Chapter Twenty

He had taken a lot again – Akira spent the next week down, regaining strength. He didn't mind too much, although fear that the voice would return again plagued him every day. What frightened him most was that everything it had said about him was true… how did someone like that know everything about him? What had it meant when it said Shisui wasn't pure? Akira couldn't imagine the bishop being anything but.

"Shirogane?"

The vampire glanced at him. He had sat up, drawing his knees to his chest. He could feel them, though they were still somewhat distant… Shirogane's feelings at the mention of his name. They warmed his entire being. Akira loved knowing, feeling what the vampire felt. He loved not having to guess.

"What were my parents like?"

There was a streak of surprise, almost as vivid as colour, even though it didn't show on the vampire's face. Akira tried to bite back a smile as he saw the irritated twitch in the corner of Shirogane's mouth. Shirogane knew that he knew. The realization tickled him.

"Why do you want to know, Akira?"

"I've… just been thinking a lot. And I don't remember what they look like or anything. I don't remember anything before the night I met you. I was really young, I guess… everyone back in the village probably thinks I'm dead too, don't they? I've never gone to my parents' graves or anything like that."

A long pause. Akira tried to sort out the strings of emotions he felt from Shirogane, but couldn't understand.

"I saw your mother before you were born."

"You did?"

"Yes… Eira came to visit Ryuuko once. I watched from the buttresses."

Eira… his mother's name. Though there was a twinge of warmth he felt at this precious fragment of knowledge, Akira also felt a slice of sadness – his own – at the mentioning of Ryuuko. Did every aspect of his being have to be intertwined with the bishop? "Oh."

"She was very beautiful. You got your grey eyes and auburn hair from her."

"Why did she come to see Ryuuko?"

Another long pause. "I guess their families knew each other. She just came for a visit. Ryuuko didn't know his family."

Shirogane hesitated after that last word, and Akira sensed what the vampire was biting back – Just like you. Akira said, "Oh, I see. What about my dad?"

A tense silence again. "I don't know."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know about your dad."

Akira frowned and reached out, feeling for the lie, but found nothing. That was odd, but he supposed he had to trust him. "Okay."

"Akira."

"Hm?"

"What were you hearing?"

A heavy lining of concern. Akira blinked, trying to suppress the rising flood of terror at remembering. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You were screaming at someone. What were you hearing?"

"Nothing."

He could feel Shirogane's emotions, though they were faded – how deep into him could Shirogane see? The icy blue eyes studied him critically for a few moments.

"If you say so."

A silence fell for awhile. Suddenly a question struck Akira, and it was out of his mouth before he could think:

"How does my blood taste?"

Shirogane started at that. "What?"

"I'm sure some blood tastes better than others. How does mine taste?"

"Why would you want to know something like that?" But at Akira's insistent gaze, Shirogane said quietly, "It's most exquisite… so delicious that I can hardly pull away every time."

"Can you drink the blood of other vampires?"

"Normally, but it's more like if you were live drinking water instead of eating bread. It's only in rare cases that two can exchange and find it as fulfilling as taking from a human."

"Do vampires marry?"

A weak smile. "Sometimes."

"… You're a king."

"Shisui must have told you. I was."

"So surely you had someone you were supposed to marry. Right?"

"I hear some jealousy in your voice."

Akira, despite himself, flushed brilliant red. Shirogane's mouth stretched out into a smile… the first true one that Akira had ever seen. There was no trace of sarcasm, or irony, or mocking in this smile. It was pure. It was dazzling.

"While there are some that would be considered the best choice for a partner, the choice is entirely up to me."

"Is there someone you fancy?" He heard the tone of bitterness in his voice, and felt the laugh in Shirogane's voice.

"Of course there is."

"Who?"

The vampire was across the room, and Akira was swept up in a deep kiss. When Shirogane released him, the vampire said in an irritatingly-knowing voice, "That's my little secret."

Akira felt his own anger and confusion flood through him, but Shirogane laughed at him again and nibbled at the corner of his jaw, holding him close as his body shifted in response. Akira's arms were around Shirogane, and he closed his eyes to the prick of those deadly fangs. How much longer did he have to wait until he could completely belong to Shirogane? Times like this – times when Shirogane held him sinfully close – were when he truly felt happiest.

Shirogane suddenly froze – Akira opened his eyes, raising his head just as the door clicked open. One of the younger deacons stood in the doorway. He was oblivious to the scene for a few moments as he said, "Akira, the assembly of bishops is here to see –"

Akira's pupils contracted as the boy realized what he saw. There was a long, tensely awkward silence before Akira jerked up, saying, "No, don't –"

"Vampire!" was the horrified scream. The deacon turned and fled, still raising the cry. Akira tried to struggle out of Shirogane's grip, but the vampire held him tightly.

"Shirogane!"

His voice caught in his throat as Shirogane raised his head. There was a demonic smile on his lips, glinting in his eyes.

"Let them see," he half-crooned, pulling Akira back. "I will turn you. What they think doesn't matter, does it?"

He was going to be turned. A joy such as he had never known struck at him, but the ecstasy gave way to the moment. "But they'll kill you!"

"If you tell them not to, they won't. Come here."

He caved – Shirogane was right. What the assembly thought didn't matter to him anymore. He fell back into position, arms wrapped around Shirogane as tightly as possible as the vampire pressed a deep kiss into his mouth. It was sweet, and drowning.

They were in the doorway as Shirogane moved down to his neck, trailing soft kisses into his skin. Akira closed his eyes. Shisui was there too… it was all over. A weak smiled tugged at the corner of his mouth. It was over, and he didn't care.