AN: Hi! Im really sorry for not updating sooner! I've been really busy with University and going abroad to Japan for a year - so I haven't had time to re-write and post! But I got some spare time today and did this! Hope you all like!

My life part 2: Saving, Gone

Kei:

It's raining when I finally leave the flat. I know Im running a little late, so I try and walk as fast as I can. I conceal a yawn as I breathe deeply. All I want to do is sleep... I feel so tired. I would have taken a nap when you left, but all I could think about is the kiss you gave me... I wasn't expecting it... even though I kind of kissed you first... It really shocked me because I thought I was dreaming... I question myself a lot recently... and all the meanings of the things between you and me... I analyse everything now just about... and it always makes me wonder more. Does it mean you like me? Was it just a comfort thing? Was it just gratitude? I think, now I've thought about it just a bit longer, we'll have to sit and talk when we go back to the flat... if you don't stay with Son and Yi-Che that is... I can't help but scowl and quicken my pace. I don't want to leave you unguarded longer than I have too. What am I thinking? Am I thinking? You're a grown man - A killer too. You can defend yourself.. But from women...? From Yi-Che...? I don't know - I don't want to take the chance either... Just in case I have a chance with you first.

It takes a while to get to the park, but I don't really notice as Im too deep in thought. However, what greets me when I get there is not something I was expecting and soon alerts me to danger. I hear shouting from near the mural, so I walk quickly, silently to a small opening near some trees. From here, I can see 2 men pointing guns at You, Son and Yi-che. I scan for Toshi, and I see he is knelt helpless, by the looks of it, between the two men, his hands bound. The men are talking more quietly than before, and I try to hear what is being said, but I can't quite pick it up until Toshi shouts, "You're the ones pushing your luck." When will he learn to keep his mouth shut? Even when he was young, that mouth of his was always getting him into trouble... but then again, that mouth of his was a good laugh most times, and lightened our moods on many occasions. One of the men wearing a long olive green trench coat turns his gun on Toshi, "Fuck you." he spits.

I spring into action - I can't let Toshi get killed. I know it would kill you if something were to happen to him. He's been your lifetime friend after all. He's part of your family. I quickly jump with all the strength I can muster from my hiding place, to land with force on the shoulders of the guy threatening Toshi. I forcefully kick him backwards to the ground as I use him to leap over so I land between him and Toshi. Unfortunately, my legs are too weak to stand the impact of my landing, so I soon find myself falling to the ground, and moving into a roll as soon as my body impacts. I try and push myself up quickly once I've stopped; I have to be prepared to fight even though my body is telling me I'm too weak and I need to feed. I can sense you and the others are motionless as the other man in a brown short coat turns to me crying "You bastard." Yes, well I know I am, so name calling really won't be that hurtful now will it?

He aims his gun at me. I roll onto my back, still trying to get up but my legs keep failing me. Blast it, maybe you were right... I should have eaten sooner, even though I didn't want too... I see Toshi get up from his knelt position as he dives to stand in front of me. What is he doing? I want to laugh when I see what he is doing. Toshi shouts "Bang, bang, bang" as he makes a gun shape with his bound hands. I want to tell him not to be stupid - I can't die from mere bullets... They sting… well hurt like hell… but I won't die… but he doesn't know that though... I haven't told him. I should have... though...

The other man is confused for a mere moment by Toshi's display. I'm still trying to heave my body up from the sodden ground to fight, to defend, but I'm too late... I flinch as the man pulls the trigger, shooting Toshi. Toshi lingers tall, standing still protectively in front of me, before the effort becomes too much and he falls to the ground. My heart clenches as I hear you cry Toshi's name at the top of your lungs. I look slowly at Toshi's fallen body, and the rage I feel takes be my storm, giving me the strength to stand. Toshi may have been a bumbling idiot, a pain in the ass, but still... I considered him my friend. A reluctant friend but my friend non-the-less... who stupidly tried to defend me, when he himself had no way of defending himself... I frown with determination. Fool, you've sealed your fate.

The man that shot Toshi lingers over me as I stand almost drunkenly. My nostrils are flaring, my senses going into overdrive as the smell of blood strengthens my initial hunger. He grins at me and aims his gun at my chest. Much good that will do him. As soon as he pulls the trigger, I jump. His friend, whom has just decided to get up of the ground is my first target. I land in front of him and grab his arm, turning it and twisting him around to use him as a shield. The man shooting at me realizes and stops. But its too late for his friend as I let my Olive coated shield drop lifeless to the floor. The man in the brown coat drops his gun to his side and groans in anguish, lifting his head up to the sky. I laugh sadistically in my head. He doesn't know who he's dealing with.

I've turned, so I now have my back to him, and all that I can smell and sense is my world is blood. I lick my lips, I can almost taste it... Oh it's so hard to think about anything else right now... The hunger I have ignored for so long is over riding my thoughts... I must eat... So hungry... I close my eyes and my head goes side to side as I try and clear my head. I have to concentrate at the task at hand. Revenge. And anyway, I can't feed in front of Yi-che and Son, so I run off to the side where I know there is a clearing surrounded by trees. And as I knew he would, the brown coated man follows me, gun in hand, shooting wildly. I grin triumphantly. I like working up an appetite before I feed. And it's more interesting when the prey thinks he is the hunter. Oh how wrong he is. As soon as we reach the clearing I stop dead, the man right behind me. He's out of bullets and is reaching for his other gun when I turn on him. "Bye bye." I grin. He cries out as I jump and sink my teeth into his neck, drinking his blood happily as he tries to shout, trying to push me away. I hold on to him tighter, slowly lowering his weakening body and my own to the ground. It's more comfortable this way for me. Beneath me, the man is twitching, still trying in vein to get away.

He makes a strangled noise, blood gurgling in his mouth. I ignore him though, but I can't fight the upset knowing that some blood is being wasted, flowing a bit from his mouth. Mmmm... His blood is like honey... and it sickens me. But I can't stop. He deserves death... but then... so do I... right? I sink my fangs in deeper, trying not to think, which isn't too hard as I always fall into a drunken like stupor during and after feeding. I snort a little as I hear a gasp from the side of me. Im too hungry to care at this particular moment. My prey beneath me has finally stopped struggling as much as he was just a moment ago, much to my amusement and slight disappointment. His body is becoming weaker and cooler beneath mine, and it's almost like a high. I want more…

Through the haze of my feed I can sense someone else's arrival. I think, in my blood induced drunkenness, it might be you Sho. I hear a slight squeak soon after. That's probably Yi-Che who must have followed you, so I slowly stop and give you all a glance. I know I must look crazed right now, and I suppose I am, but I don't care. My hunger calls me back soon enough, and I go back to drinking the dying mans blood. I hear you speak quietly, but firmly, asking me to stop. I don't. This man doesn't deserve me to stop until all his blood is gone. "Please stop." you asks me again. I continue. "Kei stop!" you cry. Don't you understand Sho? I can't! I want to, but my lust for blood won't let me. My hunger...

"Toshi's dead!" you cry. Now my mind is fogging over as the euphoric high from the blood fully kicks in. Your words are like those in a dream - Distant and unclear. "Stop it... please..." Your voice is weak and pleading. "Please... stop..." I think you've given up, or I just can't hear you anymore. I continue drinking until the man beneath me has no more to give. And once I've finished, I sit back and wipe my mouth, breathing deeply. That's better. I've quenched the weakening hunger within me, and I can feel my strength returning to my body slowly, along with my sense of reality. My eyes shoot open wide as I replay what had happened just moments ago. Sho... I run my hand through my hair, my heart speeding up. How can he trust me now... I couldn't stop myself... what if... what if it was him... I feel disgusted with myself again, and I, for the first time in so long, feel scared. Of what I was, and of what I could do. So I do the only thing I can think of. I stand up and run. I don't know where I'm going, but I know I can't return to you... Not now... So I let my feet carry me away from my fears and insecurities, and away from the hopes and dreams I once had with you. "Im sorry Sho..."

Sho:

I trudge home alone, the rain not only continuing to drench my clothes, but also drown my heart in its coldness. I couldn't explain to Son or Yi-che what Kei was when they asked what happened... although... Im sure they know now... it was obvious, wasn't it? I couldn't bear all the questions they tried asking me after Kei had left - so I left too. Finally home, I open the lock to mine and Kei's flat and my heart sinks that little bit further into a growing abyss. He's not home, or else the lock would have been off... I don't know whether to be worried or not... It is Kei after all... I guess he needs time to himself... But... I wish he was here now... I wrap my arms around myself for comfort. Something I haven't done since I was a kid... My mind flies to Toshi, then as a kid, and now... in the makeshift grave I made... I start to cry again with broken sobs being reached from deep in my throat. Good thing Kei isn't here or else he would call me a cry-baby... I growl out desperately needing to break the thoughts flooding my mind. Maybe a shower - I need a shower...

First thing's first though - I need to wash my hands. I go to the sink in the kitchen to wash my hands of Toshi's blood, but as I do, I feel my heart ache more beyond belief as I watch the blood go down the drain... It's so metaphorical - It's like my life at this moment... Spiralling down into a black hole... I choke back another sob as I grab a towel drying my hands. I wipe my eyes before chucking the towel for washing and going to my room to get some clothes. My minds still whirling, like a merry-go-round but I want off it now! I've had enough craziness to last several lifetimes. I look at myself in my bedroom mirror - studying myself. I have a bad feeling - and its not going away... The thing is - I don't know why I still have it, but maybe the shower and some sleep will take it away... It's just in my mind...

While in the bathroom, I turn on the hot water and have a nice long shower... letting the hot water clean me, and attempt to sooth me... yet, it doesn't reach my heart as I drown out all my tears and sorrows under the persistent spray... I know Toshi wouldn't want me dwelling on it... But... things were starting to look up for him... He found his family... what more could we all ask for? Although, he was my family... and... I laugh sourly at this thought- he always joked... even until the end... I close my eyes and sigh, my body heated well from the shower. I turn off the spray and sigh as I step out and dry before heading towards my bedroom. Along the way I check to see if Kei had come back. "Kei?" I call. But no answer. My heart thumps a couple of times. Maybe he'll be back a little later... I go to my bed and flop on it. My mind is rushing with thoughts again, but I find despite this and constant thinking, my eyes are soon drawn closed... and sleep overtakes me.

It's been one month since I last saw Kei. One month since Toshi died, and I saw Kei drinking in the park... And I'm tearing my hair out. I think I see him everywhere! Im worried sick. My heart hurts. I'm alone. I haven't spoken to anyone... I haven't really left my apartment. I haven't really slept or eaten... I don't understand... "Why Kei...? WHY!" I cry out overturning a chair. My companion... my friend... my love... gone... leaving me to face a cruel and unforgiving world alone. Sure I understand he might have needed some time - but a month? Selfish basterd! What about me? Why do I love him so much that it hurts to breath without him! I hear a nock on the door, and I run to it as fast as I can to it without killing myself along the way. I fling the door open, hopeful as ever "Kei?"... Yet I've opened the door Only to find Son and Yi-Che looking back at me with slightly sad expressions. "You look rough..." Is how Son greets me. I don't know what to say to that. Yi-Che offers me a small smile. "Hi to you too..." I say quietly letting them in.

A few years down the line and I find I'm sitting on my black leather couch... In my new home up town... with my wife... Yi-Che... who's making dinner... and my 6 year old daughter... Hana... who's running around playing. I'm watching the news on T.V, and something interesting catches my attention. "So far, 4 bodies have been recovered, with the cause of death of all 4 victims being from blood loss due to a large gash on the neck." I frown at the T.V and Yi-Che comes to my side to see what I'm watching. She places a hand on my shoulder before she sits by me, watching me as I watch and listen to the news report continue.

"Although the identity and possible motive remain undisclosed, the man, known only as 'The present day Vampire' has made several 'death sentence' pleas." I swallow the lump in my throat as a picture of Kei appears on the screen. Old, but still strong emotions welling up inside me again. I'm so relived to know he is alive, and my heart beats strongly in my chest. I still remember the first time we kissed... "The police have been unable to obtain any personal information concerning the suspect, and the case is now being handled through the international police mechanism."

I was close to hysterics, and Yi-Che looked shocked at the T.V. Without a word, I hastily stood and went to change into a suit. He's alive - he's not dead - why didn't he come back - why didn't he call? As soon as I came out, Yi-Che was standing by the door, my black leather trench coat in hand. I offer her a small smile as I go and take it. She understands why I want to go now, so quickly. She knows Kei meant a lot to me… although she doesn't know how much…"Daddy- Daddy!" I turn to see Hana running up to me. I bend down and hug her tightly. "Where are you going?" "Im off to see an old friend..." I say simply. "Hurry home daddy!" My heart pangs painfully. I have a wonderful daughter here... and a wife who looks after me... and yet... here I go, running off to see Kei like a lovesick puppy... truth be told... I guess I am... still, after all this time...

You see Yi-Che was a rebound for me... and I suppose I was for her... She loved Kei... I knew that... She never loved me... Probably still doesn't love me... But yet we have a lovely life... home... child... everything is perfect for the both of us... except for that hole we both have... and I plan to fill it with the only person who can.

"See you soon Hana. Be good." I smile and kiss her forehead. "I will Daddy!" She chirps as I stand and kiss Yi-Che on the cheek. She rubs my back softly before I turn and hurry out of the door. Kei you better not die before I get there!