Brainwashing and Blackmail
Chapter 4: One Last Kiss
Tohru was fed as Sunako had ordered the following night. However, when the next night came, he decided to leave for the night.
Megumi let out a spiteful hiss as he passed by her. She didn't care what Tohru had said about her and Natsuno, even knowing he was gone, she had still wanted her ideas to have been true, and the sight of Tohru was a bitter reminder of what she couldn't have. "Go away, Shimizu," Tohru growled at her. "I'm not in the mood for you tonight."
Tatsumi was surprised and thought Tohru had finally given in and was going to feed on his own. But, that was not the case. Tohru did not go out to hunt, instead he made his way to Natsuno's house. He didn't know what had drawn him there. Perhaps it was only because he wanted to pay his last respects and had nowhere else to go to do it. He stood outside the window to Natsuno's room, hiding in the bushes.
"These bushes are getting a lot of use lately, aren't they?" Natsuno thought to himself as he sat in one of the tree branches above where Tohru hid. He wondered if it was safe to let Tohru know he was there. Not that he didn't trust Tohru, but one wrong move and there would be no hiding anywhere anymore.
"Natsuno," Tohru's voice came from below.
Natsuno shivered at the sound of sorrow in Tohru's voice. Did Tohru expect an answer? Had the Shiki not heard about the funeral home, or had they not told him? Or was this a trap to ensure Natsuno was gone? No, Tohru would never agree to taking part in something like that of his own free will, and Natsuno didn't sense any other Shiki around. Not even Megumi had come to this window since the hearse had left. Natsuno sighed, he couldn't bear to hear Tohru's voice like that.
"Damn it, Tohru, don't make me regret this!" he thought, slipping down the trees behind Tohru. Natsuno was very cautious, making absolutely certain there was no one else but Tohru. He crept up behind the blonde Shiki. He hesitated for a moment. "Forgive me for this, Tohru-Chan," he thought as he hit Tohru hard enough to knock him unconscious. He carried Tohru inside. It wouldn't be safe to talk outside.
Natsuno laid Tohru on the couch, made sure his father was asleep and that all the lights were off, then returned to the unconscious Shiki. "Come on, I didn't hit you that hard," he sighed, kneeling next to the couch and giving Tohru's head a gentle nudge with one of his fingers, "Wake up."
"Natsu…? Mph…?" Tohru's cheeks flushed as his attempt to call out was stifled by a pair of lips gently pushed against his. Tohru blinked as his vision became clear. Natsuno pulled away from the kiss, gave him a quiet smile and put a finger to his own lips as if to tell Tohru to keep his voice down. Tohru sat up quickly, surprised at the sight before him. After a moment of realizing he wasn't dreaming, Tohru threw his arms around Natsuno. "Natsuno!? You're alive?" he sobbed. "We'd heard you'd been cremated."
Natsuno smiled and wrapped his arms around Tohru. "Shh… It's alright, Tohru-Chan," Natsuno said in a gentle, comforting tone. "I'm not alive anymore, but I'm still here."
Tohru's eyes opened wide, then slowly narrowed at the realization of what Natsuno just said. "You're a Jinrou, like Tatsumi and Yoshie, aren't you?" Tohru asked, pulling away, almost a little frightened. Jinrou were stronger and faster than Shiki, meaner and smarter too.
"Is that what they call it?" Natsuno asked. He smiled at Tohru. "Don't worry, Tohru-Chan, I'm not going to hurt you." He sat on the couch next to Tohru and pulled the blonde closer to him. "Does anyone know you're here?" he asked.
Tohru slowly shook his head. "No, I made sure no one was following me. They think I went out to feed. Sunako said if I didn't start feeding on my own by the end of the week, I would be punished for insubordination. I left so they'd think that's what I was doing. Tatsumi-Kun's been eyeing me for the past two days, like he was ready and waiting to torture me."
"If he touches you, I'll kill him," Natsuno growled. There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Tohru was cautious in his movements, but he slowly slid closer to Natsuno's side. After so many barriers into Natsuno's personal space had already been broke between them the other night, Tohru wasn't sure how close he could safely get any more. "I'm sorry I did this to you, Natsuno," Tohru sighed, not sure what else to say.
"Don't be," Natsuno said, wrapping one of his arms around Tohru. "Didn't I tell you not to blame yourself?" Tohru only nodded. "It's too soon for you to completely disappear, they may suspect something," Natsuno sighed solemnly, he hated the thought of Tohru having to go back to that place. "If you ever need a safe haven, though, you're always welcome here, Tohru. But only you, of course." Tohru nodded again, he knew all too well they'd be looking for him if he didn't come back, though he was no more thrilled about it than Natsuno was.
"I asked her. It pissed Sunako off, but I asked her," Tohru said. Natsuno looked at Tohru curiously. "I asked why we couldn't find another way, why we couldn't try to coexist. I was so lost thinking you wouldn't come back and had left me behind that I didn't care what she did to me. It made her mad, but she was insistent that it could never work."
Natsuno pulled Tohru in closer, wrapping both arms around the Shiki. "I hadn't expected to come back. Neither as a Shiki or a 'Jinrou'. But I knew a long time ago I could never leave here without you." Tohru blushed as Natsuno leaned in and kissed him once more. "We leave together, or not at all, Tohru-Chan." Tohru smiled, nodded, and snuggled up close to Natsuno. There were no longer any barriers for Tohru to cross. Natsuno smiled and took one of Tohru's hands in his. He told Tohru that he intended on learning what he could about the Shiki and finding just the right time to attack them. He knew he could trust Tohru with all the details, but decided it was safer for him if he only knew a few of the smaller ones. If Tohru had to go back to the Shiki, the less they could learn from him the better. Natsuno wanted to keep him as safe as possible.
Tohru promised Natsuno he would never tell the others anything, and Natsuno truly believed him. Tohru offered to come back whenever he got the chance from watchful eyes to tell Natsuno whatever he could about what was going in Kanemasa and the Shiki's other networks. Natsuno was reluctant, but agreed, as long as Tohru made sure no one saw him.
Time passed almost too quickly, and Tohru knew he had to get back soon. Natsuno caught Tohru by the wrist as he got up to leave. "Hold on, Tohru-Chan." Tohru stopped and looked at Natsuno curiously. "Your whole purpose in leaving was so they'd think you'd fed tonight. But you haven't had a drop." Tohru quietly nodded. "They might notice that." Natsuno unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the collar away from his neck. "If I'm truly a Jinrou like you said, there's no risk in biting me anymore. You can drink my blood, if it'll suit you."
Tohru sat back on the couch next to Natsuno and leaned in to the Jinrou's neck, closing his eyes for a moment. "I think so, Natsuno," Tohru said softly, as he took in Natsuno's scent.
"Then do it," Natsuno said with a smile. "I'm all yours."
Tohru blushed and smiled. "Thank you, Natsuno," he whispered as he gently sank his fangs into Natsuno's neck. He felt Natsuno's body give a slight shudder, which was accompanied by a soft gasp, neither one denoting pain. As Tohru drank, he could feel Natsuno's warm, strong arms gently warp around him. Tohru drank what he could. Maybe it was because it was blood that was willingly offered, rather than forcibly taken, but Tohru had believed Natsuno's blood tasted better than anything they fed the 'fledglings', as Sunako called them, at Kanemasa. Now that Natsuno was a Jinrou, it tasted even better. Tohru slowly pulled away from Natsuno's neck, almost sad to leave it. He watched in amazement as the wound healed quickly. Definitely a Jinrou. One last kiss, and Tohru took his leave for the night. He was happier than he'd been since he'd risen up. Now, he had to hide that.
Tohru reached the barracks for the night and sneered. Megumi was only just now making it back as well, and she was as full and happy as a stuffed tick. Megumi didn't have to worry about loosing her humanity, because she never had it to loose to begin with. "Well, that did it," Tohru thought to himself, "That put me right back into a sour mood. I guess I owe you this one, Shimizu."
Tohru was ever so careful not to let anyone follow him after that. He did his best to remain inconspicuous about everything, and took different paths to Natsuno's house every night. Natsuno became worried when the more round-about paths made Tohru later than usual, but he at least appreciated the extra effort Tohru had put into it. They couldn't run, not yet, they still had friends and family they had to protect here in Sotoba, but once the Shiki were gone, they agreed they would leave too. For the first time in his fifteen years, Natsuno was glad that the task before him wasn't being undertaken alone. Of course, Tohru was getting his fair reward for what help he did give. He had plenty of time to be with Natsuno, for him that was enough, but Natsuno kept him fed as well, without having to prey upon humans.
But Tatsumi was beginning to suspect something. He'd forgotten to follow Tohru for the first few days, as there had been several other new Shiki to rise up, that he'd become too busy hunting for them, while Yoshie 'babysat' them. But he knew Sunako would chastise him if he didn't make some effort in learning the truth behind what happened to Natsuno, and Tohru was certainly going out of his way to leave and come back alone every night.
Tohru was getting ready to leave Natsuno's and head back for the night. "Now, you be careful heading back, Tohru-Chan," Natsuno warned. He smiled and gently caressed Tohru's cheek.
Tohru smiled. "Aren't I always?" He leaned in and gave Natsuno one more tender kiss before leaving. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Neither of them where aware that Tatsumi had seen this exchange, from the shadows. Tatsumi smirked. This was too perfect. Tatsumi had been dieing for this opportunity. Tatsumi waited and quietly followed Tohru until the blonde Shiki was well out of sight and sound of his blue-haired Jinrou lover. "You seem unusually happy, tonight, Mutou," Tatsumi said smugly as he finally moved out of the shadows.
"SHIT?" Tohru thought, turning to face the green-haired Jinrou. He tried to act natural. "Tatsumi-Kun? On your way back from the hunt or on your way out for one?"
"Pathetic," Tatsumi thought. He walked over to Tohru. "So, tell me, Tohru? How's Yuuki-Kun these days?" Tatsumi asked, his eyes narrowed and glowering at the Shiki.
"Huh?" Tohru asked, trying to play innocent-something he'd become accustomed to doing as a human. "Don't tease me, Tatsumi-Kun, we both Natsuno is…"
Tatsumi reached out and grabbed Tohru's collar, slamming him against the nearest wall. "DON'T lie to me, Tohru Mutou," Tatsumi growled. "I saw you leaving his house tonight. How long have you known he was still alive?"
Tohru's eyes flashed from their humanly beautiful brown to their vacant black with red glowing orbs as he tried to wrench himself free of Tatsumi's grip. "Go to hell. I don't answer to you," Tohru growled.
"Big words from such a coward," Tatsumi smirked, slamming Tohru back against the wall. The impact snapped Tohru's eyes back to normal. "Let's see how much fight you have in you when I bleed you." Tohru tried to squirm free, both of his hands grabbing hold of Tatsumi's arm, trying desperately to pull the Jinrou off of him. Tatsumi grabbed both of Tohru's wrists and pinned him to the wall. With a snarl, he lounged in and bit Tohru's throat. With a twist of his head, he ripped the flesh, causing Tohru to bleed out until he had just enough strength to stay conscious before dragging him back to Kanemasa.
Megumi's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Tatsumi dragging Tohru back. "What happened?" she asked, seeing that Tohru's neck hadn't healed quite yet.
Tatsumi threw Tohru at Megumi's feet. "You've been wanting your chance to get back at him, Megumi-Chan," Tatsumi said crossing his arms. "This little bitch has been running around with your Yuuki-Kun."
Megumi's eyes grew even wider. "WHAT!?" she shrieked.
"Augh," Tohru groaned, covering his ears. He was so weakened from Tatsumi's attack that Megumi's usual shriek sounded like a banshee's wale. "Damn, Megumi…" he groaned. "Your voice… not very soothing."
"Tsk… Still enough strength to be cheeky, I see," Tatsumi growled kicking him.
"Is it true, is Yuuki-Kun really still alive?" Megumi wailed.
"Well, he was certainly talking to someone at Yuuki-Kun's house tonight, I saw him leave there," Tatsumi growled. "Megumi-Chan, he's yours to do with as you like until I get back. I've bled him so he can't put up much of a fight but don't kill him. I have to report this to Sunako."
Megumi glared at Tohru, as she drug him into a room and threw him into an out-of-the-way corner. Before Tohru even had the chance to lift his head, he felt Megumi's weight on top of him. She was straddling his waist. Her pink eyes were glowing their monstrous lights. "Shi…Shimizu…?" Tohru groaned.
"What was it that Yuuki-Kun said that night, Mutou?" she hissed, "It's easy to forget a rapist isn't always male and the victim isn't always female?" She gave an evil smile as Tohru's eyes widened in realization of what she was about to do. "I was saving myself for Yuuki-Kun, but… Ah, well, let's see if we can't put that theory into action, shall we?"
"Sunako?" Tatsumi called, knocking on the door.
"Excuse me, Muroi-San," Sunako said, bowing to her guest, and going to the door. "I'm entertaining a guest, Tatsumi, what is it?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sunako, but we have a situation that needs your attention," Tatsumi informed her.
She turned to the Junior Monk and bowed, "I will be back in just a moment, Muroi-San. Please, make yourself at feel home until I get back." She closed the door and followed Tatsumi down the hall, where he explained the situation. "HE'S WHAT!?" she exclaimed. "Tatsumi, how could you screw this up?"
Tatsumi hung his head. "I'm sorry, Sunako," he said, "Yoshie and I have been pretty busy lately. I just managed to catch the Mutou boy at the right time and the right place tonight." He wasn't trying to make excuses, he knew Sunako wouldn't accept them, but it was the only explanation he had. He closed his eyes, expecting some form of punishment to come from his mistress.
Sunako surprised him when her hand gently reached up and rested on his head between his two wolf-ear-shaped spikes of green hair. He opened his eyes to find her standing on her tiptoes, with her arm stretched as far as she could to reach his head. He smiled and knelt down in front of her, allowing her better reach. "Where is the Mutou boy now, Tatsumi?" she asked quietly. It seemed she had a hard time staying mad at the green-haired Jinrou.
"I bled him and left him with the Shimizu girl for the time being. Megumi-Chan has strong feelings for Yuuki/Koide. I thought she might want to exact a little revenge of her own," Tatsumi said.
"What do you intend to do with him?" she asked.
"Killing him could be too dangerous. The bond between two lovers is made even stronger in the first few centuries after a lover's embrace; even though for most vampires it's forbidden because one if not both will eventually loose their humanity and they will drift apart. If Yuuki/Koide is indeed a Shiki, then Mutou will be the only one who can control him. If he's a Jinrou, then probably no one can control him. If he's still human, then Mutou lied about killing him. Megumi-Chan did say she didn't watch Yuuki/Koide's final moments, it was too much for her to bear after they had bore their feelings to one another."
Sunako gave Tatsumi's hair a gentle tug. "That doesn't answer my question, Tatsumi," she sighed, her voice becoming somewhat more commanding, "What do you intend to do?"
"I'll let Megumi-Chan have her way with him tonight. There isn't much night left. From what I heard, Yuuki/Koide is expecting him tomorrow night. But he won't make it, I'll be too busy toying with him myself. When Mutou doesn't show up, it'll have his lover worried. The next day, I'll pay a visit to the Yuuki/Koide household, just after dark. If he's a Shiki, I'll kill him on the spot," Tatsumi replied.
"And if he's not a Shiki?" Sunako asked, crossing her arms.
"If he's merely human, I shall still kill him, myself. If he's a Jinrou… Sunako, what would you have me do? I know you wish to see more like Yoshie and myself," Tatsumi asked.
"If he's a Jinrou, we will give him a chance to join us. He can choose; join us, or one or both of them will die," Sunako said calmly, turning away from Tatsumi. "I leave it to you from here, Tatsumi. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my guest."
Tatsumi nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
When Tatsumi finally found where Megumi had drug Tohru off to, she was already through with him and putting her clothes back on. Her eyes were back to their soft pink. Tohru was spent, having already been weak from Tatsumi's earlier attack. "That wasn't half as satisfying as I'd hoped it be," Megumi huffed.
Tatsumi smiled at the scene. "It's almost dawn, Megumi-Chan, get some sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow. We're sending you after your friend Kaori Tanaka's father."
This perked Megumi right up. She'd heard how Natsuno had been spending time with Kaori and Akira after Tohru had passed. Claiming their father as a Shiki would definitely make her feel better. With a happy little squeak, she skipped off to her sleeping quarters. Tatsumi turned his attention to Tohru. This had only been a taste of what was to come the next night.