JC: We're on chapter 10 now! You'll get to find out who this phantom-masked vampire is, although I'm sure some of you already know. Hehehe… I've spent so many revisions on this since some scenes felt off somehow, but I've managed to finish it! Hope it's to your liking!

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

Craving

Kuramochi had reserved a small Japanese inn in Nagano for Miyuki and Sawamura to stay in while they recuperated, and that became their temporary hideout. Not only were they hiding from the masked vampire, but they were keeping themselves under the radar from both the coven and the faction. After all, Kuramochi did break the law by breaking Okumura out of prison. In addition to that, Miyuki was still wanted for his so-called crimes.

The owner of the inn was a retired hunter and an old family friend of Kuramochi. With barriers in place, the inn was safe from detection and psychic intrusion.

For several hours, Sawamura spent most of his time in one of the rooms, lying in a comfy futon, wearing a white shirt and sweatpants, with Okumura by his side. All the blood loss and tension had left him weak and very compromised. He had given much of his blood to Miyuki. Any mere human would have died then and there. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was still alive.

Okumura spent the hours watching Sawamura sleep, taking in every detail about his pretty face. He watched his chest slowly rise up and down as he breathed. Okumura couldn't hold back a smile as he watched Sawamura's eyelids flutter, wondering if he was dreaming. Sawamura looked so angelic, almost as if he was from another world, maybe a more carefree world. He reached out and so delicately trailed the tips of his fingertips over the smooth surface of his cheekbone, brushing the stray hair away as Sawamura stirred a little in his sleep.

He let himself just watch him, freeing his mind to wander in enraptured daze, fluttering from thought to thought. It had been so long since he'd felt this way. Forever since he'd been so close to him.

All of a sudden, Sawamura's face twisted in pain and a groan escaped from his lips.

Okumura remained calm. Was his senior having a bad dream? He contemplated whether to wake him or not as he gently took his shaking hand in his and held it.

A moment later, Sawamura's eyes slowly fluttered open. He blinked sleepily and his gaze drifted over to meet Okumura's.

"How are you feeling, senpai?"

"Kou…shuu?" Sawamura's voice was weak. "Is…that really you? I'm not dreaming…right?"

"It's really me, Eijun-senpai." Okumura felt tears well up at the back of his eyes—tears of pure joy and thankfulness that threatened to pour out—but he held them back. Sawamura's mouth twitched into a smile. It was small, but Okumura's heart leapt at it. "Do you want to get up?"

"Yeah… I want to talk to you properly."

Okumura helped steady him as he sat up, conscious of his condition.

"Koushuu, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course…" Okumura replied, a little taken aback. His senior had never struck him as the sort to ask permission for anything, so why was he asking him of all people?

Sawamura grinned, his golden eyes shining at him. "Will you catch for me again?"

The question had so overwhelmed Okumura that he was stunned speechless for a moment.

"Well?" Sawamura's smile got more radiant and persistent.

"Is it…really okay?"

Sawamura rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't be asking you otherwise." His face came closer to Okumura's, and his golden eyes narrowed slightly as he studied him. Okumura felt his heart flutter. "So, is that a yes or a no?"

"But I've done horrible things. I've killed—"

"Stop. Don't do this to yourself, Koushuu." Sawamura reached for him, and when their hands met, he felt him shiver. His hand wrapped around his. "This is mind-control and compulsion. Yes, you played a part, but you weren't in your right mind. " He saw the burning embers of sadness behind the intense green of Okumura's eyes.

Okumura couldn't fight the electricity that surged through his body from the contact. But he also couldn't fight the heavy guilt consuming his heart. "Still…I'm sorry…I know apologizing doesn't make up for what I've done, but…"

Interrupting his apology, Sawamura playfully flicked his forehead. "It was you with the kabuki mask, right?" A broad smile split his lips. He was able to piece things together to determine the identity of the 3rd masked vampire, after learning Seto's identity. "Back at the warehouse… You saved me from being bitten by your maker."

"At that time…I was…"

"That's enough."

A chain suddenly came around the phantom vampire's neck and strangled him. "What are you doing?!" he gasped while grabbing the chain, tossing a glare over his shoulder, baring his fangs at his companion.

"Control yourself." The taller vampire with the kabuki mask had a cold yet quiet voice. "We didn't come here for his blood."

"He was your master. You could've just let him take my blood, but you didn't." Sawamura's voice was affectionate as he ruffled the blonde hair, fluffing it up. "A lot of bad things had happened, but I'm glad you're here now."

"Is it really all right?" Okumura lowered his eyes, swallowing past the lump in his throat. He balled his hands as a way to gain control of the emotions that were seeping out of his heart and swelling his chest, working their way out of every pore of his body. "I want to stay by your side, as long as you need me…but… Is this really fine?"

"Okay… Who are you, and what have you done with my snarky wolf-brat of a catcher?"

All the tension dissipated. Okumura could only stare at the senior he looked up to. He watched as Sawamura laughed heartily, patted his shoulder, and winked an eye at him.

"So, is that a yes or a no?"

Okumura had never imagined that Sawamura would accept him. He was prepared for utter rejection, but Sawamura was inviting him to be part of his life again. He bowed his head, a sincere smile gracing his beautiful features. "Yes…I'll catch for you again, Eijun-senpai."

Without warning, Sawamura embraced Okumura. His hand pressed against his back, and at that moment, Okumura was sure his heart skipped a beat and his face was turning red.

Unbeknownst to the two occupants in the room, as they reveled in each other's warmth, Kuramochi was standing outside the door in the hallway, smiling sincerely. He had been listening to them from the very beginning.

"Had a nice sleep?" Kuramochi asked, standing in the doorway of another room two hours later.

Miyuki was sprawled in a zaisu beside the window in shirt-sleeves and trousers, one long leg stretched out while the other bent, and his chin was nestled on his palm. His eyes were tired, as he hardly slept day or night during his imprisonment. His body mirrored his eyes, exhausted and fatigued. "Shouldn't you be nagging me about what I did to your kouhai?" he replied, smiling crookedly.

Kuramochi let out a sigh. "You could have killed him, but you didn't. I'll let you off easy."

"That's almost nice of you, Mochi-kun," Miyuki said in a teasing tone.

"Don't give me a reason to punch your face, dipshit," Kuramochi grunted, crossing his arms, as he walked into the room.

Miyuki chortled a little before a sad smile graced his lips. "How's Sawamura?"

"Insufferable," Kuramochi assured him. "The brat keeps demanding for food and fresh water ever since he woke up. Okumura insisted on taking care of him." He raised a brow as he noticed the change in Miyuki's visage to one that's slightly disturbed. "You don't have to worry about Okumura. Aside from the barrier, I also gave him a protection stone."

"You mean a Blue Aventurine?" Miyuki questioned, and Kuramochi nodded in response. "A protective stone against psychic vampires… Nice thinking, but it won't be as effective when that telepath is close. Okumura hasn't totally flushed him out of his system yet, and protection stones can do so little against a Class-S vampire. And let's not forget about the blood link."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm aware of that. At least, the bastard won't be able to do shit to him from afar."

Miyuki hesitated. "Has Sawamura talked about what happened in the mansion?"

Kuramochi raked a hand through his hair before saying, "He told me that he escaped on his own after taking down a low-ranked vampire, that he found you and gave that little bastard a good kick in the head."

A small smile curved Miyuki's lips. "The stubborn fool almost gave me a heart attack. Gotta admit, though, he was impressive. You should have seen him."

"I did teach him some of my moves." Kuramochi smirked proudly. It was really a good thing that he gave Sawamura that knife too.

"He'd be a good hunter."

Kuramochi's expression turned fierce. "You know damn well why he can't be one."

"Of course…" Miyuki returned his gaze to the dreary view outside, remembering that terrible moment when it had looked as if he had destroyed any hope of a future with Sawamura. He felt his features harden. "Not once since all this began has that sick bastard dared to dirty his own hands. I don't get him, Kuramochi. Doesn't he want me dead? He had every opportunity to kill me back at the mansion, but he didn't. And he mentioned something about revenge."

Sensing the presence of another vampire, Kuramochi heaved out a frustrated sigh. "You know, the key to good eavesdropping is not getting caught," he said.

Seto peeked from the doorway, his smile a little awkward. "Kuramochi-san, you're just too good."

"Spare me the compliments and fill us in on what you know."

"Well…to be honest…" Seto stepped into the room and fixed his relaxed gaze on Miyuki. "…our master wanted you dead even way back then. Why do you think he sent Koushuu to kill you years ago?"

"Wasn't Okumura human at that time?" Kuramochi interjected. "How was he able to mask his human self?"

"Two words… Blood Elixir."

Miyuki and Kuramochi gaped at the younger vampire, surprised to hear him say something unimaginable.

Seto grinned. "Judging from your reactions, you know what kind of concoction it is."

Kuramochi looked more annoyed than anything else. "It's a substance that temporarily grants humans supernatural strength and speed. The Ochiai Clan developed it and used humans as their guinea pigs decades ago." The elixir could never be used for good. He had read about what it did to the test subjects in the past. Even though it granted users incredible abilities, human bodies were too weak to withstand its toxic properties. They paid a dear price with their own lives and sanity.

"They were also creating soldiers for a rebellion," Miyuki added. "Spies of the coven caught wind of it, and I immediately led an expedition to stop the clan. The clan was then exiled and everything about the elixir was destroyed."

"Not everything though… One genius vampire managed to discover scraps about the elixir and did what his ancestors had failed to do," Seto explained, looking a little exasperated. "He improved it, made it more convenient for the human body, which, in retrospect, should have been impossible. He only gave Koushuu a small dose back then and the results were already terrifying."

"But it wasn't enough to turn him, right?" Miyuki followed up.

"It was only last year that he refined it to the point it can permanently turn humans into these half-baked vampires." Seto's expression then darkened. "Since then he's been creating cronies with the stuff."

"Then all those newborns were products of the elixir?" Miyuki asked. "Even the ones that attacked the base?"

"He calls them Misborns. They have all the raw power, speed, and supernatural healing rate of a standard vampire. Unfortunately, the use of these abilities shortens their lifespan significantly, and they will always be a slave to their thirst."

Kuramochi shrugged. "This genius vampire… Is he—"

"The same guy who murdered Koushuu's family and turned him into a vampire? Yup, no doubt about. Koushuu was turned the old-fashioned way and it was hell for him."

Everything was starting to make sense, Kuramochi thought, glancing back at his friend. "Miyuki, you were partly responsible for the Ochiai Clan's expulsion. It's possible that he's part of the clan. Why else would that little bastard be so hell bent on destroying you?"

Miyuki's lips thinned in frustration. "Then why not just kill me and get over with it?"

Kuramochi snorted. "Where's the fun in that? He's a grade A sadist. He wants to watch you squirm and get mentally tortured." He cocked an eyebrow in Seto's direction. "Tell me I'm right."

"The guy's a basket case, that's for sure," Seto said with a sigh. "I've seen him erase people in the most horrific means possible. Those women you found dead were just part of his experiment. He gave them high doses of the elixir. Somehow, they were able to fight on equal footing with a Class-S Vampire for a short time. When they reached their limits, they dried up like frogs in the sun and dropped dead…" He let his words trail off and clenched his jaw tight.

"So, we finally know who the real suspect is," Kuramochi said.

Seto hesitated for a short moment. "It was all too easy for him to pin the blame on Miyuki-san. He left traces of Miyuki-san's aura and scent…and the one who had to do all the dirty deed was Koushuu." He looked at Miyuki, quickly following up his concession by saying, "You've gotta understand that Koushuu wasn't in his right mind! That sadistic twerp won't hesitate to manipulate people and circumstances to ensure his own prospects. He even used another banished clan to wipe out Sawamura-senpai's and Koushuu's family."

"Do you know who he really is?" Miyuki questioned the younger vampire, his anger looking to spill over though he kept it at bay. "What's his name?"

"He's very secretive about his identity," Seto replied with contempt. "Heck, I don't even know what he looks like. But Koushuu has seen his face before. Problem is…that part of his memory is currently blocked." His shoulders slumped.

Kuramochi suddenly looked pensive. "Blocked, huh? Seto, what are his abilities as a telepath and what are his limits?"

"Mind Reading for one," Seto started, holding out a hand to count on his fingers. "He can read and sense the thoughts of those around him, and can look deeper into their memories and feelings. But he needs to be within a certain range. Then there's Mental Manipulation and Mental Inducement. When I was working for him, I've learned that he can only control eight to ten targets at a time. His control also wears off over time if not reinforced." The three fingers he held up retracted to form a fist. "As for the memory part, he can't actually erase implanted memories and information, but can suppress and nullify them."

Kuramochi made an irritated sound. "What a pain in the ass…"

Seto's grin was teasing. "Worried?"

"As if," Kuramochi retorted, rolling his eyes. Due to the nature of their training, hunters have built up amazing psychic block over the years. They cannot be easily harmed with any kind of psychic powers that affect the mind. Kuramochi was certain Okumura received the same kind of training. The only reason why Okumura's mind had been affected was due to the result of his turning. "Any more to add?"

"Hmm…" Seto tapped a slender finger on his chin in thought. "Oh, wait! He also can't control fellow Class-S vampires."

Miyuki decided it was his turn to speak up. "Because of our innate mental defenses. Our thoughts and memories can't be read by other vampires, unless if we're weakened or in the case of extremely powerful telepaths like the present 2nd Progenitor."

Kuramochi crossed his arms, his mind working double-time as he tried to figure things out. Class-S vampires were very rare. There were only a few bloodlines that automatically put them in the Class-S range, notably the Yuki, Takigawa, Miyuki, Fujiwara and Narumiya family. But it was also possible for lower-ranked vampires, especially in the Class-A range, to become Class-S, though such cases were sporadic. All progenitors were Class-S vampires, and two of them were gifted telepaths. Considering the height, built and pacifist nature of the 2nd Progenitor, he was out of the question. And he's been out of the country for the past few months.

The 20th Progenitor perhaps? He had never made a public appearance before, so Kuramochi had no idea what he was like. There were talks about his youthful and stunning appearance and praises about his brilliant mind—no, wait, he couldn't jump to conclusions like that!

As of the moment, Kuramochi has some things to settle first. "I'm gonna make a phone call." Turning on his heel, he started out of the room, then stopped at the doorway. His voice was edged with implacable authority. "Whoever this guy is, his day of reckoning will come. He'll pay for every life he's destroyed. We'll make sure of that." And with that declaration, he left.

Sitting by the hospital bed, Haruichi Kominato counted off the seconds as he stared at the man lying in it. His dark hair was tousled, his complexion pale as snow. Haruichi could still remember the incident that had caused Furuya to slip into a coma, and it's been two days since Haruichi had moved from his vigil at his side. With the nightmares haunting him recently, he absolutely refused to leave Furuya alone.

He let out a sigh. "Furuya-kun…Please wake up soon," he muttered, wishing for more signs of life beyond the rise and fall of his chest. Once more, he lowered his head into his hands and began to pray.

Just then, he heard movement and glanced up to see Furuya's lashes beginning to flutter. "Furuya-kun?" He leaned forward, holding his breath. When Furuya's movement grew more consistent, he clipped a hand on his shoulder. "Furuya-kun, please wake up. Open your eyes. You can do it."

Gradually, Furuya's eyes opened halfway, and then closed again.

"Furuya-kun!" Haruichi called out. "Come on, Furuya-kun…Please…"

Furuya stirred, then his eyes opened again, their deep ocean depths seemingly taking everything in. He looked at Haruichi distrustfully, as if he didn't recognize him.

"Furuya-kun, it's me, Haruichi."

Furuya's eyes remained open, but he looked around the room and at him blankly as if he was lost. But it seemed certain at least that he was out of a coma.

Haruichi considered calling the nurse, but as he reached for the nurse's station button, Furuya spoke up.

"Okumura…" said Furuya, his voice weak. "Where is Okumura?"

Haruichi scrunched up his face in confusion. "Do you mean Okumura Koushuu from high school?"

"He was there. He was there with us. Where is he right now?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Furuya shut his eyes again and let his mind drift for a moment, doing his best to ignore his aching head. "On the night of the attack…"

"What does Okumura Koushuu have anything to do with that? Shouldn't you be concerned about Miyuki Kazuya instead?" There was venom in his voice when he mentioned Miyuki's name. Haruichi could never forget what he did to him and Furuya. "He attacked us and took our blood—"

"It wasn't Miyuki-san. At first, I thought it was him…but I remember it clearly now."

Haruichi suddenly grew stunned. Something did not add up. What he clearly remembered was Miyuki attacking them, but Furuya told him it was Okumura.

"It was Okumura…" Furuya continued, his mind scrambling to remember the event. "And before I blacked out, I saw someone else there. And he was smiling…"

"Who?" Haruichi almost hesitated to ask. "Who else was there?"

Furuya looked up at Haruichi with a serious dark look on his face that made him involuntarily shudder.

By the time Sawamura was strong enough to get out of bed and decided to visit Miyuki, his room was empty. He was looking for any signs of him, when he saw Seto passing by. "Ah, Seto, do you know where Miyuki went? I haven't seen Miyuki yet since I woke up."

"Miyuki-san? I think I saw him go outside the garden a while ago."

"He's well enough to move around?"

"More or less…" Seto said as he smiled apologetically. "Your blood revitalized him, but it kinda took a toll on him…although it's more mental than physical."

"I see…" Sawamura grimaced, recalling the pain Miyuki had experienced at the hand of the enemy. Miyuki exerted tremendous amount of willpower to stop himself from sucking him dry. It was risky, but Sawamura had never once doubted Miyuki. "Thanks, Seto. I'll go check on him!"

"Say, Sawamura-senpai." Seto rubbed the back of his neck. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Sawamura raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"

Seto met his gaze. "About that time in the alley..." His eyes were steady, his jaw was set. "…I want you to know that I'm very sorry about that!" Then he bowed very low to offer his sincerest apology.

"Wasn't it all an act? You were using me as bait to lure Miyuki."

"Yes…It's just that…" Seto kept his head down. "It wasn't my intention…but a part of me really wanted to drink your blood and I almost gave in. I wasn't lying when I said you smelled good and—"

Sawamura chuckled loudly. "I guess my blood is that irresistible, huh? But rest assured, my friend! I, Sawamura Eijun, do not harbor any resentment towards you for that."

Gradually, Seto straightened and gazed upon the cheerful expression on Sawamura's face. His eyes held no malice, only sincerity and warmth, and his smile was almost blinding. Seto could understand why Okumura was so drawn to this human. He let himself smile. "I'm pleased to hear that, Sawamura-senpai. Thank you so much."

"I'll be off now." With a nod to Seto, Sawamura headed outside.

As soon as he arrived at the garden, he could see that the sun was setting, lighting the evening sky with warm orange. Bathed in this light was Miyuki. The vampire looked so stunning standing in the sunset, his eyes naked without the glasses. The light made his skin glow, and when Miyuki smiled at him, it made him blush a little.

"Done talking to Okumura?"

"Yeah… He's been through a lot." Sawamura smiled sadly as he recalled how Okumura held his hand, his voice oddly toneless as he told him about his tragic past, the difficulties he had experienced throughout his childhood that had driven him to seek revenge at all costs, and the torment of being a progeny under the influence of his maker. Sawamura felt his anger, his pain and his guilt. "We still have a lot of catching up to do. So, um…are you okay?"

"Hm?"

"Your body and your eyes, I mean… And the sun…" Sawamura had read books, manga, and seen movies depicting sunlight as one of a vampire's weakness. Miyuki and his kind, however, deviated from those of traditional myth. While it was true they were excessively sensitive to the sun, especially their eyes, it did not actually cause them any physical damage. Most vampires do prefer to avoid the sun as much as possible. Sawamura was certain Miyuki was no exception.

Miyuki let out a bitter laugh. "I'd be lying if I told it didn't sting." He turned his attention back at the view. "But I've always loved the sun…since it reminds me of you."

Sweet pink blossoms bloomed on Sawamura's cheeks in response.

"I remember what it felt like back then. My chest hurt, and I could hardly breathe. Everything looked dark. I was only thinking of keeping you alive as I drank your blood. I was so damned afraid of losing you. I'll always be afraid of losing you." The recent incident further cemented Miyuki's belief that by remaining in his life, he was putting him in even greater danger.

"I'm afraid of losing you too, but…" Sawamura muttered, clutching a hand to his heart, as Miyuki gazed at him. His heart raced wildly in his chest. He hesitated for a moment before he continued. "…I'm not afraid to love you." The words were barely out of his mouth before he turned away—but not fast enough to hide the blush on his cheeks.

Miyuki stood there, blinking stupidly, stunned beyond words. Did he just hear that right? Did Sawamura—

Fidgeting uncomfortably under his gaze, Sawamura blurted out, "F-Forget what I said just now!" He was about to make a hasty retreat when a pair of strong arms caught him. "M-Miyu—"

For a moment, Sawamura was startled and didn't know what happened. Everything around them became silent, and time seemed to stop. Miyuki's hair swayed delicately in front of his closed eyes. His kiss, powerful and unyielding, drew him in. Miyuki had claimed his mouth with bold strokes of his tongue that sent shudders of white-hot need rippling through his body. Miyuki was kissing him like he could never get enough of him. Kissing him like there was no tomorrow. He was drowning in sensation, being overwhelmed with heat and desire. He returned the kiss with increasing fervency, responding to the demands of his body and heart.

Passion consumed them both. It was incredible, a kiss with a no-holds-barred intensity that was both entirely dominating and strangely freeing at the same time.

Miyuki took his long, sweet time at it, coaxing him with unhurried leisure, and then backing away an inch that made his eyes drift open to find Sawamura had done the same. He rested his forehead against his, nudging softly, then backing away again so they could gaze into each other's eyes.

When he looked at Sawamura like this—his skin flushed, his beautiful gold eyes heavy, his mouth bruised from his kiss—it wasn't just lust that came over him, although that was undeniably part of it. He recognized the emotion surging from within. It squeezed his heart and filled his chest with heavy warmth. It was a feeling of utter happiness.

Miyuki buried his face in his neck as a sob jerked through his body. He wanted Sawamura, more so than he had ever wanted anything in his life, but he'd always been apprehensive…not of loving him, but of hurting him. To be loved by a vampire is to be hugely vulnerable, perilously close to things that would threaten one's life. But time and time again, Sawamura had showed the wit and nerve mean that he wasn't wrong to trust him, to care for him, and to love him.

It was almost funny and ironic that they had never said they loved each other, not even when they'd made love. Deep down, they did believe that and didn't need words to convey their affections for one another. For them, actions always spoke louder than words.

But hearing Sawamura admit it was different. For one thing, hearing him say he loved him made him feel pleased. More than pleased actually. He felt proud, moved, humbled, and happy.

Then again, thoughts about the future made him waver.

Of course, he was afraid.

Of course, he was uncertain.

Risking Sawamura's life for a chance to be with him was something he couldn't do, though he'd be lying if he said that turning him hadn't crossed his mind more than once. As much as he loved him, wanted him, he'd never sacrifice him for his own selfish needs. He considered it hundreds of times and somehow he'd willed himself to keep him mortal.

To keep him human, however, meant to lose him one day. Miyuki was never going to be older than twenty one because that was how old he looked. He had watched people grow old and sick and die. He could never stay with mortals throughout their life. Until death claims him, he will stand frozen in time. Sawamura, on the other hand, will continue to age with time.

And almost losing him in the hands of another vampire, Miyuki felt more adamant to sire him now.

His heart wrenched in pain at the thought. It was neither the time nor the place, but he had put things off long enough. "Eijun…" he breathed. "If I ask you to spend eternity with me, would you consider it?"

Sawamura stiffened at his words and then pulled back to look at him. "Are you…asking me to become your progeny?"

"I know…" Miyuki brought one of his hands to his face and caressed his cheek. "I know I'm asking too much, but I don't want to lose you."

The softness in his eyes made Sawamura's heart swell with emotions, but giving up being human and becoming something else was difficult. It was too serious of a question to answer him on the spot. He found himself unable to say yes, but still unable to say no. One day, death will happen. Probably today, tomorrow, or any time soon, but it will happen. Even if he'd never stop loving Miyuki, he will one day stop being by his side because of his lifespan.

"Kazuya…I…" Sawamura dropped his gaze. "I'm not ready… It's too sudden… But I'm not saying I won't think about this and decide later."

Miyuki kissed his forehead. "Sorry…I didn't mean to pressure you. I just want you to know how much you mean to me." He leaned down and pressed his forehead against his. He could feel the hesitation coursing through Sawamura. He cupped his face and closed his eyes. "I don't know what's gonna happen to us now, and our enemy has unfinished business with us. Truth is that I can't hold a candle to him. If he pops up, I don't know what will happen…" He realized his own hands were trembling.

Taking his hands into his, Sawamura inched away and looked up at the vampire.

The sun immersed below the horizon and the dark color of the night swallowed the red of the sunset as the moon rose. Yet the sun remained in Sawamura's eyes, so bright, glimmering, and full of life that Miyuki found himself mesmerized again.

"I've said this before, but let me remind you just in case," Sawamura said, gently squeezing his hands. "I want to be with you. So, whatever happens, I want to remain by your side as long as I live. And if he shows up again, then we'll just kick his ass!"

For a moment Miyuki looked dumbfounded before his expression took on a more impish look. Honestly, he was kind of freaking out earlier about their enemy and about their situation, but Sawamura always knew how to lighten him up. He chuckled. "Don't get too cocky, Eijun."

Puffing up his cheeks in a major pout, Sawamura said, "Well, don't sound so miserable! You're not gonna lose me, Kazuya, especially not to that bastard." He looked away, feeling awkward and shy all of a sudden. "When this is over, I'll give you a proper answer," he mumbled.

Smiling, Miyuki simply squeezed his hands back and said, "I'll wait for it…"

And so, night had completely fallen in Nagano.

"Youichi-senpai, I'm so glad you called! I was trying to get a hold of you for hours now!" Haruno Yoshikawa was absolutely frantic at the other end of the line. "Where are you right now? Why did you take Okumura-kun with you? The higher-ups are really furious with you."

The vampire hunter pinched the bridge of his nose, looking tired and a little tormented. He'd sneaked into town and made a phone call in a booth near a convenience store. The line he used was secured for only him and Haruno. "Just calm down and listen to what I have to say," he muttered into the phone.

"W-wait, senpai, I have to tell you something really important. It's about Furuya-kun!"

"Furuya? Is he finally out of coma?"

"Yes… Kominato-kun called me in to check up on him. But…Furuya-kun was saying something strange."

There was a mounting apprehension in his chest. "Strange?"

"The one who attacked them that night… He said it was Okumura-kun, not Miyuki-san." She sounded a little calmer now. She was always like this, getting all worked up, then suddenly appearing to resign herself to the situation. "At first, he thought it was Miyuki-san too, but now he's certain that it was Okumura-kun. I saw it in his eyes, he wasn't lying."

And so, his suspicions were now confirmed. Considering the time, there was no way Miyuki could have attacked his teammates, and since Okumura's maker had telepathic powers, he could just easily manipulate Kominato's and Furuya's memories. He also deduced that Furuya's comatose state must have annulled the telepath's effect on him.

"Get Haruichi checked a.s.a.p.," Kuramochi said. "We'll be able to clear Miyuki's name with this. As for Furuya…"

"Senpai, there's more…" She sounded hesitant, as though she wished she didn't have to be the one to tell him. "Furuya-kun saw someone else at the scene."

Despite his best effort to stay composed, Kuramochi couldn't shake off the uneasiness. The next set of words came out in a painfully strained tone from Haruno's lips. Her voice almost broke when she mentioned the name. Kuramochi almost couldn't contain himself as he gripped the phone hard.

"It can't be…"

"Senpai, what should we do?" It almost sounded like she was about to cry.

In spite of the shocking news, Kuramochi wasn't about to let his emotions distract his thoughts. "Does anyone else know about this?"

"Only me and Kominato-kun."

"Good. Now, listen to me and listen carefully."

The 20th Progenitor circled the study room, dragging his fingers against the books on the shelves. His mind should be filled with contempt and vengeance, but he could only think of Sawamura. The brunet was off somewhere, outside of his reach, his heart still beating inside his chest. Sawamura was still alive and still very human. He had lost his chance.

Time locked up in his mansion, and now Sawamura was gone. Sawamura was temptation, a distraction, and he should have killed him with his own hands instead. But he couldn't make himself to do it, not when every part of his being craved for Sawamura's blood.

Part of his plan was to make Miyuki suffer. Despite the opportunity to kill Miyuki himself, he just couldn't possibly relinquish the chance to see his anguish. And what better way to make him suffer than to use Sawamura against him. To see Miyuki squirm and beg was absolutely exhilarating for him.

But he couldn't deny the part of him that wanted to take Sawamura away from Miyuki.

Sawamura-senpai's blood is more troublesome than I thought…

It was unlike any other blood that he had ever tasted.

More like a Pureblood…

The firm knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. The door opened, and Masashi Yuki entered, his face hard with a seemingly perpetual frown. The 20th Progenitor turned to his fellow vampire in glee, a smile curving his lips. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Since 2nd Progenitor Takigawa is out of the country at the moment, my brother requests for your services." Masashi spoke inflexibly. "We are in need of your psionic gift."

"Oh? And why, pray tell, do you need it for?"

"Kominato Haruichi's memories have been compromised."

"So, you want me to pick his brain? Why now all of a sudden? Wasn't Miyuki Kazuya proven to be guilty beyond unreasonable doubt?"

"My brother tells me that Miyuki Kazuya does not kill without reason."

"But he is no stranger to killing for sure. And what's there to stop him from killing? Miyuki Kazuya knows he can't be careless with Sawamura-senpai, so he opted to hunt for others instead. A lot of vampires in the past have grown crazy for senpai's bloodline. Even the slightest pang of jealousy can make them do unreasonable things. What happened to Kominato-senpai and Furuya-senpai is just an example." The 20th Progenitor gave his companion a shrewd smile. "Perhaps the 1st Progenitor is being biased because they're friends."

"My brother is professional. He'd never play favorites."

"You continue to hold him in high regard, yet you've expressed desires to step out of your brother's shadows. You even want me to take his place. If anything, it should be you."

Masashi's tone turned formal. "That hasn't change. In other to prove myself worthy, I have to separate myself from his influence and to stand on my own. Moreover, I truly believe you're an apt candidate to be leader of the coven."

"I'm quite flattered that you think so."

"You are working hard to restore your clan's honor. You also assist in the advocacy of reinstating exiled vampires who became victims of unfortunate circumstances."

A whisper of a sad smile briefly lit his face. "Ah, yes… But let's save that discussion for later." The 20th Progenitor walked over to a table and poured two glasses of wine. He lifted the glasses of wine and walked over to Masashi. "After all this time, why is it that they decide to examine Kominato-senpai only now?" He handed the glass to Masashi and watched him took a sip.

"Furuya Satoru's testimony is contradicting Kominato's."

The shorter vampire was a master of hiding his emotions, so it was no feat for him to hide his surprise and fake delight. "Furuya-senpai is finally awake? What a relief! I really miss catching—"

"Yui Kaoru." The young Yuki's tone of voice commanded no more interludes.

The smile on his face broadened. "That is not the name of the 20th Progenitor," he said, taking a sip of his wine.

"Even though you are the present 20th Progenitor, I still see you more as the headstrong chieftain of the Ochiai Clan."

Yui lightly chuckled. "You are so straight-laced, Masashi. Well then, shall we head to where Kominato-senpai is?"

Terminology:

Maker: a vampire who has turned a human into a vampire. They usually provide guidance to their progeny, even if they are not obligated to do so. Due to the laws of the vampire world, only progenitors and nobles are allowed to turn humans. Class-A and lower vampires are only allowed to turn a human if and only that human is willing to become their life-mate. Failure to abide by this rule will be dealt accordingly. A maker has a certain amount of influence over their progeny due to blood link.

Progeny: a human turned into a vampire by a maker. They are bound to their makers until they are formally released or if their maker dies. A progeny may become a maker themselves even under the influence of their own maker. Okumura is a progeny of the 20th Progenitor and considered to be a noble.

Progenitor: the royalty among the vampires. All Progenitors are Class-S Vampires. A human turned by a progenitor becomes a noble. The Progenitor Hierarchy is structured from 1 to 20, but this does not necessarily define their power levels. Known Progenitors are the following: Tetsuya Yuki (1st), Kazuya Miyuki (Former 2nd), Takako Fujiwara/Yuki (3rd), Masashi Yuki (19th), and Kaoru Yui (20th). Honorable Mention: Chris Yuu Takigawa (Present 2nd)

Telepath: a person/vampire with the ability to use telepathy. The basic skills of a telepath are to mentally receive information, and to read and sense the thoughts of others. But they may also possess other mental abilities, which differ from one telepath to another.

Known Telepaths are the Following:

Kaoru Yui (Class-S)

- Mind Reading: can read and sense the thoughts of others. He can also delve deeper into the target's subconscious and memories.

- Mental Inducement: able to cause the target's mind go into wanted state, causing changes in emotions, sensations, and memories.

- Mental Manipulation: can manipulate, alter and control the thoughts of others, allowing the ability to have dominion over his/her actions and emotions.

Seto Takuma (Class-A)

- Psychic Shield: gives immunity against all forms of psychic attacks.

- Psychic Link: can link minds with other living beings, sharing thoughts, memories, emotions and feelings.

Misborn: a human turned into an unstable and bloodthirsty vampire-like creature by a drug called Blood Elixir. They possess all the standard powers and abilities as well as the weaknesses of a vampire, but use of their abilities consumes their life force.