Author's Note: It still vexes me that a series about Vampires doesn't list character blood types, especially when one of the characters is a doctor who keeps carrying on about Anemia. WTF, Shiki, I realize it might not matter one way or another after they turned, but what about while they were still human?

Chapter 21: Transfusion

"Damn it all!" Gareki fumed, now that he was alone in the cave, as he began to dig through the medical supplies he did have on hand. "Gold, Silver, even that stupid orange cat, no matter which persona he shows, he never fails to find a way to fluster and confound me!" He traced a finger across his lips, he could still feel where they had connected with Silver Yogi's. Not once, but twice! "What the hell was he thinking?" He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't have time to let myself get distracted over such things." He returned to Natsuno's side. He pressed his fingers to the purple-haired teen's wrist and gave a relieved sigh. The boy still had a pulse, it was faint but it was there. Slow rise and fall of Natsuno's chest and Adam's apple proved he was still breathing as well. Gareki smiled. "I knew you were too stubborn to die that easily. But you should be ashamed of yourself for worrying your little pet like this."

Gareki sighed he knew what needed to be done; Natsuno's blood had been stolen three times, and willingly given once in less than two weeks. He desperately needed a transfusion. The problem was, nobody knew what his blood type was, even Tohru, who insisted the only person who's blood was more enticing was Yogi's had no idea. A transfusion from Yogi was out of the question, Type B blood or no it didn't change the fact that with Cradle Cells, Varuga Cells, and Incure all in one stream, there was a fifty-fifty chance of killing him, and if he survived, then there was the risk of him becoming a Varuga or Post-Human, or something worse. Nai's blood was also out of the question, the albino was half animal after all, and his blood type was also mystery. Tohru was clearly not an option, for obvious reasons. "And Tsukumo's not here at the moment. What was her type again, Type A?" he sighed, realizing he was left with only one alternative. "Good thing I've got Nai and the Silver Haired Yogi out there skinning last night's kills. I'm going to be extremely hungry after this." He brushed a stray strand of hair of Natsuno's face. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't found the younger teen to be a kindred spirit. "Good thing I'm Type-O," he smirked, it was the universal donor after all. "There's no way your body can reject my blood."

He found the proper vein on Natsuno's arm sterilized it and the needle, before piercing it into the boy's arm. He then did the same to his arm, it was a medieval method of doing things, but it was sufficient. Gareki gave as much blood as he could spare without losing consciousness. He bandaged both their arms and leaned against the back of the cave wall. He'd done all he could for now. Until Tsukumo returned with directions to a hospital, the rest was up to Natsuno.

Moments of silence passed, before Gareki felt a cold, shaky hand catch his wrist. "Gareki?" a groggy voice asked.

Gareki looked up and smiled. "Finally awake, Natsuno?" he replied.

Natsuno's eyes blinked. His vision was blurred, and all his strength was being put into holding onto Gareki's wrist. The fifteen-year-old's breathing was still slow and his voice sounded a bit labored. "Awake, yes, but I feel like I got run over by a damned train." He gave an involuntary shiver as he finished this sentence. "That pink bitch nearly…" he didn't care to finish that sentence, he knew right where that train of thought was going to take him. "You…" He blinked up at Gareki, taking in the tired look on the older teen's face. "You look like Hell… You really look like how I feel. What'd you do, give me your blood?"

"How astute of you," Gareki replied.

"Idiot," Natsuno smirked, tiredly.

"Ungrateful brat," Gareki retorted with a chuckle.

"Thanks," Natsuno sighed, finally releasing Gareki's wrist. "How's Tsukumo-Chan?"

"You just barely doge the Grim Reaper's Scythe and you're asking about someone else? You're a cheekier bastard than I took you for," Gareki replied. "She's fine. That dog-eared bastard only took enough blood to knock her out for a few minutes, she's currently out trying to find a town with a hospital. As for that 'pink bitch' as you so eloquently put it, your little pet Vampire surprised everyone, he nearly ripped her throat out."

Natsuno closed his eyes and attempted to shake his head. "That doesn't sound like Tohru at all, but then, his brother and sister always warned he wasn't someone to anger. …?" Natsuno opened his eyes and looked around the cave again, his vision somewhat better now, "Speaking of Tohru, where is he?"

"I sent him out to find something to eat. He won't be able to rely on you for a matter of days in your current condition, and we can't have him feeding off the rest of us," he assured the younger teen. "Especially with Yogi in the state he's in," he thought to himself.

"I thought it odd he wasn't at my side. I know I heard him earlier," Natsuno said quietly.

"You heard him?" Gareki asked.

"I was unconscious and going into a coma, not dead and deaf!" Natsuno retorted. "To think I'm the reason he returned as a Shiki…? Damn, I guess I'm more responsible for him than I thought." Natsuno closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Do me a favor, Gareki?"

"My blood is flowing through your veins, Natsuno, I think my charitable list of favors I can afford you is already running out," Gareki replied, crossing his arms. "What is it?"

Natsuno smirked. That was the sort of reply he'd expected. "Just don't tell him I woke up yet, alright?" Gareki stiffened at this request, looking at Natsuno confusedly. "I don't even have the strength to sit up, let alone deal with his usual over emotionalism should he learn I've been awake. Just let him know everything's going to be alright. He and I will talk when I'm strong enough."

Gareki smiled, somehow, he'd had a feeling Natsuno's request would involve certain effects on the blonde Shiki's emotional levels. "Fair enough," he conceded, "You get as much rest as you need. Until then, I promise we'll keep an eye on Tohru for you." Gareki gave Natsuno a reassuring smile and patted the younger teen's hand, but Natsuno was able to read him like a book.

"I'm sorry to add one more to your list of baby sitting duties until then. I promise I'll take him off your hands as soon as I'm able to," Natsuno said with a strained chuckle.

"It wouldn't be so bad," Gareki admitted, "But I've got Yogi to tend to soon, as well. I can't deny my hands are full, but I won't complain and refuse to do it, either."

"Yogi got hurt?" Natsuno asked.

"Not exactly," Gareki said, rubbing the back of his own head.

"Silver?" Natsuno asked. Gareki nodded. "You poor bastard, you really do have your hands full."

"I'll manage," Gareki insisted. "In the meantime, you get some sleep."