Gift fic for
astrangerenters Title: That light in your… eyes
Pairing: Sakumoto
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Angst, mentions of violence, some blood, swearing, sex
Summary:A man forced to kill to survive, a man devoted to protect others and a ghost that is haunted by the house it is in - what kind of house-sharing community will that be?
Notes: I hope this will be to your liking. I struggled with this story quite a bit, but in the end the characters started to work with me, telling me their stories as they find their places. Please enjoy it. ^^
“Ah!”
Sho jumped at the shrill voice screaming out suddenly. He closed his eyes for a moment, calming himself. When silence spread in the room again, he grunted, going back to his book.
“Ah, yeah, right there. Oh, Matsumoto-sa- AAHHH!”
Sho sighed in annoyance, slapping his book closed noisily.
Stupid arrogant jerk, showing off like that.
He got up from the armchair he was sitting in, leaving for a more peaceful place. When Jun had a “guest” he always felt disturbed - for various reasons. He knew it would be over soon. It never lasted very long. A catch that came with hunting virgins, he supposed. Not that he envied the man. Not altogether, anyway. There were cons and pros to everything, after all. Sho strolled through the hall and into the kitchen, without much muse to eat, but then, there was little else to do.
“Oh, hey,” Aiba greeted him cheerfully.
He was sitting on the kitchen table, his half-transparent form almost invisible if you didn’t look properly. Sho had always found it weird that ghosts glowed the more, the less light surrounded them. It seemed weird and he had never really accustomed to having a ghost haunting the house he was stuck in. But then, none of them had chosen to be there.
“Mh,” Sho nodded vaguely.
Aiba tilted his head slightly. “Oh, is Jun doing it again?”
“He does what he has to do,” Sho shrugged, as he grabbed a sandwich from the fridge.
“But you don’t like it,” Aiba mused.
“Who would like something like that?” Sho spat out.
“Mh,” Aiba hummed. “But if you always come to eat when you feel frustrated because of that, you’ll grow fat.”
Sho glared at the other. “I’m not getting fat,” he retorted, even as he took a first bite of his sandwich. “Just because you can’t gain weight…”
“Well, there’s got to be a good point to everything, right?” Aiba grinned.
“It seems like you enjoy haunting Jun,” Sho analyzed. “Which is why you’re still here, I guess.”
“I am here because of that curse, remember?” Aiba countered. “I can’t leave, no matter what.”
“No, you can’t exist outside this house,” Sho opposed. “There’s a difference.”
“So you suggest I just walk out and fade into nothing?” Aiba asked with a teasing grin. “Because you want Jun all to yourself?”
“I never said you should go,” Sho shrugged. “Just that you don’t seem too unhappy around here. And that you have a choice.” He dug into his sandwich again.
“Same as Jun,” Aiba agreed. “But I guess the mind and soul always seek a way to stay alive, no matter what.”
“That might be the reason,” Sho mused. “I honestly don’t know what I would do… Well, I know that I would try to lift your curse. But Jun, again, is being selfish, keeping you here.”
“He’s not the one who did this to me,” Aiba argued. “He’s had it rough too. And being selfish… sometimes you just can’t help it.”
“I’m guessing that going to the extent of actually killing others will lower your sensibility rate quite some,” Sho muttered. He finished his sandwich off with two more bites.
“You’re still mad at him,” Aiba analyzed.
“There’s no use in being mad,” Sho answered evenly.
“Even so, you can’t change the feeling,” Aiba pressed. “Same as the feeling that originally brought you here. What’s it like to love-hate someone?”
Sho gave him an annoyed look.
“Gruesome,” he then answered honestly.
“That’s what I thought,” Aiba nodded. “I have no idea why he’s not touching you even with his finger, though. I mean, he brought you back here, after all.”
“Not for love,” Sho muttered.
“But well, now that you’re here…”
“He’s feeling guilty,” Sho sighed. “Haven’t you been here a while longer than me? I’m surprised you can’t figure this one out. He did this to me. Even though I acted my own part in all of it, he still sees it as his fault and even if he wanted to… after doing me wrong, how could he possibly take joy from me? That’s what he’s thinking.”
“What about your joy, though?” Aiba asked.
“Maybe he sees that as the part that I acted?” Sho suggested.
“So, he’s punishing both of you?”
“Penitent, isn’t he?” Sho smirked.
“I still think it’s a pity,” Aiba mused. “A love story sure would do this house some good.”
“Hm,” Sho hummed, mock-thoughtfully. “Do I want to be involved in a love story with someone who needs to fuck other people’s souls out of their bodies to stay alive? I think not.”
“I’m still wondering how that even works, though,” Aiba said thoughtfully.
Sho shrugged. “I am not too familiar with these things. And he doesn’t like to talk about it, does he? All I know is the thing about his ex and how the guy tried to revive him after he had a fatal accident, but messed up. No details on who the guy was, on what was done to him, what hadn’t worked out… nothing.”
Aiba nodded. “I guess he just doesn’t want to think about it.”
“That much would be true,” Sho sighed, “but I still think it’s stupid. He’s not even investigating, trying to find a solution for the messed-up state he’s in.”
“He does have that theory,” Aiba argued.
Sho merely rolled his eyes, though. “What - that he has to `collect´ 100 souls and that will `heal´ him? That’s just nonsense. He never researched it. He made that up for himself in order to have a better excuse to keep on existing on the souls of other people. There isn’t as much as a hint that there’s any such kind of effect.”
“But isn’t it good that he’s not giving up hope?” Aiba said with a smile.
“Maybe,” Sho shrugged. “But this routine is disturbing for all of us, really. Not to mention risky. That stupid inspector comes knocking on our door regularly already.”
“Guess he’s not so stupid, then,” Aiba grinned.
“Yeah, well, for you there’s little to worry about,” Sho grumbled.
“You’re worried?” Aiba asked.
“Those stupid vampires,” Sho complained. “They get careless when they feel undisturbed. Which they do, seeing how we try to cover for them every
so often.”
“Not to mention the service you provide for them,” Aiba muttered.
“I’m not servicing anyone,” Sho bit out. “And those…”
Sho froze, his eyes growing slightly wide. His body seemed to shake slightly, the hairs on his arms standing on ends.
“Oh no,” he sighed. “What is that stupid kid up to now?”
“Oh, your little charge?” Aiba asked, perking up.
“Seems she’s in trouble,” Sho nodded. “I’ll better go and check on her.”
“Take care, mister guardian,” Aiba waved at Sho.
Sho didn’t even answer, he merely produced a rather long necklace from under his shirt. It had a small pendant on it that was the shape of a capital Alpha. As he grabbed it tightly between both his hands his entire form started to glow, putting Aiba’s form yet more to shame. The surroundings around him started to blur and just about a second later as they cleared out again, he was standing in the living room of an already too familiar house. Now, where was that little brat and what was doing? He looked around the room, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. When he found the baby girl on the ground, his eyes grew wide in shock. There on the floor was baby Maya, his personal charge, going straight for an electric socket. Sho rolled his eyes.
“Seriously, why do have to grab at everything?” he asked, annoyed. “But well, I guess your parents aren’t so bright either, leaving these things like that so you can get hurt.”
He approached the baby slowly, careful to remain standing out of her view before touching her back very carefully. He didn’t have to be particularly careful just yet, but it was good to practice, because Maya would grow up - he would make sure of that - and then it would be bad if she spotted Sho while he was protecting her. He sucked in a breath at the sensation. It was always a weird feeling, but he needed the body contact. Without it he couldn’t do anything to his surroundings to prevent disastrous things from happening. Once the connection was established, he quickly grabbed the end of a table cloth that was hanging from a small cupboard, giving it a rough pull and sending it straight to the floor, together with a number of small crystal figurines and picture frames. He nodded in approval. That should alert the parents. He broke the contact to the girl and took several steps back. Sure enough, just a second later Maya’s mother came rushing in, seeing the mess. Her eyes grew wide in shock as it dawned on her what had almost happened.
“Oh my god, Maya,” she gasped.
The young woman quickly moved towards her daughter, picking her up from the floor. She hugged Maya close to her body, rushing over her hair soothingly.
“Ssshhh, dearie. It’s okay. Everything’s okay,” she whispered to her daughter. Then she sighed. “I’ve been telling your daddy that he should apply those covers for the sockets. I’ll remind him again tonight,” she promised, kissing the girl’s head. “I’m just glad you got caught up in that cloth…” The woman smiled at her baby girl. “Let’s thank the spirit that watched over you.”
Sho actually smiled at that. “Welcome,” he said, knowing that they wouldn’t hear him. Even so, it was nice to have your work appreciated every now and then. Most of the time people would just claim they’d had some good luck.
“Well, then,” Sho said, waving at Maya, “hope I won’t see you again too soon,” he grinned.
With that he grabbed his pendant again, making it bring him back to his “base”. His eyes fell upon a small vial which held one of his memories. The pendant always brought him back right to that vial. He didn’t like to look at it. Seeing it, knowing that there was a part of him in it that he couldn’t even associate with himself, felt weird.
“Welcome back,” a soft voice greeted him.
As he turned around he found Jun standing behind him, a glass of what looked like water, but was probably vodka, or something, in hand. The smile on his face was almost too heart-warming. But Sho knew that he hadn’t brought that smile to the other’s face, but the one who had couldn’t receive it anymore.
“Is Maya-chan okay?” Jun asked.
Sho merely nodded. He detested Jun in that moment. When it came down to mere facts, the man was nothing but a monster. Not too long ago he had even tried to kill Sho as well, to make him a part of his struggle to survive. Sho couldn’t blame the man for wanting to hold onto the shreds of what was left of him. But even so…
“That’s good to hear,” Jun nodded back. “Guess you’re good at your job.”
“It’s not a job,” Sho muttered. “It’s a task that was forced on me.”
“Well, you need to do something to keep your soul alight, right?” Jun shrugged. “Plus, you should be grateful that my friend arranged this for you. Being a guardian is an honor, really.”
“The least you could do,” Sho bit at him. “It’s your fault that I am like this, after all.”
“You were the one who lied,” Jun argued, “just because you wanted to bed me.”
“So you’re saying that’s a just atonement?” Sho glared at the other. “Because I thought you were cute and I wanted you to pick me I deserve eternal punishment?”
“It’s not really punishment, is it?” Jun said, rolling his eyes. “And I was merely saying that you brought this on yourself as well. Had you either kept your legs closed or been truthful, I would have left you at that bar and none of this would have come to pass.”
“Sorry,” Sho pressed out, “are you calling me slut now? You? The guy who never sleeps with the same guy twice?”
“Seeing how they die once we’re done, I think that would be rather gross,” Jun countered.
“Even so, you have no right to judge me for…”
“I am not judging you, Sho-kun,” Jun assured him. “It’s actually flattering. You wanted to come back with me, so you lied and said you were still virgin. However, I was shocked when I understood that was not the case. I really didn’t know what to do when the ritual started to get out of control. I’m really glad my warlock friend found a way to save you. And me too, for that matter.”
“To him I’m grateful,” Sho nodded. “He really did save me.”
“Well, he’s good at his job too,” Jun smiled. Then he perked up. “Ah, which reminds me, Nishikido should arrive soon. Care to help me?”
“No, thanks,” Sho waved him off. “And tell him that they need to be more careful with where they place the corpse. Ninomiya is getting more suspicious, I can tell.”
“Well, he is a smart guy,” Jun agreed. “But then, he’s never looking for anything that can relate to us, so there’s no need to worry.”
Sho merely shrugged. “I’ll take a shower now,” he announced.
He wanted to get out of that room, out of that situation, away from Jun, away from that vial…
The doorbell rang.
“Ah, perfect,” Jun chirped.
He quickly rushed past Sho towards the front door. As he opened it, though, he stopped short, his eyes blinking in surprise.
“Oh… Ninomiya-san,” he greeted the police inspector politely. “Good evening. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Sho stopped on his way upstairs, following the conversation.
Nino smiled at Jun. “I’m afraid that once again I am visiting on a gloomy matter.”
“What is it?” Jun asked.
“You see, another young man was found dead by the river,” Nino explained.
“Oh my,” Jun breathed out.
“Yeah,” Nino nodded. “And, again, witnesses reported that they saw you together with him on the night of his supposed murder.”
“I see,” Jun nodded. “Well, do you want to question me?”
“Not as a suspect,” Nino explained. “Just, you know, some basic stuff. Tell me how you two met, what you did, preferably when and where you last saw him.”
Nino pulled out a picture of the young man. Jun took it and looked at the ace on it. He remembered the guy, of course. He had taken him to the house just about a week ago.
“I remember,” Jun said thoughtfully. “We met at that piano bar. I don’t go there too often, because I don’t like the people visiting the place, but they had a wonderful pianist playing that night.” When Nino merely nodded, Jun went on. “We sat together at a table. Had a few drinks. Gambled a bit.”
“Probably shared a few kisses?”
Jun’s head shot up at both the words and the unfamiliar voice. It was only then that he recognized another man standing next to the inspector.
“Oh, sorry,” Nino said apologetically. “Ah, this is Ohno-san. He… well, he was appointed to work on these murder cases with me. But really, Ohno-san, there is no need to probe into private matters like that.”
“Why not?” Ohno asked. “If they shared intimacies, maybe there’s more to investigate here.”
“The questionings are not part of your work, though,” Nino insisted. “That’s my business.”
“Right,” Ohno nodded, slightly annoyed, but stepping back a bit.
“Well, as I was saying,” Jun picked up with his story, his eyes shooting daggers at the newbie, “we sat together. We had some fun. You know, stuff that you do when you’re going out. We even walked together a while. But then… wait… ah, yes, I remember. We parted at the big Shinagawa crossing. He said he wanted to take the subway from there.”
“I see,” Nino nodded. “Do you have any idea what time that was?”
“Not really,” Jun shrugged. “I was admittedly pretty drunk. But considering the intensity of the head-ache I had when I had to get up, I am guessing that it was somewhere around 2am, probably.”
“You had to get up in the morning and didn’t check the time as you got home?”
It was again Ohno asking that question.
“You know, I even might have,” Jun bit out. “But I really don’t remember.”
“Oh, come on, that’s about the lamest excuse you can come up with,” Ohno continued.
“I’m sorry,” Jun said pointedly. “I really don’t remember the exact time I last saw this guy. If I did, I would most certainly tell you, if only to get you off my back again. I know that it’s more suspicious this way, but even so, instead of making something up in order to be left alone, I’m telling you the truth, so you can investigate properly.”
It never ceased to amaze Sho how skillfully Jun could make himself look all innocent. A technique he had most probably perfected over hundreds of years. His outburst sure had an effect on that new guy too as he took a step back.
“We really appreciate your cooperation,” Nino assured Jun. “It must be troublesome for you too. And this young man still has to learn how investigation works. And for the last time, Ohno-san, the questioning is not part of your work.”
Ohno merely nodded. Sho saw his lips moving and supposed he was mumbling some kind of half-hearted apology.
“May I ask what exactly his part of the investigation is?” Jun asked.
“Well,” Nino laughed nervously, “you see… because a number of deaths have occurred of which we can’t figure out how they came about, headquarters decided to… well, to try new methods. So they got Ohno-san, who is a medium. He is supposed to find out about any kind of… well, supernatural things going on.”
Sho’s eyes grew wide and he could see Jun shifting nervously as well.
“Supernatural?” Jun asked carefully. “Like… weird creatures being involved?”
I know it’s ridiculous,” Nino sighed. “But well, I have to take him with me so he can look at things from that perspective. You know, for many months now young people keep dying under mysterious circumstances. Their bodies are in almost perfect state. No injuries, no signs of other violent impact, or accidents, no medical records that would explain a sudden passing. There’s no evidence of other people on any of them either, which, in itself, is suspicious, but doesn’t really give us any relevant clues. But foremost, nobody knows what actually killed them. It’s just… well, it’s very unsettling.”
“Agreed,” Jun nodded. “But really, a medium?”
“Well, it can’t be helped,” Nino shrugged. “At any rate, thank you so much for sparing time for us, Matsumoto-san.”
“Any time” Jun offered. “Oh, do you maybe want to come in for a coffee, or something?”
Sho’s heart skipped a beat. He really couldn’t believe Jun’s nerves.
“Thank you,” Nino smiled at Jun, “but we have to move on. There’s more to be investigated tonight.”
“Of course,” Jun nodded. “Well, I hope you will get more clues soon.”
“Thank you,” Nino said.
He nodded at Jun politely, before finally turning around to leave, followed by Ohno, who did not regard Jun again. As he closed the front door again,
Jun leaned against it, taking a deep breath.
“Wow,” Sho breathed out. “A medium. That’s new.”
“It’s unexpected,” Jun mused. “Well, if things get too uncomfortable, we’ll have to move.”
“What about Masaki?” Sho asked. “He can’t move, remember?”
“Yes, well, that’s… inconvenient,” Jun agreed. “But then, if we’re found out, what else should we do? They already know that you live here, so they’ll get you too.”
“Then we have to find a new routine, or something,” Sho urged. “Leaving Masaki behind is not an option I’m considering. Who knows if they won’t tear down the entire house. These kind of mansions aren’t exactly hot on the market these days.”
“Okay, okay,” Jun sighed. “I’ll think of something.”
They both jumped as the doorbell rang again. Jun carefully opened it, only to look into Ryo’s pissed-off face.
“You could have told me you were having other visitors tonight,” the vampire bit out.
“Well, we weren’t expecting anyone,” Jun told him. “Plus, the police are after us also because you don’t get rid of the corpses properly.”
“We clean them,” Ryo explained. “We adjust them and then we get rid of them as best we can. You’re not paying us enough for our efforts, you know.”
“Well, just… try to leave less patterns in the way you work, okay?” Jun asked.
“Whatever,” Ryo waved him off. “But while we’re talking about payment, I think you’re having several jobs due by now.”
Sho sighed. “Fine. I’ll come by some time next week.”
“No,” Ryo countered. “We kept doing that and never received payment. Today I receive it in advance, or I’m not taking the body.”
Sho glared at the other, but nodded anyway. He didn’t really have a choice.
“Can we just… not in the house?” he asked.
“Anywhere’s fine,” Ryo shrugged.
Sho made his way towards the door. “I’ll be out for a short while,” he said evenly as he walked past Jun and down the stairs of the house.
Ryo followed after him. Sho could feel the presence of the Vampire close to him. He closed his eyes, for a second considering to make a run for it, but he knew it was futile, for various reasons. At least the Vampire followed him patiently until they were off the grounds and nestled into the nook between two houses of a small back alley. She leaned against the wall of a house as he slowly opened the top buttons of his shirt. He then tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck to the Vampire. It always felt wrong to do that. It was against a person’s nature to welcome possible death like that. He understood very well that if Ryo put his mind to it, he could drain Sho right then and there and he wouldn’t even find the will to fight it.
He closed his eyes as he felt the Vampire’s presence overwhelming him in his private space.
Almost too suddenly he felt the sting of fangs ripping the flesh of his throat, lips sucking hard to get his blood. It never hurt longer than just a few seconds, but it was the feeling that followed the pain that truly terrified Sho once the ordeal was over. It started with a pleasant tingling on his neck which then spread through his entire body, making it feel prickly and hot and… wanton. Soon he felt his body pressing against the Vampire’s lithe form, seeking more contact, a small moan escaping his lips. It sure did feel exquisitely good. And Ryo took his time sucking on him. But eventually, after almost ten torturous minutes, the Vampire pulled back, leaving Sho’s body to slide down to the floor. Sho heard himself whimpering at the loss, but the second later he already detested himself for it, his senses coming back to him quickly.
“You always taste sweet,” Ryo told him.
“Glad you enjoy it,” Sho muttered. “Will you take care of the body now?”
“Sure thing,” Ryo grinned. “Ah, can you get back by yourself?”
Sho nodded, already getting back onto his feet. “I just need a minute. You just… go and do what you’re supposed to do.”
Ryo merely shrugged and left the other back in the alley. Sho took several deep breaths, still trying to regain all of his senses. His legs still felt a bit wobbly, so he decided to wait for another minute. But while he was trying to even his breathing he found that his vision got a bit blurry and he understood that he had underestimated the state the other had left him in. Heaving several more breaths he tried to find the strength to stand upright. However, as he attempted to stand his ground, said ground suddenly seemed to disappear under him and he felt that he was falling. Endlessly, it seemed and he knew that once he met ground he would be lost - and then everything went dark…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sho roused, knitting his eye-brows. He shifted carefully, his mind slowly starting to work. Where was he? He tried to remember - and then he did. Ryo, in that alley. He had…
“There, there. Sho-kun, can you hear me?”
Sho grunted a bit, trying to sit up.
“Don’t,” Jun’s voice urged and Sho felt a hand pressing him back against what felt like a mattress. “You’re still weak. Nishikido sure knows how to do a job properly when he means to. I already had a serious talk with Okada about the latest jobs and tonight’s most inappropriate payment, by the way. As the head of the clan he needs to keep things clean, after all. Well, at least Nishikido told me where he left you… But really, why didn’t you let him bring you back?”
“Jerk,” was everything Sho could utter.
“Who? Me or Nishikido?”
Sho could hear the grin on Jun’s lips and he wanted to sit up and punch it right into his beautiful face. He still felt too weak to even lift his arm, though, so her merely grunted again.
Jun chuckled. “I see. Well, at least I am prepared for such occasions.”
Sho could feel Jun pressing a hot stone to the skin on his slightly ripped neck. It didn’t hurt, though. Instead, warmth spread through his entire body, making him feel relaxed and at ease. The treatment continued for a while and Sho quickly felt himself gaining his strength back. Once he felt steady enough he sat up. As he took in his surroundings, he blinked in surprise. He was in Jun’s bedroom.
“Why… why am I here?” he asked.
“You know why,” Jun shrugged.
“And you know what I mean,” Sho glared at him.
“Ah, already back to your angry self, I see,” Jun grinned. “Remember, you had Masaki block me from your room. And I figured that the sofa wouldn’t be sufficient, so…”
Sho merely nodded. He let the treatment continue without any further protest.
“Why did you come to get me back?” he suddenly asked.
Jun blinked at him. “What do you mean, why? I couldn’t have let you bleed to death out there. For one, Ninomiya wouldn’t get off my back ever again. He knows you live here, after all. And what about Maya? She needs her guarding, doesn’t she?”
“Of course,” Sho nodded curtly.
Jun grinned at him. “Aw, did you want me to say something corny like I couldn’t stay here without you?”
“Stop making fun of me,” Sho grumbled.
“But you’re so cute when you’re sulky,” Jun informed him.
“You shouldn’t say stuff like that,” Sho informed him. “Not to me, anyway.”
“Oh sorry,” Jun said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “How could I have presumed that you like compliments?”
“That wasn’t a compliment,” Sho complained.
“I said you were cute,” Jun argued sweetly.
“And I said that you should stop saying that,” Sho bit at him. “I understand you say these meaningless things to the boys you need to bed, but you don’t have any gain in fucking me, so just leave it alone. I won’t let you play with me like that.”
Jun actually looked hurt hearing those words. “Right,” he muttered bitterly. “Because I am by nature insincere. I get it.”
Sho sighed deeply. He felt Jun’s hand going lax against his neck and in a mere attempt to secure the healing device against it he lifted his hand to cover the other man’s, pressing down harder again. The hand twitched for a second, but Jun did not pull away, or voice a word of complaint. They just kept sitting there in silence, not really looking at each other. The healing stone was already growing colder, indicating that its powers were fading.
“I’ll get another one,” Jun finally decided.
However, Sho’s hand was gripping his tightly, still pressing it against his neck, not letting him go. Jun blinked for a second, but remained seated. More minutes passed.
“I’m sorry.”
Sho’s head swished around to stare at Jun in surprise at those two words that suddenly cut through the silence. Jun was not looking at him, though.
“Jun, you… it’s not your…”
“I’m sorry you’re here,” Jun interrupted him. “Even when we both had our part in it, I never wanted to do such a thing to someone. I… I don’t want to… I don’t want any of it. But I don’t want to just fade out. The thought alone…”
Sho merely nodded, not sure if the other could see him, but for some reason he considered it better to remain silent.
“You must think that way about me. I lie a lot. I deceive people. I had that planned for you as well. I kill others. I understand that you detest me. Just… hearing it is kind of…”
“Jun,” Sho cut in, “I don’t detest you. I know you’re struggling.”
“Not as much as I probably should,” Jun said bitterly. “I’m sorry I don’t make it a point to be discrete about my business either.”
Sho tensed at that. “Why would you?” he muttered.
“So you won’t have to listen,” Jun said, his voice almost a whisper. “Sometimes… sometimes I think I even make it a point - as if I’m sickly trying to involve you somehow. Letting you hear them, letting you experience it in a way.”
Sho snorted slightly at that. “Why, thanks.”
“Or maybe it’s that I actually want it to be you…”
Sho turned his head again and this time his eyes met Jun’s. He could see that the other man had not meant to let that slip, but apparently he also wasn’t going to take it back when it was already out. Sho hated himself for already wanting to just jump the other and the main thing that was holding him back was his still weak body.
“There’s no way I’ll ever scream for you to fuck me,” he said instead.
His eyes grew wide at his own words and it was only later that he understood that not those words, but that slip of his facial expression gave him away entirely. He could see the change of attitude in Jun right away. A playful sparkle came to his eyes, a grin to his lips.
“No you won’t,” Jun agreed. “Because I’ll drive the air right out of you.”
The voice alone went straight to Sho’s groin, making it tingle in anticipation. The hand on his neck finally pried itself free, only to release the by then cold healing stone. Then it carefully curled around Sho’s neck, fingertips stroking lightly. It felt too soft, too meaningful and Sho closed his eyes, unable to meet the other’s eyes. Jun obviously misread the action, taking it as his cue to lean over Sho and press their lips together. Sho jumped slightly, tensing up again. Jun pulled back just enough to speak against his lips.
“Don’t ruin it by being stubborn.”
Something in Sho flared up, wanting to slap Jun across the face. Ah, right, that was his pride. Ultimately his pride didn’t win, though. Neither did his feelings. Sho made his choice based on logics. Winning the situation against Jun wouldn’t do anything for him other than a moment’s satisfaction of gloating. Nothing could come off it. A kiss on the other hand…
The next thing he registered was them being wrapped around each other almost impossibly, sharing a kiss that couldn’t be called anything but desperate, bodies already moving against each other, even though the blanket was still in the way between them. Sho couldn’t have cared less, though. He had been dreaming of this again and again and he still couldn’t believe they were actually there and…
“UWAAAHHHHH~!”
Jun and Sho both jumped at the piercing scream that was echoing through the entire house.
“You stay here,” Jun ordered.
Sho frowned at the gesture the man made with his hand, signaling for him to remain in the bed. Seriously, he wasn’t a dog you could tell to stay in his spot. Even so, as he made to get up after Jun had stormed out the door he felt his head spinning just slightly. Apparently his body was still being weak. It was impossible that Jun’s kiss alone would have such an effect.
“Fucking Vampires,” he cursed. “Next time Nishikido comes around, I’ll definitely punch him.”
He gave up for the moment, resting back against the pillow again. Suddenly he felt uneasy lying in that bed. His life had changed so drastically in that place and he hadn’t even been in the room ever since, let alone without Jun. He hadn’t had any desire to visit the room either. There were so many memories connected to it. He remembered how Jun had found him outside the theater after a weekend show. The charms of the man had been enticing and Sho had always enjoyed being complimented, so he was easy prey for the handsome man. They’d had drinks together and Jun had flirted with him so excitingly, initiating body contact every so often, just lightly, but also clearly signaling is intensions. Sometimes he would whisper right into Sho’s ear and he remembered his body shaking from just the other’s breath. Jun hadn’t even had to convince Sho to come back to his place. In fact, when being asked about his experience, he had lied when Jun had told him he had a thing for inexperienced partners. Sho absolutely didn’t want to let that opportunity pass, no matter what.
Well, he might have reconsidered, had he known what he’d been in for. However, at the time, he had only been excited and Jun had taken him back more than willingly. Sho remembered how nervous he had been and how Jun had eased him with loving words and sweet nuzzling, how he had taken care of Sho with soft lips and a soothing voice, thinking Sho was a virgin and trying not to scare him off. Jun was a seductive creature, there was no doubt about that. He knew which buttons to push to make his partner melt like butter. Sho bit his lip as more vivid pictures came to his mind. Jun stroking his sides, Jun kissing his chest, Jun on top of him, Jun moving in him…
Sho hadn’t even realized his hand wandering under the sheets, but at some point he was rock-hard, stroking himself, moaning as he pictured Jun fucking him, hard and fast and slow and sensual in turns.
“Fuck,” he cursed.
His hand picked up pace and intensity. He felt inappropriately slutty, getting off on those images, but the dirty touch of it only turned him on further. He pictured Jun coming back in, finding Sho in his bed, jerking off shamelessly, thinking the man would love it and probably sit and watch him and even urge him on.
“Yeah, just like that… that feels good, doesn’t it? …Mh, it looks like it’s bursting… Come… Come, Sho… let me see it…”
Sho screwed his eyes shut and with a strangled cry he came, dirtying the blanket he was still wrapped in. His orgasm was more intense than it usually turned out when he pleasure himself. He even gave himself after-strokes, enjoying the feeling as it slowly faded out. Sho sighed deeply in satisfaction. Well, that had been unexpected, but none the less more than pleasant. Once he had come down from his high and made himself decent again Sho wondered where Jun had actually wandered off to. The fact that he hadn’t heard another sound assured him that nothing drastic had been going on, but really - if it wasn’t anything pressing, why would Jun leave him in bed alone? Sho frowned. He had made it very clear before that he wasn’t a toy. His strength finally coming back to him he got up to check what was going on. As he padded down the stairs he could already hear voices from the kitchen. As he got in to check out what was going on, his eyes grew wide.
“What…?!” he breathed out.
Three heads turned in his direction. Aibs’s, Jun’s and Ohno’s.
“What is going on?” Sho wanted to know.
Jun smiled at him. “It’s good to see you in good health again.”
Sho nodded back at him. “Thank you. But really, what is this?”
“Ah, Ohno-san decided to do some investigating of his own,” Aiba explained. “Didn’t you?”
Ohno looked more than pale as he stared back at Aiba.
“What - he broke into the house?” Sho burst out. “We should call the police, you know.”
“Yeah, as if we needed them here any more than they are already,” Jun sneered.
“But…” Sho stopped short. “Wait,” he addressed Ohno, “you can see Aiba?”
“I’m a medium, remember?” Ohno bit at him.
Sho laughed at that. “What - really? I thought that was a fraud.”
“Yeah, well, it isn’t,” Ohno informed him.
“At any rate, he isn’t a very good medium,” Jun grinned. “Screaming like that when he saw Aiba.”
“Oh, that was you,” Sho gaped.
“So I’ve never seen an actual ghost,” Ohno shrugged. “I was… surprised.”
“What kind of medium are you?” Sho asked.
“One that means to help the living,” Ohno explained, his eyes hard as he stared back at Sho. “Ghosts aren’t my main focus. There are those who delve into the world of ghosts. But I rather stay in this world, providing support to those who need it. Ghosts don’t need any help most of the time, anyway. So…”
“Well, this one does,” Sho told the other.
“There’s more going on in this house than a haunting ghost,” Ohno said daringly. “I bet you anything that those are biting marks of a Vampire,” he claimed, pointing at Sho’s neck.
Sho covered the spot, but grinned playfully.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but before you screamed your head off, Jun and I were sharing… some private moments. And he’s the possessive type, so he enjoys leaving marks.”
Aiba perked up at that. “Oh my god, really? Aw, I’m so happy for you guys. That’s really great.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” Ohno said evenly. “But I’m not an idiot. I’m a medium and I can tell the difference between a hickey and a Vampire’s mark.”
Sho bit his lip, his eyes wandering to Jun for support. The other man just sighed deeply, though.
“Okay, time to spill the beans,” he decided.
Sho’s eyes widened impossibly. “What?! But…”
“He’s not an idiot,” Jun argued. “And even if he were, even an idiot would see that something’s going on here.”
“But he’ll expose us to Ninomiya,” Sho pressed.
“Tell me what’s going on here,” Ohno urged. “If I know everything, maybe I can help.”
“I doubt you’ll think that way,” Jun said, a pained smile on his face. “But there’s no helping it now. So, here’s the entire story…”
As Sho listened to the entire tale he found that it actually sounded very fit for a fantasy novel, or something. Their situation was very special, after all and hearing some details even made Sho smile to himself. It took a while. When Jun was finally done Ohno looked at the group of them.
“Okay, let me sum this up,” the medium sighed. “So, Aiba-kun, you were trapped in this house by a curse that was put on you by your mother?”
Aiba nodded. “Yeah, first she cursed my girlfriend, then me. No need to say that she wasn’t too pleased with me falling in love with her, huh? Although I wonder if it hadn’t been the same with anyone else. When we decided we wanted to live together, my mother just freaked out. Well, anyway…”
“Wait,” Ohno said with a frown, “she couldn’t have put the same curse on both of you, that doesn’t work.”
“Oh, she didn’t,” Aiba explained. “She cursed my girlfriend and… well, she died the day later. I’m not sure what happened to her exactly, but only two days later…”
“What - your mother killed you?” Ohno asked in disbelief.
Aiba looked troubled. “I… not really, I think. I mean, not directly. It must have something to do with the curse she put on me. She did it when I wanted to go to her funeral.”
“You don’t know what it is, though?” Ohno asked.
“No,” Aiba stated. “But whatever it was, I know that it’s trapping me here and that she wasn’t part of it. When she died, she left this place. I stayed behind.”
“That’s… I’m sorry,” Ohno said sincerely. Then he turned towards Jun, though. “And for you it was quite the opposite, wasn’t it? Your boyfriend unable to accept that you died in that car accident and trying to bring you back to life. Seriously, I’ll never understand why people keep trying to do these things. They never work. Reviving the dead is just… it’s the most unnatural thing I can imagine. Of course that left you in a troublesome state. So now you collect souls in order to anchor yours in your body.”
“Well, I don’t want to die,” Jun muttered.
“I understand that,” Ohno nodded. “Which brings us to… Sakurai-san. You were supposed to be one of Matsumoto-san’s victims. But, inconveniently you weren’t a virgin, but you lied about that, so the ritual failed and it left you in an unbecoming state as well.”
“My main problem was that I needed a task that would keep my soul alight,” Sho shrugged. “It’s important so I won’t lose my mind someday. If the light of my soul fades, I’ll slowly lose grip of myself. Memories will get lost. I won't die, but… who wants to exist like that? Fortunately, when I was accepted as a guarding, things worked out pretty well for me. It’s just what I need, really. I know I keep complaining about the job, but ultimately, it’s important and I can identify with it.”
“That’s nice to know,” Ohno said. “But… you guys can’t continue to live here like this. Even if I don’t report you, the police will keep coming and they will find you out some day. In addition, the way you keep doing things isn’t exactly a pleasing solution for anyone, is it?”
“So, what do you suggest we do?” Sho asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’ll go home and think things through. I’ll establish a plan,” Ohno decided.
“So you won’t report anything?” Aiba asked.
Ohno sighed deeply. “Well, it’s really devastating what has been going on in this house. Even buying Vampires with blood so they will cover your traces. But then, if I expose everything, you, Aiba-san, will most probably be lost, Matsumoto-san would be doomed and Sakurai-san… if what you said earlier about you and Matsumoto was true, then… I’ll think of something else that will make things better for all of you.”
“How?” Jun asked, sounding skeptical.
“I told you, I’ll think of something,” Ohno insisted. “I’ll be back once I have a plan.”
“Thank you,” Sho blurted out. “For not exposing us.”
Ohno smiled, nodding at him. “I said it before. I want to help. Plus, I don’t think a court could sentence you for extracting a person’s soul in the first place. So, let’s think of something better. Just make sure to remain well-covered.”
“Not to worry,” Jun assured him. “I’ve already had an intense talk with the clan leader of the Vampires. We’ll be fine.”
“Good,” Ohno said encouragingly. “Then I’ll try to come up with something suitable soon.”
With that he got up from his seat, nodding at the group before making his leave. Sho looked after him with a weird feeling in his stomach.
“Do we really trust him?”
“He’s our best chance at… anything,” Jun shrugged. “So, I guess we don’t have a choice.”
“Probably,” Sho sighed.
“I’m sure he’ll come back to help us,” Aiba said encouragingly. “And you two are a couple now?” he chirped happily.
Sho made a face. “Nobody said anything about a couple.”
“Awwww, you’re so in love, Sho-chan,” Aiba teased.
“He’d better not be,” Jun muttered. “I’m not a man you want to fall in love with.”
“But… maybe you can become a man like that,” Sho mumbled. “If Ohno-san keeps his word, maybe he can find a way to… well, to make things better for us.”
“What do you know,” Jun grinned. “A romanticist at heart? Who would have thought?”
“I think you two make a perfect couple,” Aiba cheered.
“And I said we’re not a couple,” Sho insisted.
“I guess that means our private moments don’t get to be picked up?” Jun grinned.
Sho glared at the other man. “Since you didn’t deem me worthy to come back and get me - for anything - I decided to take matters into my own hands. So I don’t need to pick up anything.”
Jun stared at him. “Wait, you… you jerked off in my bed?”
“As I said,” Sho shrugged, “you just left me to myself. Your fault.”
“I think not,” Jun grumbled out.
He grabbed Sho by the sleeve of his shirt dragging him out of the room and back upstairs. Sho let the man pull him along only for the close body
contact. Once they were in front of Jun’s bed room again, he began to resist, though.
“Jun… Wait, I…”
“You,” Jun bit at him, pushing the other man forcefully into the room and onto the bed.
Sho gasped at the unexpected force, but quickly composed himself, glaring at the other.
“What the fuck?!”
“I should ask you that,” Jun mused, as he moved closer to Sho slowly, sensually. “First you pass out and I have to go through quite some trouble to get you to recover and then you not only deprive me of my reward, but you also selfishly dirty my sheets. That’s not the appropriate way to thank your savior, you know.”
He crawled onto the bed, moving over Sho’s body, pressing against it urgently. And Sho already felt himself losing it again. There was something about Jun and he simply couldn’t resist it. The mere presence of the man did the most incredible things to Sho and he already wanted to start right over, when he understood what was going on. Reluctantly, but firmly, he pushed Jun back.
“Oh, come on,” Jun crooned, “don’t make me work too hard.”
“No, Jun,” Sho said firmly. “I… I’m sorry. I think…I mean… I think I am actually falling for you.”
Jun stopped, his eyes taking on a sad glow. “Oh… Well, that’s a pity. I bet you feel wonderful.”
Sho rolled his eyes. “Good to know you’re so sensitive.”
“What - do you want me to get all mushy?” Jun asked with a grin.
“Yes, actually,” Sho told him. “I mean, you could at least admit that you’re feeling it too. That it’s bothersome for you?”
“What - that you can’t keep your feelings stuffed up and we can’t fuck?” Jun asked. “Yeah, that’s bothersome.”
“Okay,” Sho dared him. “Why can’t we fuck?”
“Because you said you’re falling in love with me,” Jun argued.
“You know, for most people that would be a good reason to do it,” Sho smiled.
“I know,” Jun chuckled. “But I don’t want to hurt you. Again. So I guess it’s not a good idea, if we get involved.”
“Agreed,” Sho sighed. “I’m afraid I’d get jealous, seeing your young lovers around.”
“Wow,” Jun answered, “so me being a killer doesn’t turn you off?”
“I’m not turned off by the fact that you were about to kill me,” Sho grumbled. “Why would I bother with what you do to others?”
“It is bothering you,” Jun argued.
“No more or less than you,” Sho said, a sad smile on his face.
“Okay,” Jun sighed. “I guess we can’t get any more fucked up.”
“That much would be true, I guess,” Sho agreed.
“I’m really not saying this because of those blue balls in my pants,” Jun said, “but… if we can’t get more fucked up, if you’re already falling in love
with me… why shouldn’t we at least enjoy the treats that are in store for us?”
“Okay, you’re definitely being invasive again,” Sho told him.
“That’s how I do things,” Jun shrugged.
“I don’t think I…”
“Er, guys,” they heard Aiba’s voice from outside the room. There was a weak knock on the door. “I really don’t mean to interrupt anything, but… I think we’re having a problem.”
Sho frowned. He followed Jun out of the bed, joining Aiba in the hallway.
“What is it?” Jun asked.
“I… I think we’re encircled,” Aiba explained.
“What?” Sho asked, eyes narrowing.
His eyes followed Aiba’s finger, which merely pointed out the window. There was something going on out there, but he couldn’t see it clearly. As he got closer to the window he understood what Aiba meant. The hairs on his neck were standing on end as he made out the figures of at least 30 Vampires out on the lane.
“Oh my,” he breathed.
“Not good,” Jun muttered, as he slid beside the other man.
“What on earth did you say to Okada?” Sho wanted to know.
“That I appreciate paid work getting done neatly,” Jun retorted. “Well, maybe I used some other words…”
Sho sighed. “Words that made him send his entire security team to scare us?”
“They are on the other side too,” Aiba muttered. “What are they gonna do now?”
“Nothing much,” Jun said dismissively, even though his body language told Sho clearly that he wasn’t very confident about that. “They’re trying to make an impression.”
“And what are we gonna do, then?” Sho asked, feeling quite uneasy.
“We’ll stay unimpressed,” Jun decided. “For once the police investigations will work in our favor. They won’t charge. Let them try to intimidate us.”
“Fine,” Sho sighed. “Let’s try to ignore them.”
For the rest of the night Sho felt uneasy. Even once he understood that nobody was actually going to break into the house, a gloomy atmosphere consumed his heart. What would happen next? Would they be gone in the morning? And if so, did that mean that they wouldn’t be coming back? That they wouldn’t help them anymore? Sho’s thoughts kept spinning round and round until he fell asleep from pure mental exhaustion.
Part 2