Chapter Eight- Blood Kills

Kurama tossed the empty bag in a trash can on his way to the blood bank. It had been two days since Hiei mentioned the tunnel. The number of insects had decreased but the number of demons had increased. Hiei said that the steps to tunnel completion was done in stages; four to be precise. The demons I've spotted are indicators that the tunnel is a stage three. The Kekkai barrier is keeping the stronger ones from using the tunnel, but the weaker ones are enough to cause trouble. I will not allow them to slaughter helpless humans if I can stop them. I have my claws and a knife I have procured from Karasu who drained a mugger who had owned it. I cannot be harmed so I have nothing to fear.

A long terrified scream made Kurama jump slightly. He raced toward the sound to an alley where a woman was cornered by a hulking demon. The sight of the woman's terrified face angered Kurama. "Leave her alone!" he ordered. The demon spun around and a confident smile appeared on his face. "You think I'll listen to you, human?"

"You should or you will regret it."

The demon advanced toward Kurama who saw the woman dart down another alley that was too narrow for her tormentor. Good. I can admit my nature and not frighten her more. He stood his ground as he said, "I advise you to back off. You see, I am a vampire who can drink demon blood as well as human."

The demon snorted. "A vampire? I doubt that. I don't believe in such human myths."

"I am no myth." Kurama bared his fangs and brandished his claws. His show of intimidation had no effect on the demon. He laughed.

"You call those claws?" he sneered. "Let me show you real claws." He swung an arm with a hand showing long claws at Kurama who zipped out of the way as if the demon was moving in slow motion. The demon lashed out again and again but Kurama dodged each one. He sidestepped another strike and then gasped as he felt claws go through his stomach. It didn't hurt; it just surprised him.

"What the hell?" the demon spat as he yanked his claws back.

Kurama glared at him, anger bubbling up within him. It was one thing when Hiei attacked him as he had asked and Hiei was his boyfriend, but this demon had no right to attack him. He hissed as he bared his fangs. He leaped up at the demon, sank his fangs into the neck and began to drink. He sucked contently and found he liked the feel of his fangs buried in someone's neck. He continued to drink until he had sucked up every last drop before easing off the corpse that had fallen to his knees as his blood was being drained away.

Kurama licked his fangs and lips. That was so good. If I had known how great it was sinking my fangs into someone, I would have done it from the beginning. He heard the sound of approaching police sirens, took bat form, and flew away from the scene. He found he didn't want to visit the blood bank. He had made his first successful kill and liked it- a lot.

Karasu looked up as a bat flew into the living room and turned into Kurama who seemed quite happy. The short vampire flashed his fangs in a proud smile as he sat down. "Karasu," he stated flatly. "I just made my first kill."

"Have you now?"

Kurama nodded. "I came across a demon terrorizing a woman. I stepped in to save her. She escaped while I kept the demon occupied. I got angry when he attacked me; put his claws through my stomach. I leaped upon him and drained him."

Karasu grinned as the tale ended. "You attacked out of self-defense and a desire to protect the woman. Still, a kill's a kill."

"Indeed. I enjoyed attacking and killing. I liked the feel of my fangs in someone's neck."

"Ah, so now you appreciate the gift I have given you."

"Yes. I still dislike you, but I am grateful to be a vampire."

Karasu returned to the book he had put aside earlier. He has killed and, as I hoped, it was a demon. He will not take from the bank anymore. He will be a true vampire now. I will wait a day or two before killing his mother. Surely, when I do, he will not care.

Kurama released the body of a man and grinned in pleasure. He felt no guilt in draining the man. He had reflected on last night's kill after reporting it to Karasu. Yes, it had been self-defense but the point was that he had used his fangs to get blood for the first time since attacking that cat. He had gained satisfaction in getting the blood from the source; fresh blood as it were. Now that I have drained two of their blood, I cannot go back to drinking from bags. I am now a real vampire. I will have to keep it a secret from Hiei as he would not understand why I am attacking now.

"Karasu is becoming blood thirsty," Hiei commented an hour after Kurama's kill. The two had been sitting quietly enjoying each other's company.

"Is he? We do not interact much, not since the night he shared information on abilities and lack of weaknesses."

"I can handle one dead human or demon a day, but two? That is not necessary and if I could kill him, I would."

Kurama was silent. He knew Karasu wasn't draining two victims but chose not to correct Hiei; best to let him think Kurama was a good vampire, lest he lose his boyfriend. I do not know what I would do if he turned on me.

"Yes, that is a worry," Karasu said slowly from the couch. "Believe me, Kurama, if your friends ever reject you, I will be here for you.'

"Of course you will. You alone know how satisfying it is to kill for blood."

"I certainly do."

Kurama saw sympathy and understanding in Karasu's eyes and felt good that someone knew how he felt at killing. He then felt a desire to kiss Karasu. He knew that Karasu wouldn't reject the move as he had kissed Kurama days ago. Karasu cocked an eyebrow. "Kurama? You are staring." Kurama slid closer and leaned forward, capturing Karasu's lips in an unloving but needy kiss. Kurama found he actually liked this kiss with Karasu as opposed to the ones Karasu had initiated.

They parted and Karasu stared at Kurama in surprise. "Wow," he breathed. "Where did that come from?"

"I needed some grounding and I was seeking comfort that I made the right choice to kill."

Karasu took Kurama in a secure hug. "You are a vampire and we drink blood; if it means killing our victims, so be it. Best of all, we will never die and never age."

"Never age," Kurama repeated. "That sounds wonderful."

"It is wonderful. How about we go flying? It is dark outside now."

Kurama smiled. "I would love to. I enjoy flying."

"I do too." Both vampires jumped, changed into bats, and flew out the window.

Kurama swooped, dove, zigged, zagged, and moved as fast as he could go. He felt so free in the air and a part of him wanted to stay in bat form. He denied that part; he was vampire and had to feed on humans and demons; it would be difficult to do so in bat form.

Karasu watched Kurama swoop around and would have smiled if he could. Kurama was coming around to thinking like him when it came to being a true vampire. I am sure that if I kill his mother tomorrow, he won't care and if he expresses that sentiment to his friends, they'll reject him and I will be able to love him as I want.