Chapter 10

Bad woke with a headache the next day.

If was as if he could hear the world around him waking up and starting their day long before he was ready to. Still, it was morning, he was safe to go back home now. Slowly he picked himself out of bed, but there was a note under his doorway. 'Come get something to eat before leaving P.G'

Bad felt his stomach roar with hunger, despite the feast he had last night he needed more to eat now. With a sigh, he pushed himself out the door and went to get something. He wondered his way into the cafeteria of the Heroes Association and found a table reserved just for him! It was full of food, most of it were his favorites. He sat down and began to eat, however the stares from the other heroes were ones he can do without. He turn and glare at them oddly. "What's your problem!" he demanded. They would instantly turn and go back to their own meals or discussions. Bad was half way through the table. There was enough there to feed most of the S Class, yet he was eating it all to himself!

"My, that is some appetite you have."

Bad froze when he heard the voice of Amai Mask lingering beside him. "The fuck you want?" he demanded with his mouth full.

Amai smirked. He took a seat and merely watched Bad continue to eat. "I heard a little rumor going around…" he said offhandedly.

Suddenly Bad stopped eating. He swallowed what was in his mouth before confronting Amai. "Rumor, what rumor?" Bad knew he has to play dumb to this, after all, he doesn't know much anymore, let alone who is really a hero in this association.

Amai gave a gentle smile. "No need to hide it, I know donor when I see one. Let me guess, he's taken from you a few times now, hasn't he?"

Bad sneered as he turned away embarrassed. "What if I told you, there was a way to stop it?"

This got his interest. Bad turned and stared at Amai who became quite serious. "There's a way?" he asked.

Amai reached into his shirt, there he held out a necklace with a strange charm on it. It appeared like a capital A connected to a cross "This… will repel a vampire." He explained. "Not just any vampire, blood sucking kind. They cannot bare to be around this symbol, wear it, and he cannot take any more of your blood. If he cannot take any more, a bond will not be forged. If one can abstain long enough from being bitten, the affects will be undone. You can return to a human state again…"

Bad reached for the pendent, however, Amai tucked it back into his shirt. "Ah ah, if you want this, you need to do something for me!" he insisted.

This was getting suspicious. Bad didn't like Amai Mask for many reasons, one being he looked down at him all the time. The other, he just didn't like the vibe he gave off. Even now, he could feel it seething. It was unsettling, and yet Bad was willing to overlook it to become normal once more. "What do you want?"

Amai grinned. "I have needs of my own, one happens to be the need for some… answers. I wish to know… how did you draw blood out of Pig God?"

Bad froze to the question. "That's it?" he demanded. "I didn't! He made me do it, but I didn't do anything!"

Sweet mask was curious. "Oh? He drew his own blood?"

"Yes… no… I don't know! I didn't have control over my own body!"

"I see… what did it taste like?"

"It tasted…" Bad froze. "How did you know I took blood from Pig God?"

Amai only smiled as he reached into his shirt and took off the pendent. He left it on the table and left without another word. Bad stared down at it for a moment. If that can truly repel Garou, he can prevent himself from being turned into a half vampire.

He reached towards it, but also hesitated. Something ate away at Bad, he knows what is becoming of him, he doesn't want to, but, he felt Garou's need of him. Almost like it was desperate, and yet, he doesn't want to live forever just to be that. Either way, he reached over and took the pendent and tucked it into his pocket. He will kept it for now, and consider his options.

#

He made it home a few hours before Zenko needed to be picked up. He was just at the doorway when he heard it.

Badum

Badum

Badum

But the pace of it, was much faster than it normally was. Was Garou desperate? Was he starving? Bad unlocked the door, by the time he crossed into the threshold he was grabbed, pinned to the wall and the fangs pierced his neck! He began to feel it, the rush this time around, he could sense how Garou felt, the bliss he gained with each mouthful. Their hearts fell into sync once more until Bad had enough. "OFF!" with a harsh shove, Garou was pushed away hard. Even he was startled as to how strong Bad was becoming.

Bad recoiled, grabbing the side of his neck, yet felt the wound instantly heal over once more. "Damn it! ASK!" he snapped.

Garou froze, he appeared ashamed of what he did. "I… I'm sorry." He muttered. "Is everything okay… you smell different."

"Fine! Just… fine…"

There was awkward silence between the two. Garou offered to help Bad to a chair but he refused the assistance, instead, Bad made his way to the couch where he flopped down and recovered from the blood loss. "Is this how it's going to be? One moment, you're fine, next thing I know I am pinned to a wall getting drained? I mean, what the hell man!"

"I… really needed you." Garou whispered. "I don't know why, but my thirst is getting worst than usual."

"I thought I was suppose to be quenching that? Isn't that how its suppose to go? You drink from me and that goes away, or are you not getting enough?" Garou was silent, Bad slowly sat up, realizing the truth. "You aren't, are you?"

"It's just…"

"It's what?"

Garou froze but sighed. "No, I'm not. When you push me off, I am near the point of feeling full. But, I don't tell you that, since I respect you. When you refuse to give me anymore, I won't take it by force."

"But you could, couldn't you?"

He nodded. "Bad…" Garou said but stopped himself.

His heart began to fill Bad's ears once more. It was drastically different. It was yearning. Bad stood up, he pulled back his shirt and sighed. "Do it."

"What?"

"Take it, take what you need. Just leave me enough to get through the day."

Garou froze but he didn't refuse. He was more careful this time, he didn't force Bad to the wall, he didn't pin him down, he merely embraced him before sinking his fangs into his neck once more. Bad could feel it this time, it was painful. Unlike the other occasions, he could shake it off. This… this felt like hell! His body began to go numb, his arms trembled as his legs began to shake. When Garou pulled away, Bad collapsed to his knees! "Bad!"

He began shaking, and couldn't stop. He wasn't cold, just… weak… "Wh… why…" he asked.

Garou knew too, his arms began trembling as well, Bad noticed his legs too were starting to shake. He was feeling his pain! "The bond… it's nearly forged…"

Bad cringed at the thought, he nearly forgot that on the fifth bite, he will be bonded with Garou, forever.

He couldn't get himself up this time, Bad was stuck on the floor trying to regain himself. But, if this is how it's going to be, how much Garou needs to take from him to keep his urges at bay, it's a hell he doesn't want to endure. "I can't do this…"

"Bad, it was…"

"I ain't going to do this no more!"

He turned and looked up at Garou, who was stunned. "But… I need you. I need you to help me!" he pleaded.

"No… NO MORE! I can't go on like this, I can't even stand on my own goddamn feet because of you! I want you out."

Garou froze, as if his heart just broke. He wanted to speak, until Bad reached into his pocket and took the pendent out. A look of devastation came over the human monster. "Where…"

"Amai Mask gave it to me! He said blood suckers can't stand this symbol. The buffet closes!" With that he placed the pendent on. Garou shook his head in disbelief.

"You have to take it off!"

"I ain't taking it off, go on, go ahead and bite me!"

Garou couldn't. Strength began to return to Bad's body, he stood up and confronted the vampire in the room. "You ain't so tough now huh? I ain't going to be your match no more. I won't live my life just to be your walking blood bar, I got more to live for than you. I want you out, I want you to disappear, and I don't ever want to see you again!"

"Bad… please listen to me. You have to take that pendent off. It's not what it seems…"

"It's working for me. Now, get!"

There was hesitation, yet, he did was he was told. Garou left that moment, slamming the door behind him. Bad sighed aloud, it was over. Finally over.

Checking his watch, he knew he had to go get Zenko from school. At last, he can return her to a normal life.