JC: Yes, I finally got this up before my trip out of town! Now you'll get to find out if Miyuki really turns Eijun into a vampire. I've also included a new character, though he was mentioned before in a chapter, but this marks his first official appearance in the fic. I've been meaning to introduce him since he's included in saionjiakane's vampire au. You'll also get to see a bit of the enemy side as well. You'll get to see the real identity of the fox-masked vampire too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Diamond no Ace or its characters. The Vampire!Au is inspired by saionjiakane's art.

Note: Be sure to check out saionjiakane's Vampire!Au arts on . ・( ̄∀ ̄)・:*:


Craving

The blood kept coming.

Sawamura was bleeding profusely from the deep wound in his stomach. Miyuki stared in horror and mutely shook his head. At the rate he was bleeding, Sawamura would have less than a few minutes before he passed from this world to the next.

He felt his heart grip tightly in his chest at the thought of losing him. The wound itself was fatal, and Sawamura had already lost a lot of blood due to Okumura's bloodlust. His internal organ was basically scrambled. There was nothing that could repair such damage except by turning him. However, turning a human into a vampire in order to save their life may have devastating results. Circumstances of these cases may put the human closer to death, and can cause the turning process to go horrifically wrong. But Miyuki has to take that chance. He couldn't just sit by and do nothing, no matter how he may regret this later.

With shaking hands he pulled his collar, exposing Sawamura's slender throat and the distinct brand of his possession. He had marked him before, he had claimed him, and banked, and his desire for him had always been beyond his control. But—thoughts had often nagged at him in the past: had it been his bloodlust? His desire? Or had all of that been filtered through the other? And as their bond grew stronger and more powerful, he realized the special feelings behind it all. He'd become determined on that already. No matter what he had to give up—even his life—Sawamura would have him and he would do the same.

For an agonizing moment he watched Sawamura's ragged breathing, then moved his fingers lightly down the curve of his neck, touching the soft, pale skin. He had never wanted—never expected—to transform Sawamura. For years and years, Miyuki never created another vampire. He didn't want the obligation and the hassle. But the call of eternity was beckoning him more than ever.

He had hurt Sawamura, put him on the brink of death. This was his fault, his responsibility to bear. He would turn him; teach him the ways of a vampire. He'd cut him loose from the chains of mortality, from the kernel of humanity. He would have to do this all, no matter how difficult it was.

His hold on him was too hard, yet he couldn't ease his grip. He needed him too much. Sawamura had to stay with him. He couldn't make it through any more years without him. Sawamura had saved him, too many times. It was his turn to save him. He had to save him. There wasn't any other option for him.

Without Sawamura, he didn't want to walk this earth.

"Forgive me…" Expelling a deep, shaky breath, he bit his lower lip and hesitantly leaned down. He opened his mouth and let his fangs extend fully. "Please live, Sawamura…"

"You have no authority to turn him, Miyuki Kazuya."

Someone ominous was beside Miyuki in a flash. He had been too distracted by Sawamura's condition that he wasn't able to anticipate this. A crushing blow to his chest—he felt himself being pulled away from Sawamura, and then he heard the crunch of his glasses as his head bashed into hard concrete.

Ignoring the pain, Miyuki scrambled on his hands and knees, his frantic gaze running over the duo several feet before him. His eyes widened as recognition seeped in. One was a woman, the other a man. She was extremely beautiful with long, glossy black hair, he was a great behemoth of a man who stood tall and firm. She was dressed in a black business suit with a crisp white blouse underneath and a skirt. He also wore black business attire. The pair was unlikely, a study in contrast they may be, but Miyuki knew them.

Every living vampire in the world should know about them.

On the other hand, much to his surprise, the enemy vampires were gone. There were no signs of them. It seemed like they took their leave when he was trying to turn Sawamura. Or was this all a ploy again? The phantom-masked vampire was as shrewd as a serpent and sneaky like a fox. But what would he gain from all this? And did he not desire Sawamura's blood? What was the point of putting the human in harm's way?

"Sawamura-kun is in grave condition," the woman said, settling the young lad's head on her lap. "I have no choice." She removed a bracelet of pink gold from her wrist and tucked it inside the breast pocket of her coat. Sensing the waning beats of his frail heart, she placed a delicate hand over the wound. There was a lot of blood—enough to make a lesser vampire crazy and mad—and Sawamura's blood was more enticing than most, but she was in complete control of her instincts. "Please stay with us, Sawamura-kun…" Her palm emitted a numinous light of crystal blue, an aura with healing properties, and this proceeded to encase the human in a warm cocoon of energy.

"Takako-san…" Relief painted Miyuki's face. Takako Yuki, the 3rd Progenitor and ruling queen of the coven, was blessed with the power of healing. It was a prized ability only available to a certain few within their ranks, and Takako's mastery over such power was a second to none. But with great power came with greater restrictions. As such, she wasn't allowed to use it freely. However, due to the circumstances, she had to force her hand in order to save a human who was highly-valued by the coven.

As the woman tended to Sawamura, the man focused his stern gaze on Miyuki. "Did you do this?" His deep voice cut through the tense, chilly air between them. "Answer me, Miyuki Kazuya."

Miyuki's response almost got stuck in his throat, and he stopped and took a breath before he could get it out of his mouth. "Yes…" He was the one who attacked. He was the one who drove his hand into Sawamura's body. He couldn't blame anyone but himself for this.

"And you planned on turning him, weren't you?"

Once again the guilt stung him. "Yes." Miyuki clenched the fists on his lap tightly, lowering his head in shame.

"As the 19th Progenitor, I, Yuki Masashi, hereby place Miyuki Kazuya under arrest for violating the injunction of the Seido Coven imposed on Sawamura Eijun."


Vampire Hunters were required to have nerves of steel, steadfast ingenuity, and complete control of their emotions. Foolish sentiments should never cloud their mind, especially in the line of duty. Nonetheless, hunters were still humans—individuals with hearts, with feelings, and they weren't immune to pain, apprehension, and anxiety. Even the great Youichi Kuramochi, who had always been the best fighter among his peers, could be crippled by such emotions. He thought he'd been prepared for the worst, yet he'd been tackled by grief the minute he heard of what happened to Sawamura.

They were still working on Sawamura by the time he got to the hospital. Sawamura was being given powerful medications by IV, they had sedated him, and they were giving him two units of blood. Kuramochi had badly wanted to rush to his side, but the doctors wouldn't even let him in the room.

"Masashi-kun and I were on our way to a café from a meeting with a business associate when we saw them. If we had been late, even for just a minute, Sawamura-kun could have died." Takako touched a hand to her chest, fisting it against her heart, dreading every thought of his death. Her beautiful features were schooled, yet Kuramochi was able to sense her deep worries. Sawamura was one of her good friends. "I've managed to close his wound, but he had lost too much blood. He's not out of the woods yet, by any means."

"Was it really Miyuki who did this to him?" Kuramochi sounded somber and calm, but he was a mass of emotions inside. He had been briefed on what happened and found it hard to imagine Miyuki capable of even hurting Sawamura like that.

"I know it's difficult to believe, but Miyuki-kun admitted it himself."

Despite the admission, Kuramochi still couldn't believe it. "What about Okumura? He fed on Sawamura, didn't he?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Sawamura was trying to help out again…Pretty sure of it." Kuramochi ran a hand through his hair, releasing a frustrated groan. "He, of all people, should know what his blood does to vampires."

"Okumura Koushuu was no longer there when Masashi-kun and I arrived at the scene."

Kuramochi resisted the urge to click his tongue. He felt rage starting to bubble inside of him. "Seems like Okumura is in cahoots with those masked bastards."

"You met Okumura Koushuu during high school, correct?"

"Yeah…I was in my 3rd year." Kuramochi rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully, reminiscing his high school days and his old baseball team. "Guy was really cold and serious, kinda gloomy too when he joined the lot. But, hey, he's got real skills as a player. Took him a while to warm up to anyone, but I guess even he wasn't immune to Sawamura."

Sawamura was a sort of glue that kept everyone together. He had this magic about him. So lively, so beautiful, and so interesting, he had the ability to attract people. He was excessively noisy and obnoxious, but everyone liked him for his determination, optimism and strength, and so he was the heart of the team. Sure, he didn't get along with Okumura right off the bat, but he was able to break down his walls and get inside.

Takako brought a dainty finger against her cheek. Thoughts tumbled over each other, most were assumptions and theories leading to further questions. "How strange… To think you'd let another vampire get close to Sawamura-kun."

There was a moment of hesitation before Kuramochi spoke. "Because he was human at that time."

The lady vampire's eyes slightly widened at the revelation. "A human you say? Perhaps he'd been merely masking his vampire traits and scent with suppressants, enchantments, or restraining devices."

Kuramochi simply shook his head. "I checked him, Takako-san, and nothing about him screamed vampire," he told her. It was common protocol for him to inspect the people around Sawamura as a safety precaution. "He was cleared of any suspicion. He seemed like a good kid too. He and Sawamura grew close and bonded even more outside of baseball. Even after I graduated, there was nothing out of the ordinary. My subordinates, who were in the same year as Sawamura, didn't notice anything odd about Okumura either while they were all barreling their way to Koshien."

"How odd indeed…" Takako said, crossing her arms over her chest. "But the Okumura now is clearly a vampire."

There was a sharp, intense look in Kuramochi's eyes now. "I don't exactly know when or how he was turned, but it doesn't change the fact he's been conniving with the enemy."

"Well, it's true that these masked vampires have been stirring up trouble recently, but there's no proof that they committed the crimes. All evidences point to Miyuki-kun, especially with Kominato-kun's testimony."

"And he's in deeper shit now since he tried to turn Sawamura," Kuramochi said. His voice was cool and placid, with only a trace of apprehension behind it, but he was seriously worried for his friend on the inside. Now that Miyuki was caught by the 19th Progenitor himself, there was little to nothing he could do for him.


"Who would have thought that Masashi and Takako-sama would be there?" The phantom-masked vampire laughed wickedly, tossing off his cloak and the mask onto his king-sized bed, and sought solace by the window of his luxurious room. "Things went better than I anticipated." He looked across the room at his blonde subordinate. He grinned when he noticed the pained look in his emerald green eyes. "What's the matter, Okumura-kun? You should be rejoicing, since you've finally feasted upon his delicious blood again."

When Okumura peeked up through those generous lashes, the master shrouded in the shadows was still watching him. Normally, Okumura would have just ignored his taunts, but he was still reeling from the impact of what he did, detesting the feeling of knowing that he had hurt the person dear to his heart.

The phantom scoffed, turning his attention to the view outside. "You'd been craving for his blood for a long time, haven't you?"

Okumura narrowed his eyes at him. He really didn't want to deal with any of this bullshit, besides, he was terribly tired and stressed out, and he just wanted to lock himself up in his room and try not to think about the disastrous incident with Sawamura.

"Well, it's not like I don't know the feeling… After all, I crave for his blood too, but I can control it for now." Then he sensed him, walking toward him. He looked up at Okumura as if he were some sort of hilarity. He knew he should not enrage him more, but he couldn't possibly suppress his sadistic nature. And for the heaven's sake, Okumura was tall. He had to tilt his head back to look up at him when he stopped about a foot away from him. "Oh, did I hit a nerve? I'm sure you're very aware of my desires, Okumura-kun."

"Leave him be," Okumura demanded, stepping slightly closer, challenging the shorter vampire with rage in his eyes.

A malicious smile came over the phantom's face. "Are you ordering me, Okumura-kun? Don't make me laugh."

"He almost died because of your foolish plans," Okumura snapped back. "You say you desire him. Well if that's the case, then why the unnecessary bloodshed?! And it was clear that you were trying to get Miyuki Kazuya to turn him, because you know you'd be found out if you did it yourself. Don't you dare tell me I'm wrong. Tell me whose fault this all is, if not yours!"

"You both asked for it," the phantom said, the smile never leaving his face, but his metallic eyes were glinting hard. "If you want to blame someone, why don't you point your finger at yourself and that imprudent Miyuki? You two were the ones who put Sawamura-san's life in jeopardy."

Okumura was frozen in place, stabbed through with his double-edged words. There was no trace of indecision in the phantom's face, only steadfast confidence, malignity, and that imperious air. He felt the pain and the guilt twisting sharply through his body along with the chaos of his thoughts.

"Vampires all have the potential for losing self-control. Once instinct takes over and dictates your will, then you will race down the path of self-destruction." The phantom's tone was casual, very conversational, but his words were deep and heavy. "Despite of your body's need for human blood, you reject it and prefer animal blood."

Okumura grabbed the phantom's collar, baring his teeth like an angry wolf. "I didn't ask for this!"

Sighing, the phantom shook his head. "I almost pity you. You're not willing to be a vampire, but you're not human either. All this time, you've never allowed yourself another human. Why is that? Do you think you're unworthy to drink human blood? Or perhaps you cannot simply forget the delightful taste of Sawamura-san's blood? If that is the case, you should be thanking me for setting you up. It felt good, didn't it?"

"I never wanted to hurt him!"

"Is it because you're afraid of defiling such a treasure? Or being labeled as a monster? Well, his blood did drive you mad and you've already sullied him with your own fangs back at the pa—"

"STOP!" Shoving him away, Okumura quickly clapped his hands over his ears. "Just stop!"

"Tell me, what are you thinking about when you see Sawamura-san?" The phantom cupped Okumura's chin, his voice soft yet relentless. "Are you thinking about the scent of his skin, the taste of his blood? Or are you thinking about the pleasure he can give you with his hands and that sensuous mouth of his? Do you yearn to make him yours, Okumura-kun?"

Okumura dropped onto his knees, biting back a whimper of pain.

The phantom knelt down to his level and stroked his hair, his touch almost gentle. "Don't think I don't know. I made you, you know. When you were playing vampire hunter, did it never occur to you that I could break you?"

Okumura was shaking and clutching his head firmly. "Stop it!"

"You want me to stop?" The phantom laughed maniacally, as though hearing every obscene joke in the world for the first time. "But, Okumura-kun, I'm far from over."

Then they were disturbed by a knock on the door, and a female voice saying, "My lord, I beg your pardon for my intrusion, but you are being summoned by the 1st Progenitor. He says it is an urgent matter." It turned out to be the maid.

"Well, I see no reason to keep the leader waiting," the phantom replied, rising from his position. "As the 20th Progenitor, I must comply with his requests. Please get the car ready."

"As you wish, my lord," the maid replied promptly.

As he heard the maid walking away, he looked down at the disgruntled Okumura and smiled. "I think it's time to set my next plan into motion," he said, and Okumura immediately shot him a glare. "Resistance is futile, Okumura-kun."

"No! I won't do it!" Okumura scowled, clutching his head. Pain settled over his mind and he shut his eyes tight, struggling against the control he has over him. His entire body felt heavy, as if something sat on top of it, and he sat there, mind filled with thoughts of him…

Sawamura-senpai

…thoughts of how much he liked his sunny smile, his unwavering strength, that confidence he exuded every time on the mound. Sawamura was so bright and mesmerizing, a human he admired, a senior he respected.

A slight frown settled upon the phantom's mouth. How strange…I can't seem to fully grasp his mind. And this happened before too… He recalled the tragic scene where Sawamura had dove in front of Miyuki and got himself impaled. He distinctly remembered Okumura breaking free from his control and regaining his senses without his consent. His mind… It seemed as though he has erected psychic shields in his mind. How is that even possible? No matter… I just have to break down every single one of them and he'll be nothing more than a puppet again.

Once he activated his ability, he increased the level of power and began invading Okumura's mind again. Okumura flailed, clutching his head tightly, desperate to preserve his sanity and his whole being. It took a while, but control soon breached the barriers in spite of Okumura's tenacious resolve. As soon as he snapped his fingers, all light from Okumura's eyes vanish, leaving them in a dull, lifeless state.


Golden eyes opened to a bright, white light. The wall beside him was covered in long, vertical blinds; over his head, the glaring lights blinded him. He was propped up on a bed with rails and the pillows were somewhat hard and lumpy. He could hear a continuous beeping sound somewhere close by. His hand was taped with something and there was a bothersome thing under his nose. He lifted his left hand to rip it off when warm fingers caught his hand.

"Eijun, I swear I'll drop kick you into the middle of next week if you take that off."

"Mochi-senpai?" Sawamura turned his head slightly, and saw that Kuramochi's glorious chiseled face was just inches from his. "Where am I?"

Kuramochi pulled back, shifting slightly in his seat. "In the hospital. You've been unconscious for a day and a half."

"Why here…? What happened?" Sawamura couldn't remember clearly, and his mind rebelled against him as he tried to recall. And there was something about Kuramochi's expression that didn't seem right. Perhaps it was concern or anxiety? Or maybe it was just pent-up frustration? Probably all of them, he silently thought, since there must be a good explanation why he was looking at him with unease. "Senpai?"

"You're a piece of work, you know," Kuramochi almost grumbled under his breath, looking away, as he fisted the hands on his lap. "I'm so tempted to choke you right now."

"Wow…" Sawamura tittered feebly. "Is that any way to treat your adorable kouhai?"

"They were almost too late…They could have been too late," Kuramochi whispered, his voice tormented. "You could have died…and I wasn't even there to protect you."

"Sen—Ah!" The unpleasant memory of the incident came back to him in a flash. He shuddered, and then flinched in pain. He immediately brought a hand to his head.

Kuramochi was instantly anxious. "Eijun, what's wrong?!"

"What happened to Koushuu?"

Anger flashed in the hunter's eyes. "After what he did to you, you still worry about him? Eijun, Okumura's one of them. He's one of those masked bastards, so he's nothing but trouble."

"Koushuu is?" Sawamura couldn't believe it or maybe he just didn't want to. His former battery partner had a complicated personality, but they'd been good friends and teammates. Honestly, he had no desire to revisit the scene of Okumura's suffering, but he had no regrets about offering him his blood. It seemed like Okumura had been in anguish for so long. "There must be a reason… If we could just find him and talk to him—"

"Do you seriously think I'd let you anywhere near him?!" There was a fierce note of regret in Kuramochi's voice.

"I think Koushuu needs help. Senpai, I know what I did was so stupid, but…I just…I just wanted to help him."

"It doesn't change the fact he's an enemy. He's also the reason why Miyuki's fucked up right now."

"Miyuki? Wait, what happened to him?" Sawamura panicked, trying to sit up. Then, through the haze, he remembered what happened. "He attacked…and I…" He touched a hand to his stomach, to where his wound was supposed to be, and felt even more lightheaded. "Where's Miyuki? I need to see him!" But the spinning in his head accelerated. Pain amplified in his head and he winced in response.

Kuramochi quickly yet carefully pushed him down onto the pillows. "You can't go see him." He paused for a while. "He was arrested by Tetsu-san's brother. He tried to turn you, Eijun, and you know it's against—"

"He was trying to save me!" Sawamura couldn't hold back the rising tone of his voice. "Besides, it was my fault for getting hurt! He's already being framed for crimes he didn't commit…and now this…" He twisted the sheets firmly in his hands. "We have to do something."

Kuramochi knew what he meant at once and sighed out loud. "I don't know if you're just brave or just plain reckless, but whatever it is…I know I can't stop you, but…" He looked down from his golden eyes, lifting his gauze-wrapped hand from the bed and holding it gently in his, careful not to disrupt the IV tube. "Dammit, Eijun! Just…just think of yourself for once."

Sawamura's expression grew softer, more serene, as he laced his fingers with his senior's. "I know I always cause you trouble, senpai, and I'm sorry for making you worry…but I'm thankful that you're always here for me."

Kuramochi finally looked up and saw the warm, gentle smile on Sawamura's pretty face. He let out a sigh once again and graced him with a smile of his own, although it was more of a smirk. "You're freaking impossible. Why do I put up with you?"

"Maybe because you love me?" Sawamura said teasingly, which earned him a light smack on the head. "Hey! I'm still a recovering patient, you know!"

"Hyaha! Heck, yeah, but it doesn't make you any less annoying," Kuramochi said with his signature cackle. "I'll give you a nice beating once you're all better." And Sawamura immediately pouted like a little boy—more a cute little spoiled brat in Kuramochi's eyes. Well, what can he say? Sawamura had the tendency to be insanely adorable at times. Nonetheless, it was nice to see him looking well. The medications and the transfusion were a success.

"Y-Youichi-senpai!" Haruno suddenly bawled, charging into the room. She was by the bed before Sawamura had time to blink, bending over, trying to catch her breath, as her expression twisted in tremor.

"Yoshikawa, are you all right?" Sawamura asked.

"We…We have a problem and it's really bad!" She had realized she was in a hospital, but at this point there was no need for any reservations. This was an emergency.

"Woah, just calm down for a sec," Kuramochi told the young medic, but Haruno quickly shook her head in dismay. He hoped it was nothing serious, but judging from the look on Haruno's face, he couldn't help but dread what she was about to tell them. "Okay, what's wrong?"

Haruno scrambled to gain control of herself. "He escaped!"

"Who escaped?" Kuramochi demanded, his expression growing resentful as he watched the play of emotion across her face.

Sawamura felt a lump beginning to build in his throat.

Haruno took a deep breath. "It's…It's Miyuki-san. He escaped from his cell."


Nightmare.

If dreams signify hopes and longings, then nightmares signify fear. Sawamura came to him, entered his mind, while his body shivered in the cold. But this was not the Sawamura he remembered, either from time together back in high school or from other dreams. This was a different one, drenched in his own blood, eyes dim and lifeless.

"I trusted you, Koushuu…" Sawamura said weakly. "How could you betray me like this? How could you?"

Okumura took a step back, biting his lower lip and trying to hold back welling tears with a pained, crumpled expression. He was a loss for words and all he could say was "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, senpai…"

"I wish I never met you."

"You—you don't mean that," Okumura stammered.

Sawamura laughed. "You're a liar and a traitor. You don't deserve anyone's love. You're nothing!"

Okumura dropped to his knees, his hands limp at his sides. He was aware that this wasn't real, but it hurt more than it should. There were no sweet, soft words to comfort him, no beautiful golden eyes to enchant him. Only the harsh grating and clashing of his words filled his ears after he squeezed his eyelids shut. "Senpai, I've never wanted to hurt you… I didn't ask for this… I…I…"

But Sawamura's curses continued in an unbroken stream until…

"KOUSHUU!"

Okumura jolted awake at the sound of his name and his hands lashed out at the figure seated beside him on the edge of the bed. Cold, calloused fingers quickly wrapped around his wrist.

"Woah! Woah! Hey, Koushuu, it's me, Seto Takuma!"

The blonde vampire instantly froze and guardedly peered up into the face of his friend.

As their eyes met, Seto carefully released Okumura's wrist. "You were having a nightmare. Are you alright?" The eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses were clouded with apprehension. His bed hair was a tangled mess, yet the red highlights on his bangs were still a stunning contrast to his jet-black hair. He'd normally wear a bandanna to cover his crowning glory whenever they're sent out to do some 'questionable' errands for their master. "Man, you're soaking wet!"

At that point Okumura wanted nothing more but to break down and cry. The nightmare had taken such a toll on his emotions. It was too much for his heart to bear. "Taku…He's still alive, isn't he?" He just wanted assurance, even though it would never give him a sense of peace.

A friendly and concerned expression softened the lines in Seto's face. He gave Okumura's shoulder an affectionate squeeze and a reassuring smile. "Yeah… He's still alive and kicking. He's pretty resilient, you know. Don't beat yourself up too much. It wasn't your fault, okay?" He could clearly see that his words of consolation yielded no desired results. His friend's heart had been scarred too deeply. He let out a sigh. "Koushuu, you can't keep going like this. If there's a way to break free from his control…"

Okumura's face twitched like he'd been struck. "I've tried and failed countless times… He was the one who made me and his ability allows him to gain complete control of my will. It's impossible for me." His words only caused Seto to frown. "Taku, I think it's time you start to live for yourself and not for me, not for the coven, especially not for the 20th Progenitor."

"Are you telling me to leave you? Sorry, pal, but you're not getting rid of me that easily."

"You're only following his orders because of me. You shouldn't—"

"I'm not leaving you," Seto cut him off suddenly, then looked away hesitantly. "If it bothers you so much, perhaps this can serve as a balm." His eyes fell on the fox mask he had discarded on the bedside table a while ago. "You're my friend, Koushuu, and that will never change. I've lost you once, and I won't let it happen again."

But Seto's words were not the things Okumura had wanted, and he frowned. "You're a fool to get involved with me."

Seto shrugged. "Sawamura-senpai wants to help you too."

Okumura looked at Seto for a moment, his emotions wavering uncertainly. "I don't deserve his help."

"It's not up to you to decide on that," Seto said with a sigh. "And don't you bullshit me, Koushuu… I've seen the way he looks at you. He's aware of the risks, but he still gave you his blood. I mean, sure, he's a little odd for a human, but he's sincere." He'd been there when it happened, hiding in the shadows only to serve as backup. He'd wanted to intervene back then, but the apparent threat to Okumura's life was there. The 20th Progenitor was very capable of ending Okumura's life in a snap if he willed it. With such constraints, Seto had no choice but to stand back. "Sawamura-senpai's the real deal, and I know how much you want to be with him."

Silence settled between them, and Okumura's mind drifted from one memory to another in kaleidoscopic menu of heart-warming and invigorating moments with Sawamura. His emotions were whirling around in limbo. He felt sad, he felt sorrow. But there was guilt, shame, resentment, and bitterness too. His cold eyes lifted to Seto and he almost winced at the tenderness he saw in his expression.

"I wanted to form a battery with Sawamura-senpai again," Okumura said quietly, clenching his fists. "I wanted to attend the same university…I've waited so long for that opportunity… But then I got turned." He looked like he'd swallowed something unpleasant. "How can I be with him when the monster inside of me constantly craves for his blood?" His voice was cold and flat again.

When Seto answered, his tone was roughly cajoling. "Yeah, well, that didn't seem to stop him from giving you his blood." He let out a light laugh and picked up his mask. "Okay, that's enough chit-chat for tonight. We really need to get some sleep." He gave Okumura an encouraging pat on the shoulder before he started toward the door.

"Taku, I know you're tired of hearing me say this, but I implore you," Okumura said indifferently, staring straight at his friend's back, "please leave while you still can."

Seto snickered as he twirled the fox mask with one finger. "Good night, Koushuu," he said before he left the bedroom. He knew that Okumura was only looking out for him. He appreciated the concern, but he'd never leave him no matter what. He swore that he'd find a way to get Okumura out of this mess or die trying. Okumura deserved better than this. He deserved to be free, to be happy, and to be with Sawamura-senpai.

Thinking back, he thought of how the recent incident had provided him with newfound hope. Of course, they couldn't afford to do anything stupid, but they really don't get such a chance like this. If my hunch is correct, then Koushuu will finally be free.


It had been four days. Four days since his wound healed. Four days since he'd been released from the hospital. Four days since Miyuki had allegedly escaped from prison. Four days since the coven's declaration to hunt him down at all cost. Four days since Sawamura had last heard of him. And this was driving him nuts! He should be tucked comfortably in his bed by now, sleeping and dreaming of wonderful things like baseball and food, but anxiety forced him to stay awake. Truth be known, he hadn't had a good night sleep for days. How could he sleep knowing that his precious partner was out there somewhere doing who knows what?

Miyuki was a wanted rogue now. At the apex of the investigation, it was proven that Miyuki was indeed guilty for the murders of those innocent women, for the attempted murder on Haruichi Kominato and Satoru Furuya, and for violating the injunction of the Seido Coven imposed on Sawamura. Furthermore, his recent escape from prison had merely exacerbated his offenses.

The wind had risen steadily for the past few hours in the night, sending more clouds scuttling over the luminous face of the moon. Somewhere in the Kuramochi mansion of West Tokyo—one of the faction's traditional Japanese manors which served as one of their bases of operation— a clock began to chime the midnight hour, each hollow bond resonating through Sawamura's frayed nerves. As the moments ticked away, fresh undesirable thoughts began to creep into his consciousness. He knew Miyuki blamed himself for hurting him. Perhaps it was this guilt that led Miyuki to escape, to finally distance himself. Perhaps Miyuki was so devastated that he was regretting every moment they'd shared—every touch, ever kiss, ever bond.

Sawamura felt a sting deep inside his chest and quickly shook his head to dismiss such assumption.

Aside from Miyuki, he was also greatly worried about Okumura.

He began to restlessly pace around the room. He was told to wait and to stay safe. The faction had even kept him from attending classes and baseball practice by imprisoning him in the mansion. For four days straight, he had been a caged bird. His patience was really growing thin. Well, he never had that much patience to begin with, he thought, growing more incensed by their unfairness with each step. Nevertheless, he had no intention of spending his time pacing his bedchamber and longing to hear news about Miyuki and Okumura.

If they would further impose their decisions on him, then by all means, he would do something about it.

The relentless flow of thought and determination had begun to invigorate him when he heard noise erupt from outside. Roars and shouts of battle, accompanied by the sound of steel against steel and gunshots, echoed through the night.

"S-Sawamura-kun, we have an emergency!"

That voice outside his room… Was that Yoshikawa?

"What's going on?" The words were barely out of his mouth when the door snapped open and Haruno stepped into his room. Her eyes darted back and forth nervously. Her body was tense. "Yoshikawa, what's happening out there?"

"A group of rogues have come… They're attacking the place!"

Sawamura's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Are they stupid?! Why would they invade a hunter's territory?! That's…That's suicide!"

"They're overwhelming us with numbers and a lot of them are Newborns," Haruno said, and Sawamura couldn't bit back a gasp. "Sawamura-kun, Newborns are really dangerous." In all her years in the faction, Haruno had never encountered and faced a Newborn, so she couldn't help feeling restless about the situation. Things were already getting messy outside.

A Newborn was every hunter's nightmare. After their transformation, most Newborns become slaves to their thirst, and thus they mostly act upon instinct and predatory desires. They were also notoriously powerful physically—strong and deadly enough to even defeat an older vampire with ease.

Sawamura understood the risks and dangers involved around Newborns, but he was also aware of the fact that Newborns would not just attack a hunter's base, especially not in hordes. This was obviously orchestrated by a high-ranked vampire. "Yoshikawa, is there anyone leading them?"

Haruno averted her eyes, swallowing hard. "Um…yes…there is…but…"

Sawamura felt his chest squeeze tight. "Is it…Okumura?"

Her quivering lips settled into a frown. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth to speak and closed it again. She looked more timid and conflicted. In the end, she only managed to offer him silence in return, yet it was more than enough for Sawamura to confirm his suspicion.

"I need to go!" Sawamura leapt for the door, but Haruno threw an arm to stop him, and her eyes met his. "Move aside, Yoshikawa."

The girl shook her head in dismay. "You can't go out there, Sawamura-kun! They're after you!"

"I'm the reason they'd come here!" Sawamura bellowed. "I can't just sit on my hands while others are fighting my battles for me!" And this was his chance to talk to Okumura.

Haruno's brow furrowed and her mouth drew into a tight line. "I understand but…" She hesitated for a moment but then made a decision. She brandished her weapon—a silver-framed handgun made of special anti-vampire properties—and looked up at Sawamura. "I was told to protect you. If you're going then so am I."

Sawamura gave her a smile of relief. "Thanks, Yoshikawa!"

They were turning toward the doors when they flew open. They caught the glimpse of a man silhouetted against the darkness before the wind from outside whipped through the room. They held their own breath, waiting for the clouds to shift again. Waiting for the single bright lance of the moonlight to gild this mystery man's form and bathe the smooth surface his fox mask. It was a mask he knew well. And this vampire had come for Sawamura.

"S-Stay where you are, vampire!" One moment Haruno was pointing her weapon at the enemy and next thing she wasn't. She flew across the room, slammed into one of the building's support pillars, and lay still.

Sawamura froze at the sight of his fallen comrade. "Y-Yoshikawa?! Hey, Yoshikawa!" It happened way too fast. This fox-masked vampire clearly had superior speed than most.

"Now then…"

Sawamura took an automatic step backward, his survival instinct warning him of the danger. "I'm surprised a vampire is stupid enough to barge into the territory of vampire hunters," he said with his eyes narrowed and his hands balled in fists. This was the same vampire who had come to his apartment, who told him about the raid and about Kuramochi, and Sawamura noticed he had covered his hair yet again with a bandana.

"Breaking in and out happens to be my specialty. I can kidnap you easily without any help, just so you know, but my master wanted to stir up noise and make it flashy," the vampire admitted exasperatedly, taking a single step toward him. "And those abominations out there, all of them were created by my master. If you don't come with me, there will be more bloodshed. I'm sure you don't want that, do you?"

The power of the Newborns was incredibly dreadful, and Sawamura knew that even the Kuramochi Faction was having a hard time dealing with them. He could only imagine what it looked like out there.

The fox-masked vampire sighed. "Perhaps Koushuu can convince you to come." His lips curved into a grin behind the mask as he watched the conflicting emotions played across Sawamura's stunning features. "You still care for him, don't you?"

"Why is Koushuu with you guys? Why is he doing this?!"

"It's not like has a choice."

Sawamura was taken aback by that admission. "What do you mean by that?"

"He's got some strings holding him down," the vampire said conversationally, although Sawamura somehow sensed the sadness under the casual tone.

"What?"

"Sorry, but I've got no time to explain." His long fingers suddenly gripped his wrists.

Determined to get free, Sawamura fought his hold, doubling his efforts when his arm hooked his waist, drawing him near. "Let me go!" he snarled viciously, bringing his knee sharply toward his groin.

The vampire blocked his knee with his other hand, whirled him around, and snaked his arm around his neck. "Senpai, don't you want to see Koushuu? I can take you to him." His cold breath floated in the human's ear, the sound of his voice penetrated there.

In spite of his strong desire to talk to Okumura, Sawamura couldn't trust the vampire's words easily. The vampire had broken into the estate to kidnap him—hardly actions of an honorable person. If he let this vampire take him, he didn't think he'd ever escape. But, as he attempted to reach for the knife hidden in his pants, someone came.

"Takes balls to break into our base like this."

A wave of relief washed over Sawamura as he saw his senior. "Mochi-senpai!"

"Didn't think I'd run into one of you bastards so soon," Kuramochi said, cracking his knuckles, and Sawamura could see his face contorted with vicious anger.

"Oh, really?" There was nothing but mockery in the vampire's tone. "Shouldn't you be in the frontlines right now, hunter? I mean, you are squad leader, right?"

"You think I'll just let you waltz in here and take Sawamura away?!" Kuramochi said, and Sawamura caught his voracious gaze. For that brief moment of silent exchange, he knew right away that Sawamura understood his exact thoughts.

Sawamura felt the tension building and thickening. It would soon reach a breaking point, and he had to do something. He absolutely refused to play the part of a hostage. The vampire had a good hold on him, but his arms were still free to move. Perhaps the vampire was overly confident that he'd be weak and powerless to even do anything to him. Of course, Sawamura wasn't naïve enough to think he might actually beat a vampire in a fight, but he could at least try to do something.

"I've already got what I came for, so it's no use sticking around any longer," the vampire sneered.

"You're not going anywhere!" Kuramochi charged forward and swung his dagger down in a hard cut toward the vampire. Sawamura could have sworn he could hear the wind whistling past the blade as it moved.

The vampire turned aside, and the sound of steel against steel reverberated in the air. The impact shuddered through his body as the hard metal of Kuramochi's dagger grinded against the blade of the vampire's shinobigatana. Kuramochi jumped back and quickly charged in for another attack. The vampire once again skillfully intercepted his dagger.

The sheer power of Kuramochi's next strike drove the masked vampire back a few steps. Seizing this opportunity, Sawamura immediately stabbed a small knife into the vampire's arm, forcing him to loosen his hold on him. The knife was infused with toxins harmful to a vampire.

The attack had successfully distracted the vampire, but that was all the time they needed. Kuramochi immediately closed the pace between himself and the enemy, his dagger leaping toward the vampire's throat. Almost instantly, the vampire leaned out of the way. That moment was enough for Sawamura to finally break free from his grasp.

Much to his surprise, Sawamura soon found himself being lugged aside. Kuramochi then stood before him, shielding him with his own body from the enemy.

The vampire clicked his tongue as he narrowed his eyes at the knife sticking out of his arm. "Feisty, aren't we? Still, this isn't enough to stop me, even with the toxins." He removed the knife and threw it aside. "What a pain…" he mumbled under his breath. "I think I've sufficiently wasted enough time tonight."

Kuramochi lunged at the vampire. "You have a lot of nerve!" he yelled. Both he and the vampire danced around each other as their blades clashed between them. "You've been doing nothing but mess around with Miyuki and Sawamura! What are you guys really planning?!"

"Well, in the beginning, our master only wanted to mess around with Miyuki Kazuya." The vampire countered a potently fatal strike from Kuramochi. "But then he got a taste of Sawamura-senpai's blood, so yeah, you can pretty much guess why he wants that human badly. Oh, and didn't Miyuki Kazuya escape from prison recently?"

Kuramochi's face twisted with rage, and he continued his assault at much greater intensity than before. He was determined to keep the vampire at bay and not allow him any sort of advantage. The thought of protecting Sawamura gave him added strength and motivation. He launched another deadly strike at the vampire, which he narrowly dodged, and jumped back to regain momentum.

"That's enough," came a resounding voice.

Both vampire and hunter held their ground and turned to the sound of the cold voice.

"Koushuu, you're finally here," the fox-masked vampire said.

Kuramochi's eyes widened as they fixed on Sawamura, lying unconscious in Okumura's arms, his neck limp. He couldn't believe it. He had been too distracted by his fight that he wasn't able to sense another vampire approaching. Then again, perhaps Okumura had an ability to sneak in undetected or something. "Okumura, what have you done?!" he asked furiously.

"Calm down, hunter," the fox said. There was a slightly teasing quality in his voice. "It's not like he stabbed him with a sword or something. He won't kill him. We'll just be taking him to our place."

This wasn't the first time that Kuramochi had ever felt filled with such overwhelming rage that made his body shake. But he knew he couldn't let rage swallow him whole. He needed to find a way to get Sawamura back. He readied himself, holding the dagger firmly in a reverse grip. "Hand him over right now!"

The fox-masked vampire sighed. "Now, now… What's the point of us coming all the way here if we don't take him?"

"Take him and go," Okumura said, carefully handing Sawamura's limp body to his comrade. "I'll hold him off."

"Roger that." The fox quickly rushed toward the exit.

"Stop right there!" Kuramochi kicked off from the ground, closing the distance between him and the fox-masked vampire. Kuramochi was only a single pace away from him when all of a sudden his blade hit against something hard. "What the hell?!" He strained his eyes, but saw nothing. For some reason, though, he couldn't get any closer either.

Was this some sort of illusion? A spell?

"Bye-bye!" The fox vampire jeered before he disappeared into the night.

"No, wait! EIJUN!" Kuramochi swung his dagger once more, but again it was stopped by an invisible force. It was as if there was a great wall between them. Cursing under his breath, he jumped backwards, distancing himself from Okumura. What kind of weapon or sorcery was Okumura using?

Just then…

"Ugh!" Blood began to spurt from his shoulder. He almost cried out in pain, but just managed to stop himself. Something cut him, and it wasn't a blade or any sharp weapon. Kuramochi immediately applied pressure to the wound, but his wrists were suddenly seized by an invisible force. "What the hell is this?!" He tried to shake them free, but this powerful force was holding him tightly. "What's going on?!" He struggled desperately, ruthlessly, but then his hands were pulled to either side.

"Struggling won't do you any good, Kuramochi-senpai.

"This ability…" Kuramochi narrowed his eyes at Okumura. He had studied and researched a lot about the uncanny powers and abilities of vampires. Honestly, he had never encountered an enemy with an ability such as Okumura's, but he swore that he had heard of this before. And if his intuition was right, then he may have a chance out of this. As he roared, his dagger emitted an almost beast-like howl and sparks flew around the blade. "You guys aren't the only ones with special abilities." A bright flame wrapped around the blade before it dispersed and spread around him like tiny blades. The force that had been restraining his arms disappeared, and he fell down to one knee. His lips then curled into a smile. "So…I was right."

Okumura didn't even bat an eyelid.

"You better give Sawamura back!" Kuramochi rushed toward Okumura, swinging his blade entwined in flames.

But Okumura simply dodged out of the way. He was about to make his escape when the sound of a gunshot boomed in the air. Okumura froze, pain abruptly registering in his mind, as he slowly brought a hand against his chest. There was blood oozing out from a wound—a wound obviously caused by a specialized bullet, a wound that shouldn't affect him this much. However, his whole body felt paralyzed, though he still managed to locate the source. His dull green eyes landed on a girl several feet away and in her hands was a silver-framed gun.

The last thing he remembered was the sound of flesh being cut before darkness finally claimed him.