Chapter Six
It took him awhile to dare to go back – he wasn't sure how to treat Ryuuko. There was some rule or another about the willing giving of blood to a vampire. Shirogane wasn't sure if he wanted to know whether the consequences were real or not.

But he did stop in after a week or so, appearing in the high buttresses. Ryuuko was standing in the sanctuary as usual, but this time was different. Several people, looking of high class in the human society, were talking to him. Shirogane leaned closer, listening.

"It's in your best interest to accept our offer, Lord Ryuuko."

"I'm sorry that I cannot, gentlemen." Ryuuko's voice sounded warm, but Shirogane could feel the slight underlying layer of ice. "I was given to the church, and I will stay in the church."

"We've heard word that your life is being sought by vampires. We want you to consider your own safety."

"I am perfectly safe here. I am well watched over and taken care of. Thank you, but I must finish preparations for morning mass tomorrow."

He turned back to the altar, raising a hand to continue his work, but another voice broke in.

"Your family has selected a wife for you, and has arranged for the two of you to live safely and secretly somewhere."

Ryuuko's hand paused over the altar, and Shirogane could feel his heart quavering in time with the shaking of those fingers.

"Your family only wants you to be safe, Lord Ryuuko."

"I have another appointment right now." Ryuuko's voice was suddenly very cold. Shirogane shivered. "I need to ask you to leave."

"We cannot leave until you come with us."

"If you stay, I cannot guarantee your safety. It's in your best interest to leave."

"Lord Ryuuko, listen to what we are telling you!"

"Shirogane." Ryuuko's cold, quiet voice sliced the air, and Shirogane instantly sprang into action. So the rumours were true, about the exchange… he didn't care. He could get drunk on the adrenaline. He landed catlike between Ryuuko and the men, whirling, claws extended.

"It's Shirogane!"

"The king of the vampires!"

"Lord Ryuuko, your life is in danger!" They looked absolutely terrified, but didn't move even as Shirogane snarled, baring his long eye teeth. They remained pleading, "Lord Ryuuko!"

"Now, Shirogane, don't hurt them too badly," Ryuuko sighed. His voice had warmed slightly, but it was still so icy it hurt. "They'll go back and tell everyone I'm in real danger, if you do."

"Then what shall I do, Ryuuko?"

"Escort them out, and make sure they know they're not welcome back." Ryuuko turned around, ruby eyes blazing. "If my family tries to involve themselves in my life again, I won't stay Shirogane's hand next time. Give them that message."

The men fled. Shirogane snorted as he watched them run down the long nave and out the door. He turned back to Ryuuko, about to speak, but stopped dead when he saw Ryuuko. The bishop's face was strained, eyes shining. The slightest hint of tears was showing around the corners of his eyes.

"Ryuuko?!"

"Ah." He shook his head, then smiled as he usually did. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Shirogane."

The smile was distant. There was almost no heart in it at all.

"What happened?"

"I guess my family decided after sixteen years, they wanted to contact me again." Ryuuko sighed, but it was almost a snort. "For my safety, I suppose."

"Sixteen years?"

The distance faded away from the smile – it became pure. "I guess I've been a little unfair. I know so much about you, and you know very little about me. Why don't you come to dinner with me?"

"Dinner?"

"You don't eat, but I need to. I can talk with you over my meal. Will you accompany me?"

"Yes. I'll follow you."

He flitted through the darkening air outside, following Ryuuko to his lodgings. Shirogane was in the room before Ryuuko could close the door. The bishop turned with a smile.

"Please sit anywhere you like."

Shirogane was leaning over the plate on the small table, sniffing at it almost disdainfully. Ryuuko gently brushed Shirogane aside enough that he could sit down.

"Not to your taste, Shirogane?"

The vampire crossed the room and leaned against the low windowsill. He watched Ryuuko begin to eat, gauging when the time would be right to ask. After a few minutes, he said, "You were talking about your family."

Ryuuko's features faded slightly. "Do you know how the human family works in their society, Shirogane?"

"Excuse me?"

"The eldest son is almost always the one that gets the family inheritance. The land, the money, the servants… all that stuff. The younger children, for the most part, go one of two places – to the army, or to the church."

"You went to the church then, I assume."

"That's right." Ryuuko continued eating, speaking carefully in between. "My family was the target of a lot of attacks, verbal and physical. Sometimes the younger children are allowed to pursue their own careers, but this wasn't possible for me due to the circumstances. So, when I was very young, I was placed in the care of the church."

"Age?"

"Three, I'm told. I don't remember much anything about my parents."

"You can't possibly be nineteen, Ryuuko."

"No, I'm twenty-five. My family wrote me letters occasionally until I was about nine years old. Then all contact ceased."

Shirogane remained quiet for a few moments. "That must have been lonely."

"I don't mind. I don't know them. Besides, I devoted my entire being to the church. If I had allowed people that were strangers to get in the way, I don't know how my life would have turned."

"You really enjoy your life."

"I've been very successful in the church. I was promoted from deacon to priest at age eighteen, and at age twenty-one I became bishop of the area. But it seems that my family now wants to drag me away from what I've accomplished in the name of the dutiful worried family."

Ryuuko's voice was tinted with bitterness. Shirogane closely observed Ryuuko's face as he continued, "I understand… I'm sure they want nothing but my safety. That's why I'm here in the first place. But I'm safer here than I would be stowed away in a little cottage somewhere in the country. And… for them to mock my holy values by arranging a marriage… I won't have it."

"Ryuuko, I'm sorry to say it, but I think it's best if you do leave."

The bishop's head shot up, ruby eyes wide. Shirogane tried as hard as he could to keep his voice level.

"Homurabi is gaining followers. They're after your life. If you remain here, you're an easy target to them."

"Shirogane, you too?" His voice was faint.

"I don't want you to leave. I can understand how this church means everything to you, how hard you've worked to get where you are. But, do you want to let it all go to waste by risking your life?" He didn't want Ryuuko to go. He didn't want to say any of this. But it was true… Ryuuko's life was worth more than anything. "I've told you what will happen if you die. The entire church will crumble. Don't you think it's best to leave it in order and withdraw?"

Ryuuko looked at him levelly for a very long time. There was a tension in the air that Shirogane had never felt come from Ryuuko. Then, slowly, Ryuuko said, "I'm not going."

"Ryuuko!"

"This is my home. This is my life."

"You'll be caged like a bird here."

"And I won't be if I do as my family, who has been long dead to me, wishes?" When Shirogane didn't respond, Ryuuko raised his head to look up at the ceiling. "When I die, Shirogane –"

"Don't say that!" Shirogane hissed.

"- I don't want you to mourn for me. I don't want you to follow me. Death comes for everyone at some point. It will come for you, too, someday. When I die, I want you to just tell me goodbye and move on, forgetting me."

"Ryuuko…"

"You're going to live a very long life, and meet so many people so much more important than me." Ryuuko finally looked back with that old smile. "So promise me you won't let my memory hold you back."

He couldn't find his voice for awhile. When he did, he swallowed hard, and said weakly, "I promise."

Ryuuko smiled a most radiant smile and turned back to his dinner. As he did, Shirogane grit his teeth angrily.

He was a vampire. He didn't have to keep his promises.

Almost nineteen years later, ice-blue eyes gazed through the window at the young priest, curled up tightly in his bed. He was caged too… more restricted that Ryuuko had ever been. Shirogane bowed his head forward, leaning it against the glass pane.

"I'm sorry… please forgive me, Ryuuko. This time… I swear this time, I'll…"