Title: When Monsters Appear

Pairings: Kurogane/Fai, others

Rating: M overall, PG for this chapter

Warnings: eventual sex, blood drinking, (minor) violence

Notes: written by me and truedespair

Summary: Fai's a vampire and Kurogane's a werewolf living together in the city when someone following them starts a chain reaction of events.


It was a bit overcast, with rain in their future tonight by the looks of things. It let Fai wonder about without having to worry about sunscreen or shade and it made their outing all the more enjoyable.

Kurogane lifted his nose a bit. A hint of rain. Looks like it was going to rain soon. He looked at Fai who was smiling brightly and moving along. Rain means clouds which meant less trouble for the vampire. He sighed in content. Looks like less problems tonight.

They looked like a bit of an odd couple, both tall and standing over most, with Kurogane's glaring and Fai's smiles. "Hungry?"

"Starved." Kurogane nodded; showing a bit of teeth.

Chuckling, Fai looked around until he pulled Kurogane into a small restaurant that was sure to have something the man would eat.

As soon as they entered, Kurogane caught a whiff of various scents; the most obvious was the food. He almost found himself drooling but stopped himself just in time.

Finding a small table for them, Fai smiled as he grabbed a menu. "I don't think we've been here before..." He said, attempting to strike up a conversation as he tried to find something to eat. It seemed it was mostly baked goods, sandwiches and soups.

"Neither have I." Kurogane said. He took a menu and looked it over. He narrowed his eyes.

Fai supposed it could have been new or had replaced another restaurant. A small waitress sidled up to their table moments later, smiling and far too flirty to either of them. Fai asked for a coffee and, so Kurogane wouldn't complain, some soup instead of one of the desserts he had been eyeing.

Kurogane can plainly see that Fai wanted something sweet from the restaurant but kept his mouth shut for now. He then picked up a certain faint scent.

"Kuro-sama, you should order instead of just letting our waitress stand around waiting." He chided teasingly, having set his menu aside already.

Blinking, Kurogane huffed. "Fine." He then gestured the waitress to come over. "I'll have that sandwich and that. Yeah, that. But for later." He growled a bit. "Thanks." He set aside the menu as the waitress walked away with their orders.

"No need to be so rude Kuro-growl." Fai frowned, wondering what had gotten the man riled now.

Kurogane ignored the scolding as he crossed his arms. He surveyed the area while waiting for their food. His eyes then caught something. He scoffed. "No way."

Tilting his head in slight confusion he stared. "What?"

The werewolf leaned over to the vampire. "There." He whispered. "Far table to the left just near the kitchen. Minors. three of them. People we already know."

Fai turned to look, wondering why Kurogane had to whisper when they weren't close to the kitchen to begin with. There sat Sakura and the twins, chatting away happily with each other. Fai smiled at them, thinking it had been a good idea to suggest them getting to know Sakura.

Kurogane sat back down at his seat seeing the three chatting away about anything and everything. "It must be a small world." He causally commented.

"Well we aren't far from home." He suggested, thinking it funny.

"That's not what I meant." Kurogane rolled his eyes.

"Kuro-min must be really hungry if he's this grumpy." Fai mused and hooked a leg with one of Kurogane's legs and smiled absently.

Feeling his face heat up, Kurogane let Fai do his little antic. It was-in a way- their night out. He let out a small smile. Damn vampire.

Their drinks and food came soon enough and Fai had to admit it was good.

Kurogane bit into his sandwich and nodded in approval. "Food's good."

He could see why it was so busy. Fai couldn't help but chuckle as he caught glances of Kurogane eating, it seemed when the man liked some in particular he always looked like a fascinated child. It reminded him of when they had eaten udon a few months before.

As he was finishing off his sandwich, he sighed in content. He glanced over at the far table as the three teenagers were laughing about something. He softly chuckled.

"And you said it was a bad idea." Fai mused as he pushed his near empty bowl aside, finished as well.

"Fine, I'll admit. I had doubts." Kurogane sighed. "But you can't blame me for being realistic."

"I should have been a cherub." Joked the vampire as he watched Kurogane.

"There's a disturbing thought." Kurogane lightly joked back. Though it wasn't hard to imagine.

"I would look cute with wings and shooting people with arrows that make them fall for the first person they see." He pouted half heartedly.

"If that's the case, then the human race or any race is screwed." Kurogane grinned a bit.

"I wouldn't use my powers for evil." He said far too innocently. "Maybe use a few arrows on Kuro-tan, but otherwise I wouldn't abuse it."

"Yeah, good luck with that." Kurogane scoffed. "No amount of pretty little arrows will change me into a great big softy." He blushed as he looked away.

"I never said I wanted you to act like a lovesick idiot~" Fai's lips curled upwards ever so slightly as his eyes narrowed.

"Who are you calling an idiot, blondie?" Kurogane glared at the smiling vampire.

"I meant that's not who I want you to be." Waving off the other's glare, Fai sighed as if bored now. "Though I don't know if I could handle a hormonal Kuro-tan." He wondered what the properties of love arrows would be and if he could procure a few for testing.

"..." Kurogane had to agree to that. He wasn't the type of person to be 'emotional' on anything; least of all love. How he fell in love at all was a mystery. Even with the arrows, the effects would have worn off and he'd be the same, guarded man he always was. It upset him for some reason.

"No matter." Fai shook his head to try and rid himself of such silly thoughts. They tended to talk about the most random of things at times. "Are you ready to leave?"

"Not yet." Kurogane said. "I ordered something else." Just as those words left his mouth, the same waitress they saw before came back; holding a tray. The waitress placed the plate on their table. "Your dessert, sirs." Kurogane nodded. "Thanks." The waitress smiled and went on her way.

Fai blinked at the plates before looking up at Kurogane with a lopsided smile. "Kuro-puu really is sweet and I'll have to show just how much I appreciate him later."

"J-Just eat up that damn dessert so we can get out of here." Kurogane muttered with a blush. Just then in the corner of his eye, he saw a mop of blonde hair poking just out of the kitchen doorway. It disappeared few seconds later. He smirked a bit as he closed his eyes. Of course.

"You're not eating?" Fai said before he picked up his fork and cut a big chunk of cake.

"Hmm?" Kurogane quickly glanced back at Fai who already started eating his cake. "Oh, yeah...right." And he started eating his share; though a bit more slowly.

"Kuro-pon seems distracted." Fai said around a bite of cake, confused.

Kurogane glanced between the blonde and the kitchen doorway before going back to his cake. "It's nothing." He muttered.

"You sure?" He didn't know what to think, but chalked it up to Kurogane just being odd like usual.

"..." Should he say it? He didn't want to lie to the blonde but at the same time he didn't know if mentioning it would be any good. Just then he glanced over to the far table and saw the three teenagers waving at someone. That someone was apparently waving back but only a pale hand was seen. He scoffed. "Yeah..." He hesitantly said.

Fai savored his treat, thinking with each bite that Kurogane really was a big softie at heart, when he was stomping around and snarling at least.

Finishing his cake, Kurogane stick out his tongue. "God, I can't take any more desserts." He groaned.

"But it makes you even sweeter~" Fai said as he set out a few bills on the table and got up.

"Ack." Kurogane gagged. "I'm not sweet." He then got up as well. "Whoever cooked our food and made that cake has my thanks." He idly said out-loud; knowingly whose ears will pick up on that.

Fai gave him a curious look again. "You're acting weird."

"You're just seeing things." Kurogane waved it off. "Well time to go."

"But..." Fai didn't get a chance to explain he was nearly pushed back out onto the streets.

Before closing the door, Kurogane caught sight of a particular chef who smiled gratefully at him. He slightly nodded and went back with Fai on the streets. "Okay then, where to next?"

He knew something was going on, but couldn't put his finger on it. "I don't know...I thought we could just walk around town."

"Sounds good to me." Kurogane shrugged.

Fai leaned up and kissed Kurogane for a brief moment, but he was able to taste the sugar that still lingered on the werewolf's lips. "You're being odd today, but it's a good odd."

"The one who's really odd is you, blondie." Kurogane said; denying the statement. "Though...I'm...glad you're...having...fun." He muttered.

"Going out wasn't about me having fun, it was you." Fai insisted.

"Me?" Kurogane said incredulously.

"Yes, to make you feel better." Fai frowned lightly, thinking he had wanted to help.

"..." Kurogane stared at the blonde with slight shock. He then realized, it was because of that nightmare he had. Fai wanted to make him forget that and just...be happy. God, he was such an idiot. He then something that even surprised him. He wrapped his arms around the vampire and held him close. "Moron, you didn't have to go out of your way to make me feel better." Though it felt like a lie. He didn't what he'd do without the blonde.

"It wasn't like I was, I just wanted to do something you would like is all." Fai countered as Kurogane held him in the street.

Holding the blonde a bit more tightly, Kurogane felt his very shoulders shake.

"What would Kuro-kun like to do today?" Fai asked softly, knowing Kurogane would be angry at himself if he got too sappy in public.

"The park." Kurogane blurted out. "I...I want to go there." He was close to breaking down and he just wanted to go somewhere; anywhere but not in a crowded area. Not for now anyway.

It was making Fai upset as well seeing Kurogane distraught. He couldn't help but wonder just what the man had been dreaming of earlier as they walked towards the park.

As the two were near the local park, Kurogane couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. The park was nearly empty; with just a few people walking by. Lucky timing.

Fai slipped his hand into Kurogane's as they passed under the park's gateway. "We should find somewhere private."

"...Right." Kurogane let Fai lead them to a more secluded area.

They walked down the paved paths, passing the few people hanging around, no doubt most having left because of the weather. Eventually they went onto the worn dirt pathways, were fewer people were.

Kurogane looked around the scenery with slightly glazed eyes. He had always loved the park. Goodness knows why but he does. Maybe it was his werewolf side liking the somewhat unmarked territory or maybe it was the fact that he liked the quiet in nature. Either way, he wasn't complaining.

Fai released his hand then and jogged over towards a bench, where he laughed when he sat down. Patting the worn wood beside him he grinned. "Want to join me?"

Wordlessly, Kurogane walked over and sat next to Fai on the bench.

Fai leaned his weight against Kurogane then, wanting to comfort the man in any way he could,

Kurogane felt Fai leaning against him; smiling ever so slightly. Then he closed his eyes. "...I can't help but feel like you want to say something for the past couple of hours." He then placed a kiss on Fai's head. "So if you want to say it...spit it out."

"I just want to keep your mind off those nightmares." Fai said, taking in Kurogane's warmth and how the man soothed him.

"But you still want to know, right?" Kurogane said.

"I've told you before; if you want to tell me, tell me." Fai explained, knowing it wasn't best to pry for either of them.

Closing his eyes, Kurogane moved his head up towards the darkening sky. He gulped. "...it was about...my mother..."

"You don't have to..." Fai frowned as Kurogane's mother was a sore spot.

Kurogane shook his head. "In my dream...I was a kid again; playing with others, training with father and helping mother whenever I can." A soft smile graced his lips. "I can remember clearly, at the lectures I would get for being reckless; that time it was because I was climbing a tree."

Fai remained silent, letting Kurogane get this off his chest. It would do him some good to get it out in the open.

"It was good and had a warm feeling to it. I was...happy." Then that smile turned into a frown. "But then...there was blood, and limbs everywhere." Kurogane gritted his teeth. "Homes were destroyed and everything was on fire; burning into nothing. Then I saw it..." He sighed. "My mother...and she...she was..." He couldn't say it. He wanted to but his heart just couldn't let him. "And then father..." He covered his eyes with his hand. "Then just like that...I was the only one left, covered in blood, I was alone."

Taking Kurogane's hand in his own Fai gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's alright."

"I shouldn't have them." Kurogane blurted out. "Those...damn memories. I try my best to move forward and they keep coming back. I hate it!" He shouted. "I can't keep looking back."

"But it makes you stronger. I know it hurts and I wish you didn't have the nightmares..." He didn't really know how to offer comfort to Kurogane as he was never really good at it.

"Oh yeah?" Kurogane looked at Fai. "And what good would it do? I promise my father that I would get stronger so I protect those I care about but clearly I wasn't strong enough!" He hung his head. "I wasn't strong enough and everyone was gone."

Fai never really saw Kurogane get emotional and it worried him to watch the scene in front of him. "Kuro-min is strong now. I'm healthy and safe and happy."

"..." Kurogane felt a bit happy when Fai said that but it did little to ease the pain of his past. He sighed.

"You're always telling me not to live in the past...so you shouldn't either." He reached over and took the werewolf's hand in his own.

The werewolf felt the vampire's hand with his own. "I know...but...those nightmares just don't go away. I don't think they will. God, I'm such a freaking hypocrite." He cursed at himself.

"I know it's painful and I'm not asking you to forget." Fai leaned against his lover. "Kuro-sama's the strongest person I know."

Squeezing the hand that held his, Kurogane leaned close to Fai. "...You think so?" He knew he sounded like some kid who was getting praise from a mother but he just wanted to be sure...but for whose sake, he wasn't sure.

"I know so." Fai smiled as he tilted his head up and smiled.

Not knowing what to say anymore, Kurogane leaned over and kissed Fai softly on the lips.

Closing his eyes, Fai hummed in approval. It was rare that he could comfort Kurogane, so he tried his hardest whenever the need for it arose.

Letting go of those soft lips, Kurogane moved up and kissed Fai's forehead gently. "I don't say this much but...thanks."

Shaking his head lightly, Fai chuckled. "We're together, Kuro-pon, there's no need to thank me."

"Still...thanks." Kurogane didn't know what else to say. There were a million words he would like to say to tell Fai how much he appreciate him but as always words fail him.

"We can just stay here for now." It made him feel like they were some cute elderly couple and well he supposed if their real age were taken into account they kind of were.

"Well it's not like we have something else to do." Kurogane agreed. It was the closest thing to saying 'I'd like that' he'll ever say. He already felt sappy enough.

Cuddling, Fai settled in for watching passing people and the random bird or squirrel wandering in front of them.

Kurogane held Fai close to him as he sighed and rest his eyes a bit.

Later that night Fai was holding onto Kurogane's hand as he chattered on like an excited child about this and that. They had spent some time in the park until Fai had insisted on having something hot to drink and they had left for a small cafe before heading home.

Kurogane stayed silent as he heard anything and everything Fai had to say. But he agreed that the two needed something hot to drink after being in the chilly weather for a while. Now where would they go?

When they were getting close to home, Fai had calmed down and insisted on practically hugging Kurogane as they walked.

In which, Kurogane would try to push away from said hugging even though he knew it was futile to begin with.

Fai had a vice like grip when he wanted after all and knew Kurogane would give up sooner or later. They were used to each other.

Letting Fai do what he wanted (as usual), Kurogane looked around; trying to think of something good to drink. Though hot green tea sounds good to him any day.

Finding where they were headed, Fai directed Kurogane to the front door by way of leaning into the werewolf enough he had to turn or fall down with the blonde still attached.

"Whoa, what the hell!" Kurogane shouted as he felt the weight of the vampire leaning on him.

"Mooooovvveee~" Fai whined as the door was pushed open and a bell above them chimed. People stared for a moment, before ignoring the couple.

"Get the hell off me!" Kurogane growled. "In case you haven't notice, we're around people." He couldn't count the number of times that Fai's antics cost Kurogane his dignity and pride much to the blonde's amusement. It was like clockwork.

Fai seemed to ignore him, but he did let Kurogane go so he could look at the menu on the wall in front of them.

Sighing in relief, Kurogane glanced at the menu on the wall, seeing what they had to offer.

Fai ordered some seasonal flavored coffee and a muffin before stepping aside to let Kurogane ordered. A least know the man wasn't thinking about his nightmare and Fai was too happy for it.

Feeling a bit better, Kurogane decided to treat himself a bit as he ordered some hot cider and a croissant. He paid the cashier and stood beside Fai to wait for their order.

Leaning back against the counter, Fai smiled at Kurogane. Glad to see the man feeling better.

Kurogane caught the smile the vampire was giving him and blushed slightly. "...What?"

"I can't smile at you?" Fai asked, far too amused.

The werewolf looked away. "I didn't say that. What got you in such a happy mood?" He knew what but he found himself asking anyway.

"Kuro-min." He answered just as their orders were set beside them. Turning, Fai happily snatched up their food and drinks and gave Kurogane his.

Taking his food, Kurogane thanked the person in his usual manner.

"Want to stay here or go home~?" He asked with a warm smile.

A bit thrown back by that smile, Kurogane looked at what he was holding. "Go home. I have enough outing for one night."

"Hyuu~" Fai cheered before he took a bit of his muffin as he headed out and back home. It had been a good date and he was eager to go home.

Rolling his eyes, Kurogane followed Fai back outside. At this point he wanted nothing more than to sit on the couch and enjoy his late-night snack.