The young looking man stretched loosely and yawned slightly. He sat up clearing his blurry eyes, a smile firmly planted on his boyish face. He rubbed a hand across his face dispelling the last hold sleep had over him. Although he was deep within a safe place he could practically sense the last sliver of sun fading away before the darkness of night.
A figure darkened the entrance to the area he called his own. Directing his empty smile towards the man his gray eyes sparkled like a child. He stood up feeling his body respond eagerly. Just as it always did and had always done for the past decade. It was always a refreshing sensation. Dressing quickly he approached his visitor.
"Good evening Aoshi. You slept well I trust?"
The other vampire looked down with a neutral look on his pale, cold face. His icy blue eyes betrayed no emotion. He looked neither pleased nor displeased at the polite greeting. The boy vampire slipped past him into the cold, stone corridor. His eyes glittered in the near dark and he peered over his shoulder at the tall man.
"Are you hungry? I need blood."
"Soujirou, I have already fed." The vampire called Aoshi replied in a deep, cold voice. He moved to follow the boy anyway. They walked side by side. Someone, one of the werewolves most likely, had lit the fires on the wall lending light. As vampires they did not require such a vast amount, but for the humans that resided in the cold tombs it was a necessity.
"I suppose I was a bit late waking up." The boy admitted with a sheepish grin to his stoic companion. He looked around eagerly with the same smile he had woken up with. "I just hope that there will be some decent blood left. You know what a pig Chou can be sometimes. For such a skinny man he sure does drink a lot."
He kept up a one-sided conversation easily, pausing every so often to greet another vampire. The tall man ignored everything with distain only paying heed to his young companion. His large trench coat fluttered behind him and his lips were pressed into a thin line. When they entered the large open space, the boy led the way to where a group of humans were lined up. His large eyes flicked over them before fixing on one girl in particular. His large smile took on an appreciate tone.
"Yumi saved your favorite again, didn't she?" Aoshi asked nonplussed. He wasn't particularly picky about his meals, provided they met his body's needs. He didn't understand why Soujirou had chosen that young woman, and he didn't care. If it made the young vampire happy he was pleased.
Soujirou left Aoshi leaning against the far wall. He approached his dinner, careful to make enough noise so as not to startle her. Some vampires boasted that fear enhanced the flavor, but the youth didn't find it to be true. He would rather have a relaxed meal than one that was tense. Besides, a rapidly beating heart was distracting with super sensitive hearing. It had the potential to excite him and he would drink too deeply. Then he wouldn't have a favorite human anymore.
"Good evening Kaoru." He greeted cheerfully. Her big, blue eyes flashed up. He glimpsed a shadow of fear, but before he could look closer it was gone. She mustered a smile and greeted him back politely. Without any prompting she got into position allowing him to feed with ease.
The thick liquid slid down his throat, warming his chilled flesh. He enjoyed the sensation, careful not to let his sharp fangs pierce her carotid artery too deeply. She stood upright before slumping gently against him. Feeling full and satisfied, he allowed the woozy girl to fall to the stone floor lightly. She sat there with her head down. Her raven hair spread about her as she supported herself with her hands. Backing away, Soujirou noting that another slave approached her. This one was male. The boy vampire knew who he was, everyone did. A filthy half-breed. Not even a full vampire, just a mere dhampheal. He always avoided the half-breed, never wishing to taste the tainted blood oh his lips. He supposed the only reason Shishio allowed the half-breed to remain within their sanctuary was for the father's sake. His flame bright hair and soft violet eyes marked him, as did the cross shaped scar on his cheek. He crouched concerned beside Kaoru.
Half-breed adults were incredibly rare for many reasons. Female vampires were naturally barren, unable to sustain and nurture life in their cold, empty bodies. They had no motherly instincts, therefore, rarely lusted for a child to bring up. Of course, some personalities tended to be more lenient than others. Fostering certain actions. Male vampires on the other hand could impregnate females of other species if they so chose. So long as the female was close in genetic code a fusion was possible. That was how half-breeds came about. Few actually survived to adulthood; killed, at or before birth by the father or another vampire. Sometimes even killed by the mothers themselves. Other times their two base natures would tear the child's sanity apart until they ending their existence.
Himura must be special to keep his two sides in check and survive so long. Then again, the half-breed's father was an extraordinary vampire in his own right and it would stand to reason that he would pass those genes on.
"Why are they like that?" Soujirou asked the older vampire as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He gestured with a curious tilt of his head sending his bangs into a gentle sway. Aoshi looked up with frigid eyes and brushed some of the boy's bangs back, remarking, "Because they are humans. Such flawed creatures."
"But Himura's not a human."
"He is part, that is enough. He has their pitiful emotions stirring inside of him. Those emotions rule his heart and he doesn't use his head to think. That is why the immortal shall survive forever, while humans wither and die after less than a mere century."
"Such short lives, like mayflies." Soujirou whispered, considering the implications. His curious eyes wandered over to the pair again. Himura had picked the girl up and was carrying her easily back towards where the human's quarters were. "How sad."
"Lord Aoshi," A young girl ran up and bowed. She didn't quite conceal the look of hatred when she glanced Soujirou's way. He merely smiled back, unaffected. The werewolf could shoot him all the looks she wished. He didn't care about her or her opinion of the relationship between himself and her master.
"Master Shishio wishes to speak with you."
"Thank you Misao."
The werewolf shot one last hate-laden glance before darting off to join her pack. Soujirou marveled at how the beast changed each evening. By day they were bound to shaggy, canine bodies, but as the sun sunk below the horizon they changed to frail humans. Well, not precisely frail. They retained their sharp hearing and sense of smell, ones that bested even that of the vampires. They were sturdy enough, but their reflexes and strength were barely above that of a normal human in its prime.
"Why doesn't she like me?" Soujirou asked. He knew his questions didn't bother the older vampire and they sated his boundless curiosity. Yumi remarked he must have been a cat in his last life to be so curious. He actually had a good idea of the answer, but he wanted to hear what Aoshi had to say about it. The older vampire was generally silent, speaking only when he felt it necessary. The boy felt the need to drive out his opinions and thoughts. They were always interesting.
"Misao views you as a rival for my affections. She has been mine since she was a young puppy barely weaned from her mother's side. Her loyalty to me is utmost." Aoshi explained, his gaze lingering on the young werewolf's slender form. She was bouncing happily around a large young werewolf and he was grinning at her playful antics. "I do not believe she hates you so much as what you represent."
"A lover?"
A ghost of a smile fixed on the cold man's face, "Yes."
"But she has no interest in you that way." Soujirou pointed out. She was now seated in the young werewolf's lap chatting happily. He said something and her face turned pink. With a quick motion she had a handful of hair and was yanking at it. The male tried to pry her off.
"No. She is afraid you will hurt me." Aoshi replied distracted. His attention had been snatched away by the new vampire that had entered the room.
Soujirou made a face in confusion and his smile wavered slightly. He followed his lover's gaze. So she was back then. Then all was well and the Ten Swords were complete. The vampire spoke briefly to another before making her way towards the waiting humans. She chose one and Soujirou could see the seductive smile on her petite face. He had always liked Kamatari Houjo, even if Yumi didn't. Then again, Yumi wasn't aware that Kamatari's interest in Shishio was simply artificial and shallow. Her real interests lay elsewhere. Of course, it was supposed to be a secret, and Soujirou was nothing, if not faithful to a secret.
Turning his attention back to Aoshi he asked, still puzzled, "How could I hurt you? You are stronger and far older than I am."
"You recall those emotions I spoke of? Werewolves are also half human, at least by night. They too have these emotions, however, their canine side rarely allows them to act on them. Not in the way a human would. To the wolf half, survival and loyalty to the pack is first and foremost. Occasionally the two sides of their nature war, but often they sync in perfect harmony. When I say she's afraid you will hurt me, I meant emotionally."
"But that's just silly." Soujirou replied, his smile widening. He trailed the older vampire as Aoshi skirted the bulk of the crowd, making his way towards the exit in the back.
Aoshi paused and ran his index finger lightly down the boy's jaw, "Not to her. She actually believes I have feelings to hurt. She will understand eventually." With that he disappeared into the inner chambers where Shishio spent his time. Soujirou briefly wondered what his master wanted his lover for, but the thought passed. He wanted to do some more people watching. Just after meals was always the best. He had been watching one werewolf particularly.
It looked to be a youth, maybe fifteen in human years. He wasn't sure how age converted between the two or if his guess was even correct. The wolf was having some intriguing dealings with a food slave. Such trafficking wasn't unusual. The wolves served their masters exclusively, and if that meant fetching some food, then they would do it. Except that was Master Shishio's personal werewolf. Soujirou knew that he fed only on wild humans, leaving the slaves to his followers.
No, he had observed those two together quite often. They were never open about it, always nervous and silent. The food slave would occasionally leave first while the wolf lurked around, socializing with his pack. When most everyone left, he would slink off into the human pens. Everyone knew that relationships between those of different status was completely forbidden, and punishable by death. Just as a vampire could not have a liaison with their wolf servant, the wolves could not have one with the food slaves. After all, another mistake like Himura was not wanted in their closed world. The slaves were the bottom rungs, merely a source of food for those on top. They weren't anything more, and never should be considered such. It all came down to strength and power. Those who held those two things held the right to use it on others.
Of course Soujirou only watched. He saw no gain in informing Master Shishio of his suspicions. That would mean the end to his watching of the pair, because the human would most certainly be torn apart and the wolf would be severely punished, possibly even killed since his master was Shishio himself.
"What are you doing honey?" Soujirou turned and smiled broadly at the source of the voice. Kamatari seated herself down gingerly by the boy's feet and looked up. A small smirk covered her glossed lips. She tucked her legs up beneath her comfortably, straightening her clothing prissily.
He slid down with his back against the wall and joined her, his limbs placed loosely to the side. The female had always been kind to him, and he didn't believe it was because he was Master Shishio's prodigy. Her very nature seemed open and friendly. However, Soujirou had seen first hand the damage she could do when it was required.
"People watching." He replied idly. The wolf he had been watching had slipped out while he was distracted. No matter. There was always tomorrow. He fixed his eyes on Misao and thought back on Aoshi's words. How odd that she would think that. He shook his head slightly in bafflement.
"Thinking hard then? Did you miss me?"
"Yes Kamatari, very much so. Did your travels go as well as you hoped?" Soujirou replied and Kamatari ruffled his hair. He tolerated it knowing it was meant to be harmless.
"They were fun. Humans can be so fun to torment as well as tasty." The female vampire smiled like a cat, smug and satisfied. Then her brown furrowed and her mood darkened, "But there was some trouble. Do you recall that village you slaughtered when you were first turned? You were too young and Lord Shishio did not guide you as he should have." She scowled in disapproval at that lapse of etiquette, but she wouldn't speak against their leader.
"I do."
"Then you will remember you fell under the influence of your bloodlust slaying every living thing. I doubt you actually recall any details. Well, apparently you have made a fairly powerful enemy. Among those you killed was his family."
Soujirou considered for a moment before replying, "I have made many enemies."
The female took a deep breath before correcting him, "This is a personal enemy. One who is bound and determined to see you rot in Hades honey."
"Is that why Master Shishio summoned Aoshi? To take care of this man."
Kamatari rose to her feet and trailed her fingers idly along the smooth stonewall. She made a face before nodding. Soujirou stowed that piece of information away later. His lover may or may not feel he needed to inform Soujirou of his mission. He had disappeared, along with Misao, before. Sometimes for weeks at a time. Soujirou didn't mind overly much usually.
"There's more. You know Master Shishio wouldn't employ that assassin's skills unless he felt it necessary." Soujirou nodded his head in agreement and let the other vampire continue, "It seems the vampire hunter Enishi Yukishiro had reemerged and is seeking revenge for his sister."
That sent a mild jolt of shock through the boy vampire. He had been present after the female slayer had been mortally injured. He had seen her body before he dragged Master Shishio's abused body away. He was just a human boy then. It seemed like it was so distant now. Being a scared, beaten human boy neglected and used by his human family. He had fixed that. After his transformation he had gone back and made them pay, and pay dearly.
Chou sauntered up. As usual he had several swords strapped to various parts of his anatomy and his blond hair stuck straight up. He leaned up against the wall casually and nodded to Soujirou, but his eye was fixed on Kamatari. She smiled at Soujirou.
"If you would excuse me honey? I forgot I told Chou I would see him as soon as I got back." She winked down. Soujirou gave an understanding nod and scrambled to his feet. He figured Aoshi would be done with his interview by now and hoped to catch the vampire before he left.
Soujirou walked down the twisted passages easily. He was humming a tune, not really watching where he was going. Something slammed into him. He looked down slightly puzzled. The force hadn't been enough to do more than stop him. The one he bumped into wasn't so lucky.
"Watch where you're going!" Misao yelped, bouncing up with a red face. Her braid whipped around as she faced him bristling. She was rather short and had to stand on tiptoe to actually look him in the eye, but fires blazed in those emeralds.
Soujirou considered her before asking, because he was curious about the emotions his lover had spoke of, "Why don't you like me? Have I been rude? If so I apologize, I did not mean to." She stopped mid-rant and sputtered at a loss under such a blunt attack. Gathering her dispersed fury and courage she pursed her lips and hiss lowly, "Lord Aoshi deserves better than you!"
"Who then."
She halted dead in her tracks at his calm probing. He could see her fists clenched, but he knew she wouldn't attack him. Another rule, no werewolf may strike a vampire unless under direct orders from their master. Even the most rash and foolhardy could hold their tempers when the punishment was fur stripping over their whole body. Of course, the fur grew back, usually patching branding the troublemaker as shamed. It was a painful process, but in such an honor-based cluster, the torment of the stain was far more agonizing. Often it was enough to have them driven out of their pack and keep them from being accepted into another. Werewolves were incredibly social creatures, unlike their vampire masters. Their gregarious natures demanded interaction as part of a pack. When that was stripped from them then they were nothing. Such creatures bitter and despaired usually committed suicide.
She eyed him sullenly, worrying her lips with a canine fang. A bright drop of blood beaded up as the sharp tip pierced the thin, delicate skin. She was weighing her reply in her mind and he patiently allowed her to chew it over in her mind. He knew she wasn't usually so considerate with fellow members of her pack or human slaves. Normally she would be a bubbling pot of rage.
She sighed in defeat, the words she sought not coming to her.
"We're leaving tomorrow evening, so I guess that means you two can say good bye and whatever." Soujirou wondered what she had meant, but dismissed it as unimportant. Werewolves were strange creatures and Misao was stranger than most. She was so cheery and headstrong. He wondered where she had learned it or if it was inborn. She certainly had not gotten her mannerisms from her master. As he approached Aoshi's temporary dwelling in the catacombs, the older vampire met him at the entrance.
"So you are leaving then?" Soujirou questioned lightly, his head cocked sending his long bangs to the side. His smile never changed and his eyes were locked on the older vampire. "Were you planning to tell me this time?"
They stepped into his room where Aoshi returned to the position he had been in before off to the side on the cold, hard floor.
The older vampire checked his gleaming sword, slicing parallel along the tender flesh in his lower arm. The blade glided in like it was cutting silk and he positioned it so he could polish it before sheathing it. He repeated the process with the original kodachi's mate. This one, however, failed the muster. Aoshi coolly reached around taking a sharpening stone from beside him. His sure, precise strokes made a singing noise as he dragged the hard rock down the length of the blade. The deep cut in his arm were nearly healed, the pale skin puckered together, by the time he dragged the newly sharpened edge down them again. This time it passed and he casually slid the length into the leather scabbard.
"Did you want me to." Although it was phrased as a question, the tone indicated it was more of statement.
Soujirou shrugged and sat beside him, "I don't know. I would have found out eventually I suppose, so no. Sorry for such a silly question."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, each with his own thoughts before Soujirou piped up. "What do you think of soul mates?"
Aoshi was silent, but Soujirou was patient. He knew the vampire had heard him and was pensively turning the question over in his head. Aoshi was a very deliberate character. He took his time reaching a verdict, but once it was delivered it was irrevocable. All judgment was final, set in stone.
"I believe there are no such thing." Aoshi answered at last. He said this was a finality, but there was a slightly wistful tone in his voice as if he remembered something. It was eradicated in his next sentence, "Souls are so twisted and melted at the edges there is no way for two to join together so seamlessly. Warped and twisted, they will never fit one another. There are so many facets to a being, whether they are human, vampire, or werewolf. One side could fit perfectly, but the other cannot even be forced in. They are like puzzle pieces with jagged corners. Corruption, greed, ambition, there are many pitfalls to a soul. Some are inborn others are acquired. Regardless they are there. Perhaps there are close matches, untainted innocence preserved by optimistic enthusiasm, however, I sincerely doubt such a thing. Soul mates are like love at first sight. There is far more to consider than attraction."
"What would be my flaw?" Soujirou, intrigued, was still absorbing the older vampire's speech. Aoshi rarely spoke in such long sentences, he felt pleased he had invoked such a reaction. He leaned gently against the other vampire's chest. He wondered how humans could stand to be so warm all the time. When they leaned again another would they feel the steady, measured breaths of another? He wondered what a heartbeat felt like, with the blood pumping so heavily in another beings chest.
"Curiosity."
Soujirou looked up to see a small quirk in the other vampire's cold lips and he realized he was being teased.
"Then I suppose yours would be that you think too much."
"Would you prefer I express myself with actions then." Soujirou's smile widened as Aoshi's deft fingers slid under his shirt. He rose and brushed his lips against the other vampire's.
Aoshi pushed the boy back against his resting place letting his hands roam the familiar curves and dips. Soujirou relaxed allowing him to begin the way he always did. Although not a virgin, he had never enjoyed sex before. Aoshi had introduced him to a more enjoyable way. As a human it had hurt. Hurt a lot.
He had brief flashes of his past suddenly in vivid details and cringed with fear. They flashed not with images, but rather with emotions. Emotions that was fairly foreign for a vampire, which only fueled his confusion and inflamed his memories to an unstoppable conflagration. The heavy, fleshy body bearing down oppressively on the small, lithe one. Whimpers. Thick grunts. The sickening sounds of bone cracking again flesh as the meaty fist meet face over and over. Sweat, pain, terror mingled into a deadly poison eating the soul. Adrenaline racing, panic flooding. No escape, none. Brutal, forceful thrusting, then release. A battered body of a boy. Nothing left but an empty husk. A smiling empty husk of the boy named Soujirou Seta.
Aoshi had stopped his ministrations and was looking down calmly. Soujirou sobbed slightly and instinctively curled into a ball to protect himself. He thought he had put that behind him. It was the past. When he was weak. The weak deserved to be used by the strong. That was what Master Shishio claimed. So he had asked for it. Asked to be raped? Had he really? No, no, no! That was the human him! He was strong now. Wasn't he? He was a vampire, the strongest immortal out there. Their kind ruled over werewolves, humans, and weaker demons alike. No one dared to challenge them. To do so was to walk willingly to slaughter.
Aoshi backed off a ways and Soujirou wished he hadn't. He didn't know how to cope, why he felt this way. His hand went to his forehead the palm pressing painfully and he squelched his eyes shut warding off images. A snarl crossed his lips, tearing his mute smile to tiny pieces. "Why?" Aoshi stood up and Soujirou could feel the older vampire's presence looming over him. He cowed away, expecting a blow for his weakness. Instead words cut the air and landed on his tender ears.
"You were once human. Do not fight it that encourages your emotions. Let it pass. Trust me, it will pass. You are young yet. You still retain knowledge from your mortal life. With age they will fade." Aoshi advised, picking up his kodachis and placing them on his person. If Soujirou had looked up he would have seen a faint flame of compassion and understanding in the older vampire's gaze. Instead, blinded by his past, he only heard the harsh words.
Without another word the older vampire strode out of the room leaving the younger to his anguished thoughts and inner demons.
Soujirou did not regain himself that evening. The darkness slipped away and he fell into the deep, dreamless sleep that affected all of his kind when the sun's rosy rays woke the rest of the world. His curled position reflected his last thoughts as the sandman stole his consciousness.
A/N: So, what would you consider your "flaw"? I'd have to say mine is cynisim. My mom says I shouldn't be this way, so young, that I should just be skeptical. Then again, my flaw could be that I over-analyze (think too much) everything. And, er, as for Kamatari, you can still consider him a he if you want. For my sanity, I put him as a she, since Soujirou isn't inclined to pick bones over the difference.
Reviewers:
Ochita: One update coming up. Hmm, pairings. Well, there's a whole slew of them, but as for the one you're asking about: No, not Sou/Meg, altho I almost died laughing when I read that. I'd never even considered that pairing *stores it away for future use* As for the other suggestion, that's a possiblity.
MissBehavin: Then I think you'll like this (if you can stand all the stuff in it). *humming* Oh yes, Saitoh will be in it. How could I leave him out? But he's not a main character this time. I'm playing with a different cast. Ah yes, Enishi. Hopefully I'll keep him IC, but since I've never actually read the jinchuu... I'll try.
Trupana: *deeply honored* Why thank you. Hmm, again with the pairings. Well, lots ^__^;; Of course, a few don't work out, but that's life. I'm trying with the romance again. I think I'm beating the dead horse. But you never give up ^^ Sorry, no A/M/S, but I promise I will do a A/M sometime in the future (hopefully). Nope, they're not *sarcastic* Gee, I wonder why. But I agree, there are more than just the surface of a character. No, no! Study, get good grades and whatever.
Fyyrrose: Bit off a bit more than you could chew, ne? *evil grin* I did tell you it was over 70 pages already. Thank you Sensei-sama. Well, at least awesome is not related to cute. :P Eevee is NOT a baka! No deathwish. After all, I can't write if I'm dead *shakes index finger* You'd do well to remember that! *sigh* And by reading this review I thought you had accepted the fate I had in mind. You and Rob and your reaction to 'that bitch'. Popcorn is better, but ice cream is good too. Oh, chocolate is good with anything *drools*. He'll suffer more than that. Don't forget the stove >:) O.O Why thank you Raven, I think...
eriesalia: Too busy, I have to life. Come Jan. 21 that all changes, so I'm scrambling to get finished with at least two of my monster fics. Might actually happen. Yup, they do have a human form, but since this is my world, I have made up a whole host of rules. You'll learn them as you go along.
Wistful-Eyes: Sorry, she's dead. Again. I'll do her justice one of these days. I kinda have a short fic planned, but I'm so slow about actually starting things *groans*Sorry is that tossed the tummy, but it's a warm up.