Warning: Description of imprisonment and torture, you've been warned
Chapter 4 - Your Funeral
A lone light bulb hung from the ceiling, swaying ominously in the eerily quiet underground cell. Cao Bin had lost track of how long he had been strung up in silver chains and routinely drained. All the days and nights clumped together in his brain like grains of sticky rice.
The only interaction that he had to look forward to was the red headed girl that came every so often to collect his blood that slowly dripped into a pan below his feet as he hung helplessly in mid air. The hollow silver needle that they had shoved into his femoral artery never stopped aching and continuously supplied the hunters with a supply of his blood. The irony of the situation was not lost on him. For over a hundred years he had been hunting humans and draining their blood, now the humans were doing the same to him, only very slowly.
"Penny for your thoughts bloodsucker," Mila sneered as she entered the cell.
"Funny you would call me that when you reek of vampire blood yourself little one," Cao Bin responded coolly. He could smell a mixture of his own scent on the fiery young woman all dressed in tight black leather and some other vampire's blood as well . . . a pureblood. "Smells like you have gotten your hands on a better vintage, pureblood if I'm not mistaken," he sniffed the air dramatically.
"Shut up," Mila snapped and hit the bound vampire across the face hard with the back of her hand. She grinned when Cao Bin's face sizzled from the contact of her three silver rings.
"Temper temper," Cao Bin grunted and spit a mouthful of blood on the floor.
"I thought I told you to-"
"Mila!" Yakov growled as he appeared in the doorway, "don't waste your breath on that scum."
"Yes, sir," Mila nodded, shot a scathing look at Cao Bin, and stepped back in order to allow Yakov enough room to enter the cramped cell.
"Ah if isn't the President of the Hunters' Organization, Yakov Feltsman himself," Cao Bin smiled while blood dripped down his chin. "I see that you have been dabbling in pureblood as well," he smirked.
"It's a hell of a lot better than that shit you have pumping through your disgusting veins," Yakov shrugged.
"Well as I've told you, I'm simply a turned vampire, I was born human," Cao Bin rolled his eyes. He dearly wished that he could move his arms, then he would wrapped his hands around his oppressors' necks and snap their pretty little heads clean off. But alas, he was unable to move anything except his head.
"Even your filthy blood is good for something," Yakov yanked the silver chains tighter around Cao Bin, causing the vampire to hiss and squirm. "Tell me, have you ever met a pureblood?"
"Heh," Cao Bin winced, but retained his cocky demeanor. "Even if I had, you'd be the last thing on this planet that I would tell," he grunted.
"Oh I don't know you freak of nature," Yakov tightened his grip further, causing the vampire to howl in pain. "I can be quite persuasive," he snickered.
Cao Bin let out a long string of Chinese profanities and snarled as the silver chains burned deeper into his skin. "You're a sadistic fucker you know that human?" Cao bin growled through his pain. Silver was able to block a vampire's healing abilities, so his body was unable to repair the damage that Yakov was inflicting. The weaker the vampire, the stronger the effects of the silver. He hated the man that held his chains like a master controling his pet dog. Cao Bin swore that if he ever made it out of the cell alive, he would kill Yakov very slowly and enjoy ever damn minute of it.
"And you're not?" Yakov snapped back and pulled the vampire by the hair to look him in the eye. "When we tracked you down you were laying on a pile of corpses like a damn sofa you monster," Yakov glared into blurry red eyes.
"Yeah yeah I'm a bad vampire, I kill for fun and don't give a shit about that stupid ass treaty, but then again, neither do you." Cao Bin retorted and allowed a wicked smile to reveal his fangs. "If you did, I'd be a pile of ashes not your own personal vampire blood bank!"
Yakov laughed and released the vampire. "You're right. Mila!"
"Yes sir," Mila jumped to Yakov's side obediently.
"I think that I've made you wait long enough," Yakov spun on the spot and headed to the door.
"You mean it sir?" Mila asked in stunned disbelief.
"Yes," Yakov said as he placed his hand on the doorframe and looked back at the vampire one last time.
A frantic grin broke across Mila's face as she drew her blade from its sheath at her hip. The sharp blade caught the light as it swung through the air towards Cao Bin's neck. "This is for murdering my sister you bastard!" She screamed and before the vampire could say another word, she brought down her blade and severed the vampire's head. The head fell to the ground as the vampire's body turned into an ashy rain, falling to the floor, causing the chains to clack together loudly without a body to confine. Cao Bin's face smirked from the earthen floor and then disintegrated into ash as well.
"Come my dear, your sister is finally avenged," Yakov walked away and left Mila alone in the cell.
Mila sheathed her blade and kicked the pile of ash on the ground petulantly. "Not yet, but she will be," she whispered and stomped off.
. . .
"Vkusno!" Viktor squealed and then blushed brightly as all eyes in the small restaurant were cast upon him. He couldn't help it, the katsudon that Yuuri wanted him to try was easily one of the most delicious things ever!
"You like?" The sweet old woman behind the counter asked Viktor in broken English.
"Hai!" Viktor responded happily with one of only a handful of Japanese words that he knew. The elderly woman nodded and busied herself with cooking rice.
"Irasshaimase!" Rang out from all corners of the quant store as someone else entered.
Viktor had heard this greeting several times since he arrived and had taken a vacant seat at the front counter. With his back to the door, he continued to feast upon his bowl of deliciousness.
"Ahh Yuuri-sama!" A middle aged man greeted with a smile over his ramen.
"Ooooh Yuuri-sama!" A young waitress bowed.
"Ohisashiburi Yuuri-kun!" The older woman practically sang as she dashed around the counter and hurried to bow in front of Yuuri. That got Viktor's attention and he spun on his stool to follow her movements. Standing a few steps inside the restaurant was Yuuri, his coat was missing and he looked flushed, no doubt from running to speak with Yuuko.
"Gobusata desu Oba-san!" Yuuri blushed and returned the bow. Viktor admired the beautiful line Yuuri's body made when he bent into a perfect ninety degree bow. There was a certain elegance and grace in Yuuri's form that Viktor couldn't help but salivate over.
"About time Yuuri, your food is getting cold," Viktor crossed his arms and huffed from his stool. He was less than pleased to be ditched in the middle of their date. Ok, it wasn't actually a date, but Viktor really wanted it to be one. How dare Yuuri leave him all alone in the middle of their almost date?
Yuuri rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled at the sight of Viktor pouting like a spoiled child. He wondered if Viktor showed this adorable side of himself to everyone. Who in their right mind wouldn't fall for his charms? Yuuri was such a goner. He whispered a few things into Oba-san's ear before he walked over to the upset Russian. "Is this seat taken handsome?" Yuuri purred in a deep voice. After his moment in the forest, he was feeling more in control of himself. Even Viktor's overwhelming aroma was manageable, which made Yuuri more relaxed.
Viktor blushed. Yuuri was exuding an air of confidence and damn it was sexy. Oh Yuuri I'm such a goner. "I was actually saving it for someone special," Viktor spun back around to face the counter and took another bite of his food without looking Yuuri's way. He dearly hoped that Yuuri would resume their little game from earlier.
"Oh and who might that be?" Yuuri drawled and leaned his elbow on the counter, carefully avoiding the stool. He angled his body towards Viktor and placed his head on his hand, waiting for a reply. Slowly he raised his other hand up his thigh and grabbed his own hip. Yuuri stared at Viktor over his glasses, through his thick eye lashes. He preened when Viktor dropped his fork, clearly Oba-san had taken pity on the foreigner, as his eyes followed Yuuri's delicate movements.
Viktor could feel his heart rate pick up as Yuuri dragged his own hand up those thighs of his and stopped to grab his own hip. And that look! Yuuri was clearly giving Viktor a come hither look and Viktor was SO ready to go whither Yuuri wished. He gulped and found his throat dry. Yuuri had shot back a question and was waiting for a reply. Think Nikiforov, think! How could a man have such long eye lashes? Viktor took a deep breath and fixed Yuuri with a cocky smile. "Oh he is a guy I just met today, but I already kinda like him so . . ."
"Only kinda like him?" Yuuri tilted his head and leaned in closer to Viktor. He had no idea where this sudden boldness was coming from, but for once he decided not to over analyze everything and just go with the flow. Right now the flow was eye fucking Viktor in broad daylight. At least most of the patrons of this particular establishment couldn't speak English, but there would be no mistaking their body language.
Fuck fuck fuck! Is Yuuri gonna make me say it? Is he just playing with me? Does he like me too? Ahhhh! Viktor was afraid that everyone was watching them and that everyone would be able to hear his thunderous heartbeat pounding away in his chest. Fuck it! "Well I'm definitely interested, but he hasn't seemed too into me sadly. He keeps running off you see," Viktor took his shaky hand and lifted his tea cup to his lips. He needed an excuse to look away from Yuuri's erotic body and gorgeous eyes. Yuuri hadn't replied and Viktor couldn't bear the thought of looking up, so he continued. "And here I thought that we were sorta on a date . . ."
"A date huh?" Yuuri didn't know that Viktor thought they were on a date! He thought that Viktor was just bored and wanted something to do and Yuuri could speak English. He couldn't fathom why Viktor would actually want to go on a date with him. What could he possibly have to offer the sexiest man alive? And Viktor had said that he was interested? Why? Yuuri's head was swimming, he couldn't be sure that Viktor was being serious or simply playing along. Who in their right mind wouldn't be interested in you Viktor? Oh my god! Are you kidding me? He didn't know what to say.
"Well . . . I mean . . . I thought that you know . . . I kinda . . . well . . . want. . .umm," Viktor word vomited as he dropped his fork yet again. Would Yuuri be disgusted that he wanted to go on a date? Was Yuuri just showing Viktor around because he was staying at Yuuri's onsen? Is that something that Yuuri would do for any guest that was staying there? I'm such a moron! Of course Yuuri doesn't actually like me!
Yuuri slumped onto the stool and burst out laughing. He couldn't help it, Viktor was too cute. It really wasn't fair. No one should be aloud to be that cute. He hunched over the counter and grabbed his stomach as he chortled and snorted. Yuuri couldn't remember the last time that he had laughed so hard. "Oh Viktor, what a shitty first date, we can do better sweetie!" Yuuri cried and rocked back and forth with his giggle fit.
Viktor's eyes went wide and he stopped breathing. He had been slightly hurt when Yuuri started laughing at him but then . . . then he called Viktor sweetie? First date? Viktor's brain tried to piece together what Yuuri had said. Yuuri called me sweetie. He said we can do better. Does he want to go on a real date with me? "Yuuri?" Viktor hated how desperate he sounded, but he had to make sure before he allowed himself to hope.
Yuuri turned and smiled warmly at Viktor while he wiped a tear from under his glasses. "Viktor, would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night?" Yuuri asked simply. He wasn't laughing and he didn't understand why, but he wasn't nervous either. He just felt like it was the right thing to do and that everything would work out. He had spent the majority of his life playing it safe and reigning himself in, now he just wanted to try being spontaneous and adventurous.
"Yes!" Viktor responded instantly and loudly. He could feel himself blush as all eyes once again fell on him. The old woman asked Yuuri something in Japanese and he responded in kind. After a minute the whole restaurant was clapping and hooting. Viktor shot Yuuri a puzzled look.
"I told them, they are happy for us, now eat your food you dork," Yuuri bonked Viktor on his head and dug into his own bowl of katsudon. The fried pork his hit palette and mingled with the creamy rice and eggs. The flavors danced on his tongue before he swallowed them down with a pleased little moan. "Oishii!" Yuuri mumbled through his food but raised a hand in front of his mouth to be polite.
Viktor just stared. Stared at Yuuri eating his food. That pink little tongue darting out of his delectable looking mouth to snatch a stray rice grain. The smile that graced his beautiful face as he enjoyed his meal. At Yuuri speaking in his native tongue to the kindly old woman who seemed to own the place. Viktor was going on a real date with Yuuri tomorrow night! Like a real date, not an almost date, an actual date. How the hell am I gonna sleep tonight?
. . .
"I still can't believe it!"
"I know right? Isn't it crazy?"
"But of all the people on this planet?"
"I know!"
Yuuri was rapidly getting grumpy. Phichit and Yuuko wouldn't shut up about Viktor being his soul mate and he was beginning to deeply regret telling the damn busy bodies about it. He just reminded himself for the millionth time that evening that Viktor couldn't understand them. The two gossipy vampires were speaking in a mixture of several languages to keep anyone else at dinner from understanding them, sadly Yuuri understood every word.
"What are they talking about Yuuri?" Viktor whispered and leaned in close to Yuuri. They were sitting around a low table in the banquet hall across from Phichit and Yuuko.
Yuuri could feel a headache coming on and pinched the bridge of his nose. "They are busy being extremely rude to our guest is what they are doing!" Yuuri growled and took a sick satisfaction at the look of terror on his friends' faces. They generally knew better than to make him angry, but it seemed like they needed a subtle reminder this evening.
"I'm so sorry Viktor," Yuuko reverted to English, grimaced, and clapped her hands together in front of her face.
"Yeah, me too," Phichit rolled his eyes and took a drink from his cup, not looking sorry at all. He too spoke in English, only because he didn't want to upset Yuuri any further.
Viktor's eyes were unconsciously glued to Phichit's cup. He still was having a difficult time with the fact that evidentially Phichit was a vampire. After lunch he and Yuuri did a little more shopping before returning to the onsen. They had been talking and not looking where they were going which caused them to open a door right in Phichit's face, spilling a cup of blood all down his front. Phichit's eyes went bright red and he licked up what he could while he grumbled and stomped down the hall, shooing away Yuuri and Viktor's hurried apologies. Yuuri had quickly excused himself to help Phichit and Viktor returned to his room to read for a few hours until dinner.
Phichit noticed Viktor's gaze and decided to have a bit of fun at the hunter's expense. "Heh," he snickered and raised his glass towards Viktor, "wanna try some?"
"Phichit!" Yuuri squealed and shot his progeny a dangerous glare.
"Ok ok I was just joking, I didn't think he would actually want any geez," Phichit shrugged and took an exaggerated gulp of the blood in his cup.
"I'm sorry Viktor, that was rude of him," Yuuri knitted his brows and wrung his hands.
"It's umm ok, Phichit was just messing around, no harm done," Viktor forced a smile. Sitting at a table with two vampires made him feel nervous, especially because Yuuri forbade him to bring any weapons out of his quarters. Viktor had to admit that he would feel much safer if he knew that he could protect Yuuri and himself if a situation arose.
"Phichit don't you think you've had enough? Why don't you put that away now?" Yuuri concentrated on not making his words a command, but the effort caused him to grit his teeth. If he felt like it, Yuuri could just order Phichit to do anything that he wanted, but he never liked to use that power.
"Fine," Phichit got to his feet and disappeared for a minute only to return with tray upon which sat a ceramic vessel and four ceramic cups. He plopped back down and poured everyone a drink. Yuuri poured Phichit a drink and then Phichit raised his cup in a toast. "To our guest Viktor, the first hunter to walk through the door since his grandfather! Kanpai!" Phichit cheered and took a healthy drink from his cup.
"You knew my grandfather?" Viktor asked before his own cup could make it to his mouth. His hand was shaking slightly and the sake was about to spill in his unsteady grasp.
"Yup!" Phichit answered cheerfully. "But if you want to know anything about him," Phichit raised his cup, drank the rest of his sake, and slammed the cup back down on the table. "You'll have to gain my trust by drinking with me Nikiforov," he winked, "you too Yuuri!"
Yuuri gave Phichit a warning glare and then drank the entire contents of his cup.
An hour and many drinks later. . .
"Pin!" Phichit shouted.
"Pon!" Yuuko sitting to his left quickly screamed.
"Pan!" Yuuri squealed and pointed to Viktor who didn't notice.
"You have to drink Viktor!" Phichit laughed.
"Wait! Did you point at me Yuuri?" Viktor shrieked in confusion, he had been waiting to someone else to say 'Pin' again.
"Yup!" Yuuri proclaimed with a grin.
"Shit!" Viktor creied and picked up his cup, resigned to his fate. He made a mental note. Nikiforov never agree to a drinking game with locals ever again you idiot! He began to drink while the others chanted 'iki iki iki,' to goad him on. With a heavy breath he slammed his drained cup down. "Ok you bastards, Pin!"
"Pon!" Phichit screamed with glee.
"Pan!" Yuuko yelled and pointed to Yuuri who hadn't been expecting the same dirty trick.
"Aww damn!" Yuuri hung his head as the others laughed. He raised his cup and began to drink. Phichit and Yuuko were chanting 'iki iki iki,' but Yuuri could hear Viktor very clearly chant 'iku iku iku.' Yuuri choked on his sake and promptly spit it onto the table.
Viktor saw Yuuri spit his sake and then all the eyes around the table fell on him. It wasn't his turn and he didn't break the chain, so he was very confused. Even more confusing was the rapid blush spreading across Yuuri's face. "Are you ok Yuuri?" Viktor scooted closer and offered Yuuri a cloth to wipe his face.
"Yeah Yuuri," Phichit sniggered, "are you . . .ok?" He burst into fit of giggles, fell backwards, and rolled on the floor while holding his stomach.
"Viktor umm, you said it . . .umm . . .wrong," Yuuri mumbled as he felt his cheeks heat up. Fuck I want him to say that to me some day but actually mean it. No Yuuri don't go there don't think of him like . . .shit too late. Yuuri bit his bottom lip and pointedly looked away.
"Or did he?" Phichit boisterously inquired from the floor.
"Urusai!" Yuuri growled as he threw his cup across the table at his best friend with deadly aim, hitting him in the head. The porcelain shattered as it made contact with Phichit's skull.
Phichit cradled his head, but laughed through the pain. He sat back up and tried to rein in his giggles. There was a large gash on his head, but as he sat there and took a drink of his sake, it began to slowly heal. "Ok ok I'm sorry," he smirked. Only a trickle of blood across his forehead remained, the wound had completely healed in the blink of an eye.
"Serves you right Phichit, making fun of Yuuri and Viktor," Yuuko bonked him on the head and leaned over to grab his face. "Now stay still and let me help you moron," she rolled her eyes and lapped up the remaining blood from his forehead with her tongue. Yuuko pulled back and licked her lips.
"Ok Yuuri, I give up, what the hell just happened?" Viktor threw his hands in the air in frustration. Nothing since Yuuri spit his sake had made any sense at all. Clearly he was missing something.
"Oh Viktor dear it's just that you said "iku iku iku' instead of 'iki iki iki' while poor Yuuri was drinking," Yuuko tried to explain with a straight face. "You umm shouldn't say that unless umm-"
"You mean it!" Phichit renewed his laughter and fell back to the floor.
Viktor wasn't getting anywhere with the drunk vampires, so he turned to a very red faced Yuuri. "Yuuri, what does iku iku iku mean then?"
Yuuri blushed brighter still. Why did he say it again? Give me a break here Viktor! Is it possible for a vampire to blush to death? Yuuri wasn't sure, but he was about to find out. Viktor was looking at him all adorable and confused while saying. . . that!
Phichit sat back up, wiped his eyes, and wheezed. He decided it was time to take pity on the hunter . . . sort of anyways. "It's something that a person says when they are having an orgasm Viktor," Phichit smirked as the Russian turned red himself. "You know?" Phichit closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and moaned. "Kimochi! Oh oh oh! Iku iku!"
"PHICHIT!" Yuuri and Yuuko screamed in unison.
"What?" Phichit asked all innocently and took a sip from his cup as though he hadn't just writhed and moaned in front of them.
Oh holy fuck! I didn't mean that! How was I supposed to know? And I said it to Yuuri? "I'm umm sorry I ahh didn't know," Viktor blushed and covered his face.
"It's ok Viktor," Yuuri pat Viktor's back soothingly, causing the hunter to look up. "Phichit is just being an asshole, don't mind him." Yuuri could see Phichit stick his tongue out from the corner of his eye. He decided that his progeny needed a taste of his own medicine. "Phichit is just sour because his lover is far away," Yuuri glared.
"What?" Phichit dropped his cup. "I don't have a .. . " His voice trailed off and a light pink dusted his tan cheeks.
"Yeah he's just sexually frustrated because his man crush isn't here," Yuuko chimed in, more than happy to gang up on Phichit with Yuuri. She knew very well of Phichit's numerous flings with the Lord of South Asia, Seung Gil Lee. She had even caught them once in a very compromising situation during one of the Lord's visits to the onsen.
"Shut up, I . . . I don't have a crush," Phichit stuttered and hung his head. He knew that teasing the human would end badly, but he felt that bringing SeuSeu into it was a low blow.
Viktor was amazed that Yuuri, a human, had such a fantastic relationship with these vampires. Yuuri felt comfortable teasing and rough housing with the immortals and the vampires actually listened to him and cared for him. Viktor wasn't used to this level of interaction with vampires and he was starting to see Phichit and Yuuko as more human than monster. It was a slightly unsettling feeling. Viktor had always wanted to be a hunter, he wanted to uphold the law and be honorable just like his grandfather. But his grandfather had come here and met these vampires and the fabled Katsukis too, he had befriended them and it changed his outlook on the bloodsucking monsters in the hunter's history books. Viktor had read his grandfather's journal so many times, that he had practically committed it to memory. It was clear that after Nikolai visited this town, something in his grandfather's way of thinking about vampires had changed. Now, Viktor was beginning to see why. "Could you tell me about my grandfather, please?" Viktor was buzzed and feeling bold, now was the time. He needed to know more.
The three vampires abruptly stopped their bickering and turned to stare at the only human in the room. They all looked at each other and then sat back down.
"Sure, I remember the day that Niko-chan stumbled in here," Phichit smirked as Yuuri slumped down next to Viktor. He knew that if Yuuri wanted Viktor to keep thinking of him as a human, then Yuuri wouldn't be able to contradict Phichit's rendition of history. Phichit was also acutely aware of Viktor's wide eyed, excited expression. "It was just me and the Katsukis."
"You knew the Katsuki family? The vampire royalty?" Viktor interrupted without thinking.
Phichit sat up straight and looked down his nose at Viktor. "I am the progeny of the current King of the vampires human, King Eros turned me himself, of course I knew his parents," he growled. He wasn't sure why, but Phichit felt offended, maybe it was all the sake. It was probably the sake.
"Then why are you not the owner of this place instead of Yuuri? I thought that the Katsuki family built this onsen." Viktor was shocked to hear that Phichit was a turned vampire and by none other than the elusive King Eros himself. He turned to his right and saw that Yuuri was shooting his friend Phichit death glares. Odd.
Think Phichit think! Ok, umm, shit Yuuri is gonna kill me! What did Yuuri always say? Oh! Go with the closest thing to the truth. OK! "Yuuri's family has been involved with this place for generations. So the Katsukis left it to his family and it fell to him to care for when his own parents died, I'm just here to protect the onsen and Yuuri." Phichit was very proud of himself, that all sounded pretty damn plausible and he came up with it while drunk! Excellent job Phichit, why thank you Phichit!
Yuuri wondered if it would be considered murder to kill someone that he had already technically killed once. Didn't the Americans call that Double Jeopardy or something? To Yuuri's great relief it looked as though Viktor was buying the ridiculous lies that Phichit was selling.
"Ok, can you tell me about my grandfather now? Please?" Viktor knew that he sounded like a child begging to be read his favorite bedtime story, but he couldn't care less. His alcohol sloshed mind was humming with excitement about hearing a firsthand account of the man that he had idolized his entire life. He only wished that his cousin Yuri was here to hear this as well.
"Sure," Phichit could feel Yuuri's rage and Yuuko's silent judgment upon him. He knew that he would have to be very careful with his story or it could very well be his last. "Well summer is a slow season for the onsen, I mean who wants to jump in hot water when it's already sweltering outside? Anyways one particularly humid day in late August this moron shows up smelling of sake and . . ."
. . .
Hasetsu, Japan August 1903
The cicadas sang their shrill tune as the unforgiving sun beat relentlessly down on anyone fool enough to venture outside. A lone figure staggered down the cobblestone street under the sun's harsh rays. He was wearing foreign clothing, a lopsided straw hat, and had a long walking stick which appeared to be the only reason he hadn't fallen flat on his face yet. He haphazardly made his way to the unassuming onsen located at the end of the road. When he reached the entryway, he hiccupped and stumbled across the threshold.
A young man appeared to greet the stranger who carried with him a strong scent of sake and cheap perfume. Given the stranger's attire, it was safe to assume that he didn't speak Japanese, so Yuuri tried English instead. "Hello and welcome to Yutopia," he bowed respectfully.
"Wow! You're cute," the foreigner swayed dangerously as he leaned his weight on his walking stick and grinned at the young Japanese man. He took off his hat, revealing a cascade of silver hair over a young and attractive face, with bright emerald green eyes.
Yuuri blushed, the foreigner was a very attractive teenage human male. The sharp scent of silver and vampire hunter's weapons was unmistakable, even through the cloud of bad sake. A vampire hunter! Yuuri had to see what this vampire hunter wanted before jumping to any hasty conclusions. "You are too kind sir," Yuuri averted his eyes.
"No I mean it, oh and no need for the 'sir' stuff," the teenager laughed, "my name is Nikolai Nikiforov, but you can call me whatever you like handsome," he winked and hobbled closer to Yuuri. "What's your name gorgeous?" Nikolai drunkenly purred with lidded eyes.
"My name is Yuuri, umm," Yuuri blushed as the human came closer. "Will you be requiring just a bath or a room as well sir, I mean Mr. Nikiforov?" He heard footsteps approaching and knew that his mother and Phichit were on their way to see who was here.
"Hmm I guess that depends," Nikolai wobbled and steadied himself with his walking stick. He hadn't taken his eyes of the young man who appeared no older than himself since he walked in.
"On?" Yuuri inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"On whether I was properly informed or not," Nikolai smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Yuuri could detect the human's pulse quicken, the sound was deafening in his sensitive ears and he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to kill the attractive human youth, but if this vampire hunter was here to harm his family, then Yuuri would have no choice. "Oh? And what information was that exactly?" Yuuri straightened his spine and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well I was told that there is a whole coven of really powerful and evil vampires here that are pretending to be a sweet little family running this onsen," Nikolai stood up straight to match Yuuri's posture. He was a good five inches taller and his green eyes gleamed with malice. All earlier signs of his inebriation vanished instantly.
"Well it appears that you were misinformed then dear," Hiroko chirped happily as she and Phichit entered the room.
Nikolai swiveled his head and fixed the newcomers with an appraising look. "Was I now?" He cocked his head to the side.
"Yes dear, we are not pretending to be a family, we are a family. My name is Hiroko Katsuki and that is my son Yuuri Katsuki," she smiled and pointed to Yuuri. "And this is Phichit, Yuuri's progeny, so he's family too." Hiroko could have been discussing rice prices or the weather with the mellow and unworried tone of her voice.
"You are the Katsuki family? As in pureblood vamp royalty?" Nikolai blinked rapidly and shook his head.
"Yes we are and we are not evil," Hiroko added with a shake of her head at the thought.
Nikolai scuffed. "How do you figure that lady?" He asked with obvious disdain.
"We don't kill unless threatened, we never feed from children, and we give back to the humans around us." Hiroko replied calmly.
"What about the three dead children from the next town over completely drained of their blood then?" Nikolai snapped.
"Oh dear I heard about that. I told Saka-san that he really needed to stop doing that and lay low for a while," she clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"Well he isn't going to harm anyone anymore, I turned him to a pile of dust yesterday," the vampire hunter brazenly proclaimed.
"A shame, but I did warn him," Hiroko sighed.
"We're not like that!" Yuuri piped up.
"Oh you're a couple of good vamps then? Not filthy disgusting monsters? My mistake! Please forgive me!" Nikolai sarcastically replied.
"Well now that we have that all cleared up, how about a nice bowl of katsudon, house specialty," Hiroko smiled and slowly spun on the spot.
"Wait! Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm a vampire hunter! I kill you bloodsuckers!" Nikolai pouted like an ignored child.
"Yes well be that as it may, I can tell that you are hungry and that you truly mean us no ill will because we haven't shown you any hostility," she giggled. "Now sit down Niko-chan and I'll get you some food!" Hiroko pointed to a nearby sofa.
"But what if I do mean you ill will? Aren't you afraid that I'll pull out my weapons and kill you all?" Nikolai furrowed his brows and grunted out pathetically.
"Oh yes dear you are very dangerous indeed, of course you failed to notice that my husband is behind you and could have easily killed you if we truly thought that you were a threat, now sit boy!" She commanded and swept from the room.
Nikolai twisted around and saw to his horror that he was surrounded.
"I'd sit son, my wife is a sweet woman, but when she wants to feed you, well best to do what she says," Toshiya smiled with his eyes closed. He had thick circular glasses and wore a gray kimono with his hands hidden in it's voluminous sleeves.
There was no way that a human could be wearing a heavy kimono like that in the heat of summer, only a vampire would be comfortable wearing such an outfit in August. Nikolai walked like a zombie over to the sofa and cautiously sat down. "You are the strangest vampires that I have ever met," he whispered.
"That's nice of you to say," Toshiya laughed.
"Here you go Niko-chan!" Hiroko suddenly reappeared, smiled widely, and slid a steaming bowl of food towards the bewildered vampire hunter. "This is my specialty, katsudon! It's pork and rice dear, eat up!" She stood back and waited patiently with the look of a proud chef.
"Is this poisoned?" Nikolai raised an eyebrow as a delicious aroma wafted towards him.
"How could you accuse my mother of such a thing?" Yuuri asked affronted. He stomped over, snatched the chopsticks from the table near the vampire hunter's hand, and plunged them into the bowl. He took a large bite and sighed at how wonderful it tasted. Yuuri then handed the chopsticks to the human and glared as he chewed and swallowed the food.
"That doesn't really prove anything, you're a vampire," Nikolai huffed, unconvinced.
"If it was poisoned I would still feel the effects human, I just wouldn't die," Yuuri rolled his eyes and stepped back.
"You would?" Nikolai inquired in shock.
"Yes, now eat before you offend my mother human!" Yuuri glared down.
"Master," Phichit had been quietly observing the entire scene, but he now stepped forward. "You have some rice on your face," he grinned and wiped the sleeve of his yakata gently across Yuuri's face.
Nikolai watched the intimate interaction between the young, tan vampire male and his 'master,' the terribly attractive young pureblood. He could feel his face heat when Yuuri offered Phichit a sincere and heartbreakingly beautiful smile.
"Thanks Phi and stop calling me master," Yuuri stuck his tongue out at his progeny.
"Oh hush," Phichit blushed, gave Nikolai a distrustful look, and sauntered back towards the wall he had been silently watching from before. His face gave a clear indication that Phichit did not share Hiroko's belief that the vampire hunter meant no harm.
Nikolai shook his head and decided to eat the cat . . .ketchup whatever it was called. If the vampires wanted him dead, they wouldn't need to resort to poisoning to do it. He shrugged and picked up the sticks. He had never used the wooden instruments of culinary torture before. He opted to stab a piece of pork and shovel it into his mouth. Instantly the taste of home cooking and comfort flooded his his senses. It was simply delicious. "Vkusno!" He exclaimed out loud without thinking.
"Aww I'm glad that you think it's delicious Niko-chan!" Hiroko wiggled and grinned.
"Ty govorish' po-russki?" Nikolai's eyes went wide in shock.
"Da!" Hiroko giggled. "I'm over 4,000 years old dear, I speak most languages."
"Wow! Well you look great for your age," Nikolai laughed and gave her a thumbs up. He didn't know why, but it was easy to get caught up in Hiroko's gentle nature. He wasn't even sure that she was a vampire anymore, she just seemed like a caring mother . . .not that he would know what that felt like. His own parents were cold and not really the nurturing type.
"Oh stop Niko-chan you'll make me blush," she swatted her hand in the air to shoo away his flattery.
"So what do you want vampire hunter? Why are you here?" Phichit had his arms crossed and he was glaring daggers at the human from across the room. His eyes were slowly turning red and he was letting his fangs down.
"Well I honestly came here to destroy this coven," Nikolai took another bite without bothering to look up.
"And now?" Phichit pushed off from the wall and stalked towards the human. He wouldn't allow anyone to harm his master or mama and papa Katsuki.
"Now I'm honestly not sure, you all seem pretty tame, well," Nikolai swallowed his mouthful of food, placed his chopsticks down, and raised his head to stare at Phichit's glowing red eyes. "Everyone except you that is," he smirked.
Yuuri growled and pushed Phichit back in a flash to stand between them. Nikolai's hand instinctively went to his hip and he pulled out his gun. It was loaded with special wooden bullets, coated in silver, a vampire hunter's best friend.
"If you wish to harm my progeny," Yuuri hissed and bared his own fangs and reddening eyes, "you will have to get through me human!" NO ONE was allowed to threaten his Phichit, NO ONE!
"Niko-chan put that nasty gun down and boys you put your fangs away and calm down this minute!" Toshiya snarled out.
Nikolai saw Phichit and Yuuri wince and appear to struggle as they slowly closed their mouths and stepped back. Their necks twitched and their faces were scrunched up in what appeared to be pain.
"Yes your majesty," they responded in monotone with a slight bow.
"Oh sorry boys, I didn't mean to do that," Toshiya rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously. He saw that Nikolai looked completely lost and decided to explain. "I'm the ahh the pureblood vampire king, as such every vampire on the planet has no choice but to follow my commands. I didn't mean to command Yuuri and Phichit though, it happens sometimes on accident when I get upset."
"Toshi!" Hiroko had her arms crossed and was glaring daggers at her husband.
"Kuso," Toshiya sighed and shuffled over to his wife while mumbling his apologies in rapid Japanese.
"Mother doesn't like it when father uses his powers on us, even by accident," Yuuri whispered to Nicolai behind his hand.
Nikolai had never spent time amongst vampires before, he wasn't sure that these were even normal vampires, but that no longer matter. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag that jingled with the sound of money. "Yuuri, I would like to rent a room here for the next week please," he pushed the bag towards the handsome pureblood with a large toothy grin.
"You do?" Yuuri raised his eyebrow in disbelief, he thought for sure that the human would want to run away as soon as he had finished his impromptu meal.
"Yes, no one has ever surprised me like you all have. I like being surprised," he winked and picked up his chopsticks. "Besides, how often does someone run across vampire royalty? I'd be an idiot to pass up this experience," he dug back into his food happily. This place was beginning to feel like a home, and he hadn't even made it past the lobby and lounge yet. He even had been given some kind of cutesy sounding nickname, the food was amazing and the vampires were so different. He could get used to this.
Yuuri thought that there must be something gravely wrong with the human's brain, but it appeared that he had enough money so . . . "Very well sir," Yuuri bowed his head and picked up the bag of coins. "Once you have finished your meal I will be happy to show you to your room."
"Thank you Yuuri, and please, just call me Nikolai," he fixed Yuuri with a charmingly bright smile.
. . .
"By the end of that first week Niko-chan was practically family," Phichit laughed at the memory. "He even ripped out pages in his precious journal and re-wrote his entries without our names and descriptions. He vowed to keep our identities and location a secret."
The story that Phichit had told made the famous Nikolai Nikiforov sound more like Viktor Nikiforov. Viktor was shocked and little happy to discover that he shared even more similarities with his grandfather than he originally thought. "What happened after the week was up?" He wanted to hear anything and everything that Phichit could remember.
"Hiroko-san threw a farewell party for him and we all got completely drunk!" Yuuko spoke up. "She invited all the vampires around and we polished off her sake and the store down the street's supply as well," she giggled.
Yuuri had found it extremely difficult to just sit there and not say anything while Phichit reminisced about the past. Throughout the story he had been referred to as 'Eros' or 'my master' by Phichit. It had been maddening. There was so much more that Yuuri wanted to tell Viktor about his grandfather. He had so many funny stories and fond memories of his own to share.
"Yeah we were a bit sad to find out that he had to go back to Russia so soon, but I think that my master took it the hardest. He and your gramps had developed quite a friendship, maybe even more," Phichit winked.
"Wait, what do you mean more?" Viktor needed clarification on that point. He had read in the journal that his grandfather had developed friendships here, but there wasn't an entry that indicated more than that.
Wait! Did Phichit just imply that Niko and I . . . . Yuuri's eyes went wide and he had to bite his own lip to keep himself quiet. The smug look on Yuuko and Phichit's faces wasn't making it easy not to lash out.
"Well lets just say that Niko-chan's going away party was a wild time and things might have gotten a bit out of hand," Phichit smirked.
"Phichit!" Yuuko slapped Phichit's back hard. "We promised dear Niko-chan that we would never tell!"
Ok what? Yuuri had no idea what they were talking about. True he remembered the party and drinking . . . a lot . . . but he woke up the next morning in his room alone. Sure, he didn't exactly remember how he had gotten there the night before, but Yuuri had always assumed that he had just drunkenly stumbled there. So what were they talking about and what the hell did they promise not to tell?!
"Oh come on Yuuko, that was over a fifty years ago and I think Niko-chan would be alright with us telling his grandson," Phichit turned the sad hamster eyes on Yuuko.
Yuuko sighed, rolled her eyes, and took a long sip of her sake. "Your funeral," she mumbled into her cup.
Chapter Notes:
Cao Bin is from YOI, he beat Yuuri and Michele in the GPF in Sochi. See? I'm obsessed lol ^^;;
Irasshaimase - is commonly spoken to customers as they enter a business by workers. It means "Welcome" or "Come in."
Ohisashiburi - it's been a while or long time no see
Gobusata desu! - sorry I have been away so long
oishii - delicious
pin pon pan- is a Japanese drinking game where one person starts by saying 'pin' the person to their left must reply 'pon' and the person to their left says 'pan' and points to anyone in the group, that person must begin the game again by saying 'pin.' If anyone misses their queue to speak or says the wrong thing they must drink. hilarity and drunkenness ensues.
iki iki iki - is chanted by the people not being forced to drink during a drinking game or in general, it's kind of like "drink drink drink' being chanted, it goads the person on or is a form of peer pressure.
iku - technically means go, but 'iku iku' is generally shouted when someone is having an orgasm ^^;;; and ahh kimochi is feeling and is used in a lot of porn 0=P
urusai - shut up or you're being noisy
Author's Notes:
I'm not going to bore you with the excuses about RL getting in the way and making me late in posting this chapter, just know that I am sorry ^^
Next chapter:
- what did drunk Yuuri do?! OOoooOOOOOoooo
- the date!
- and after the date ^^
Thank you SO much for reading and commenting! I truly appreciate it so much ^.~
Come gush about Yuri On Ice with me on my tumblr: kawaiiusagi2 and see some new amazing art based on this fic ^^
