Chapter 21

"This isn't good," Shinichi said after Kaito had finished telling him what happened in the D.E.A.D. headquarters. "We have a lot to decide. Are you alright?" His eyes studied Kaito, concern hidden deep in the blue. "Your arm… and the silver in your system must be incredibly painful."

"It's died down a lot," Kaito replied, rubbing the new skin on his arm. "I should probably get some blood in me, just in case. Akako, could you…?"

She glanced over his rough appearance. "Sure," she snapped. Her mouth twisted into a scowl as she stalked off. Fortunately, her anger didn't seem directed at him, but rather the situation.

"Okay then." Shinichi sighed in relief and rubbed a hand over his face. "Gods… I can't believe I respected Furuya… He was friends with my parents…"

"So, we're sure? Furuya's the one who created—" Kaito swallowed— "created Gin?"

"Yes. No one else would know about the Humanoid's weak point. My parents were very protective of their research; the only ones who would know are us and the Mage who stole the original copies of the translations. It has to be him!" Shinichi slammed his fist on the rickety table. Kaito jumped. "It… it has to be."

"Shinichi…"

"I have to do this, Kaito. I have to avenge them—my parents, your father, Ran." He stared down at his trembling hands. "Maybe… maybe if I can avenge them… maybe I can make up for what I've done to you."

Kaito scooped Shinichi up into a hug, ignoring a startled gasp in favor of pressing his forehead against his neck. "Don't," Kaito whispered, pressing a short kiss to Shinichi's collar bone. "I don't blame you for this." Not anymore, he thought guiltily. "But if doing this makes you feel better… then do it. Avenge us."

He felt Shinichi sigh. "Thank you."

They sat like that for a while, no noises except for their breathing and the wind whistling through the minuscule holes in the decrepit warehouse, Shinichi relaxed in Kaito's secure embrace. Akako's shoes clicked across the floor as she came back, her expression schooled into a blank mask. She threw a blood pack at them and Kaito caught it without thinking. "There. I'm going to go patrol the perimeter."

Shinichi reluctantly straightened out of the hug. "Alright. Thank you, Akako. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Let's hope that never happens then," she said. "KID, be sure to drink another pack later; we only have synth-blood and that doesn't boost your healing as much as the real thing."

"Okay, I will," Kaito replied with a grimace. His stomach throbbed at the reminder.

When Akako left, Shinichi pulled Kaito off his chest to look him in the eye. "Kaito… instead of drinking that first… try my blood."

"What!? No!? Don't joke about these things!"

"I'm not joking. If we're confronting Furuya soon, you need to be completely recovered from what he did to you. That much healing needs at least some real blood."

"But what about the blood loss?" Kaito asked, desperately thinking of anything he could to defuse Shinichi's logic. "If you lose a lot of blood, will you be able to fight too?"

"Me, fight?" Shinichi laughed bitterly, rubbing his damaged knee. "It won't matter. If you only take a bit, then I should still be able to defend myself tomorrow."

"You… trust me not to hurt you?" It seemed impossible; he hadn't done anything to deserve such trust from Shinichi—"

"I trust you with my life." Shinichi answered without a second thought.

A jittery sigh escaped his lips. "Okay," Kaito found himself agreeing without thinking. He licked his lips, eyes darting around the room. "W-We should probably use a knife. I doubt my mouth is… the cleanest of places. We don't want to risk an infection."

Shinichi nodded and reached down to unsheathe a dagger attached to his calf. He held the handle out to Kaito. "Should we use my arm or my neck?"

"Your arm will be fine." He couldn't believe he was doing this. Kaito adjusted his body until he straddled Shinichi's lap. He licked his lips again and positioned Shinichi's arm in front of his face. Shinichi's pulse raced. The blade sliced through skin with some resistance, leaving a vibrant red line in its wake. Kaito pressed his lips to the wound and blood filled his mouth.

It was… exquisite, like water to a dying man in the desert. No, it was even better. Like champagne, it bubbled on his tongue, sweet, savory, and spicy all at the same time. A moan escaped and Kaito mouthed the cut roughly. It sparked against the soft skin around his fangs and sizzled as he swallowed gulp after gulp.

A hand touched his face and Kaito looked up to see Shinichi staring back at him. It was obvious that he was trying to keep his face blank—his jaw twitched as Kaito's tongue prodded at the torn flesh. Allowing one last hard suck, he pulled back, blood coating his teeth and still oozing out of the wound. Shinichi covered it with a waiting cloth. "So, did it help?" he asked.

"Definitely," Kaito said. "I feel a lot better now. My stomach's stopped hurting and the last of my cuts have healed up. Are you okay? I didn't take too much, did I?"

"No, no, I'm fine." Shinichi tried to stand, but his knees buckled instantly. Kaito caught him before he fell to the floor and guilt panged through him. "J-Just a little woozy. I just need to lie down." Kaito carried Shinichi over to the bed in corner of the room and set him down. "So, how did my blood taste?"

"…Sparkly." That was the closest thing to it.

He laughed. "Seriously!?"

Kaito laughed along with him, even though he wasn't really feeling it. "Yeah," he said with a smile. "I guess it was all the magick in your blood." Kaito quickly sobered up and bit his lip. He was exhausted… "Do… Can I sleep with you tonight?" He looked away. "I-I don't think I want to try and spend the night alone… after what happened…"

"Hey." Shinichi's hand forced him to look up again. Shinichi smiled and Kaito felt the tension fall from his shoulders. "Of course you can. Come on, get under the covers with me."

The bed was small, just a twin, so with both of them under the covers, Shinichi practically held Kaito in his arms. An embarrassed flush bloomed around his cheek, only to spread down his neck when Shinichi kissed him gently. "Goodnight Kaito. Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight Shinichi."