teeth again,
eager to kill.
"Don't mind if we do. Come on Ru."
They burst through the doors, and hear something crashing coming from inside
almost instantly. Then screeching could be heard, like the noise of what you
would hear a barn owl make. It was loud and grated on their ears something
awful. A few seconds pass, but to Koichi it felt like close to an eternity.
They waited on pins and needles, the pink flame having been long since
extinguished.
"Tsuzuku-san!" came a sudden scream. "I could use a little help in here!"
Koichi gasped.
"That was Hide-Zou... He needs help!"
His lover nodded, grimacing. 
"Right... Koichi. Before we go through this door promise me something."
The pinkette stared fearfully at his lover, trembling with anxiety. 
"What?" 
Tsuzuku takes his hand, placing a single kiss upon the back of it as softly as
one possibly could. 
"Please promise me that no matter what happens here tonight, you'll be brave
for me. Okay? And promise me to do whatever I say in the next few seconds."
Koichi swallowed, immediately weighed down by an indescribable pressure. Was
this really the time? Perhaps it was the only time.
"I... I promise."
Tsuzuku flashed one of his famous smirks, and lets go of his hand. Then as
quick as a flash he slammed the doors open and screamed at the top of his
lungs. Koichi follows close behind, only to almost drop to his knees as he came
face to face with the gruesome image before him. 
Blood seemed to soak every inch of this room, drowning his senses in thick rust
and salt. He involuntarily gagged on the thick scent, and had to cough to get a
hold of his senses again. He stared in horror as he saw the two vampires he had
spoken to only seconds before were in the process of tearing apart a body
before his very eyes. An arm was thrown to the floor followed by a spurt of
dirty blood. Then the other, more blood. All the while agonized screeching
could be heard coming from the victim as he was mauled alive. His body crumpled
in a heap to the floor, but that didn't stop the two from continuing their
assault.
Nearby Tsuzuku had another body pinned to a nearby wall, an animalistic growl
tearing from his throat as he flashed his own sharp teeth and tore out the
jugular of his thrashing victim, producing a garbled choked wail. The vampire
struggled for air through a backed up snarl, his face painted in crimson.
Tsuzuku grabbed his face and slammed the back of his skull into the wall behind
him to produce a sickening crack against the bricks.
Numb. His whole body felt numb. Koichi could see blood spraying everywhere. His
vision began to go red and he froze in place. He was witnessing a literal
massacre before his very eyes and yet... he just stood there, unable to move.
'Tsuzuku... is killing someone. Why aren't I reacting..?'
"Koichi! tend to Shinya and Aryu! Hurry!"
That was when he spotted them. Shinya and Aryu, both on the bed and covered in
blood. And both seemed to be in a state of shock as they lay against each
other, unconscious but seemingly unharmed. Koichit ran to them, finally
snapping out of his stupor. 
"Shinya! Aryu..!" 
They would not respond. Behind him he could hear the dying words of the vampire
being torn apart, so he turned to listen. With increased horror he realized he
recognized the vampire that was staring at him with deep yellow eyes, smiling
despite himself. 
"Guys wait, he's trying to tell us something."
Disgruntled the two backed away a few feet, coming down from their murderous
high.
"Mas...ter... Master will be.... pl... pleased," he choked out. "I have...
found... the one... he will be... pleased with me..."
"You," Koichi breathed out slowly, standing to approach the vampire. "You...
You're the one who was following us."
"No Koichi, stay away from him," his lover warned, coming up beside him to tug
at his arm. But he pulled back.
"No, don't you recognize him?" 
"Y-yes... don't you... recognize me?"
Tsuzuku glared at the vampire and his eyes widen in surprise. 
"No way." 
But before he could make any accusations the vampire cackled, his bloody stumps
of limbs continuously spurting and bubbling up deep red blood. 
"You're a lot smarter than I give you credit for... master will have... a lot
of fun with you."
Then his body began to secrete a thick black tendrils that crawled all over his
body, enveloping him in a cocoon of blackness. His eyes glazed over into
nothing before his body was covered entirely, and the room was silent. Then
like a chain reaction the other vampire that Tsuzuku had taken out too was
enveloped in the same black cocoon. 
Tsuzuku growled, slamming his fist against the nearby wall. 
"Damn it! First they feed on Shinya and Aryu, then we figure out it's him!
Fuck!" 
He growled and sat upon the bed, steaming. But Koichi could tell he was trying
to keep himself from exploding. The blood covering his clothes wasn't helping
much though. He just sighed and held his arms to himself, biting his lip. 
A very bloody Hide-Zou then spoke up, confused. 
"I have something to say. That vampire, he said something when we were
attacking him." 
"And what was that?"
Ruiza scowled. 
"I am afraid that they have your friends, the hydra and the spirit. They were
taken by the other vampire that got away."
Koichi stood up and approached the dust pile, his chest pained with each
breath. 
"Then I guess it's time to go back. Take back our home, and get our friends
back."
They all stared as the black cocoon things began to crumble, as though the very
air was causing it's rapid degeneration. The first one crumbled to a pile of
fine black dust, with only a single black crow's feather left in it's wake.  
TBC
***** Chapter 57 *****
Koichi wasn't sure what exactly had happened in the minutes following the
return to his and Tsuzuku's room, but the next thing he knew he was in the
vehicle they were in before, still in the front seat with Aryu, Ruiza and Hide-
Zou in the back seat. His wings were one and Tsuzuku looked just as human as he
did before this whole debacle started.
Shinya and Wrath however were in another vehicle behind them as they sped back
to the city. By now it was around five in the morning, and he was certain that
the sun would be coming up over the horizon soon. 
The humans were found shortly after they rescued Shinya and Aryu and took some
moments to clean up. Thank God no one got bitten, but Yoka had gotten scratched
up pretty badly. Might take a few weeks to heal... Apparently Wrath was the
reason they managed to survive, having shoved them in a broom closet and
warding it before trying to take them on himself. Yoka, Tatsuya, Kei and Shoya
were a little battered up but Koichi was glad they were still alive.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked Yoka over the phone. "You don't need to
take a few hours to rest?"
There was as shuffling on the other end followed by a sigh.
"We're fine, you guys should know we're tougher than we look. You have
important stuff you have to do, and we don't want to hold you back. We'll be
right behind you all the way, then once you're where you need to be we will
follow up on that lead those other two vampires gave us and check out the
abandoned nest for more clues. And Shinya-san said you gusy can enter the
portal first, Tomo and Takashi should be waiting for you on the other side.
Good luck."
Even after he had hung up Koichi felt unsure.
"How did they get in?" Tsuzuku found himself asking. "I thought we warded the
hell out of this place."
The fence around the estate was made of wrought iron bars that were easily ten
feet tall, and had wards all over. So the only way for them to be destroyed was
if either someone who had originally created them did so, or if someone with an
incredible amount of power. Of which none of them were able to do. 
"I don't know," Aryu admits. "I was down in my room when all of a sudden the
power went out and we were attacked. They found me trying to hide and attacked
me, I blacked out before anything else could happen."
So from that Tsuzuku knew that Minpha had to have had help somehow, or... he
was stronger than they thought. Just thinking about that was scary. The
conversation they had before leaving was still playing fresh in his memory.
"There was...a  pink haired demon here," Kei had said softly as he was getting
bandages on his arms and hands. "He had cat ears and blood all over himself. I
thought he was killed, as I had heard about him before from a few of our
sources." 
Shinya nodded solemnly, ignoring the sideways glances of his other half.
"Hm yes, we thought so too, but... apparently, something is keeping him alive.
And he's against us now, so we have no choice but to do anything we can to stop
him." 
"And even though we can't come along and help, just know we're all counting on
you," Shoya says with an out of place smile. "No pressure or anything."
They all knew that. Perhaps Koichi did even more than anyone here. They were
supposed to be friends after all, even if briefly there was surely a bond
there. But knowing it was all a ploy to get closer to know their secrets? It
stung, really badly. And knowing that made the whole situation worse. He just
had to wonder how long he had been dark side before finally breaking. 
Even Tsuzuku probably knew what he was feeling, and... Tried his best to be
supportive. Aryu could feel the tension from the conversation linger even into
this car. The silence coupled with the bumpy feeling of the gravel road
unnerved him, and he was desperate for some sort of way to break the feeling.
"What am I going to do?" he wonders out loud from the left side of the
backseat. "I know that they might want me back... I know things, I know what
his mind is like. If anything he likes underlings who are strong. I incubated
him inside my body and survived. More than likely he'll try to persuade me. And
I am afraid it might work... My mind is very vulnerable right now."
Koichi stayed silent, not sure of how to answer right now. But the two other
vampires beat him too it. Hide-Zou specifically, and with a bit of snark.
"Well first you need to cut out all the self doubt. You were host to a powerful
God among our kind, surely you had at least a shred of self confidence back
then?"
Aryu flinched a little bit, staring at his hands in his lap. Yes, he did as a
matter of fact. His ego was the size of the sun who was he kidding? But that
was then, when he was under parasitic influence. Now though, all that self
worth was sapped out along with the parasite, and now he... wasn't sure who he
was anymore. He tried to plaster on smiles so no one would worry about him. But
if anyone else knew of the internal self struggle he was suffering with right
about now they would go insane. 
"I know that," he answered softly. "And I did. But when he left me behind to
die he took all of that with him. Now I don't know how to be useful, there is
no reason I am here other than what I know about him. But even that is still
foggy."
Koichi sunk even further down in his seat, feeling a little guilty. Aryu was
still thinking he wasn't useful for anything else other than his knowledge
which, for the record, wasn't true at all. He may not have known what Hell Aryu
has been through or what he was feeling but he knows how it feels to be in a
hard place. They were friends even if he didn't know him well right now. That
was all that mattered. 
"See, this is what I am talking about," Hide-Zou sighed deeply, shaking his
head. "You have no spine, no self-worth. You are a pure blooded vampire just
like us. Even without a master, even without a memory of your past life, you
need to remember that we all come from one place."
Aryu looked up, his sullen face looking so forlorn and out of the norm of his
usual smiles. 
"And where is that?" 
Hide-Zou's stern face then melted, and for once in this entire time he
seemed... sympathetic. Even Ruiza, the usually expressionless one, was nodding
slowly with sad downcast eyes.
"We vampires come from one place, and that is home. Wherever your home is,
that's what you need to think about to find your strength, your motivation to
keep going and keep fighting. So just... remember that. And everything will be
fine."
From there, he stopped talking and pulled Ruiza even closer to him and stares
out the window with an otherwise uninterested face. Aryu just sits there, his
eyes staring ahead of him as he mulled his thoughts over in his head. Maybe
Hide-Zou was right. Before, he had come across as confident and over zealous
about his overall attitude. 
But crawling out of that city after the intense rejection his body forced him
through, and barely getting out of there with a thread of life left, surely he
was expected to have some issues. And he knew that someone of his blood and
stature should be more angry, more willing than most to fight and take back his
home. But he was just.. so tired. Tired of fighting, tired of seeing people he
cared about taken away. Tired of hurting people. 
Centuries of fighting, with little to no payout for his efforts, was
exhausting.
"You're right, I am a coward," he answers. "But that doesn't mean I am not
trying. I wake up every day with nightmares of what I had lived through. Seeing
the world evolve and pass by around you as you slaughter innocent people and
magical kin alike as you're helpless to all of it... I was suffering
constantly. It was the worst thing to have ever happened to me, and I can't
expect you to understand how I feel. I just... need time."
From there he too went silent and curled up into a ball on the seat, shivering
as he shut his eyes closed to lose himself in his thoughts. However he did
become less tense as he finally got what was bothering him off his chest.
Perhaps this talk was just what he needed.
The rest of the ride to the city passed in silence, and everyone was fine with
that. 
Koichi was ready to almost nod off from drowsiness when they finally reached
the city limits, the familiar orange lights making him feel more secure. Soon,
they would be going home. And they would probably not be coming back here again
any time soon. Who knows what would happen there? There was always the
possibility of the worst happening and that terrified him. 
That worry only seemed to escalate as the sun began to make it's first
appearance as the sky was tinged with pinks and purples. It would be dawn soon,
and not a safe time for the vampires in the back seat. They needed to hurry and
make it to the portal or else things would only get more complicated. 
"Asagi sama should already be there," Hide-Zou suddenly spoke after a long
while. "So there won't be a need to stop back at the house. We're going to hang
back with him and round up all the help we can possibly get. Then we'll come in
and help take back the city."
Tsuzuku made a relieved face, his fears of making a pit stop assuaged. 
"Thank you, you've all been a big help to us, really. Yoka and his team will do
anything they can as well up here, following up on what you have told us."
Hide-Zou smirked, fully aware of what help they had been so far. Asagi would be
so proud of him. 
"I know, aren't we just a godsend? I'm just upset there wasn't much else we
could say about it, or provide the humans with more protection."
"I'm sure that even this was more than what we could have asked or hoped for,"
Koichi assured him with a weary smile. "They will do anything they can, even if
it meant putting themselves in danger. I am sure they can handle it"
Oh he didn't doubt that. Under any normal circumstances a normal human would
have been killed very easily. But those humans were trained professionals so of
course they would at least have a chance. 
His thoughts derailed again and he blinked himself awake for the hundredth time
just as they were approaching the all to familiar building at Shibuya Crossing.
Here they park in front of the first empty spot they could that was across the
road at some random cafe. Koichi stared out of the window at the humans slowly
trickling in from the various buildings, knowing very well that their well
being depended on their success. He may not like humans very well, but
condemning them to a life of vampire slavery was just... selfish.
"Come on, the sun is gonna be up any second now," Tsuzuku pressed. "It's best
to leave all of our things in the trunk for now, carrying anything unnecessary
will only slow us down."
Sheepishly Koichi realized he had been staring into space and quickly exits the
car with only his back pack on, pulling his sweater close to defend himself
from the early morning chill. Once he was certain Tsuzuku and the others were
ready to go they crossed the famous multi laned road to the building, where
another deep black car with tinted windows was parked in front. Upon seeing it
Ruiza gasped, an unusual noise for him. Koichi walked ahead with tsuzuku thugh
he couldn't help but be curious.
"That's Asagi's car!" he chirped excitedly and tightened his grip on Hide-Zou's
arm. "Do you think the others are here too?"
Hide-Zou chuckles fondly, another sound he was unfamiliar with. 
"Most likely. I missed them too."
Just how tightly knit was this group anyway? From what he understood by Asagi's
explanation, Ruiza was the next youngest besides Tsunehito, whom he had yet to
meet. The dynamics of covens were still weird to him. 
The others had not arrived just yet, probably still weaving through early
morning traffic.
"Tsuzuku, what should we do first?" he asked quietly as they approached the
front door. His lover thought about it for a few seconds. 
"Well, it would be best to go first, then figure that out. Though I think
Shinya would agree with me when I say that rushing in without a structured plan
is like asking for death."
"So we should wait for him," he concluded to himself. Tsuzuku smiled. 
"Sounds about right."
The main area was as dark as he remembered it being from when they first
arrived here, which seemed like such a long time ago but was only under a week
at the most. Seeing as how it was still super early the store was deserted. 
"This place is creepy," Ruiza commented under his breath. "I never liked being
here all that much..."
Koichi could most definitely relate to that sentiment. It seemed so much nicer
here when people were actually about even if such things made him
uncomfortable. 
"Asagi is probably upstairs, we should go and wait for Shinya to arrive." 
As Tsuzuku spoke footsteps were heard coming down the spiral staircase from the
second floor. Three vampires cloaked in darkness soon stepped into the main
area where they were and Ruiza let out a shrill squeal. 
"Asagi sama!" 
The young blonde practically threw himself into the arms of the vampire in the
middle, squealing happily. Indeed it was the mysterious vampire from a few
hours ago, smiling and laughing as his fledgling greeted him with enthusiasm.
Hide-Zou lookd like he wanted to do the same but abstained, instead being a bit
more calmer and going to stand near his coven mates. 
"Ruiza! I missed you baby," Asagi cooed to the young vampire sweetly and pets
his hair back. "Did you behave like a good boy?"
Ruiza purred like a cat and wrapped himself even tighter around Asagi.
"Yes I did! I helped out a lot!"
Hide-Zou smiled at his creator, a strange warmth in his eyes. 
"And what we knew turned out to be quite useful, so there is that."
Whoa Koichi was really feeling out of it. It seemed like the vampires were
entirely different people, bursting at the seems with happiness and
personality. Was every vampire like this with their creators? It wasn't like he
could ask Aryu about it. Witnessing it was still strange. The other two
vampires stood just nearby with fond smiles on their faces.
"That's good, I'm so glad you are safe and sound," Asagi answered and kissed at
Ruiza's head before turning his attention to the other three in the room.
"Thank you for keeping them safe. I had heard about what happened at your
estate and I grew very worried." 
Tsuzuku laughs a little bit nervously, not used to being praised for such
things. 
"Well they actually kept us safe... They're very skilled, you've trained them
well Asagi-san."
The older vampire just holds the blonde as close as he can before letting him
go to have a moment to speak. 
"We're more than grateful for this chance to help, and I am sure that we will
be of great use to you, so please do not hesitate to ask us if you need
anything."
"Of course we will, and the same goes for us. We're willing to help our own."
Ruiza then goes to the other three of his coven, letting himself be enveloped
in their arms and reveling at the soft whispers in his ear. The youngest one
then hugs Ruiza just as tight as he did to Asagi, beaming brightly through soft
kisses to his pale cheek. Koichi could see then the strange dynamics that
worked between them all. They weren't just a family. They were all... connected
in a way deeper than that. Asagi wasn't just their creator, just their father
figure. He was clearly also more than that by the way he gazed at his
fledglings with such an adoration that he felt would be inappropriate to any
normal family member. It all seemed so much clearer. Even Tsuzuku seemed to
pick up on it, looking away awkwardly.
Behind him Aryu shuffled around, probably still not used to being around other
non hostile vampires. And he looked tired, maybe having a rest would be good
for him. So he suggests just that.
"You look tired Aryu, maybe you should take a breather and come with Shinya
when he gets here," he comments, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. "You
need to be at your best for this." 
He seemed like he wanted to protest, but Asagi spoke up for him. 
"They are right dear one, you look absolutely exhausted," he said to Aryu in a
pleading tone of voice. "Please, wait for Shinya with us and sleep, you might
need it."
It seemed like everyone was against him wasn't it? Well what was the point of
trying to fight it? If he tried going down there now his exhaustion would get
the best of him and he would be vulnerable. So with a heavy conscience he gave
in, nodding at Koichi with a weak lopsided grin. 
"I guess you're right... I don't want to be a burden when things get nasty.
Thanks... for everything. You guys helped me when no one else would so...
Really, thanks a lot."
Koichi grinned back, not as lopsided but just as heartfelt. 
"Of course. What else are friends suppose to do?" 
Aryu's face finally lights up with genuine happiness and he thanks Asagi before
going up the staircase. The older vampire watches him go with a melancholic
look on his face and sighs. 
"Something about that boy seems strangely lonely... He does not have a creator
to go home to does he?" he asks sadly. Tsuzuku frowned. 
"I am afraid not. He hasn't been with his Creator for centuries now, at the
very least."
"Centuries?" Asagi asked with a startled gasp. "How has he survived so long?"
Did Asagi not know about what Aryu had gone through?
"Do you not know about him?" he asked with a confused tilt of his head. "He...
he was the one who was pulled into all this mess. His body was the one that
held that Old parasite for so long, and after it rejected him he barely
survived. I thought everyone in the magical and immortal communities knew." 
A look of realization crossed Asagi's face and he pales even more than normal,
holding a hand to his mouth to stifle a gasp. He looked genuinely shocked and
upset, how could he not have known?
"I... did hear of a young vampire in the area who survived an attack, but I...
I didn't know what kind of attack it was. I'm so sorry, the poor thing must be
dealing with some severe trauma."
There really wasn't much more to say about this, aside from what he must know.
Tsuzuku knew that Aryu was just as important to this mission as they were.
Perhaps even more so. 
He took the time to make sure they had everything they needed in a single
backpack before he makes Koichi get ready to leave. 
"Keep an eye on him," he says to Asagi. "He's been an emotional wreck since the
incident at the estate. And the ones he used to control are now targeting him
for some unknown reason." 
Asagi nodded, contemplating his thoughts.
"Hmm... we'll need to add even more wards then, the ones that won't hurt us of
course. But what will you do now?"
"We're gonna settle this," Koichi answered, determined. "We have to take back
our home no matter what."
At this Asagi's smile returned. It was so refreshing to see younger generations
of the magical community so determined. 
"I see. Well, I don't know of what else I can do right now other than wish you
the best of luck. Once you get over there, I have no doubts that everything
will be in utter disarray. Do be careful." 
Tsuzuku was grateful and happy to know that they had the support of such a
respectful and humble vampire like Asagi. 
"We will, and thanks. I honestly believe we could not have done this without
your help. Our human friends are looking into the leads you gave us, so
hopefully that will have some use."
Shinya would be getting here soon, but they had no more time to lose. Mia and
Meto were waiting for them most likely.
"We should get going," Koichi said to his lover. "Shinya will have to find us
later."
"Of course you're right. Well, I guess... this is it then." He paused and
turned to Asagi again, smiling wide. "Please tell Shinya we went ahead, and
that I asked him to be careful."
Tsuzuku takes Koichi by the hand and they go to the door again, waving at the
vampires for what could very well be the last time. Asagi goes with them to the
door, intent on seeing them off.
"I shall, don't worry too much. You two be careful as well." 
Koichi accepted the hand around his waist and waved again as the door closed
behind him. Outside the sun was now starting to peek over the sky scrapers of
Tokyo, painting the sky with yellows reds and oranges. It would be a while
before he saw the sky like this, in such a vibrantly colored blue. He just had
to wonder... if this would be the last time. 
He sucked in a deep breath and they made their way to the back alley where the
door to home was. Tsuzuku did what he usually did, slicing his palm with a
sharp tooth and letting his blood stained skin unlock the door. It was dark as
usual, but unlike last time Koichi could smell many scents lingering in this
corridor. 
Mia. Meto. Tomo. And Takashi. All these scents were the most prevalent ones,
and gave him a surge of self confidence. 
"Are you ready love?" Tsuzuku asked him as they began the descent closer to the
portal, the door slamming shut. "Once we cross that threshold we may never come
back for a long time."
Of course he was ready. He had been ready for hours now.
"Yes. Because I am certain that even if it may take us a while, this won't be
the last time we set foot here."
Tsuzuku couldn't help but to greatly adore Koichi in that moment, gazing at him
and sighing. 
"Gods I love you Koichi." 
His lover smiled, taking his hand.
"I love you too Tsuzuku. And I promise to protect you no matter what happens."
They reach the bottom of the steps, pausing to stare at the brilliant swirling
patterns of purple and white. Tsuzuku swallowed nervously and looks to his
lover, adoration practically lighting up his face.
Koichi took this as a signal to hug his lover tight, feeling all his anxiety
from earlier hit into him with full force. This was it. This was the day that
determined the outcome of what felt like a year long struggle. It all fell to
them. 
Squeezing tightly Tsuzuku kissed his head. Then both his cheeks, and then his
nose. Thin but warm hands then cupped his face, bringing their faces together
so their eyes could meet. Koichi stared into his lovers devilishly handsome
face, feeling his heart swell with a million emotions at once. Oh how he loved
this man.
Then their lips touched for a sweet kiss, and his fears were calmed for a few
precious seconds. But those few seconds were all he needed to feel a spike of
courage to finally set foot through the portal after only days of being here,
never letting go even once.
'I'm coming Mia. Just wait for me.'
***** Chapter 58 *****
Chapter Notes
     A little late, and I apologize for that. But proofreading is a bitch
     (lmao)
     Anywho, I hope you like this one :)
Things on the other side were much worse than either of them had ever imagined.
Getting outside and to the cool nighttime air showed them just how bad
everything had gotten.
The inside of the warehouse was damp from a rainstorm, and there was absolutely
no sign of anyone being there in what seemed like hours. So Tsuzuku made it a
point to quickly rush through without stopping just in case. He also made sure
to turn on the phone he got here as well, knowing his human world phone would
be useless. 
Outside everything was dark and the air was bitterly cold. But they could see
the city lights, dim and not as vibrantly lit. From somewhere else smoke rose
from a probable fire. No doubt it would be a ghost town when they entered it's
limits. Or at the very least, vampires would be prowling the streets. 
Tsuzuku felt his stomach drop when he noticed one more thing. The car was gone.
His beautiful baby that was supposed to be warded was nowhere to be seen. The
bastards somehow even managed that to do that much... 
Koichi breathed out in disbelief, unable to believe his eyes. Was this really
their home? Had things given so bad that vampire wards could be broken so
easily? And how would they get to the city now?
"What do we do?" he peeped softly and pulled his sweater close to him. "Now
that the car is gone..."
His lover pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling and exhaling to calm his
rising internal turmoil.
"Well... Without the car we will just have to hoof it," he replied in a none
too happy way. "We should wait for the others though before making any
decisions. Just the two of us attempting a rescue mission would be suicide."
Then a thought occurred to Koichi and he looked around.
"Shouldn't Tomo and Takashi have been here? I thought they were supposed to be
waiting for us."
That too was another thing that Tsuzuku failed to realize right away. Maybe
there was a perfectly reasonable explanation... But then again when was that
ever the case? Tsuzuku frowned, and pressed his hand to his face in
frustration.
"I want to go look for them as much as you do, but for now we should think
about what we should do once we get there."
Koichi found a patch of asphalt that was relatively dry before sitting himself
down onto it, tired. At least like this he could see the stars. For however
long that lasted...
"Like what?" 
Tsuzuku took notice of his lover's hunched looking posture and plopped himself
onto the ground next to him and taking hold of his hand. When was the last time
they just sat together like this? He couldn't remember.
"Well... we know the parasite is hanging out in Shinya's building, the
bastard... so he has control of the city right now. Getting will be an issue...
so laying low is our best bet right now. As for finding Meto and Mia... That
will take some doing."
More than likely, there were alarms and rewards out for whoever caught them if
his intuition would serve him right. Being out in the open would render them
vulnerable to attack or capture. The lower and lesser beings would do anything
not to be hurt, and so... anyone that they trusted who got left behind could no
longer be an option to go to for help. So they were on their own for that. 
And there was also the fact that some vampires could turn themselves to shadows
and prey on people in dark streets. It was a double edged sword with the worst
circumstances possible. 
"Do you think... they're okay?" Koichi asked in a gentle voice. "I just... Mia
might still be delicate mentally, he might be going through something I can't
imagine."
Honestly, Tsuzuku didn't know how to answer that question. It would be nice to
answer along the lines of 'don't worry' or they will be okay,' but since he
didn't have all the answers it would not feel right to do so. 
So naturally he stays silent, instead squeezing Koichi's fingers for comfort.
In response his lover leans against him for support, blinking his eyes to stay
awake as long as he could. He was just so tired... It felt nice, just being
near him and knowing they weren't separated. he smiled wearily, reveling in the
heat of his lover's body.
"You know, besides all the terrible things going on right now, I just want you
to know that I-"
A sudden buzzing in Tsuzuku's pocket cuts him off and his lover gives him an
assuring squeeze to his fingers. 
"Hold that thought Koi," he murmured and fished out his phone before glancing
at the screen. Whoever it was made a sudden hopeful expression bloom across his
face. "It's... from Tomo."
Tomo? So he had to be okay right? 
"What does it say?" 
Tsuzuku quickly scanned the message and grew even more hopeful, only for the
hope to fall away again. 
FROM:_Tomo:  Tsuzuku -san_this_is_Tomo._I_made_it_here_with_takashi_and
Amaterasu ,_but_she_ran_off_as_soon_as_we_arrived_and_some_vampires_broke_the
ward_on_your_car_and_made_off_with_it._I_think_they_might_be_planning_a_trap
"He said that they're okay and they made it to the city... but only after...
they saw three vampires break the seal on my car and take it to their head
quarters. They plan to use it to lure me to them, but..." 
The phone buzzed again. Multiple times in fact as messages arrived one after
the other. Maybe the reception in the area was finally getting to his phone.
FROM:_Tomo:  Are_you_even_getting_these?_Please_text_me_back_if_you_are,_we're
starting_to_get_worried.
FROM:_Tomo:  We_knew_we_were_supposed_to_wait_for_you,_but_there_were_a_flock
of_at_least_four_vampires_here_and_we_killed_one_then_burned_the_body,_but_the
other_three_got_away
FROM:_Tomo:  I_tracked_down_your_car._It's_at_the_main_building_just_as_I
suspected.
FROM:_Tomo:  Please_let_me_know_if_you_got_here,_I_can_come_pick_you_up_and
take_you_to_a_house_that_has_some_people_who_can_help_us_out
"What is he saying?" Koichi finally asked. Tsuzuku began to feel a strange
doubt lingering in his brain and he knew that he had to make sure that it was
their friends and not someone who got a hold of his phone. Each time stamp on
the texts were five minutes apart, the last one being ten minutes ago. That did
not bode well...
"I need to make sure it is really him and not someone pretending to be him," he
says and sends a quick reply. "But just in case we should let them know we are
here."
TO:_Tomo:_How_do_I_know_this_is_really_you?_Tell_me_something_only_the_real
Tomo_would_know
"I guess that makes sense, but would someone really impersonate him just to get
to us?" 
Tsuzuku made a scrunched up face that broke his usual cool attitude. 
"Honestly? In this messed up time in our lives I would not be at all
surprised."
The response to his earlier question came almost immediately in the form of two
messages one after the other.
FROM:_Tomo:  Ugh_FINALLY_U_ANSWER_ME.
FROM:_Tomo:  Yes_it's_really_us._Remember_that_time_I_first_met_Takashi_in_the
human_world?
FROM:_Tomo:_Would_any_bloodsucker_know_about_that_at_all?_I_hardly_even_talk
about_it_with_Takashi
Okay so it had to be him. There was hardly anyone who knew about that besides
them specifically, and how would a vamp get their hands on such information?
Tsuzuku visibly sighs in relief.
Now he could ask questions.
"Okay it's him. Now we have a game plan."
TO:_Tomo:_Good_to_know_it_is_you_buddy._Now_that_I_know_it's_you_what_kind_of
plan_we_talking_here?_And_what_do_you_mean Amaterasu ran_off?
TO:_Tomo:_Also,_we_are_at_the_portal_entrance,_so_come_pick_us_up_if_you_can
"Is Takashi okay too?"
Koichi and the other half human seemed to have bonded considering they shared
the same genes now. But now since Amaterasu took off, they needed some sort of
respite with her gone. And they found that in their lovers now that they were
separated. 
"Yes... They found someone who can help, and I asked him to come after us so we
can do something finally."
FROM:_Tomo:_Gotcha._We'll_talk_more_when_we_get_there_so_hang_tight
FROM:_Tomo:_If_Shinya_san_is_there_too,_we'll_help
Well unfortunately Shinya hadn't gotten here yet. So they would have to wait
for him too. 
TO:_Tomo:_Thanks._Hang_tight
"Let's go wait by the portal, Shinya must not be too far behind. And it looks
like it is going to rain soon."
Koichi stood up with the help of his lover and they shuffled back inside for
shelter.
"Okay... Maybe I can sneak in a nap as well."
He did look exhausted. What a way to spend his birthday. Tsuzuku lovingly puts
his arm around Koichi's waist and kissed his head. Worriedly he pets his hair
and cooed softly into his ear. 
"Go ahead and sleep, I'll wake you up when they get here."
And when we get to the city, I'm gonna kill whoever laid their hands on my
baby.
////////////////////////////////////
It took a a half hour later that Koichi finally was roused from his sleep via
gentle fingers through his hair. He was met with several familiar faces.
Shinya, Wrath, Asagi and his coven were there too not surprisingly. But so were
Kyo, Kaoru, and Aryu as well. Where the hell were they this whole time? He
wiped at his eyes and sat up from where he had his head in Tsuzuku's lap. From
outside, he could hear pattering of heavy rain against the metal roofing of the
warehouse. It must have started when he was napping.
"Hey... you're here," he chirped at Shinya as he stood up, beyond relieved. "We
were getting worried." 
Patience flashed a bright smile at him, something he never failed to do these
days. 
"No need to be worried about us," he assured them. "We needed a bit of time to
prepare ourselves, and Aryu needed to eat before we came."
The blonde vampire turned red and ducked his head down briefly. 
"Sorry you had to wait because of me," he sighed and self consciously held his
arm to his side. "I was feeling tired because I hadn't eaten after I was
attacked. There was a lot of blood I lost and had to get back."
Tsuzuku and Koichi just wave off his apology, their faces showing nothing but
understanding. 
"We understand you can't help stuff like that," Koichi insisted. "But I am just
so glad to see you up and about."
At such kind words Aryu immediately felt a little bit better, even smiling a
little bit. 
"Thanks... I do feel a lot better. Now I won't be a burden on you and your
friends." 
Koichi agreed whole heartedly and was ready to get ready to go before he
noticed one minor detail. 
"Wait. Where are Die and Toshiya? Weren't they with you?"
Kyo snorted and Kaoru sighed. 
"They decided to tie up a few loose ends before coming back," he answered. "It
may be a while before we see them."
As they got that out of the way Shinya then became serious, his eyes flashing
in the dimly lit warehouse. He got like that when something really got bad.
Like now for instance.
"Now, serious talk Tsuzuku. How is it outside?" 
The daemon frowned, his eyes narrowing in anger. 
"Not good. The city is... overrun with spies and three of the bloodsuckers
somehow got off with my car... Tomo and Takashi will be here any minute with a
vehicle. Though I am not sure how all of us will fit in one car. Depending on
what they bring that is. We don't know that yet."
Kaoru made a displeased grunt and crossed his arms. 
"Well whatever, Kyo and I can run alongside the car for external protection if
we have to," he huffed and earned himself a glare from his partner. "Isn't that
right?
The smaller ghoul groaned loudly in displeasure but made no objections
otherwise. So that meant Tomo still needed to show up. 
"So what do we do once we get into the city?" Wrath inquired his counterpart,
to which Shinya hummed in thought, tapping his foot as he usually did when deep
in thought. 
"Let's see... It would be simpler to split into two groups," he began. "One
group to scour the area around the main building, the other to face the enemy
head on to prevent anyone else from coming in. I know we don't have much else
to go on, but we don't have the time."
Tsuzuku knew that would be the case, and hopefully... there wouldn't be too
much conflict. He didn't want to put anyone else in danger at his expense if he
could help it, not any more. 
"Tomo sent me a message not too long ago, he said it'll be another five minutes
before he gets here. And it's raining right now, so maybe longer." 
From that point on, the group continued to wait for their ride to get there.
The only ghouls of the group decided to wait around outside just in case any
other bloodsuckers decided to show up. Everyone else sat in a circle just by
the large metal door to the outside, not saying anything. Thanks to the heat
off of Koichi's body no one grew cold. 
It grew deathly silent, the only sound being the pattering of the roof. Koichi
was ready to lose his mind until the door came open and a ripping wet Kaoru
poked his head inside. 
"Hey uh... Our ride is here," he drawled slowly. "It's the other daemon so at
least it isn't a trap."
"Oh thank God," Aryu exclaimed and shoots up to his feet like a weed in spring.
"I thought I was gonna die of boredom sitting here."
He was the first one to join the others outside, and Koichi had to seriously
admire his bursts of energy. 
Once the rest of them got outside Tsuzuku whistled in surprise at what was now
in the parking lot. Blaring bright headlights flooded the entire area like it
was daytime. As his eyes adjusted Koichi felt his jaw drop in disbelief.
"Um... I think we will have enough room," Tsuzuku mumbles under his breath, his
eyes wide.
"Oh yeah. Definitely."
Tomo soon stepped out of the huge black industrial sized van, with Takashi soon
after. Both were decked out in leather and various metal accessories. Since
when did Tomo have a hummer??
"Hey guys!" Takashi greeted happily as he and his lover approached them. "Hope
we didn't keep you waiting?"
Tsuzuku walked around to the driver's side, still ogling the monster of a
vehicle. The tires were easily five feet high and thicker than two people. Was
this what they were working with? If so he had no qualms whatsoever. 
"Not really, we haven't really thought about it actually," Aryu admitted. "So
how are we all gonna fit in here?"
But he walked around to the back before getting an answer, more mutterings
falling from his mouth without thinking. Tomo just looks back to the group
questioningly.
"Do we need to wait a little longer?"
"No no, not at all," Shinya assured them breathlessly. "As long as you don't
speed then we can all get going as soon as possible." 
It took a few minutes, but finally everyone seemed to squeeze into the vehicle.
Aryu sat up front with Tomo and Takashi, while Koichi, Tsuzuku, Wrath and
Shinya squeezed into the middle seat. There was another seat behind that where
Asagi and three of his older fledglings sat while the two youngest sat across
their laps all at once. And right in the very very back was Kyo and Kaoru. They
would be the eyes for the back window was their reasoning, just in case anyone
was following them.
Once on the road Shinya finally broke the silence lingering over all of them,
as no one was sure what to say. He sounded nervous but one could tell he was
trying his best not to be. The voice of reason in a sea of turmoil, as he
always was. 
"Meto and Mia are our priorities right now. Even if we can't over throw them
tonight, as long as they are safe then there is always another day."
No one responded right away, but Koichi took that as initiative to ask a
question. 
"Tomo-san, where is Amaterasu by the way? You said she disappeared? But
where?" 
The daemon sighed, his eyes never straying from the road as he drove. 
"I don't know, as soon as we got here she just... disappeared, literally. She
told me and Takashi not to come looking for her as she had to do something very
important. We're on our own, for now anyway." 
Takashi nodded, biting on his quivering lip.
"But I feel like she might be doing something to help us in our efforts, so
don't give up on her okay?"
Koichi knew that Takashi had grown attached to Amaterasu as she was literally
like his mother. And she was also his own mother if he thought about it. The
sun Goddess was the reason he was who he was, and that was something he had to
uphold. If not for his own sake then for hers. HIs own parents however... he
wasn't sure anymore. Even though he promised them to be more involved and visit
them he hadn't seen them but once after that week they came back. 
Since then, he just did not have the time. This was more important right now,
and his parents would have to wait. 
"So... what do we do once we get there?" he asks again. He really couldn't
stand awkward silences. "Shinya did say we should split into two groups to
avoid our capture."
"That is our best plan," Wrath began softly and pulled out a phone. "Though if
I may, can I suggest one other thing? Maybe three parties would be best after
all." 
"What do you mean?" Asagi asked quietly. Wrath taps away at his phone and
brings up a photo of the blueprints to the main building. 
"We do need someone to look for a way to seed out the vampires from the
building and we got that covered. And we need to send a group to look for Mia
and Meto. However, we are over looking one other thing."
"And what is that?" Tomo questions. "We already know where they are, that
bastard of a cat demon is holding them deep in the holding cells where we had
Juri those weeks ago. remember?"
Wrath nodded, still tapping away. 
"Ah yes that may be, but the thing is we have no idea where the innocent
civilians are. Someone needs to look for them and make sure they are okay,
killing any hostiles on the way."
Tsuzuku had to take a second to wrap his head around the plan. 
"So... One group goes after the main vampire, one group goes after Mia and
Meto, and the other goes to help the innocents? Is that what I am getting from
all of this?" 
Quickly Wrath agrees, glad that someone caught onto what he was saying. 
"Yes, see you understand why? We need to make sure all of them are okay and if
any other half humans have been infected with the vampire parasite. Aryu told
me not too long ago that he had an idea of how the ring leader was controlling
those who work for him, but he needs to make sure he is right before we attempt
anything crazy."
Soon after some more discussion everyone was in agreement, though as to who did
what they were unsure. 
"Well we best find out soon," Tomo informed them. "We're just about there now.
The city is crawling with turned blood suckers and they all know you're here.
Best to be careful."
"All right," Tsuzuku huffed and looked around at the group of people. "We only
got one shot at this. Any screw ups and you could be captured, or worse. So...
I think it might be best if the strongest ones deal with the rescue mission.
Tomo, Takashi, Kyo, and Kaoru. You guys are my best bet." 
"Of course, we'll do what we can," Kaoru answered. Kyo just shrugged, his face
as passive as ever. 
"Then, for the civilians. Asagi-san, if you would be willing to be the relief
for them that would be great."
The old vampire nodded his graceful head, more than willing it seemed. 
"Absolutely, but where should I take them once I find them?" 
Tomo then spoke up for once. 
"There is another place within the city, a safe place for those not wanting to
be involved with the evil that has been plaguing this city. They will be safe
there. I will give you the address once we get there."
"Then I understand," he answered. "I will do my best to help you. However I
can."
"Good," Tsuzuku answers with a shaky sigh. "Then... this leaves the rest of us
as the ones who will face him. It would only be right for me and Koichi to be
involved, as well as Aryu. He knows what they are like, so he will know
hopefully enough about what we need to do. Shinya-san, Wrath, you both know you
should too."
Oh Shinya knew, he knew very well that he was meant for this from the very
start. He and Wrath were more inclined to this then he may have thought before,
and now it was no longer a question of who, but when?
"Yes I do. This is my home, and I will be damned if I let a damn bloodsucking
bag of bones continue to defile it any longer," Wrath growled with a lopsided
grin. "I can't wait to get my hands on him."  
By now they were well within the borders of the city, forcing Tomo to switch
his headlights to low. There were hardly any other cars on the road, and those
that were were most likely search parties looking for them. No reason to call
attention to themselves.
Aryu kept silent the entire time, an unbearable sense of dread pooling in his
stomach. What if they were on a fools errand? What if they failed? What if the
Old one got what he wanted after all? So many things could go wrong and it made
him feel sick to his stomach. 
"So where are we going first?" Kaoru asked from his spot in the back. 
"There's an old underground apartment not far from the hospital that has some
people we can trust, they will give us what we need to get through tonight
without much trouble. Hopefully."
"And who are these people?" he answered skeptically. 
"They're all vampires as well, though like Aryu they are clean and are more
than willing to help us. Their names are Pitty, Kuloe and Setsuna."
Aryu froze up a little bit from hearing those names... For some odd reason he
could not fathom they sounded familiar to him. Like he knew them from years
ago. But... then again, there were probably hundreds of people he used to know
before his life was turned to the dark side. So he forced the feeling away and
finally decided to speak. 
"If... If I remember anything important, I will let you guys know right away.
It comes and it goes, but I do remember one thing from when I was infected...
He has one minor weakness among many I can't remember, and that is white fire.
He may want Koichi because he is special, though I can't imagine why since
Koichi's whole body is pretty much made of the stuff. That may be the only
thing I can say for right now."
Koichi perked up at that, feeling a little less out of his league. 
"So he will be weak if I attack him," he says thoughtfully. "I still need to
control my powers but... I can try. I have done it before."
Indeed he was having flashbacks to when he and Tsuzuku first escaped to the
human world, his wings bought them a few but precious seconds of time. 
"Good, then that is settled," Wrath said rather smugly. "I'm glad you guys were
willing to hear me out, I feel less intimidated then I did before."
Boy if that wasn't the truth, Tsuzuku was feeling that exact same way. But now
that they had something resembling a plan he didn't feel like it wouldn't be a
fool hardy mission. He just had to hope that they didn't have to fight that
much before dealing with the Old one. No doubt he would be a very worthy
adversary. 
The only thing that worried him a lot was Koichi. His powers hadn't had the
proper time to develop and be trained. So they were going on hopes right now.
Hopefully it would be enough. 
Suddenly from the corner of his eye a familiar landmark caught his eye. He
glanced out of the moisture streaked window beside him and saw a severely
saddening sight. 
The Ruby District... It's neon lit sign that would usually be bright and
inviting was now sad and dull, hanging just barely against the building it was
tethered to and ready to fall. From here, he could also see the darkened
silhouettes of the Ferris wheel and the roller coaster. Dark and abandoned no
doubt, as not a single soul walked in or out of the usually bustling place.
In fact, no one walked the darkened streets now, probably all hiding and
fearing for their lives. That is unless you counted the shadows skulking about
eerily. No doubt the vampires looking for them. 
Sadness pierced his chest and he had to take a few calming breaths. This could
not go on any longer. This was no longer just about them. It was about the
people of this city, regardless of if they were vampires. They needed a place
to call home, and right now this city was anything but. 
Now it was little more than a prison. All the more reason to make a stand here
and now. 
"We're almost there, be careful getting out of the vehicle as eyes are on us
constantly."
Koichi bites on his lip as they pull into an area he was unfamiliar with. A
neighborhood with dark old buildings and blocked out windows. Was this another
all vampire area?
The van came to a slow halt in front of one such structure, two stories on top
with another hidden deep in a stairwell that cut into the ground. As they
looked out of the windows he could see all kinds of evil wards and vampire
wards, keeping the skulkers at bay no doubt. So they would be safe here. Tomo
took a deep breath, probably to mentally ready himself. 
"Come on, Takashi let them know we were here so we should not linger too long
unprotected. It's the one underground like I said, go straight to it."
Everyone steeled themselves before slowly trickling out of the van one by one.
With quick strides they made their way to the stairwell apartment. Being the
last ones Koichi clung to Tsuzuku like he was a second skin and kept his head
down. But then a prickling sensation on the back of his neck forced his head to
the side onto the sidewalk and what he saw made his skin crawl. A pack of
vampires were lingering just yards away under a darkened street light. Four
pairs of creepy yellow eyes stared at them eagerly, hungrily. 
He quickened his pace and crossed the ward on the sidewalk in front if the
building, feeling just a bit safer. Before going down the steps he could hear
whispers, soft but just audible enough for his ears. 
"They have arrived..!"
"Master will be pleased to know of this won't he?"
"Indeed he will!"
"Come on, maybe he will praise us if we tell him!"
Thankfully Tsuzuku had tugged him into the building long before he could see
them disappear.
Inside was strangely enough very warm and lit enough so that he could see
without the help of his night vision. But what threw him off wasn't that. It
was the lack of regular looking furniture that made him do a double take. 
Everything had that old, classical victorian era about it. The couch looked
like it was made of very expensive leather and printed with deep red roses on
black fabric and had lacy trimmings all around it. There were two arm chairs
with the same patterns along with a footrest made of red velvet. Even the
carpet looked fancy. Who were these people?
"Um, is anyone here?" Tomo called out into the large space. "We're back." 
A few second of silence pass and they had to wonder if anyone was here. But
then a lone figure came out of some far off backroom and Koichi almost felt his
jaw drop yet again. 
A red haired man dressed in a black leather corset and fishnet leggings
sauntered towards them with a haughty expression, his piercing ice blue eyes
scanning the new arrivals cautiously. Then they land onto Tomo and Takashi and
his expression softens. 
"Tomo, how nice of you to finally join us," came a deep and rich tone. "I hope
you didn't have any trouble." 
"Kuloe," the daemon greeted. "No, not at all. We haven't woken you have we?" 
"No, we were waiting for you to return. And by the looks of it you brought
guests. Please, everyone make yourselves at home." 
He once more looks to the rest of the group, and Koichi shudders when those
eyes land on him. The vampire who called himself Kuloe suddenly gasped, a
delighted sound if he heard right. 
"Ah! The other White Phoenix! What a pleasant surprise, it really is an honor
to be in your presence. As for you as well." 
An honor? Was Kuloe talking about him?
That last bit was directed at Shinya and Wrath of course, as they were
practically Lords among peasants. Though none of them acted like it that was
how it was. To prove that even further Shinya laughed softly, a delicate sound
that could end world hunger if it was possible. 
"No need to be so formal, though I am glad you've welcomed us here nonetheless.
You are part of the vampires we were told of yes? You are clean of the
Parasite's influence?" 
Kuloe nodded, seemingly delighted to be speaking to the practical leader of
their city. 
"Yes, my coven and I welcome you all. We are more than willing to assist in
taking down the menace in this city, no matter what it takes."
They continued to talk until an audible gasp leaves Kuloe as he was once more
surveying the group from the corner of his eye. The vampire spotted Aryu,
sitting on the foot rest and avoiding any and all eye contact with anyone.
Probably still nervous. Kuloe stopped talking and stared at Aryu in disbelief.
Koichi could feel a new level of tension rising in the room and everyone went
dead silent. 
Did Kuloe know him? 
The blonde vampire seemed to notice that a pair of eyes was boring into his
skull and he looked up from his spot on the footrest, freezing as he came face
to face with the other of his species. He swallowed hard, his insecurities
making his brain go into overdrive. Did he know this person? It... felt like he
did. As their eyes met he could feel recognition struggling to break the haze
of memories clogging up his skull and he flinched when Kuloe let out a deep
breath. 
The silence became unbearable, and soon the first word to leave those lips
shocked everyone into a stunned haze. 
"...Aryu? It's me. It's Kuloe. Don't you remember me?"
Aryu stood up, struggling to remember if he did know. He... he did but... but
how?
"Who... are you?" he murmurs in a pained voice as a headache tore into his
brain. "Why... why can't I remember?" 
Kuloe makes a pained face and he sucks in a breath. 
"You know him?" Tsuzuku asked with surprise. The red headed vampire nods, his
eyes never leaving Aryu's. And his answer was something no one ever expected.
"Of course I do," he said and finally mustered enough courage to reach for
Aryu, not noticing the way Aryu shook like a fragile little leaf. "He is my
Creator and my lover. I finally found him."
As soon as those words were spoken he remembered. He remembered everything. 
***** Chapter 59 *****
Chapter Notes
     I am really late and I apologize for that..!
     Adulting is so hard...
     Anywho. I hope it's okay :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
He hadn't meant for it to happen.
t wasn't just a few hundred years ago. He remembered that hunter briefly and
thinking it was only a hundred years after he was created that he went insane.
But waves and waves of memories began to overfill the confines of his skull and
he knew that it was much longer than that. Much, much longer.
What he was deluded into thinking was only a hundred was in fact two hundred
years. Those first few hundred years were forgotten after being attacked by the
leader of a rival vampire coven. Those hundred years came to him like being hit
by a tidal wave during a storm.
Fifty years had passed since he was turned into a vampire, and not just as a
half human mutant. His own Creator was special and could create pure blood
vampires on his own, and was one of the few oldest vampires in the entire world
who could do so.
Gentle wise eyes the color of silver would gaze at him so lovingly, but he
could not for the life of him remember any names. All he could pinpoint was the
letter G. Maybe that would work for now.
Even if he couldn't remember names he could remember the face. And for now it
would be enough.  He could remember warm fingers going through his long blonde
hair, feeling familiar pale milky skin. He could even remember gentle fair like
his own yet kissed ever so slightly by the sun. He could remember deep black
hair like the dead of night in beautiful long braids that hung to broad but
gentle shoulders. 
He could also remember three others. His coven mates, brood siblings, whatever
you called them. Two females and one male. All of whom were centuries older
than him and already moved on with their own covens. He only ever met one of
them, a female. She was most likely very beautiful, but other than a face he
couldn't figure it out. 
Painfully aware but also weary with fatigue, his heart ached for familiarity.
So badly he wished he could remember. 
But instead he remembered the larger picture. Fifty years and three months into
vampirism was a fateful day for him. For all vampires maybe. 
He remembered coming across four male humans during a hunt, all severely
injured and almost dead. All at the hands of a vampire hunter who thought they
might have been infected. He remembered thinking how pitiful humans were, how
bold yet fragile they were. What were they to accomplish by hoping to eliminate
all vampires? Didn't they know that all magical beings were essential to the
existence of their world? 
Point being they almost killed these poor people, and he couldn't let them just
die and become ghosts, as vengeful spirits never found peace. 
So he took them to his master, and pleaded with him to spare them and make them
a family. 
But his Creator surprised him by giving him a gift and saying that he was
ready, ready to start a coven of his own. Sure they could still be a family,
but there were enough half bloods to go around. So he became a pure Blooded
vampire capable of creating other Pure Bloods. 
And so he created the three he grew to love oh so very dearly. Enough to guard
and cherish them with his life.
Each one was different in their own way. Pitty was the youngest, and Kuloe was
the oldest, with Setsuna right between them. All of them grew to be wonderful
and pure and he needed to always protect them. Sure there were tears and
hardships at first, but after a year they all grew to accept their new life and
love their Creator like he was everything to them. In a way he was. 
He kept them safe and fed them only with humans who did wrong to other humans,
who had no families to turn to for help, and only had death to look forward to.
Their deaths were merciful. Who could blame them really? 
Life continued on for them. Soon it became apparent that he grew to love them
in ways he wasn't sure of at first. He would see them all and feel love and joy
in his every being. That scared him, terrified him. Sometimes he couldn't eat,
couldn't sleep. All he could do was think of them and how much he adored them. 
Weeks would pass before he eventually figured out why he was enamored with them
oh so much. 
It was love of course. And no, it wasn't the kind of love he and his own
Creator shared, where he felt like he was a child to a parent. 
No, no this love was different. He could tell that whatever he was feeling
towards them, no one would ever see them as just his underlings, his dear
fledglings. This love was the more deep down and sensual yet more
overprotective kind.
When he would look at Pitty, he would feel an innate sense of primal instinct
to protect him, to claim every single inch of his small lithe body for his own.
His smile was like the sun, and every soft laugh or gentle cry would bring him
near to tears. It was like being torn between wanting to coddle him or dominate
him. In the best way of course.
For Kuloe, his knees would go weak at each deeply uttered word, his face
glowing with raw emotion. He felt the need to worship him, to drop to his knees
at every request that came from such beautiful yet sinful lips. If he could he
would do anything for him. 
And with Setsuna? Hell it was a very confusing mix of what he felt for Pitty
and Kuloe mixed together into a strange . He wanted to dominate and be
dominated. To protect and hide behind him. Everything was so confusing, but
that was how he felt. 
Knowing his Creator, there would be no way to know for sure how he would react
to this information. Vampire and fledgling bonds were sacred to their kind, in
more ways than one. And theirs was special. 
However after sending his precious fledglings off to bed one night he spoke
with his Creator about what he had been feeling and how to deal with it. At
first he was met with hesitation and surprise, and he feared the worst. However
those fears were soon quelled as he Creator seemed to be relieved that he was
told. 
As it turned out, his Creator had been watching him very closely as his
emotions spiraled out of control. This love was not unusual with their kind, as
many Creators had many lovers at once, and that included their own fledglings.
This phenomenon he learned to be something called Polyamory. And it was
something that even humans practiced regularly. 
Knowing this took a huge weight off of his shoulders, and breathing felt less
like a chore. 
He loved them all very much, and knowing that he wouldn't be unsure about that
made his mind feel like he had nothing to worry about. But there was another
problem. 
How would they feel? What if they all loved him and didn't like the idea of
sharing? Or worse yet, what if none of them loved him at all and only saw him
as their Creator only? He wasn't sure if he could even handle that idea. They
were his whole world, and now he understood why he was coddled by his own
Creator if to a lesser extent. 
It was scary, and sleeping near them made his anxieties grow even worse. 
Another few days would pass before it became unbearable, and he felt like the
emotions inside of him were threatening to tear him apart from the inside out.
He had to do something and quick. So he made time for just them, and told his
own Creator to go visit one of his many friends in their ever expanding circle
for a few days. 
He gathered them all in their home nestled deep into the mountainside and
finally told them how he was feeling. All displayed shock and emotional
turmoil, just as he had suspected they would. But he never would have expected
three pairs of arms to all go around him at once and their voices collectively
whispered back to him. 
We love you too.
Then the cries began to spill from his lips as he sobbed, wailed like a babe in
the woods, as their soft coos and chirps into his ear soothed his heartache. 
He was accepted. He was loved. All of his fears were for nothing and he was so
happy. They all loved him more than he thought, as they all had already figured
out that they loved him long ago.
The nights following were spent in ignorance of the outside world. Too caught
up in one another to care about anything else.
Aryu never knew such bliss as this before. Not when he was created, not when he
first fed, never. I t was almost too much for him to handle all at once. The
rustling of silk against his heated skin could still be felt as plain as day,
and the coolness did little too soothe the heat coursing through his body. 
He could still... hearthe echoes of pleasured whimpers from beneath him as he
ravaged his smaller fledgling into the sheets, all the while feeling a pleasing
warmth and fullness deep inside his center from the middle one behind him. 
Strong arms would wrap around his chest and play with him teasingly as he too
moaned in pleasure. Both from being engulfed in silky smooth heat and being
pleasantly full. In his minds drunken state he could barely make out the shapes
of his oldest holding his youngest still as he filled his other end to the brim
and caused only muffled moans in response. 
This intense dynamic would be his undoing as before long, intense pressure
would build in the pit of his stomach before he couldn't take it no more. Names
of all three would fall from his kiss bruised lips before a flurry of cries and
moans spilled from his throat and a hot white explosion of stars burst behind
his tired eyelids. Burning hot liquid splashed both onto him and deep inside
his core. 
Then he would find himself on his back and one of them riding atop him, once
more engulfing him in heat. Before anything would fall from his lips they were
silenced by something hot and thick. He couldn't breathe except through his
nose, but he would accept it nonetheless. 
Then came the biting. It had always been a thing to share blood before but this
time it was different. It was hotter, sexier, more sensual. He didn't feel any
pain from being bitten, only ecstasy. Each pierce deep into his neck, his
wrists, or even his thighs, all of it made the sensations of pure lust that
much stronger. And each time he bit down on silky smooth flesh and felt sweet
spicy blood cascade down his throat his eyes would roll almost to the back of
his skull from the sheer pleasure of it. He would never look at feeding the
same way again. 
The days blurred together. And before he knew it a week like this had passed.
His Creator came back, but only to say Goodbye after walking in on them once.
It didn't bother him. All he did was bit Aryu Good luck and that he would visit
again soon before disappearing. 
More days passed. Soon those days blurred into weeks. He didn't miss his
Creator as much as he should have, but he was his own vampire now. He could do
fine on his own, raising his coven with all the love he could possibly give to
them. 
He would awake and find himself covered in blood and semen and still either
inside one of them or vice versa. And he was fine with that, it just showed how
passionately they loved now. 
But there was a problem. 
Overfeeding was very real, and if any of them took it too far someone could
die. This was important in vampire society, and taking that last precious drop
could mean absolute death for whomever took it. So he knew that continuing this
would be dangerous. 
It would be time to hunt. And put their 'bonding' on hold for a while. 
But he would not have known that breaking only one day from this routine would
mean the end of his happiness as he knew it. 
/////////////////////////////////////
It all happened so fast. What felt like hours was in reality only a few intense
seconds. The sound of a whistling tea kettle was what knocked his sense back
into him and he had to take another breath.
His mind had wandered again, and he was caught up in the past.
The couch was a soothing respite for him as he stared at the ground, analyzing
every detail into his brain and trying to remember.
His friends had already gone ahead of him, having seen the tenseness of the
situation and acted accordingly. He would catch up to them later, but right now
there were more important things to worry about.   
Like his coven for example. Or what was left of it. Kuloe stared at him with
intense eyes, a mixture of worry and anxiety making his heart ache. Where had
they been all these years? What have they been doing? And how... did they
survive without him? 
"I need... I need a moment," was all he said as Kuloe tried to touch him again.
"Um... This is too much for me... Sorry but I just..."
But he just received a breathtaking smile in return, and he felt even more
guilty. Kuloe walked to the kitchen and turned off the kettle before pouring
them both a cup. 
"I understand. You need time to adjust, I understand, so I will back off for
now."
Kuloe was as beautiful as he always was, even from back then. But now, he was
different to coincide with the current timeline. Normally his hair would be
long and black, tied high above his head and his bangs ever so slightly in
front of his eyes. Now though, it was shorter and dyed a brilliant deep red
mixed with the black and spiked ever so slightly in the back. He was different.
They were different.But they were here again, together finally after all these
years. 
Now he was both scared yet eager to see the other two of his making.
What would his Creator think of him now?
"How?" 
His mouth moved before his mind could and he snapped his jaw shut. But the red
haired vampire heard it and smiled coyly. 
"How what, hm? You can tell me anything you know." 
Aryu bit at his lip again, feeling the sharp points of his canines threatening
to break skin. 
"How did you survive? Without me I mean?" he finally asked quietly. At his
question Kuloe's smile falters briefly before he goes back to the tea and lumps
in some sugar before bringing over a mug to him. But he doesn't dare give it to
him directly, knowing that physical contact right now was a no go. So he set it
on the small wooden table just next to Aryu's feet, keeping his distance. 
"I'll admit it... it was hard. Pitty almost died, and Setsuna... well he... he
fell into a spiral after you were taken away from us. But he and I learned that
since we were older, our blood together kept him sustained long enough to wean
him from your blood. Since then, we just kept to the shadows, surviving."
Indeed, Aryu could remember that fateful day four hundred and fifty years ago
now. They were on their way to the human area of Japan when hunters managed to
separate them and push him into a deep ravine. It was the last time he ever saw
them, and he could still see the looks of horror on their faces as he fell. 
Now that he thought back on it and could remember, he should have known that
humans were everywhere now. 
"Yes... I remember that. It was my fault."
"No it wasn't, those hunters really outsmarted us, but we could... we managed
to get rid of one of them at least. But who would have known that they would
ambush us in a place filled with only our kind? And manage to throw you into a
ravine to top it off? It's kind of funny now that I think about it. Still,
Setsuna beats himself up about it from time to time. But we managed."
Aryu grimaces slightly, and takes the steaming cup with one hand. 
"Well... I guess after I fell I must have hit my head or something on some
rocks, because next thing I knew I was with another vampire. He took care of me
for the next hundred years and called himself my Creator, but I always knew
that he and I were not of the same blood. I guess I was smarter than I knew
myself to be. But even so, I was lulled in by some damn hunter and made
vulnerable, and I... Well I guess you already know what happened then."
He didn't like talking about it that much, as it still stung even three
centuries later. 
There was an uncomfortable pause of silence before Kuloe spoke again. 
"Yes... we know. And we all missed you. I hope you can find it in yourself to
forgive us for letting you down."
Let him down..? Why would he say such a thing?
"How would you have done that?" he finally asked, setting aside his cup before
it would spill. "It wasn't your fault I fell, it was mine. If I hadn't
suggested that we take the less traveled road I... This would have never have
happened. I would have never been possessed, and this whole calamity would have
been avoided. If anything, I should say I let you down. I failed as your
Creator... And I failed as a lover... And now I am worthless, a coward who
flinches at everything, who... who can't even take care of himself properly...
I... I just..."
Before long, a tightness began to choke him up and he could not breathe
properly. Tears threatened to spill and he tried to hold it in and closed his
eyes. But it didn't work. Soon his chest exploded into a sob and he couldn't
stop. The pain was too much. He missed them so much, but he didn't deserve to
be here. And he didn't feel like he was worthy of ever feeling the beautiful
warm embrace of their love ever again. 
But he wasn't expecting a familiar pair of arms to begin caressing his hair, or
the sound of long gone words cooing to him like the sweetest dove. 
"It's okay... It's okay I am here. We're all here."
He couldn't take it anymore, and threw himself against the other vampire. 
"I'm sorry... this is all my f-fault," came a breathy whimper. But all he got
were gentle rubs and pets to calm him down.
"Shhh it's okay... Just know that I missed you... I missed you so much," Kuloe
purrs. "We all did. Pitty and Setsuna and I, we all love you dearly. And now
you have come back to us. We can be happy again, we can help take back our home
and we can be a family. Just like you always wanted. Right?" 
Aryu's sobs and tears soon came to a slow trickle and he clung to Kuloe with
all he had, burying his face into the soft fabric right above his hips. 
"Kuloe... I.. I missed you. I love you. I love you so much I can't take it..." 
Kuloe bent down to the couch and gripped Aryu into his arms. 
"I love you too. I love you. I missed you so badly." 
This was what they needed. Just to be with each other again. But this wasn't
enough. Just the two of them didn't make him feel complete. 
"I need to see them," he hiccuped. "I need to see my other babies, please... I
need to." 
Kuloe says nothing more, but tilts up Aryu's chin to wipe at his puffy eyes and
chase away the tears. 
"They're sleeping in the other room, but I need you right now. Please Aryu, I
can't take having you in my arms and being unable to touch you anymore. We can
wake them up after and you can see them. Okay?" 
Aryu sniffled and nodded, leaning into his touch. 
"Yes... Please..."
Then he received the first kiss from Kuloe in over four centuries and he felt
like his chest would explode. 
Soon all the clothes seemed to melt from his body and he found himself
straddling his dark haired lover on the carpeted floor, stuffed full to the
brim in ecstasy as his knees shook. Hands on his hips grip tightly and don't
let him go but he would never dream of such a thing. Not ever again. 
After a rough rhythm he finally feels his finish coming closer and he cries out
in sheer bliss, feeling a bloom of liquid fire deep inside him. He collapses
onto his lover, breathing heavily and feeling warmth seeping from between his
thighs. Soon he's in warm arms against the carpet, and more tears spill forth
as he broke down again. 
"I love you... I love you."
Finally. 
"I love you too Aryu. Please... never leave us again."
Finally he was home. 
Chapter End Notes
     DON'T YOU LOVE POLYAMOUROUS CHARACTERS
***** Chapter 60 *****
"His name is still a hazy mess, but all you need to know now is how to approach
him. We have a connection, and he is using that connection to try and persuade
me to go back to him. But I found my coven, and the pull is not as strong as it
used to be. So I can tell you everything.
"The main floor will be guarded, very heavily in fact. But His ego made him
have his guards leave the way in from underground unguarded so we can expect
the way in from there will be easy for Tomo and Takashi. However, despite the
guards on the main floor, I think you will have no problem getting in if you
fight hard enough. He is expecting you since he was alerted by his lackies, but
that does not mean you should not be on your guard at all times. Just walk up
to the front door, and push your way to the top. 
"They will try to separate you, but under no circumstances are you to let that
happen. Whenever you get the chance, give them absolute hell. Remember what I
told you Koichi. He is weak to your powers. And he won't harm you orTsuzuku if
you use that fact to your advantage. There is no way I know of to cure a
vampire of His control, so you will have no choice but to kill any one that
gets in your way, and burn the body lest they come back to life.
"Please, be careful. And never, ever, let him persuade you to go to his side.
Or everything we have done up now will be for nothing."
/////////////////////////////////
"Are you sure we should have let them stay alone like that?"
They had all left shortly after learning more about Aryu and his past.
Traversing the city with someone as vulnerable as he was was probably not the
best idea right now.
He would need time to spend with his coven, Tsuzuku understood that. His kind
were not always emotionally stable with these sorts of things. Time was the
only solution here and time was very hard to come by as of now.
His lover caresses his cheek, smiling but only halfway.
"Don't worry. He needs them. After centuries of being apart don't you think
they need some time together? We don't want him to get hurt while he's
vulnerable like this. It's best this way."
He agreed, but it was still hard to not be worried. What if he never
remembered? What if... What if he forgot about them in favor of his coven and
ran away instead? There were so many things that could happen to skew or mess
up their plans. And it was scary.
Not to mention, his own emotions were already feeling ready to burst out of
him, like something was trying to warn him. It has been like that since they
left, but he could not do a damn thing about it. But if Tsuzuku was right, then
they needed to just keep trudging ahead.
"Yeah... you're right. Maybe I am worrying too much."
They had done as Wrath asked before hand, and split up into three different
parties. Koichi, Tsuzuku, Shinya, and Wrath were on their way to the main
building through the alley ways sprawling throughout the city. Asagi and his
coven of four went looking for the innocents that were hiding out. And as for
Tomo and Takashi, they headed in the opposite direction as them but to the same
destination. 
"There's no such thing as worrying too much in this situation," came Shinya's
gentle chirping voice. "It's normal. Do not upset yourself too much and keep
your head clear."
He had almost forgotten they were walking behind them, too caught up in his
worry. 
"And you best keep your voice down," Wrath added after that in a soft hiss. "We
don't want any bloodsuckers prowling the streets to hear us coming. If we see
any, it's best to be from behind where we can surprise them."
True, the alley they were in had to be only about three blocks from the
building. No lights were on in the streets, and the usually bustling lively
windows were dark and cold. Deserted. So they all had to rely on their own
night vision to see and guide their way.
It was like the damn apocalypse here. And if they didn't deal with this now...
Then the whole magical and monster world would end up the same. And soon, even
the human world. 
That was scary, terrifying to think about. So he had to do anything it took
now. This was the night that everything had to be settled. Otherwise all of his
friends' deaths and even his own would be for nothing. 
"I just hope... that Mia and Meto are holding out okay."
Now that he knew that Minpha was not his friend and their enemy, he was not
sure how much he was capable of. 
But right now, he had to focus on getting there. And fast. These alleyways were
only a temporary solace, and they knew that being in a single spot for any
longer than normal would only cause them to be caught. 
They walked through the shadows and avoided any and all vampires that prowled
the streets. So far, two blocks of silent walking and dodging later, they
hadn't been caught. Behind a large metal warehouse, he suddenly remembered.
From here, he could spot a tall white skyscraper with no lights in the windows.
The hospital...
"We're closer now, just a little further and we throw stealth to the wind. But
from here on, we had best stick to being in the shadows."
As Wrath spoke he let his eyes wander around him and spotted a sorely missed
sight. From here, he could see the large outline of the main building against
the deep blue sky that twinkled with stars. But like everything else around
here, no soft warm lights. Just an empty husk. 
"Once we get to the entrance," Shinya continued. "We'll have to make a
decision. Be peaceful or fight our way through the horde. Though I doubt they
will wish to make peace."
"Yeah I severely doubt that," Wrath sighed irritably. "Come on Shinya, you know
they won't take to us barging in very well. Let's just barge in teeth bared and
rip some vamp heads off while we're at it. Those damn blood suckers deserve it
after everything we have been through. What's the harm in upping the body count
a little huh?"
"Wrath darling, I appreciate your bloodlust and passion for this mission but
right now we have to look at it as peacefully as possible. Rein in your temper
a little."
Koichi let them continue to argue, content with just listening and waiting for
them to agree when a sudden icy prickle began to gnaw on his exposed arms, and
he shivered violently in Tsuzuku's hold. This feeling was all too familiar and
he froze in place. A thick web of cold dark energy began to swirl around them
and the stench of blood and death filled the air. Vampires..!
No sooner did he realize they were being watched did a series of voices began
to hiss and cackle from behind them and he swung around in alarm. Four of them,
all young from the smell of it. And based on their giggling and raspy chirping
they were over confident in themselves. Perhaps that would be their undoing.
How long were they being followed anyway? As far as he knew he couldn't hear or
smell anything until it was too late. 
One of them, a tall lanky one with choppy brunette hair, soon began to
scrutinize them.
"Well well well what do we have here? What do you think, Hitsugi?"  
"Some lost birds for easy pickings is what I see, Sakito," comes a throaty
chuckle. "Think these are the ones the Master is looking for?"
Koichi shivered again as the other one, also tall with red hair and lots of
piercings, continued to leer and hiss as his piercing yellow eyes bored holes
into his skull. Beside him, Tsuzuku grabbed his hand and bared his teeth in
response. 
"Oh I have no doubt of that," the one called Sakito replies. "Maybe we should
uh, give them a proper greeting?"
Before anyone answered Wrath suddenly snapped. 
"The only welcome I am looking forward to is my teeth to your neck!" he snarled
ravenously and stepped in front of Shinya to protect him. "Come any closer and
you will all die!"
The vampires shared a brief look before they too bared their teeth but in the
form of breathy egotistical laughs. The very sound was so awful and screeching,
akin to a fork upon ceramic and it grated on Koichi's ears so badly he flinched
and stepped closer to his lover for protection. Tsuzuku too had to bite his
tongue to keep from growling at the offending noise.
Then out of the darkness another one of them appeared, small and with sandy
blonde hair to his neck. Sakito and Hitsugi must have been expecting him for
they both glanced at him briefly before slinking forward ever so much, a few
inches at a time.
"So they do have some bite!" the new vampire cackled. "We're going to have fun
with you before you get caught."
Koichi should have known that a fight was inevitable, but this soon? He wasn't
sure if he could handle it. Who knows who these people were before the
infection got to them? Now it was too late. 
Sakito sneered at the other but made no other remarks. Hitsugi on the other
hand seemed ticked off.
"Ni-ya you're late. Well no matter. Let's just get this over with."
"Koichi, we have no choice," Tsuzuku whispered as the vampires began to circle
them slowly, their fangs glinting even under the moonless sky. "I know you're
scared, but we must. There is no saving them from this."
Deep inside, he knew. He knew it was now or never. Koichi sucked in a breath
and nodded, his eyes training on the vampires as they stalk even closer to them
from the darkness of the alley. Then something weird happened.
Time seemed to stop briefly. A deep, innate instinct began to clutch at his
limbs and he felt like his nerves were on fire. All around him he could feel
the presences of his companions on his skin, and the vampires as well. It left
a lingering trace of energy n his fingers, and from here he could feel each
step the vamps took as though they were his own. Like a web, the feeling
contracted with every breath, every slight movement. He could feel it all on
his skin.
What was going on? Were these the instincts he was hearing so much about? 
"Die!"
There was no time to think as one of them lunged for him in a split second, and
in that precious moment he acted. In the blink of an eye Tsuzuku was shoved to
the ground and the wings on his back burst out of his skin into a brilliant
inferno of blinding white light, and he shot out a hand to grab at the throat
of a hissing face with sharp jaws that snapped only inches from his face. Teeth
clamped open and closed and he forced his fingers to squeeze, and claws started
to dig into his arm.
But he couldn't register the pain. Something inside him made his body
impervious to the feeling of his flesh being torn into or the weight of a
monster in his grasp. He could not even hear the way the creature struggled in
his hold and gagged for air through the vice against his airways.
All he could feel was the rush of battle, of feeling cold dirty blood pulsing
beneath this monster's skin. And his wings still flared brightly and before he
knew what was happening a pulse of how white fire shot through his fingertips
and then came the screams. 
The vampire screamed and thrashed in his hold as the sickening smell of burning
flesh began to fill the air. The other two vampires stared in horror as their
nest mate was being burned alive in front of them, wailing and cursing. Koichi
felt a ringing in his ears and the roar of his fire dimmed only slightly. 
What was this... power? This raw feeling? This desire to overwhelm, to force
submission, to kill?
"Koichi! Finish him off! What are you waiting for!"
Behind him, he heard Wrath screaming at him to deliver the final blow. And he
forced himself to stare at the vampire coldly. His fingers burned as hot white
embers and the vampire continued to scream, this time for mercy and to spare
him. But the screams came out garbled and almost incoherent. The burns began to
spread across the vampire as patterns, as beautiful spirals and patterns.
Almost like... tattoo's. 
It would be so easy, so simple. All he had to do was squeeze a little harder...
Koichi knew he had to. There was no other choice. 
He had to kill.
He had to kill. 
He had to kill.
"You hurt my friends... You take over my home. And you hurt so many innocent
people... No. Mercy would be too good for a cretin such as you... You. Must...
Die."
Then, with one more push of his powers the flame engulfed the flailing
creature, the roar of the blaze drowning out any and all screams of pain. The
flames surrounded Koichi entirely and formed a small spinning vortex, but he
welcomed the licks of heat against him, knowing he would not be harmed and only
blanketed. Only his prey would.
Soon all he could see was the walls of his flame and the now burned vampire in
his hold.
The white light proved to be too much for the other vampires to handle and the
shrunk back in fear, hissing and shielding themselves as their nest mate was
eviscerated into the fiery inferno. Then, all too quickly the blaze died away,
and Koichi snapped out of his murderous hold and dropped the body to the
blazing hot asphalt. He gasped and stumbled back into his lover's arms, panting
heavily. 
What was once the vampire they called Ni-ya, was now a cold lifeless body
covered in endless black and white burns in the shapes of circles and patterns,
tattoo's. His once yellow gleaming eyes were now grey and dead. His next mates
cry out in horror, wailing and holding their heads in distress and agony. 
"You killed him!" 
"No no no! You killed him!"
Then, the body became but ashes, slowly lifting away into the night with the
soft breeze.
As they cried they slinked away, still crying and simpering before disappearing
into the alleyways, their voices echoing as they left. Tsuzuku, Wrath and
Shinya just stared after them, dumbfounded at what they had just seen. 
What intense power had they just witnessed?
"What... was that? How could one person have so much raw energy?" Shinya
questioned. "You acted so quickly, how did you manage such a thing?"
Before he was able to answer Koichi felt a stinging stabbing pain in his
shoulders, like the fire was back but now it was hurting him. 
"Koichi! Baby what's the matter?"
The pinkette just grabbed at his head, sinking to the ground on his knees in
pain.
"I... I don't know... it hurts... make it stop please..!"
"Here, take off his sweater," Shinya instructed. "If what I think is happening
is true, then he needs to let his skin breathe or he will suffer. Quickly now!"
As quick as he could Tsuzuku tugged the sweater from Koichi's body and had to
pull back. Koichi was burning up like those few weeks ago when this all
started. And as he looked closer, he saw something utterly astounding. 
"Look, something is happening. Koichi, baby can you hear me?" 
In his pain, Koichi could only just barely make out the soothing voice of his
lover. But the ringing just would not stop and he gritted his teeth,
trembling. 
"Ngh... Make it stop..!"
Tsuzuku gaped as more patterns and swirls appeared upon Koichi's skin. This
time instead of the normal white or black ones, they were red. And orange and
yellow. The more they appeared the more colors he saw. Until finally his entire
back was covered in all brilliant hues of the rainbow. 
"What's happening to him Shinya?!"
Then Koichi shook even more. A deep ache began to set into his bones and the
fires licking at him would not stop. Something began to build up in his
muscles, an energy he could not describe. 
"Tsu..! Move away! Hurry! Something is happening! Move, get away quick!" 
"Do as he says, take some cover!" Shinya ordered. "Something is coming!"
Tsuzuku panicked and scrambled away as he and the other two found cover behind
a nearby brick building. He watched, torn, as Koichi collapsed unconscious to
the ground, writhing in pain and whimpering before a brilliant white pillar of
light engulfed his lover, like a ray of sun all collected in one spot. 
Vivid bright rainbows began to dance around Koichi like small colorful birds,
the sound of chirping filling the air as he lifted off the ground. Tsuzuku
cried out and leapt up to go to him but Wrath grabbed him by the wrist, tugging
him back. 
"No! Do not disturb him!" 
Then the light grew even brighter and the roaring of wind began to whip around
them, making it difficult to hear.
"But he needs me! I can't just leave him!"
"Are you insane?!" Wrath screeched. "This is some seriously heavy magic that
cannot be disturbed! Do you have any idea what could happen if you touch him?
He could be seriously injured or even killed! Don't be stupid!" 
"He's right," Shinya answered in a raised but still calm voice. "This is a
spectacle of the ancient magic unweaving before us. To disturb it would bring
us nothing but woe and misery. I suggest we wait."
"What's happening..?" He asked softly. Shinya sighed. 
"I have an idea though I am not certain. He is communing with the ancient Gods,
something above me or even Amaterasu herself."
Tsuzuku helplessly tugged on the hold, not even trying anymore as he watched
the rainbow birds surround his lover and use themselves as a collective cloud
to lift him up before the light dims away. The birds begin to converge and mash
together almost violently. And before their eyes is a huge, brilliantly shining
Phoenix. All white with vivid rainbow feathers and long sparkling tail
feathers. And Koichi is dangling helplessly in the air before it, his head limp
and wings drooping. The bird flaps its wings and a soft tinkling voice in a
language none of them knew began to coo to Koichi. Almost in a soothing
motherly tone. 
Koichi's eyes slowly come open, and he stares at the bird first with fright,
then with stunned wonder. It continues to coo and chirp at him before lifting
its wings into a cocoon, enveloping him in it's vivid plumage and letting out
an ear splitting screech that tore through the alley and shattered every window
in a twenty foot radius.
Tsuzuku, helpless, fell to his knees in shock.
"Koichi... What's happening to you?"
And then, like a flash of lightning, the bird dissipated into a puff of rainbow
plumes. And Koichi slowly lowered to the ground before collapsing once more to
the ground. Tsuzuku is at his side in an instant, cradling the weakened
pinkette in his arms and holding him close. Now he was no longer too hot but he
still dept abnormally warm.
"Koi! Koi baby talk to me. Are you okay?" he pressed. "Please talk to me."
His lover wheezes and slowly comes to his senses, groaning through the dull
throbbing in his skull.
"Ugh... Tsu?" he peeped slowly. "Ugh I feel like someone put me through an
oven. What happened?"
Did he... Not remember what happened at all? Tsuzuku furrowed his eyebrows and
looked back at Shiny and Wrath, both of whom only threw him confused shrugs. He
bit his cheek and gently pushed at the bangs on Koichi's face to show his face.
Sweat dripped down his face and made his skin glisten. He was probably really
hot.
"You... You killed that vampire. Completely obliterated him. You don't remember
that?"
Frowning Koichi struggled to sit up and clutched at his head, hissing in pain.
"No... All I remember was pushing you to the ground and grabbing that vampire
by the throat then I blacked out. But I... Do remember hearing a voice."
"A voice?" Shinya inquired. "What voice? We heard one as well, but could not
understand a single word of it."
Koichi sits up fully but still leans himself against Tsuzuku's chest for
support, still dizzy. How could he explain it without sounding crazy?
"It was a woman. She was saying stuff like... I was special. Like no one else.
And that... I was going to save our world. The usual."
Well they had already heard all of that before. Koichi was special, they all
knew that. So there had to be more to this than just the same thing repeated
over and over.
"Can you tell us anything else?"
Koichi nodded and had Tsuzuku help him to his feet so he could breathe.
"Yes... I could tell she already knew what I knew. But then she said something
strange... Apparently, Tsuzuku is special to the old Parasite for a reason
but... She wouldn't tell me. Only that we would find out at the end of the
night."
At that Tsuzuku frowned deeply and cards his fingers through pink tresses.
"What does that even mean? I am just a plain old daemon. What is special about
me?"
Ah there he goes, depreciating himself again. Koichi grabs his hand, bringing
it to his lips in a soft kiss. The wounds upon his arms had already healed.
"Don't say that. You are special. Special to me, to all our friends. Without
you I would not even be here. I would be lost. So you are everything to me."
Tsuzuku just smiles again, pressing a kiss to the top of Koichi's pretty little
head.
"I'm glad you think so baby," he purrs. "But I think you outshine me in that
department."
Koichi giggles and stuffs his face into the crook of Tsuzuku's neck, breathing
deeply.
"I'm scared... What is happening to me?"
If there was one thing that Tsuzuku did not like and made his heart ache, it
was seeing his lover scared. He hated it, and it made him feel helpless.
Worthless. Unable to do a thing. And it was unbearable.
"I don't know but... Whatever it is, we will figure it out."
Koichi nodded and finally broke himself away from his lover, shivering as the
night air kissed his bare skin. Shinya and Wrath hovered just nearby, wrapped
up in their own little bubble. He shouldered on his sweater and finally felt
warm.
"We should get going."
Shinya approached the couple with Wrath right on his tail.
"Yes, that would be best," he agrees. "Come on, it's not far now."
The group look around one last time and make absolutely sure that they aren't
being watched or followed before continuing on to their destination.
After a good seven or so minutes they all could see the street their building
was on, and stop behind a nearby deserted convenience store.
"So. How do we do this?" Koichi asks once they spy the front entrance, swarming
with vamps just as Aryu had foresaw. "I can't use that power again, I am still
exhausted."
Shinya had figured as much, so there was no way he wouldn't be. After using
that much power at once? No way.
"Well, it would be best to go slow. Take them out one by one but avoid conflict
as much as possible to avoid becoming too fatigued. I doubt we will be able to
leave this building without some sort of skirmish."
As they spoke Tsuzuku happened to look up at the roof edge and what he saw sent
shards of ice through his veins.
"Uh guys, I don't mind to break up your little discussion but... There is
someone looking out at us from up at the top."
Koichi stopped and looked, and felt his heart drop.
There, at the very edge of the roof, was a familiar head of pink hair and
feline ears. A sickeningly sweet grin was plastered to a porcelain pink face
and fangs dripped with blood. And sharpened insane eyes stared down at them
with such menace and insanity that they all felt frozen in place.
"Minpha."
Then a voice, light but loud, thundered at them as a psychotic giggle.
"I was wondering when you would show up! I was beginning to get bored! Are you
here to surrender? Or just to die?"
Tsuzuku felt the insurmountable rage bubbling in his chest and he growled,
ready to retort when Koichi stops him.
"Don't. Don't provoke him, Tsu. He has Mia and Meto remember? Don't give him a
reason to make things worse than they already are."
Tsuzuku glared upwards and sucked in a huge breath, but managed to keep silent.
None of them spoke, and that seemed to tick off their stalker.
"Tch, not answering huh? I guess that's fair. But you ought to hurry if you
want to see your friends again! I'll be seeing you! And don't worry. The master
already knows you're here. All you have to do is survive long enough to get to
the top!"
Then he disappears, his psychotic laugh echoing away and leaving them all in a
stunned silence.
It takes a few moments but Koichi finally manages to squeak out a few words,
the ones that everyone seemed to be thinking right then. All shreds of what
used to be a desire to get him back now gone.
"I cannot wait to tear his head off."
***** Chapter 62 *****
Chapter Notes
     I might have to push my chapter updates to Monday from now on, as I
     have to do all the editing and proofreading at later times of the
     day.
     Nonetheless, I hope this is somewhat ok!
     Only a few chapters left!
It didn't take long for word of the sudden intrusion to get around. A huge
commotion began to erupt just outside the building as they waited, and sure
enough vampires were scrambling about and looking for the perpetrators. 
The four trespassers had since long taken refuge inside the nearby building
where the windows exploded, easily hidden up in the tenth floor. Koichi still
felt extremely dizzy, and had trouble staying on his feet. Besides, where they
had been only moments before was now swarming with blood suckers. But Wrath
managed to hide their scents well enough so no one could find them here.
Still. The main problem now was getting into the building itself. They had
wanted to do so without causing too much of a ruckus, but it was too late for
that now. They knew they were here, and the two they scared off probably
snitched to their Master.
It wasn't like they wanted to cause trouble, but Koichi's sudden outburst came
literally out of nowhere. And as he was now, there was no way they were getting
inside without raising some red flags. It made him wonder just how the other
four of their party were doing in getting into the back of the building for
Meto and Mia. Hopefully better than they were.
Koichi sighed again and tried to shake away the swimming in his brain before
looking over the edge of the busted away window, careful of the sharp edges and
scattered glass around him. Tsuzuku insisted that he try to sit on a chair to
be more comfortable but he knew that wasn't what he needed right now. Besides,
someone might see them. So he stayed on the ground, content to watch as he
ignored his lover's constant doting.
This floor... It looked very deserted and empty. Only having overturned chairs
and a broken table with papers of all manner were scattered about. Some marks
on the floor suggested cubicles of some sort must have been the norm before
everything went to hell.
Maybe it was some sort of office? Well at any rate, it was safe. For now.
Wrath walked around the perimeter of the large room making wards and hiding
their scent. Who knows when their trail could be picked up? Better safe than
sorry.
Shinya paced besides the window, deep in thought. Tsuzuku noticed this and bit
his tongue, unsure of whether or not to say anything or let him do his thing.
"Koichi," he says again and turns his attention once more to his lover. "Are
you sure you're alright? We can always turn back and let you rest a bit
longer?"
While Koichi wanted to be offended he knew that Tsuzuku was just looking out
for him. What was the harm in that? Still, his lover needed to trust him more.
It would take more than something like this to incapacitate him. He just needed
a breather was all.
"I'm fine," he assured his lover with a pat to his hand. "Just... Let me get
over this dizziness and we can keep going. Its not going to stop me, not now."
Tsuzuku knew then that there was little he could say to otherwise convince
Koichi to reconsider, so he keeps silent and just continues fussing over him
and making sure he wasn't hurt.
"So. We ready to discuss tactics? I think stealth is no longer on our side
here," Wrath points out once he is positive the wards are all properly in
place. "What should we do Shinya? You know that building better than any of
us."
Patience hummed again, pausing his pacing to tap his fingers against a nearby
chair. It took him a moment or two before an idea finally comes to him. It
would be tricky at best, but right now he could not think of anything else. All
they had to do was improvise.
"We need to get to at least the third floor," he says finally and looks beyond
the window to the building just in eye shot of this building. "There is a
ventilation system with a grate in the stairwell that may allow us to bypass
the vampires altogether, though only for a few floors or so. The rest of the
way will have to be fought manually.
"More than likely they have killed the electricity so there are no working
elevators. The stairs or more grates along the way are our only way of getting
up to the top. Then... We wait for the others to show up and then we give it
all we got. All I know is that whatever happens tonight and in the coming
hours, it needs to end with that thing dying. There are no excuses for
failure."
Koichi knew that this mission would end one way or another. But the possibility
of one certain one was terrifying. Him and Tsuzuku, caught like mice in a trap
with nowhere to escape and no way out. His friends could be imprisoned, or
worse tortured... 
And Aryu... God he didn't even want to think about what would happen to him. 
This whole mission could end like that, and it was enough to send the
butterflies in his stomach wild with the anticipation of the upcoming
hardships. He could only hope that he wouldn't be a burden, and that whatever
the hell happened to him not long ago would make more sense than it did now. As
of right now, he still wasn't sure what exactly happened. But he did know that
he was face to face with something or other. A big flashy bird, just like in
his dream. But what did that mean exactly? Was it some sort of warning? 
"Hmm, when you say go all out, I take it we are free to do as we wish then?"
Wrath inquired,a  bloodthirsty glint in his eye. "I take it that means you will
be fighting as well? Not just a simple bystander?"
Shinya scowled but nodded nonetheless. As pacifistic as he wished to seem,
sometimes being the very incarnation of Patience had its limits. And this was
really getting close. Even Koichi could tell Shinya's nerves were frayed.
"I am afraid so. I am loathe to use my full strength here but really what
choice have I got? This is my home, and if we don't do something here then
everything we have all worked for will be lost."
Wrath nodded, and crossed his arms as he lean up against the wall near the
window. Here, he looked out at the building beyond and could see vampires
swarming in pockets around the base of it and many more of them jumping over
rooftops and skirting around alley ways searching for them. It was like a
vortex of the blood thirsty beats just surrounded the entrance and made getting
in all but impossible. 
But thanks to his skills they all but seemed to disappear. 
Unfortunately, those wards he set up were rushed, mediocre at best. They would
last them maybe another half hour. A half hour that they in fact, did not have
in the least. All they had to know now however was if Koichi was ready enough
to go. 
The daemon seemed to be aware of the possible outcomes just as everyone else,
the good and the bad. And it made him as nervous as Koichi looked right now. 
"If we're going to fight, we need an escape plan in case things get ugly," he
mumbled as he once again kneeled next to his lover. "If Koichi is in any way
injured I need to get him out of there."
Shinya walked close to the window for the first time and held his arms to his
sides, his tired eyes glazing over as he gazed up at his old home. Deep inside,
he wanted to feel pain. he wanted to feel anger, the need to be motivated to
fight for his home. But he just... couldn't. It wasn't like it was not his job
to feel this way. All of the virtues and sins alike felt every emotion possible
even if they hid it. But right now, all he felt was exhaustion.
"If we even get that far."
Tsuzuku stared at his boss with concern, wondering where that sudden bout of
self doubt came from. 
"No Shinya," Wrath suddenly snaps and pushes himself away from the wall. "We
will. Got that far. You're not allowed to doubt yourself, not now of all times.
This is the only chance we have."
There is anger evident in his eyes, but his voice is low and controlled.
Tsuzuku can feel the controlled anger radiating from Wrath and the calm dulled
complacency from Patience in return. No wonder they were made for each other.
It was situations like this that really brought out their true colors.
Shinya looks up at him with weary eyes and smiles, his lips dried and chapped
but no less pink.
"Wrath... You always know what to do to rile people up don't you?"
Their places on the spectrum and birth given duties seemed more at balance when
they were arguing it seemed. Shinya was as delicate as a butterfly but as steel
willed as a deep rooted tree. Wrath as tough as nails but as hot tempered as a
rabid Tasmanian devil. Together they made the perfect pair.
Wrath managed to rein in the fire in his eyes and took the crook of Shinya's
elbow in the palm of his hand.
"We need to talk for a moment, just us if no one minds."
Shinya silently closed his eyes briefly before glancing at the other two
bystanders.
"It is up to them."
Koichi looks at his lover for confirmation. When Tsuzuku nods his head Wrath
releases a sigh.
"Good. Come on there is a bathroom over this way. We will only be but a
moment."
Shinya allowed himself to be led away, only throwing a look over his shoulder
but once to see the ever worried look upon his subordinates face. He sighed,
feeling a pang in his chest. If there was one thing he detested in this world
and the next, it was making people worry about him. Him of all people.
But that was how people were. They felt. And felt strongly.
Shinya wanted to just believe that they felt needlessly and didn't have to
worry. But people had these feelings for a reason. Who was he to say whether
they felt or not?
His thoughts wandered as he was dragged to an abandoned single person restroom
with damages white walls and a mildew stained and badly cracked mirror. In here
Wrath locked the door and finally let go of his elbow.
"What was that back there?" he demands once everything falls quiet. "What
happened to that spirit from earlier huh? Why are you acting so down on your
luck?"
To be honest, Shinya wasn't certain. But ever since they have been here after
that strange incident with those vamps in that alleyway he felt emotionally
strained. Was it the after effects of seeing something as monumental as that?
Possibly so. But why would something like the magic of the ancients put a
strain on him? Unless something else was happening that he could not
understand.
"I don't know," he finally admits and slides to the floor in a rare display of
self consciousness and vulnerability. "I just... Ever since we saw that phoenix
bursting from that light I just felt... I felt like someone attached a huge
metal chain to my neck and I can barely breathe. Can barely feel the strength
to continue. Like something is... Is sapping my strength away and I cannot
explain it."
At his state of weakness one would be surprised to know that he was the very
spirit of Patience itself. But he looked more like a small child in need of
comfort, in need of a helping hand.
Wrath felt like he needed to do something here. Shinya needed to be reminded
that this wasn't the time for feeling sorry for oneself. They needed a plan and
quick.
He sighed deeply before standing across from the wall Shinya was at, his arms
crossed like before.
"I know you feel tired, maybe even helpless. But... They need us to do
something. To be in control. What would those bloodsuckers do if they saw you
like this? It's a weakness. And they will do anything to exploit that weakness
to get at us. Tsuzuku and Koichi need a leader."
Yes of course Shinya was aware of that. But this feeling would not go away. Was
this some kind of... Curse?
"Just... Give me a moment okay? I'll be fine."
Wrath watched Shinya silently, looking for any sort of sign that would
otherwise give away what he felt. But aside from the extreme fatigue there
wasn't much he could see.
"We don't have much more time that can be wasted. We need to figure out to do,"
he says firmly. Now I don't know that building like you do, so you're gonna
have to help me out here. You said the third floor was our goal for now, but
how are we gonna get there while there are bloodsuckers surrounding the front
doors?"
Shinya rubbed the tiredness from his eyes and forced his brain to think for a
few seconds long enough to formulate an idea. From what he understood of
memorizing the blueprints, the third floor did indeed have a stable air vent
system through it, but what wasn't in those very blueprints was the underground
tunnel system leading into the basement. The very one that Tomo and Takashi
were tasked with using. 
Alongide those was anoher one, but that one led to the second floor, right
below where he wanted to be. So if they played their cards right, they could
bypass the first floor altogether.
"Like I said, the third floor has many vents, but there is also a secret system
of tunnels that we all know of right?" Wrath nods slowly, trying to catch on.
"Well, I know of another one, one that hardly anyone knows about. It starts in
another building close by and from there it leads into the secret vents through
the second floor and comes out into the doctor's office that is there. A trap
door if you will. It was used to... well, dispose of dead bodies. If we make it
there it's a straight shot to the top. So what do you think?" 
The plan seemed simple enough. But a body chute? At first he felt skeptical but
the more he thought of it who would expect them to pop out of a body chute?
Perhaps he should give credit where credit is due. 
"It seems solid enough," he agreed slowly. "The question is are you willing to
make a run for it to get there?"
The question makes Shinya slump even lower, so maybe he should have held his
tongue on that...
"I don't know," he answers truthfully and lets out a deep breath. ""Maybe once
we leave this building I will feel better. Being in here drains me."
He just hoped he was right about it being the atmosphere in here and not
anything else. 
"Perhaps. Then, let's get going, these wards won't last much longer and I am
anxious to leave them alone for much longer."
As much as Shinya liked the white walls of this place he had to admit he
agreed. There was only so much he could handle after all. 
"Right. They are probably waiting for us anyway." 
Shinya finally dragged himself to his feet and splashed his face with the sink
before following his other half outside. 
The air still felt electric with anxiety and finding them huddled together with
Koichi's head in his lover's lap soothed that at least a little bit. They
didn't speak, but their appearance was just a silent agreement that their
welcome here was overstayed. It was creepy here, there was no argument about
that. 
"We should go," Wrath started and looked out beyond the window. "We've come up
with a new way to get inside." 
Koichi got up with the help of tsuzuku and stood on wobbly legs. At least most
of the nausea was going. 
"So what's the plan?" Tsuzuku asked with his hand around Koichi. Shinya looks
out of the window and scans for a familiar building. About a block from here
was that building he told Wrath about. And since their previous plan of just
walking in was ruined this was the best bet. 
"See that building there?" he asked and pointed out an old bricked two story
building that still had its windows intact. "There is a tunnel system that
leads inside my bulding from there. We're gonna use it and sneak by the
vampires as best as we can. It leads into the second floor and we can get to
the third floor from there. Then, it's a straight shot to the top. We'll need
to find a place to rest up while we're inside though, because I doubt we will
get there with no problems." 
Tsuzuku could see some vampires on the ground, but they weren't looking up.
Coincidence?  Or a lucky break? They could easily use that fact to their
advantage and scale the roof tops without being spotted. There was another roof
just nearby that they could hop to.
"I see. So we jump for it?" he asked. "Koichi might be too dizzy to make that
trip right now." 
As much as Koichi wanted to argue and say he was fine he knew that his head was
not prepared. Given if they had at least more time to rest he could but they
didn't.
"Yes he is," Wrath agreed with a scowl after Koichi sways on his feet a little
bit. "Maybe some time outside will clear his head."
There was a bit of passive aggressiveness to his tone but he chose to ignore
it. 
"We'll go first," Shinya says and steps up to the windowsill with Wrath right
behind him. "There should be a hatch leading into the building up on top that
will take you to the attic of the building. We'll go ahead so look for us in
there okay? Don't take too long."
Then in a whoosh of air and brown hair he is dropping himself over the edge of
the windowsill, disappearing into almost pitch darkness. Wrath only smirked at
them briefly before doing the same thing. With his night vision Koichi peered
out and could see them leaping silently over the roof tops, completely going
past the oblivious vampires. 
So... they just had to do the same thing right? Tsuzuku wasn't all that good at
hopping over roof tops but now was a good a time as ever to practice.
"So you really don't want to do it on your own?" Tsuzuku wonders and looks to
his lover, who was contemplating how high up they really were. 
"Yes. You'll have to be like Prince charming and carry me on your back," he
teased with a half hearted giggle. Tsuzuku smiled in response. 
"Of course princess."
Koichi snorted before climbing onto his lover after the open armed invite. 
"Sappy bastard," he groaned and hooks his legs around tightly before smooshing
his face to Tsuzuku's neck. Upon receiving a squeeze to his leg he jumped
slightly, giggling. 
"Spoiled brat," Tsuzuku growled back with a smirking laugh and turned his head
for a small kiss before mimicking the window jump Shinya did just seconds
before. Koichi gasped as air rushed past his face again, his ears popping as
they managed to get to the edge of the next building. Here they finally planted
on smooth cement and Tsuzuku had to take a breath. 
"That wasn't so hard," he laughs and slowly walks to the edge. "You okay
princess?" 
The nausea from before was now replaced with adrenaline and he squeezed his
legs around his lover tightly. 
"No," he admits. "But why couldn't we just jump out of that hotel room back in
the human world?" 
Tsuzuku chuckles as though that question were super silly. 
"Well there are humans everywhere in that place, with cameras in every corner
and nook of the city. I couldn't risk exposing our world to theirs." 
Wow Koichi didn't think of it that way. But he supposed it made sense. Humans
did anything to look for something out of the ordinary to ogle at. Sure some
humans knew of their world, but what sane human would believe it if they just
heard it from word of mouth? 
It was for that very reason of disbelief that kept this place a secret for so
long. 
"I guess you're right," he answered. "Well I guess we should keep going."
"Hmm yeah. Well, I'm gonna keep going and not slow down. Hold onto me."
Koichi gripped on tighter as Tsuzuku looked over the edge of the roof they were
on before backing up to gain speed before running and launching himself over
the tops to get to the next roof edge. Oh god there was the nausea again.
As they kept leaping over the various roofs Koichi dared himself to look down
below them, and felt his stomach lurch as various vampires still swarmed and
milled about beneath them. God it was like watching brainwashed moths milling
to a proverbial flame and it grossed him out. He could only imagine how bad it
must be everywhere else... 
Knowing it was a bad idea to keep watching he turned his head and squeezed his
eyes shut, focusing instead on the sound of his lover's breathing and his
heartbeat, using that as the only thing to keep him going. A few seconds passed
and he felt Tsuzuku come to a stop somewhere up high. He forced his eyes open
and felt a ringing in his ears again from all the adrenaline. 
"Where are we?" he asked. 
"We are here, this is that place Shinya told us about. "You think you can walk
from here on out?" 
Thankfully the anticipation far outweighed the sickness so he nodded slowly,
climbing down and testing his sickness. He tested his legs out and despite the
slight numbness he didn't sway. That would be useful he was sure. 
Koichi looked around and breathed out in relief.
"Yes... thanks. For not dropping me."
He feels Tsuzuku come in for a kiss and gladly accepts it, feeling his knees go
weak in response. Their lips moved together only briefly before Tsuzuku pulls
back and touched his cheek. His eyes are smoldering like crazy, even in the
pitch darkness. 
"I would never, ever drop you. You can trust me on that." 
Koichi grinned and hugged his lover. Tsuzuku was seriously such a sap.
"I was kidding of course. I know you would never.. Now, before you jump my
bones I suggest we go find Shinya. There will be time for that later."
The daemon had a sly look on his face but made no other advances towards him
other than pushing back his hair.
"Later then."
Koichi gripped his arm tight when Tsuzuku lets go of him, anxious to no linger
feel his heat but... Being clingy would probably not be good for them right
now.
"Okay. Lets get going, Shinya can't face that old parasite on his own."
Just As Shinya said, there was a huge metal hatch leading down into the roof
beneath them, and as Tsuzuku pulled it open the hinges, rusted and neglected,
creaked very terribly. But there was a relatively okay looking metal ladder
leading into a dark attic.
Well this was it. Whatever they did here tonight, would either be the end of
the world or the beginning of a new one. He just hoped it was the latter.
"Ready baby?"
With a determined nod, Koichi let a flame appear in his palm, now hued in all
colors of the rainbow.
"You first."
***** Chapter 62 *****
News of the attack spread like wildfire. Two distressed and very distraught
fledglings continued to wail even as the information had become common
knowledge among every vampire in the building. It was exciting sure, and I was
certain that once Ryoga knew he would be elated to know they were here.
Once word had reached the upper levels things began to get very heated. A full
scale search of every block within a mile radius was ordered but strangely the
trail was lost only moments later. I guess that was okay though. After all, if
what Ryoga told me was true Tsuzuku was no idiot. More than likely he and that
damn Phoenix of his created wards to throw us off the trail. 
Well no matter. It was up to me and Ryoga now to find them. They were more than
likely somewhere nearby and ready to show up any time
Master will have an absolute field day despite the loss of one of our own. What
was one fledgling among many after all?
 I stalked the hallway outside of the Master's room, impatient soft moans
coming from beyond the doors now stained with blood. Gods he was taking such a
long time, longer than usual. I mean I knew that he loved Ryoga's blood but I
had no idea he loved it that much. It was only after he fed from me, though I
know he prefers him over me.... 
But I had learned to get over it. Ryoga was special, I know that now. His blood
is still fresh, young. That is when it tastes best, especially to the Master.
But I was told to wait out here until he was done so that I would not be
tempted to take a taste myself. It was rude to eat when I wasn't invited. 
All I had to distract me was the ticking of a nearby clock mounted on the wall
across from me above a blacked out window. Ten after Two in the morning. From
what I hear it was that Phoenix's eightenth birthday now. Too bad there is not
much he can do now that he is home. And as much as I wanted to just take
Tsuzuku I knew Master had his sights set on him as well. 
Who knows? Maybe his blood was just as tasty as he imagines it to be. 
"U-um... Master Layha?"
A small meek voice peeped at me from the hallway. Another fledgling... And he
stutters, how annoying.
"What do you want?"
The small vampire flinched, probably scared of me. Hmph just as he should be.
"The ones w-who killed Ni-ya... W-we... We lost their trail at a roof near
here... They disappeared  and put up wards so we c-couldn't follow them, b-but
we know that they're c-coming here. W-what should we do?"
So they are near. I'm sure that Master will be pleased to hear this. After all
what was one fledgling among who knows how many? 
I smirked at him and he makes a hopeful face.
"Good. Then they're coming here after all. Thanks for telling me. Keep looking
though, just because I am praising you does not mean you can slack off."
He straightened up and smiled meekly before bowing his head in respect. I
didn't make this one. Maybe Ryoga did? But then again his eyes aren't yellow...
A random one then.
"Y-yes! Thank you Master Layha. I'll get right on it."
Another bow before he scurried off and disappeared to God knows where. But I
think it's about time to let them know that play time is over.
"I'm coming in," I announced outside the door and went in regardless of hearing
an answer. "Master are you all finished?" 
By now, we had moved that gods forsaken desk into the backroom and moved a bed
in here since it was more convenient. Master needed a central area of control. 
But of course, the sight that I walked into made my blood boil a little bit.
But I think I have long since learned to control that. Ryoga on his knees with
his lips smeared in blood, and my Master on the bed relaxing and his own lips
pushed to Ryoga's wrist. There was a new gash on His neck, probably from Ryoga
getting too greedy...
"Layha," came the usual purr as he pulled back with a wet suctioning noise. "I
didn't think it was the time already that you would interrupt me while I am
feeding."
Well it has been almost an hour, and now that I know about their little feeding
sessions they don't even try to hide it anymore. Ryoga knows it makes me upset
but.... What can I do really? 
Besides, Ryoga's younger fresher blood is already stimulating the Master's
claim on this building, so I can't keep complaining like this. The deep red
vines sprouting from his body have already claimed the surrounding bedpost and
started crawling up the walls. Soon, it would be all over this floor and then
the whole building. 
It's just too bad that he himself would not be able to move anymore, at least
not for a while.
"Yes I know," I answered and keep my head down. "But I brought you some news
that may make you happy."
He finally perked up and pushed Ryoga away before sitting up in his bed. 
"I'm listening."
I cleared my throat and recall what the fledgling told me. 
"They caught his trail, and tracked it to a building not far from here. Though
they have lost the trail because of some wards, they do know that they are most
likely somewhere beneath us as we speak and ready to pop out on any one of
these floors. So he will be here."
Ryoga is still dizzy, I can see that Master has taken just a bit more than he
should have. 
"Ahh I see," he purred in satisfaction. "I knew he could not stay away from me
for much longer. I await his arrival eagerly. And how is your new underling
doing?" 
The mention of Ice made my chest throb. But why was that?
"He is... adjusting," I responded honestly. "His vocal cords have come back,
though due to not using them for so long he cannot speak just yet, though he
can communicate through a developed mental link he has with me and Ryoga."
His eye brows raise in surprise.
"The boy has become a psychic?" 
I nod.
"Yes, apparently having two Creators made him develop a skill that piggybacked
off of our own. I can feel that he is unusually happy with it, so I cannot
complain." 
I can see that he is pleased beyond words despite the loss of one of our own,
so he returns so leaning back against the soft pillows and sharp vines
surrounding him. Ryoga blinked steadily and found his strength to peel himself
away from the bed. 
"Good... Things are falling into place. And with his blood I shall finally be
able to claim this city as my own, and nothing can get in our way."
There was just one thing that bothered me.
"And what of his Phoenix?" I finally asked. "If he was capable of killing one
of our fledglings on his own, what does that mean for us?" 
Master scoffed, his eyes turning dismissive. 
"One fledgling does not equate to one of my status," he says with a sigh. "The
Phoenix is but a toy to my dear Tsuzuku, a plaything. Surely having him stay
that way will ease the turn to my side. He can have him and play with him as
long as it needs, but we will have to keep him at arms length. Keep
interrogating his friends, they can't leave until we know everything." 
I nodded in response. I don't know why but I just want to leave.
"Yes. I shall ask that cat about his progress. Come on Ryoga we gotta go feed
Ice as well." 
"Okay," Ryoga answered wearily and made his way over to me. "Thank You
Master..."
He just smiles, licking his lips clean. 
"No, thank you Darling. I expect you back here in two days."
I took Ryoga around his waist and led him out, letting the door close with a
click. Then he's stumbling and about ready to fall over. How much blood did he
lose this time?
"Baby are you okay?" I asked, though I knew damn well he wasn't. His eyes were
starting to turn grey...
"Y-yes... I'm okay, don't worry," he assured tough I could see that his skin
was unusually pale and see through even for a vampire. "I just need to rest." 
Anger began to bubble in my chest and I sighed heavily before steering him into
our own room where Ice was. 
"He's taking too much," I say firmly and pushed him inside. "You have to know
where your limits are or else he'll suck you dry."
I don't care if he gets pissy at me anymore, this is his life we're talking
about here. I made him, he's mine and only mine. I may love Master but there
are some things I absolutely detest and it's when people take my things.
"I'm okay really," he breathed and sat upon the bed. "Just... let me feed Ice
and we can... we can go look." 
At this rate? No way, Ice was was just as greedy if not more so, and could
drain someone in minutes. Ryoga had to eat himself or else he would grow weak.
Or weaker I should say. 
"No. You rest," I demanded. "I will feed him today, I already ate so I'm full.
You just lay down and I'll take care of it." 
He stared at me with weary pleading eyes. 
"But-"
"No buts," I snapped and cupped his cheek. "Even if your blood does regenerate
quickly I won't watch him take your last drop. Sleep. Now."
He looked like he wanted to protest even more but he finally grew too tired. He
climbed into the sheets and I had to walk around to the other side where Ice
slept. It was a preference of mine to keep him unclothed but I began to allow
pants again. He would need them when we went out in public.
"I'm sorry Ryoga but you're too weak," I say as my lover finally slipped into
slumber before shaking our fledgling awake. "Ice. Ice my dear wake up, you're
probably hungry."
The once human baby blue eyes of his had since been turned a deep electric,
almost neon blue. They glowed even in the dark of the room and had a tired but
curious look to them. We cut his hair to his neck and dyed blonde. Everyone
agreed that he looked prettier this way.
"Uhnn..?" 
At first he awoke slowly, but once he saw me his eyes flashed and I could see
the deep primal hunger in them, just as I had suspected.
"Come on," I coo softly. "Time to eat." 
Eagerly Ice crawled over to me, now salivating at the mouth. I accepted him
into my lap where he straddled me at the edge of the best and locked his arms
around me,  waiting for me to give him the okay. I nodded and pressed him close
to my neck, basking in the warmth of his bare skin on mine. 
"Go ahead and take as much as you need, it's okay." 
Of course he didn't skip a beat. His mouth eagerly sought out my vein in a
series of hungry growling moans and wet open mouthed kisses, and heat crawled
all the way up my spine. I grabbed his hips, grinding them into mine and making
him moan again before his teeth sunk into my flesh. 
The sweet numbness spread through me and I gasped, letting my head fall back as
he drank deeply from me. His hips ground down again and I growled lustfully,
returning the gesture. Ugh to hell with the cat, I was too excited. 
The greedy suckling echoed through the room and my head swam as he continued to
suck and suck. But I was not worried. He knew when to stop. 
Besides, he felt like he needed a hand. The front of his pants felt like they
were straining against my stomach so I decided to relieve him.
Soon he was a writhing mess, spilling a few drops as his mouth was torn between
sucking and crying out in bliss as I quickly stroked him in my hand, breathing
heavily. 
"Naughty boy," I laugh as he jerked his hips to meet my hands every movement.
"Such an eager little minx aren't you? That's okay, go ahead and let go if you
would like." 
His flesh felt so hot against my fingers, and my fingers curled around him over
and over until he came all over my stomach with a soft cry of bliss, his mouth
coming detached prematurely to let my blood splash all over his face. 
God how I loved this face he made when I satisfied him. With lips stained red
and white stars literally floating in his eyes. It made me proud to know that
this was my own doing. That he was completely and utterly mine. 
But I was still not satisfied, even as he lapped and sucked at my neck to close
my wound I felt heat still lingering in my hips. 
Spreading his seed all over his bared stomach I brought fingers to his lips
where he gladly sucked them off, his tongue swirling and cleaning them right
up. 
"Good boy. Now it's my turn."
A different kind of flash sparked in his eyes and he panted heavily, leaning in
to kiss my throat before slowly sliding from my lap to his knees on the floor,
lips still glistening in red and white. I gripped his hair as his lips finally
pressed to the front of my leather pants, hissing at the pressure. Then his
teeth caught my zipper before pulling down, his eyes never leaving mine even
once. 
I was finally free from my confines and he pressed his mouth to me greedily.
Breathless I gasped as soft lips sought me out, licking and kissing me all the
way up and down, over and over.
"Oh yes, just like always my pet... You know what to do now. Don't you?" 
Couldn't help the satisfied grin as I watched him take me all the way down, his
eyes drowning in lust. Yes he definitely knew.
///////////////////////////////////////
"Has anyone seen that damn cat?!" 
Fledglings of all kinds scurried away from me as I stalked down the halls. He
was always so hard to track down, that bastard... It's like he has nothing
better to do than interrogate the captives or kill the defective fledglings.
What a sadistic asshole. Maybe that's why Master loves him so much even though
he can't feed from him. 
"Layha," came a loud female voice. I groaned and turned around, seeing one of
the more seasoned vampires coming towards me. I knew her sort of, though her
name escapes me right now. All that I knew was that despite my intimidation
attempts she was never afraid of me. I think she was just jealous I was closer
to the Master than she was despite her being just a little older. What the hell
does she want? 
"What?" I growl at her. But as usual she just kept a straight face. How
annoying. 
"While you were busy fraternizing with your pet I heard that that cat demon you
were looking for was on the third floor, looking for clues," she answered with
an arrogant upwards turn of her nose. "Maybe you should go look for him there,
though if you're too busy getting your little love nest ready he might already
be on the move." 
Ugh the nerve of this..!
"Watch your tongue," I snap and grabbed her throat, digging into her flesh. I
had never lashed out like this before but some things were enough to push me
over the edge."You may have been created before me but it was by some mutt
dirty blood from the streets. Master created me so I am the superior one here.
The next time you decide to disrespect me to my face it won't just be your
position in danger. Now get out of my face, you dog."
Oh boy the look on her face right now gave me so much joy. Her face immediately
snapped into a mix of anger and fear before she snarled and tore herself away
from me before storming off, disappearing. Good riddance, we didn't need any
damn useless females around here that questioned my or anyone else's
authority. 
I noticed another fledgling nearby, watching the exchange with wide eyes. At
least he must have gotten the message as well loud and clear. I motioned for
him to come closer, which he did, trembling violently.
"You there. Keep an eye on that one," I ordered. "I'll have to deal with her
later."
He nodded slowly.
"Yes Layha-sama. Is there anything else you would like me to do?"
I thought about it for a second. What else could I need..? Oh yeah that's
right.
"Have you heard of news from Haru or Tatsuki at all?"
My brothers have been missing for a whole day, which is unusual even for them.
When Minpha came back on his own he simply said he did not know what happened
to them as he left way before they did.
"No Layha-sama. Neither I nor anyone else has heard word of them. But I will
keep my eyes and ears peeled."
At least this one seemed more competent than the other one.
"Good. Now go. I have more important things to do."
///////////////////////////////////////
The third floor was as empty as it has been since we arrived, even with a
lingering smell of death and bleach. I guess it was a medical station where
plenty of people died. Not that any of that was my problem, I just hate this
awful smell.
And alongside that I could also smell a very distinct scent in here as well.
That damn cat was here but the scent was at least a half ab hour old. But I
could follow it no big deal.
I was led to one of the many rooms in a long hallway, one that looked like an
old doctors office. Complete with a desk, some old medicine cabinets, and
through some big door next to the desk was even a surgery room. The scent was a
little stronger now.
What the hell was he doing in here anyway?
The door was creaky as it opened, and I saw a sterile operation room complete
with a sink, some strange instruments, a metal table and huge lights mounted
onto the ceiling. Here, the scent was now only ten minutes old.
I frowned and saw a piece of paper sitting on the examination table. From here
I could smell his scent all over it. Did he leave this for someone to find?
Picking it up I wasn't too surprised to find that my name was on it. So it was
for me.
'Layha-san. If you find this then chances are you're looking for me. By this
time I have already headed back to my duties in the interrogation chamber, but
I thought I should let you know what I have been doing. There is a body chute
in the metal table, used for disposing of corpses.
'I learned of a secret system of tunnels deep beneath it they could be accessed
from the outside. I have every reason to believe this is the place Tsuzuku and
the others will come out of if at all.'
Oh wow, even i didn't know that. Those guys are smart.
'Just don't keep watch on it. I learned that the Phoenix has learned to scent
vampires and can probably tell when one is near, So we can't let him spook the
others. Let them come in, lull them closer with a false sense of security, and
then close in on them. Its foolproof really.
'If you wish to know more, you know where to find me. I also have information
about your brothers.'
So it would seem. Minpha always disappears at the worst times, coming back only
when it suits him. It isn't my place to ask but I have to admit the curiosity
is almost overwhelming.
Before I left, I wanted to make certain of one thing. After stuffing the note
in my pocket I looked around the table and lo and behold, there was a latch on
a square door positioned into the sides of the table, and there was no lock on
it. How convenient.
Opening it took a little effort, but once I got it I could see deep into a
black hole. There was a ladder and then a series of vents from what I could
tell.
Those guys were a lot smarter than I gave them credit for. Perhaps if we must a
fight might break out. But that's okay. I'll take any excuse I can to tear
their little resistance apart.
Leaving the room I left the door closed, as I didn't want to set off any
warnings that we knew what they were doing.
///////////////////////////////////////
Minpha was just getting ready to do some more interrogating when I arrived at
his floor deep within the basement. He was wearing an all white dress with
innumerable ruffles and bloodstains splattered all over it. He looked very
intimidating even for a cat demon.
He was holding a huge needle with some strange deep magenta liquid in a
syringe.
"Took you long enough," he comments as I closed the door to the cell he was in.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
The prisoners were in cells opposite one another, probably separated in order
to isolate them and keep them in a state of panic. The Hydra made a bunch of
noise, but the Tree spirit was as silent as one would expect.
"I came for the information you said you had about my brothers. And what you
managed to get out of the prisoners."
He pulled the needle out and replaced it with a cleaner one, flicking it to
remove any excess liquid.
"Hmm Yes. The prisoners are unusually tight lipped, getting information out of
them took me quite some time. But with the right pressure in all the right
places it wasn't too difficult. You'll be happy to know that they are planning
an attack once the main three get here.
"So I would imagine you should have no problem dispatching them now that you
know."
I could see some very sadistic looking torture devices attached to his hip and
I scowled.
"Master said not to cause any really bad physical damage to them as we need
them for leverage."
Minpha's eyes rolled as he capped the syringe tightly.
"Don't worry these pretty little things aren't being harmed that badly," he
promised with a toothy smile. "Though your Master never said anything about
their mental safety. This little beauty I am holding is a truth serum. I've
been using it to dig deep inside their minds. It's an excruciating process, one
I am pleased to say causes no physical harm."
Well as long as their physical bodies were okay I didn't care.
"I see. And so what about my brothers?"
As I spoke he grew melancholic, and I could tell he had no good news. I could
already feel the bad news hitting me in the stomach.
"Well... From what I managed to gather, your brothers, unfortunately, did not
make it. Sorry."
Ugh I knew something was wrong! Damn it!
I grit my teeth and pushed away the lingering dread in my stomach, feeling my
throat go dry.
"What. Happened?" I ground out, feeling my blood curl. He set the syringe on a
table and wiped his fingers.
"The daemon and two other vampires killed them, tore them apart. There was
nothing that could be done so their bodies went into their cocoons for safety.
But no cocoon is safe from fire, and that's how they..."
Hebtrailed off, unsure of how to continue. But I knew what he was trying to
say, and it angered me to no end.
"So what, did they just burn them into nothing?" I demanded. "Did my brothers
die for nothing?"
He just stared at me, pity evident on his face.
"Well, you know how this sort of thing goes-"
Before he could finish a pounding on the door interrupted him and I growled in
frustration. He just made an annoyed face.
"Come in," he called loudly. I stalked to one of the cells in anger, feeling my
blood boil.
A fledgling peeked inside the room, his eyes urgent and wide. Minpha took this
is his cue to continue doing what he was doing and I frowned. He entered a
nearby cell and soon the sounds of a young male groaning in pain filled the
space up quickly. He sure worked fast...
"What is it?" I demanded. "Is it something urgent?"
The fledgling nodded furiously.
"Master Layha. They have been scented on the third floor! They're really here!"
***** Chapter 63 *****
Chapter Notes
     As of this chapter, more plot and some brief fluffy moments (savor
     the fluff cuz this is the last time you're gonna see it for a while)
     before we delve into the fire >;) hehehehehe
See the end of the chapter for more notes
 
The way through the tunnels was as dark and musty as Koichi imagined it would
be, maybe even worse than he thought. Could they even be considered tunnels?
They were little more than crawlspaces at this point, with dirt floors and
gross wooden support beams that were rotted and covered in spiderwebs. Of which
they were forced to crawl through on their bellies with only a single dim flame
of Koichi's to guide them through pitch black darkness. Who knows what lay in
wait here?
Since Koichi was the one with the light he was tasked with being the head of
their little train, with Tsuzuku right behind him. Then Wrath and then Shinya
in the very back to give directions.
None of them except Shinya knew what was going to happen and more than once
Koichi had to resist the urge to throw him a dirty look or two for getting them
into this musty messj.
"I thought you said these were tunnels," he complained. Wrath grunted in
response. He was almost too big to fit through here what with all the muscle.
"Now is not the time to complain princess," he growled. "We all gotta suffer
for what we believe in at some point in our lives. In this case it's suffering
through spider webs and dirt."
He said this but it lacked the conviction one would expect. Instead he sounded
just as sulky as Koichi felt so that didn't make him feel any better. Shinya
didn't say anything, only offering an apologetic smile in response.
"Koichi how about you... Think of this as a time to get back some of your lost
training," Tsuzuku offered. "A real taste of what you should learn to expect
out in the field of battle. I expect if we win here tonight it won't be the
last time we should learn to expect something bad to happen."
Well Koichi wanted to take that to heart, but he wasn't used to using all the
muscles in his body all at once. At least, not where it didn't get him anything
useful... Still, he digressed. Complaining would get them nowhere.
"I understand," he finally sighed and forced his way through a particularly
nasty cobweb. "Once this all over though don't expect me to do anything else
like this again for a whole month."
But then he felt a stab of doubt hit him in the stomach.
'If we even make it that far.'
He didn't dare say that last bit out loud though, knowing Tsuzuku would be on
his ass and not in the good way.
"Good. You're thinking ahead," Shinya finally says with a small laugh. "Don't
worry though. It isn't too far now. There is a fork in the tunnel just ahead.
Pick the left one then go straight. Then there is a small sliding hatch we
gotta go through to reach that office. Stay alert."
Koichi kept trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in his stomach but he could not
help it. Something felt weird about this place. It was deep in the hidden space
of the building, and vampires were more than likely swarming just on the other
sides of these old dusty walls.
"What are you gonna do once we get out?" he found himself asking out loud to no
one in particular. Wrath snorted.
"I think you know what I am going to do," came a rough disgruntled answer. "The
first blood sucker I see is getting his head stuck onto a spike."
"You're such a brute," Shinya chided with a nervous laugh.
"But I guess that's why they call you Wrath," Tsuzuku adds under his breath but
everyone caught it anyway.
"Exactly."
Well Koichi wasn't sure what he wanted to do yet. What was he supposed to do
anyway? Lop a few heads off? Almost burn the damn building down? Anything
seemed possible at this point. Even the total destruction of the entire vampire
species. At least the ones that were evil anyway. He wished no harm whatsoever
on Aryu or Asagi and their respective covens. Hell not even the innocent
bystanders in the city didn't deserve this. One day their lives were normal and
then the next... Well. They just weren't.
All he felt was that hopefully, they would all forgive him for anything he
might do to those who were too far gone to save or didn't want to be saved. It
was sad, but when was life ever fair?
"Do you see the turn yet?" Tsuzuku asked him. He didn't realize he was
daydreaming again.
"Uhmmm..." Koichi squinted his eyes and paused his flame farther ahead, where
even in the musty darkness he could see a definite split in the path. "Yes.
About a few more meters and we will get to it. You said left right?"
"Yes," Shinya answered. "Once we start heading that way the tunnel will get
tall enough for us to stand. Then a ladder will appear with a way inside. I
suggest getting yourselves ready for it now. As there is no turning back from
here."
Crawling in the dirt would make anyone feel nervous or creeped out. But this
time he felt it really badly. It was no longer the spiderwebs he was concerned
about. It was what lay in wait for them on the other side. What would they do?
Be sneaky or obvious? He wasn't sure, but now that sinking feeling in the pit
of his stomach seemed to be getting worse with each shuffle of his body along
the ground. Finally he reached the fork in the path and indeed he could see the
beams and supports getting high enough further ahead.
"Here it is. It think it's safe to stand up now," he muttered but secretly
wished they could turn back. Once it got higher he sighed in relief and stood
up as tall as he could, his legs numb from all the crawling around.
"Are you okay?" Tsuzuku asked him.
"Good, I could use the leg room for once," Wrath answered. Shinya was the last
one to get past the break and stand up with everyone else. Everyone was dusty
but safe now.
"All right. We'll take a small break here to catch our breath and get our
bearings back."
"Then we'll go?"
Shinya nods.
"Yes. Then we'll go."
Maybe.
/////////////
The break was short. Only a few minutes. But it was enough for the moment.
"So. How should we do this?" Tsuzuku asked. "They know we're here. They'll be
waiting for us. He'll be waiting for me."
So stealth was not on their side right now. At least that was a given.
"Good. I want the first and last thing they see to be my teeth to their necks."
Whoa Wrath was really on a rage now wasn't he?
"Rein in your bloodlust okay?" Shinya tuts and patted his arm, quelling the
tremors in his arm almost effortlessly. "Since they know we should just do what
we can to keep them from separating us. Our main priority is that Parasite and
his main underlings. The fledglings and feeders don't matter to us."
Wrath grunted, crossing his arms. 
"Can I still take them out if we come across them?"
Koichi had to stifle a small laugh at that.
"Yes you may."
"Good. Then I don't care what would happen from here on out." 
Koichi dusted off the front of his pants before feeling another pang of
anxiety, this time in his chest where it felt increasingly hard to breathe. He
wasn't sure if... if he could handle this...
"But I do have to tell you to be careful, just because they are weaker than us
doesn't mean we can't be overwhelmed. Just keep that in mind okay?" 
An annoyed sigh. 
"Fineeee. Let's just get on with it okay? I don't like this place, my legs are
super tingly from all that crawling."
Shinya's face split into a gentle yet relieved smile. 
"Good. then let us go, I too am getting increasingly aware of the
claustrophobic feeling in here."
The small space around them seemed to be closing in every single second and the
only solace was the single wooden and rickety ladder a few feet away. There was
the trapdoor as Shinya said as it would be as well. It was up on a creaky
wooden ceiling with a severely neglected and rusty handle.
"Who's gonna go first?" 
Koichi wasn't about to answer that.
"I will," Tsuzuku offered to his sort of messed up relief. "You were first this
whole time, so I will take the lead now. Just stay behind me and it will be
fine." 
And he didn't argue, still feeling nervous.
"If there are vampires up there waiting, then I don't want to be in the way."
Again, Tsuzuku was taking the role of knight on the white horse. Gods he was
great.
"Nice. Then, are you guys ready?" 
Wrath looked more than eager, the spark in his eyes practically murderous.
Shinya looks resigned to using violence, but nodded anyway. At least they were
prepared.
Koichi wanted to abstain from the idea of violence but really what else would
he do? He might be forced to do that thingagain. It was exhausting but... there
may be no other way really. No one else had this unchecked power, no one else
knew what to do when hit with such anxiety. It all fell to him.
Keeping his anxiety in check however, he returned to having as straight a face
as possible.
"Don't come up until I tell you it's okay." 
Tsuzuku took a deep calming breath and began to climb the ladder, each step
creaking something awful. Koichi felt chills raising up on his arms and through
the musty dank darkness could not will the feeling away. Tsuzuku tried the
handle of the trapdoor and pushed upwards, causing an awful squeaking. It was
dark on top as it was down here, but at least there was fresher air and the
sudden opening caused a chilly down draft. 
The chill was enough to make Koichi shiver as he watched his lover disappear up
the ladder. Seconds passed in silence, yet it felt a bit longer than that. A
whole minute passed before his head peeked back through the opening. He looked
relieved yet still cautious, but Koichi felt a huge weight lift off his chest
to see that it was fine. 
"Come on up, the room is empty so we can use it as a temporary place to
prepare. I put a ward on the door so they can't come in."
Koichi decided to take this as his own opportunity to climb upwards to his
lover for his own security. Tsuzuku reached down and helped him up with one arm
and held him closer while the other two followed suit. Up here it was clearer
to breathe but no less as dark. Looking down he could see that when closed, the
trap door seemed to disappear into the floor, blending into the linoleum tiles.
There was probably no way back from here on out. 
Tsuzuku must have picked up on his hesitation because the arm around him
pressed him closer and he could feel lips at his ear. Shinya looked around the
room and his face grew... melancholic in a way. Like he missed being here but
at the same time he did not like that it was so quiet here. Or the fact that it
was so easy to get inside... His nose immediately turned up.
"They must be letting us get this far before all hell breaks loose. The cheeky
bastards." 
  This place was very sterile smelling but the scent was old, days at least.
There was an examination table right next to where they came out of and a sink
with plastic gloves next to it. The door was metal with a typical rectangle
window and black diamond stripes all over it. And like Tsuzuku said, a bright
blue glowing ward with the typical anti vampire runes etched into the door. A
little too easy for their comfort. 
Wrath's temper seemed to only get worse at that but he kept silent, seething to
himself. 
"Shinya where are we now?" 
In response to the question he thought for a second, forcing his brain to work
harder. 
"Well... Like I said, this is the second floor so... we need to get to the
third floor," he relayed. "It will be hell but... What else is new?" 
"I don't care, the more the merrier," Wrath snapped out in response. "I just
need to tear off someone's head right now."
Seems like he forgot what he promised... Well Shinya couldn't be bothered to
correct him right now. Something else was more important. 
"If I remember right, there should be... a stairwell close by. Then from there
we can get to the third floor but like I said, be on your guard and if we get
attacked on the way there, don't let them separate you.." Then he pinned stares
on Tsuzuku and Koichi, his eyes serious. "Especially not you two. You two are
priority here, and it's okay if we get separated but you two need to be
together at all times. Otherwise..." 
He didn't need to continue that sentence, as everyone knew what it was. Koichi
pressed even closer to his lover, shivering rather badly. Tsuzuku holds him
closer and sighs. 
"Well all the more reason to not fail. We need to know what and how to deal
with him. If anyone has any ideas..."
It was at that point that Koichi remembered what Aryu told him. Since he was a
Phoenix, vampires were naturally going to avoid his powers. And being a white
Phoenix would essentially escalate that. Even if he was still a White Phoenix.
Now that his normally pink or white flames were rainbow hued he was confused
about that. Still, he would be able to hurt them to some extent, so now he was
as indispensable as ever.
And the parasite was still amassing his own powers, so right now he was more
than vulnerable enough even if he was really strong now. They had no way of
beating him at his full power, as from what they understood if this particular
type of vampire they were like Gods, basically immortals among all immortals.
If allowed to live he could enslave the whole world and every world beyond
that. 
Which would mean... no more of their peaceful lives, or sunny lovely mornings.
None of that. Just... despair. Bloody awful despair. Koichi didn't want
despair. He had already had enough of that when he was alive.
"It's up to me," he said quietly. "If we all want to survive I have to kill him
myself. You gusy won't even be able to touch him."
"If you can kill him why does he want you" Wrath demanded. "Why not just kill
you or get rid of you in some other way?" 
Again, he remembered what Aryu had said. 
"More than likely, he either doesn't know he can be hurt by me or he does and
is just trying to show off what power he has. Now we can use that to our
advantage. Tsu and I can get closer than you do and we'll do that instead of
just going all out guns a blazing." 
Right away Tsuzuku was very tense. Koichi was aware of his face getting yanked
up by cold but soft fingers and his cheeks squishing together. Tsuzuku was
worried and it was obvious by the shaky tremors in his fingers. That made the
flame that guided them before fizzle out and plunge them into darkness. Only
the sound of a clock ticking over the door was what filled the small silence.
"You're not getting anywhere near that thing without me attached to your side
like a leech. Do you hear me?"
Furiously Koichi nodded, his chest swelling with a million emotions at once.
God Tsuzuku... A man after his own heart. And thankfully already owned it. 
"Yes... I understand Tsu. I would tell you not to worry but... I know that will
be for nothing."
Finally Tsuzuku let go of his cheeks and he flexed his jaw. At the corner of
his eyes he could see Wrath and Shinya discussing something or other on their
own. Good they weren't looking at them and Tsuzuku being incredibly
protective. 
Instead of his cheeks Tsuzuku then palmed his cheek, his thumb caressing the
soft skin there ever so gently.
"Yes it will be for nothing. I worry about you regardless of if you're in
danger or not. You should know that by now. You worry about me too right?" 
What kind of question was that?
"Of course I do. Hell it's because I love you that I worry about you. Now more
than ever, someone is trying to take you away from me. And it's scary. I can't
let him take you away from me."
Tsuzuku would do all he could to make sure that would never happen, ever. But
he could not make any promises of not getting hurt in the process. 
"Baby," he cooed and pushed back his hair from his face, his eyes as soft as
ever. "I absolutely adore you, and I will literally lay my life on the line for
you and only you. I will do what it takes to make sure you're safe. Even if it
means sacrificing myself so you can get away."
Koichi took his gentleness as a cue to kiss his lover for once, sweetly and on
his cheek. How dare Tsuzuku say that though?
"I swear if I didn't love you as much as I did I would slap you." 
Tsuzuku rose an eyebrow. 
"What? Why?" 
A weak glare appeared on his face and he pouted. 
"Stop talking about sacrificing yourself. That's never going to happen, not
ever. No matter what happens here tonight I am never leaving you behind."
He stole another kiss on the lips before pulling back out of his arms and
putting some space between them. It would be good to focus now instead of
getting too sappy.
"But Koi-"
His lover cuts him off though with a raised hand. There was no more of this
conversation he was willing to go through without his brain overloading. 
"If you get caught by it, we both get caught. No questions asked, no buts
given. We're together even if we fail. Now, if we are done here I would like to
go before I form an attachment to this place. Please."
Tsuzuku was given no more room to argue and was promptly ignored. Shinya was
very uncomfortable with such blatant PDA. But at least Wrath seemed pleased
with their affectionate display being cut short. 
"Good if you two are done making kissy face at each other and being the typical
tragic lovers we have some shit to do."
Wrath looked outside the window of the door where indeed, he could see vampires
curiously regarding the door that was now warded. More than likely one of them
would go and tell their boss. Snitches...
"Yeah, indeed we do. All right. Open the door, we are losing time."
Koichi once more looks at his lover one last time, knowing full well that this
could be the last time that they ever have a chance to do this sort of thing.
To know a sense of calm before the inevitable storm. So he made one more
decision in that precious moment of time. 
Before the door opened and ran for his lover, throwing his arms around his neck
and initiating a deep, heavy kiss. One that made his fingers tingle and the
tips of his toes feel warm. Tsuzuku was surprised at first but immediately
caught on, his arms squeezing Koichi's waist as he desperately met each kiss
with his own. 
Wrath sighed again, this time heavier and more annoyed. But Koichi didn't
really care at that point. He just needed to do this before anything else even
happened. 
"Go ahead of us," Tsuzuku growled at them through deep heavy kissing. "We'll be
right behind you." 
Koichi could already feel his head getting lighter and lighter and he was
having a hard time paying attention to anything else. That's how he knew it was
good.
Through a frustrated huff Wrath gripped the door handle and threw them a dirty
look. 
"Fine. You got thirty seconds before we come and get your asses. Come on
Shinya."
With a quick motion the door slammed open on its hinges and Wrath stormed out,
causing a frenzy of confused hissing before screams of terror could be heard as
echoes. At least he had an outlet. Shinya watched the door fall closed before
also gripping the handle, looking at the lovers eagerly indulging and pawing at
each other now in their own little worlds. 
Who knew when this would ever happen again? These two were made for one
another, and this was all they had right now. Besides, even if he wasn't used
to it he kinda liked it. It was nice, not to be a creeper of course.
Shinya smiled as he slowly turned the handle. 
"I'll give you a minute. Don't be late."
He too disappears through the door, causing another eruption of screams and
hisses. But Tsuzuku and Koichi didn't notice. They were too busy to care. And
in hindsight? Maybe that was a good thing. Time seemed to stand still for them
and for a moment. Everything seemed... okay. 
But they knew it wasn't okay. It really wasn't. 
Chapter End Notes
     Only seven or eight chapters left to go! I just want to say thanks to
     everyone who has read this so far!
     Once this is over, I will return to updating the other stories I have
     as much as I can!
***** Chapter 64 *****
Only moments had passes since they began their attempt to get to the third
floor. And Shinya was right. It was literal Hell. They were close to the
stairwell when things went downhill.
Koichi's ears were ringing as he felt his wrist being caught in a tight vice
like grip as he was pulled along by his ravenous lover. All around him,
vampires were hissing and snarling, snapping their jaws at him. The only reason
he was not being touched right now was the fact that Tsuzuku literally ripped
into every vampire that came near them, his teeth and claws causing utter
carnage and bloodshed. 
He felt dazed. Sticky streaks of red leaked down his face, but he wasn't sure
how much anymore. There was so much... blood. Caked to his face. running down
his cheeks. in his mouth and his hair. His clothes were ruined... everything
was ruined.
He hadn't even lifted a finger to defend himself this whole time. Tsuzuku
didn't want him to do anything so he could save his strength. Cold piercing
chills ran down his spine every time he saw his lover rip a head off it's
shoulders with his claws or tearing a carotid artery apart to let them bleed to
death. Some of them lost their faces, some their limbs. One of them was on the
dirty floor, whimpering in pain and agony as blood pooled all around him from a
gaping hole in it's soft belly and his guts were exposed for all to see. 
It was amazing what damage sharp teeth could do to flesh if enough force was
applied in the right way.
The smell around them was unbearable. Rust and salt, along with a deeper sicker
sweet scent, clogged his nose unbearably. But Tsuzuku didn't seem to notice. In
fact, he didn't seem to notice much else beyond his bloodlust and the desire to
get Koichi to where they needed to go. Shinya and Wrath were far ahead of them,
more than likely already there. 
Tsuzuku growled and snarled under his breath, having completely lost his
sanity. His eyes were pure white, his teeth were sharp and red stained, his
breathing rough and gravelly. A real daemon in his primal state of hunting. 
Koichi never saw him like this before, and felt even more afraid than he did
before. Not even the feeling of being chased was enough to banish that fear. 
But he couldn't think about it for very long, as he whipped his head back in
time to see a vampire launching at them from it's hiding spot on the ceiling. 
Time froze. Koichi didn't even realize what was happening until a spring of
rainbow hued fire burst from his chest in a bubble around them, burning and
incinerating the surrounding vampires to death in wailing cries and screams of
terror. It was the same ring of fire that he used in that alleyway, only in a
smaller more concentrated version. It was effective but he felt immediately
drained.
The stinging pain from this sudden burst made Koichi wheeze and he couldn't
breathe for about five seconds, his wings threatening to sputter out and die.
Tsuzuku seemed to snap back to himself for a moment once he realized Koichi was
in distress, both stunned and horrified. He turns and grabbed the pinkette's
shoulders, examining him for injuries as they stood only twenty feet from the
stairwell.
"Oh Koichi... What did you do?" he asked worriedly. "I told you not to use that
power until we got to the top of the building. Now you need to rest again."
His bloodlust had been quelled, enough for his eyes to return to their normal
color, and his teeth went back to normal too. But blood still dripped from them
as though he was drinking red juice or something. It was... morbid. He even
took a few seconds to spit out whatever amount had gotten in his mouth.
But Koichi could not focus for too long. His head felt heavy and he slumped in
Tsuzuku's arms. Around them, the ring of rainbow fire protected them as
vampires hissed and snarled in despair and anger.
"I.. I don't know," Koichi admitted. "I didn't mean to do it I.. It just
happened. There was one of them going after us from behind but... I'm sorry." 
Tsuzuku sighed softly in resignation and cradles Koichi closer to his chest,
rocking him in his arms as he pressed Koichi's head to his shoulder. 
"Oh baby. You don't have to say sorry. It just happened. And it died, so don't
worry. We just have to worry about getting to Shinya. Do you think you can make
it the rest of the way?"
As much as he wanted to rest he knew there was no time. So he straightened out
and forced his brain to stay alert.
"Yeah. I'll be fine as long as I don't do it again. This light won't last long
so we need to hurry."
Tsuzuku was much more alert to their surroundings this time, making sure they
would not get ambushed. But that did not mean he was no less as bloodthirsty.
If anything he was even worse. The eyes and teeth returned, and the deep growls
he had learned to grow less unsettled by came back, this time as a low series
of purrs that were more than likely a way to console him rather than to
frighten the vampires.
And as soon as that ring disappeared they were out of that area like a bat out
of hell. The vampires went right back to their creepy flocking ways trying to
separate them.
But after witnessing the death of who knows how many of their kind at the hands
of this one Phoenix many stayed back, still hissing and whispering threats but
too terrified of dying to make a move. At least now Koichi figured they had a
chance.
The stairwell door was warded but it had a timer on it. It had already been
three and a half minutes and there were thirty seconds left on it. And Tsuzuku
knew there was no other option but to run for it lest risk having more vamps to
fight through. Koichi was not suited for running, not in his condition.
Without saying a single word he grabbed Koichi around his midriff before
throwing him over his shoulder and bolting through the door. Koichi was left
feeling winded but didn't complain as his lover was far faster than he was. But
the sight of seeing those vampires closer behind them made his adrenaline go
haywire. His vision started to blur and the upward motion of going up steps
made him feel nauseous.
But the vamps knew they could not follow. Not right away. They were left beyond
the door and snarling angrily that they had gotten away, however the ward was
getting smaller so their chance would be there at any second.
Tsuzuku was fast, but not fast enough.
The timer on the ward grew smaller and smaller, before the runes on the door
completely shattered into pieces and dissipated into thin air.
Unfortunately they were only halfway through the stairwell before the sounds of
sharp hissing and screeching reached their ears and Koichi panicked even worse
than before. Behind them he could see countless pairs of eyes of all colors
going straight for them. His heart dropped. The smell of hundreds of decaying
rotting bodies and coagulated blood made him want to hurl.
"Tsu," he wheezed through the bumpy ride. "They're coming... Go faster..!"
At his lovers warning Tsuzuku went into full on feral mode, his eyes turning
back to their insanity from before. Koichi lost his next words in another
wheeze as Tsuzuku squeezed down on him tighter before running as fast as he
could possibly go. He could only watch in utter terror as they got closer. And
closer. And closer until finally they were bursting through another door at the
top of the steps with those familiar blue runes on it. Then it was slamming
closed in the next second.
Type sounds of multiple bodies slamming into the door full forced made every
hair on his neck stand on edge, but he was just so glad they made it just in
time.
He almost fell to the ground as Tsuzuku lets him go, his breathing heavy and
ragged. But he was so relieved that they made it on time. His liver fell to his
knees and he rolled onto his back to catch his breath.
"That Was.... Close," he panted. Tsuzuku nodded in agreement, wiping a bead of
sweat from his face.
"Too close for comfort. Are you okay?" he asks in concern when Koichi's
breathing doesn't slow down. "Did I squeeze on you too hard? Do you need to
rest?"
Koichi still felt really winded from being squeezed like that but it was no big
deal. He shakes his head in response.
"No. I'll be fine," he answered. "Lets just find Shinya and get away from those
monsters."
As he stood up with Tsuzuku's help be felt a rush of that same awful smell
coming from somewhere nearby. He gagged and could feel the inside of his nose
burning.
"Hey what is it?" his lover inquired. Koichi covered his mouth, struggling to
breathe through the awful stench.
"You don't... Smell that?" he asked incredulously. "Its the same smell as b-
before... With those vampires... Only it's way worse. Its awful, I-I feel like
I can't breathe..."
Right away Tsuzuku is even more concerned than usual, his eyebrows scrunching
together. 
"I can't smell it but... There must be a reason. This floor is warded, unless
Shinya and Wrath didn't kill them and dispose of them properly. Try to only
breathe through your mouth."
But even through his fingers he could feel the awful sensation in his throat
and he felt like he was being suffocated. It felt like literal torture, he
didn't think it would be this bad. Breathing literally hurt right now. What the
hell was he supposed to do?
"Let's just... Look around for Shinya... I don't know if I can handle it any
more..."
Then he sucked in a huge breath and held it in, not wanting to waste time just
complaining like he had been the last few minutes like a crybaby. To help them
see he makes a flame, still not used to the rainbow hue it now had.
Suspicious...
"Not gonna talk much? All right then, Just be careful," Tsuzuku pressed and
helped him navigate the hallways in the seemingly deserted hallway. "You'll be
okay. I got you."
With his lover's arms around him Koichi just nodded and tried not to let his
breath leave his lungs, afraid that if he did he might go insane. But at least
Tsuzuku would be with him if he did. 
The walk was slow and steady, but thankfully being immortal and all Koichi
could hold his breath for a lot longer than when he was human. This helped to
know, that way he could focus. But he just had to wonder how Tsuzuku could not
smell it? Maybe his sense of smell was... not as strong as his was? Maybe. It
could have been the whole reason why Tsuzuku did not feel as alarmed as he
did. 
"They have to be at that vent by now. We just gotta find them and then we will
take care of this whole situation. Then we can.. finally come home."
Oh Koichi hoped to whatever Gods were listening that Tsuzuku was right. There
was only so much homesickness that he could take at once. That, and this Gods
awful scenting thing was really getting on his nerves. Maybe thinking about
something else would calm his nerves...
'I wonder how Aryu is doing. Or Asagi and the others... Maybe they got everyone
to safety and I don't have to be too worried? Maybe they found Mia and Meto as
well, and they're on  their way to help us?'
There were many doors all around them, either with their doors locked or their
entrances blocked by something heavy. Then something shiny a few feet from them
caught his eye.
'What the heck is that?'
Tapping on Tsuzuku's arm he motioned down the hallway. His lover followed his
line of sight and saw whatever it was as well. They walked closer to find
another ward on a door, this time an anti demon one that screamed 'danger' and
'bad things are near.' It had Shinya's scent all over it, at least that much he
could tell. However it was faint, and he wasn't about to ask Koichi to smell
for him. 
That... was not good. Tsuzuku bristles and whipped his head around to see if
anything was stalking them. But nothing. That was... good he guessed?
"Come on," he mumbled. "Shinya is warning us, we have to hurry."
He nodded and tried to keep his breath in, letting his lover open the door for
him. Once inside he breathed out in relief. The smell was no longer here, maybe
because of Shinya. 
"Okay, I think I will be all right now..." he says quietly. "L-let's keep
going."
The room was empty save for a big metal pipe system jutting out of the
plastered and dirty walls. This... had to be the place right? Just like Shinya
said there was a huge metal grating system over a big hole right into the
wall. 
"That has to be it," Tsuzuku says. "I can smell them both in here, and it's
recent. We have left behind our own scents so the others will have to follow
that when they come this way." 
"What about Minpha?" 
Tsuzuku's eyes harden at the mention of that name. 
"If Tomo and Takashi aren't able to stick his head onto a spike then I will be
the one to do it. Either way, tonight he dies as well."
Well he had that figured. Still, even thought they were friends at one time, he
no longer felt that pity he used to feel. Just a slow burning hatred. Just
thinking about it made him livid.
So in response he nodded his head slowly, feeling his chest tighten as he knew
what going in there would mean for them. This was their last chance to rest, to
really wrap their minds around what they were going to attempt to do. From what
he had understood from Aryu's stories no one has ever killed an Old One before,
as they were too powerful. 
But they had a chance as he was still in a vulnerable state and not at full
power. This was their only shot. 
Taking in another deep breath and letting it calm him down a little he nodded
his head. He was terrified but knew that he had to push that away if he wanted
to succeed.
"Open it. We have to do this and do it now."
His lover looked at him briefly before pulling him close and pressing one soft
kiss to his soft lips.
"Whatever happens, we're in this together."
He smiled, feeling tears prickling his eyes once again. Gods he loved him, and
he was willing to sacrifice everything if he had to.
"Together."
/////////////////////
"You sure they'll be okay?"
There was a soft whisper in a dark musty stone corridor, coming from a pair of
quivering chapped lips. Their owner was shivering, likely from nerves as it was
hot like an oven in here. 
"Which ones you talking about?" comes a just as light reply, the source being a
stalwart and defensive daemon protecting his Phoenix lover. "Mia and Meto are
important, I am sure they aren't too harmed. And no one can touch Tsuzuku or
their own group. He's too hardcore for that."
That may have been an attempt to calm him down but he couldn't help but to
worry more. 
"Tomo slow down," he whined. "I don't have the same endurance as you do."
The daemon slowed a little to let his lover get used to his walking and slung
an arm around him as an apology. 
"Sorry... I guess I am just as anxious to find them as you. But don't worry,
we're almost there all right? This is the way to the holding cells, or dungeons
if that doesn't make sense."
Takashi nodded softly, pressing into his lover despite the heat. It gave him a
sense of comfort. 
"I'm scared... what if Minpha is really hurting them?" he peeped. "I don't want
to go in there and find blood everywhere."
To be honest Tomo had that fear as well. Knowing that anything could be down
this hallway made his blood run cold like ice in his veins. But no matter what,
they had to rescue Tsuzuku's friends. 
"I know babe, and if something is wrong then I give you permission to do with
him as you wish. I know what you can do to a vampire now, so do not hold back."
Indeed, only moments ago they had barely come down from the rush of killing
quite a lot of fledglings. It was like this damn place was infested with pests,
which was true in a sense. No matter how many you killed they never died. Not
until you got rid of the source of course. 
Takashi was scared, as he still had to get used to the whole idea of
essentially being a predator now. As much as they were even, or maybe less
because he had his morals still. That thought made him feel a little bit
better. 
"Tomo. I just want you to know that even if we have to kill him, we have to
rescue them first. Okay? No just barging in and being reckless like you usually
are." 
Tomo gave a crooked smile. 
"Of course not. If I were to get hurt you would be upset, and there is not a
thing in this world I detest more than seeing you upset."
Despite the tense and serious atmosphere he was able to reach out and touch the
small beauty mark on Takashi's cheek, silently adoring it from afar. Takashi
just blushed and gently pushed away his hand before hugging Tomo sideways,
content with his body warmth. 
"Good. And the same goes for me."
But they didn't dare to show other signs of affection to one another right now,
as it would make them vulnerable. No, they had to stay focused. And one slip up
could mean the worst of circumstances for them. They had all the time in the
world if they were successful. 
They walked a bit longer before the large metal door, now stained in old dried
blood, was soon looming over the pair. Tomo let go of his lover a bit
regretfully and put his hand to the freezing metal doorknob. He bites his lip,
his fingers trembling just in the slightest. Takashi stares at him with watery
eyes, feeling a lingering despair coming from the door. 
"You ready?" Tomo asked without turning around. "Once we go in we may be forced
to defend ourselves no matter what." 
To be honest Takashi was no longer sure. It would be cowardly of him to turn
back, but at least his life would be intact. But no. He had to cast that
thought aside. They needed him to be strong. 
"Yeah. Let's go get them back. They're waiting for us."
With another silent mental prep Tomo forced the creaky door open, making them
both flinch at how much noise it made. No doubt Minpha was more than aware that
they were here and let them come of his own accord, using the fledglings as a
test. Not too hard of a test though, so maybe he was just teasing them. 
Still, it didn't hurt to be on guard. 
The room was dark, lit only by a single red flame hanging on a wall sconce near
the door. This was where they had held Juri before he committed the ultimate
sacrifice. Though from what he could see the singe large cell was now converted
into a play area. A sick, perverted twisted, sadistic play area. Blood
splattered on the walls, stains of a questionable sort on the floor. Torture
devices hung on the walls on racks, also covered in rust and blood. A single
examining table was in the middle of the room. Metal,old, and horribly rusty. 
But it was what who stood in front of that cell waiting for them that made them
both feel anger in every single cell in their bodies. Minpha was waiting, just
as he had suspected. He was wearing a mostly white lolita dress with large
ruffles and puffed out rings, though it was only mostly white because of all
the blood staining the fabric. It ran down his chest and created sick streaks
down the ring of frills to his knees. Even the thigh high socks he wore were
victim to the horrid display. 
His face was also splattered with red, though the sweet makeup he wore gave him
a false sense of innocence. His ears were suspiciously clean however, and as he
bared his teeth in an evilly sweet grin those teeth were as well. 
'Sick freak.'
Behind him were his captives, weak and tired, but... they seemed okay if a
little dirty and bruised. However he saw no blood, and felt a huge weight off
his shoulders. But then Minpha turned and he felt that relief turn to horror. 
"Ah," the cat demon purred in a sickly sweet voice as he held onto a rusty
scalpel. "How nice of you to finally join us. We were wondering when you would
show up, now we can play a little bit. Guess those fledglings were as useful as
cannon fodder."
Takashi wanted to throw up right then and there. Tomo growled and felt his eyes
blaze white hot with anger and the desire to kill. 
"That's right, we're going to play. But you won't survive long enough to enjoy
it."
But Minpha just laughed, unperturbed. 
"Oooh so cocky aren't you?" he giggles, his true insanity showing through that
one sound. "I like that a lot. I think I 'm going to have a lot of fun with you
two. Just like I did with them."
Then before Takashi could even blink there was a blur of white and red. Then,
like a flash of lightning, he felt a sharp pain being pierced through his
stomach. 
***** Chapter 65 *****
There was a point in his life where he couldn't remember much. Things would
leave his brain and never come back. Certain things he searched for that only
got farther the more he searched. The older he got, the worse it progressed.
And then Takashi would start to learn new things, things that would slowly
replace things all the wanted to know and not lose. But he couldn't help it.
Not knowing things from your past meant your brain was more susceptible to
filling with stuff to fill the void those memories leave behind. 
It seemed inevitable.Was inevitable. The longer he soaked up those memories the
more he began to just... forget. 
Then he met Tomo. And everything seemed to change for him. He fell in love
quickly, and the daemon filled his brain with even more memories. As did every
other person he had ever met in his adult life. Tsuzuku , his human friends.
And now his new ones as well. Being the only other white Phoenix was stressful
but it was all right. He was content with that.
And then... Things began to get worse for him, for everyone really. The whole
world fell apart, Tomo's world fell apart. 
Their lives fell apart. 
/////////////
He woke up slowly, gradually yet painfully so. A sharp pain was making his head
throb and then he felt it.  A deep but dull fire in his belly that made him
hunch over in distress, gasping heavily. It wasn't too bad that he would need
to heal but... it made breathing hurt. 
He was on his back against cold concrete, and couldn't really move his arms
well. There was a wall of fire around him, blazing in a hue of bright purple. 
His head was still a little fuzzy and his ears rang, making it impossibly to
hear much aside from his labored breathing. 
Where... where was he?  
Wait. That's right he remembered. 
"T...Tomo..?" he croaked weakly. "Where... are you..?" 
His body began to ache even more, so he figured he was just numb from the pain
that it didn't feel bad. But then the numbness wore off and he could feel the
pain in his stomach get even worse. The front of his shirt started to feel...
wet. Now it really hurt and he probably needed to heal.
Takashi coughed and slowly put a hand to his stomach, only to pull away in
shock. A hot wetness covered his fingers and the pain made sense. The fire
illuminated his hand and he saw something that made him shudder in shock. 
"I'm... bleeding?" he pants and could now see a spread out and messy stain on
his stomach. Maybe... yes, now he remembered. Minpha must have gotten in a good
stab when he blacked out. Did Minpha think he... died? No, he couldn't die. He
was immortal now, he couldn't die unless it was at the hands of a daemon or
Amaterasu. 
However, he cold get really really hurt. And it could impede him terribly. 
Just getting up to his knees proved to be a struggle, and he could not hear
that well until something caught his attention. A soft muffled sound coming
from somewhere outside his fiery circle. He froze in place, watching droplets
of blood fall to the concrete floor. This whole time he was lying in a pool of
his own blood..? Now that he was up he could definitely feel his back getting
cold and sticky. 
"Ugh... great," he groaned and shakily rises to his feet, groaning as the pain
made him almost fall. The bubble was taller than him so he could comfortably
stand and gave him some room to move around. That was a good thing he supposed.
But... where was Tomo? Then it came to him. 
"Did... Minpha kidnap him?" he wonders out loud. "Need... need to find him.
Need to find Tomo..."
He must have made this when he got knocked out and his body decided it was in
danger. Well at least that was something that would be useful. 
He could tell his body was straining to keep the bubble up and let it break,
the fire dissipating into nothing but small wispy threads before disappearing
into thin air. Now that he wasn't straining it was easier to concentrate on his
surroundings.
This was.... the same room. With Minpha and... And the other two. Meto and Mia
were still in the cell, awake and glossy eyed. Like they were... dazed.
However, his lover and that traitorous demon were nowhere to be seen.
"T-Tomo? Tomo where are you?" 
Silence. They weren't around he could tell. The thought of them being alone
together made a creepy chill run through him and he felt his stomach twinge in
pain. 
"Meto. Mia," he panted. "H-hey can you hear me?" 
They both sat up straight against a cold wall on a white mattress that was
stained with a few drops of blood. But they didn't seem to hear him. They
looked like they were under some sort of... spell or curse. However they didn't
appear hurt or otherwise damaged, just out of it a little. Both wore simple
white oversized shirts with blood splattered on them, and thin white leggings
in a similar fashion.
He then heaves a sigh of relief. There wasn't a thing he think he could do if
they were hurt.
The bars are brittle, so he was able to heat them up and bend them enough to
squeeze himself through despite the pain in his stomach. It should be healing
up any second now right? 
"Hey, you'll be all right, he cooed to the tragic couple as they lazily slumped
their bodies onto the mattress. "Just stay here, I'll go and find a cure for
whatever is wrong with you. That's how this works right? I think... Anyway,
just stay put, and I'll come back for you."
He made sure they were comfy lying down and made sure they were warm before
once more slipping out and rebending the bars closed so no one could get
inside. 
But the pain in his stomach seemed to stay and he had to know to what extent he
was really injured. Hopefully it wasn't too bad... right?
Well... Lifting up his shirt showed that yes. It was indeed bad...
"Oh FUCK," he cursed once he saw it, now feeling the pain of the wound. "How in
the-?"
It was a clean six inch slice across the soft flesh right under his belly
button, and it seemed deep. Blood gushed from the wound and stained his skin,
soaking his clothes and making him smell like salt. It was so clean cut that he
was certain that he was lucky none of his organs got nicked in the process.
"Why... aren't I healing?" he asked himself and tossed the now ruined shirt to
the floor before clasping a hand over his wound to keep his insides from
slipping out. "Great... Probably poisoned. But no matter it won't kill me. Just
gotta find Tomo is all." 
He gave the couple one last worried glance before attempting to open the door
that was surprisingly opened. The dark corridor was as empty as he had figures
it to be. However, he saw something that made him shiver. Deep blackened blood
was trailing along the corridor, like a clue or path of sorts. Then he felt
worried again. 
Did Tomo injure Minpha then flee? Or... vice versa? 
Panic made him whip his head around wildly for any signs of a scuffle but saw
little in the darkness. Just making a flame as big as his palm made him hiss
with pain. But he had to get through this. If anything, if Tomo came back this
way he could follow the blood as well. 
"I'm... coming Tomo," he breathed wearily and started the arduous walk to the
end of the hallway. It was extremely difficult the more he walked, and had to
take small breaks every few minutes. He was losing blood, and fast. If it
weren't for the fact that his blood replenished itself at the equal rate he
lost it he would be dead a long time ago. Had he have been human still, there
was at least two and a half of his body's worth behind him. 
Such a thought made him shudder and the light sputtered but still burned. He
took a breath and saw the stairs to the corridor ahead of him. The elevator was
of no use to him, so he had no choice. Besides, the blood trail led him in
exactly the right spot. The red lanterns that usually hung up to give him light
were all out. He really was on his own. 
"Fucking hell..."
The door was slightly open, and there were signs of a disturbance in the blood
trail and he knew something had happened here.
He followed it inside the stairwell but felt the intense pain only get worse.
It was so intense now, he needed another break.
Gasping heavily and with tears in his eyes Takashi found a small spot beneath
the steps that seemed hidden enough and slid to his knees, trying to hold his
stomach closed. But still, that bleeding persisted. Now he knew he was in
trouble.
"For f-fucks sake," he whimpered and tried to breathe slowly. "Need... Need to
stop the bleeding."
There was something lingering in the back of his mind. An idea, something he
learned from all his training to be an agent. When... Things like this
happened, he knew that if he were a human he needed to be closed up and fast.
No, it wasn't life threatening but it was seriously slowing him down. 
He knew how to close wounds up properly provided he had the right materials
but... he had none. So there was only one other way to do it. Was it dumb?
Absolutely, but he knew he had to try. 
Gripping his fire in one hand he examined the wound, nearly feeling dizzy as he
could see something important peeking out beneath his flesh. He had to do this
now lest something happen. Taking a deep breath he held his breath and let the
fire in his palm fizzle out before heating up his fingers, letting them become
red hot, almost molten. He was taught to do this by Amaterasu, surely it
wouldn't hurt to try. 
"All right... Here goes..." Without missing a beat he quickly pinched the open
parts of his skin together, immediately feeling the skin burning closed. "Ah
fuck!"
It definitely hurt, a soft scream wrenched from his throat as he literally
cauterized himself closed, trying to keep himself from whimpering or making
noise. Gods it hurt, and he was sure this was no way to do it properly. But
once the blood stopped pouring from his belly and the ache was dulled by the
heat he sighed outwards, taking in huge mouthfuls of air as sweat beaded down
his forehead. 
A huge scar was now present on his skin and didn't look pretty, but it was
better than having to look at his insides.
"God I'm so dumb," he berated himself and wiped his hands on his pants. "But at
least it stopped... Just need to rest and let the poison clean itself out, then
I'll keep looking."
So he sat in the stairwell for a while, breathing heavy and letting his body
heal up properly. He kept a soft flame in his hand close by for warmth as it
was absolutely freezing in the stairwell. And he had gotten rid of his shirt in
that room, as it was ruined beyond repair. 
No matter. He's been through worse he supposed. As worse as a human could go
through anyway. Though this was definitely up there. 
But he started feeling his stomach pain dulling and the poison on the edges of
the scar was burning away from his body heat. Maybe Meto thought he was dead,
but something like a simple slice across his stomach was no big deal. However
he was tired and figures he would be of no use to anyone exhausted. 
He spots a space behind the steps and drags himself on his knees to lean up
against a cold wall, still keeping his flame near as he drifted away from his
reality. 
"Just... for a moment..."
And all the while, his skin slowly melded itself until nothing but smooth skin
was left behind, still stained red.
/////////////  
The sheer chaos somewhere high up was a different kind of chaos. Vampires were
swarming the entire thirtieth floor, making it impossible to get a distinct
route to escape to. 
But something felt... off. Like they knew they were being watched but made no
move to attempt to search for the 'intruders' and instead just made themselves
visible on purpose. Like... a challenge. 
Well that didn't seem to sit well with Tsuzuku or Koichi at all. High above
their heads they had one goal. Since they had caught up with Shinya and Wrath
things were progressing smoothly. It had taken them a while to get all the way
up here but the vents were cramped and claustrophobia inducing. Koichi had no
idea how they managed but as long as they made it he could not complain. And
they were the ones in front this time, making moving around less about the
guesswork and more about trying not to get lost.
Still, he felt chills no matter how quietly they moved or how much support he
was shown. This was literally the main nest they were in now, how could he not
panic?
"So where are we headed?" he asked quietly to not attract attention. 
"The vent in the bathroom by my office," Shinya answered back just as quietly.
"It's... it's close by. Just follow us."
From above he could hear how they moved around. It was like... hearing insects
scuttling around in the walls, and it was creepy enough to make shivers run
through his body. 
"What is the plan now?" Tsuzuku whispers from behind the makeshift train. "Just
go all in?" 
"If it comes to that," Shinya answered. "However we should try anything we can
before violence ensues."
"Psh, you wanna try to persuade a bunch of perverted blood-thirsty monsters
into peace? I doubt it," Wrath grumbled. "Honestly, that doesn't sound smart
even for you." 
Shinya tsked and made a disparaged sigh. 
"Hey you know me, I'm not a big ball of pent up rage like you darlin'," he
chuckles. "I try to be sensible. But I guess you're right. We'll just have to
see where this goes. But we just have to make sure they don't get us all
separated. No matter what, Tsuzuku and Koichi must be protected at all costs.
Do not let them out of your sight."
Wrath chuckled, a deep sound that mimicked the feeling of terror pretty well. 
"If it means that I get to massacre every vamp I see then count me in." 
Tsuzuku grimaced, still not used to the way he spoke of killing so easily. 
"That includes Ryoga and Layha, am I correct in assuming that much?" he asked
quietly, feeling goose bumps even before hearing the answer. 
"It means exactly what it means," Wrath growled back. 
"So that is a yes," Koichi sighed. "I figured as much... And what about Ice?"
"The brainwashed one? Well it depends," Shinya mutters. "he's already been
turned from what I understand. If we can somehow rescue him once this is all
over we can rehabilitate him as a vampire and hope he regains his sanity. If
not and he gets in our way well... We'll have no choice but to kill him as
well, as he has come into contact with so many things I fear we may not be able
to save him."
Koichi felt another stab of sympathy, knowing that Ice was just an innocent in
all of this, caught up in something he had no control over. However, he did
know that there was some karma to be reaped through all of this. Maybe this was
some weird coincidence or some divine intervention for Ice being a total ass
when he was a human. 
It made him feel bad to think about it but at the same time... not really. 
"We're almost there," Shinya quickly says as they fall into a silence. "Don't
let your guard down. More than likely they will allow us through to speak to
him."
"Why would they do that?" Koichi asks though he had a feeling he already knew
the answer to that. 
"Isn't it obvious?" Wrath snidely laughs though more to himself. Still on his
murder adrenaline probably. "They will more than likely try to persuade you to
go to them willingly, then they will pull back their offenses and let us go
peacefully. Which is all bullshit by the way. A few days may pass by us
peacefully sure, but then they will start all over again. Once you two are nice
and brainwashed like the fuck toys he wants you to be then he will be
unstoppable. Am I getting close?"
At the implications of failure Koichi froze, causing Tsuzuku to accidentally
hit into his foot face first. 
"Ouch." 
"Sorry..." Koichi mumbles and tries to keep moving along.
"Wow don't sugar coat it now," Tsuzuku grumbled under his breath all while
rubbing his nose absentmindedly. "Okay I get it, we don't listen to talks of
diplomacy. Just an in and out kill fest. I get it." 
"But to avoid all out chaos," Shinya continues, now on edge because of Wrath's
earlier tirade. "We should let him talk and get an idea of what exactly he
wants. Then we can worry about all around rage. Do you understand me, Wrath?" 
His last word comes out as a hiss and Wrath sighed dramatically. 
"Yeah yeah whatever. Are we almost there?"
Shinya squints his eyes and saw the exit grate a few feet away and feels the
tension rising in his fingers. 
"Guys get ready," he answers. "It's gonna be an all out hellfest down there."
Shinya crawled the last few feet and peeked through the metal grate, unable to
see or hear anything. But for all he knew it could be a trap. They could be
just outside the door waiting to ambush them. However he knew that trap or no
trap they came this far. 
With a small grunt he kicked the grate open, flinching as it crashed onto an
all white linoleum floor in a dark room. No doubt they heard that. Oh well, too
late. 
"Damn it," Wrath cursed as Shinya climbed down first. "What a way to spend your
birthday eh princess?" 
Koichi grimaced at the nickname and watched Wrath climb down with a sour
expression. 
'Please don't call me that anymore," he sighed and carefully inched his way
down once it was his turn. "And yes, it is a shitty way to spend my new found
adulthood."
Once on solid ground he looked around, seeing that they came out just between
two sinks and broken mirrors, meaning that glass was everywhere. What was it
with vampires and mirrors??
"I have a feeling that if you were to see Koichi fight he would surprise you,"
Tsuzuku was heard muttering to himself as he was the last to come down. "Well,
now what?"
Carefully Shinya peeked out of the door just slightly and saw a peculiar sight.
No vampires here in the hallways... strange. He was sure there would be some
there. Or... maybe it was a trap. 
"Keep close everyone, he is most likely waiting for us in myoffice," he grits
through his teeth. "And I intend to take it back from him."
Wrath snorted. 
"Yeah there's the Patience I like to see," he cackled and cracks his knuckles.
"Well? Shall we get going?"  
Koichi nodded, still scared. But Tsuzuku was beside him, and now he was more
than ready to fight if he had to. 
The hallways outside were dark but they could all see the dark stains on the
walls and it was obvious as to what they were. Tsuzuku had to hold his nose
from the smell, thank God Koichi learned in just a few minutes how to block it
out. Otherwise he wasn't certain how much he would be able to handle. 
"God look at this place," he complained, seeing how deeply set the mess was set
into the walls and carpet. "It's even splattered on the ceiling!"
However his indifferent attitude was a mask to hide the terror and rush of
adrenaline he was now feeling since they were here now. Just a few weeks ago he
was sitting on that poor blood stained couch complaining of a headache to
Minpha and now he was here again ready to tear that guy's face off. His hands
were clamped tightly onto his lover's, clammy and shaking and they felt like
they were on fire.
"Wrath," Shinya murmurs softly, inspecting everything with sheer horror. What
did those monsters do to his poor building..?
"Yeah?" 
He kicked away what looked like half a human jaw bone and sighed. 
"Remind me to look for a new place to move once this is all over."
"Hmph, duly noted."
The bathroom was in very close proximity to the main office that it made him a
little uncomfortable. Then the guest room, now with a huge metal padlock on it
to keep out intruders. Or keep something in? One could only imagine at this
point. 
"All right it looks like they left the main office door open," Wrath says
quietly. "You guys ready to hear what he has to say before we fuck 'em up?"
No one really answered, it was just a silent agreement to what he said. Their
faces were somber but he had his answer. Shinya led the way as usual, and
touched the now tarnished door handle with shaking fingers. 
"No matter how good his schemes sound," he said as softly as he possibly could.
"Never ever. Let yourself be tempted. Whoever leaves that room, It must be us
only. Understand me?" 
He received quick nods in return and bites his lip, sucking in a breath before
turning the handle. They were met with darkness, and a coldness akin to being
frozen alive settled on Koichi's skin. It was then that he noticed a creeping
black... vine thing crawling up the side of the door. That probably wasn't
good.
Shinya's room was surprisingly well lit if only by a few candles in some
holders on a now bared wall, also splattered in red. And his bed had been moved
from his bedroom into here, pushed up against the left most side with new jet
black canopies surrounding it. The blackened vines were all over the room far
as he could tell, with the source sitting smugly in soft satin black covers. 
Long jet black hair was tied in soft braids along his shoulders, and deep set
crimson red eyes glowed like embers in the dim light. The black vines curled in
and out from behind it's back, crawling around the bedposts and keeping him
tied down.
And beside either side of the bed was them. Ryoga and Layha, their eyes blazing
with sincere malice and hate despite the grins on their faces. All of them were
covered in blood as a few human skulls lay scattered about. Tsuzuku could feel
Ryoga's cold gaze on him straight away, and it made him want to rip his head
off. 
"Welcome my lovelies," comes the eeriest voice Koichi has ever heard. "It
appears you had no trouble finding your way to me after all. That makes me
happy."
Like many voices trapped into one and struggling to be the dominant one, it
echoed and wisped like smoke or a deadly poison. It made Koichi feel like he
wanted to pass out. 
However what made his skin really crawl was feeling those eyes zero in on him
right away and then to his lover. Tsuzuku must have picked up on that as well
because he was gripping onto Koichi's hand tightly, not saying a word. 
'Oh shit.'
***** Chapter 66 *****
Chapter Notes
     !!ALL OF THIS IS FICTION!!
     HEAVY VIOLENCE GORE AND CHARACTER DEATH IN THIS ONE
We must have triggered some sort of trap once we walked close enough, because
the second that... thing was done talking we all couldn't move. Our limb became
as lead and gravity halted us in place. Shinya and Wrath had black vines
coiling up their legs and held their mouths closed.
Damn it! We were trapped, now what are we going to do? 
The first thing that came to mind about how I felt in that moment was disgust,
pure disgust. I felt like something was piecing my flesh with a pair of red hot
scissors, slicing me open to get to the deepest parts possible. It felt like I
was being violated, stripped of my pride, all with just a single lecherous
look. 
A cold chill went up my body as red piercing eyes practically raked over my
body and caused me to shiver violently, almost causing me to lose my grip on
Koichi's hand. That look was the pure image of debauchery and sinful intentions
and I felt like everything I had done up until now was for nothing. 
It was then that I wanted to run, to hide Koichi away. To make him safe.
Anything. Just get me away from this place please...
"Do you like my trap my darlings?" it laughs, stroking the black coils as
though they were some sort of sick pets. "They're of my own making. You cannot
escape me." 
Everyone seemed to struggle as they spoke on and on, as though we weren't even
in the room. I could feel the ones wrapped on me wriggling and rubbing my body.
Was he... molesting me even from this? 
"What did I tell you master?" came a taunting smooth voice as cold as ice.
"Isn't he just the tastiest thing you have ever seen and felt?"
I felt his eyes on me again, like they were mentally undressing me. It made me
feel so ill. And the coils are rubbing on my chest and I have to resist the
urge to throw up... It felt so disgusting. Now I knew I was being violated.
"Mm yes he is indeed. Oh he feels so soft and wonderful... Not only him.. But
his cute little bird as well. He's so warm and delicate. They will make a
delicious addition to my nest."
No... Not while I am here. They won't lay a hand on him!
"You won't touch him," I growled angrily and struggled against the trap. "If it
means I have to kill you myself you won't lay a single finger on him!"
Besides me, Koichi seemed to panic and began to shiver violently. But Ryoga
only laughed, a cold sound that was so much different than how I knew it to be.
Sharp, malicious. 
"Oh but don't you see?" he cackled and came closer. I could feel the darkness
rolling off of him in waves. "You've come to us. We've already won. Why are you
still fighting when you cannot deny that this is why you exist? For us and us
alone? Face it. You are nothing but a toy for us to play with as we take what
is ours. Or rather, you are his and we may do as we wish to your beautiful
little bird here."
Then to my horror he stepped towards Koichi and held up a hand, forcing Koichi
to look him in the eyes. 
"No don't touch him!" I snarl but he ignores me. Fucking bastard!
"Ah, such a soft young thing you are," he purred with a finger to his chin. "I
wonder how it would be to be in your shoes right now. Tell me, does it feel
good when this daemon has you on your knees and fucks you like the toy you are?
Does it feel good when he makes you whine and beg for it like a little slut? I
bet it does doesn't it. Well I can tell you with certainty that once you are
ours it will be a million times better than what he gives you. Doesn't that
sound nice?"
How dare he talk to him like that! I will kill you i swear it!
"No, Koichi don't listen to him..!"
Koichi is shaking but I can see a red filter in his eyes. What in the worlds??
"Shut your disgusting mouth," he finally snapped, making Ryoga frown. "You
don't know anything, you filthy bloodsucking leech. You don't know anything
about us, about him or me. You know nothing and you will never know anything.
You're just acting all high and mighty because you have that old parasite
behind you and without him you would be nothing. You are nothing. So don't say
you have already won because once I am free from this trap I won't stop until
you have been burned into nothing and that thing's head is on a stake and the
guts inside its disgusting corpse are decorating these fucking walls."
Oh. Oh my God... Did Koichi just... lose his mind? The whole room fell silent
and I stared. Where in the hell did that come from?? Even Wrath couldn't utter
a single noise. 
"He has quite the mouth," the Old parasite suddenly says with a flat tone and
sits up higher in the bed. "No matter. He is powerless as are they all. Hurry
up and dispose of the others so we can continue rehabilitating the new nest. I
tire of this."
Layha strode towards us then, smirking. This was the first time I ever got a
look at him. He was creepy, his clear litheness making him an obvious threat. 
"Don't touch me!" I heard Koichi warn in a low growl again. "I'll fucking kill
you!"
Was he insane?? Or was it his powers making him a fucking crazy person thirsty
for death? 
Ryoga comes towards me, his face smiling and feigning innocence. But I knew
what he was really thinking.
"Don't worry lovely," he purred at me. "I will take care of you just like
before, baby."
I could already feel wave after wave of sullied memories of the past attacking
my brain. How dare he bring that up..! Ugh I just wanna tear his head off! His
hand then grabs my face but I could still talk. Enough to tell him off. I knew
Koichi would be pissed but...
"I am not. Your baby," I spat in his face. "Whatever we had is gone now that
you decided to become this sick monster." 
He only curled his lip at me, digging claws into my cheeks and letting blood
streak down my skin. Then his eyes glow their venomous yellow and I can see
pure hate as he stared at me with malice.
"You're right. You're not mine anymore. You're His now, and you were only meant
to be his. If anything I absolutely despise you, and if I had it my way I would
claw your heart out and feed it to your pretty boy over there. And I would do
it over and over, knowing you cannot die." 
Koichi screams but Layha is grabbing his face too, smiling like a madman. In
the back, I could see that Thing smiling evilly, clearly amused with our
situation. 
"But I am not going to do that. Master needs you, and I will do whatever he
says. So you will listen and you will comply."
"Let go of him!" I spat at Ryoga. "If you do... then I'll listen to what you
want."
Everything froze. That made Koichi pause his wriggling. I know I promised not
to do this but... I love him too much to subject him to this. He needs to be
free.
There was a sudden surge of heat coming from his body and Wrath was screaming
through the binds over his mouth. But Layha lets him go, that was all I needed.
Ryoga releases my face but I give him a glare, feeling blood on my mouth. Then
the coils are unwrapping and I fall to my knees, shivering. 
I know Koichi would not want this. Not even I want this. But...
"Tsuzuku? What the hell are you doing??" he screamed, now frozen and with tears
streaming down his face.   
"I know. I know I said that. But I can't let them make you into what they want
you to be. Now let him go. I know you want me, but if you touch Koichi I swear
I won't hesitate to rip your face off."  
Ryoga seemed to consider that, and gave Layha a blank stare before turning it
to me. 
"What do you think Layha dear?" he asked and smirked at me. "Should we let the
others go in return for what Master truly wants?" 
Koichi still struggled, now having the coil over his mouth removed. But if I
say anything about it... they may hurt him. 
"We... We said we wouldn't get separated! Don't do this!"  
I looked at him, and the filter over his eyes has become pure scarlet. He was
furious, yet tears cascade down his face like a waterfall... I'm such an ass.
"I'm... Sorry, I-"
But he finally snapped in the coils, now spewing torrents of fire from his
mouth as he flailed and screamed. His powers are taking over..?
"No!" he cried out, the fire making a violent cascade around him. "You
promised! You promised we would be together no matter what! You promised
Tsuzuku! You can't do this!"
"Koichi..."
The anger must be burning him out... He's sobbing too heavily now, and I crawl
my way to him and avoid the coils around him and touch his face. It's hot, and
the tears are evaporating as soon as they touch his cheeks. 
"Stop... please... Don't go please..!"
"Well my dear bird, I am afraid he is mine now," the parasite purred. "Though
if you want to, you may stay with him. It's all up to you love. But if I were
you, I would accept the fact that you have lost and walk out that door."
"Tsu... no, please... take me with you! I don't want to be without you!"
"No. My poor Koichi. I didn't mean to do this to you baby," I whisper and press
a kiss to his forehead. "But I can't let them take you like this. I have to do
this. I..." 
"Tsuzuku Darling let him stay," the parasite murmurs in a cheery voice. "If the
baby bird wishes to stay with his dearly beloved he may."
I turn back and hiss at him, watching his teeth curl into a smirk. 
"No! I won't let you take him! You either take only me or none of us."
But he just continued to smirk at me, seemingly smug as though he knew I could
not argue. 
"Oh but my Darling, I-" 
But then he stops, those sick words catching in his throat. What the hell is
happening?
Ryoga and Layha immediately go to his side. 
"Master? What is the matter??"
The parasite begins to hold his head in his claws, the coils around the bed
post quivering and trembling.
"Stop... Stop him! He is... Ahhh!"
Then a sudden burst of heat comes from Koichi's body and the coils shrink away
from him in pain as fire erupts all around him in a fiery blaze. Then they
release Wrath and Shinya, who both drop to the ground coughing and wheezing.
But they get to their feet thank the stars. 
Then I see him. Koichi is engulfed in a white fire tinted in all hues of colors
and his hair is a blazing magenta. His eyes are all white and his wings have
become fully unfurled and are blazing white hot. Rainbow feathers of flame are
on the edges and he looks like he could absolutely strangle someone. The heat
in here becomes almost unbearable.
Ryoga is glaring at me, but doesn't leave his Master who is doubling over in
pain. 
"Stop! You have already agreed on becoming ours!" he snarled. "Stop now! Or we
will not stop!"
This is my chance..! We can get out of here! My mind makes the decision and I
don't even think about it. I'm on my feet in the next second and helping Shinya
and Wrath to their feet and out of the door.
"Koichi! Come on we have to get them out!" I yell at him. "We have no choice!
We have to fight them!" 
But he does not listen. The anger must be making his brain forget everything
but fury and rage. 
"Koichi come on!" I cried. I can't let him do this anymore he will be too weak!
"Stop them!" the parasite roared angrily. "Don't let them get away!" 
But his voice seemed to spur on the anger in Koichi's body for his head seemed
to twitch angrily and an ear piercing scream wailed from his lips. Before Layha
or Ryoga could even do anything a wall of pink and orange hued fire soon
separated us from then and Ryoga screeched angrily, as Layha got singed by the
fire and cried out in pain. 
Koichi seemed to realize he was able to trap them and the fire rose higher
until it almost reached the ceiling. Once he was done he ran towards me and I
hold open the door before slamming it closed. 
Soon I can't feel my fingers anymore, they're numb like static as adrenaline is
is buzzing through me. 
Shinya and Wrath stood close by the door, catching their breaths. But they did
not look harmed. Wrath was pissed but still disoriented. Shinya seemed more
coherent however he was still very shaky on his feet. 
But Koichi... He was still on fire. His body was still as he stood a few feet
from the door.
"They're trapped now... it will be a while before that fire dies away," I heard
Shinya mutter. "We should ward another room and rest in it to get our strength
back."
"Ugh what an embarrassing moment of weakness," Wrath growled and punched the
wall, creating an indent in the plaster. "I need to go kill something to feel
better."
Then he stalked down the hallway, stumbling every so often. Shinya offers me a
weak smile and followed after him to make sure he didn't hurt himself. But that
didn't matter. I needed to make sure Koichi was okay. 
As if on cue Koichi turned and saw me. The eyes squinted and he walked closer
to me, his strides slow and deliberate. 
But as his fiery eyes die away and are replaced by his normal ones I see them
and can feel my heart breaking in my chest. He's pissed. Absolutely livid. 
Can I really blame him? I almost threw myself away just for his safety. I can
understand his reason for having such a horrid expression of agony on his face.
Can I ever hope to fix this..?
"Baby I-"   
But I can't finish as a hot hand is snapping my face to the side. A stinging
pain is left and I froze in place. He just... slapped me. I stare at him, my
eyes wide. Okay... I deserved that.
"How dare you," he growled at me, almost spitting his words at me. "You
promised me. And you were going to break it! How could you Tsuzuku! I thought
you loved me! You promised we would never ever be separated! You promised!" 
Oh no he was in hysterics... The anger must be making him go insane and more
tears poured from his broken eyes. No. I can't let this break us apart.
Forgetting the stinging pain I reached out and grabbed his arms and he tried to
break away from me, sobbing. 
"Love please look at me!"
Still he struggled. The anger starts to make him once more make licks of fire
whip out of his mouth as he screamed at me.
"No! No don't touch me right now! Let me go!"
Then his skin heats up in an attempt to make me let go. My hands started to
burn and I was certain my skin would start to char if I didn't let go soon. It
hurt but I needed to make him see.
"Koichi! Look at me!" 
No good, he isn't listening to me. I can't let him do this to himself. I have
to...
"No! If I have to I will kill that bastard myself! I- mpf!"
Not thinking I force him close to me and close my mouth over his. But as soon
as I did the fire in his mouth began to lick at my lips, and he weakly tried to
escalate the fire to burn me. Oh Gods it hurt... The fire was already starting
to eat away at my skin and dried out my throat. But I had to do this! 
"Mff... Mmmm..!Hmm..."
I forced my tongue into his mouth, suffering as more heat choked me and made me
want to pull away. But I can't. He's starting to get less desperate to escape,
and I used my tongue to caress his comfortingly. It felt like I was sucking in
the fumes from a flamethrower. However he seemed to be slowing down. I then
grabbed his face gently and kissed harder, ignoring the streaming tears down my
face from the scorching pain. 
Then he moaned weakly, his fingers barely gripping my arms. And all at once the
heat stopped, but I felt the burning in my throat and knew I couldn't take much
more of it. I pulled back with a loud gasp and sucked in air to quell the
burn. 
"You... stupid idiot," he whimpered, his eyes still tearful but the kiss made
his cheeks flushed and a lovely amount of puffiness was present in his lips.
"Y-you burned your face up... How c-could you... do that..?"
Indeed, my skin felt dry and there was an unbearable amount of stinging sharp
pain. No doubt my face was red and slightly burned, but I still managed to
smile at him. Then it all came tumbling out and I felt more tears streaming
down my face.
"I love you Koichi," I answered, pressing my forehead desperately to his. "I
love you. Gods I love you I love you so much... Please, don't hate me. I
just... could not stand the idea of them touching you like that. I don't want
them to see any part of you. I don't want them to know your body as I do, or
feel your skin, or hear your voice... I don't want them to know anything. I
don't I can't stand it... Please... I love you so much..." 
I cried. I cried hard but I didn't let him go. It felt so bad. The overwhelming
guilt, the crushing feel of being not good enough. I felt like it was eating me
alive and I can't stand it anymore.
My skin was healing now, the coolness of my body repairing myself giving a
small amount of relief. But... it did not quell that despair I was feeling. I
hurt him. So... so bad. How am I going to recover from this? 
"Tsu," he whimpers, his breath coming in jerky hiccups. "P-please... I can't
stand to see you crying... I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to protect
me. I was just scared... I didn't want to see you taken from me I just couldn't
stand it. I got so angry..! It was so bad I just snapped and I... I used all my
energy and I took it out on you... I'm so sorry Tsuzuku! I love you too."
He was crying too... when did that happen? But he knew how I was feeling. That
was more than enough for me. I pulled him to me closer and felt my legs give
out and he came to the floor with me in my lap. His arms went around me and I
forced my face into his neck, sobbing still. I felt relief but the pain still
lingered. 
My skin melded and smoothed out, and my throat was no longer constricted.
However now i felt a lot better despite that. Koichi forgave me... And I feel
better now that I know he isn't going to hate me forever. 
"I love you," I sob into his shoulder, squeezing him tight. "I swear. I will
never let you go... No matter what."
He sniffled and dug his fingers into my neck, but it did not hurt. If
anything... it felt wonderful. 
"I love you Tsuzuku... I swear, I will absolutely tear his face apart for
daring to touch you like that. Never ever will I let him have you. And... Once
this is all over I will not let you sleep for a whole week."
And I smiled, knowing he was more than willing to make that a serious threat. 
"Well I will hold you to that baby," I cooed and gently held his face, wiping
his salty tears away from his face to kiss his eyelids. "And if you want... you
can burn the filth on my skin away so I can be pure again... Just for you.
Happy birthday my love."
/////////////////
The wounds from before had all healed, the skin now smoothed out and perfect
again. Red shot puffy eyes watched as blood swirled down his arms to the ground
as freezing cold water from an overhead emergency faucet cascaded down a flat
belly. Dried globs of red blood was rubbed away and his clothes were soaked.
Beside him, the smoking remains of what was once a few vampire fledglings
smoldered and smoked. 
Takashi was exhausted. He was attacked by countless fledglings once he reached
the ground floor while following the blood trail. Somehow, through all of that
chaos, he managed to kill all of them. Every. Single. One. 
He managed to get to the main lobby to go up to the next floor when he was
cornered by three of them in a random janitor room. It smelled heavily of
cleaning agents, smoke, and blood in here. 
They had all managed to tackle him and wanted to feed from him, but like.. some
miracle he threw them all off and managed to use his ring of fire to obliterate
them instantly. The smoke from their bodies were triggering the smoke alarms
and water pumps in the ceiling. 
But it was a dumb move. The power he used to make that ring drained him
absolutely. Sure they were all dead, but at what cost? 
Now how was he supposed to help Tomo? He wasn't sure for how much longer he
could keep doing this. And because of his actions now he needed to rest again. 
But that would only make more room between him and his lover. And there was no
way of telling if he would ever make it in time. 
No. He had to go now. The fledglings were all dead. And if there were any more
that were up here either Tomo or Minpha had gotten rid of them. They were his
main priority 
He let the blood wash off a bit more before leaving the room. And then he let
the heat from his body dry the clothes he was wearing as he walked to the
stairwell. It was then that he heard noises. Crashing and yelling sounds, and
the goosebumps on his arms raised up to their fullest point. Then, another
noise that made his blood run cold.
A high pitched bloodcurdling scream that lasted but seconds echoed through the
stairwell. But it was enough to make him tremble with fear.
"Tomo," he gasped and ran up the stairs as fast as his tired legs could carry
him. "I'm... I'm coming!"
The urgency made adrenaline pump through his veins and he managed to reach the
top in record speed. 
What he saw when he opened that heavy door made his eyes go wider than he
thought possible. 
Tomo, with a furious expression on his now enraged face, had Minpha pinned to a
hallway wall and had his clawed hand buried deep in the pale expanse of the cat
demon's belly, the other holding Minpha by his neck in a tight chokehold. The
dress he had been wearing was all torn and bloody, exposing different slices of
his flesh. 
The look on his face was of absolute disbelief. Eyes wide and bloodshot, mouth
wide open and now dripping blood with saliva. Those ears that were once pointed
high and proud, were now flattened in distress. Soft choking breaths left his
body as blood gushed out of his opened gruesome wound and soaked the remaining
shreds of the once white fabric of the dress. 
In his left hand was the scalpel, dripping fresh blood. Then with a weak
clatter of the instrument to the ground Minpha grew limp, his breathing labored
as Tomo dug deeper all the way up to his forearm. The sounds of flesh squishing
and tearing made Takashi flinch with horror. 
The he spoke roughly, his eyes dripping a sickening black ooze.
"H...How... C-could you... do th-this... to me..?"
Then he realized that Tomo had let go of his neck, only to rear his hand back
and prepare to claw off his face. But Takashi had to stop him.
"Tomo no!"
His lover seemed to snap out of it and after realizing what he had done quickly
tore his hand out of the cat demon with a sickening crunch and his body
crumpled in a bloody heap to the once pristine white carpet. 
Tomo panted heavily, his face and arms streaked with scarred flesh that quickly
sewed themselves together. His true daemonic form was in full force. The
blazing glowing eyes, the rabid expression of blood thirst. And the fact that
his fingers ended in pointed claws now covered in guts and gore. 
Minpha coughed violently, spewing both blood and that black ooze from his once
pink soft lips. The wound was very wide open and it was easy to see the
destroyed organs in his body ready to slip out. But his agony went unnoticed as
Tomo went to his lover and scooped him into his tense arms.
"T...Takashi... you're okay," he whispered in disbelief. That knowledge seemed
to make him slump in relief as his tense shoulders went a little limp. "You're
okay..!" 
"Y-yes," Takashi murmured back and buried his fingers into his hair. "I'm happy
to see you're okay too... I was so worried..!" 
"I'm fine baby. He just nicked me a few times with that little blade of his.
But he made a mistake and underestimated me, so I managed to get him. Now, the
only question now is what to do with him."
After the initial reunion and the high of reuniting with Tomo wears off they
walk towards the dying cat demon, now wheezing and convulsing as he dyed the
carpet beneath him in his own insides. It was sort of... sad. Had anyone else
looked upon this scene they would figure that Minpha was the good guy here.
Soft baby face, cute pink hair and white frilly dress. 
But the insanity in his slanted eyes would give everything away. They stared up
at him then at Tomo, desperation making him try and speak. 
"P-please," he spluttered through the backed up blood in his esophagus. "P-
please... kill... me... Please..." 
What? Why would he want to die though? Maybe because he knew he was defeated?
Tomo sneered down at him and kneeled down to grab him by the hair and yank at
him, making Minpha weakly flinch in intense pain.  
"Oh we will. But first we want to know why you betrayed us. Why you went bat
shit insane."
The demon choked again and weakly held his stomach to try and keep his insides
in his body. But the wound was worse than what he had done to Takashi so there
was no way they would not. 
His words were strained and they knew he did not have long to go before he was
nothing but a corpse. 
"B-been... Possessed... Old one... attacked me. Please... kill me now... B-
before my wounds become p-poisonous... Please..!"
So, he was possessed by the Old one just as Aryu had been. Only this time,
Minpha would not survive this ordeal.
"I see," Takashi muttered under his breath, now seeing the light. "I see.
Then... if it will help I will kill him."
Minpha was as much of a victim as they were. It was their civil duty to make
sure his tortured soul could find peace. 
"You sure?" Tomo asked and let Minpha drop back to the carpet. "I mean, I am
sure you can but... You look exhausted."
Takashi smiles at him, grateful for his concern. 
"I know and I am. But... I can do it. Now, just tell me the right way to kill a
cat demon without letting it come back to life. Amaterasu did not give me that
info when I got my memories back."
His lover just sighed and looked at Minpha, who had stopped wheezing and was
just staring at them, blankly but still desperately. 
"You have to tear his head, legs and arms off, and then burn the pieces," Tomo
finally said. "It's... the only way that his body can't put itself back
together. Sounds gruesome but it's the only way."
Takashi could feel unease prickling his stomach but he swallowed it down. 
"I understand. I'll do it. And I will burn his body as well."
With his lover backing away he crawled to Minpha, feeling his fingers tingling.
Slowly, almost gently, he cradles his face in his palms. The cat demon looked
at him, and then strangely enough he smiled. But Takashi had already closed his
eyes so he would not see. 
"Thank... thank you."
Then Takashi yanked up with all his might, and with a sick loud snap the body
in his lap grew completely limp. And tears were streaming down his face.
***** Chapter 67 *****
The initial terror of almost losing Tsuzuku began to wear off of Koichi's
shoulders, now being replaced by fatigue. But they were all safe somewhat and
all huddled in the bathroom and away from the grate that they had come in
through. Tsuzuku was still healing from the minor burns in his throat, but the
scratchiness seemed to finally get better as seconds passed by. Koichi sat near
him on the floor by the sink after they cleaned up the glass, his head on a
strong shoulder and their fingers intertwined loosely but still warmly. 
The pinkette was resting but not asleep, and his lover was watching his boss
and Wrath discuss their next, only half listening through hazy tired eyes. From
outside he could hear faint but pronounced hisses and snarls of anger.
"They're right outside this door now. What are we supposed to do?" Wrath
inquired, pinning his counterpart with a desperate stare. "We can't just sit
here and do nothing now. There needs to be something we can do. I don't want to
be some trapped animal."
"No I know," Shinya mutters and rubs his eyes, still tired. "I know that. We
just.... I really don't see much else we can do other than fight. Fight with
all we got. I just... Need to know if we're ready to pretty much destroy the
whole building in the process."
"Why would he destroy it?" Tsuzuku found himself asking in a scratchy voice.
"You saw what he has done to the place right? All those black tentacles and
coils everywhere?" Tsuzuku nodded. "Well, no doubt they are feeding into every
corner of the building they can get to. If they get any farther he will be able
to control them at whim and take over everything. We need to cut them off, but
the building will still be tainted."
So it was a matter of being taunted with too much evil? He guessed that made
sense. After all, who wanted to live in a building that was tainted by an
ancient evil parasite? Nothing would be the same. Everywhere he looked he would
be reminded of what happened here in but a few weeks. Enough time though, to
completely stain the walls with despair and blood, to soak the floors with
anger and ravenous hunger. 
Nothing would be the same. Nothing would feel like home anymore. And of course
they all knew that, Koichi and Tsuzuku especially. Their own home was no longer
a safe spot to be, now compromised by anger. So yes, he understood that
sentiment all too well. 
"Yeah. I understand that..."
Still, this place held so many memories, was he really ready to tear it all
down so easily like that?
"Why don't we talk about this later, when we aren't cornered and about to die
at the hands of ravenous vampires," Wrath huffed. "Especially when one of them
is hell bent on having Tsuzuku's ass on a silver platter."
That caused an uncomfortable shiver down Tsuzuku's spine and he made a sour
expression. 
"Wrath, please don't be so crass," Shinya pleads. "But you're right. We need to
do this, sooner rather than later. Tsuzuku, are you and Koichi ready?"
No, they weren't. But again, they could not do much else but fight anyway. 
At the sound of his name Koichi's head rose up a little bit, his eyes glossy
but attentive. 
"I... I guess," he mumbled quietly. "I think I will be fine now."
Tsuzuku smiled weakly, gently feeling for another fever as he had the past few
minutes. 
"I would ask if you need to rest more but it seems like we don't have time for
that."
They really didn't. The ward on the door they they put up would not last much
longer even if they wanted it to. The sound of angry fledglings trying to get
around the ward with angry scratching on the walls flooded through the room.
They all flinched from the noises grating on their ears. 
Koichi stood up then, his legs shaky but his determination outweighed the
fatigue. Tsuzuku watched him walk to the sink with wobbly fawn legs and stood
up as well, feeling a tingle in his muscles as they had fallen asleep. 
"It will be like the third floor all over again," Shinya warned. "Though with
those other two thrown into the mix, I imagine it will be at least ten times
worse. These fledglings may be easy to kill, but those two will require all of
your attention and skill. You need to be careful, or else they will easily get
the drop on you and you won't even realize what happened. Whether they kill us,
or take you two, it will all be over. So keep your mind clear and focus."
It was just too bad that Koichi left that gun Shinya gave him in the old
apartment, he was certain that it would have helped a lot. But... Well, it was
left there the day that the vampires launched the attack on the city. Now, all
he had to depend on was his meager fighting skills and the fire running through
his blood. There wasn't much they could do though he had to pray to the stars
and back, that it was all he needed. 
"I can't let them take us," he said in a breathy mutter, staring at the dirty
rectangular paint spot on the wall where a mirror used to be, now shattered in
a reflective pile on the tiled ground nearby. "I can't let this be the last
time we all have a chance to relax. This has to be the last night, the last
night that any of them are alive. It has to be. Or else..."
Despite the way his voice trailed off uncertainly everyone got that unspoken
message loud and clear. Everything they know will be gone. Forever. The world
would be overtaken by a psychopath, and the sky would be plunged into eternal
darkness. And what kind of life was that?
Shinya nodded, his fingers twitching every few seconds. Probably from the
anxiety. Tsuzuku stepped behind his lover and calmly began to brush his fingers
through soft but tangled hair. 
"The message is loud and clear," Wrath muttered. "So. When you guys are
ready..."
"We might have to be," Tsuzuku answered, his hand now at Koichi's waist to
comfort him. 
The initial trembling seemed to go away and Koichi could feel the control in
his legs coming back and he sighs heavily. Inside he felt like freaking out but
tried to keep himself calm despite that. 
Well. This was it. The final battle that depending on the outcome, could mean
the lives of millions. But it was a risk they had to take.
"Let's go guys."
///////////////
The moment that Wrath so much as turned the handle they were thrown back into
hell. Tsuzuku's fingers slipped from his grasp as they grew out their claws and
began to tear at flesh and skin. Koichi could feel himself slipping from
reality as rage began to build up and his eyes once more began to burn with
white fire. His lover and his two friends disappeared into the lumbering mass
of teeth and snarls.
Reality began to blur as he began to doge and turn his body to avoid teeth to
his neck or claws in his face. It was difficult keeping a hold on reality, as
the instincts buried deep into his ancient genes began to take over in the face
of danger. 
Rainbow fire sprouted from the tips of his fingers and began to spray from his
lips as diseased and sickly sweet blood rained on him from slit throats and
torn open abdomens. His feathers created a barrier of fire behind his back so
no one could possibly take him by surprise. His hair created a fiery magenta
fire and he became the very image of anger. Things began to go very down hill
from there.
The walls began to be painted red and ceilings were scorched black. 
Blood began to pool in his mouth as he attacked blindly, and despite the
disgusting salty and metallic taste he didn't spit anything out. The heat
evaporated the blood only seconds after hitting his tongue so it doesn't bother
him. But it starts to drip down the front of his lips and down to his once
clean lacy white shirt, creating a grisly image. 
One vampire began to notice him in his rage and stupidly, tried to ambush him
from the side where the second padlocked door was located. He didn't notice
this one until it was almost too late, but the hissing gave it away. Koichi
yanked his blood covered hand from the throat of a now badly burned fledgling
as he heard it, and his head swiveled around to see teeth snapping in front of
his face. 
It was fast, but he was much faster. With a quickness he had no idea he was
capable of he twisted his body and quickly grabbed him from the air, squeezing
down as his mouth spouted flames but no words. The fledgling wriggled and
choked, only for deep cerulean eyes began to widen as heat crawled up his skin.
He clawed and tugged at Koichi but had to pull away as fire the color of the
ocean began to steadily crawl up his arm. 
All the while, their eye contact never broke, and Koichi stared the fledgling
deep in the eyes as the fire now reached his hand, and the heat from the flames
began to lick and kiss pale sickly white flesh. Koichi breathed heavily but
kept his face straight, the rage making him terrifyingly calm. The white hot
filter over his eyes never once let up, only increasing in intensity. 
Then screams of absolute agony began tearing from the hapless creature as burns
began to appear on his throat. And he could not tear Koichi's hand from his
throat as the flames were all up and down his arm. Then they climbed higher and
higher to his fingertips where the screams turned to wails and cries of terror,
and fluids began to leak from a sharp toothed mouth and wide open eyes. His
claws dug in deeper and blood pooled at his fingers, evaporating from the
heat. 
Not a single drop of red hit the floor.
"N-no! please d-don't kill me! P-please!"
But he didn't hear it. All he heard was more white noise and a low ringing in
his ears that only agitated him further and the flames grew from bright blue
like the sky to red and pink tinged with white as he lifted the fledgling in
the air to let him dangle in midair. Feet kicked and flailed but to no avail. 
Only seconds passes but the screams grew choked and strained, and the fluids
increased. And then, all at once the screams stopped. The once flailing body
grew steadily limp, and the choking sounds grew quieter, and then. Nothing. 
Only when the body began to light up in brilliant white flames did Koichi seem
to snap out of his insane state. 
He gasped in horror as the vampire in his claws released their grip and the
body fell to the ground, now crumpled into a blackened heap as the fire
engulfed it entirely. It didn't even have a chance to build its cocoon before
there was nothing but ashes left behind. 
His breath came fast and his chest burned from the shock. His arms felt heavy. 
That was new... He never snapped like that before. And he never felt fire crawl
up his arms like that. Maybe he really was... becoming something different. His
fingers were shaking as he looked at them, knowing that they had just murdered
a vampire in seconds.
All around him were other fledglings, bristling with anger and rage at the
death of yet another nest mate, but at the same time he saw hesitation and fear
from his power. Now they knew exactly what he could do. And he was not afraid
to show them that. 
Well, maybe a little bit afraid. He still could not see his lover or the others
but knew that he could feel Tsuzuku not too far away from him. 
The front door was destroyed, and he could see signs of Wrath's fury on the
walls. Decapitated fledglings, naturally with their bodily fluids and insides
splattered everywhere. Shinya must be with them then, and they somehow got
pushed to the hallway.
It worried him, but it would do for now. He just had to clean out these
fledglings a little bit more. Then, he would have a shot at the main Parasite.
And with that in mind he let the fire climb back up his eyes and lick from his
lips as he stared at the group of fledglings huddling near the bathroom
watching him with hate filled but fearful eyes. 
He figured he needed new targets. Maybe they would do. 
But it was only then that he realized that his lover was far away near the
front door, trapped while Ryoga and Layha stalked towards him. Anger rippled up
his spine and all he saw from there on was pure white.
----
Tsuzuku could feel the murderous rage keeping him going starting to wear down.
His once lightning fast instincts were starting to slow by milliseconds, but
those milliseconds were spent pushing fledglings off of him instead of grabbing
their hearts out or tearing their faces off and ripping their heads from their
shoulders. Somehow, he made his way from the bathroom to almost near the front
door to the floor, which was destroyed and covered in gore of all sorts.
It was then that he began to notice a pattern. They were not trying to kill or
hurt him of course, but they were trying to close in on him. To corner and
surround him. And then everything became clear.
Of course. 
They were trying to immobilizehim. To wear him down enough to take him off
guard and capture him from out under the other's noses. Well, he wasn't dumb
enough to fall for that. Whoever was dumb enough to come close to him would
lose their insides before they even touched him. 
Tsuzuku spit disgusting blood from his moth to the ground before dropping
another body with as evered throat to the ground. He would have to ask Koichi
to burn this one later.
Maybe it was time to really show them that daemons were not as dumb as lesser
creatures were. 
But before he could once more let his fury take over a dreaded voice began to
sneer and purr at him. The blood in his cheeks drained and cold chills once
more closed up his throat. 
"Oh dear Tsuzuku, look at the mess of my nest mates you have made. That is not
very nice."
The fledglings that heard this voice that were circling him became fearful as
well, and their heads go low but they never once stop circling him. He hissed
at them in his rage filled state and looked around wildly for that voice. Then
he spotted them. Ryoga and Layha. Stalking towards him through the sea of
vampires. 
He could see that Layha was... injured, very badly. At first he was confused,
seeing how blood was pouring from a huge torn open burn mark above his left
eye. The blood was streaming down his pale face and he was forced to keep that
eye closed. Despite this though, he was grinning the most freakish demented
grin he had ever seen in his life. 
"Look at what your little whore of a Phoenix did to me." Layha sneered at him
with an upturned nose and touched his cheek where blood rubs off on his
fingers. "I can't wait to see what he looks like chained to Master's bed as I
break him apart piece by every little piece."
At that, he feels the rage once more tearing apart his sanity bit by bit. Were
they trying to antagonize him? But before he can throw himself at the
disgusting pair of creatures some sudden arms are grabbing him from all sides,
holding him in place as his arms are pinned down and his legs are chained to
the floor with teeth. How dare they touch him with their filth?!
"Ugh, get the fuck off of me!" he snarled in a fury but could not move more
than a few centimeters. "I'll fucking kill all of you!"
They walked only a few feet closer before Ryoga barked a laugh and, seemingly
undisturbed at the injury on his mate's face, instead runs his creepy wet
tongue along the blood to lap it up. 
"Indeed it will be amazing baby,"he groaned with pleasure and licked his lips.
"I think his cries and moans for more as we fuck his brains out and make him
nothing but a toy as his lover here watches will make for lovely music, don't
you think so Layha?" 
Now they were seriously pushing it. The image of their sick fantasies painted
itself very vividly in his brain.
"Oh I think so Ryoga. And the sound of this lovely face crying in pain and then
pleasure as Master claims him will also be lovely."
Rage made him shudder violently and he snarled, angling his head to sink his
teeth into the face of one of the fledglings and tore it off, effectively
killing it. But even as that one fell off another was attaching instantly. They
were... acting like a singular mechanism he realized with total shock. Like...
one collective mind doing things as one organism and working to the same goal. 
This wasn't good. They had a hold on him and he was vulnerable. Ryoga knew this
and walked even closer, that sick grin still locked on his face. Then like a
snake striking its prey a hand was gripping his cheeks again like before, only
the claws dug deeper and the blood ran faster. The slight pain he felt was
nothing compared to the absolute disgust he felt as Ryoga's tongue then lapped
up the blood from the wound he inflicted. Then a completely degrading feeling
settled upon his skin as a lecherous moan slips from those blood stained lips. 
"Mmm just as delicious as before," he chuckles and stares Tsuzuku in the eyes,
a stare filled with absolute hate. "It's too bad that Master wants to save you,
otherwise I would gladly suck you dry."
Before he could spit another curse however, a sudden flash of white light and a
surge of heat caught his attention and he looked near the closed doors only to
see an alarming. A sight that made his throat close up in surprise. Even Ryoga
and Layha had to turn and look at the commotion with widened eyes. 
It was Koichi. He had spotted them and was livid with white hot rage. Hope
surged in his chest as he watched his now all white engulfed lover stomp
towards them, completely incinerating all the fledglings in his path. His eyes
were all white, his wings were completely rainbow covered, the feathers sharp
and deadly, and flames flickered from his lips as he screamed a deafening ear
splitting screech. 
It was like nothing Tsuzuku had ever heard before. No dragon or basilisk call
could ever compare to this sound. It was like the din of many birds of prey
screaming all at once, only in a higher pitched, more distorted way. His arms
were at his side calmly, but the fingers on each hand were clawed in talons and
dripping liquid fire. Every step as he came close left a singed burn mark in
the red carpet underfoot and left behind a burned plastic smell. 
He was... incredible, to say the very least. Tsuzuku felt his heart leap in his
chest as power pulsated from his lover, and he knew that Koichi would not let
this go unpunished. 
That thrill however, turned to more worry as Ryoga and Layha grew unnaturally
alarmed at the sight and became incredibly defensive. Their twin yellow eyes
blazed with anxiety and fear as they barked orders at the surrounding
fledglings to 'stop the threat' and 'to not let him get any closer.' Koichi was
only yards away by now, the screaming growing in volume.
Their words went unheard however as the fledglings seemed to freeze in place,
paralyzed with fear.
"Stop him! What are you waiting for?!" Layha then screamed at the fledglings.
"He is going to kill us all if you don't do something!"
Still, his screams went unanswered and Koichi stopped only feet away from them.
Then he spoke, his voice a distorted mix of high and low voices but no less as
angry and bloodthirsty.
"Let. Him. Go. Or you. Will all. Die."
Layha however did not back away, but he did move forward between Koichi and his
mate, hissing and snarling to hide his fear. 
As the fledglings became more terrified Tsuzuku could feel the bites on his
arms and legs grow lax and he took this opportunity to yank himself free,
quickly decapitating a nearby fledgling with the snap of his wrist before
pushing himself out of the mass of terrified teeth. Ryoga whipped his head back
and noticed him escaping. Quickly he rushed forward and tried to make a grab
for him, making at least twenty feet of space between him and his mate.
Big mistake.
"Go to Hell, you slut."
Before either or Ryoga or Layha could react, Koichi moved impossibly fast
forward and was now only a foot away from the blonde. Time stopped before his
lips finally moved.
"Then... You. Can. Die,_now."  
And then, in a flash of blinding white light, Layha was suddenly run through as
a long blade made of rainbow flames easily three inches wide was sticking from
his back through his stomach. Blood splattered in a wide arch onto the
alabaster wall behind Layha and a sickening crack was all that was heard. A
pale bloody face once smug was now shocked into silence, and a pair of shocked
yellow eyes met murderous yet calm ones that were all white. Fingers shook and
went to a now torn open midriff, but no blood poured from the wound. 
"H..how..?"
At the whispered broken voice Koichi's grip tightened and he dug the pommel of
the blade deeper. More squelching noises. More cracking of bones and tearing of
vital organs. And before more could be done his hand yanked the sword out and
lets the body it tore through slide to the ground, leaving behind a blackened
bloody streak. 
Koichi watched with empty eyes as Layha slid now to the ground, his sword
dripping that same hot fire. 
"Sleep."
Silence, and then another bloodcurdling scream followed by heart broken wails. 
"LAYHA!"
 
***** Chapter 68 *****
For a while he couldn't remember what he was doing. Where he was or who he was.
All he could see or feel was white hot anger. An anger that turned the very
blood in his veins to lava and every sensible thought that would have existed
to otherwise fizzle into nothing. All he saw was prey, and felt the need to
kill. There was a bloodthirsty monster in the way of his lover and friends,
then... nothing. Nothing but this whiteness all around him.
He couldn't even see his body either. So he had no idea of this was a physical
or spiritual thing.
After destroying the wall that kept him chained like some sort of monster and
going even steps near the vampire he blacked out again. Like some kind of
blockage in his brain that he could not get past or see through.
This has been happening a lot lately, though he had to wonder if there was a
reason for that. However this particular day was worse than the other times, as
he had never been so in a rage that he could no longer see what he was doing.
Like a weird jump through space to a new dimension, his eyes saw only the pale
whiteness of the void. His body listlessly floated along in a zero gravity
state. No matter if he closed or opened them it was all he saw.
Was this some kind of punishment? For believing he could possibly be happy
after everything that had happened to him so far? Everything in his human
life... And now, in his half beast life. Even though he was no longer alive he
still had something of a life.
But now it all seemed meaningless.
Here, that happiness he felt was as fleeting as a leaf or many petals in a
frigidly biting wind, leaving behind a crushing emptiness.
The way he felt was strangely similar to the way he felt when he was alive, but
instead of loneliness and sadness he just felt numb. Numb to the dull thudding
paralysis.
Was this all there was now? Was he so engulfed in rage and broke reality so
that everything just ceased to exist?
How very... Anticlimactic. For lack of a better description. What with how
disrupted and disturbed his life had been up to now he was expecting the end of
all things to be more... Destructive. 
Where was all the explosions? The fire and chaos, the showers of sparks and
black charade of death? Not this white eternal void bullshit he was stuck in
now.
Honestly, with everything that had happened so far he was very much
disappointed. The end of the world was, honestly, very boring.
He just wished at least Tsuzuku was still here. His lover always made him feel
better in the times when things royally sucked. Being eternally damned to this
void would suck far less.
He would have sighed in frustration if it weren't for the fact that he could
not even move his mouth. Just his mind was working, all his limbs felt frozen
and stuck. 
An inexplicable amount of time must have passed while he was there, and soon he
began to feel hopeless. Like he would be stuck here for all of his eternity.
'Is this really it? Is this how I'm going to spend all of my immortality?'
Young one... listen to me.
A voice... Deep but feminine like. A woman? 
'Who's there?'
Don't be alarmed Koichi. I would speak with you in friendship and kindness
only.
If he coudl move his eyebrows right now they would be as high as possible right
now.
'What do you want with me? Why can't I move?'
I will tell you in but a moment. Just know that I'm here to help you, child.
'Who are you?' 
I am everything and nothing you are, all at once. Maybe that is all I will ever
be.
Well that didn't help him at all. But maybe this was one of those no answers
type of situations.
'Am I stuck here?'
In the whiteness he saw nothing anyways. What was one little voice? 
This is not the end of all ends. Rather, we are inside your mind. Your core, so
to speak. This whiteness you see before you is the purity inside of your body.
It is your true essence.
Purity? Of being a white Phoenix? How ironic.
'Pure essence? Wasn't that how my ancestors died in the first place? From being
too smug?'
No no my child, you misunderstand. Not the purity of your bloodline, or of your
feathers per se . No. Rather it is the purity of your very soul. As much as you
think your mortal death corrupted you that is not the case.
'What do you mean? Even Shinya said that my soul was literally ripped apart
after all that I have done. I don't deserve to be called pure.'
He had spent so long believing he was no longer pure because of how he died. So
how was he to believe otherwise so easily?
However as he thought that quietly to himself the voice interrupted him.
Calm that storm inside yourself, young one. You are pure. Perhaps not in blood,
or in mentality. But you yourself, as a whole, are very pure. You come from a
proud people, of that there is no doubt. But you rose above the stigma of
hubris and found your reason for pride in other places. 
You made wonderful friends who stayed with you through your hardships. You
learned what it meant to rise above and beyond whatever problems plagued you
and your new family. And most of all, y our life was saved by your daemon and
you found the meaning of pure love in your otherwise tragic bond. And with all
of this you have made a family.
Okay. This was starting to sound a whole lot like something else was going on
here.
This is what it means to be pure, my child. To be selfless and love fiercely,
and be loved just as much. Now do you see the picture here? You are more than
just one. You are many. You are all and none. This is why you were meant to
exist. Why I made you exist.
'What are you saying?'
Okay this was getting weird. What did the voice mean by that? Was this...
But then, like a flash of lightning he was yanked backwards violently. All
feeling returned and he flailed in the open space of no gravity.
Look. Look beyond and see the blight that has fallen upon your life and your
family.
As if to force him into reality a cloud of pure blackness began to swirl around
in the whitenedd of the void, creating a vortex of dark energy and malice. All
at once he could feel panic swelling in what felt like his chest area.
It swirled into a tornado of inky blackness and before his eyes it transformed
into a massive lumbering form. Sharp teeth materialized inside a gigantic
serpent like head and he was pierced with two fierce red eyes. His head once
more ached as he realized what this evil entity was. 
The parasite. The Old One. The bringer of death and sadness.
Then like a burst of electricity his body trembled and he felt his limbs twist
and break, growing and stretching. His arms twisted and grew to twice their
length before sprouting great feathers tinged with white and rainbow fire. Bird
like talons sprout from his feet and feathers cover his whole body. 
You are Koichi. My dear child. My firstborn son. And you will save the entire
world.  
'Wait no-'
And then, in the blink of an eye he is sent hurtling through this void, his
great massive wings creating gusts of wind behind him. As if to sense him
coming near the great  The evil cloud bellowed a terrible thunderstorm to life,
the bellowing awful noise making him want to be buried deep into the
nothingness. 
But his own noise was able to match that. A great passionate fire ripped
through his lungs and tore a scream from his throat, a scream that morphed into
the shriek of a million great birds of prey, all coinciding and melding into
one and many. 
I know you will do well, my son.
A white hot ball of flame erupted around his body and then just as he was going
to seemingly collide with the great evil entity...
There was nothing. Nothing but the darkness.
////////////////////////////
"YOU KILLED HIM! YOU FUCKING WHORE! I'LL TEAR YOU TO PIECES!"
The insane screeching was what snapped him out of his mental lapse, and the
sight of a familiar and now very bloodied, ripped open body before him against
a blackened wall. Layha... Did he just kill Layha?
'What... Just happened?'
In his hand was the molten handle of a strange sword and as though being burned
it fell from his fingers and clattered to the ground. The once red hot pommel
and blade cooled to reveal a shining metal katana with a pure white handle.
All the feeling in his limbs immediately came back. And like a shaky fawn his
knees hit the floor. There was the sound of struggling behind him, but a
deafening ring in his ears made it very difficult to discern the noises. But
there was one thing he definitely heard.
The screams. Oh Stars, the screams were unbearable. Most if it was directed at
him of course...
Looking behind him Koichi saw an unusual sight. Fledglings of all sorts stood
there, shell shocked as a pissed and severely angry Ryoga flailed in Tsuzuku's
hold. His lover held him pinned to a wall with a hand at his throat. His claws
were out, and that blazing whiteness in his eyes that showed his insanity. 
But it was nothing like what he saw in Ryoga's when his ears finally stopped
ringing.
Gods it was the eyes that made his entire body freeze like he was dipped into
pure liquid nitrogen. Blazing with fury they were a piercing bright yellow and
bled red droplets like a leaky faucet. And they seemed to pierce him with such
hate and fury that he felt a hole meticulously burning into his skull. Ryoga
was too far gone now, sobbing curses through bloodied tears and hiccups.
"Ts... Tsuzuku. What.... Happened?" he asked and got to his feet. "W-what
happened to me?"
His lover was in a trance like state and had his eyes set on Ryoga, his teeth
itching to rip flesh and bones. But at least he was coherent enough to respond.
"You lost your fucking mind is what happened," his lover growls, still in his
daemonic form in order to control Ryoga properly. "You lost it and killed Layha
in cold blood. I'm not berating you of course. It was necessary. Now... All we
have to do is kill this one."
The way he said it... The sheer amount of blood thirst and lack of empathy made
Koichi inadvertently shiver. Hollow. That was the best way he could describe
the tone. 
This was... Like déjà vu all over again. Like before, when this guy first broke
into the building and started this whole fiasco in the first place. He always
knew deep down that Tsuzuku was kind of nuts but this was a whole new level of
nuts.
Koichi shook away the nausea in his stomach and looked back on Layha again. His
body was slumped over in a seated position against the wall, the hole in his
body wide enough to show what was left of his organs that weren't burned and
bloodied. Now there was a pool of blood on the floor albeit way afterwards. Go
figure.
Well he was gone now, so he was not going to hurt anyone. That lifted a huge
weight off of his shoulders. And as of right now, he didn't feel like reliving
or recalling what had just happened to him in that strange void inside his
head. They would burn that bridge when they got to it eventually.
So all they had to do was deal with Ryoga. Honestly he thought it might have
been harder, what with him being crazy and psychotic and all. But maybe getting
rid of the blonde one was the final nail in the proverbial coffin to finally
make him go insane. 
Tsuzuku made sure he was too preoccupied with the death of his mate before
trying to capture him. Precautions an all that. And Koichi could breathe easier
knowing they were both soon to be out of the way. It would just mean taking a
shot at the Old One now... And of course, deal with Ice.
Koichi walked towards his lover, sensing that Tsuzuku was on a precarious edge
right now and he knew that gentle but firm tones were the only way to keep him
from going off the deep end. 
Those blazing white eyes watched him steadily as he held Ryoga pinned, still
sniveling through half hearted threats and now too bloody eyed to properly
glare at them. Though his head never left the general direction of his mate.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked his lover quietly. "Do you want to do it?
Or shall I?"
The quietness of his tone seemed to have a soothing effect on Tsuzuku's
demeanor, as his death like aura lessened to a certain degree. 
"...Considering most of this is my fault," came the growling answer. "I will do
it. It seems only right. And... I don't want you to have all the glory of
killing two of the most dangerous vampires in existence to yourself. You
understand."
Of course he did. That was why he just lingered nearby, watching the now very
mentally broken Ryoga weakly flail about, delirious and unstable mutterings
falling from his lips. 
"Layha... Kill... Must... K-kill..."
Why was he acting so mental? Did it have something to do with their bond? The
creator dying before the created? Or something a little more twisted? Well no
matter. It would all be over in a matter of moments anyway. 
"Tsuzuku. Whenever you're ready."
His lover looked blankly at him and puffed out a cloud of smoke from his mouth
before once more turning that blank stare cold and gripping Ryoga by the chin,
forcing their eyes to once more clash. Ryoga listlessly struggled, though his
efforts could be compared to that of a child. It was almost... sad, in a weird
kind of way. 
The words that Tsuzuku spoke next made Koichi feel weird. Like, unsure if he
should stop him or not. However it all happened before he could even make a
move. 
"You... have caused so many problems for me Ryoga-rin," he started slowly, his
claws starting to slowly dig into the pale flesh of a veiny pale throat. All
the while Koichi could hear a sickening sound coming from the vampire's chest.
Like... cracking? "I don't know what caused you to go down this road. Or why
you became like this. And it hurts my heart to know that I once cared for you
in a way that I would have once given up everything for you."
Watching in a sickened but fascinated silence Koichi could now tell where the
cracking was coming from. A black inky tentacle had started to spread
underneath the cloth of Ryoga's shirt and started coiling itself around his
chest. Slowly. Painfully. It started constricting and squeezing. Soon the very
breath left his lungs from the pressure.
Where the hell did that even come from?
"But... Looking back on it now I can only assume that things would turn out
this way. You may have loved me but not as much as I did you. You were broken
Ryoga. Like the frail autumn leaf on my dying tree you had set yourself up to
fall. And here you are now. The crumpled up old leaf trying desperately to
attach your diseased stems onto me yet again. Trying over and over to get me to
be yours and threaten my family."
The tentacles were coming from Tsuzuku, he realized. They just... sprouted from
the floor around his feet... 
That thought left him however as the daemon leaned into his former lover's
face, to close to be normal. His voice was eerily calm. 
"You're too gone in the wind for me to care anymore. I have grown healthier,
and you? You have already died."
Before Koichi could even say anything else Tsuzuku dug his claws even deeper,
making Ryoga finally snap out of his lapse of mental security. Eyes widened he
reached up to pry those claws away from his neck, but found that he lacked the
strength to do so. A spluttering gasping noise left his lips, akin to choking. 
Blackened blood began to well around the claws where they dug in deep,
streaking ribbons down his flesh. All the while Tsuzuku stood stark still, his
claws tightening with every second that passed. 
" Tsu ... zuku ... p-please... don't... d-don't..."
Oh now he was begging for forgiveness? Was it because he knew he had no chance?
That his life was already on a precarious thread as it was? Yeah probably.
Still, that didn't make the hypocrisy of it all any less sympathetic. Koichi
didn't care quite frankly. He just wished Tsuzuku would get on with it, the
fledglings had all slinked off to unseen parts of the building to hide. Or
worse, to spring a deadly trap.
"I'll make it quick," Tsuzuku muttered, the cracking sounds now growing in
intensity and severity. "Sorry I couldn't save you."
More redness poured from eyes and wounds, and Ryoga's voice was crackling like
weakened TV static. The tentacles gave one last squeeze.
"But I... I lo-"
Then like a flash of lightning his head was twisted to the side, the most
sickening snap he had ever heard in his life sending chills down his back. His
body seemed to collapse in on itself. Then with a dull thud he fell to the
floor. And all there was in those following moments was deafening silence.
Tsuzuku came out of his state and the tentacles receded into the floor, his
claws snapped into place in his knuckles. A look of both shock and complacency
settled onto his face and he falls to his knees in front of Ryoga's now
lifeless form. His eyes were still open... All those years of being together,
only for it to end like this. How uncanny.
"I.. I-I can't believe I d-did it..." he breathed out, his fingers trembling.
That was really it. They were both... gone. He sighed in relief, unsure exactly
of how to feel. 
"You... you did it," Koichi agreed quietly, slowly making his way over to his
lover and kneeling down beside him so their shoulders could touch. "I'm... I'm
proud of you."
More silence. They both stared at the body, now not sure if they should do
something about it or...
Well that was at least before the agonized screams that seemed to shake the
room suddenly began. They both stand up in shirk and hold their ears.
"W-what the hell is that?" he questioned once it died away. 
"I... I don't know," Tsuzuku admits. "But it sounds-"
But it starts again, cutting him off. With a growing horror he realized that it
was coming from the room next to where the Parasite was. The extra room...
"We gotta get in there," he realized after it stopped again. "Before it starts
again we need to find out where it's coming from. We can worry about disposing
of them later."
With a shooing motion he starts to shove Koichi to the door, but then a new
noise coming from the main entrance stops them in their tracks. A crashing
noise akin to wood being splintered and broken, followed by glass shattering.
That didn't sound good... 
The noises came ever closer and closer, causing Koichi's senses to go haywire.
Whoever it was, it was definitely vampire in nature. And... there were a few of
them. However... What struck him as odd was the fact that the smells did not
make him want to gag at how awful or decomposed they seemed. No they seemed...
sweeter. Not sickly sweet like rotting flesh, but... More sugary sweet. Like,
like the vampires the smells belonged to could possibly be of help...
There were other scents mixed in as well, but the smells of the vampires were
stronger, overpowering them altogether. 
"Hang on," he says and stops Tsuzuku from stomping over to the door to defend
him. "This smell.... It's definitely vampire but... it's sweet. Like, sugar
sweet but with less... salt. If that makes any sense."
His lover seemed to be at ease but still kept his stance defensive just in
case. 
"All right... whomever comes through those doors better be friendly or I won't
hesitate."
Yeah he could deal with that. But as of right now he had no reason to not trust
his instincts as they have yet to fail him.
The sounds grew closer and closer, until they were just outside of the door
now, however they could not see anything from where they stood at the moment.
Painfully tense seconds ticked by before four mysterious people burst through
the remains of the wooden door frame, all dressed in black hooded cloaks.
Koichi felt his heart jump into his throat but then a wave of intense relief
made him almost fall to the ground.
A painfully familiar set of faces began to survey the room, and he saw a sight
that really was meant for sore eyes. Piercing and black lined blue eyes,
shocking blonde hair and deep red lips with the slightest hint of a smirk. Yup.
Familiar as the cherry blossoms in spring. Only now something about him seemed
more... What was the word. Dominant? Like the way he strode into the room with
his head high and that smirk on his lips just screamed utter and absolute
confidence.
"Aryu!" he screamed in a high pitched voice, happiness flooding his entire
being. "I never thought I would see you again!"
Taken aback the blonde vampire looked around and then at the couple, his smirk
spreading into a relieved grin as he rushed forward and accepted an out
stretched hug from the overly enthusiastic pinkette.
"Oh thank the Stars I made it in time," he sighed with the utmost relief. "I
had began to fear the worse when I arrived here. I saw no one at first but
then, I ran into your wonderful friends along the way, following your scent all
the way here."
Koichi lets go of his friend and looked down at him, now realizing he was
covered in dust and a few stray pieces of cobweb. Wait. Friends?
"Oh... did you crawl through the vents as well?" he questioned. "And what
friends?"
Aryu just smiled at him, patting his head.
"Setsuna dear, please come here." One of the other four cloaked figures came up
to them then, pulling back the hood to show off equally as black hair, only his
was shorter and cut to his shoulders. Looking at Aryu expectantly, he bowed his
head. "Let them know it is okay to come up now. It's safe."
Setsuna smiled at Aryu, one that held many inside secrets, and accepts a kiss
to his left cheek before sauntering out of the door frame. The other two
lingered nearby, their faces hidden from sight for the moment.
"Which friends are you talking about?" he asked again, this time with more
urgency. Aryu put a finger to his chin, thinking hard.
"Hmm, I'm pretty sure it was the other daemon and his lover. That other
Phoenix. Last I saw, they had the others with them as well, but they seemed
really out of it. Like some sort of spell or curse. Anyway, I also say Shinya
and Wrath but they were taking care of some fledglings on the floor beneath us.
So I would not worry about them too much."
"Tomo and Takashi," he murmured quietly, glancing at Tsuzuku worriedly. "You
said they had two others, Meto and Mia? What kind of curse?"
Curses were never a good thing, as he learned to realize. But Aryu nodded, his
hands going to his hips. Behind him, Tsuzuku was poking around at the various
dead fledglings to make sure they were really dead.
"Yes, the spirit and hydra couple, respectively speaking. It was a minor mind
control curse, easily cured with some rest. They are in the process of
recovering as of now. So once they are all accounted for they will be headed
this way soon."
Another wave of relief. Knowing that they were safe really made him feel all
the better. He just hoped they got here soon...
"So, what happened here anyway?" Aryu questioned as he looked over their
shoulders. "Oh, well it seems like you two took care of them pretty quick..."
Indeed, the once dangerous criminals of their world responsible for so many
deaths and tragedies now lay on opposite ends of the once illustrious hallway.
Eternally silent, never to harm another soul again.
Koichi chuckled, rubbing his neck uncomfortably. From the corner of his eye he
saw Aryu's coven mates just kind of... Absently milling around the room.
Inspecting whatever they found.
"Yeah uh... We might have gone overboard with it though. It just happened so
fast that we... just kind of been sitting here in shock."
Aryu rose an eyebrow, thoroughly impressed.
"So I guess all that is left is the Old Parasite eh? And whatever is left of
the nest of course."
There is a disappointed way he spoke though, as though he wished that he could
have been here to see what happened. Perhaps that was just how he was. Koichi
would not have it any other way quite to be quite honest.
"I guess so. Though I can guess that you wished you could have gotten in on the
real action."
The blonde laughed, a noise that could bring a calm to anyone.
"You know me too well, pinky. But yeah. I just... wish I could have seen how
you managed to take them both down so quickly. How did you do it?"
Well... To be quite honest Koichi was not all that certain anymore. But what
harm would there be in telling him honestly? Even if most of it made absolutely
no sense, even to him.
"It's... kind of a long story," he admitted. "To be honest, even in this world
and from what I have seen is possible it sounds crazy."
But the blonde just smiled at him, placing a finely sharpened set of nails
against his shoulder.
"Trust me," he began in a soft voice. "I think you and I can trade stories all
night if you wanna talk crazy. I'm all ears right now, anything to make sense
of this mess."
Well when he put it like that... Maybe it wouldn't hurt.
"Um... I guess I just-"
"Wait."
Aryu suddenly interrupts him with a finger to his lips, his smirk slipping off
to be replaced with a mask of concern. Not good...
"What?" Koichi asked quietly as Aryu released him. Tsuzuku then came up behind
him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I feel something," the blonde answered. "Can't you feel that?"
The entire room went quiet. Even the other two of Aryu's group were growing
antsy as they too could feel something. But he couldn't feel anything?
"I feel it too," Tsuzuku answered in a quiet voice. "No one move."
Koichi grew frustrated the longer they stood there, not talking and just
listening. What were they feeling that he couldn't? He wanted to ask but then a
sudden jolt of electricity fizzled through his body, knocking him breathless
from the intensity. A wheeze forced his lungs to suck in rapid mouthfuls of
air, making him dizzy.
Whatever this was... Were they feeling this as well? Was what he wanted to ask
but a sudden presence of power was felt coming to them from the same corridor
that Aryu came through. Just down the hall... Whoever it was, they were
definitely very powerful. To mess with them would probably be suicide. Or at
the very least very dumb.
"Pitty, Kuloe, Come."
At the soft but stern command Aryu's mates came to him wordlessly, each tucking
themselves under either of his arms for protection.
"Koichi come on," Tsuzuku hissed, which he did without complaint. He found
solace in the warmth of his lover's arms, tucking his face into his neck.
They waited with bated breaths and no movement, ready for another skirmish. A
few steps away now... Koichi could definitely feel the air sparking with this
unseen power. And it made him extremely nervous.
Then the steps stop just outside of the door, as before right out of eye range.
Before any of them could react a huge gust of wind blew through the room,
whipping their hair around in a vortex that seemingly came from nowhere.
Everyone had to block their eyes as a strikingly bright and vibrantly hued
bubble slowly misted into the room, like the way a dust devil would blow across
a dry dusty field.
Sparkles of all colors were all around the bubble, imitating every color
sparkler during festivals. It stopped only a few feet into the door frame
before, like being told that it was too much popped in a shower of sparks and
bubbles of color.
There stood a man. A man who was striking and beautiful in every way. A
beautiful white kimono hugged his almost woman like curves and brought out the
deep black hair that cascaded to his back. A pale white face was paired with a
lovely set of red plush lips and deep black eyes. He stood there, engulfed in
the brilliant light of his presence alone, a content look on his face. Then his
eyes opened to show off milky white irises, indicating either total blindness
or something else entirely.
And before any of them could react the wind died away and a huge burst of light
erupted from the stranger's back, like a piercing ray of direct sunlight they
were all forced to look away. But it only lasted seconds, as once it was over
all of them were stunned at what was not in front of them.
The awe of who this could be made Koichi breathless, and the one question that
everyone seemed to be thinking finally fell from his lips.
"Who... Who are you?"
His voice came out sounding cracked, not at all as vaguely or otherwise as
threatening as he wanted it to sound like. But as the sight of brilliant
rainbow feathers continued to stun them into silence only a few words fell from
the stranger's lovely lips. 
"I am... all that has existed. Or all that will ever exist. I am... you."
***** Chapter 69 *****
Chapter Summary
     AHH this is it you guys. The final chapter! The epilogue will be the
     last part to this, just to fill in a few plot holes that may be left
     over. But this is where it all ends! It took a while to edit and
     proofread, as I am very picky about last chapters. But I do hope you
     like it :)
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Like a violent tsunami, everything that Koichi had ever known about himself or
his life came.... Completely tumbling down.
This few words that this.... Entity had spoken to him were enough to make him
feel someone shoved something sizable down his throat, forcing his breathing to
almost suffocate him.
He stood there, still giving off that... That bright blinding light but it was
diluted thanks to the darkness of the room. Still, it was so bright Aryu and
his coven were forced to step back into the shadows as it was obvious this
light would harm them.
What did he mean? How was he him? The last time Koichi checked, he was himself.
And he was no one else. Was else was going to happen? Was this all some part of
a weird cosmic trick? Was this place testing him?
A wave if nausea hit into him and made his vision swim, forcing him to lean
against the wall for support. Tsuzuku was next to him in an instant, helping
him stand.
"I.... I don't feel very good," he whined and held his mouth. Tsuzuku's face
was worried and he gently rubbed the small indent of his lover's lower back.
"No, really. Who are you?" he asked the entity again. "Are you a part of
Amaterasu's or something?"
The man smiled at them, and held out a hand. His soft milky eyes never showed
any traces of ill intentions or malice, no hatred whatsoever. Just pure light
and kindness.
"Ah, seeing as how I can only be here in spirit, and cannot be here for very
long," he says. "But yes. She has sent me here as an envoy of her overwhelming
love and passion, with a message for all of her children. You included."
Koichi could tell that whatever he had to say, it would affect him even more
than he thought.
"I... I don't understand. S-she disappeared when we came here. She... She
just..."
"Yes. She disappeared. But not entirely. You see, she came back to her resting
place and made me come out of her, whatever power she had left is inside of me.
I cannot be gone long or else she will weaken, so I must ask that you just...
hear me out."
He seemed sincere. So why would he be lying? Besides, he seemed too...
innocent, if that made any sense to anyone. And Koichi could see a bit of
himself in this guy. Weirdly enough. 
"All right... if you don't have much time, then... tell us what you know."
The entity only smiles at them in an ethereally kind way before stepping
closer. Then his light dims and he seems normal. 
"All right, I will be brief. Amaterasu is deep under the ocean, just off the
pier nearby this building, I assume you all know of it? There is a temple
there, a secret one where no evil can be. She waits there, gaining back her
power from being asleep all these years since your... ahem, our kind, was
created. She will be back, and she won't be alone. And Koichi."
He paused his talking to just take another step forward. And sudden but gentle
breeze began to blow through the room, smelling very much like sea salt and
water lilies. Tangy yet pleasant. The white light went back to its original
brightness and he held out his hand further, angling for Koichi to take it in
his. A kind of desperation then was obvious in the way he spoke, yet his smile
never left his face. 
"She wants me to tell you something important, something about yourself that
you need to know more than anything else."
The breeze then grew stronger, forcing them all to step backwards.
"W-what is it?" he called out, forcing his voice higher to be heard. The man
dropped his hand before Koichi could even grab it though, and began to glow
brighter and brighter. 
"If you attack him know this. You are immune to his bite, you cannot be harmed
by his poison. You're not a white phoenix Koichi. You're... You're a-"
But then he was cut off as the violent wind and bright light escalated to a
higher pitch and forced them to cover their ears. Of course. Totally expected
right? 
Then the light fizzled away, like a dust storm in some desert finally blowing
itself to pieces and scattering it's billions of particles through the wind. A
knot formed in his throat and he growled in frustration, covering his eyes in
distress. Why did this sort of thing always have to happen to him?
"Well that's gonna bother me forever," he sighed and pawed at his eyelids.
"What do we do now?"
To try and comfort him now seemed... wrong for the time, but Tsuzuku could tell
that anything might help right now. Slowly he reached an arm around his smaller
lover, holding him closer. Luckily Koichi did not protest. 
"What can we do?" Aryu wondered out loud as he and his two nest mates finally
walk closer to them from their small pocket of darkness. "But just continue
what we started? 
None of them had any other ideas. Maybe Aryu was right. Maybe this mystery was
not meant to be solved just yet and he had to force himself to accept that for
now. As much as it bothered him, what could he do? Nothing. Nothing but wait
and hope. 
The bodies still lay lifeless, though something about Ryoga's motionless form
seemed... ominous. But for what reason he did not know. Maybe he was just so
used to seeing those eyes once filled with hate and rage that were now empty
and lifeless was eerie in a way he could not at all place. Hopefully after a
while it would... go away. 
"Yeah, okay," he relents and finally got the nausea from his system with deep
breaths. "We should wait a little longer, that guy did say that Mia and Meto
were headed this way."
It seemed that everyone seemed to agree at first, but then there was a low
rumbling from deep beneath their feet that alarmed them all. And then came the
smell.
It was just like before when they were coming up here the first time.
Disgusting, foul, decaying. More nausea made him almost throw up and he swayed
on his feet as terror gripped all his muscles and forced them into a locked up
position. 
He knew this smell, it was all too familiar... 
"Th-there's... more fledglings on their way," he stuttered through gasping
breaths of air and heavy wheezes. "They're coming... tons of them... W-we can't
fight them all, there are too many..!"
Tsuzuku growled and held Koichi closer, unwilling to let him go even for a
second. 
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "Is there never to an end to this?"
Aryu could smell it as well, his nose turning up into disgust. He was used to
this smell, but sometimes that wasn't always a good thing. 
"Not unless we kill the main Creator," he insists confidently. "In this case
the Parasite. We have no choice, he must be killed first or we won't walk out
of this alive."
What was he saying? Were they all gonna go for the Parasite at once? 
"Well... I don't know how well you know his attacks but-"
But he stopped as Aryu shook his head adamantly. 
"No. We can't interfere," he interjects firmly. "This is not our fight, even if
I want to tear him apart limb from limb myself. No, this is yours and yours
alone. We'll take care of things here, you need to go and go now."
His sharp blue eyes then turned soft as he gazed at the one at his side and
they began to speckle with gentle black flecks in the iris. It was Pitty, the
smaller one with gentle make up on his face and blonde twin pigtails. His hands
held onto him for security so he could stop trembling. And of course he already
knew about the other one Kuloe, tall with red hair to his neck. He had his hand
to Pitty's waist in a comforting manner.
Both of them seemed scared but kept their faces straight. 
"But... But Aryu we can't just leave you behind!" Koichi argued and finally
managed to breathe through his mouth, thoroughly distraught. "You... You said
you wanted to help us. And I... I can't do this alone!"
That much Aryu knew was already true, of course it was. But the adorable
pinkette was just forgetting one small detail. 
With a gentle brush to Pitty's soft doll like face he walked out of their grasp
and to the couple, his face as gentle as it had always been. Maybe even more
so. 
"Oh I know darling, I know you can't," he agreed. "But you see Koichi? You
aren't alone. You never have been."
Confused, Koichi was ready to once again argue but Aryu then grabbed his hand
that wasn't holding his mouth, and grabbed for Tsuzuku's other hand that was
anxiously grasping into a fist, turning his knuckles white. The daemon hadn't
spoken much, probably still getting over his anger at their talk being
interrupted. Again.
"See? You have him," Aryu said, rather cheerily at that. "You were never meant
to do this just on your own. And you have me of course. And I'll be here to
keep them from getting to you."
His words were simple, but it made some of the fear in Koichi quell to a
manageable level. Aryu was right. Tsuzuku was with him, how could he be so
blind? 
The rumbling grew worse, making the building start to shake uncontrollably. It
was then that he realized what that awful sound was.
Footsteps. Hundreds, no, thousands of them. All coming towards them at an
alarming and increasing rate. Where the hell were Tomo and the others?
Shouldn't they have been here by now?
"Aryu-sama," Pitty whimpered from behind them, gripping onto Kuloe fearfully.
"They're coming closer... Where is Setsuna?"
Aryu lets go of Koichi and Tsuzuku before quickly bringing his coven mates into
his arms, squeezing them close to his body for both their and his own comfort. 
"Do not worry dears," he cooed at both of them. "He will be here. Do not fret
too much."
Yet.... Despite his brave words Tsuzuku could pick up on the slight tremors of
fear in his voice. Uncertainty clouded Aryu's judgment, making him afraid.
Watching them interact this way made Koichi's heart throb with anxiety. It was
true, the other one was still not back. And neither were the others. Shinya,
Wrath, Tomo, Takashi... Mia and Meto. 
He stared at his now eerily calm lover, tugging on his shirt.
"Tsu," he whispered quietly, shaken up. "What do we do?"
The daemon tapped a finger to his cheek softly, his knuckles trembling from the
shakes of the building. He opened his mouth, but then a different feeling arose
in the room. A deep black tentacle then burst from the floor at their feet,
forcing them towards the door at the end of the hall. Koichi outwardly gasped,
startled. 
"What the-"
Then a deep, piercing wail from the other room roared through the small space,
it's sheer power forcing them all to cover their ears to prevent damage. It
must have been coming from the Parasite. He probably knows what happened by
now, and is growing angry. 
Then came more tentacles sprouting from the floor, more and more, crawling up
higher to the ceiling. They were being closed in. A wall of tentacles was
separating them and growing in numbers like some sort of sick and twisted
version of spring daisies eager to break free of their cold wet graves. 
"Koichi move! Go now before he closes himself off!"
Aryu began to scream at them then, his voice barely audible over the growing
din. The tentacles were now forming an air tight seal over the hallway
entrance, forcing Koichi and Tsuzuku to it's own devilish side. 
Only a few openings in the twisted writhing mass remained, and he desperately
made Tsuzuku let him go to run to the wall with an opening wide enough to see
Aryu still standing there, his face grim and sympathetic. Beside him were his
coven mates, watching them through the closing hole. 
"Aryu!" he screamed back, tears streaming down his face. "Please! Don't let
them kill you! Please be alive when we come back!"
As the hole grew smaller and smaller Aryu smiled sadly, turning his back to
them and to the door frame that was now being broken even more as swarms and
swarms of fledglings began to storm the small room. Their awful yellow eyes and
piercing sharp teeth gnashed and snapped as they hissed and snarled viciously
for blood. 
"Don't worry," came a muttered response that he barely caught with his ears. "I
won't let them take me down that easily. I'll tell Meto and Mia that you took
care of it."
The noise grew dimmer and dimmer as the hole was now only the size of maybe a
few inches, and he saw only one thing before it finally closed up entirely. 
Aryu let his head tilt back one last time, a smile on his face and a tear of
blood was running down his cheek. Then all was dark. 
A shaky breath left his lungs and his legs buckled beneath him. A heavy guilt
settled on his chest and he couldn't breathe.
His friend... Aryu... just sacrificed himself, for their sake. And now they
were trapped here in a wall of gross tentacles. The screams had stopped, but
that was no longer the issue here. 
Now he would not be able to know if his friends were okay. If they could handle
the fledglings that seemed to come out of nowhere. If... if they were able to
survive. 
How did things come to this? How did his life become so twisted up in such a
sick game of cat and mouse where people were literally dying? This was not what
he had in mind when he first came here. But life was a cruel mistress wasn't
it?
"Koichi," Tsuzuku suddenly says and gently places a hand on his shoulder,
kneeling down to his level on the floor. "Baby... We should go now. They didn't
do this for us for nothing. We have to make their selfless act worth it. For
them, and for ourselves." 
His lover was sweet talking with him again, and it made his chest swell with
emotions. Gods how he loved Tsuzuku, he loved him so much he would say it over
and over again. Where would he be without him? And... should he fail... What
would he do if Tsuzuku were taken from him?
He suddenly felt so... so helpless. Helpless to do anything to help. But having
his lover here lessened that feeling, even if only by a small amount.
"I know," he mumbled self consciously. "I just.... Can't believe he did that.
When.... When we went through so much together I thought he would be with us
here. But now..."
If he failed everyone now, how could he ever live with himself? Would he even
be able to if what his ideas about the Parasite were correct? Mindless control?
A blood and sex slave? Nothing but a mere puppet meant to be toyed with and
tossed aside?
No. If that were true, and he had a feeling it would be, then.... Everything up
to now would be useless. His journey to make it this far, his acceptance if his
old fate and his new one. Where would it all go?
He couldn't let that happen, not again.
A great bubble of mindless fury began to well inside his chest, causing a small
burst of flame to erupt from his mouth. Surprised Tsuzuku took a step back.
"Koi..."
"I'm fine," his lover insisted and stand on his feet, wobbling but refusing the
help offered as he steadied himself. He could not keep relying on other people.
He had to be strong, for them. For himself. "Let's go. We... We can't keep
going like this. And neither can he."
That much he knew had to be true. This... separation tactic was the last straw
to break the proverbial camel's back. Point being, Koichi was pissed now. The
whole reason he charged in here with his lover and two other friends was the
belief that he would at least have them present as this all went down, as he
finally rectified the wrongs of this now diseased world and gave himself a
sense of pride. Pride to have finally done something right. 
Yet now, even that seemed unlikely. His support, other than his lover, was all
gone. This was done purposefully, to make him feel alone, to make him feel like
he had no one. And it seemed to almost work. But he made a mistake. And that
mistake was letting them stay together like this. It would only bring upon him
his downfall, his utter and inevitable destruction. 
"All right... Come on. I think he is weak enough that we should at least be
able to injure him enough to get him down."
Gritting his teeth Koichi stared ahead at the door down the hall, forcing a
bubble of rainbow light into his palm that unfurled into a delicate flame and
lit their way. This was what he needed, nothing else but this fire of his, his
own courage, and his already rigorously determined lover at his side. 
"It may not be everything, but it will have to be enough."
His shaky legs carried him forward, the only sounds in this long ominous
hallway being those of his own footsteps, his lover's their heavy breaths, and
a subtle yet terrifying noise of writhing and grasping tentacles behind them
struggling to keep their internal structure together. His fire could not burn
through them, he knew. It would only deplete what strength he had left.
Strength he would not dare to waste. 
This was already a mission he knew would go in a direction he could not fathom,
as his skills were juvenile at best. But Tsu would be with him, and he could
only hope that, while watching his lover fight, he could learn to defend
himself to the best of his extent. 
The hallways seemed to get darker the more and more farther he went down the
carpeted and carnage filled walls. 
Bodies of the fledglings and both the main vampires still lay there, waiting
for their turns to be burned and prevented a chance at being reborn. They would
have to wait, wait until afterwards when their maker was destroyed. 
That was all that mattered. His death. Was all. That mattered. 
"Koichi, hold on."
His lover's gentle voice carried to him through the hallway, nearly startling
him in his unintentional reverie of thoughts. 
"Mm?" he hummed in response. His lover made him pause just near the door of the
guest room. It kind of felt like deja vu, when they were in that corridor in
the basement when they went after Juri, the poor fool. 
"Just so you know," the daemon began quietly, his voice quavering. "Like I said
so many times before this.... I love you. And whatever happens, anything at
all. I'm... here for you."
Ugh not this again. This heart to heart would only serve to make him feel
more... overwhelmed with his emotional turmoil. This battle would not be easy,
he knew that. But... maybe he did need to hear this to make him feel a bit more
at ease with himself. 
With a deep and shaky sigh Koichi swallowed down the lump in his throat. He
stared at the door near them, noting the dark bloody red stains seeping into
it's once beautiful mahogany red wood. This once beautiful building was now....
Formed into a sad, evil and twisted version of its former self. 
It was sad, and it made the lump only get worse. If they didn't succeed.... 
"I... I love you too," he bit out past the blockage in his throat. "Tsuzuku....
I'm scared. I don't know what to do... Please, tell me what to do."
Tsuzuku's hand at his soon tightened before they both went to his shoulders and
turned him to fully face him. His lover's face was as strikingly handsome and
devastatingly beautiful as he always was. His beautiful platinum blonde hair
cropped to his ears. Those blinding and sharp silvery speckled ice blue eyes
that literally swam with love, affection, and fear. Lips the color of pale pink
stretched into a worried smile, dried and slightly cracked with anxiety and
lack of moisture.
"I... Wish I could. But..."
His tall yet lanky figure, the air of confidence, a soft irregular breathing
pattern. 
All of this. All of him. He could not, would not, lose any of it. 
So he understood that even he didn't know what to do right now.
"It's.... It's all right. I'll deal with it."
Tsuzuku's face grew sullen and there came a gentle but tired breath.
"You ready to finish this?"
It was as normal a question as ever. Not.
"I might have to be."
With a weakened smile Tsuzuku's hand reached for the door handle, once colored
a shiny brass was now tarnished and soaked in dried blood. From beyond its
grainy surface he could sense something dark and pulsing. Waiting for them to
enter inside and capture them.
Which was why when he finally opened the door he was already half expecting the
gross and inky black tentacle dashing at them unnaturally quickly through the
slight crack in the door. Yet still, it was sort of a surprise.
"Woah!"
It barely misses Koichi's head, where it makes a grasping motion at the air,
but empty, it wilts back into the darkness. Now with their sense heightened by
alarm, both could feel adrenaline starting to rush through their veins.Inside
there was a brief reprieve of silence, before a low beguiled moan began to
drift through the darkness towards them in an eerie wave of patterns. 
"My... babies... where are... my babies..."
They both exchanged strange and wierded out glances before slowly making their
way into the room, taking care not to step on or get caught in the now various
inky black tentacles criss crossing their way across the floor, now snaking
around the door frame and crawling up walls. 
The room was as dark as before, only now it seemed... colder. the only light
they had was Koichi's small light that seemed dim even in here. The bed was now
completely encased within the black coils, the curtains dripping with black
slime. They could not even see the back of the wall, the darkness too thick for
any light to cut through even a little bit. 
"We know you're still in here," Tsuzuku called out angrily. "You can't hide
from us!"
 No answer at first, but then they both caught movement from deep in the
darkness of the bed covers, from deep beneath its already too far evil soiled
covers that squished with every movement. It was Him. The Parasite. 
Once his facial features came into view finally Koichi almost gasped out loud
with utter shock. 
The Parasite's once ethereally pale face, stunning like marble, was now ghostly
pale, almost in a sickly manner. The deep hollows in his cheeks were now much
deeper, and an insanity haunted his pale red eyes. Blackness leaked from his
mouth, dripping down ice cold and blue lips. His hair had turned almost jet
white and hung in matted clumps pasted to his skin. A thin and bony frame shook
from both anger and weakness, and those insane eyes landed on them both. 
A cold and creaky hand, with skin so pale and translucent that it stretched
over the knuckles and showed the webbing of almost every single vein, reached
out to try and beckon them closer.
Something was happening to him, but what? Was it because his two main bed
warmers were now both dead? 
"What... have you done to them..?" he whimpered weakly and his hands, stained
in black and deep red liquid, curled shakily out towards them. "My dear...
please stop fighting. Please, have mercy..."
HIs creepy and static like voice whimpered pathetically for them to see reason.
But... what reason was there? Why should they, in a time like this, show any
sort of mercy? After everything he had done thus far? That almost seemed like
an insult to even insinuate. 
Both of them made turned up and disgusted faces and Tsuzuku's seemed even more
on edge. Slowly he took a step forward, making sure to keep himself in front of
his lover just in case the Parasite had any plans or tricks.
"Mercy? From us?" he asks cynically. "You're asking us for mercy? After
everything you have done? That us too much to ask, even from you. No. This has
to end. Now."
The pale leaking face grew even more disparaged, before the hand dropped almost
weakly. But... Something about him seemed off. Too off. He couldn't possibly be
surrendering could he? After all this? Did that mean he was willing to talk?
"There is nowhere else for you to go as of now," Koichi insists, holding a
sacred pale light in his palm. "I have to... I have to kill you now."
The parasite does not move for what feels like an eternity, but then
something... Odd begins to happen. His face was blank, but the coils began to
curl even tighter around the bedpost, tightening almost like springs.
"Then I have... No other choice but to... But to fight back."
Before Koichi could even realize what had happened, a single coil from the
bedpost shot at him with lightning speed, and without warning clamped down on
his left arm not holding the flame.
A scream wrenched from his throat, and adrenaline shot through his nerves,
forcing the flame to go out and his now free hand to grip his arm before
Tsuzuku could even act. 
"Let go of him!" the daemon roared angrily, now lunging forward to try and free
his lover. But a similar tentacle began to wrap around his leg, cementing him
to the floor. There want much either of them could do, but flail wildly against
the restraints that began to slowly, slowly, pull them away from each other.
Tsuzuku opens his mouth to scream again, but one of the eerie limbs wrapped
around his face, muffling the sounds of protest.
"Tsuzu- mmmpf!"
A similar one also wrapped around Koichi's face, his word lost in his throat.
Now the coils were gripping both his arms, keeping them squeezed to his sides
at all times as Tsuzuku struggled to make them let go but to no avail.
"I can't... Let you escape me," came a raspy voice, that pale gaunt face
distorting into a weak smile, but also one of twisted determination. "You
have... Taken my fledglings. My... Layha and Ryoga... So you two must take
their places!"
Koichi wanted to scream again, to call for help but... A flesh like spring
started to also crawl around his leg as well, inching its way up his leg
slowly, forcing a wave of utter disgust to cause prickles of unease on his
skin. Shuddering he closes his eyes, feeling them crawl and slide all over his
legs and feel up his thighs.
"Both of you are mine now... You feel so... Tasty."
Debauched moans began to come from the Parasite now, the coils acting as
feelers for his sick intentions.
Tsuzuku could be heard screaming from what felt like far away, but he could no
longer tell as slime started to seep through his already precariously thin
clothes and soak his skin. It was sickeningly cold, and gave him a feeling he
wasn't sure he would ever feel again.
Total and utter fear. The fear that they had just walked into a death trap. The
fear that this was the end of all life and things as he knew it.
Squirming helplessly he whimpered through the rubbery flesh lashed across his
face, feeling lightheaded suddenly... A poison?
"Mpf..! Mmmmhh..."
His arms felt heavy, and the coils started to slither into places they...
Should not be going to..! His thin pants still had those long cuts in the
fabric, so he was now feeling the sensations on his bare skin.
More fear started to prickle at his skin as they touched him in seemingly wrong
ways with each second, reaching into places that only his lover should be
touching.
He tried to open his eyes, but found that the poison made it increasingly
difficult.
Was he gonna be here forever? Trapped like this?
No.... You must fight...
What the... Another woman's voice? Like from before... Another whimper as a
rather thick coil reached the front of his pants. Oh Gods no not like that..!
'Please! Whoever you are please! Help me!'
Through the poison induced haze he could faintly gear his lover making the same
timid cries, and another sickening moan from the parasite. What was happening?
Desperate he wanted to know, but his eyelids felt so heavy...
'There now, my dears, shush," a purr echoed towards him. "It will all be over
soon. Just let me take care of you from now on..."
Then like a shock of cold water one of the coils began to attempt to undo the
zipper keeping his decency in place, and despite the poison inhabiting his
system, panic welled up like a flooding dam.
'No! No don't touch me!'
Struggling he was about to start crying from the sheer overwhelming terror when
he heard something else. A new sound, a sound deep in his subconscious.
Whispers... Whispers from multiple entities at once. First they were faint, and
he struggled to hear them. But the more the tentacle attempted to reach inside
and follow the trail towards his most sensitive place.... They suddenly grew
louder.
'You must resist!'
'Fight back!'
'This is not the end!'
'Please Koichi do not give up!'
Who were they... And why... Did they sound so familiar?
'We are here to help you! Please, resist!'
More panic as one of them actually managed to get inside, finding its way past
the thin layers he wore to keep covered. A muffled scream tore from his already
sore throat and his body weakly flailed. But still, he could not see a thing.
'Who... What, are you?'
Just as he could feel one of them threatening to actually stuff itself down his
pant leg he heard another voice. His own.
'I. Am you. And who are we?'
More slithering, more muffled screams as his lover was apparently already being
violated. That made him feel... An anger in his chest that overpowered the
poison.
'We just are. We are the only Rainbow Phoenix in existence. And you, we, must
fight.'
Rainbow... Phoenix... That... Actually made sense?
"First... To get a taste if my dear and lovely daemon..."
A sudden spike of the adrenaline from before made his eyes shoot open almost
instantly. And what he saw when he did made the blood in his veins boil with
anger and possessiveness.
'Fight.'
Tsuzuku was also writhing in his bonds, eyes screwed shut as the Parasite's
hands, cold and clammy, slowly caress his face, his face lecherous and grinning
with absolute glee. Then his face is leaning in close, making the helpless
ensnared daemon straight up flinch. The coils then pull his arms above his head
and they make almost a noose like apparatus around his throat, but it did not
tighten to strangle. Only enough to threaten.
"Tsuzuku my beloved... We are finally together. Forever."
He thinks he has won.
'No... No!'
The parasite begins to close the distance between himself and Tsuzuku, but then
a great fire erupted from deep in the pit of Koichi's belly and a surge of heat
burst from his body.
'Resist.'
With that one simple word, his mind snapped. White spread across his eyes and
all he felt was anger. Anger and the desire to rescue his love no matter what.
With a great wail the Parasite's extra limbs are engulfed in a bright and
massive light, instantly losing their grip upon the hapless couple and he
cowers against the bedside, crying and holding his body, tentacles and all,
very tight and close to himself.
Dropping to his knees Tsuzuku is literally gasping for breath, the tentacles
having left behind red and stained marks across his flesh. Koichi had them
across his wrists, angry and pink while dripping with fluid. Somehow through
the blind anger he managed to pull himself to his feet, but almost collapsed.
"Are... you okay?" Tsuzuku asked, crawling to Koichi on his knees weakly. But
Koichi was unresponsive, his legs shaking as he held himself up against a
nearby wall. However the parasite's voice stopped him mid crawl.
"Please.. why can't you just see that this is what is best for you?" he
whimpered. "I can take care of you... This world needs a new form of order...
All of you, just... snapping at each other's throats... You need order.
Control... You... need me. Please..."
He was insane! How could he possibly believe that this was what they needed? A
world of chaos and freedom was more enjoyable than a world of blood and
tyranny. 
And that thought was what made Koichi finally is able to stand up and gain his
muscle control back. This misguided creature, he really needed to be taught
something important. And the idea that he really believed people did not
deserve freedom set his blood on fire. By now, the poison was more than likely
already burned away from the fire in his veins.
"No. We don't," he wheezed again, coughing from the lack of oxygen. "No, I'm
not gonna give you some useless reprimand of how freedom matters, because I
know that it won't even come close to getting through that thick skull of
yours."
The Parasite whined in pain again, holding his singed arms closer than before.
Koichi glared at him, wiping fluid from his face as he bent down and helps
Tsuzuku to his feet. 
"If you're going to hide I would suggest doing so now, because mercy is the
last thing in this world I am willing to give you."
The parasite is hissing and in a puff of black inky smoke he disappears through
the bedroom door and into pure darkness. It's silent until Tsuzuku is moaning
in pain, suddenly feeling really hot and dizzy. Koichi is concerned, wondering
if... 
"Are you okay?" he murmured as quietly as he could. His lover coughed again,
his lungs barely sucking in air. Stumbling into him was all he was able to do
right now. 
"Koi..." he whispered hoarsely. "I think... I think he puh... poisoned me. I
can't move, my arms feel numb and I think I have a fever...."
So he was right. Damn it..! Tsuzuku was useless like this, the poison was
inhibiting his mental and physical abilities too severely. He would have to
deal with this on his own.
"Sorry," he whispered and props his lover against the nearest wall. "You're too
delirious to go on, I have to finish this myself. He is too weak to escape, so
it should be easy." 
Tsuzuku was alarmed, but the poison in his system was too much and he could
barely muster a pained whisper, his head slowly shaking in displeasure. 
"No... Koi don't... I... I have to be there with you when you..." 
But his words are painful and scratchy, forcing him to stop to breathe properly
against the fire in his throat.
This was his fight. Koichi knew that now. This was what he was always meant to
do, and Tsuzuku's worries could not disrupt that. But still, his heart clenched
when he knew he had to do this alone. And... And leave his lover behind. 
Besides, despite his best efforts Tsuzuku's own powers were not strong enough
to burn out the poison quick enough. His face grew paler with every second and
sweat was now beading down his forehead. The poison was obviously not meant to
kill, but it was definitely doing a number on him right now. Koichi sighed and,
against his better judgement, presses a soft kiss to his lover's forehead. 
"Tsu I love you, and I'm sorry," he whispered. "But this was never about
revenge. This is just the right thing to do. Everyone is counting on us, and
now that he is weakened this is my only chance before he can regain his power.
But you, you must rest."
He lays Tsuzuku against the unsullied part of the bed covers, and uses his own
jacket to cover him up. Still, his hands reached for Koichi's pitifully, his
eyes drooping every few seconds to battle the exhaustion of the poison trying
to drag him down. 
Koichi was right. This was no time to be a hero. All the people out there
needed right now was a savior. And with the pain wracking his body he was in no
state to even be that. 
"I'm... sorry, for being so useless," he gasped out. "Please, Koichi...
Don't... don't leave me."
He was just so terrified of losing him, so scared of his only lover going up
against the most powerful being in this world with little to no help. 
But the pinkette seemed overly confident, and pressed Tsuzuku's clammy but warm
palm to his cheek. A few tears fell from his eyes and he desperately pressed
kisses to each finger. 
"I'll come back for you," he whispers, his eyes instantly meeting with
Tsuzuku's. "I promise you I will."
The love and worry in his pained expression was enough motivation to continue,
and without waiting for his lover to respond he let go, and stood up on shaking
legs. Who knows if he would come out of this unscathed? Alive, sure but... what
cost of losing would he have to pay should he fail? 
That could not happen, he would not let it.
'Pursue him. Do not let him continue to run for much longer.'
Now determined, much more than before anyway, he let his hands flare up in
their usual bright explosions of color, and with the newfound knowledge of his
bloodline ingrained into his brain he began to walk away, noting the way that
Tsuzuku's breathing evened out into a slow steady unconsciousness. Poor
thing... Right now he would just be in the way. 
Every step that he took left deep black marks in the once lovely carpet, now
only singed completely and leaving behind a burning smell. His body was aflame
in mere seconds, though he was sure that he could now control the fiery raging
emotions inside of him instead of letting the rage take control and make him
act rashly. He would need this to last as long as possible.
The door was just as stained as the one leading outside, maybe even worse. The
door handle was completely encased in some sort of black sludge, probably as a
result of the Parasite losing his grip on reality.
All that he was met with as he opened it up was silence and a pitch black
darkness, but he could feel every little vibration of movement, every little
breath exhaled into the deep pit that was the nest. The tentacles that once
acted as feelers and sensors squirmed away from him as his cleansing fire
searched for prey. 
The tentacles acted quickly, trying their best to make grabbing motions at him,
but the heat of his flaming body forced them all away before they could so much
as get anywhere near him. 
It was then that he could sense another feeling near him. A darkened, evil
presence that reeked with malice of fear at the same time. Well, maybe that was
to be expected right now. 
He lights up even more, his hair bursting into it's usual magenta pink hue and
illuminating everything around him in a brilliant flash. It was here that he
saw him. 
The Parasite was hunched into a dark abandoned corner, his body shaking as more
and more black sludge poured from the ripped open wounds on his arms and from
what he assumed were more wounds beneath the heavy cloak like shroud covering
his body. Wheezing and panting were the only noises he made aside from painful
whimpers. 
He was pathetic, Koichi knew that he was no longer able to fight as he might
have been able to. 
But in no way did that mean he could let his guard down so easily. No, he had
to keep his wits about him for even at only half strength, this damn Parasite
could still be very very strong. 
"So... This is how it ends up," comes a sudden coughing sentence, followed by a
sarcastically melancholic chuckle. "After all of this... Me, a literal God,
caught like a rat in a trap. And by a Phoenix no less.. They told me you were
special, my dear. But just how special you were I had no idea at all. You would
have... made wonderful donors, and I adored the both of you. Yet... I'm sure
now though that to taste of your hot sweetness, dear baby bird, would only
serve to kill me further. Such is the nectar of all sin I am afraid..."
They? His previous bed mates? What did they know? They were all dead now.
Koichi scoffed lightly, his hand raising to wave the flame around and create
some more light, making the Parasite hiss and cower backwards.
"Maybe then you realize now how wrong you have been through all of this," he
mutters, the rage in his blood making him strangely calm. At least on the
outside. "This was what I was meant to do. Cleanse the world of evil, so that
generations of my bloodline can know what I have done to make sure the world
they live in is peaceful. And in order to do that, you must be wiped from all
of existence."
He steps ever closer, the primal feeling of trapping the enemy in his clutches
utterly exhilarating. This was really it then, be done here and he no longer
had to worry about being found ever again.
Yet despite the threat the Parasite was abnormally calm, his face a mixture of
placid calmness and inner turmoil. What was he thinking? To make one last
effort to make him subdue?
"You silly silly darlings," the Parasite chuckles, spitting a globule of
blackness to the floor, smiling through a pained hiss as his wounds were
disturbed. "I am timeless. I am all that ever was and all that will ever be.
You may kill my physical body tonight, but you will never kill my kind. To kill
us would tip the very balance of life in the magical and monster world alike.
Exterminating my kind would do you no good. So go ahead. Plunge the world into
chaos. But if you had just seen things the way I do maybe you would not be so
keen as to do what you have your heart so set on."
Then his rickety ancient body stood up as high as he could, the shroud finally
falling off of him and revealed only slim leather pants with tears in the knees
and a thin mesh shirt, ripped in many places where pale flesh met deep gouged
wounds. That made Koichi's body go into defensive mode, his heels digging into
the carpet beneath his feet.
Did he really believe that the goal was the removal of all vampires? Who was
the silly one now?
"You misunderstand me," he growled back, his fingers itching as fire spouted
violently from his fingers in the form of sharp lethal talons, not unlike
Tsuzuku's own claws it seemed. "I only want to erase you and every vampire that
dares prey on the innocent. On humans or other innocent creatures, to turn your
teeth on those of your own kind is unforgivable. I have to kill you and you
only."
With a sharp hiss the Parasite suddenly lunged for him, his teeth bared and
claws outstretched to kill. He could not react fast enough as he was grabbed by
the throat and shoved into the wall behind his back near the door. It was like
being slammed into by a mass of muscle, and all breath left Koichi's lungs as
something in his shoulder cracked painfully. Definitely broken.
A snarl ripped from his throat as he flailed, but now pinned against the wall
he could not do much. The touch of this creature felt like death, his fingers
were cold and rough and reminded him of cold unfeeling marble.
The Parasite's eyes were blazing red, though just as dead as before. The fire
licked and lapped at his skin but he made it seem like he did not care. Koichi
was ready to spew more curses before he heard him speak, now in an eerily...
normal tone of voice. There was no echo, there was no static like quality that
gave his voice it's edge. It just sounded... normal. And it threw him off.
"My dear sweet bird," comes a feather light coo, his blackened lips smiling as
he strangled Koichi to the wall before forcing a knee between his legs. "You
just don't seem to understand."
That made him freeze, and the Parasite seemed greatly pleased to finally have
felt Koichi against his body. Their contrasts were vastly different. The
blazing passionate fury of his fire against this... thing's cold statue like
form. No heat emanated from him, just a frigidness akin to being buried in
ice. 
The parasite even dared to lean in, his lips finding the juncture of his throat
and inhaling deeply, moaning in his throat as the scent of fresh warm blood hit
the back of his throat. A shudder rippled down Koichi's spine and his eyes
almost shut with disgust. 
"Our power is matched perfectly! Oh how I wish you could just see reason...
This is a sign. A sign that you were meant to be mine. Be mine Koichi, be mine
and mine alone and I will let everyone go. I will even let Tsuzuku go as well.
You can be a god, my dear. You will be a God and nothing can get in our way of
conquering the world!"  
Those venomous words forced a dry laugh from his throat and he forced the
flames higher.
"You would let him go?" he asked sarcastically, wincing as his body forcibly
healed itself and finally snapped the broken bone of his shoulder into place.
"After all the trouble you went through to get him here? How cunning of you."
The last part was bit out as his muscle finally fell back into place, and he
was able to yank his arm free and with a forceful push sent the Parasite
skidding back against the carpet, snarling in response. 
"But you are forgetting something," he says with a humorless laugh, his talons
elongating from only half an inch to an inch. "Even if I were to go with you I
would still kill you anyway. May as well get it over with now."
The white filter spread across his vision and tints of rainbow light were just
at the corners, so he must have made quite a sight to behold. His hair was as
brilliant as ever, and the wings upon his back rose up higher to the ceiling.
The Parasite was trembling. He was afraid, Koichi could easily see that now.
And that knowledge brought him great and immense pleasure. Maybe he was not as
weak as he thought. Maybe he had more than enough to finally defeat him.
This would be his chance, his chance to show the world that he was more than
capable of saving everything and everyone.
With that in mind he felt a burst of heat crawl up his spine as an almost bird
like cry erupted from his throat. Furiously his feet push away from the floor
beneath him to launch himself at the parasite, his talons outstretched. The
parasite was ready though, and he was met with an equal amount of resistance in
the form of hissing, snapping jaws and strong arms holding him away.
His fist wrenched out of a strong grip and he blindly but quickly forced his
talons deep into the parasite's stomach. All he could think about was death.
The death of this Creature, the death of everything he caused. That was all.
That mattered.
A loud scream of pain came out of the Parasites throat, and he too attempted a
clawed attack. Unfortunately, Koichi was not in the state of mind to dodge him
and the next thing he knew those sharp claws were tearing across his face,
splashing blood everywhere. The Parasite then shuffled backwards, the attack
having taken a lot of effort.
But it... Didn't hurt. Sure Koichi was sure that blood was streaming down his
face from four open gashes across his cheeks but all he felt was a slight
tingling. 
A hysterical giggle from the adrenaline bubbled out of his chest and he glared
at the Parasite, an almost psychotic grin stretching across his face.
"How.... Why aren't you screaming in pain??" he screamed at Koichi, his voice
returning to its multilayered echo from before. "You're supposed to be in
agony!"
Was this what aging was supposed to feel like? A tingling? Well no, he would
chalk it up to the energy buzzing through him for now.
"Agony? You call this agony?" he screeched back and wiped the drips away from
his face. "Agony is not knowing whether I will escape to see the next day!
Agony is not knowing if this will be the last time I see my friends or even the
sunlight! You don't know what agony is!"
By now he had started to violently spew rainbow hued flames from his mouth like
before when he went off on Layha. A deep pitted anger made his chest burn and
the very steps he took made the carpet almost light aflame completely.
The fire began to travel in a very deliberate straight line towards the
creature, almost as if it were... As if it were alive. And that seemed to work,
as the creature backed away, a paralyzed stance forcing him into a corner to
hold his bloodied shoulder.
"Stay away!" the Parasite hissed almost fearfully, baring his teeth
defensively. "Fine. I don't care about having you anymore, so you can just
die!"
Koichi never thought he would even be glad to hear anything come from such a
foul creature, but this was truly the epitome of their encounter.
Another splitting smile spread across his cheeks. To anyone looking in on this
scene now, and he was certain there were, he must look truly insane.
"I can't die," comes the single hissed word before more flames began to grow
and sprout from his back, feeding the inferno of light that were his wings.
Before another word could be uttered the flames grew high to the ceiling,
nearly turning the carpet into nothing but ash. It spread in high fan like
movements into a large half circle to trap him in the same proximity of the
Parasite.
There was only one outcome from this. Death for the Parasite. Or eternal
captivity for him and his lover. Either one would be determined right here.
Right now.
The Parasite seemed to get some of his sense back as he realized truly the
grave danger he was in, and his burning eyes forced themselves to stay open
despite the heat and flame. Ignoring the black dripping from his lips he smiled
back, though it was much weaker. But that wouldn't stop him from trying.
Like a man possessed the Parasite once more launched himself at Koichi, teeth
snapping and lips growling hungrily. The pinkette could do little else but
retaliate with his own agenda, his wings creating a pillar of flame as he met
with his own resistance and felt claws tearing and digging into his arms in
attempt to force him down to the ground. He responded back with his flames
racing up the Parasite's arms where he was being held, creating endless hissing
and snarling.
Minutes passed like this. Claws tearing. Sharp teeth biting and ripping. Skin
healed back into place only to be ripped out again. The sparse few chairs and
drapes in the room were torn apart and splintered to pieces.
Koichi want sure what happened but soon he found himself once again trapped
against the floor either teeth buried in his right arm and claws buried into
his shoulder. The pain did not register and he lost his breath, the back if his
skull cracking violently into the wall. Then he was picked up by the throat,
gasping and flailing as his back met with the wall and his feet were dangling
just slightly off the ground. The teeth in his shoulder felt like needles
piercing his flesh and he screamed out a curse. They sucked but then the
Parasite began to cough, and he was ripping the teeth out as blood burst from
his skin.
His legs almost buckled as he felt an arm rip out of his shoulder only to be
sent backwards into the wall by a well placed kick to his stomach. There was an
indent where he hit the alabaster plaster, and he wiped blood from his mouth.
The creature bled profusely now, from multiple wounds that would not heal even
with a lot of time.
Then he found himself not caring, and once again the fire from his palm spread
out like fans across his fingers, elongating into whip like ropes that he had
to grip tightly. The Parasite hissed before he tries once again to pin Koichi
to the wall but the flames crawling around his legs are too much to bear. He
lacks up into the nearest wall, helpless and weak to such brilliant white
light. Plus the sheer effort of his earlier attacks had sapped away what was
left of his power.
Koichi could feel more blood dripping from his face but the fact that he had
the Creature cornered was more than enough motivation for him to keep going.
The flames reached new temperatures as they flared from rainbow colored to pure
white, lighting the room up like a spotlight. Hisses of pain emanate from his
enemy as Koichi forced him farther and farther into the wall where the fire
against the wall still burned. This was where it needed to end. It had been
going on for too long now. The Old one was weakened, vulnerable and able to
die. However he could not. Which also meant... Wasn't he already stronger than
him by now?
But he just wanted to do one last thing before ending everything. Something
that would make this short but tough struggle memorable. It would put his mind
at ease some. And make sure that those that died at this Creature's hands did
not die for nothing.
With a snarl he raised the whips high as he could, his arms threatening to
bring them down at even the slightest sound or movement.
"Tell me why you're doing this. Why you believe that we don't deserve our right
to freedom."
His talons itched to do more damage but he could feel his strength waning even
further away. He had to finish this and do it quick.
The Parasite was now very defensive and fearful, trying to edge away from the
flames but totally unable to. Again, like before, he was completely trapped.
"You would not understand," he hissed at Koichi. "You could never understand!
My kind, we aren't supposed to just... Accept the isolation that was given to
us when we are created! We... We need to expand. To grow our ranks. To
repopulate the world with our kind. But you... You light dwellers, you decide
that those who live in the darkness are awful disparaging creatures. Feeding
off the essence of others to stay alive is apparently not... Not acceptable.
"So... We have to do what we have to do. We eat the weak to stay alive. To
actually survive. To live."
As he spoke Koichi's hand had lowered the ropes to listen, and a pitiful laugh
bubbled from his lips as he spoke, spitting out more globs of black sludge. His
tentacles weakly began to break away from his body, making sick writ snapping
noises akin to flesh being wrenched from bone.
"I used to be... Someone important you know," he gasped and coughed before
pressing his fingers to his chest. "This body? This... Meat case that I'm using
now? He was a respectable person, a beautiful vampire, who mattered to those
around him. His name was.... Ah. What was his name again..."
Pausing to take a breath he coughed violently to cough up more blood before
trying once more to speak.
"Oh yes, his name was something like... Kaya, I believe. You'll have to excuse
my memory, it's not the complete best after I took him away pretty forcefully
and the memories were stirred up pretty well. It was only after I left that
traitorous Aryu to die that I knew this body was far stronger than his. Ah, how
is he by the way?"
Aryu? He wanted to know how the one he left to die was doing? The nerve of this
guy! He could not even imagine the agony the poor body he was using was going
through. If what he knew about this Parasite was true then... The person inside
would not survive even if he tried to save him.
It was best to just let him go peacefully and not let him get to anyone else.
He owed it to everyone else, and possibly... He owed it to this 'Kaya' person
as well.
"Like you ever need to know," Koichi then sneered at the Parasite, his molten
whip being held in a vice grip between steel like fingers. "This is not about
him. But I know all I need to know from you now, so you're of no use to me from
now on."
The Parasite continued to hiss at him as he held up the whips, ready to bring
it down with a single fatal blow when something inside his ears began to ring.
It wasn't bad, but it was definitely enough to tell him that something was
happening with the outside world. It was not. Good.
Noticing his distraction the Parasite uses this as an opportunity to speak
more, digging his own grave as his wounds forced his body into vulnerable
stillness, almost like a forced state of catatonia.
"I can't wait to see what Tsuzuku looks like when I have him in my bed," he
bragged haughtily, as though he weren't already going to die. "Tell me. He is
rather forceful with you isn't he? He makes you his utter WHORE as he does with
you as he wishes and you become nothing but a mindless puppet like slave. It
feels nice doesn't it? To become completely lost to pleasure as you're brains
go numb to the intensity if being used like a toy. If it feels that good I
can't wait to start using him for myself. Yes that's it, so you may call out my
name when your lover is being served to me on a silver plate and you're rotting
in my dungeons as I make him mine."
The anger outweighs the distraction soon and Koichi snarled angrily. How dare
he mention him here! Why would he even say anything like that if he was gonna
die here anyway? His voice was weak and feeble yet he seemed entirely pleased
with himself.
The whip raised up high without warning, and with such force and power Koichi's
arm yanked it downwards and into the Parasite with a force akin to almost
thirty of himself at once.
The sound that it makes is, quite honestly, nearly unbearable. His whip creates
an eerie and painful cracking noise against the pale deadened flesh on the body
of this creature, wrenching a horrible scream from his throat. An angry
bleeding lash is left across his chest where the whip tore through clothing and
lacerated the skin, showing what would have been milky smooth skin. Now was...
Full of long angry pink marks that were ripped open and dripping in black.
Kaya, the poor hapless creature, cried out in utter pain as he was forced
against the holy wall of flame next to him, trying to scramble away as the
wounds on his arms made him tremble and fall on his arms to the floor.
Koichi yanked the flames closer to him now closer and closer until they were
but feet away from the Parasite on either side.
Was... Was hurting someone always this amazing to feel? Adrenaline buzzed
through him, setting his nerves on fire. The feeling of destruction that was
caused by his own hand caused him to gasp heavily in satisfaction before once
more forcing the whip down, not giving even a moment's reprieve.
Another crack. Another scream of agony. Yet still he did not relent. Not even
when the flames were at his back and had the enemy trapped in a ring only five
feet in diameter.
Crack
Blood was now pooling on the floor, and his heightened senses could smell the
way it evaporated into the air from the heat of his flame. The few tentacles he
had left that weren't already clawed at or burned  slowly began to shrivel up
and screech before turning into nothing but ash.
Crack
The screams were turning into strangled breathless squeaks of pain, and the
Parasite was struggling to stay on his knees to not touch the fire. Now he was
certain that this was the end. Even as the Parasite was wheezing and hissing at
the fire looking for a way to to escape and yet...
Crack
It was futile. This was the end, however short and anticlimactic it was that
was the truth. The Parasite was losing his strength and with none of his bed
warmers alive he was already doomed to die. It was then that he realized
something incredibly... Sad.
Kaya had been depending on the fact that Ryoga and Layha would not die, that
they would easily be able to capture his toys.
But he underestimated their strengths, and was now paying the price. Now
without his consorts to heal him he would only wither away. Or... Burn away in
this case.
"I almost pity you," Koichi mumbles and finally stills the whip in the other
hand, shoulder and fingers feeling sore. "You were hiding behind a facade of
strength this whole time, depending on your bed mates for your power. But
without them you are an empty husk if nothingness, doomed to fail. This is an
act of mercy on my part, isn't that what you wanted?"
The flames stopped just shy of tightening their burning grip around the
vampire, now badly lacerated and covered in his own blackened blood. He
looked... Like a sad former shell of himself, losing every bit of strength he
had left just trying to scramble away from the flames. But there was nowhere to
run.
He was given an almost pleading look, the eyes he had seen before give him so
much hate were now pitiful and blank with despair, hopelessness and pain. But
he didn't really care. Couldn't care really.
The Parasite didn't even speak. Just... Kind of sat there, whimpering and
holding his knees to his badly battered body.
Did this mean... Koichi won? Was it finally over?
He himself was now ready to pads out from all the blood he lost but he quickly
felt his wounds seal up and the blood he lost was rushing back to his heart.
Thank goodness for his poison immunity.
"I will make this quick," he found himself muttering, almost to himself. "I'm
sorry I couldn't save you Kaya. I'm sure you were a naive person when you
weren't infected."
Then the ring of fire slowly began to close up, trapping the creature in it's
cleansing grip. His ears rang as screams of unimaginable caliber rang out
through the room. The flames were engulfing the creature without any remorse,
the whiteness turning his skin into small flakes of ash before his very eyes.
Then he heard one last thing. A whisper so faint, so small he almost didn't
hear it. Kaya stared at him from inside the flames, his face peeling away as a
smile curled upon his lips and the bones of his cheeks were exposed.
"Thank you... Koichi."
Then there was nothing but a pillar of rainbow and white flames. In it was the
creature's body turning into grey ashen nothingness and left behind a blackened
skeleton.
Koichi's whip disappeared in a flurry of light and he fell to his knees,
finally succumbing to the internal injuries that were taking awhile to heal. He
watched for only moments before he curled up against the destroyed wall,
watching either a heavy sinking sadness in his chest.
That.... That had taken up the last of his energy. But he was gone now. The
Parasite was no more... They were free.
The realization of what he had done took a whole to sink in at first, but as it
did he felt the stress if the last few weeks finally roll off his shoulders and
the weight in his stomach lessened.
Finally the pillar died away and he saw what was left. Just a pile of black
bones and ash. The sight of it made him sad. But also exponentially relieved.
In killing Kaya... He guessed he also kind of saved him in a way. From the way
he said thank you at the end, he knew that deep inside, Kaya was suffering.
But now Kaya could rest in peace. That was enough closure for him.
"I... You're welcome."
Koichi somehow managed to crawl his way to the main room, where he saw Tsuzuku
still slumbering fitfully. But he smiles, knowing that finally. They could rest
easy and relax.
The blackness splattering the room began to evaporate into nothingness, leaving
only slight stains in the bed and walls.
His lover shifted only a little but Koichi managed to cover him with the new
cleaned off duvet from the bed and tucks a pillow under his head before laying
against his stomach.
"It's over Tsuzuku," he sighed, exhausted and ready to sleep. "We can... Come
home."
And as his eyes closed he could see something only faintly. People were rushing
hurriedly into the room, their voices loud and frantic. However, he heard
someone whispering in his ear to soothe him as he finally slipped away.
"We got you Koichi. You're safe now."
END
Chapter End Notes
     OH MY GOSH ITS FINALLY OVER.
     I can't believe I actually managed to finish this! I wanna say a huge
     heartfelt thank you to every person that has read liked and commented
     on it so far! It just means so much to me!
     there will be an epilogue to this! So keep an eye out for it soon!
***** Epilogue *****
Chapter Notes
     Will be around as long as the previous chapter to tie up the loose
     ends left over.
     This is mostly a dialogue and fluff chapter! I will probably create
     little side stories for my remaining and deceased characters when I
     have the time :)
     Thank you for reading until this point. More notes at the end.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
All he could see was white. An endless, infinite expanse of pure light and
emptiness. This was the place he was in before, when he completely lost his
mind to the anger inside his body and pretty much slaughtered Layha. In any
other circumstance he would be panicking, but now that it was over... Well he
didn't feel as tense as before.
He could feel his body so that was good, but he could not even move his arms or
legs. A ribbon of soft yellow light then began to wrap around his body in
gentle and soothing coils, a far cry from those tentacles that felt violating.
They reminded him of being hugged or wrapped in the softest of silks or fine
fabrics. 
His wings were not here, so he figured this must be some sort of... weird inner
desire thing. Who even knew with this sort of thing anymore...
It was warm, and it brought a sense of calm to an otherwise drowning feeling of
weightlessness and no control. Still, it felt like floating, so Koichi did not
complain. 
He stayed like this for what felt like hours, soaking in the peacefulness of
the emptiness and letting the tension roll off his shoulders. When was the last
time he felt this... peaceful? Before all of this started? Perhaps that was so.
It wouldn't be too far from the truth...
At any rate, being in a void of nothingness wasn't all that bad. However, he
was starting to feel a little lonely. No one else was here, no voices or
apparitions. Nothing. 
Was he still unconscious with Tsuzuku in that bedroom? And if so, was he just
witnessing a leftover memory? Or something else entirely? Either way, he was
getting bored. Tsuzuku would get worried if he woke up and Koichi was out like
a light next to him. 
'Is anyone here?'
Considering that he couldn't move his lips to speak he tried to reach out with
his voice. After a few moments nothing seemed to happen, but then about two
minutes of silence later something odd began to happen. The atmosphere began to
feel weird and the whiteness started to vibrate with a low pulsing sound, akin
to the bass from a high def speaker or some rave club. 
It rumbled through his body, making his insides feel tingly. Then with only
seconds to spare he was falling onto a soft surface. Suddenly he was in a room,
still all white but now with visible four walls and a white carpet. 
Feeling returned to his body and he was face first in this carpet with his body
star fished in a similar manner. Koichi coughed through a faceful of the fibers
and rose on shaky jelly like hands to his knees. Looking around he saw that it
was easily ten feet high to the ceiling and with another ten feet squared.
There was nothing but a small table here, made entirely of glass. 
Where the heck was he? Were the Ancients messing with him again? It would seem
so, as when he stood up and took a step the carpet began to stain with bright
and vibrant colors of the rainbow, spreading like watercolor on a piece of
paper through the fibers. Reds, yellows and blues spiraled in geometric
patterns out from his bared feet, as they did with every step. He stops in the
middle of the room and looks behind him where he was at one corner of the
room. 
There were countless spirals creating designs he could not read or discern, but
were still mysterious nonetheless. Those soft yellow ribbons were still wrapped
tightly around his body, only now as a way of covering him up besides showing
his flat belly and pale legs.
"What is going on?" he wonders out loud. "Hello? Is anyone here? Where am I?"
No sooner does he speak that he felt another weird pulse go through the room.
And before his eyes a ball of pulsating light appears in front of his face. Its
about a foot in circumference with a bright rainbow hued comet's tail dangling
behind it like a tadpole. Soon another appears in much the same manner. Then
another and another. 
Before he could wrap his head around what was happening there were a total of
twenty three of these orbs, all surrounding him in a curious manner. Spirits...
He remembered seeing them a few times but, never so many in one place. Where
was here exactly? 
"You are safe my dear, do not fret."
An eerily familiar voice then echoed in the room, one he... was not at all
expecting to hear ever again, but it was answering him in a gentle and quiet
tone. 
"...Kaya?"
One of the spirit orbs slowly began to form as a body in front of him, and his
eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as an unforgettable face formed from out of
the amorphous blob of light.
It really was Kaya, and not as the murderous insane Parasite he had just seen
the end of. No, it was a newer, fresher image of the soul before him. His once
cold and insane red eyes were soft and the color of lavender with an
insurmountable amount of grief and warmth in them. His lips were pale pink with
a glossy sheen and his skin was a beautiful cream color. His hair was long and
also Lavender colored, cascading down bare shoulders in elegant curls to his
upper arms. 
There was a bright turquoise aura all around him and the lower half of his body
was covered only in a gentle rainbow light. 
Seeing him like this... was surreal to say the very absolute least. Seeing him
as not being a murderous and insane Parasite and instead as almost human was
too much for his mind to comprehend. What the hell was happening right now?
This Kaya laughs, his voice tinkly like soft bells yet deep.
"Yes dear one, it is me. Though, I can only imagine that seeing me this way is
very immensely shocking to you after what had just occurred, isn't it?"
That was indeed another understatement. The usual instincts he probably would
have gotten when faced with him were nowhere to be felt, and he was unusually
at ease with him around now, much unlike before. Beneath his feet, the rainbow
spirals were now spreading to all corners of the room. Now the carpet was very
much resembling a massive scaled tye dye job only with more... Grace? If that
made any sense. 
"Yes... what is going on here?" 
Kaya sighed, a heavy sound that gave away years of exhaustion and insecurity. 
"This is but a small portion of the Afterlife, or it is for us anyway," he
began, gesturing to his fellow spirits. "This is the be all end for those of us
victimized by this tragedy, where we can finally rest in peace after the
nightmare that we have just been freed from. As for you, you are here because
you can safely travel between these planes as an envoy of this world. We want
you to know how grateful we are for freeing us before you go back to life as
you knew it. So thank you."
As he says this the other orbs soon began to form in a manner similar to Kaya.
Familiar faces began to appear, and with each one his heart broke further and
further. All these people he knew or heard of at one point. 
Juri. Leda. Hiro and Karma. Even... Ryoga and Layha were there, their faces
sullen but bright as they waved at him. Then he saw Sena as well, in the arms
of another man he had never seen but from their contact he knew that it was his
long lost lover, Ricko. They were finally together again, even if the manner
was incredibly sad.
As more of the orbs materialized the more he wanted to sob. 
He saw Ruka and Yomi, even the fledglings he saw before going into the main
building to destroy the Parasite. Ni-ya Sakito and Hitsugi. Then he saw Haru
and the silver haired vampire from the Manor. Both were relieved to be free,
and smiled at him with fingers interlocked together. 
They were all dead. Dead and he could not have saved them.  
A bouncy bright pink haired spirit waved at him enthusiastically, and his heart
squeezed. Minpha was happy to see him..? How did he die this time? Weakly he
smiled and waved back, seeing that there were no more ears upon his head or a
tail curling from out of his body.
He even saw... Tatsuya and Kei. The humans from the estate... How did they die?
Then a pair of familiar faces were in front of him, and he nearly cried out as
despair gripped him tightly. 
"Mom..? Dad?"
Indeed, his own parents were among the spirit orbs, gently coming towards him
from the sea of other faces. They approached him but did not move to embrace
him, but smiled at him all the same. Kaya still stood nearby, watching him with
warm eyes. 
"Koichi... Our beautiful sweet son," his mother began, the crinkles at her eyes
indenting as a smile lights up her eternally beautiful face. "We are so so
proud of you."
His dad nods his head, also smiling. 
"You bet we are son! I'm sorry you had to see us this way, but now is better
than never."
How were they here? 
"What happened?" he asked quietly, tears streaming down his face. "I... I
thought you were only there for a while and were supposed to go home."
They looked at one another, their faces sad before his mother spoke up
quietly. 
"My dear boy... We stayed in the city longer than we had originally intended,
and were caught up in the infestation of the city. We were killed in a fire,
our bodies could not handle it."
"So we ended up trapped in a dark veil for such a long time. But when the veil
lifted and we came here, we knew you had something to do with it."
As they spoke the hues in the carpet started to spread to the walls, staining
them in brilliant vibrant tones. What did that mean?
"Yeah I uh... I had to kill him to do it." 
As he said that he points at Kaya, whom only bows his head low in both
acknowledgement and shame. His parents look to the lavender haired spirit, and
their faces grew worried. 
"What does he mean by that? You were so helpful to us, how could it have
anything to do with you?" his mother asked. Koichi laughed quietly, wiping his
tears. 
"Well, it's... a long story," he muttered. "But I just. I want to say I am
sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save you, even after being reunited like this after
so long. I feel like this is my fault..."
They both immediately began to deny that. 
"What are you saying? Of course it isn't your fault!"
"It's our own! Do not take blame for something you could not control."
They continued on and he smiled, resisting the urge to hug them both because,
well, spirits and all. Kaya took that time to speak, his tone regretful and
sad. 
"Koichi... I have no words to express my gratitude for doing all of this,
honestly. This is all my fault, if you want to blame anyone blame me. I... I
could not control what had happened to me, and even though it was only but
weeks since I was possessed by that Parasite I had done insurmountable damage
to the world and those around me. And for that I do not deserve a third chance,
and I do not deserve to be forgiven. Instead, I want to tell you his exact
intentions in the hopes that you understand."
All around them the color had crawled at least halfway up the walls by now, and
in to time they would probably be up to the ceiling. 
"I will be brief, as you no doubt are anxious to return to the world of our
living predecessors. The exact implications of this plan were clear. Take
control of the world and be the sole ruler. That was the bare minimum but... As
you are aware already, the Parasite had you and Tsuzuku targeted. For reasons
even unknown to you yes?"
Koichi never did figure out why he and Tsuzuku were special. Was Kaya about to
tell him that as well? Were all his long standing questions finally going to be
answered?
"Yeah we... We wanted to know since this whole fiasco started, but the Parasite
would not let on about a single hint. So anything you can tell me would be
wonderful."
Kaya amiles at him sweetly, then sighs in a distressed manner.
"Before, when I was possessed after that poor other Blonde one of my kin was
rejected in favor of me, I learned all his secrets in a span of seconds. All
his knowledge of the way his kind worked, all his plans for that world and the
next. He could take control so easily, as he was literally a walking talking
plague that was spawned from within the depghs of the infernal planes of hell.
With a single bite the virus could be speed, and with others being infected
they too carried this disease, like a cordyceps infection he could control
those he bit and were bitten. Only by dying could the infection be stopped.
"It was so eerie, almost... Maddening. Your daemon lover, he is indeed a very
special one even if he himself does not realize it yet. You see... I learned
that Tsuzuku is no ordinary daemon. He is one of many of the classic daemons,
meaning he can easily communicate with the living and the dead simultaneously.
However he is also something much more than that. Being an intermediary daemon
he can also travel between the planes of life and death, as a... Shall we say,
a link between our world and yours. You can do so as well, like right now. And
much like him you both need to be asleep or unconscious for this plane jumping
to work.
"Now you see why he was so important? The Parasite was planning to use this
ability to grab spirits who were in this afterlife to yank them back to life.
That's why Tsuzuku was so much of a focus, that's why you were both
relentlessly stalked. The creature desired an army, both of the living and the
dead. Yet you stopped him before his mission could even be lifted from it's
infancy, so for this I am eternally grateful. By killing me you have saved me
even if you do not realize it. And countless others. There is no telling what
would have happened should you have failed in releasing the world from his
snares. So... Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you."
Kaya decided then at that point to start disappearing once again into a ball of
light, and his voice is like a soft ethereal whisper.
"Tell Tsuzuku. And everyone else... That I'm sorry for everything I've done."
Then everyone else waved at him, and he barely waved back to them before they
too began to turn back to the wispy balls of light and energy. The color was
now spreading outwards as the fake walls began to fall over outwards and
disappear, showing that blank whiteness like before. All the colors spread out
at now lightning fast speeds, coloring every inch of the whiteness and making
everything bright and vibrant. A dull pulsing and ringing in his ears makes him
flinch and look around, covering them with his hands in distress. 
It was then that he realized he never even heard what happened before all of
this chaos went down. Who would tell him now?
"W-wait!" he exclaimed, reaching for them desperately. "I never even got to
hear what your lives from before were like! What do I do now??"
No direct answer came to him, and his body began to take on that same
weightless form and he panicked reaching our for the orbs as his body was
yanked away and forced into the ever spreading whiteness. A heavy fatigue
closed over his eyelids and he struggled past the exhaustion, but it was too
much. All his limbs were numb, and his throat constricted heavily as the very
breath in his lungs felt like water. 
Soon he fell under the weight of his own breathing, completely overwhelmed. But
not before feeling many warm comforting arms going around him in a gentle
embrace, and words whispering in his ear.
''Say hi to everyone for us."
//////////////
Waking up dizzy and disoriented, Koichi felt like he was suffocating. His whole
body felt cold, but his back felt soft, like he was somewhere warm. A bed
cradled him like the softest cloud, and a familiar set or fingers were steadily
brushing through his bangs that were curtained around his face. But now he
could feel his wings at least, and they dangles helplessly over the right side
of the bed.  His chest burned. Everything felt like he was just crushed under
the weight of a million tons but... he felt strangely at ease, if a little
unnerved of his surroundings. 
His eyes cracked open with some decent amount of effort but as they did what he
saw made his chest heave out with a deeply held in breath. Tsuzuku was there,
sitting at his side as he always did when he felt bad. His face was warm but
exhausted as dark circles were prevalent under his strangely bright eyes. 
Was he here this whole time? And wasn't he just sleeping? Also, where the hell
were they? He was tucked under a soft grey and red duvet somewhere he did not
recognize, but it was dark and warm. His night vision was the only thing
keeping him informed. 
The room was decorated in reds and blacks, with speckles of white light
streaming in through a mostly drawn black satin curtain. At least it wasn't
that destroyed office where he passed out. 
"Good, you're awake," his lover croaked through a sleepy voice. "I was starting
to wonder when you would wake up. How do you feel?"
Honestly, Koichi felt like shit. His whole body hurt like hell and he felt like
he could not breathe without it hurting. But maybe that was what intense
battles did to you. They sapped out your strength regardless of the outcome.
Ah... But if he said that, Tsuzuku would likely become worried again, so he
tried his best to put on a smile and nuzzled the hand pressing into his cheek,
inhaling past the burn. Small comforts as they say.
"I'm... okay I suppose," he mutters through a scratchy throat. "As okay as one
could be after all of this... How are you feeling? Is the poison all out of
your body now? And where the hell are we?" 
In all honesty Tsuzuku looked as bad as he felt, but he was probably waiting
for him to wake up for a long time. 
With the adoration and protectiveness of a mother to her child Tsuzuku's hand
caressed slowly down his face, a smile on his unusually moist looking lips.
Chapstick perhaps?
"I'm fine," he laughs quietly. "After about ten hours of rest I am certain that
the poison would be gone."
Ten hours? How was Koichi asleep for so long?? 
"What?" he nearly screeched but only managed a light wheezing cough. "How come
you n-never tried to wake me up?" 
Ten whole hours in this bed and Tsuzuku was waiting for him? What exactly had
happened in all that time? 
Tsuzuku puts his hand to his neck and gently presses at the soft spot under his
jaw, his smile never leaving his lips. It did however, grow somwhat strained,
as though he were struggling to keep it there for fear of letting uncertainty
slip past. 
"Shh shh baby calm down please, it's no... Well actually I shouldn't say no big
deal but... Koichi look. You were very badly injured, there is only so much
damage a Phoenix can take before they go catatonic. Luckily yours wasn't that
severe to warrant a week or longer, but... But it scared me, so I stayed here
with you, waiting." 
Koichi could see clearly now the tired creases forming in his lover's
eyebrows. 
"Idiot," he sighed and sat up to stare at his lover in the eyes, moisture
forming at the corners as he realized how much Tsuzuku sacrificed just for him.
"You couldn't even take a nap? You look as though you're about to fall over
from being so tired. You need to think about yourself as well, not just me."
A sheepish smile and Tsuzuku is laughing again, only he sways with the force of
it and leans over to scoot into the empty spot by Koichi. The Pinkette then
noticed that he at least showered and kept himself fed, so that was good. He
was wearing little more than a pair of sweatpants and an oversized t
shirt. Well, it was probably better than just sitting here like a paralyzed
wall flower he guessed. At least now the delicate horns atop his head were
looking shiny and nice.
"I know I just... watching your injuries heal themselves is like a weird kind
of... stress reliever, I just get too caught up in it. Sorry, I'll try to get
some rest if I can later, but for right now you should know that we're in our
world still, at Aryu's coven. He was gracious enough to lend us his spare
bedroom."
As memories of the previous few hours came flooding back he jolted upright in
alarm.
"Are they okay?" he demanded of his lover. "Is everyone okay? Mia and Meto and
everyone else?"
Tsuzuku chuckles and pets his hair to calm him down. His sorry was justified,
however it was not really needed right now.
"They're fine baby calm down. As soon as you killed the Parasite, every known
fledgling infected with his disease and all his poison were saved. Also, I
found my car with our stuff in it, and all of it is fine so we don't have to
but new clothes for a while."
That was great and all but, that didn't really matter right now.
"They were cured? But... How..?" He asked.
"People are back to normal, Koi. Isn't that great? We still need to find Sena
and the other humans, and anyone else who might have been affected. Oh, and
Shinya wants to tear down the building as well. Too much bad memories I
guess..."
As he spoke Koichi suddenly remembered something... Increadibly sad. In that
void was Sena and his vampire lover. They were gone, and so were Tatsuya and
Kei. They were not coming back, not ever. He had to wonder then. Did either Yo-
ka or Shoya know?
The guilt brought tears to his eyes and before he knew what was happening they
were like waterfalls down his cheeks. Tsuzuku noticed right away and mirrored
his distress, his smile leaving his face pretty much immediately.
"Koichi whats the matter?" He cooed quietly and pets his face to calm him.
"Aren't you happy to hear this?"
A deeply settled regret sunk into Koichi's chest and his breath came even
rougher and rougher into his chest. He couldn't.... He couldnt even begin to
imagine how he would let everyone know. And the other humans... Hkw would they
know that two of their own were... Gone?
"Its... Not that," he gasped, struggling to speak through the intense pain in
his lungs. "I just.... There is something I need to tell you. But... The others
need to hear it too."
Tsuzuku could see that Koichi was serious, so he relented and sighed, running
his fingers through pink soft strands.
"Okay. They're in the other room waiting for us, but you should... probably
take a shower first though. You look like a mess."
///////////////
As Tsuzuku had said, those that had made it here were present in the main
living room that they had all been in only but hours ago. Aryu and his three
coven mates, plus Asagi and his own coven.
Then of course to his immense relief, so were Meto, Mia, Shinya, Wrath, Tomo
and Takashi. All were fine and uninjured.
However, Kyo and Kaoru were nowhere to be seen.
"Oh my God Koichi!" Mia screamed, throwing himself at his best friend in a
flurry of arms and tears. "We thought you would never wake up! I was so
worried!"
Koichi squeezed hard, the sheer relief flooding his entire body and he sobbed
again, only with a laugh on the end. Meto looked on in fondness, his eyes never
leaving his younger lover.
"I'm okay," he laughs and sniffled before finally letting him go. "At least it
wasn't a week right..?"
Then he had a better look at his friend, noting that he was different looking
now. As he smiled through tears Koichi could see Mia's tongue was forked with a
velvety blue texture, but it still had the depth and fullness of a human
tongue. There were soft turquoise colored scales gently embedded into his
cheeks, around his jaw, and disappeared down his throat in soft patterns and
swirls into a soft satin white tank top. His eyes were bright blue and slit
like a snakes and his two front teeth were sharpened to a point.
Just how much did he change..?
"Yeah you're right. But even so! You finally defeated the Parasite! On your
own!" He exclaimed. "That deserves at least a week's worth of rest in my
opinion. Ah but I am rambling. Pleade come sit, we have so much to tell you!"
As he spoke there was a slight hissing sound, as though he were speaking to a
snake. It was... kind of eerie. Mia and Tsuzuku led him to an empty spot on a
every soft couch and he graciously accepted a steaming hot cup of tea from
Kuloe. Aryu greeted him with a hug and he did the same to Shinya and Asagi. It
all made him feel even more guilty.
"Where are Takashi and Tomo?"
"They went off to find more survivors," Wrath answered, his face as neutral as
always. He didn't mind though, at least he knew they were safe. His blonde
vampire friend then grasped his hands in his, his black lined and blue eyes
bright, his lips deep red and smiling to show off sharpened teeth.
"We are so happy to see you up and on your feet," he cooed at him, his usual
coolness doing little to mask his immense relief. "You really needed a rest so
none of us disturbed you. Are you feeling much better? Any severe internal
injuries?"
Koichi felt fine physically. It was his emotional well being that needed help.
"No I uh... I will be okay. Just... Tell me what happened. After that wall
closed us in, you were left behind. I need to know."
He finished and sets the tea on the coffee table near him, waiting with anxious
silence. Mia and Meto came to sit near him on the couch on Tsuzuku's left side
as Aryu was on his right. All the faces looking at him look around one one
another before it was Asagi who spoke up first.
"I thought that before anyone says anything about bad news, I want you, the
Phoenix responsible for saving our lives, to know that the civilians are all
safe. Envoys sent from the six other sectors are helping in the alleviation
effort to get this city back into shape. The ones we sent to the human world
are also getting their homes put back together. Just thought you should hear it
before anything else."
Well, as long as people were safe... Even if it meant the lives of a brave few.
He sighed shaking and held Tsuzuku's hands in his. Whatever news they had, he
was certain some of it would be good while some of it would be... Well, not so
good.
"That's good to know," he finally murmered and gave Asagi a quaint smile.
"Thank you. Your efforts will surely not be forgotten."
Asagi is smiling back, his lips closed to not show his teeth but just as sweet.
Then Aryu speaks, his tone not as hope filled.
"Well other than civilians, the fledgling horde... Well some of them were
saved, those who were too early into the change to be permanently damaged.
However, those too ingrained into the infection all went mad at the death of
their Leader. Once we knew he was dead, they all began to drop to the ground in
uncontrollable seizures, spitting up and crying black liquid. None of those
afflicted with these symptoms survived. And that number is way higher than
those who survived.
"However, we did manage to save that boy from the human world. Ice. He was
still early into the fledgling stage, so he was not yet pulled under it's
effects. He is rehabilitating in another coven's nest nearby as we speak."
Ice was... Alive! Koichi never would have thought he would see or hear from
that poor boy again. Even after everything they had been through, he was
certain that Ice was suffering up til now. Who knows what sort of unspeakable
horrors he was forced through on a day to day basis? Just thinking about it
gave him the utmost shivers. 
Mia too looked shaken, and he was biting his lip with unseen emotions. Emotions
that, contrary to what anyone would believe, were not that hard to guess at.
"Is he... okay?" Mia peeped quietly, his nails down to their beds. "I mean...
is his head okay?"
The blonde vampire had a sullen look, one that did not bode well with any of
them. 
"Physically speaking he is fine, he has no outward  injuries and the blood he
is being fed is keeping all of his vitals steady. However... Mentally, the poor
boy is a wreck. I am afraid that he was broken long before we could get to him.
His vocal cords were ripped out before he was turned and they have long since
healed, meaning he will need a transplant once he is in a real hospital. And...
there is another thing. His mind is... very messy and all over the place, so we
had a Kitsune Mind reader sift through his memories of before he was captured
and after he was broken. Here, you might want to hear this." 
Aryu reached into his pocket and from it a small rectangular box the size of
his palm with buttons and a speaker. 
"What's this?" he asks. 
"It's a digital recorder, the two Kitsunes we talked to used it when they were
discussing what they found inside Ice's mind just two hours prior to now. Go
ahead, you need to hear it."
Koichi looked around it thoroughly and pressed the play button on the side,
waiting for it's message to play. There was slight static, then a gentle but
shaky male voice spoke. 
"H-how do I start this? Just read the notes? Oh right, it's recording. Ahem. U-
uhm... m-message log by... By uh, Shou Ohara, formerly of the magical creature
physiology department in Sector 7 Hospital. I am here with my uh, my partner,
Tora Amano of the... The vampiric studies department. The year is 2016. Date,
December twenty second. Attempt at reading through mind of a young vampire
fledgling simply by the name of Ice, formerly human. The uh... subject shows
signs of mental and physical break down, typical of a forced turning at the
hands of a careless um... Well, someone unwilling to properly take into account
the consequences, thus failing to necessitate the mental health of the subject
at the behest of their own needs. Vocal cords have been forcefully removed
before the turning, resulting in the body rejecting and and all forms of self
healing. Will need an... emergency transplant soon. Um, so, Mr. Amano. What do
you make of this? I would like your own opinion before we attempt to go through
his mind, as you are the expert here on vampiric activity." 
There is the sound of shuffling and soft wheezing in the background. The voice
was faint but Koichi could instantly recognize the tone as pleading. It was
Ice, probably confused and unaware of his surroundings. That made his heart
squeeze again and it took every ounce of self control he had not to burst into
tears. 
Another voice began to speak, one stronger in tone and volume but just as shaky
as the one before it. 
"Ah, o-of course. Um, well, before we begin I would like to uh... to say to
those who listen to this soon that whatever you decide to glean from this, I do
hope it is useful in tying up any hang ups or loose ends about this incident
that you may have. It is our immense pleasure to be of any help, especially to
Patience, our current leader as of now. Well, with that said let us get this
party started, yeah? Switch to a new one, we're already running out of space."
His partner makes a humming noise in agreement, then a few seconds of silence
before there is a click. Koichi looks to Aryu, eyebrows raised. 
"Just click the next button, there are only two but this next one is
important."
Koichi does as he is told and right away he is thrown for a loop as there was
the noise of anguished and pained moaning in the background. The two scientists
are breathless but Shou could be heard soothing and cooing to Ice, who
continued to wail in pain. Tora spoke shakily but with reason as he seemed to
be inside Ice's mind right now, recalling everything he apparently saw. 
"Okay okay uhm.. S-subject is displaying signs of adverse reactions to the mind
reading, i.e rejection, pleading, fear. He seems to be hiding something but
what I have no idea. As for what I am seeing... Well, I uh... This is not
good... I can see his human life from the upper world. He was a high school
student, and was... was walking home from somewhere when he was kidnapped by
two... two workers of the sup-vampiric kind. They took him and injected him
with special type of anesthesia to knock him out. Then they managed to get him
through a... another portal deep in an underground bunker outside of the city
and it's prying eyes. HUman authorities call off the search after approximately
a week with no leads, the family is compensated fully in the form of money and
a coffin-less funeral.
"Subject was immediately locked up for approximately a week before two vampires
decided to take him away and start to break him... Break him for turning only
weeks later. Physical indication of internal and external scars from
overfeeding apparent. Will need to uh... To look for deeper memories. Okay so
um... A few weeks in captivity pass. He becomes addicted to s-sexual and
violent stimuli. There isn't much at first, but he begins to memorize those who
feed from and violate him. 
"He is then... then taken to a nest here in the heart of Sector 7. Here he
is... taken to the P... The P-parasite that made the city swarmed with lower
and upper level fledglings. Here is was ingrained with... with memories of the
Host before his possession. He was an important figure in Vampire society many
years ago, but had done something pretty.... unacceptable in the eyes of his
peers. Will elaborate later. But he was captured as a new host out of random
powerful vampires, as a way to replace a younger, less experienced vampire that
he had before.  
"He began as a curse from many many years ago, as a witch... a witch from the
human world cursed her vampire lover to never again find love after
inexplicable heartbreak, and would only cause harm to those he tried to love.
His physical body transformed into a parasitic being and could only survive if
he inhabited another vampire. His sense of right and wrong began to warp to
terrible lengths before all he ever knew of his old life was gone. Many
centuries of blood, death, and countless destroyed minds would pass before he
formulated his plan to take over first the magical world, then the human world
afterwards."
There is more crying, but the volume and intensity have lessened to mere
whimpers and soft gasps. 
"His plan was to first create a horde of fledglings and sub-human underlings at
first in order to gather more for his army. These infected vampires and sub
humans have been deemed simply as the Cursed ones. Then... then he learned of a
daemon who lived in our world that could possibly traverse both the human and
under worlds as well as the plane of non existence where all spirits reside
after death. No non magical or magical creature in hundreds of years has been
able to do such an incredible feat, so he devised a way to steal them and then
use his powers to yank spirits out of their rest to create an even bigger army.
It is here that he finds a small group of closely knit vampires in a single
coven, a demon, and a cat demon, and infects them all to do his... his
bidding."
Tora paused as quivers in his voice threatened to crack from the overwhelming
emotions and honestly, Koichi could completely sympathize with him. Being
inside such a damaged psyche must have been... overwhelming.
"Once infected, the main vampire at the head of this coven was sent to find the
demon, whom he turned to their side soon afterwards. Then they sought out the
cat demon who was in the same area as the intermediary daemon, and infected
him. Though the infection was not as widespread, so the cat demon could easily
slip into the enemy territory and keep up a friendly facade. Once settled with
enough information he left them, and the rest is history, I suppose. Fast
forward to early this morning, the Parasite has been destroyed by none other
than a rare Rainbow Phoenix by the name of Koichi, and the fledglings deep
under the infection have burned away into nothingness. Those still in the early
stages of turning are being rehabilitated as we speak. Since there was no body
to perform a postmortem reading, we have no other insights as to who this
Parasite was, but hopefully more leads will appear as we rebuild the city."
Then he paused and Ice sighed, seemingly in relief. 
"End of Reading, subject has shown all that he possibly could. Will wait
until... Until his mind is more stable. Mr. Ohara, if you would like you can
elaborate on our findings past this subject."
There is shuffling and the other scientist from before is softly agreeing and
then spoke much closer to the mic as Tora walked away.
"Of course, thank you for that in depth report Mr Amano. I shall schedule a re-
reading for sometime in the future. As for me, I shall elaborate upon our
findings inside the wreckage of the building. There were many casualties in
this event, many former employees of the BSA have been found either dead or so
close to death that they could not be saved past mutterings of a few words. As
I have suspected, those that were killed here were only but a few of many lives
that are feared to be lost. Logs of last wishes and wills of the victims close
to death have been recorded in a separate document, labelled as classified
until further notice and inspection. 
"A list of known victims in this event, both of malevolent and benign intent,
is as follows: Kaya, a vampire. Karma, a wendigo. Minpha, a feline demon.
Chizuru, a fire wyvern. Ryoga, a former demon turned vampire. Layha, a vampire.
Tatsuki, a vampire. Haru, a vampire. Juri, a vampire. Leda, a half witch half
shifter. Yoshiatsu, a daemon. Yusuke, a daemon. Ni-ya, a vampire. Hitsugi, a
vampire. Sakito, a vampire. Masa, a hydra. Daichi, a selkie.  Hiro, a fellow
Kitsune. Cazqui, a water sprite. And Natsu, a fire wyvern. All were found or
reported deceased. And and all unknown deaths must be reported to Patience or
his commanding officers immediately upon request.
"Due to the severity of the infection inside the former BSA building, Patience
has put in a request to completely demolish said building and rebuild in a new
location. Said location has yet to be determined, but the demolishing crews
shall commence destruction of building once properly informed and convened
with."
The once informal speech returned as Shou took a deep breath and continued,
sounding like he was no longer reading from a prompt but from his own words.
"What has happened here... We will no longer overlook any possible dangers that
this city may encounter. Security will be of the utmost importance, as will the
prevention of any attempted invasions or other actions of malevolent intent.
This event will be one to remember, one to teach our children about of the
heroic deeds of those who saved us at the behest of their peers and disregard
of their own safety. They will forever be remembered as heroes, and a memorial
for those fallen will be built in the Ruby district and the other Sectors as
soon as possible. Word of these Infected must also be made aware to the public
and the other sectors, so they know what sort of thing to look for should this
sort of thing ever happen again. As for me, and my Partner, from the bottom of
our hearts, thank you. For saving our lives, and for letting us help you find
out the truth. It has truly been an honor."
And with that, the tape clicked and ended. 
Baffled and surprised, along with incredibly sad. Koichi was left speechless at
the end, as were everyone else in the room. No one spoke after what felt like
forever, too overwhelmed with the details of the tape. 
Many of their own were counted among the dead, and yet so many were also left
unaccounted for. Where were Die and Toshiya? Kyo and Kaoru? Koichi had so many
questions... And there was the fact that he knew that among those not counted
and labelled as missing, he knew many of them were... dead. 
Then Shinya spoke, his voice wavering but as loud as a leader's should be. 
"This tape will be our motivation to continue living, even after this major
tragedy. We will continue to look for any possible missing survivors, but for
now we all need to take a rest. I have already set up temporary homes for all
of us here in the city as a way to help you heal and cope with personal loss. A
new building will be in the works soon, as I am sure that the old one will only
bring about sadness and bad memories. Well, that is all I have to say for now.
If we are all done then I can escort you to-" 
But Koichi was not done speaking, and he cut off Shinya's sentence. 
"Um--! Before you finish this, I just want to ask something."
Shinya did not seem bothered at being cut off, instead he seemed more than
happy to hear him out.
"Of course Dear one. What is it?"
The pinkette fidgets and grasps his lover's fingers for comfort. 
"Where are the others? Kyo, Kaoru, Toshiya, and Die?"
He didn't give away that he knew they were not dead, as he had not seen them in
the after life. The same, unfortunately, could not be said for many others. So
he had a small bit of relief. 
"Do not worry, Koi-chan," Aryu peeps with a smile and a caress to his hair.
"They too are safe, they are all currently fetching Mia's friends in the human
world to bring them home, namely Aoi, Reita, Ruki, Uruha, and Kai. They should
be arriving shortly."
A massive weight fell from Koichi' shoulders and he sighed, more than elated to
hear that they were okay. He had almost forgotten about them, what a horrible
thought. 
"That's so good to hear," he huffed and weakly laughed. "Thank you. But there
is something else, something that... I am not sure how to say but needs to be
said anyway."
"What is it baby?" Tsuzuku asks him with worry. "You know you can tell us
anything."
Could he really? He knew that Sena was friends with Shinya, and hearing that he
was no longer in this world might... hurt him. Plus there were the two humans
he saw as well, and that just made everything worse. 
"I know that... I know that some people who are missing are no longer alive. I
saw them, I saw them when I was unconscious. I don't know how to say this
right. But... If you want, I can tell you who I saw."
Worried glances are shared through out the room as no one dares to speak
against him. Instead, Shinya walks forward to his spot in the living room, his
tired but serious eyes urgent with the desire to know.  
"Please... tell me anything you know."
So he does. And it isn't easy. Listing off names of friends that they all knew
brought a deathly silence over the room after he was finished. Tsuzuku did not
dare to speak, but one could easily see the turmoil and sadness in the way he
bit his lips between his teeth harshly and the grip he had on Koichi's fingers
tightened almost uncomfortably. 
Aryu and his coven were all deeply saddened, and Asagi looked near to tears it
seemed. 
Shinya was most upset, but he was the most calm despite gripping the edge of
the couch with trembling fingers. Wrath on the other hand, was fuming as he
heard the names of the humans being said. Only but moments after he finished he
was huffing with anger and storming from the room. 
"I'm... I'm sorry but... they're gone," he mumbled through a heavy breath. "But
they all seemed happy where they were and... And my parents, they said it was
never our fault. That we were never to blame. So I feel like we should take
these to heart and... and remember them as we live on. For their sake's."
Tsuzuku's breath is shaky, clearly displaying his emotions for all to see. 
"W-what else do you remember?" he asks. Koichi bites at his own fingernails, a
nervous habit he picked up from Mia.
"Um... I saw him, the vampire that was possessed by the Parasite. He... he was
beautiful Tsu. Far more beautiful than I imagined. And he looked... so happy.
Happy that I freed him, happy to be in a place where he was not suffering. He
wanted me to apologize to you and everyone else for him and... And I... I felt
bad but also kind of happy. I don't know if this makes me a bad person or not
but.."
He could not continue, the lump in his throat was making that insanely
difficult. But his lover, as understanding as always, soothed him greatly with
his arm in a half hug around his shoulders. He was warm and emanated his usual
earthy rain smell that Koichi loved so much. 
"It's ok, we can talk more later. But I think we need to have more rest so we
can mull over all of this... The same goes for everyone else here."
As he says this Shinya is nodding in agreement. By the looks of it, he looked
like he needed rest the most. 
"If you wish, I can escort you to the designated rest areas, they are peaceful
and have everythign you need. Plus, Tsuzuku's car has been moved there already.
You can be there as long as you would like."
Everyone else began to stand and filter into different parts of the house, but
then something important occurred to Koichi.
"Does this mean we can't go to your original place?" he asks quietly. Tsuzuku
is regretful, and sighs as they hold their fingers tightly together. 
"I'm sorry, but we can never go back. Any building that was touched or
compromised had to be destroyed to prevent any future breakouts of the virus.
It's a precautionary measure. I'm sorry, but that's how it is."
Another weight drops in his stomach, making his legs feel numb. That place was
so important to him... It was where he first woke up in this world. It was
where he discovered he feelings for Tsuzuku, and... It was where they first
made love. Now how would he remember that place? 
"If it's any consolation," Shinya began quietly with a sly smirk as they
approach the door. "The new place is a bit bigger than the last place, and it
has been fire proofed to withstand your powers. Maybe here you can... create
new memories."
Well... Koichi figured it could be a start. And besides, they had only done it
in that bed once, everywhere else was either in the penthouse Shinya let them
live in. Be it the bedroom, the bathroom, the carpeted floor in front of the TV
or the cold kitchen counter. Hell even in the estate back in the human world,
literally anywhere they could find a place to do it, it happened. 
Just thinking about it made him blush even worse than before. 
Point being, maybe getting emotional over a place they did it once was not very
important. And Shinya was right. They could always create new and better
memories there.
"I guess we could... Give it a try," he says with a half smile at Shinya. They
were about to finally leave when they were stopped by Aryu.
"Wait. Before you go, I want you to know that you are always welcome here in
our home. I will be here with my coven as their new head, so you can have a
place to visit and escape to when life gets too overwhelming. Please come by
whensver you get the chance. Okay?"
The amount of pleasing and hope in his tone of voice was too much not to feel a
sense of gratitude, and that lessened the weight in his stomach by a whole lot.
Koichi grinned and accepts the sideways hug from Aryu. Hard to believe that
only a few weeks ago he distrusted him. Now he was counted among his most
important people.
"Thanks Aryu. We will definitely come by when we have the chance. But for right
now, I think a week long nap is in order."
Aryu laughs and puts a hand on his shoulder, looking back and forth between
them.
"Good. I look forward to seeing you again. And thank you, for bringing me home
and giving me a second chance. Without your help I would probably be dead or
insane somewhere. Really, it means so much to me. Be safe. And... Happy
Birthday."
After another hug, Tsuzuku leads him outside where Shinya and Wrath are in that
huge hummer from way early this morning. Wrath must have cooled down for he
seemed less on edge and more complacent with the knowledge, probably accepting
it.
Meto and Mia also left, deciding to walk in order to better talk over their new
plans for what they wanted to do. Mia sent him a quick text message wishing him
a happy birthday with plenty of cake and heart emoticons to go with it. Koichi
didn't respond back however, knowing that he had more time to do so later.
By now, he could see the sun high in the sky and painting it in bright pinks,
reds and purples. The soft yellow beams struck the close by and high up
buildings and made them gleam. Feeling them on his face was like feeling the
first heat of a summer day after a long and emotionless winter.
It felt like so long since he had seen it... After tonight, the darkness almost
felt permanent in a weird way. Like if he failed he would never see it again.
Well, the Parasite did plan on destroying the suns light if he got the
chance... What a nightmare that would be.
"Are you ready to head to our temporary home?"
Tsuzuku's voice is in his ear, soft and playfully inquisitive. 
  "Yes... I need to sleep again, and hopefully I can actually feel rested."  
Koichi squeezed himself into Tsuzuku's side once in the vehicle, despite all
the space left in the empty seats. It was quiet most of the way, until he
remembered that Shinya was not talking and the silence felt... really awkward.
"So Shinya," he began quietly, still as nervous as ever. "What... what are you
gonna do about Sena? And the other humans?" 
Wrath is gripping the wheel a bit tighter than normal, and Shinya almost seems
to flinch as he spoke. There was a sadness there, it was not that had to pick
up on. 
"Well... what more can we do?" he admits with a slump of his shoulders. "More
than likely if you know, then Yoka and Shoya already do as well. They will set
up funerals and memorials in their honor, and the same goes for Sena. If his
body is in our grasp, then a funeral should be no problem. But if he was eaten
by any creatures along the way then I am afraid a memorial is all we can do.
Nonetheless, the best we can do right now is continue living on for them, and
remember them every step of the way."
This was probably for the best, as any further explanation woudl probably cause
more unnecessary emotions to be had, and Koichi was more than certain that he
has had enough of despair and just wanted to feel happy for once. No more
feeling nervous every time he woke up, no more wondering if he would ever see
his friends survive to the next day. In all intents and purposes immortality
seemed nice, but when everyone around him starts dying where would be the
point?
"I see... So what are you gonna do after you drop us off?"
Wrath is thankful for the change in topic and smiles through the rear view
mirror, his right hand reaching out to take Shinya's in a rare display of
affection. What did this mean..?
"Well we have to look at potential spots to rebuild the new place.  And I think
once we're settled in the new place, Patience and I have a lot to talk about,"
he says with one of his even rarer kind smiles. And Shinya is actually
blushing. What the heck..?
"Hmm? Oh, of course dear," he laughs and their fingers squeeze together. "A
very very long talk."
What in the nine Hells happened while Koichi was unconscious?? Was there some
kind of unseen romantic tension between them that he hadn't noticed before? At
any rate, as long as they were happy with this apparently very new development,
then he was happy for them as well. It seems as though people were finding
romance left and right. A light at the end of the dark tunnel, so to speak.
"Um... Okay, forget I asked. I just need to go home and sleep for a week. Or a
month."
Now that he looked closer, he could most definitely see the longing glances and
shy smiles between them, and had to wonder. Where the hell was he this whole
time? 
Then he feels an arm snake around his waist, and lips are pressing to his ear
in a cheeky laugh. Heat rose in his cheeks as only a few but hot words were
spoken.
"Well, I hope you can stay up for another hour because I haven't had my fill of
Koichi yet."
Well of course he could. He was not gonna back down at such a challenge..!
With his own smirk he pressed his hand to Tsuzukus leg, letting his fingers
curl into the fabric of his jeans. It felt so nice to finally have a chance to
flirt so openly like this.
"Well I had a ten hour nap, so I think I'll be more than okay."
The new place was not nearly as bad as he had imagined it to be. In fact, it
was very cozy there much to his surprise. Located in a mostly untouched
neighborhood, it looked like a large two story house from the outside, painted
in soft blue and white colors. On the inside were soft white carpets, a warm
fireplace, fireproof but fancy wooden walls. There was even a big bathroom, and
with a tub fit for two? What wasn't to love?
Shinya showed them around a little bit, before wishing Koichi a happy birthday
and leaving them alone.
Well, honestly Koichi didnt pay it much attention, because once he had left to
go get their car with all of their stuff Tsuzuku was all over him like a
starved animal. His lungs barely got air to breathe as he was suffocated under
lustful hot open mouthed kisses and his clothes were being torn off at near
inhuman speed.
After about an hour of intense physical and strenuous activity they both
collapsed into the bed in the back bedroom, breathless and exhausted but happy.
Koichi had nearly forgotten such levels of pure bliss such as this. Being
tucked into warm satin soft blankets the color of scarlet with his lover's arms
around him, well it was as close to Nirvana as one could get.
The pleasant sting in his lower back was definitely welcome as well. It would
be there for a while, of that he was more than certain. He would also worry
about that later, but for now he just wanted to enjoy this moment as it
happened. 
The bed was soft and cozy, probably some important and expensive stuff not
found anywhere else. Tsuzuku was as warm as he remembered him to be. It seemed
perfect, that nothing could ever pop this bubble again. Drunk off the after
shocks and soft kisses to his nape Koichi was ready to doze off when he heard a
peculiar noise. The sound of a doorbell? Really? 
Both of them groaned in unison and it took every ounce of Koichi's self control
not to just continue to ignore it. However, in his... experience, doorbells
usually meant some type of important information of sorts, and ignoring it
would probably be really immature. Damn this weird adulting thing...
With the blanket only up to his hips Koichi burrowed his face into the pillows.
"Can you get that?" he asks his lover in a muffled sigh. "It is your fault that
I am too sore to get up right now."
His given response is another laugh followed by soft tender nibbles to his
exposed shoulder. 
"Okay okay," he relents. "I'll be right back."
Koichi hums in contented pleasure as another few kisses are pressed so
delicately to his cheek before Tsuzuku shuffles on a pair of sweatpants and
trudged out of the room on bare feet. WHen he disappears Koichi rolls onto his
back, staring up at the red stained wooden ceiling of their temporary but cozy
home. Did he really deserve this? Honestly, he had no idea. But after
everything he went through he would have liked to believe that he did. 
Still, he would have liked to find out more about all the people that were
victims of this event, and where they all tied in. When did Layha and his coven
get infected, and how did they get Ryoga involved? When did Minpha get involved
and at what point in their friendship did he get taken away? What happened to
Sena, or the other humans? And what... about his parents? 
If what Kaya had said was to be believed, and he and Tsuzuku were indeed
intermediary, able to travel from this plane of existence to theirs, then could
he possibly get the answers he needed? He sure hoped so. Being in the dark was
not something he wanted to have to deal with for the rest of his life here. 
But thinking about it now would only serve to make him more upset, so he
decides to push it away for now and try to enjoy his birthday, or whatever was
left of it. It was easily almost two in the afternoon now, showing just how
long they were struggling this morning. And now that the dust has somewhat
cleared, all that was left was the recovery effort... However long that would
take. But being immortal would probably come i handy from now on. 
With that said Koichi could feel an itching in his shoulders, his wings
probably telling him that he needed to let them out now. 
"Oh fine," he mumbled and rolls back onto his side, only now facing where
Tsuzuku was laying near him only but moments ago. The familiar but pleasing
burn of his wings pushing out of his back never failed to make a shiver go down
his spine, but once they were all out he was more than relieved. Feeling the
cool air against the feathers always felt good, especially after such strenuous
activity. 
Once they were properly supported against the very large mattress he turned his
head back, noticing their gentle rainbow hue even in the dimly lit bedroom. he
was certain he would never get used to looking at them, at least not for a
while. The bone where wing met the underside of his shoulder blade was covered
in soft bright red feathers, and the further along the wing they went they
changed color, to sunburst orange, to a dandelion yellow, to crisp grass green,
then a mixed of ocean blue and all the way to a deep violet, with every color
mixed in between. The white feathers were left along the top where they usually
folded up, and had an almost silvery sheen to them. 
Tsuzuku always did love his wings, but he had to wonder if he would love them
even more now that they were more rare than normal?
"Koichi? Are you awake still?" 
Speak of the Devil... With a stinging in his hips he pulled himself upright,
groaning at the pop in his spine. Damn it Tsuzuku went all out this time didn't
he? 
"Yes? What is it?" 
His lover came back into the room, confused and scratching his horns with a
letter in his left hand. Right away his eyes are drawn to the wings but there
are obviously more pressing matters to attend to.
"Um, this was at the front door," Tsuzuku reiterates. "I don't know who it is
from, I didn't open it, but it is for you."
Oh no. Not another letter... 
"Oh great," he groaned and sat up straighter. "Let me see it. It better not be
some shit reason for me to get up..."
His lover nestled back into bed with him, but kept on his sweatpants just in
case. Koichi looked over the plain letter envelope, seeing no other return
addresses on it or anything. Just... his name in black ink scrawled in messy
handwriting on the front. 
"I don't recognize the writing, but it seems important."
Despite the dread in his stomach he swallowed it down and tore at the flap for
the plain letter paper inside. The writing was a contrast to the one on the
envelope, it's elegant swoops and curves with each stroke reminding him of the
human world.
Then as he began to read everything became clear. The dread lessened and he
felt... at ease with himself once he finished. A smile lights up his face and
he has to suppress the urge to giggle a little bit. He really did have no
reason to worry. 
"What? What does it say?" 
Koichi once more looks it over before handing it to his lover and settling
himself into the covers. 
"I would not worry about our situation too much," he sighed happily. "COme back
to bed once you're done okay?"
Tsuzuku too reads it over quickly before chuckling quietly to himself and
folding up the letter, stuffing it back into it's place before stripping off
his sweatpants and sliding himself under the covers. Right away his fingers
find themselves at Koichi's wings, bringing the one closest to him around
Koichi's body to cover them both in a cocoon of bright feathers. Feathers that,
even now, never failed to make his heart swell with pride.
"I really do love them," he mutters as the wing successfully encased him in
it's protection. "So beautiful, just like you my Angel."
This time a giggle does slip from Koichi's mouth, and he snuggled up to his
lover and keeps his wing around him even after Tsuzuku lets it go wrap arms
around his waist instead. 
"Still as sappy as ever," he laughed fondly. "Hmm, but... thank you Tsuzuku. I
love you, and I have no idea what I would do without you by my side."
"Of course," Tsuzuku whispers and tilts up his chin, pressing the sweetest of
kisses to his lips in response. "Anything for my baby bird Koichi. I love you.
Happy birthday."
Dearest Tsuzuku and Koichi, 
Do not be alarmed. This is merely a last message from me to you. I have found
my home, my place back in the Holy Realm, where I belong. I merely wish to say
a few things to you. You are such a brave and courageous young soul, and
without you our world would have surely perished. So I want to say thank you.
Thank you for believing in yourself, and in me. 
As the only Rainbow Phoenix it will be up to you to uphold your honor as the
savior of this world and the next, and as more White Phoenixes are born into
this world I hope that you and my dearest Takashi can guide them to a righteous
path of love and acceptance. This day will forever be known as a Sacred
holiday, and many people will celebrate it the world over for years and years
to come.
Again, my deepest and heartfelt thanks. Many lives were saved, and many souls
ascended to find peace in the after world. If ever you have questions about
them or their lives, do not hesitate to call upon your powers to visit them and
ask them. Whatever brings you the most closure and brings you closer to
understanding.
Thank you again, and from the rest of the Magical world, we hope to see more of
your heroic deeds in the future, O  Blessed One.
From, Amaterasu
P.S  Happy Birthday, and I wish you many more Happy Birthdays in the coming
future
And indeed, both Tsuzuku and Koichi knew that they had the rest of their lives
to look forward to. 
The rest of Eternity.
Chapter End Notes
     And that is it! It's over!
     Another huge, heartfelt thanks to every single person who has read
     and commented on this story thus far, it really means so much to me!
     It is not very often that I actually finish a story, so the fact that
     I finished this one is really a huge accomplishment for me!
     I will make a short side book for this detailing back stories
     sometime soon! So please keep an eye out for that!
     Again, so many thanks!
     I look forward to writing more for you guys!
     ~Bambi~
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