And things probably start to get OOC right about here. -__-

Chapter Three

"I've told them they need to clear out if they see you coming, Shirogane."

He let out a loud "Hmph!" as he came to a stop in front of the altar steps. Ryuuko was gazing at him just as serenely as ever. It was irritating, yet comforting somehow. "I will kill you tonight."

"All right."

It was almost like a formality to say it now. Shirogane felt no desire to kill Ryuuko whatsoever. There was too much about him that was fascinating… entrancing, in a way. For some reason, he felt completely at peace when he stood face-to-face with the priest like this.

"You always look so calm. Don't you ever get angry?"

"Of course I do. When you hurt Shisui and killed the others, I was so angry I didn't know what to do. And that's not the only time… no one ever goes through life unhurt, without getting upset."

"But you didn't do anything."

The light in the ruby eyes faded, and something like panic hit Shirogane. Had he done something wrong? Said something wrong? Or was Ryuuko just recalling events that he had never wanted to think about?

"I've learned, through this short life of mine, that acting on anger and pain accomplishes nothing. It is better to control it and let it go. Then, it is possible to do what is best for the situation."

Shirogane snorted.

"If I had let my anger overtake me, and I had turned and attacked you, how would things be different now?" The light was back in his eyes, though a bit dimmer than before. "I would be dead, and you wouldn't be the way you are now. This is the way things should be, don't you think?"

That struck some thought into him. Ryuuko smiled as he watched Shirogane puzzle over it for a few moments. Then, the priest asked, "But I suppose not everyone agrees with their king's actions, do they?"

"No. No one really knows why I changed my mind, or that I come here so often. But they're a bit worried about me."

"How about that boy your family adopted? I hear he's quite an upstart."

"… Oh, yes." Shirogane let out a long sigh. "Homurabi."

~.oOOo.~

Akira felt the gaze a little too strongly on the back of his neck today. He had the urge to turn around and look Shirogane in the face, but restrained himself. Preparing for midday prayer and surrounded by many other people, staring in a strange direction would be sure to draw the attention of the others. That, and for some reason he just didn't want to look at the vampire.

He felt guilty for being a bit angry with Shirogane. He owed Shirogane his life, many times over, but wished, only wished, that he could learn at least the reason why he had to be protected, why Shirogane was willing to go so far to keep him safe. If he could know that, just that, Akira thought that he could at least fully accept his situation.

He wanted to ask… he wanted to ask so badly what the reason was for Shirogane to be so protective. But he knew he wouldn't get an answer, so with a sigh he again resigned himself to continue his day without knowing anything.

So it was strange to suddenly notice a black-cloaked Shirogane sitting in the congregation in the very back row during prayer, blue eyes piercing through the shadows cast across his face. Akira for some reason could hardly take his eyes off the vampire. Why… why all of a sudden was he doing this?

He hurried into the nave after prayer was over, catching a handful of the cloak before Shirogane could leave the cathedral. The vampire turned only enough to glance down at the boy, who asked, "What are you doing?"

"Is it so bad for me to formally attend every now and then?"

It shocked him. He honestly hadn't expected an answer. Or, considering how much more talkative Shirogane seemed to have been lately, at least an answer that was more than a word or two. He faltered.

"I – I thought… you can't be in the sun…"

"Akira."

It struck him absolutely dumb. He felt his eyes widen in surprise. Shirogane had never, ever said his name before. His grip completely loosened from the cloak and fell to his side. Shirogane seemed unfazed at Akira's show of disbelief, and continued out the door into the sun.

The young priest stood there, staring after where the vampire had disappeared. He couldn't move… his body wouldn't move. Something was aching… slowly, he raised a hand to where he felt it. His palm rested right over his heart.

Why? His dazed mind sought to find the reason, but it only kept asking. Why?

Shisui approached him a couple hours later, looking very worried, and asked, "Akira, where is he?"

Something shot into him. Fear? Worry? "He left after prayer."

"And he didn't come back?"

He raised his head to look into the high ceiling. He hadn't felt Shirogane come back, but he would have written that off as still being shock if it weren't for the fact he visually confirmed the vampire was not there.

"No. He's not here."

And upon saying it, he was flooded with terror. Shisui seemed to sense it, and said, "It's daytime, Akira. You're fine for now."

"But… but he walked out… right into the sunshine!" He was breaking down. Shirogane was his constant, his protection. With that gone, he suddenly felt like he was drowning. "That means he's –"

"Akira, shh." A hand touched his head, and Shisui said in a low, barely audible voice, "You're drawing attention. Calm down."

He noticed the others staring, but he couldn't help it. He needed Shirogane back. He needed to see him and be reassured. Was he shaking? It felt like it as Shisui took him by the arm and pulled him off to the side aisle, sitting him down on a bench.

"Akira, you're fine."

"He's not back!" It came out a lot louder than he intended. "He walked out –"

"I'm sure that he'll come back before sundown. You're fine when the sun's up."

"Then why is he always hanging around, all the time, if he doesn't need to be there?!"

There was a reason Shisui looked like he was in pain. Akira almost completely lost his temper, but Shisui said quietly before the boy could explode, "Akira, can't you trust him even a bit after all he's already done for you?"

"I trust him!"

"Then don't act like this. He'll be back."

"Where would he go, out in broad daylight?! Doesn't the light –"

"The light won't kill him. They just lose power. During the day, they're almost normal human beings." Shisui ruffled Akira's hair. "You're fine. He'll be back."

"Where would he go?" Akira demanded again.

"Somewhere important, if it meant he had to leave you."

It hurt. It was a lie, and Akira knew it. He yanked his head away and retreated to the edge of the bench, trembling. Shisui let out a long sigh.

"If you want to stay here until he gets back, that's fine. Just keep quiet, okay?"

"He's never left me before…"

A slight pause. "I know. But he'll be back. I promise."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I've known Shirogane for almost twenty years now. I know that he'll come back. He would never abandon someone he's dedicated himself to." There was a slight tremor in Shisui's voice. Akira didn't know if he liked it. He felt himself stiffen as Shisui continued, "So, I know he'll return. Just wait here for him, okay?"

And the bishop left, leaving Akira alone in the side aisle. The boy sat there, tense, stiff, scared that the slightest move might alert a nearby vampire to his presence. It was amazing how he could go from fairly comfortable to absolutely paranoid. The fear that usually remained dulled at the back of his mind was suffocating him now.

He hadn't seen Shirogane's face as he had left. Maybe if he had seen the vampire's expression clearly, he could be a bit more trusting that he would return. But those blue eyes had barely gazed at him, out of the very corner of their field of view. The air felt very cold. He shivered slightly.

Evensong was approaching very quickly… after evensong, dark would fall. Akira felt the panic rising higher and higher inside himself. Shirogane… where was he? The young priest wouldn't budge from his spot, and was relieved when Shisui ushered away those trying to pull Akira to help with preparations for the evening prayer. As he saw the light shining through the stained-glass windows grow redder, Akira pulled his hood up over his head and hunched down.

Was there anything he could do to protect himself? He was strong himself… but he had never been in a real fight, and this wasn't a fist fight with a human being. Vampires were unnaturally strong, and fast, with sharp claws. Some even had supernatural abilities. Akira would be kidding himself to think he could last in a fight. He shuddered and drew the cloak closer, feeling the sting of where the vampire's claws had torn not too long ago down his calf. He would fight if he had to, but he wouldn't try to convince himself he'd be the winner.

Time was passing painfully slowly, and the trails of light from the western windows were growing shorter and shorter. Akira was about to give himself up when a low voice reached him.

"You really are helpless."

He jumped, whirled, to see Shirogane standing by the bench, blue eyes flickering. Akira was on his feet instantly, filled with a mixture of anger and relief. Shirogane was there… right there. That voice couldn't possibly be an illusion. He was safe. He opened his mouth to say something, but Shirogane grabbed his arm and pulled him quickly down the aisle.

"Come."

"W-wait! Evensong is –"

"Right now."

That voice left no room for argument. Akira followed, half-running, the vampire out of the cathedral. They crossed the long way to the lodgings as the sun dipped lower and lower in the sky. Shirogane's powerful hand felt like it was gripping tighter and tighter… or was it because as the sky became darker, his strength was returning? Akira didn't know.

Shirogane led him through the lodgings to his room, which they entered. The vampire threw Akira onto the bed and shut the door, locking it tightly.

"Shirogane, what is this?!"

"You're staying in here for the next few days."

"Excuse me?"

"You mustn't leave this room until I tell you to."

"I have to! I have to carry out my duties –"

"I'll speak with Shisui about it. But you cannot leave." The vampire turned his head, eyes locking into Akira's.

"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't leave right now," Akira replied coldly.

Shirogane whipped around, eyes blazing, and Akira felt himself paralyzed by that fierce stare. Shirogane snarled, low and commanding, "You know better than anyone what will happen to you if you walk out there right now. You will stay in here until I tell you it's safe to do otherwise."

Something touched Akira – a familiar scent. It was just a bit different, but there was no mistaking it – blood. His eyes searched for the source, and found it. Shirogane's ribs were splattered with dark that was seeping down through his clothes.

"Sh-Shirogane!" He scrambled off the bed over to the vampire, who was now leaning heavily against the door. "You're hurt… what happened?"

There was no response. Akira hesitated as he looked at the deep wound in Shirogane's side. What could he do about it? Probably nothing… vampires healed very quickly on their own. But he hated this… he hated feeling this weak and helpless, especially when there was physical evidence that he was just that way.

"This happened because of me, right?" No response, as expected, but Shirogane's eyes did slide closed as Akira demanded, "Why are you doing this? Why am I so special, that you have to do this? Protecting me, watching me, getting hurt for me… I'm not worth it! I don't understand… how can you do this?"

His fingers clenched into Shirogane's black clothes. The vampire still didn't utter a word. Akira couldn't cry, although his spirit was aching to. He didn't have any tears for this… or, if he did, shedding them would bleed his entire being dry.

Shirogane remained silent and still, until he felt Akira's grip loosen. Opening his eyes, he saw the boy had finally given himself up to sleep. With a sigh, the vampire circled his arm around Akira's waist and carried him to the bed. He carefully removed the many layers of clothing protecting Akira's upper body before he lay the young priest down and pulled the covers up around him. He hesitated as he watched Akira's sleeping face, which looked troubled, almost as if he was about to cry. Then, slowly, he brushed the back of his hand against Akira's forehead.

"It's worth it," was the quiet whisper.