~Chapter 3~
The low voice was as hypnotic and enveloping as he remembered. Pulling off his own mask with gloved fingers, Ranmaru felt the tug to move closer. Stepping forward, he was within an arm's reach of the other man and stopped.
"I saw what you did." Ranmaru said quietly, somehow not wanting to disturb the quiet that had developed around them.
Enjouji Kei smiled minimally. Tucking his handkerchief into his sleeve, he inclined his head to the left with a semblance of curiosity.
"You cut that woman's neck. And you drank her blood." The words were stated with an awful yet false calm. Enjouji Kei gazed back at him with fathomless eyes, before whispering a soft affirmation.
Hearing the agreement to his words undid him. The hope and revelations which had arisen due to the man before him now seemed like lies, because he had foolishly believed that Enjouji Kei would be the salvation to his darkness.
"Why?"
The solitary word wrenched from Ranmaru's throat and left a stinging ache behind its escape.
Taking a swift inhalation, the stranger compressed his blood red lips before uttering a barely audible reply, shifting his head away to look at the moon.
"It is for my survival. It allows me to live."
"To live?", was the raspy enquiry echoed by the red-headed nobleman.
The pallid face moved back to look at his companion. "I am what you would recognize as a vampire, a hunter of blood in the dark."
The words were there, floating in the air and quickly dissipated. Every word on their own made individual sense… but placed next to each other to form the statement just made was incomprehensible.
"Impossible..."
"And yet, the undeniable truth.", intruded the cloaked stranger.
A knot of tension formed in Ranmaru's temple, his mind struggling against this opposition to his ingrained sense of practicality. The things this Enjouji Kei was deeming true contradicted reality. Ideas fancied in legends and in folklore spoke of such things but to hear them stated as a concrete fact by the man he had placed so much untold hope in caused his heart to skip beats.
"It is difficult to believe I am sure. I too had a hard time believing it myself at first."
So nonchalant were the words. So mystifying in their jaunty, by-your-leave tone.
Dark brown eyes glimmered in the glare of the stars enveloping them, telling of emotions that would not be preached of aloud.
The raven-haired noble studied the pale faced man in front of him curiously, concernedly.
"Will you keep my secret? It is not a fact one wants known to many, especially those the like of that gossipy matron that was monopolizing you shortly before our chance rendezvous. Truly though, I cannot fault her efforts for I find myself wanting to do the same."
The flood of words seemed ceaseless and Ranmaru could not fathom as to how the man before him, who was so easily brushing away the fact that he had been drinking someone's blood like flicking away a piece of lint from his midnight waistcoat, could function in polite society with such an ill personality so thinly disguised.
"You are not of a sound mind..."
Sharps brows raised and loud humour-filled laughter rang throughout their small cube of hedges and perfumed blossoms.
"Of that notion, I'm sure you will not be swayed.", spoke the deep voice after the bout of heartfelt chuckles had disappeared.
The only visible end to their situation was to depart, Ranmaru thought. Disturbed by the character of his unusual companion, he knew full well that such a course of action was prudent but yet, he still did not move.
The man was unusual, no doubt. It was exciting and exasperating, Ranmaru unpleasantly realized. He was succumbing to the charms of an eccentric man who claimed he lived the life of a vampire. The knowledge should have instantaneously sent him reaching for some sort of weapon in defence.
And yet, he did none of these things.
Because he enjoyed watching the cape of Enjouji Kei billow in the winds and wrap around him lovingly. Because the dark laughter that emanated deep from the man before him were joyful in their resonance and sent goose pimples skittering to unfamiliar points on his neck. Because every word was a caress, and when Enjouji Kei said his name, it made anticipation and adrenaline singe the valves of his veins. It made him want to know this man ,who could charm a snake merely with the smooth tones of his voice, in every singular disturbing and ecstatic way there was to know.
In the throes of his own internal struggle, he was unaware that the gap between the two men was steadily closing until he felt a hand weave through his hair and urged his head upward to meet sharp eyes.
Nothing was said, and all was silent except for the faintest of sounds of people chattering away and crickets chirping amongst tall hedges.
Ranmaru wretched himself away and stumbled a step before hurrying over to the unconscious courtesan on the wooden bench with rose patterned backing. Shivers of fear and confusion racing through him, he crouched in front of the unknown woman and attempted to pull her upright. Flopping into his arms like an unstrung puppet, he tensed and pushed her head to the left to expose her wound to the evening air and his sympathetic gaze.
Two small puckered holes lay against smooth flesh, with the barest trickling of scarlet blood drying them to a near burgundy hue beside them. Blanched lips compressed together to stifle the sound of frustration that threatened to leave him.
"She is not dead. And I can assure you that in her last moments of awareness, she felt nothing but the utmost of pleasures."
Turning amazed eyes with a face becoming increasingly disgusted, he watched as the demon of the dark approached him and his armful of victimized innocence.
"Stop."
Enjouji Kei paused and raised his gloved hands up in compliance. Smiling faintly, he promised that he meant no harm and dared to take another step towards the duo.
"Stop, and don't come any closer."
Ranmaru could see the moonlight caress the man-demon before him as Enjouji Kei returned his glare with a blank look before crossing his arms with a small huff of impatience.
"This is a weary practice, Ranmaru. Let us move on. I have given my word as a gentlemen that no harm will pass and I intend to keep it."
"Hah!"
Ranmaru's involuntary bark of disbelief broke sharply through the tense atmosphere around them, causing Enjouji Kei to drop his arms and glower formidably in the direction of the squatting red-headed noble. And despite his skills with survival and self-defence, a frisson of black fear crept through his spine and down his arms to his hands. His gloved fingers involuntarily clutched at the body he held, knowing terror as it stared back at him with star-shadowed eyes.
"I do not speak falsely, and you have no past experiences of me to assume so. Your naive beliefs is your hindrance to realism here. So I ask you to remember, do not push me."
Ranmaru looked away, fixing fearful eyes on the green velvet cloth of the motionless noblewoman's dress. The path to the next course of action eluded him, and he knew not of what to say, frightened they may be his last words - no matter the vampires words to the contrary.
Soundless stillness grated on frazzled nerves.
"Can you trust me?"
Dark eyes met their match as Ranmaru's head whipped around to look at Enjouji Kei. Anger once churning in the caped man-demon's unexpectedly vibrant eyes died an immediate death and earnestness was its replacement.
Words eluded Ranmaru and his mouth widened marginally in response, the words about to be uttered unknown even to him.
And yet they never came.
For as the first sound was made, another followed from a new source.
The formerly masked courtesan shifted once towards arms that stilled her and moved once more. Lushly lashed eyes fluttered imperceptibly then with increased vigour before peeling open. The unknown noblewoman sat up with a gasp, wrenching Ranmaru's weakening grasp away from her limbs. Dishevelled, she looked about her quickly, her eyes passing by Ranmaru and locking on Enjouji Kei. With a torn gasp, she righted herself and stood, facing the inexpressive Enjouji Kei with confusion. Yet subconscious self-preservation must have motivated her, for as she looked at the man before her, a petite manicured hand circled her own neck. Light fingers passed down her veins and found the two puncture wounds with a small cry of despair.
Ranmaru observed the lady in the domino back away from Enjouji Kei, stepping backwards until she was nearly swathed by the hedges behind her. Turning around rapidly like a gazelle in flight, she moved to the exit between the leafy square and ran for dear life.
Both noblemen simply looked at the grassy doorway of the young woman's exodus, the soft sounds made of the rubbing legs of equally green insects leaving the only echo of noise behind the recent cries of feminine alarm.
Ranmaru drew himself up, slowly and reluctantly, facing the man-demon. Instincts traversed messages to his mind, telling him feelingly to follow the courtesan's example and leave with haste. And yet again, he did not obey this intuition. For stronger ones brimmed far more violently behind his weary façade - an intermingling of barely remembered feelings that was reminiscent of the one night he had shared with the man, the vampire, this anomaly - Enjouji Kei.
"It saddens me, you know."
Unexpected the words were to Ranmaru.
"What saddens you?", he responded somewhat throatily.
Tentatively he listened for the answer, not knowing he wanted to hear what possible scenario could create sadness in a vampire.
"The expression on your beautiful face. It saddens me." The sentences were followed by a lonesome sigh. Ranmaru met the other nobleman's gaze, bewildered.
"I wish to leave, to escape of such regard, but I would regret the action in the future, I am sure." Tilting his head, an ebony ponytail slid leisurely down his shoulder.
"You are frightened of me, and I never ever wanted such a thing." The words were tainted with his sincere regret. "You analyze me and come up with even more complex questions. You are confused and wary of me."
Polished black leather boots with gleaming gold buckles stepped forward. "And yet," the deep voiced quieted with pleased inquisitiveness. "You are drawn to me, as I am to you. You deny it because of your fear and sense of practicality, but your beauteous being desires me....despite everything."
Ranmaru stood frozen by the words, unwillingly enticed by the shifting proximity of their bodies as the gap between them closed.
Riotous desire enflamed him as Enjouji Kei's velvet encased fingers tangled in his red hair and pulled him closer.
"I d-do not want this."
No strength was found in the pronouncement as Enjouji Kei's lips gained closeness to Ranmaru's own. "Ranmaru....", Enjouji Kei, a whispered promised in a name.
And in the billowing shadows of the moonlight, in the tall guardians of twigs and grass, Ranmaru received Enjouji Kei's burning kiss.
A shuddering gasp escaped as twin lips parted, only to meet again. Gloves of cream clenched in a snowy cravat. Zephyrs blew through, educing the fragrance of roses to rise and shook petals free to circle within the small hidden square of the garden, wrapping a luxurious crimson cape around the embracing pair of nobles.
Pointed teeth scraped across a vulnerable tongue, tasting hints of human wine. Thirstily drinking of the scarlet liquor, Enjouji Kei held Ranmaru tightly to his chest. Hungry hands explored down a cream-coloured waistcoat to leggings, nails rasping and digits rubbing against muscled buttocks.
"K-Kei....stop..."
The kiss ended gradually but the strong arms still held and the hands still caressed. Remaining with the man-demon's hold, Ranmaru attempted to obtain his breath. Hands still entangled in the white cloth of Enjouji Kei's cravat, Ranmaru belatedly became aware of the lingering salty traces of blood in his mouth.
"You d-drank from me!" The accusation ringing loudly and echoing.
"You mind?"
The question seemed impossibly incredible to Ranmaru, the answer seeming so obvious that the question seemed absurd.
"Of course I mind!"
During this discussion however, neither felt the necessity to separate from their close positions. A soft tired sound tore out of Enjouji Kei's bee stung lips.
"Most of my lovers have not had complaint for such acts, but if it bothers you so entirely, I apologize. It is my nature, you know."
Ranmaru was reluctantly conceding to Enjouji Kei's true way of being when caught by the unsettling words of the one who embraced him.
"Your lovers?"
A smile played across his fetching face. "Yes, lovers. A man turned vampire is still a man, my Ranmaru."
Arctic blue threads of cold dampened his spirit instantaneously. Though the experiences he had shared with the man before him were few and far between, a kernel of primitive possessiveness invaded his bloodstream.
Masking the emotion against the onyx eyes regarding him with a fervent gaze, the tightening of his sinking fingers in the colourless cravat was the only minute telltale sign.
"We are not lovers to my knowledge." A husky voice murmured from Ranmaru, the ambiguous rasp of his voice disguising the need to lay claim.
"Ranmaru..."
The one word sensually caressing and chiding at the same time, quietly stating the inevitability of their joining of souls. Sable eyes grew slumberous and heavy lidded at the mellow tone.
"Kei."
A broad hand dragged lightly down Ranmaru's soft face, lingering on the bottom lip before holding a strong jaw.
"Love, as much as it pains me to say this, I must leave you now. I would rather endeavour to listen to the melody of your voice crying out in the pleasures I alone could teach you, but now is not the time. Will you see me again?"
Of course I will. I was yours from the beginning.
Such was the initial though in Ranmaru's head, though he would rather to not let the inscrutable man before him take his leave at all.
He felt the hands and arms leave his body, leaving the night's growing chill to cast its immediate assault against him. Wrapping his arms around himself as Enjouji Kei stepped away made the space between them feel like an invasion.
"Ranmaru....I want you to have this to remember me."
The finality reverberating in the ten simple words tickled under his skin unpleasantly and startled him into speech.
"I'll see you again?"
Enjouji Kei graced him with a genuine smile, the likes he had not seen for what felt like a millennia. "It was I that asked you, remember? Here. Take this from me, please."
Enjouji Kei lifted his satin cape with an upraised arm and it fell away from him in a silky wave, revealing a small sparkling item in his hand. A cross, bejewelled with perfectly cut miniature diamonds and amethyst stones twined with ribbons and thin trails of gold strung with a sleek gold chain, hung from Enjouji Kei's gloved hand.
Enjouji Kei held it out, the delicate gems catching the rays of the moonlight and glowed with ethereal intensity.
The beauty of ancient cross caught at Ranmaru and he walked towards it, not touching it but studying it reverently in the misty light.
A tentative hand reached out to regard it more intently only to be caught by another as it faltered. Ranmaru looked up at Enjouji Kei and said not a word. Enjouji Kei matched his silence and instead, pressed the small cross into his hand and lightly wrapped the gold chain around velvet cream fingers.
Leaning down toward the red head's ear, he whispered, "I will come back to you. Expect me soon, my Ranmaru."
Pulling back slightly, he laid a soft yet telling kiss on the nobleman's soft ruby lips before turning away abruptly and striding out of their small garden square.
Ranmaru stared unseeingly as Enjouji Kei's promise echoed in his mind before suddenly breaking into the reality surrounding him when a forceful cold wind pushed against him. With widening eyes, the fact that he was alone struck him and he unconsciously brought the cross to his heart, fingers biting into the precious stones.
"Kei."
Ranmaru...
He felt Enjouji Kei's voice like a tangible entity and let out a faltering breath.
He knew by his honour that he should seek justice for the young courtesan that Enjouji Kei had, by all evidence, attacked bodily. He knew it but the conviction was lacking.
His heart was were his strength now lay, strung tight by a single red string, manipulated by an enticing and indecipherable nobleman who was, by his own definition, a hunter of blood in the dark.
A man, Enjouji Kei, who had drawn the dark black fog of his unwanted solitude and loneliness into the moonlight to be showered with its nurturing rays, once again.
~Owari~
Author's Note: I hoped you enjoyed this! ^-^ There is to be no sequel for this, but I'm sure your imagination can come up with some wonderful scenarios for the future of Ranmaru and Kei, ne? ^_~ Please review and (No flames! Or you will be set on fire! >:) let me know what you thought of it. Ja ne! ^_^