FIC: Like Blood to Water (Chapter Seventeen)
Konbanwa, minnasan, I hope everyone out there in Cyberland is doing well! I normally don't do more than one post during the day, but I wanted to post my newest chapter of "Like Blood to Water" as I finally finished it. I am so proud of this chapter for the level of emotion, the building tension and the slightly disturbing dream sequence. (It is a little graphic, so be warned!) I hope everyone enjoys and ja ne!
Like Blood to Water"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING (Main): 2U (YunChun)
SUBPAIRING: SiHanHae, HyukSu
GROUPS: TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, Actor Yuu Shirota
RATINGS: PG-13 to NC-17 (Will be notated if R or NC-17)
GENRE: Angst/Romance/Action
LEGAL JUNK: Don't own the 2U, they own each other.
SUMMARY: AU Band!verse~After a fateful letter over 500 years ago, Jung Yunho makes a very unusual pact with a stranger. Now, that choice will effect not only the future of TVXQ, but Yunho's unknown link to his bandmate, Park Yoochun.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dedicated to march_kyo, renichifreak, volatileflame, and music_loner. This fic was inspired heavily by "The Masked Fencer," a special 2U vid done by March, as well as traditional and modernistic takes on vampiric culture.
*****
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: A Question of Loyalty
The video studio buzzed and hummed with people darting back and forth moving lights and sound systems. The atmosphere was excited but there was a distinctive underlying level of tension flowing through the trio standing away from the commotion.
Jaejoong watched with a disinterested look as he nursed a cup of coffee. Junsu was filtering through a series of new magazines that had been left for them to browse. Changmin was rubbing his reddened eyes with the back of his hand.
"How is he?" Jaejoong suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Yunho."
Changmin drew in a deep breath. He had spent the rest of the evening with their troubled Dark in his room. Yunho had slipped into a kind of sleep that seemed wracked with painful images. He had watched as the much older member thrashed his arms and released heart wrenching sobs. It wasn't until almost three in the morning that Yunho finally fell still. Changmin had slipped out and drug himself to his bedroom, collapsing on his bed until the cell phone buzzed reminding them of their video schedule. He had politely told the PR represenative that Yunho was recovering from a difficult schedule and he would be in later for the shoot. Changmin had then left a message that a car would pick up Yunho later.
"I... I don't know any more." the youth finally responded. After a drawn out pause, he side glanced at Jaejoong. "How's Yoochun?"
Jaejoong slid his fingers through his tousled raven hair. He pulled on his lower lips and rolled the skin between his front teeth. He and Junsu had both sat in Jaejoong's room as Yoochun just stared at the wall saying nothing until he rocked forward in a dazed sleep. They ended up gathering their younger friend into his bed. Both men had spent the majority of the night watching Yoochun's eyes flicker and his face contort. Junsu finally excused himself to try and catch a couple hours. Jaejoong ended up falling asleep with head on Yoochun's bed. The only thing that had stirred him was the insessant buzzing of his cell phone and the inevitability of the video shoot. He had assured the PR people that Yoochun had a very bad bout of the flu and would be in later. He then had left a note on Yoochun's desk that a car would pick him up later.
"He's... I don't know either, Minnie. I don't know what this is. I don't know how it happened. I don't even know if there's a way to fix it. All I know is Yunho is getting weaker. I can see it in his eyes. It's like he's starving and there's nothing he can do."
"But Seunghyun-hyung said that Yoochun was his Vessel, Jae. Why doesn't he drink from him?"
"He's afraid." Junsu said softly as he continued to sift through last couple magazines.
"Afraid?"
"Of what else will happen. I think... I think he feels like he's done something horrible to Yoochun by making him remember this past life of theirs."
"The only thing is, none of us know exactly what that past life was." Jaejoong replied quietly.
"What we need is for Seunghyun to go and talk to Yunho. Him remaining silent and telling us we can't reveal it to Yunho is making it a hell of a lot harder on everyone." Junsu almost snapped.
"I'm sure Seunghyun has his reasons." Jaejoong returned in a dull tone.
"There's more to this than what there seems." Changmin thought to himself. "I need to talk to Hankyung. Get something more about how Darks function before we lose Yunho and Yoochun."
"What the hell?!" Junsu suddenly burst out.
Changmin was pulled from his thoughts as Junsu ripped the last magazine off the table and flung it open. He began to rapidly turn the pages, almost ripping out the last couple until he came to the desired target.
"No. No, no, no." Jaejoong shook his head.
The photo was of Yuu embracing Yoochun in the airport, the yellow flower delicately tucked behind the much smaller man's ear. Yuu's face was elegant and alluring, Yoochun's a touch feminine with the barest blush gracing his cheeks. The caption below had Junsu almost ripping apart the magazine in anger.
TVXQ Singer Park Yoochun Caught in Embrace with Visiting Actor Yuu Shirota. Is this the Beginning of Something More?
"Why would they publish something like that?!" Changmin cried. "It's a lie! Chunnie just stumbled against him!"
"Lie or not, it's great publicity."
The stunned trio looked up to see their video director standing in front of them.
"Pardon?" Jaejoong tried to be as calm as possible after staring at the image.
"Since your newest Japanese single needed a theme for the video, your management at SM Town decided to use the photo to their advantage. They want to use the idea of love lost and then found again. Since Yuu and Yoochun seem to have such great chemistry, they'd like them to be featured as the twice parted lovers."
"Have they asked Yoochun yet?" Junsu quickly shot back.
"Asked me what?"
The TVXQ members and the director turned to see Yoochun standing a few feet away. Junsu quickly dropped the magazing behind him. Yoochun gave them all a very tired look. His newly long hair tumbled across his shoulders. Changmin distantly noted that it seemed a little longer than only a couple days ago. His bangs covered one of his eyes. His skin looked pale and a little gaunt. He wore a long black button down shirt and loose fitting black slacks.
"Yoochun, you're just the person I wanted to see. The management at SM Town would like you to do a little acting in the new video. The idea for it is love lost and then found once again."
"What would I be doing?" the man asked quietly. Even his words seemed drained of emotion.
"They would like you to act along side Shirota Yuu as two lovers parted and then found again."
"But Yuu is a guy." Yoochun returned very softly.
"That's true, but remember this is for your Japanese audience and we're able to break the rules a bit more because of it."
"Yoochun, you don't have to do this. I'll call management and say it's not going to work." Jaejoong spoke up.
"It's nothing major, Yoochun." the director interjected again. "We're just going to get a few sequences of you running through some different spots, like the streets, a field, maybe some flowers and look like you're searching. Then Yuu will be shot at a seperate time going through the same areas, doing the same actions. At the ending of the video, we're going to have Yuu find you at the end of a dock. You'll turn to him and the video will fade out."
Yoochun was silent as he folded his arms. His thoughts went back to Yunho. The car had came and picked him up at the flat. He had started to walk by Yunho's door and almost couldn't force himself by. He had pressed his fingers to the door and a distant image had taken him over for the briefest moment.
"My lord, you're hurt!"
"It's nothing, just a small injury from sword practice."
"Who did this to you? Why?"
"The new servant of my father's. He speaks no Korean and perhaps misunderstood what I was trying to instruct him."
"I could talk to him."
"Talk?"
"I speak his language, my lord. My uncle taught me before he passed away."
"You never fail to amaze me, my dear friend. I hope we will always be together."
"My lord... I... Let me tend to your arm."
That same image flashed again in front of him. Changmin watched with worried eyes as Yoochun covered his forehead with his hand. He looked as though he was going to be ill. After a moment, the elder seemed to regain his composure. He gave the director a wane smile.
"I'm sorry, sir, I've not been feeling well. If that will be the best way to sell our newest single, I'd be more than glad to do it."
"Great! I'll get everything set up for the Green Screen Portions of the video so you can each do your solo sequences. Then we'll head out and start shooting the running sequences."
The director began to shout out orders as he walked off. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Jaejoong, Junsu and Changmin converged on their close friend.
"Chunnie, what are you doing?!" Jaejoong demanded.
"Are you crazy?! You're in no shape to do this!" Junsu added.
"JUST BACK OFF!" Yoochun suddenly shouted.
The outburst brought a few workers to a hault. The pianist quickly quieted down and turned away from the curious and disapproving gazes. Jaejoong and Junsu took a couple steps back, giving Yoochun some room. Changmin moved forward and very carefully placed his hand on Yoochun's shoulder.
"Hyung?" he barely whispered.
Crystalline tears were beginning to slide down Yoochun's face. His hand was clamped over his mouth and he was choking back sobs. Changmin glanced back to Jaejoong and Junsu, nodding for them to come forward. The other two men took opposite sides of the singer. Yoochun was trying to gather himself.
"...i'm sorry..." he croaked out.
"No, no more of that. We're as much to blame as the director. If you want to do it, we won't stop you, Yoochun." Jaejoong returned in a much gentler voice.
"Is... Is he?"
"No, Yunho isn't here yet." Junsu assured Yoochun.
"My apologies, am I interrupting something?"
A very deep voice had the four men turning to see a statuesque foreigner wearing a slim fitting white t-shirt and trim jeans with combat boots standing a few feet away.
"Yuu." Jaejoong quickly bowed out of habit.
Yuu bowed kindly and gave everyone a warm smile. He looked at Yoochun with concerned eyes.
"Are you feeling well, Yoochun? You look very ill."
"I'm just a little tired." Yoochun said softly.
"I was told by the director a few moments ago that you would be acting with me in the video. But if you're not feeling well, I don't want to push it. I can suggest that we change the theme?"
"No, that's fine Yuu." Yoochun replied. He quickly rubbed his eyes to try and expel the burning red from them. The little droplets vanished into the black of his shirt.
"I must admit that I was a little surprised by the magazine photo I saw today."
"Photo?"
Junsu inwardly cringed as he tried to push the magazine farther back behind him with his foot. He tried his best to hide the evidence when Yuu drew out a rolled paper from behind his back.
"Someone in your staff handed this publication to me. It looks like the media may have the wrong impression of us."
"Of us?" Yoochun questioned.
Changmin, Jaejoong and Junsu silently cursed as Yuu presented Yoochun with the page showing the photo of them in the airport. Yoochun blinked as he saw his own expression in the picture. He had been in this position before. With the yellow flower tucked behind his ear. But there had been another reason behind it. Something that was not directly in his memory.
"It's a nice picture though I don't think the caption is very appropriate." Yuu said very gently as he leaned close against Yoochun. "I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me."
"No, it's not that. Just something about this seems familiar." Yoochun replied.
"You do look very pretty with the yellow flower. Maybe another one would make your mood lighter?"
Yoochun blinked as Yuu turned his wrist once and a gorgeous yellow blossom seem is materialize in this grasp. The younger man was so stunned by the trick that he didn't pull away as Yuu once again tucked the delicate gift behind his ear.
"My dear friend, you always looked beautiful when you wore flowers in your hair."
"When?" Yoochun asked weakly. Unlike other Darks Yoochun had met, Yuu walked around a brightly lit studio without his contacts in. He felt like those red pupiled eyes were immobilizing him.
"Yes." Yuu whispered in a voice that felt like forbidden liquor to Yoochun's troubled mind. It was frightening and tempting at the same time.
"Mr. Shirota?"
"Yes?" Yuu turned without missing a beat. His hand had dropped downwards and the very tips of Yoochun's fingers had somehow become tangled in Yuu's hand. He didn't even remember when it had happened.
"We're going to do some Green Screen shots with the other group members. You're welcome to stay and watch until we get to the outdoor work."
Yuu nodded cordially and then turned and bowed to everyone. His fingers left Yoochun's tips and he walked away following after the assistant. He began to whistle softly the melody that Yoochun and he had played on the piano only the night before.
The much smaller Korean man reached up and touched the flower in his hair as he glanced at the magazine that was still clutched in his free hand. The melody wafted through the air and seemed to settle at the base of his brain.
"Chunnie, are you okay?!" Changmin rushed forward as soon as Yuu was out of view.
Yoochun nodded a little as he pulled the yellow flower from his hair. The trio of men watched his with deeply concerned eyes as he spun the small gift between his fingers.
"I like yellow flowers. It was a favorite of my lord. He had a field of them just outside of the manor. I would sit in them for long periods and polish the sword he gave me. It was the most beautiful gift. It had a red tassel on it and the mark of my lord's House. Some times one of the other servants would come out and sit with me. He didn't like our lord very much but he liked yellow flowers."
Yoochun's voice was quieter, more powerful, even a little foreboding. His whole expression had seemed to change. He gave off an aura of melancholy that the other's had never seen before.
"It only happened when Yuu was talking to him." Changmin realized.
He knew then if he couldn't talk to Hankyung, he would find Seunghyun. He would ensure that no matter what, his friend and his Dark would be safe. He knew somewhere inside of him that this was his destiny. It was what he had always been meant to do.
"Yoochun?" Junsu reached out his hand and rested it on the younger man's shoulder.
The singer blinked and shook his head. His expression changed slightly and he became the familiar Yoochun once again. The yellow flower tumbled from his fingers and the magazine fell out of his other hand. He looked up at Junsu, Jaejoong and Changmin.
"Help me."
*****
Yunho flinched even behind his sunglasses as the car pulled up. The night had been full of horrid visions of things that had happened in the past. He couldn't quelch the rising agony. The worst dream had been the most erotic and terrifying to him.
He had seen himself covered in blood. The liquid ruby scent had almost overpowered him in his sleep. He could taste the forbidden copper roll down his throat even as he licked off his freshly splattered marron fingers. The room had been coated in white sheets that were now speckled with perfect little red dots.
In the center was a raven haired man who sat with his legs crossed, a steel blade of exquisite precision resting across his lap. A tasseled object hung off the end that bore the mark of his master's House. His long hair shielded his face and a yellow flower was a striking accent against his black mane. The tip of the blade was pressed to his wrist. He had watched with pleasure as the silver slid into giving flesh. It was one of many incisions that seemed to criss cross otherwise flawless skin. A perfect line of life began to slide down the man's wrist. He had dropped to his knees and pressed his mouth to the line, shuddering as the heat filled him to the brink. Even then it wasn't enough.
He had removed the silver blade from the man and had pushed him onto his back. The raven hair fluttered as the yellow flower fell from behind his ear. White cloth gave way to a nude body that was also streaked with precise cuts. The bangs slid to the side and he had seen a face too beautiful and too perfect. Eyes that were so loving even as he raised his wrists above his head, the maroon creating a red halo above his sprawled mane. He had went speechless as the other's eyes suddenly rolled backwards and he convulsed.
He had sprung backwards from the form as a blade seem to ram out of the bottom of his partner. Other blades joined suit as his perfect companion was stabbed by unknown assailants. Even as he tried to move forward, he was stuck to the ground on his knees. Long hair seemed to fall from the man as a much more modern short cut replaced it. The body became slightly more toned and far less pale even as the man continued to jerk. His mouth was open in a silentl scream as the final strike threw him back to an upwards position. Blood burbled out of his mouth as he tried to reach for him for help. No matter how much he tried to get from his knees, he couldn't. The unseen attacker pulled out the honed metal as a face he had loved before his memories had returned contorted into one of betrayal.
"...why?" he had whispered in his dream.
"YOOCHUN!!!" Yunho had sat up screaming at the top of his lungs. He had thrown himself out of the bed and had laid on the floorboards jerking as the emotional spasms leeched out of his body. He didn't know how long he had laid there but he instinctively knew no one else was in the apartment.
He knew because he couldn't sense Yoochun. Couldn't feel the man who had become his one utter obsession and his one perilous weakness.
"I'd rather die," Yunho had thought, "so that I never inflict that upon him again."
After some time on the floor, the Dark had finally risen and gotten cleaned up the best he could. The car had arrived and finally he had reached his destination. As he stepped out and continued to shield his eyes, his senses immediately peaked.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Yoochun was in the building. But his heartbeat, his perfect heartbeat, it was faster. Almost as if he was distressed. Without thought, Yunho felt himself pulled into the building. His better judgement could not control his desire to be close to Yoochun. To the one man who meant more to him than he could ever say.
Yunho rounded the corner and then stopped, melting himself deep inside the shadows. The strange Japanese Dark that he had only met briefly was standing by himself. In his hand was an object that had a tassle hanging off it. The Dark turned his head toward the direction of Yunho. The vampire tilted his head to the side before flipping the tasseled object upwards. The red edges fluttered in the still room as the Dark caught it again in the palm of his hand.
The tall vampire turned his non lensed eyes to the direction Yunho was hiding. He smiled slowly, a sliver of fang becoming visible behind his lips. Yunho remained frozen, unsure what to do. Instead, the Dark who had prevented him from attacking Yoochun simply set the tasseled object on the floor and began to walk away. His whistling echoed through Yunho's sensitive ears.
Their Melody. He knows Their Melody.
The sensation of the Japanese Dark faded as the vampire left Yunho's senses. He quickly pushed out of the shadows and rapidly crossed to the center of the room. The tasseled object laid on the ground, the red strings fanned out in a perfect display. Yunho's eyes widened as he reached down trembling fingers to pick it up. He turned it over only once and then it dropped from his his shaking hands.
The tassel was of His House.
Like Blood to Water"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING (Main): 2U (YunChun)
SUBPAIRING: SiHanHae, HyukSu
GROUPS: TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, Actor Yuu Shirota
RATINGS: PG-13 to NC-17 (Will be notated if R or NC-17)
GENRE: Angst/Romance/Action
LEGAL JUNK: Don't own the 2U, they own each other.
SUMMARY: AU Band!verse~After a fateful letter over 500 years ago, Jung Yunho makes a very unusual pact with a stranger. Now, that choice will effect not only the future of TVXQ, but Yunho's unknown link to his bandmate, Park Yoochun.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dedicated to march_kyo, renichifreak, volatileflame, and music_loner. This fic was inspired heavily by "The Masked Fencer," a special 2U vid done by March, as well as traditional and modernistic takes on vampiric culture.
*****
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: A Question of Loyalty
The video studio buzzed and hummed with people darting back and forth moving lights and sound systems. The atmosphere was excited but there was a distinctive underlying level of tension flowing through the trio standing away from the commotion.
Jaejoong watched with a disinterested look as he nursed a cup of coffee. Junsu was filtering through a series of new magazines that had been left for them to browse. Changmin was rubbing his reddened eyes with the back of his hand.
"How is he?" Jaejoong suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Yunho."
Changmin drew in a deep breath. He had spent the rest of the evening with their troubled Dark in his room. Yunho had slipped into a kind of sleep that seemed wracked with painful images. He had watched as the much older member thrashed his arms and released heart wrenching sobs. It wasn't until almost three in the morning that Yunho finally fell still. Changmin had slipped out and drug himself to his bedroom, collapsing on his bed until the cell phone buzzed reminding them of their video schedule. He had politely told the PR represenative that Yunho was recovering from a difficult schedule and he would be in later for the shoot. Changmin had then left a message that a car would pick up Yunho later.
"I... I don't know any more." the youth finally responded. After a drawn out pause, he side glanced at Jaejoong. "How's Yoochun?"
Jaejoong slid his fingers through his tousled raven hair. He pulled on his lower lips and rolled the skin between his front teeth. He and Junsu had both sat in Jaejoong's room as Yoochun just stared at the wall saying nothing until he rocked forward in a dazed sleep. They ended up gathering their younger friend into his bed. Both men had spent the majority of the night watching Yoochun's eyes flicker and his face contort. Junsu finally excused himself to try and catch a couple hours. Jaejoong ended up falling asleep with head on Yoochun's bed. The only thing that had stirred him was the insessant buzzing of his cell phone and the inevitability of the video shoot. He had assured the PR people that Yoochun had a very bad bout of the flu and would be in later. He then had left a note on Yoochun's desk that a car would pick him up later.
"He's... I don't know either, Minnie. I don't know what this is. I don't know how it happened. I don't even know if there's a way to fix it. All I know is Yunho is getting weaker. I can see it in his eyes. It's like he's starving and there's nothing he can do."
"But Seunghyun-hyung said that Yoochun was his Vessel, Jae. Why doesn't he drink from him?"
"He's afraid." Junsu said softly as he continued to sift through last couple magazines.
"Afraid?"
"Of what else will happen. I think... I think he feels like he's done something horrible to Yoochun by making him remember this past life of theirs."
"The only thing is, none of us know exactly what that past life was." Jaejoong replied quietly.
"What we need is for Seunghyun to go and talk to Yunho. Him remaining silent and telling us we can't reveal it to Yunho is making it a hell of a lot harder on everyone." Junsu almost snapped.
"I'm sure Seunghyun has his reasons." Jaejoong returned in a dull tone.
"There's more to this than what there seems." Changmin thought to himself. "I need to talk to Hankyung. Get something more about how Darks function before we lose Yunho and Yoochun."
"What the hell?!" Junsu suddenly burst out.
Changmin was pulled from his thoughts as Junsu ripped the last magazine off the table and flung it open. He began to rapidly turn the pages, almost ripping out the last couple until he came to the desired target.
"No. No, no, no." Jaejoong shook his head.
The photo was of Yuu embracing Yoochun in the airport, the yellow flower delicately tucked behind the much smaller man's ear. Yuu's face was elegant and alluring, Yoochun's a touch feminine with the barest blush gracing his cheeks. The caption below had Junsu almost ripping apart the magazine in anger.
TVXQ Singer Park Yoochun Caught in Embrace with Visiting Actor Yuu Shirota. Is this the Beginning of Something More?
"Why would they publish something like that?!" Changmin cried. "It's a lie! Chunnie just stumbled against him!"
"Lie or not, it's great publicity."
The stunned trio looked up to see their video director standing in front of them.
"Pardon?" Jaejoong tried to be as calm as possible after staring at the image.
"Since your newest Japanese single needed a theme for the video, your management at SM Town decided to use the photo to their advantage. They want to use the idea of love lost and then found again. Since Yuu and Yoochun seem to have such great chemistry, they'd like them to be featured as the twice parted lovers."
"Have they asked Yoochun yet?" Junsu quickly shot back.
"Asked me what?"
The TVXQ members and the director turned to see Yoochun standing a few feet away. Junsu quickly dropped the magazing behind him. Yoochun gave them all a very tired look. His newly long hair tumbled across his shoulders. Changmin distantly noted that it seemed a little longer than only a couple days ago. His bangs covered one of his eyes. His skin looked pale and a little gaunt. He wore a long black button down shirt and loose fitting black slacks.
"Yoochun, you're just the person I wanted to see. The management at SM Town would like you to do a little acting in the new video. The idea for it is love lost and then found once again."
"What would I be doing?" the man asked quietly. Even his words seemed drained of emotion.
"They would like you to act along side Shirota Yuu as two lovers parted and then found again."
"But Yuu is a guy." Yoochun returned very softly.
"That's true, but remember this is for your Japanese audience and we're able to break the rules a bit more because of it."
"Yoochun, you don't have to do this. I'll call management and say it's not going to work." Jaejoong spoke up.
"It's nothing major, Yoochun." the director interjected again. "We're just going to get a few sequences of you running through some different spots, like the streets, a field, maybe some flowers and look like you're searching. Then Yuu will be shot at a seperate time going through the same areas, doing the same actions. At the ending of the video, we're going to have Yuu find you at the end of a dock. You'll turn to him and the video will fade out."
Yoochun was silent as he folded his arms. His thoughts went back to Yunho. The car had came and picked him up at the flat. He had started to walk by Yunho's door and almost couldn't force himself by. He had pressed his fingers to the door and a distant image had taken him over for the briefest moment.
"My lord, you're hurt!"
"It's nothing, just a small injury from sword practice."
"Who did this to you? Why?"
"The new servant of my father's. He speaks no Korean and perhaps misunderstood what I was trying to instruct him."
"I could talk to him."
"Talk?"
"I speak his language, my lord. My uncle taught me before he passed away."
"You never fail to amaze me, my dear friend. I hope we will always be together."
"My lord... I... Let me tend to your arm."
That same image flashed again in front of him. Changmin watched with worried eyes as Yoochun covered his forehead with his hand. He looked as though he was going to be ill. After a moment, the elder seemed to regain his composure. He gave the director a wane smile.
"I'm sorry, sir, I've not been feeling well. If that will be the best way to sell our newest single, I'd be more than glad to do it."
"Great! I'll get everything set up for the Green Screen Portions of the video so you can each do your solo sequences. Then we'll head out and start shooting the running sequences."
The director began to shout out orders as he walked off. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Jaejoong, Junsu and Changmin converged on their close friend.
"Chunnie, what are you doing?!" Jaejoong demanded.
"Are you crazy?! You're in no shape to do this!" Junsu added.
"JUST BACK OFF!" Yoochun suddenly shouted.
The outburst brought a few workers to a hault. The pianist quickly quieted down and turned away from the curious and disapproving gazes. Jaejoong and Junsu took a couple steps back, giving Yoochun some room. Changmin moved forward and very carefully placed his hand on Yoochun's shoulder.
"Hyung?" he barely whispered.
Crystalline tears were beginning to slide down Yoochun's face. His hand was clamped over his mouth and he was choking back sobs. Changmin glanced back to Jaejoong and Junsu, nodding for them to come forward. The other two men took opposite sides of the singer. Yoochun was trying to gather himself.
"...i'm sorry..." he croaked out.
"No, no more of that. We're as much to blame as the director. If you want to do it, we won't stop you, Yoochun." Jaejoong returned in a much gentler voice.
"Is... Is he?"
"No, Yunho isn't here yet." Junsu assured Yoochun.
"My apologies, am I interrupting something?"
A very deep voice had the four men turning to see a statuesque foreigner wearing a slim fitting white t-shirt and trim jeans with combat boots standing a few feet away.
"Yuu." Jaejoong quickly bowed out of habit.
Yuu bowed kindly and gave everyone a warm smile. He looked at Yoochun with concerned eyes.
"Are you feeling well, Yoochun? You look very ill."
"I'm just a little tired." Yoochun said softly.
"I was told by the director a few moments ago that you would be acting with me in the video. But if you're not feeling well, I don't want to push it. I can suggest that we change the theme?"
"No, that's fine Yuu." Yoochun replied. He quickly rubbed his eyes to try and expel the burning red from them. The little droplets vanished into the black of his shirt.
"I must admit that I was a little surprised by the magazine photo I saw today."
"Photo?"
Junsu inwardly cringed as he tried to push the magazine farther back behind him with his foot. He tried his best to hide the evidence when Yuu drew out a rolled paper from behind his back.
"Someone in your staff handed this publication to me. It looks like the media may have the wrong impression of us."
"Of us?" Yoochun questioned.
Changmin, Jaejoong and Junsu silently cursed as Yuu presented Yoochun with the page showing the photo of them in the airport. Yoochun blinked as he saw his own expression in the picture. He had been in this position before. With the yellow flower tucked behind his ear. But there had been another reason behind it. Something that was not directly in his memory.
"It's a nice picture though I don't think the caption is very appropriate." Yuu said very gently as he leaned close against Yoochun. "I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me."
"No, it's not that. Just something about this seems familiar." Yoochun replied.
"You do look very pretty with the yellow flower. Maybe another one would make your mood lighter?"
Yoochun blinked as Yuu turned his wrist once and a gorgeous yellow blossom seem is materialize in this grasp. The younger man was so stunned by the trick that he didn't pull away as Yuu once again tucked the delicate gift behind his ear.
"My dear friend, you always looked beautiful when you wore flowers in your hair."
"When?" Yoochun asked weakly. Unlike other Darks Yoochun had met, Yuu walked around a brightly lit studio without his contacts in. He felt like those red pupiled eyes were immobilizing him.
"Yes." Yuu whispered in a voice that felt like forbidden liquor to Yoochun's troubled mind. It was frightening and tempting at the same time.
"Mr. Shirota?"
"Yes?" Yuu turned without missing a beat. His hand had dropped downwards and the very tips of Yoochun's fingers had somehow become tangled in Yuu's hand. He didn't even remember when it had happened.
"We're going to do some Green Screen shots with the other group members. You're welcome to stay and watch until we get to the outdoor work."
Yuu nodded cordially and then turned and bowed to everyone. His fingers left Yoochun's tips and he walked away following after the assistant. He began to whistle softly the melody that Yoochun and he had played on the piano only the night before.
The much smaller Korean man reached up and touched the flower in his hair as he glanced at the magazine that was still clutched in his free hand. The melody wafted through the air and seemed to settle at the base of his brain.
"Chunnie, are you okay?!" Changmin rushed forward as soon as Yuu was out of view.
Yoochun nodded a little as he pulled the yellow flower from his hair. The trio of men watched his with deeply concerned eyes as he spun the small gift between his fingers.
"I like yellow flowers. It was a favorite of my lord. He had a field of them just outside of the manor. I would sit in them for long periods and polish the sword he gave me. It was the most beautiful gift. It had a red tassel on it and the mark of my lord's House. Some times one of the other servants would come out and sit with me. He didn't like our lord very much but he liked yellow flowers."
Yoochun's voice was quieter, more powerful, even a little foreboding. His whole expression had seemed to change. He gave off an aura of melancholy that the other's had never seen before.
"It only happened when Yuu was talking to him." Changmin realized.
He knew then if he couldn't talk to Hankyung, he would find Seunghyun. He would ensure that no matter what, his friend and his Dark would be safe. He knew somewhere inside of him that this was his destiny. It was what he had always been meant to do.
"Yoochun?" Junsu reached out his hand and rested it on the younger man's shoulder.
The singer blinked and shook his head. His expression changed slightly and he became the familiar Yoochun once again. The yellow flower tumbled from his fingers and the magazine fell out of his other hand. He looked up at Junsu, Jaejoong and Changmin.
"Help me."
*****
Yunho flinched even behind his sunglasses as the car pulled up. The night had been full of horrid visions of things that had happened in the past. He couldn't quelch the rising agony. The worst dream had been the most erotic and terrifying to him.
He had seen himself covered in blood. The liquid ruby scent had almost overpowered him in his sleep. He could taste the forbidden copper roll down his throat even as he licked off his freshly splattered marron fingers. The room had been coated in white sheets that were now speckled with perfect little red dots.
In the center was a raven haired man who sat with his legs crossed, a steel blade of exquisite precision resting across his lap. A tasseled object hung off the end that bore the mark of his master's House. His long hair shielded his face and a yellow flower was a striking accent against his black mane. The tip of the blade was pressed to his wrist. He had watched with pleasure as the silver slid into giving flesh. It was one of many incisions that seemed to criss cross otherwise flawless skin. A perfect line of life began to slide down the man's wrist. He had dropped to his knees and pressed his mouth to the line, shuddering as the heat filled him to the brink. Even then it wasn't enough.
He had removed the silver blade from the man and had pushed him onto his back. The raven hair fluttered as the yellow flower fell from behind his ear. White cloth gave way to a nude body that was also streaked with precise cuts. The bangs slid to the side and he had seen a face too beautiful and too perfect. Eyes that were so loving even as he raised his wrists above his head, the maroon creating a red halo above his sprawled mane. He had went speechless as the other's eyes suddenly rolled backwards and he convulsed.
He had sprung backwards from the form as a blade seem to ram out of the bottom of his partner. Other blades joined suit as his perfect companion was stabbed by unknown assailants. Even as he tried to move forward, he was stuck to the ground on his knees. Long hair seemed to fall from the man as a much more modern short cut replaced it. The body became slightly more toned and far less pale even as the man continued to jerk. His mouth was open in a silentl scream as the final strike threw him back to an upwards position. Blood burbled out of his mouth as he tried to reach for him for help. No matter how much he tried to get from his knees, he couldn't. The unseen attacker pulled out the honed metal as a face he had loved before his memories had returned contorted into one of betrayal.
"...why?" he had whispered in his dream.
"YOOCHUN!!!" Yunho had sat up screaming at the top of his lungs. He had thrown himself out of the bed and had laid on the floorboards jerking as the emotional spasms leeched out of his body. He didn't know how long he had laid there but he instinctively knew no one else was in the apartment.
He knew because he couldn't sense Yoochun. Couldn't feel the man who had become his one utter obsession and his one perilous weakness.
"I'd rather die," Yunho had thought, "so that I never inflict that upon him again."
After some time on the floor, the Dark had finally risen and gotten cleaned up the best he could. The car had arrived and finally he had reached his destination. As he stepped out and continued to shield his eyes, his senses immediately peaked.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Yoochun was in the building. But his heartbeat, his perfect heartbeat, it was faster. Almost as if he was distressed. Without thought, Yunho felt himself pulled into the building. His better judgement could not control his desire to be close to Yoochun. To the one man who meant more to him than he could ever say.
Yunho rounded the corner and then stopped, melting himself deep inside the shadows. The strange Japanese Dark that he had only met briefly was standing by himself. In his hand was an object that had a tassle hanging off it. The Dark turned his head toward the direction of Yunho. The vampire tilted his head to the side before flipping the tasseled object upwards. The red edges fluttered in the still room as the Dark caught it again in the palm of his hand.
The tall vampire turned his non lensed eyes to the direction Yunho was hiding. He smiled slowly, a sliver of fang becoming visible behind his lips. Yunho remained frozen, unsure what to do. Instead, the Dark who had prevented him from attacking Yoochun simply set the tasseled object on the floor and began to walk away. His whistling echoed through Yunho's sensitive ears.
Their Melody. He knows Their Melody.
The sensation of the Japanese Dark faded as the vampire left Yunho's senses. He quickly pushed out of the shadows and rapidly crossed to the center of the room. The tasseled object laid on the ground, the red strings fanned out in a perfect display. Yunho's eyes widened as he reached down trembling fingers to pick it up. He turned it over only once and then it dropped from his his shaking hands.
The tassel was of His House.