Disclaimer: Not mine. Does that make you happy? Cause it doesn't make me happy at all. It makes me cry.

Once again, I went MIA. Nah.. I just had other fics that needed updating even worse than this. As our story winds to an end, no one pursued what the hell the title means anyway so I'll tell you. Blood and Chocolate was a movie. I never saw it. It was about werewolves (ha ha) and the name is perfect. See, RyoBlood and AkiChocolate. The 38 Degrees Celsius part is an original picture by Hisaya Nakajo. It's a really sexy pic of Ryoichi and Hokuto. If you don't know, 38 Degrees Celsius is the equivalent of 100 Degrees. In other words, HOT GAY SEX! If you've seen it, tell me. If you haven't, buy her art book and look at it. Or steal it and look at it. Nosebleed-worthy yaoi! Sorry for the wongo author's note and short chapter. I'll update in a few days. This has Ichijo in it!

Ch. 13: Secret Hero

Umeda entered Nightlife with a blank expression. He felt numb after fighting with Akiha. Just when he thought the fool was beginning to understand! His infatuation with the doctor was stupid, but still unyielding.

"Sorry, Umeda-san," Ichijo's voice startled him out of his thoughts. "Kijima-san's not here."

"Oh." Umeda paused uncomfortably. Finally, he worked up the nerve to look in the teen's direction. He sat on the counter as usual, legs swinging back and forth. "Then… can I ask you a couple of questions?"

"Sure! I'd love the company." The child beamed. He exited the room into the back where he lived and returned holding two bottles of iced tea.

"Thanks."

"Uh-huh. I don't really need human food, but I love iced tea. It's so good. I like lemon and raspberry, but Kijima-san says they even make weird flavors like hazelnut—"

"Um, questions?"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"Well, I saw Ryoichi's… true form two nights ago." He paused. Ichijo stared at his tea, not looking up.

"Continue, Umeda-san."

"He almost… well, he tried to drain me. I survived though because he left."

"Uh-huh."

"Now, I covered the wounds with bandages, but they hurt. Ryoichi's fangs NEVER hurt so much before. It stung like hell and I got this fever—"

Ichijo's sigh interrupted him. "Yeah, it'll do that to you." For the first time, he looked up at Umeda. His luminescent eyes twinkled behind his light blond bangs. "Look, Umeda-san. Kijima-san is a level D, but he's powerful. The full moon is when level Ds experience their most dominant hours. They gain as much power as real vampires like me. Only, even a controlled level D such as Kijima-san has trouble suppressing his bloodlust." Umeda shuddered. He hated the word. Ichijo continued, "Now, as I said, full moons are when they get the most strength. What's more, they do some things most level Ds can't usually do."

"What do you mean?"

"Kijima-san is very strong. In his true form, he actually produces… the same venom we aristocratic vampires produce.

Umeda's blood ran cold. "Venom… so I'm going to become a vampire?"

"No. Not that much venom." Ichijo assured. "Just enough to poison your system. That's why it stung so much. And why you got so sick. Over time, your body flushed it out. You know, your fever and all."

"Thank god." Umeda sighed in relief. "So, have you spoken yet to Ryoichi?"

"I have." He child answered flatly. "Don't worry, he got a scolding for hurting you—"

Something switched in Umeda's head. "Wait. How'd you know before I told you? Ryoichi definitely wouldn't tell you that he attacked me."

Ichijo's expression looked like a deer in headlights. He grinned childishly. "Oh… but he did, Umeda-san! I told him he was a bad vampire. Oh, yes, I—"

"Ichijo-kun."

"Um… what if I told you I was psychic?

"Tell me the truth."

Ichijo nodded, but he was pouting, reminding Umeda how young he really was. He couldn't be a day over 17.

"Fine, Umeda-san. Two nights ago, Kijima-san almost murdered you. He lost control, as I knew he would. I knew about his true form, but since I have better control than lower class vampires, I decided I would go check on him. I could smell your blood from two blocks away, and realized what must have happened. I ran to Kijima-san's apartment, braced myself for a fight, and knocked him off you."

Umeda's eyes widened as he remembered for the first time since that night the flash of blond hair he had seen before collapsing. That would also explain how he ended up in bed with a bandaged neck. He realized Ichijo was still speaking.

"…Fortunately, he recognized me and put up very little resistance. I brought him back here. Kijima-san was out cold by sunrise. He woke up early and left. I haven't seen him since."

"Oh. Well…" Umeda sank to his knees. Ichijo wrapped his arms under Umeda's and pulled him onto the counter with ease.

"You Ok?" he asked gently.

"I guess."

"Want to know something else?" Ichijo asked smiling.

"Fine. What?"

"Back when Kijima-san was 20, as I'm sure you know, he was attacked by a pureblood. I was 10 years old, and traveling with the pureblood. I was the one who saved Kijima-san."

Umeda gaped. 10-year-old Ichijo-kun? He'd fought off a crazed pureblood to protect someone he didn't even know?

"Only, the pureblood got angry at me. He abandoned me the next day because I chose a human over him. When Kijima-san became a vampire, he became my only friend. I'm sorry for how he mistreated you, but I will always care about him."

Umeda simply patted Ichijo's head. Aristocratic, but lonely as could be. The story of upper class vampires, he realized, wasn't always very happy.

Aw, poor Ichi-kun. So yeah. The next chapter gets back to the main point. This was just filling in holes so it's easier to understand. Did you know Ryoichi's only 1cm shorter than Hokuto?! He's 182cm and Ume's 183. It always seemed so much more dramatic. I guess cause Ume's hair is poofy...Ryoichi's the same height as Minami. (Shudders). Review and I'll see ya soon!