FIC: LIFE (part 2 out of 3)
A/N: Sorry! I'm really 100x sorry for the very very late update, getting caught up with my no-job crisis, so now I was working hard to find a decent job, but I still make time to write stories every now and then but I got writer's block on some so yeah that's happened. I don't know if this story is enough with three parts, I might make it into five parts story. Anyway enjoy!
Title: LIFE
Part: 2 out of 3
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure, Supernatural, Friendship
Summary: Ohno discovered the true nature of his new friends and more?
“Oh-chan…Oh-chan wake up sleeping beauty~~”
Ohno grumbled in his sleep hearing the familiar annoying voice right next to his ear. He feels the weight on the end of his bed shifted. He feels fingers crawling towards his thighs immediately his eyes snapped open and caught the wrist connected to the crawling fingers and glared at the owner. “Will you stop molesting me in my sleep?!”
Toma grinned sheepishly for being caught in act, “Aww.. But you like an angel when you sleep, I couldn’t help myself. And you look cute with your bed hair.”Toma try to reach the said hair with his other hand.
Ohno slapped his hand away. “Yes, in no time I’ll be a devil to send your sorry perverted ass to hell. Get out of my bed, Toma! And what are you doing here so early in the morning?!”
Toma stubbornly sat on the bed and make a face like a sad kicked puppy, “I want to say I’m sorry for last night.”
Ohno sighed, “You know, you always say sorry but never mean it. From now on, I’m not going out to clubs or karaoke with you anymore. The end.”
Toma hugged him and act like crying though no tears are fallen. “Aww you didn’t mean that do you? How could you do that to your own friend?”
Ohno rolled his eyes, pushed Toma away and get out of the bed towards his bathroom.
Toma stood up from the floor where he has landed from being push off the bed. “Say, where did you go last night? Your mom said that you went home late and I remember you dumped me at the karaoke it was still early. Don’t tell me you’re lost.”
Ohno froze. All the memories of the event last night flashed across his mind. “I was going somewhere you know… to let off the steam.”He muttered before disappeared behind his bathroom door quickly to avoid further question. Toma frowned at the now closed door, his eyes has unreadable expression on it.
“Why haven’t you gone back already?” Ohno snapped at Toma who keep following him around like a clingy puppy. He thought Toma might have gone back when he is in the bathroom but the man decide to stay around and did not make Ohno’s mood any better. They made their way to Ohno’s dining room where Ohno’s mom have prepared breakfast…for both of them.
“Thanks Ohno Mama,” Toma said sweetly to Ohno’s mother. He sat next to the grumpy Ohno who is killing his breakfast slowly with his fork. “Eat up. It is enjoyable to have you around, Toma-kun.” Ohno’s mother smiled warmly as she prepared a hot tea for them too. “Though I didn’t feel the same,” Ohno muttered through gritted teeth and Toma pretend he did not hear that.
“Oh Satoshi, I just remember a letter came for you just now.” His mom took a letter from her apron and gave it to Ohno, Toma looked over his shoulder. The envelope of the letter is deep red in color like a blood with a wax seal. It does not have post stamp on it.
“Wonder who is it from? No one ever send letter like this.” Ohno mama said before leaving both the boys in the dining room to tend her garden.
“Open it, Oh-chan.” Toma ushered him through a mouthful of egg roll.
“I know, you don’t have to tell me.” Ohno broke the seal and took out the letter inside, the letter is written in an elegant writing in dark blue ink, it wrote…
‘Ohno Satoshi
I would like to apologize for what you have unfortunately witnessed last night. On our mutual friend’s behalf I would like to invite you to our humble mansion which I assume you already know where it is. You are welcome anytime and we’ll be waiting for you but I am warning you, you must come ALONE.
Sincerely,
Sakurai Sho.’
“Sakurai Sho? Who’s that? Is he one of your friends? I never heard of him.” Toma asked after he too finished reading the letter, he frowned at the mysterious letter.
Ohno did not answer his friend’s questions, he bit his lower lips as his mind buzzing on the event happened last night, the mysterious man that he saw might be Sakurai Sho, the one who disappeared with Nino and he might be one of Nino’s housemate apart from Aiba. The only question is, is he also a vampire?
“Oh-chan? Hello?” Toma waved his hands in front of Ohno’s face to get his attention. Ohno blinked few times before looking at his friend’s questioning face.
“S…sorry, it’s nothing. It’s just someone I met last night.” Ohno half lied.
“What happened last night? And who is this mutual friend of yours? It might be dangerous for you to go alone.” Toma persistently asked full of curiosity.
“I’ll tell you another time. Oh look, it’s time, I have to go to work today.” Ohno lied again. He did not go to work on weekend. But he wants to get an answer as soon as possible regarding Nino and the assumptions he came up with so he ran out of the dining room leaving Toma behind at the dining table his breakfast untouched.
“W-wait! Ohno!” Toma frowned once again as Ohno avoided answering his questions and left him just like that. He never saw Ohno’s behavior like that and it did not rest well with him seeing his friend behaving rather oddly than usual.
###
Ohno ran as fast as he can to the old mansion where Nino lives. The rusty iron gates are wide open maybe they are already expecting him. He stood there for a moment thinking twice, thrice. ‘This is it, not going back’ he told himself. The main front door is open by itself again and this time he did not even feel surprise. But oddly there is no one waiting for him. He expected Nino will appear or the mysterious guy, Sakurai. He stood there in the foyer looking around for any sign of Nino or Aiba or even the mysterious guy last night.
“Hello?” He called out to nothing. There is no response only his voice echoed towards the empty hall. “I’m here already. I’m Ohno, Ohno Satoshi. Nino? Aiba?”
Again. No response.
Suddenly Ohno felt a drop in temperature and he shivered. He tried again to call. “Ni…-“
“Who are you?” An icy voice cut him off from behind startled him and made him turned around and staring right into a pair of piercing angry red eyes.
The eyes belong to a tall man with pale skin. He has an aristocratic features and prominent eyebrows. His eyes widen as the man studied Ohno’s face. As fast as lighting his hand grabbed Ohno’s throat slamming him to the nearest wall and choking him making Ohno difficult to breathe. He hopes he did not get bruising on the back of his head.
“Tell me, who are you? How come you could possess such features like him? Are you sent by them?”
“What…d…o you mean?” Ohno gasped as he struggled through his words as he tries to get some air and clawed the hand that choking him with inhuman strength. Ohno realized this man too has sharp elongated fangs like what he saw on Nino last night. Gradually he could feel his vision starts to have black dots.
“Don’t you try to fool me!!” The man growled, and his grip becomes tighter.
“JUN! RELEASE HIM!” A voice shouted and Ohno could feel like a huge wind knocks his attacker to the floor and eventually release Ohno from his suffocating grip. Ohno fall on his knees trying to catch his breath, inhaling as much as oxygen as he can. There stood by the double door leading to where Ohno first meet Nino in that mansion stood the mysterious guy he saw last night. Sakurai Sho.
The man who attacked him sat up from the floor where he had been thrown. “Sho!” He growled at the newcomer that obviously is Sakurai Sho, the one who sent Ohno his letter. Sakurai ignored him and approached Ohno helping him to stand. “Are you alright? I’m sorry for what happened. I was attending other business before I heard your call. I forgot that there might be some trouble.”
Ohno shook his head before flinching as his neck is still sore and will start bruising. “I didn’t expect such welcome is what you mention in your letter.” He grinned weakly. Sakurai chuckled. “Me neither.”
“Can someone tell me what is going on here? And why are you acting civil to this…” The other man who has stood back on his feet pointed rather rudely to Ohno. He still look rather angry and Ohno feel a little scared at the man.
“I’ll explain when we adjourned to the sitting room and please cool your head or this is going nowhere.” Sakurai warned at the other who scowled back but nodded eventually and went ahead to the sitting room without further word though he stomped like a little kid did not get his candy.
Sakurai turned to Ohno with a smile, “I’m sorry, he always been hot-headed but he’s actually kind he only worried about our safety.”
“You mean he is… too?” Ohno try to explain with his hands and Sakurai got the message, he is afraid to say the V word.
Sakurai nodded grimly, “I’m afraid yes. His name is Matsumoto Jun by the way. Just call him Jun, and I’m Sho.”
“How about Aiba?”
“Ah I see you know him already, so really is true the two hiding something from us. To answer your question yes he is too.” Ohno did not know if he should be scared or amazed that he is in a house full of vampire.
###
“Then… could you explain now who the hell is he? And what is he doing here?” Matsumoto Jun glared at his friend, avoiding at all cost to look where Ohno sat. Ohno scowled, he did not like the guy’s attitude at all, vampire or not. Thank god he chose the seat far away from the other vampire. Sakurai sighed he preferred to stand rather than sitting down. “His name is Ohno Satoshi.” Sakurai stated pointedly at Jun.
Ohno did not know if his name can create an impact but he could see the other vampire’s eyes dilated with surprise and stared at him with calculating eyes but did not say anything.
“You already know what the nature of us, right?” Sakurai asked Ohno.
Ohno nodded hesitantly, “You guys are v-vampires…like what I saw on TV…”
Both of them scoffed. Sakurai snorted, “On TV they are partly right, we do have long lifespan and superhuman powers but garlic and sunlight have no effect on us. The stake well if it is made of silver and harm our vital points then we are dead as well as human.”
“Do you drink on blood then? Because that night Nino…”
Jun interjected as he frowned, “What night? What does he mean, Sho? What is this got to do with that insufferable brat?”
For the first time, Sakurai looked uneasy. “Ohno has met Nino way before what happened last night.”
“You mean of what happened to Nino? ....That’s mean that’s what he is hiding from me… and you know after all?!” Jun raised his voice at Sakurai.
“Calm down Jun, no I just know from last night when I went to search for Nino, he went out a lot these few days and I’m worried so I interrogated Aiba.” At this part Jun mumbled something like ’bunch of idiots’. “And that night something happened that make Ohno here realize that Nino and us is not a normal human being. A thievery happened in an alley where Ohno and Nino passed by and the victim are injured with lots of blood that is when…”
“I saw changes in Nino, he got fangs and his eyes turned red like yours.” Ohno continued for Sakurai.
“Luckily I was there on time and I dragged Nino away from the scene and sent Ohno a letter this morning to come here to avoid unwanted things happen.” Sakurai explained. Jun nodded in understanding. “I still can’t believe Nino hide this from me and that idiot Aiba knows too!” He grumbled.
Ohno looked at him confused and before he could ask, the door to the sitting room slammed open and a figure immediately pounced on Ohno in his seat.
“Oh-chan we met again! I miss you last time! Now Jun and Sho know, we could hang out together again!” Aiba cheerful voice rang in his ears. “Aiba?” Ohno choked out despite the tight bear hug he is in.
“Aiba distance yourself from him, we haven’t finish explain the critical points to him.” Sakurai warned Aiba, pinching the bridge of his nose for the incoming headache. He knew he should not tell Aiba first about Ohno coming to the mansion.
Aiba pouted at Sakurai, still keeping Ohno in head locked. “Whyyy? Oh-chan is so fluffy like teddy bear I have in my room!” He whined.
Before he knew it Jun appeared behind Aiba and extracts him from Ohno pulling on his collar of his shirt roughly. “You’re going to kill him before Sakurai finish with this,” Jun threw Aiba to an empty seat nearly toppled the chair over. “Stay in your seat.”
“Aah JunJun is always a meanie…”
If looks can kill a vampire, Aiba would be death by now when Jun glared at him because of the nickname. Sakurai coughed and trying to get them to focus back to where before Aiba came into the room. Ohno rubbed on his throat, he is sure there is already bruise shown.
###
Nino groaned out, his eyes fluttered open as he finally recognized the room he is in, his room back in the mansion. He still feels dizzy, only remember bits of what happened that night before he lost his consciousness. “Ohno?!” Nino gasped as he remembered the last person he saw. ‘Did I hurt him? No! I hope I didn’t kill him…’ He knew his fragile state where he could go into blood lust if he came upon blood. Not that he did not want to drink it is just he is preferring to fade away rather than living after-
A knock startled him out of his thoughts. The door to his bedroom opened revealed Sakurai stood there. He saw that Nino is finally awake. “Ah you’re up. Good timing, you have a guest.” Sakurai gestured behind him where Nino can see a familiar person that he had been worried about. “Ohno?” He sat up in his bed to look properly although he has a heightened vision.
Sakurai ushered Ohno to enter the room. “Well, I’ll leave you two. I’ll ask Aiba and Jun not to disturb.” Nino looked at him questioningly. Sakurai grinned understanding the question behind those eyes, “Don’t worry I have explain all of it to him. Enjoy your time.” The door closed behind him that left Ohno fidgeting in his spot. “Hello, Nino.” He muttered nervously.
Nino dashed towards him inhuman speed. His hands cupped both Ohno cheeks softly checking over him. “You are still human? Does it mean I didn’t hurt you that night?” Nino asked.
Ohno froze for a moment because of Nino’s sudden action but then he shook his head, smiled at Nino’s worries and concern. “Sho came in time to take you away you might not remember it, Sho has said so.”
Nino fell on his knees, sighed in relief. “I’m glad, I was afraid I have done something stupid and I will regret it.”
Ohno kneels in front of Nino holding his shoulders, “You didn’t hurt me. I saw you try to hold back when you…change.”
Nino gulped and looked up at Ohno, “You know that already right? Sho told you everything?”
Ohno bit his lower lips nervously “Well... he told me but I doubt it’s everything since he said…”
FLASHBACK
“We are one of Vampire clans that still existed to these days. We live hidden from the humans most of the time to avoid any dangerous situations like you have witnessed.” Sakurai explained. “That is why I was worried when Nino gone outside longer than he used to.”
Ohno blinked and blinked again try to process this information. He feels like he is in one of history classes. “Why are you hiding?”
“Because of the war long ago our number are diminished. To protect our clan we have to stay in hiding. More importantly we are threatened by Vampire hunters.” Jun answered showing a great disgust when he mentioned the last part Ohno noticed.
“They hunted and killed vampires,” Sakurai continued. “Although some vampires like us did not really fed on human bloods like rouge vampires. We hold on to our laws.”
“Rouge vampires?” Ohno asked.
“Vampires that are not belong to any clans. They did not follow the vampire’s law very much and they did not have great control over their blood lust. It is also considered as a pest in Vampire world and we prefer they are to be removed too or Vampire Hunters will keep hunting us because of their fault,” replied Jun.
“But they are no more Rouge Vampires after the war decades ago. And we as one of the upper clan it is our job to look over the vampire world in this time so that there is no more outburst of Rouge Vampire which will lead Vampire Hunters to us.” Sakurai said.
“So if Nino is not Rouge vampire, why he acts like that?” Ohno asked as he remembers the event last night.
Both Sakurai and Jun even Aiba looked grim at this. “It is our normal reaction to blood but since Nino refuse to consume any blood after- like I said he refuse to accept blood and his body is becoming very weak and become less resistance to blood lust but not as near as a rogue vampire,” replied Sakurai.
“You see Oh-chan, we vampires do not really need blood all the time, but we must consume it from time to time to provide energy and increase our superhuman power.” Aiba grinned showing his elongated fangs.
Jun scowled at him. “Does not mean we force a human, we can get animal blood too, so we usually eat raw steak or something. We also have a blood bank, where we get blood from human donor for our consumption but we mostly only needed it once a year anyway.”
“Will you be dead if not consume blood for a long time?”Ohno asked. It is one of things that make him curious.
Sakurai blinked before composing himself. “No I don’t think so but we would get weaker.” But he did not sound convincing to Ohno.
“How does the Vampire hunter kill vampires?” Although it is a dangerous question to ask a fellow vampires but Ohno think he may need the answer if they gave him.
“Like I told you before they have weapons made of silver but we can overcome them with our speed as long as the silver did not harm our vitals.”
“Or chopping our head off!” Aiba said making both Jun and Sakurai grimaced.
“Wow interesting, I still got the idea to bring a garlic for a protection before I came here,” Ohno gave a nervous laugh. The three vampires chuckled at the human nonsense.
“So-“ Sakurai stared at him, “Do you have any questions left for us? I believe we could trust you to keep this as a confidential only between you and us, or else we might kill you-“
“Sho-chan~ you don’t mean that really?” Aiba asked puppy eyes. Sakurai glared at him as Aiba try to spoil the seriousness of the situation while Jun just rolled his eyes.
Sakurai turned back to Ohno who look like want to disappear from there. “Your words please, If I have to kill you, Nino will be displeased with me.”
“And we have to change the bloody carpet, it is really hard to clean it,” Jun supplied playfully, he seems less tense and more comfortable than the first time Ohno met him in the foyer. He also did not seem angry anymore.
“I gave you my words that I won’t say anything, what I heard from you will stay in this room.” Ohno promised them, they searched him of insincere look in his eyes but found none. Sakurai nodded look satisfied.
“But I have one more questions,” Ohno piped up.
“Yes?” Sakurai raised an eyebrow. Ohno gazed at Jun who looks up from checking his nails when he senses the other looking at him. “What?” He snarled.
“The questions you asked me back in the foyer-“
Sakurai and Jun shared a nervous glance while Aiba just grinning like an idiot since he knows nothing of the earlier incident.
“-what do you mean by that? I want to know, who’s him?”
END FLASHBACK
“And?” Nino asked irritated when Ohno finished with the story.
“They told me to asked you, they said you are the one who can answer well and because you are the first who found me.”
Nino sighed, cursing under his breath. Because of Jun slipped up now he have to let it all out, no more hiding and he have to take the next step but first, he owe Ohno an explanation and a long story.
Nino held out his hand to Ohno for him to take. “Follow me. It is better to show you.”
Ohno looked at Nino then the hand then back at Nino. He nodded and grasped the hand, following Nino out of the room.
###
They arrived at some sort of a study room as there is a big desk near the window. Some couch and cabinets filled with books. It looked abandoned from the film of dust found on the furniture. “This is used to be the Leader of our clan’s office.”
“Your Leader?” Ohno saw the look of fond in Nino’s eyes as he observed the room.
Nino nodded, “Yes, a great Leader that even the other Vampire clan has a great respect towards him.”
Nino lead him to only painting in that room that Ohno has just noticed. The painting is the only one is kept well as he did not see any dust on it. “This is a painting of five of us, he painted it himself.”
Ohno gasped as he properly look at the well drawn painting, he could make out the faces of Nino and the others, all of them are wearing old traditional clothes. But what catches his eyes the most is the one who stood in the middle. “He looked just like me!” The eyes, the nose, the shape of the face it is exactly the same as Ohno.
Nino nodded sadly beside him as he gaze upon the painting, “Not only that, he has the same name as yours too. His name is Ohno Satoshi.” Ohno looked at Nino in disbelieved but the look upon the man shown nothing but honesty and sorrow.
“W-what happened to him?” Nino’s eyes tear up so he looked away from Ohno to hide his embarrassment for uncontrolled emotions but Ohno cupped his cheek and force him to look in the eyes. “Please tell me, I think I ought to know.”
“Satoshi… he died,” Nino choked back a sob, “… in the war.” What he did not expect is for Ohno to embrace him in a hug to comfort him. “I’m sorry.” Ohno said softly.
After Nino calm down, Ohno looked back at the painting. “So you think I’m him?”
Nino tensed for a moment and nodded, “You look so much like him, you even act like him, his voice his name, I believe this is what we call reincarnation…”
Ohno noticed some words lower centre of the painting. The words are a little bit faded, but he still can make it out. “A...ra…shi…Arashi” The words seem familiar to him as if he know it by heart all this time. As if the words trigger something in his mind, Ohno is attacked by sudden pain in his head that he screamed painfully clutching his head.
“Ohno? Ohno!” Nino took hold of the screaming man in his arms.
The door bursts open, the other three vampires stormed in looking alarmed, Nino guessed that they have heard the screaming.
“Nino, what happened to Oh-chan?” Aiba asked tearfully watching the man convulsed in Nino’s arm looking deep in pain.
“I don’t know….” Nino tired to say, he feel very scared right now what if he lose him again. That is when Ohno stopped screaming and slowly fell into unconsciousness but a soft whisper caught Nino’s ear and the other vampire’s (due to their super hearing).
“Kazu…”
To be continued
A/N: I try to write as long as I could to redeem myself.
Title: LIFE
Part: 2 out of 3
Rating: R
Genre: Adventure, Supernatural, Friendship
Summary: Ohno discovered the true nature of his new friends and more?
“Oh-chan…Oh-chan wake up sleeping beauty~~”
Ohno grumbled in his sleep hearing the familiar annoying voice right next to his ear. He feels the weight on the end of his bed shifted. He feels fingers crawling towards his thighs immediately his eyes snapped open and caught the wrist connected to the crawling fingers and glared at the owner. “Will you stop molesting me in my sleep?!”
Toma grinned sheepishly for being caught in act, “Aww.. But you like an angel when you sleep, I couldn’t help myself. And you look cute with your bed hair.”Toma try to reach the said hair with his other hand.
Ohno slapped his hand away. “Yes, in no time I’ll be a devil to send your sorry perverted ass to hell. Get out of my bed, Toma! And what are you doing here so early in the morning?!”
Toma stubbornly sat on the bed and make a face like a sad kicked puppy, “I want to say I’m sorry for last night.”
Ohno sighed, “You know, you always say sorry but never mean it. From now on, I’m not going out to clubs or karaoke with you anymore. The end.”
Toma hugged him and act like crying though no tears are fallen. “Aww you didn’t mean that do you? How could you do that to your own friend?”
Ohno rolled his eyes, pushed Toma away and get out of the bed towards his bathroom.
Toma stood up from the floor where he has landed from being push off the bed. “Say, where did you go last night? Your mom said that you went home late and I remember you dumped me at the karaoke it was still early. Don’t tell me you’re lost.”
Ohno froze. All the memories of the event last night flashed across his mind. “I was going somewhere you know… to let off the steam.”He muttered before disappeared behind his bathroom door quickly to avoid further question. Toma frowned at the now closed door, his eyes has unreadable expression on it.
“Why haven’t you gone back already?” Ohno snapped at Toma who keep following him around like a clingy puppy. He thought Toma might have gone back when he is in the bathroom but the man decide to stay around and did not make Ohno’s mood any better. They made their way to Ohno’s dining room where Ohno’s mom have prepared breakfast…for both of them.
“Thanks Ohno Mama,” Toma said sweetly to Ohno’s mother. He sat next to the grumpy Ohno who is killing his breakfast slowly with his fork. “Eat up. It is enjoyable to have you around, Toma-kun.” Ohno’s mother smiled warmly as she prepared a hot tea for them too. “Though I didn’t feel the same,” Ohno muttered through gritted teeth and Toma pretend he did not hear that.
“Oh Satoshi, I just remember a letter came for you just now.” His mom took a letter from her apron and gave it to Ohno, Toma looked over his shoulder. The envelope of the letter is deep red in color like a blood with a wax seal. It does not have post stamp on it.
“Wonder who is it from? No one ever send letter like this.” Ohno mama said before leaving both the boys in the dining room to tend her garden.
“Open it, Oh-chan.” Toma ushered him through a mouthful of egg roll.
“I know, you don’t have to tell me.” Ohno broke the seal and took out the letter inside, the letter is written in an elegant writing in dark blue ink, it wrote…
‘Ohno Satoshi
I would like to apologize for what you have unfortunately witnessed last night. On our mutual friend’s behalf I would like to invite you to our humble mansion which I assume you already know where it is. You are welcome anytime and we’ll be waiting for you but I am warning you, you must come ALONE.
Sincerely,
Sakurai Sho.’
“Sakurai Sho? Who’s that? Is he one of your friends? I never heard of him.” Toma asked after he too finished reading the letter, he frowned at the mysterious letter.
Ohno did not answer his friend’s questions, he bit his lower lips as his mind buzzing on the event happened last night, the mysterious man that he saw might be Sakurai Sho, the one who disappeared with Nino and he might be one of Nino’s housemate apart from Aiba. The only question is, is he also a vampire?
“Oh-chan? Hello?” Toma waved his hands in front of Ohno’s face to get his attention. Ohno blinked few times before looking at his friend’s questioning face.
“S…sorry, it’s nothing. It’s just someone I met last night.” Ohno half lied.
“What happened last night? And who is this mutual friend of yours? It might be dangerous for you to go alone.” Toma persistently asked full of curiosity.
“I’ll tell you another time. Oh look, it’s time, I have to go to work today.” Ohno lied again. He did not go to work on weekend. But he wants to get an answer as soon as possible regarding Nino and the assumptions he came up with so he ran out of the dining room leaving Toma behind at the dining table his breakfast untouched.
“W-wait! Ohno!” Toma frowned once again as Ohno avoided answering his questions and left him just like that. He never saw Ohno’s behavior like that and it did not rest well with him seeing his friend behaving rather oddly than usual.
###
Ohno ran as fast as he can to the old mansion where Nino lives. The rusty iron gates are wide open maybe they are already expecting him. He stood there for a moment thinking twice, thrice. ‘This is it, not going back’ he told himself. The main front door is open by itself again and this time he did not even feel surprise. But oddly there is no one waiting for him. He expected Nino will appear or the mysterious guy, Sakurai. He stood there in the foyer looking around for any sign of Nino or Aiba or even the mysterious guy last night.
“Hello?” He called out to nothing. There is no response only his voice echoed towards the empty hall. “I’m here already. I’m Ohno, Ohno Satoshi. Nino? Aiba?”
Again. No response.
Suddenly Ohno felt a drop in temperature and he shivered. He tried again to call. “Ni…-“
“Who are you?” An icy voice cut him off from behind startled him and made him turned around and staring right into a pair of piercing angry red eyes.
The eyes belong to a tall man with pale skin. He has an aristocratic features and prominent eyebrows. His eyes widen as the man studied Ohno’s face. As fast as lighting his hand grabbed Ohno’s throat slamming him to the nearest wall and choking him making Ohno difficult to breathe. He hopes he did not get bruising on the back of his head.
“Tell me, who are you? How come you could possess such features like him? Are you sent by them?”
“What…d…o you mean?” Ohno gasped as he struggled through his words as he tries to get some air and clawed the hand that choking him with inhuman strength. Ohno realized this man too has sharp elongated fangs like what he saw on Nino last night. Gradually he could feel his vision starts to have black dots.
“Don’t you try to fool me!!” The man growled, and his grip becomes tighter.
“JUN! RELEASE HIM!” A voice shouted and Ohno could feel like a huge wind knocks his attacker to the floor and eventually release Ohno from his suffocating grip. Ohno fall on his knees trying to catch his breath, inhaling as much as oxygen as he can. There stood by the double door leading to where Ohno first meet Nino in that mansion stood the mysterious guy he saw last night. Sakurai Sho.
The man who attacked him sat up from the floor where he had been thrown. “Sho!” He growled at the newcomer that obviously is Sakurai Sho, the one who sent Ohno his letter. Sakurai ignored him and approached Ohno helping him to stand. “Are you alright? I’m sorry for what happened. I was attending other business before I heard your call. I forgot that there might be some trouble.”
Ohno shook his head before flinching as his neck is still sore and will start bruising. “I didn’t expect such welcome is what you mention in your letter.” He grinned weakly. Sakurai chuckled. “Me neither.”
“Can someone tell me what is going on here? And why are you acting civil to this…” The other man who has stood back on his feet pointed rather rudely to Ohno. He still look rather angry and Ohno feel a little scared at the man.
“I’ll explain when we adjourned to the sitting room and please cool your head or this is going nowhere.” Sakurai warned at the other who scowled back but nodded eventually and went ahead to the sitting room without further word though he stomped like a little kid did not get his candy.
Sakurai turned to Ohno with a smile, “I’m sorry, he always been hot-headed but he’s actually kind he only worried about our safety.”
“You mean he is… too?” Ohno try to explain with his hands and Sakurai got the message, he is afraid to say the V word.
Sakurai nodded grimly, “I’m afraid yes. His name is Matsumoto Jun by the way. Just call him Jun, and I’m Sho.”
“How about Aiba?”
“Ah I see you know him already, so really is true the two hiding something from us. To answer your question yes he is too.” Ohno did not know if he should be scared or amazed that he is in a house full of vampire.
###
“Then… could you explain now who the hell is he? And what is he doing here?” Matsumoto Jun glared at his friend, avoiding at all cost to look where Ohno sat. Ohno scowled, he did not like the guy’s attitude at all, vampire or not. Thank god he chose the seat far away from the other vampire. Sakurai sighed he preferred to stand rather than sitting down. “His name is Ohno Satoshi.” Sakurai stated pointedly at Jun.
Ohno did not know if his name can create an impact but he could see the other vampire’s eyes dilated with surprise and stared at him with calculating eyes but did not say anything.
“You already know what the nature of us, right?” Sakurai asked Ohno.
Ohno nodded hesitantly, “You guys are v-vampires…like what I saw on TV…”
Both of them scoffed. Sakurai snorted, “On TV they are partly right, we do have long lifespan and superhuman powers but garlic and sunlight have no effect on us. The stake well if it is made of silver and harm our vital points then we are dead as well as human.”
“Do you drink on blood then? Because that night Nino…”
Jun interjected as he frowned, “What night? What does he mean, Sho? What is this got to do with that insufferable brat?”
For the first time, Sakurai looked uneasy. “Ohno has met Nino way before what happened last night.”
“You mean of what happened to Nino? ....That’s mean that’s what he is hiding from me… and you know after all?!” Jun raised his voice at Sakurai.
“Calm down Jun, no I just know from last night when I went to search for Nino, he went out a lot these few days and I’m worried so I interrogated Aiba.” At this part Jun mumbled something like ’bunch of idiots’. “And that night something happened that make Ohno here realize that Nino and us is not a normal human being. A thievery happened in an alley where Ohno and Nino passed by and the victim are injured with lots of blood that is when…”
“I saw changes in Nino, he got fangs and his eyes turned red like yours.” Ohno continued for Sakurai.
“Luckily I was there on time and I dragged Nino away from the scene and sent Ohno a letter this morning to come here to avoid unwanted things happen.” Sakurai explained. Jun nodded in understanding. “I still can’t believe Nino hide this from me and that idiot Aiba knows too!” He grumbled.
Ohno looked at him confused and before he could ask, the door to the sitting room slammed open and a figure immediately pounced on Ohno in his seat.
“Oh-chan we met again! I miss you last time! Now Jun and Sho know, we could hang out together again!” Aiba cheerful voice rang in his ears. “Aiba?” Ohno choked out despite the tight bear hug he is in.
“Aiba distance yourself from him, we haven’t finish explain the critical points to him.” Sakurai warned Aiba, pinching the bridge of his nose for the incoming headache. He knew he should not tell Aiba first about Ohno coming to the mansion.
Aiba pouted at Sakurai, still keeping Ohno in head locked. “Whyyy? Oh-chan is so fluffy like teddy bear I have in my room!” He whined.
Before he knew it Jun appeared behind Aiba and extracts him from Ohno pulling on his collar of his shirt roughly. “You’re going to kill him before Sakurai finish with this,” Jun threw Aiba to an empty seat nearly toppled the chair over. “Stay in your seat.”
“Aah JunJun is always a meanie…”
If looks can kill a vampire, Aiba would be death by now when Jun glared at him because of the nickname. Sakurai coughed and trying to get them to focus back to where before Aiba came into the room. Ohno rubbed on his throat, he is sure there is already bruise shown.
###
Nino groaned out, his eyes fluttered open as he finally recognized the room he is in, his room back in the mansion. He still feels dizzy, only remember bits of what happened that night before he lost his consciousness. “Ohno?!” Nino gasped as he remembered the last person he saw. ‘Did I hurt him? No! I hope I didn’t kill him…’ He knew his fragile state where he could go into blood lust if he came upon blood. Not that he did not want to drink it is just he is preferring to fade away rather than living after-
A knock startled him out of his thoughts. The door to his bedroom opened revealed Sakurai stood there. He saw that Nino is finally awake. “Ah you’re up. Good timing, you have a guest.” Sakurai gestured behind him where Nino can see a familiar person that he had been worried about. “Ohno?” He sat up in his bed to look properly although he has a heightened vision.
Sakurai ushered Ohno to enter the room. “Well, I’ll leave you two. I’ll ask Aiba and Jun not to disturb.” Nino looked at him questioningly. Sakurai grinned understanding the question behind those eyes, “Don’t worry I have explain all of it to him. Enjoy your time.” The door closed behind him that left Ohno fidgeting in his spot. “Hello, Nino.” He muttered nervously.
Nino dashed towards him inhuman speed. His hands cupped both Ohno cheeks softly checking over him. “You are still human? Does it mean I didn’t hurt you that night?” Nino asked.
Ohno froze for a moment because of Nino’s sudden action but then he shook his head, smiled at Nino’s worries and concern. “Sho came in time to take you away you might not remember it, Sho has said so.”
Nino fell on his knees, sighed in relief. “I’m glad, I was afraid I have done something stupid and I will regret it.”
Ohno kneels in front of Nino holding his shoulders, “You didn’t hurt me. I saw you try to hold back when you…change.”
Nino gulped and looked up at Ohno, “You know that already right? Sho told you everything?”
Ohno bit his lower lips nervously “Well... he told me but I doubt it’s everything since he said…”
FLASHBACK
“We are one of Vampire clans that still existed to these days. We live hidden from the humans most of the time to avoid any dangerous situations like you have witnessed.” Sakurai explained. “That is why I was worried when Nino gone outside longer than he used to.”
Ohno blinked and blinked again try to process this information. He feels like he is in one of history classes. “Why are you hiding?”
“Because of the war long ago our number are diminished. To protect our clan we have to stay in hiding. More importantly we are threatened by Vampire hunters.” Jun answered showing a great disgust when he mentioned the last part Ohno noticed.
“They hunted and killed vampires,” Sakurai continued. “Although some vampires like us did not really fed on human bloods like rouge vampires. We hold on to our laws.”
“Rouge vampires?” Ohno asked.
“Vampires that are not belong to any clans. They did not follow the vampire’s law very much and they did not have great control over their blood lust. It is also considered as a pest in Vampire world and we prefer they are to be removed too or Vampire Hunters will keep hunting us because of their fault,” replied Jun.
“But they are no more Rouge Vampires after the war decades ago. And we as one of the upper clan it is our job to look over the vampire world in this time so that there is no more outburst of Rouge Vampire which will lead Vampire Hunters to us.” Sakurai said.
“So if Nino is not Rouge vampire, why he acts like that?” Ohno asked as he remembers the event last night.
Both Sakurai and Jun even Aiba looked grim at this. “It is our normal reaction to blood but since Nino refuse to consume any blood after- like I said he refuse to accept blood and his body is becoming very weak and become less resistance to blood lust but not as near as a rogue vampire,” replied Sakurai.
“You see Oh-chan, we vampires do not really need blood all the time, but we must consume it from time to time to provide energy and increase our superhuman power.” Aiba grinned showing his elongated fangs.
Jun scowled at him. “Does not mean we force a human, we can get animal blood too, so we usually eat raw steak or something. We also have a blood bank, where we get blood from human donor for our consumption but we mostly only needed it once a year anyway.”
“Will you be dead if not consume blood for a long time?”Ohno asked. It is one of things that make him curious.
Sakurai blinked before composing himself. “No I don’t think so but we would get weaker.” But he did not sound convincing to Ohno.
“How does the Vampire hunter kill vampires?” Although it is a dangerous question to ask a fellow vampires but Ohno think he may need the answer if they gave him.
“Like I told you before they have weapons made of silver but we can overcome them with our speed as long as the silver did not harm our vitals.”
“Or chopping our head off!” Aiba said making both Jun and Sakurai grimaced.
“Wow interesting, I still got the idea to bring a garlic for a protection before I came here,” Ohno gave a nervous laugh. The three vampires chuckled at the human nonsense.
“So-“ Sakurai stared at him, “Do you have any questions left for us? I believe we could trust you to keep this as a confidential only between you and us, or else we might kill you-“
“Sho-chan~ you don’t mean that really?” Aiba asked puppy eyes. Sakurai glared at him as Aiba try to spoil the seriousness of the situation while Jun just rolled his eyes.
Sakurai turned back to Ohno who look like want to disappear from there. “Your words please, If I have to kill you, Nino will be displeased with me.”
“And we have to change the bloody carpet, it is really hard to clean it,” Jun supplied playfully, he seems less tense and more comfortable than the first time Ohno met him in the foyer. He also did not seem angry anymore.
“I gave you my words that I won’t say anything, what I heard from you will stay in this room.” Ohno promised them, they searched him of insincere look in his eyes but found none. Sakurai nodded look satisfied.
“But I have one more questions,” Ohno piped up.
“Yes?” Sakurai raised an eyebrow. Ohno gazed at Jun who looks up from checking his nails when he senses the other looking at him. “What?” He snarled.
“The questions you asked me back in the foyer-“
Sakurai and Jun shared a nervous glance while Aiba just grinning like an idiot since he knows nothing of the earlier incident.
“-what do you mean by that? I want to know, who’s him?”
END FLASHBACK
“And?” Nino asked irritated when Ohno finished with the story.
“They told me to asked you, they said you are the one who can answer well and because you are the first who found me.”
Nino sighed, cursing under his breath. Because of Jun slipped up now he have to let it all out, no more hiding and he have to take the next step but first, he owe Ohno an explanation and a long story.
Nino held out his hand to Ohno for him to take. “Follow me. It is better to show you.”
Ohno looked at Nino then the hand then back at Nino. He nodded and grasped the hand, following Nino out of the room.
###
They arrived at some sort of a study room as there is a big desk near the window. Some couch and cabinets filled with books. It looked abandoned from the film of dust found on the furniture. “This is used to be the Leader of our clan’s office.”
“Your Leader?” Ohno saw the look of fond in Nino’s eyes as he observed the room.
Nino nodded, “Yes, a great Leader that even the other Vampire clan has a great respect towards him.”
Nino lead him to only painting in that room that Ohno has just noticed. The painting is the only one is kept well as he did not see any dust on it. “This is a painting of five of us, he painted it himself.”
Ohno gasped as he properly look at the well drawn painting, he could make out the faces of Nino and the others, all of them are wearing old traditional clothes. But what catches his eyes the most is the one who stood in the middle. “He looked just like me!” The eyes, the nose, the shape of the face it is exactly the same as Ohno.
Nino nodded sadly beside him as he gaze upon the painting, “Not only that, he has the same name as yours too. His name is Ohno Satoshi.” Ohno looked at Nino in disbelieved but the look upon the man shown nothing but honesty and sorrow.
“W-what happened to him?” Nino’s eyes tear up so he looked away from Ohno to hide his embarrassment for uncontrolled emotions but Ohno cupped his cheek and force him to look in the eyes. “Please tell me, I think I ought to know.”
“Satoshi… he died,” Nino choked back a sob, “… in the war.” What he did not expect is for Ohno to embrace him in a hug to comfort him. “I’m sorry.” Ohno said softly.
After Nino calm down, Ohno looked back at the painting. “So you think I’m him?”
Nino tensed for a moment and nodded, “You look so much like him, you even act like him, his voice his name, I believe this is what we call reincarnation…”
Ohno noticed some words lower centre of the painting. The words are a little bit faded, but he still can make it out. “A...ra…shi…Arashi” The words seem familiar to him as if he know it by heart all this time. As if the words trigger something in his mind, Ohno is attacked by sudden pain in his head that he screamed painfully clutching his head.
“Ohno? Ohno!” Nino took hold of the screaming man in his arms.
The door bursts open, the other three vampires stormed in looking alarmed, Nino guessed that they have heard the screaming.
“Nino, what happened to Oh-chan?” Aiba asked tearfully watching the man convulsed in Nino’s arm looking deep in pain.
“I don’t know….” Nino tired to say, he feel very scared right now what if he lose him again. That is when Ohno stopped screaming and slowly fell into unconsciousness but a soft whisper caught Nino’s ear and the other vampire’s (due to their super hearing).
“Kazu…”
To be continued
A/N: I try to write as long as I could to redeem myself.