Chapter Ten
It only took a good twenty minutes for Seishirou to consume several glasses of blood, before gaining back much of his lost strength. He knew that what they were about to do was probably a bad idea in his condition, but the assassin, as usual, exhibited only confidence in his ability to perform.
"You'll have to drink a small sip from me, and I'll have to do the same to you. Then we consummate the joining," Seishirou instructed, glad that he tended to retain most everything he read. "Just tell me when youre ready."
The young vampire had stood up and in the interim when Seishirou had departed from him, managed to calm himself down. To show that he was ready, his fingers flew to his clothes, which were sadly disheveled from the night's activities so he was more than pleased to be rid of them.
"I know that I have to drink from you" he began. "My master he used to bite me all the time to try to make it work but it didn't. I think there's some other magic?" He didn't like to bring up the subject of his sire at this juncture, but it was his only basis of comparison.
"It's a rather simple spell," Seishirou replied. "There are no spoken words, but it can only be triggered so long as both people aren't bound to anyone else. It also has a lot to do with the mutual sharing of blood and body fluids that is symbolic of the spiritual sharing." He set the bottle down on the table and quickly stripped himself, carefully folding his clothes and tossing them on a chair.
"Why don't you go lay down on your back and I'll see how good I can make this for you," he said, his smile filled with promise.
Subaru was glad for the instruction. It gave his anxious mind something to focus on; something that he knew was the right course of action. He remembered the first time he'd offered to have sex with Seishirou and just what a disaster it had turned out to be. He was so afraid of making a wrong move, to spoil the mood between them. It was often thus with new lovers, unsure of their partner's wants. In this case, it was ironic that Subaru didn't know that he could have done anything right now and Seishirou wouldn't stop. The other man was too bent on claiming him tonight.
He lay on the bed, his body unnaturally stiff, demonstrating the tenseness he felt. He shifted his legs about, not sure how he should position himself. With his master, he knew he would have spread them, but since Seishirou appeared to want the opposite, he finally decided to keep them closed.
"Please tell me what I should do, Seishirou-san. I don't want to do anything wrong"
"Shhh," the Sakurazukamori hushed softly, settling himself over Subaru and kissing him tenderly. Seishirou kept his motions slow and soft, knowing that it would be easy to frighten his lover. He cupped his cheek in one hand and with the other, he skimmed his fingers down Subaru's neck and shoulders. Every touch and caress would feel wonderfully exquisite.
"Now I want you to bite," Seishirou whispered, moving his lips across Subarus face and down his chin, lapping daintily at his milky skin.
The gentle touches reassured the young vampire, allowing him to ease into the unfamiliar sensation of being caressed by someone who actually cared about him. So it was the most natural and easiest of moves for him to half turn his face about and position himself just above the curve of Seishirou's shoulder. Seishirou's words directed and natural instinct aided. He bit down.
The sweet rush of Seishirou's blood flowed into his mouth and once again the ecstasy from the act of drinking coursed through his body. But this time was different. Seishirou's blood was different. Subaru had never drunk of another vampire's blood, apart from his master at the time of change, and now Seishirou's blood tasted so intoxicatingly rich that he was overwhelmed. He moaned from the sheer bliss of the taste.
Seconds later, Seishirou bit down, feeling the tingle of magic flowing through his blood, both leaving and entering his body. It was an intensely intimate exchange, to share their life-blood. He moaned slightly against Subaru's neck, almost feeling drunk from the sweetness of what he was feeling and tasting.
Finally, after a long moment, he pulled back and licked his lips. Subaru's blood tasted so much sweeter and richer than the stale flavor of the donated packets. If living off blood would taste this wonderful, he supposed he wouldn't mind giving up solid food.
He moved to kiss him again, tasting his own blood on Subarus lips. Seishirou found it incredibly erotic and licked at his loved ones lips, lapping at them over and over again until they were clean.
All thoughts of his former master, his worry over his performance, any concern at all, fled Subaru's mind in the aftermath of the drink. It was as good as any potent cocktail mix, and to Subaru, tasted even better. He licked back at his lover's lips, sucking at the minute traces retained on them, like a hungry man at his last meal, simply trying to get the last nuance of flavor from him.
It took a while before Subaru recovered enough to open his eyes, his lids luxuriously heavy from satiation. "Is it done? Are we mated?"
"We are," he replied softly. "Though to deepen the bond between us, we need to consummate the union." Seishirou tenderly caressed Subaru's face, trying his best to keep him at ease. "I promise I'll be gentle. I'll tell you exactly what you should do."
The other smiled; an expression of such joy and gratitude gracing his face that he practically glowed. He'd felt the magic binding them and the knowledge that he was safe, no matter what else might happen, was the best gift that Seishirou could ever give him to boost his confidence.
"I want this. I want to love you, fully," he said.
"You won't regret this," Seishirou assured him. He kissed him full on the lips once more before feathering his lips lightly down his neck and across his shoulders. His hands followed, making sure that every bit of Subaru's skin was thoroughly kissed and caressed.
"Touch me if you like," he suggested, continuing his tender exploration of Subarus body. Seishirou paused, giving a fair amount of attention to his loved ones hardening nipples, swirling his tongue over the pink nub. It thrilled him to be giving Subaru something so new and wonderful.
"I'll never regret anything with you," Subaru whispered, growing more excited by the teasing touches. He'd rarely been on the receiving end of foreplay although he'd been forced to pleasure a few times. Those times left him feeling nothing but dirty. But with Seishirou, he actually wanted him to go on and to touch back.
It was sheer indulgence that he gave in to.
He began with a tentative stroke of Seishirou's dark head, which was pressed so firmly against his chest, Seishirou's tongue doing all sorts of tantalizing things to his flesh, teasing at him. Well, he could give as well as he got. Subaru slid his hands downwards, feeling the curve of Seishirou's spine, the muscular planes of his back, reaching as far down as he was able to cup the firmness of his buttocks, bringing him forward, ever so naturally, to grind against his own body.
Seishirou soon grew tired with lapping at the nipple and moved to seek the smooth sweet skin of Subarus chest and stomach. He licked his way lower, leaving damp trails behind, over which he blew a cool breath of air. Deciding that Subaru was relaxed enough, his hands skimmed lower, ghosting across his lean hips.
"Try to relax," he reminded him, taking Subaru's shaft in his hands. He massaged it lightly, pleased to find Subaru readily responding to his touch. It was going well so far, but he would keep his eyes and ears open for any sign of his loved ones past trauma coming back to haunt them.
The initial touch of hands on his penis shocked Subaru, his body jerking in a reflexive spasm, but he got a hold of himself and relaxed. Before long, his body reacted, a predictable, natural reaction but one that was pleasurable all the same.
"Seishirou-san" he whispered. "What about you?" He didn't understand what Seishirou was doing but it seemed fully concentrated on him. Surely it couldn't be fair.
"I'll be fine," he assured him. "I want to get you comfortable with being touched first." Seishirou kept his hands on Subaru firm, but gentle. He made no sudden movements as he scooted himself down so that he was positioned in between Subarus legs.
"I'm going to suck on you for a while," he said, giving Subaru fair warning. Bending down, he slipped his lips over the head of Subaru's penis, lightly sucking for a moment before he took more of him in. It was an odd feeling for Seishirou. Though he knew how this worked in theory, he'd never actually given a blowjob before. He loosened his jaw, his years of self-discipline kicking in. He nearly gagged when the tip hit the back of his throat, but he persevered, relaxing his muscles enough to suck him comfortably.
Subaru had done this often enough but never been on the receiving end. Now he knew how pleasurable it could be. He was glad Seishirou warned him but even so, a strangled gasp ripped from his throat. Compulsively, he thrust forward, and was immediately contrite when he saw that he was choking Seishirou. Nevertheless, he refrained from apologizing though he did his best to hold still after, once he saw how inexperienced his partner was. It was odd, in a wonderful way, to know exactly how Seishirou felt, in a strange, tables turned around sort of way. He understood the devotion it took from Seishirou to do this. The Sakurazukamori wasn't one to do this lightly.
After a while of fumbling, Seishirou found himself settling into a comfortable rhythm. As he moved his mouth over the hardened flesh, he cupped Subaru's balls in his hand, gently playing with them as he sucked. Once his jaw began to ache in protest at being held open for so long, he withdrew, licking his lips.
"Not bad for my first attempt," he said, smiling down at Subaru. "Are you ready for more?" Seishirou eyed the bottle sitting on the table next to the bed. He hoped the conditioner would be sufficient for lubrication.
The only thing Subaru was capable of thinking of at that moment was why did Seishirou stop? He'd been doing everything right so far. He'd been getting into the flow of things and his tension had transformed into something far more desirable, pleasurable, a tension that urged him forward toward something good that he knew was just out of reach.
At Seishirou's question, he squirmed and forced his eyes to meet the smugly pleased gaze from his mate. He worked his throat, and it was only on a second attempt that he found enough coherence to answer Seishirou. "Yes, more," he whispered.
He watched Seishirou grab the bottle and squeezed out a small amount in his hand with a measure of pleased anticipation.
"This is going to feel a bit odd," Seishirou warned, slowly pressing through Subarus buttocks and working his finger in. The muscle didn't feel terribly tight, but it was still important to stretch out the area in order to minimize the pain. He took quite a bit of time just working him with his fingers, feeling around for the prostate and teasing it when he found his target.
The intrusion wasn't unexpected. What was unexpected was that there was no pain. Subaru's eyes were wide with astonishment from that realization as he felt Seishirou's slender finger fitting smoothly in him, the lubrication doing wonders to ease his way. And he was even more astonished when he felt the other man start to massage his sensitive spot.
He cried out his lover's name as he thrust forward, seeking to take more of Seishirou's finger inside his body. If this was what Seishirou meant by more, then yes, he wanted it.
After careful preparation, Seishirou slicked his hand over his penis, making himself ready. Slowly, he lifted Subaru's hips, getting himself into position.
"This wont hurt as much as you're used to, but it will a bit. Tell me if you need me to stop," Seishirou explained. It was a great act of self-sacrifice on his part, knowing that it would take a great deal of discipline in order to stop himself partway through sex. It was an offer that he would only make to someone he loved, and it showed on his face.
Subaru nodded tightly and swallowed, bracing himself for the usual spiking pain of penetration. However, not wishing to discourage Seishirou, he rolled his hips slightly forward, so that the blunt tip of his sex fit neatly in position. The move had its desired effect and Seishirou pushed forward, breaching him.
He closed his eyes, employing all his willpower to relax, dampening away the initial panic from feeling that hardness invading him; repeating to himself firmly that this was someone entirely different, someone who cared for him. Progress was slow but steady, aided by the copious amounts of lubrication the other had applied, and then, suddenly, Seishirou was fully sheathed inside.
"It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all!" he gasped, the expression on his face mirroring his wonder that it didn't. He had never associated this act without accompanying pain and the unusual absence of it found him at a loss. He widened his legs more, curling them around Seishirou's hips, allowing himself to accept even more of him, until his own erection, still painfully hard, was pressed up against Seishirou.
"Lubrication makes it easier," Seishirou muttered, shifting his attention to the tightness around him. It was interesting how cool the act felt, the usual body heat generated from sexual activity was strangely absent, though not entirely unpleasant. He slowly pulled himself out almost all the way before diving back in, taking the time to get Subaru used to his movements. Gripping Subaru's legs lightly, he slid in and out of him, generating enough friction to slowly warm them both.
Subaru filed that information away carefully and turned his attention towards pleasuring Seishirou. Without the tearing pain, he felt he could participate better, and began moving his body in time to the frantic ancient dance that his partner was leading. His hands clasped around the other's body, pulling him forward, closer, tighter, not expecting much beyond the relief that he wasn't in terrible pain like all those other times.
Seishirous light gasps indicated that Subaru's efforts were appreciated. He began to thrust in and pull out at a faster pace, pleased that his mate was enjoying the process as much as he was. Seeking to further stimulate his partner, he grabbed hold of Subaru's shaft and began to pump it in his hand, matching the speed in which he moved. He put all his effort into pleasuring Subaru.
Subaru didn't even know when things suddenly changed. One moment, he was cuddling Seishirou, rather contently but without feeling much else, and the next he was bucking wildly against him, his eyes wide with surprise from the sensations of each powerful stroke surging into him.
His mind spiraled away into a realm of pure bliss, thanks to the double stimulus of the stroking at his sex while his secret place deep inside was prodded into awakening delight. Guttural cries and incoherent mews spilled from his lips in encouragement of Seishirou's efforts while he strained further and further towards an ever-higher peak, in a wild headlong rush of passionate fervor.
"Please, please," he chanted, doing what he never thought he would do, that is beg for sex.
Seishirou was more than willing to give it to him. He worked faster, sliding in and out of him at an increasingly fast rate. Heat rose within them, the feeling delightfully searing inside their cool bodies. He would work towards giving Subaru his pleasure first. He held back the growing pressure within him, refusing to let go just yet.
"Yes, Subaru, yes," he strained, his mind wrapped in ecstasy. Beads of sweat rolled down his brow and his body trembled with effort.
As the pleasure crested, so rose a wild desire for Subaru to taste Seishirou's blood. He didn't know he could feel like this, a deep yearning for something that went beyond a physical union. He wanted to take Seishirou in every single way, and to be taken in turn. Feral with passion, his fangs emerged and he only managed to shy away at the last moment from sinking them deep into Seishirou's flesh, the knowledge that Seishirou was a newborn fledgling who couldn't afford further blood loss prohibiting him. But the desire was too strong and at last, he yielded and scratched his lover's skin lightly, forcing the merest trickle of blood to the surface where he lapped and suckled at it as if it was the most wonderful thing ever to cross his lips.
"Drink, drink, drink from me," he grunted as he writhed his body beneath the other. He was very close to his climax, but he refused to come until Seishirou shared of him too. There was some complex magic happening that he didn't know about, but something deep inside him told him it was necessary.
The words rang in Seishirous ears, compelling him to lean forward until Subarus knees were nearly touching his shoulders. Before he knew what he was doing, he bit into his partners neck, a rush of blood flowing into his mouth. He drank deeply, an electric tingle spreading throughout his body. It was powerful magic and he was unable to stop himself from crying out.
For the first time since dying, his body felt very hot. All of his restraint crumbled to pieces as his orgasm tore through his body. Seishirou shivered almost violently from the intensity of it.
The sharp sudden pain of the bite was just the final stimulus needed to send Subaru spinning upwards until he shattered into a thousand pieces of his ecstasy. The magic swirled around them and bound them, into one being, both sharing a rapture that went beyond the physical body. Subaru felt fused to his lover and he knew, at that moment, that he would never be free of him, until they both went into eternal death.
When Seishirou opened his eyes, he was looking down at Subaru, still shivering from the aftermath of the bonding. He tumbled off his lover, feeling very exhausted, but also deeply satisfied.
Seishirou then became aware of gentle presence hovering in the back of his mind. It was much more personal and real than the Sakurazukamori marks had been. He could feel Subaru inside of him, and thats when the full weight of what they had done hit home for him. They were bound forever. No matter what happened, there was no undoing what they had forged that night.
"I love you," he whispered, trying not to be overwhelmed by everything. He reached up and wiped his lips clean of his partners blood, finally calm enough now to come to his senses. Seishirou supposed he would have to drink more blood soon, but for the moment, he was content to lie beside his special person.
On hearing the declaration, Subaru peeled his tired eyes open to direct a vague smile at Seishirou. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing you say that," he said, shifting about so that he could fit better into the curve of Seishirou's body. His muscles ached but in a good way, thrilling from the strain of good exercise. He'd never felt so satisfied before.
"I guess I understand now, what the difference is," he said. "Thank you for showing me."
"We still have a long ways to go before we'll be free of the demons that haunt us, but you don't have to be afraid anymore," Seishirou said reassuringly. "I'll be here to take care of you."
Reflecting on his current condition, Seishirou didn't suppose he had things too bad at all. He would live indefinitely, which saved him the trouble of having to find an heir for the Tree. Holding Subaru tightly to himself, he sent up a silent prayer of thanks to whoever might be listening that fate had allowed him to have his true hearts desire. Had he not been turned, he would have grown old and died, leaving his special one eternally ageless. Had Subaru not been turned, he would have invoked Hokutos spell, forcing Subaru into the role of Sakurazukamori.
He thought he didn't have a choice when he made his plans six years ago. He couldn't have been more wrong. Deciding that now was as good a time as any, he told Subaru the truth.
"I suppose you know now that you were the true winner of our bet," Seishirou murmured. "I didn't think I had a choice at the time."
A look of utter surprise flashed though Subaru's face, before being replaced with intense pain. He'd been under the impression that Seishirou's feelings were new found, thanks to his powers as a vampire, not of long standing. If he had won the bet back then
"No choice? Why? Why did you hurt me then? Why did you leave me alone? Why did you kill my sister?" The questions spilled from his lips as the years of hurt surfaced once more, the pain of Hokuto's death once again rubbing his heart raw.
"I had to make you hate me," the other slowly began, feeling the hurt Subaru felt pulsing through his mind. "Because I was supposed to be killed by the one I loved. After living with you for a year, I knew that you would never even think of killing me unless I did everything I could to make you despise me." Seishirou's voice was low and grave. "Then you would live on as the Sakurazukamori in my place."
The revelation was so terrible that Subaru had to turn his face away from the man he'd taken as his mate. It had all been so futile. All for the sake of some idiotic succession rite. He buried his face into his hands and began to cry, softly but in a broken-hearted way as he mourned all that could have been.
"I could never hate you. Even after Hokuto died, I still loved you. You hurt me so much! And I died anyway!" he said, flinging the truth at Seishirou, wanting to hurt him back as much as he'd hurt him. He sobbed, shoulders shaking uncontrollably from the release of his emotions.
Seishirou shuddered in the mental agony that was wracking his mind. Until that point, he had no idea how much he hurt Subaru. He never understood what this kind of pain was until he felt it throbbing at him through their bond. It was completely his fault for disclosing his secrets and it was up to him to soothe Subaru's pain.
"I thought I was winning for a while," he said slowly, gathering his thoughts as he spoke. "Then I realized that if I was willing to step in between you and a knife and give my right eye for you, that you were the one my mother told me about. You were the one to kill me. And you did kill me in the end. Just not in a way I ever dreamed possible."
He reached over taking Subaru's hand and clutched it to his chest. "Hokuto-chan came to me after you went Within and asked me to kill her. She was offering herself in your place, because she loved you. I couldn't deny her wish." Seishirou didn't expect, or even need forgiveness. He just wanted Subaru to know, and that would be enough.
The abyss of insanity yawned before Subaru momentarily, the grief of their past threatening to overwhelm him but right at the last moment, he pulled back, saved by the knowledge that he was indeed hurting Seishirou with his regret. No matter what, no matter how the other man had hurt him, Subaru had been telling the truth when he said he loved him. So, he would forgive.
He released his face and looked back up, scrubbing away at his tears with the backs of his hands, regaining control over his emotions. "It's all right. That's all in the past. We should put it behind us. What's done is done; it cannot be undone. We're both dead I accept that, Seishirou-san," he said. He sensed the other man's conflict and opened his heart, sending waves of reassurance back to him.
"I love you. Nothing changes that."
"And I can't stop loving you," Seishirou admitted. "I tried many times before, but it was meant to be, and I accept that now. I just thought I owed it to you to tell you the whole truth."
He pulled Subaru into a tight embrace and held on to him, relieved that his admission didn't cause them any more pain, especially in the wake of their joining. He could somehow sense that the sun would soon be rising in the world outside and it was time for them to sleep. Reaching down, he tugged the blankets up around them and slept in the arms of his blood mate.
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Notes
I apologise for the cheesiness of this chapter. Please take it all with a grain of salt, and yes, I do know conditioner isn't really the best of lubes, but hey at least its something.