He led him to a steel kitchen, starkly clean and sterile. "It's best you know of this source as well." He opened a small side refrigerator, virtually stocked to the brim with neatly labeled plastic bags of blood. Satoshi couldn't help but give a small shudder. "You must read the labels carefully-the Ookami family stores blood in here as well." "Why?" The blonde poured a bag's worth into two glasses and put them in the microwave. "If they ever need a transfusion, human blood makes them sick."
Satoshi sat down on one of the black leather barstools, disgusted at his body's excitement at the smell of hot blood.
"Why are you showing me this if we're going to be together…For a while?" Krad snorted at the severe understatement and flippantly dismissed the question with
"No reason, of course." He slid Satoshi's glass across the counter to him, nearly three feet. He drained his own greedily, fangs showing through the clear glass.
Hiwatari watched as Krad's pale complexion warmed back to a healthy color, as his pupils shrank back to their normal size after the elixir, and knew the same changes would happen to him. "This is just donated, right?" Hiwatari managed as his stomach began to cry furiously at him, mouth dry. "If it wasn't, eventually you would drink it." White Wings said flatly, licking pink lips and holding the glass up to the light as if examining the aftermath of a fine wine. His mouth remained open for half a second as if he intended to say more, then closed.
"Is it or not?" The Hikari snapped, which was met by an even quicker "Of course. Only the best for my fledgling."
After finishing off the essential liquid Hiwatari said quietly "Please don't call me that." Krad collected his glass from him and placed them in a silver sink.
"It is what you are." Golden eyes flickered in front of him, ever changing in their intensity, like flames. Long white fingers touched the scars on his neck, stroking- Hiwatari's heart thudded in his chest as Krad uttered in his light tenor ~My fledgling, are you ashamed of our connection? ~ For once in his life no words came to him, and he laid his hand over Krad's, closing his eyes as their thoughts tumbled over each other like rocks in a stream. "...No." The blunette said truthfully, and White Wings slipped his hand away from the boy. ~Careful. All I know would break you.~ Hiwatari colored with embarrassment and pulled his mind, his thoughts, closer to him.
They both stood quietly as their connection faded back into the blood they both shared, and Krad said "You wanted to bathe, yes?" Satoshi nodded, his neck still tingling, and Krad led him to a room on the first floor. The door was carefully carved with figures of people and animals, and a large set of folded white wings rested in the center, painstakingly painted to look soft. "This is the Hikari's room." Satoshi noticed that unlike the other rooms, the blonde did not open the doors with a flourish- he hadn't even touched the intricate iron doorknobs. "If I remember correctly, there is a lavish marble bathtub and shower waiting to be used. I will come and check in on you in a half an hour." Satoshi felt that same infuriating feeling of ignorance wash over him. He wanted to know what the first Hikari had been like, what Krad had thought of him…He wanted to know everything, or at least as much as he could handle.
Krad gave a small huff of amusement and leaned down, ruffling the soft blue hair with one hand. "Must you know everything at once? Patience, you have more than enough time." Satoshi relaxed despite himself, the shadow of their bond in the back of his mind. He hadn't realized until now he could lean on that subtle link to his other half, if he needed. "Alright. Goodbye." The last Hikari threw open the doors to the first Hikari's room as the artwork walked away.
It was as he'd expected, robin's-egg blue walls and gold leaf stenciling, dark furniture and a four poster bed. What he hadn't expected however, were the piles of sketches left undone, ink pens and yellowed parchment as if he'd just left for a bite to eat. There was a large portrait of him as a young man, with the signature blue Hikari hair and eyes. What Satoshi hadn't expected was the goddess on his left arm, blonde hair cascading down her back, and their young son between them. He looked impatient even in the brush strokes.
Hiwatari wondered if…He walked a few feet to the left and- ah, there it was. In the young boy's eyes was a well hidden sheen of pure gold, evidence that he'd been aware that Krad had been passed down to his son. For a moment he felt a pang of regret- even though he would have probably been a lousy father, he would have still liked to have that possibility. Now, the only way to do that was take away someone else's human life. ~Which is really no option at all.~
Making his way over the thick rugs he reached the bathroom and found it every bit as impressive as Krad had described it. It was white marble, laced with gold and monogrammed towels hung next to it. He stripped and waited for the tub to fill, pondering at his body's reaction to water. It was as if the nerves had been deadened and heightened at the same time- dead to the temperature but sensitive to the tiny ripples and fluctuations of the water. ~What odd creatures we've become. ~ He thought, settling down, his hair curling over the edge of the rim.
After his bath he'd almost finished dressing when he suddenly felt…unbearably empty and longing, so much so that he had to lean against the sink for support. No, these weren't his emotions, he realized suddenly, but Krad's. He weakened the link between them, confused as to why he'd be experiencing the Hunter's sensations.
He rubbed the side of his head and pulled his shirt on, opening the door to the Hikari's room quietly. Krad was sitting on the foot of the four-poster bed staring at the Hikari's painting, his arms crossed around his knees in thought. For a moment Satoshi saw… regret, maybe, or something similar, in his saffron eyes.
Seeing Satoshi, he stood up with a jolt and smoothed down his outfit. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." The entity replied smoothly and fiddled with the golden cuffs on the jacket.
"I wasn't sure what to wear for the painting. Is this appropriate?" Satoshi blinked in surprise. "Oh, yes, that's fine." They went back upstairs, and as soon as Krad had taken his place in the loveseat, wings folded lazily, a kind of madness overtook the Hikari. He barely even remembered the next few hours, only occasionally glancing up at the subject. His right hand began to ache from the furious, carefully calculated strokes. At some point Krad suggested a break, which he immediately declined- He didn't need one, and if he stopped and came back he might never capture the White Wings as he saw him now.
There would be no mistakes. He glanced up one last time- he was finishing the corner now, the dark trees, when he noticed Krad was no longer there. He hadn't even heard him get up. A pair of large hands wrapped gently around his wrist just as he finished the last stroke. "Enough, Hiwatari. I don't want you to strain yourself."
The baby vampire's eyes were bloodshot, his hair mussed, yet he spoke with pride and satisfaction "It's done." He smiled and repeated the words softly, then promptly fainted dead away into Krad's waiting arms. He looped one arm under the teenager's legs and glanced at his work. He nearly dropped his burden in shock.
In Hiwatari's work was the blonde angel, not ruthless and reserved as he expected, but…
Well, heartbreakingly lonely, staring into the distance as if waiting for the object of his love to return. Even if it was already lost to him.
The blonde stared down at the bluenette and wondered if the grief from so long ago was that obvious, following him around like a dark cloud. ~So that is what you see. You have…clearer vision than I expected. ~ He sighed into the cobalt hair.
~ Tsukiko… My love, you would certainly scold my 'brooding' if you saw me now.~ Smiling a little at her memory, he headed for the cellar and was happy to discover two new coffins waiting for them. Even in Takai's current state he would rather die than shirk on his duties as a butler. Sliding the lid off the smaller one, he laid the artist down carefully in the velvet, closing the lid with a silver click before climbing into his own.
Tomorrow was the full moon. The locks on Krad's coffin snapped shut firmly.
There will be werewolves in the next chappie, I promise.