Hey people...and ANNA! I kno ur reading this, you STALKER! *jokes* ^_^ but
seriously, you'd better review me for writing that! Or else! *shakes fist
like Karla* Hehe!
Anywho, it's been sooooo long since my last update! Gomen! But at least I'm here now right?
Kai: Yeah sure, wtf
Silverstorms: This is the LAST chapter of this ENTIRE fic! Who's happy?
Readers: We are!
Silverstorms: I said who's happy?
Readers: We are!
Silverstorms: I said who's ha...
Kai: Dammit Silverstorms! They said they were!
Silverstorms: Hehe! Just checkin' because here it is! Chapter 20 (part2)
THANK YOU to all those who reviewed!!! Much appreciated!!! Now unto da fic!
Disclaimer: It was in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, I'm not sure about 5, but I think it's in 6, 7, 8...was it in nine? Mah! I kno it was in 10, I'm kinda certain it was in 11, not so sure about 12...you get the picture. (And if not...check back in other chappies, RETARD! Ahem, scratch that last part. Heh...)
Warnings: course language, yaoi, violence, minor gruesome details...there might be a few more but who really has the time to sit down and check? *silence* I thought so.
Thinking: ( )
Speaking: " "
Me: (SS:)/(A.N:)
Flashback: ~~~~~
Change Scene: ~*~
Chapter 20: Rain On Me (part 2)
"This isn't a fair battle," Kai said at once. "I thought you wanted to beat me at my best. You said so yourself that you wanted this to be a just battle."
Lei shrugged carelessly. "I don't remember saying that," he lied. "Frankly, I don't care who decides to indulge in our battle, that is, as long as I end up the victor."
"Bastard," Kai swore.
"I know I am," Lei said smugly. "But tell you what, how about I reveal a very important amount of information to you?"
"Go on," Kai told him, a bit enticed.
"Now," began the dark-haired vampire. "As you already know, we have a sniper watching us at this very moment. Within the next five minutes three arrows will be fired at you. The first two arrows will be warning shots, which will shoot across your vision. The last shot however will be fatal, for it will be poisoned and will be fired right through your chest. Ironically, your death will be slow and painful," Lei finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hold up!" the reporter said at once. The raven-haired vampire paused, and turned to stare. "Um...well I thought you said that legends like vampires being killed with garlic and objects through their chest were all lies."
"Well, the garlic part is true, but can't anything die if a sharp and deadly object is impaled into their chest?" the golden-eyed vampire questioned him calmly.
"Uh...very true," Christopher Matthews said at once, a tinge of pink forming across his cheeks. "My apologies. Please continue..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If what you're saying is true than why are you telling me this?" the crimson-eyed vampire asked his fledging, skeptically.
"I tell you this because I do not want your death to come to you as a surprise," the tawny-eyed vampire drawled. "Be prepared to die within five, sorry, four minutes." Just then an arrow flew by Kai's face, and hit a wall at the side of the room.
"Oh look!" Lei said beaming. "The first warning shot! How delightful! So tell me Kai, do you have any death wishes?"
Kai merely glowered, making sure to maintain his tough front. However, deep inside he was frightened. Lei's first prediction had come true. Surely the other two arrows were on their way? (What will happen if I die?) Kai wondered to himself. (What will become of Rei?)
"Don't worry Kai," Lei cooed teasingly. "I'll take good care of your precious Rei after you die. I'll be the maker he never had and he will be mine." Kai glared much harder at this. "Yep! ALL mine, to do what ever I please with," he said again, loving to watch Kai's anger pump him so full of life.
"I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!" Kai announced lunging toward Lei with his sword, just then another arrow whipped across his face. Kai paused in mid-step.
"Careful Kai, only two minutes left," Lei smiled. "It's so sad that it has to end this way. Don't you think so? I mean, we could've been something, you and I. But you just *had* to get together with Rei. Didn't you? Speaking of the little home-wrecker, from what I've heard, he begged you not to come to my theatre tonight. Never mind how I know this," he said answering Kai's question before he could even ask it. "Sad truth is that he was right. It turns out that this was all a setup. I invited you and Rei to my theatre tonight, for one reason only...to DIE!"
Kai was about to respond, when suddenly he felt a familiar sensation. It was the same feeling Kai had felt right before the other two arrows had shot past him, and for some reason he knew that the last and fatal arrow was near. Trusting a feeling deep within himself, Kai held out his uninjured hand, ready to grab what was coming. Sure enough the arrow came, heading straight towards his chest, and he caught it with ease. Lei was rendered speechless.
"DAMN!" cursed a voice from the door. Mariah's voice that is. "How could I miss?!" she wondered aloud, as she stepped into the room with a bow in hand and a pouch of full of arrows strapped to her back. Kai watched as she began to load up another metal arrow.
"You?!" he realized in anger.
A smug look crossed Mariah's pale face. "Hello Kai," she began. "...Well... this is certainly awkward. You weren't exactly supposed to catch that. It *should* have killed you! I guess I didn't launch it as quickly as I could've. If I had, it would've torn right through your hand and impaled you anyway."
"Oh," said Kai, smiling a bit. "You really think that launching it quicker would have made all the difference?"
"Of course," Mariah answered curtly, as she raised her bow and held a new arrow.
"So...you mean if you had slung it like this?" Kai asked innocently, and flung the arrow back at her with as much strength and speed as he could muster. Mariah lowered her bow and arrow seemingly paralyzed in utter shock.
"MARIAH! LOOKOUT!" Lei cried.
A scream tore through Mariah's throat as she prepared for the impact of the deadly arrow, which was heading toward her. That is... until Alan ran into the room. He dove in front of Mariah, ready to take it for her. The arrow ripped right through Alan's neck, the tip of it poking out from the back of his pale throat. Alan's green eyes widened as his body went rigid. He stood there for a good moment before his eyes glazed over, his head lolled backwards and he fell to the floor, moaning in pain.
"ALAN!" Mariah screamed diving to her knees. (A/N: What have I done? Poor Alan!)
Lei stared at Mariah who looked pathetic in his opinion, as she hovered over the dying vampire that was Alan. Lei soon turned away apparently disgusted. "The poison in that arrow kills its victim slowly," he said turning to Kai. "It first paralyzes them, then it painfully melts the organs of its victim into liquid. This process can take up to half an hour," he said shuddering slightly at the thought. "HALF AN HOUR OF PURE AGONY, KAI!" He screamed. "I hope you're happy. You're responsible for the death of an innocent bystander."
Kai glanced over at Mariah and Alan. "Alan knew the consequences of pulling such a stunt," Kai spoke up finally, his voice no higher than a whisper. "I had nothing against him, though," he said as remorse began to build up inside of him. "Alan was *never* who I intended to injure, you know that."
"Yes Kai," said Lei. "But you have killed him. Perhaps not yet, but there is no antidote for the poison in his body, therefore his death is assured... Mariah, get him out of here," Lei commanded when he saw yellowish liquid beginning to trickle out of Alan's ears, most likely a combination of the poison and his deteriorating organs. (A/N: gross I know!). "GO NOW!" he said when she didn't move right away.
"Be sure to behead Kai for what he's done to poor Alan!" Mariah demanded, genuinely angry.
He nodded. "Yes, now go." He watched as she took Alan's limp hand in her own, and teleported away. "...He was a loyal servant," said Lei. "He died gallantly, protecting my love. Now I *must* kill you."
"Then come and get me," Kai dared him, his voice dangerously low. Lei looked more furious than Kai had ever seen him before, and he charged toward Kai hell-bent on killing him. Lei's moves were quick and powerful as he swung his sword every which way. Kai was doing a decent job blocking Lei's assaults, but he couldn't keep it up. He was much too weak, and Lei managed to stab him in the stomach with one swift movement.
Lei smirked triumphantly as Kai doubled over, immediately grabbing the blade of Lei's sword, trying to stop him from driving it further into his stomach. Finally, Kai broke free somewhat and shoved Lei away from him, drawing out that dreaded sword as well. Lei stumbled backwards a few steps but quickly regained his balance. Kai clutched his stomach tightly with his uninjured hand, he felt like his insides were on fire. He was surprised that it wasn't bleeding much, but it hurt like hell and Kai was sure that serious damage had been done.
Lei came at him again ready to finish the job. The tawny-eyed vampire raised his sword high above his head in both hands, leaving his torso vulnerable to attack. It was then that Kai drew out his own sword and in a last-ditch effort, shoved it through the chest of Lei, then ripped it out.
Lei gasped loudly, and his face went ghostly white. He dropped his sword and lowered his arms, gasping for breath. Kai watched him as he fell to his knees with both hands clutching his chest where he had been stabbed, blood seeping between his fingers. Kai watched in horror as the crimson blood gushed out of Lei's wound faster and faster, drenching his black shirt and staining the carpet beneath him. Kai had never seen so much blood in his life, and he stood there both sickened and horrified.
"W-what h-have you done to m-me?" Lei demanded in a hoarse whisper. His voice no longer threatening, instead it was full of pain. He soon broke into fits of coughing, and was soon choking on his own blood.
Kai soon heard the sound of footsteps at the door. He turned. Max and Takao dashed into the room and ran to Kai.
"Are you going to be all right?" Takao asked him, noticing all the cuts that covered his body, the smaller ones were slowly healing over, but the larger ones remained.
"I'll be fine," Kai whispered, still clutching his stomach, and staring at Lei. Takao and Max quickly took notice of Lei's helpless state. They stood there watching him, seemingly shocked, each of them as speechless as the next.
"You-you actually did it!" Takao spoke finally.
"Yeah, I did," Kai said softly.
Moments later Mariah reentered the room. "What the hell!" she screamed. "I leave for five minutes and this happens?!" She ran to Lei who was sprawled out on his front, as he lay on the ground, too weak to even sit up. His eyes were closed and if his hitching breath could not be heard, one would have thought him to be dead. Mariah turned him over pulling Lei into her lap, his blood soaking her white nightgown. "Lei!" Mariah screamed. "Baby, speak to me," she pleaded, "are you all right?"
Lei opened his eyes slowly, and still managed to laugh, though it was hoarse. "Mariah, I've been stabbed. Of course I'm not all right. I'm dying," he informed his idiot of a girlfriend.
"No! You're not! Maybe if we get you to your coffin and..."
"It's too late," he told her. "Kai did it...he 'ended my reign of terror.' Just as he promised. But it's not truly over," he assured her. "Others will take my place and successfully demolish the human race along with the weaker vampires. Kai, you will soon realize that by killing me you have accomplished nothing! For there are others worse than me out there, just waiting for you to find them," he laughed throatily. "Evil is everywhere. It can't die. I will get my revenge! Take care of yourself Mariah," he said turning to her. "Goodbye," and with that said his eyes closed and his body went limp in Mariah's arms. Lei was dead.
Kai knew that he should have felt proud. He had finally defeated Lei. This was what he had wanted for so long. Wasn't it? Kai had stopped a sadistic killer from harming anyone ever again. Then why did he feel so horrible? He felt as though he was no better than Lei.
Kai lost his train of thought when Mariah began crying, quietly at first. However, it soon became hysterical sobs that racked her body. "He's dead! My love is dead! I'll get you for this Kai!" she kept saying between sobs. Takao, Max, Kai, watched her cry over her love's dead body. All of them not exactly sure about how they should be feeling.
Just then Rei ran to the door. "Who's crying?" he asked staring around. "What's going on? I got here as fast as I could because I thought..." he paused in mid-sentence. Takao, Max, and Kai all turned to him, as he stood in the doorway. His eyes traveled over to Mariah and the lifeless body she was weeping over. He paled considerably. "Lei!" was all he could manage.
"Rei," Kai spoke up, and began to walk over to him.
"You idiot!" Rei cried out, and bolted from the room. Kai froze in mid-step utterly bewildered.
Max walked over to Kai after a moment, "what was that about?"
"He never wanted Lei dead," was all Kai could say. His eyes still glued to the door. "I-I need to talk to him."
"We can come to if you'd like?" Takao offered eagerly, wanting to be anywhere but in that room where Mariah's sobs echoed loudly.
"No thanks," Kai said turning to him and smiling kindly. "You two should go home. You've both been a great help to me, but we've all had a long day. Besides, I need to do this alone."
"Gotcha," said Max, smiling up at Kai suddenly becoming extremely fond of him. "Come on Takao, let's go." He took Takao's hand in his own and the two made their way out.
Kai watched them leave, before looking back at Mariah as she continued to mourn Lei's death. When Kai could no longer stand the sound of her voice he left the room. Then exited the theatre altogether. By this time it was very late, the sky was a bluish-mauve color. It was raining, and bleak. Kai hugged himself tightly, trying to protect himself from the onslaught of cold air and rain that unmercifully stung at his open wounds.
Kai walked out into the parking lot, heading for his Porsche. When he got to it he briefly wondered where Rei was, and prayed that he was all right. Kai stood beside his car, thinking about all that had happened that night. He had so much to tell Rei, so much to explain. And he stood there for a good moment just musing, as the downpour soaked his clothes and hair. Suddenly Kai felt a hand on his shoulder and he spun fully around only to face large, and distressed golden eyes.
"Rei!" he cried hugging the shorter vampire tightly. Rei slowly raised his arms and hugged Kai, probably twice as hard. Kai winced slightly, his stomach was still badly injured, as was his arm, but he didn't care and refused to pull away from his koi's embrace.
Rei soon released him and sat down on the hood of Kai's black Porsche, looking up at him silently with sad eyes. Kai soon joined him there. "I'm sorry I ran from you," Rei told him at once. "I know that was rude of me...I know how much it must have hurt you. It's just that...you hurt me too...a lot."
"Rei that's what I don't get. Why didn't you want Lei dead?" Kai said after a moment. "He deserved to die... didn't he?"
"...I suppose," said Rei finally. "But you act as though killing Lei was the ultimate punishment for all that he has done."
"It was. Wasn't it?" said Kai. "What can possibly be worse than death?"
Rei stopped for a moment to consider the question. "Living with a guilty conscience," he answered finally. "Having your conscience slowly eat away at you more and more each day. Reminding you of your horrible past. Killing you softly. Slowly driving you mad. That's what's worse than death, and that's what he deserved," Rei explained quietly. His demeanor was deadly calm, and this alarmed Kai somewhat. Rei's words sounded so cruel and bitter, yet when he said all of this his face remained so innocent.
"By killing him you probably just set his soul free," Rei said after a moment of silence. "Lei 's lucky. He doesn't have to live with the pain and guilt of what he's done to people. He's probably laughing in hell right now, thanking you for ridding him of the guilt of his sins."
"I never thought of it that way before," Kai admitted. "I should've listened to you. He could have suffered much more, and ultimately got what he deserved. I'm sorry."
"What's done is done," Rei said. "Most people think that physical pain is worst possible pain one can endure. Yet they are all wrong. For in truth the worse pain there is would have to be emotional pains. Cuts deep within our very souls that cannot heal. Scarring us for life." Kai nodded in agreement, for the first time he realized where Rei was coming from. He only wished that he had understood sooner.
"Kai?" said Rei quietly; staring at him with those huge distressed eyes, that were partially covered by wet bangs.
"Yeah," Kai breathed, studying this angel before him.
"What will happen now?" Rei asked reaching up to Kai's face, tracing along a shallow wound on his cheek, and watching him, hiss and recoil.
"What do you mean?"
"Kevin and the others, surely they'll want revenge once they all find out of Lei's death?"
Kai nodded, "they will. Mariah said so herself."
"What will you do?" Rei asked him.
"I'll have to go into hiding until I regain my strength," Kai explained. "I'll see what happens from there."
"You are aware that you'll have to leave tonight, are you not? Mariah swore revenge on you. She and the others will most likely try to hunt you down in your weakest state. This one," Rei informed him.
Kai nodded knowingly. "I know," he said. "And, I do plan on leaving tonight. This way I can get a head start. It should take them a few days to figure out that I've skipped town, those few days will be vital to me. I'll use them to nurse myself back to health."
"Do you plan on having company? Mine perhaps?" Rei questioned him.
"No, I needn't nor do I want company when I decide to go into hiding," Kai rejected him. "I got myself into this mess, and it's up to me to get myself out. Besides, if I allowed you to come with me I'd be selfishly risking your well-being. If they ever found us, you know they wouldn't think twice about killing you. What's more you'd only slow me down anyway," he added.
"Where will you go?" Rei inquired, his voice breaking slightly.
"I have an idea of where I can stay for awhile. But I don't want to tell you because if they find out that you know where I am, they'll do anything to get that information from you. I don't want to see you get hurt again."
"I see. How long will you be gone?" Rei questioned him in that same nonchalant voice.
"As long as it takes me to heal completely, grow stronger, and come up with a plan to get them off my back," Kai told him. When Rei did nothing but look up at him expectantly, he added, "It'll probably be a few days, maybe weeks."
Rei's calm demeanor immediately became one of vexation. "Stop lying!" he yelled rising from where he sat on the car, and standing over Kai. "You and I both know it will take you much longer than a few days or weeks! You'll probably be gone for months! Even years, won't you Kai?" he demanded more than asked. Kai stared up at Rei, shaking his head, he never could hide anything from Rei.
Kai sighed running a hand through his now wet bluish-white hair. "You're right...as usual. It most likely will take me that long." Rei's anger suddenly subsided and his face was once again one of sorrow, as he hung his head.
Kai stood up, tilting Rei's head up so that their eyes met. "I will be gone for a while, Rei," he whispered softly to him, his hand still under his chin. Kai slowly inched closer, "but I promise I'll come back for you," he said, his lips like butterfly kisses gently brushing against up Rei's. Rei inched back a bit, but Kai moved closer. Rei pulled completely apart from Kai, seeing that Kai didn't seem to understand that he didn't want to kiss.
"I'm afraid I won't be here when you return," the golden-eyed vampire, whispered averting his gaze, too ashamed to face Kai's shocked face.
"What do you mean 'you're afraid you won't be here' when I get back?!" Kai asked incredulously. "Where the heck else would you be?"
"I-I don't know exactly," Rei admitted. "Just not here...there are too many memories in this town. And none of them are good. I want to begin my life all over again, somewhere else. Away from here. Away...from you." He said, his face now completely hidden by his dark, silk-like hair.
"You're leaving me?" Kai gasped, out of distress or anger Rei didn't know. "But why would you? Why would you just up and leave me like this? What would compel you to go? I don't understand, I thought...we had something..."
Immediately Rei glanced up at him. "Of course we have something. In case you haven't noticed I happen to love you more than anything in the world. It's just that...we can't be together, not now anyway. You hardly ever listen to me until it's too late. You have no respect for me because you treat me like I'm some kind of common idiot that you feel you have to make decisions for. And above all that, you killed Lei when you promised you wouldn't. You lied to me!"
"I did it to protect you Rei, he was going to kill you. Besides, I deeply regret it now. I wish we never came here tonight, like you said." Kai admitted, a tinge of pain evident in his voice.
"I want to trust you, really I do. But I'm scared I don't want to be hurt again. We went to Lei's theatre and all this time you were lying to me. How do you think I feel?" Rei asked him, his voice cracking. Kai knew what was coming next, as he saw Rei began to shake a bit. He soon heard his breath hitching and was aware that Rei was crying silently.
"I know it hurts, and I really AM sorry. I won't hurt you again, I've told you that," Kai said sincerely.
Rei just stood there, silently crying to himself with his face in his hands, the rain mingling with his tears. "I want to trust you again." He muttered. "I love you."
Kai soon walked up to him, pulling him into a strong embrace. "If you love me so much...then why leave me? Please stay until I come back," he mumbled in Rei's ear. "I want you, I need you. I'll always need you. You can't leave me, you can't go."
Rei soon pulled away, his eyes bloodshot from crying. "You don't understand," he whispered. "You *still* don't understand. I have to leave. You can't possibly expect me to stay here for years awaiting your return. Besides, I still have many unanswered questions about our kind. Remember? I'd like to travel and learn, but I can't do that here."
"Understood," Kai said sighing, he knew there was no changing his stubborn koi's mind. "I'm sure we'll meet again," he said positively.
Rei nodded in agreement, though he knew the odds of them meeting up again years from now were very slim.
The golden-eyed vampire looked disappointed until Kai unexpectedly pulled him into a kiss. One that bared all his emotion. Everything that he felt at that moment was poured into that kiss. Rei kissed him back just as tenderly. But soon Kai broke the kiss only to wish Rei luck on his journey, and bid him goodbye. The raven-haired vampire watched helplessly as Kai walked off into the night. The rain seemed to pound harder when he walked away...as though the sky was crying for this couple's end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He literally walked out of my life, and I out of his," Rei whispered quietly, tears running down his face.
"So vampires do cry," the reporter pondered aloud.
Rei just shook his head at the reporter's naive comment. "I heard months later that Mariah had in fact had died," the raven-haired vampire told the reporter after a minute. "Apparently, she had committed suicide. She was never really the same after Lei died. She gradually stopped appearing in the plays, then stopped feeding, and even refused to talk to anyone anymore. Mariah couldn't imagine a life without Lei because she was always so dependant on him. So one sunny afternoon, she took her own life. Ran out into the light of day and burnt to death."
"I see," the reporter said slowly. "So tell me, what ever happened to Takao and Max?"
"I don't know." Rei admitted. "They were like angels, in a sense that they came into my life when I needed them the most, and then disappeared as mysteriously as they had come. All I know for sure is that wherever they are, they're happy," Rei said smiling a bit.
"And as for Kai?" asked the reporter. "What became of him? You never said."
"What ever happened to Kai I'll never know. I left town the same night he did so I wouldn't know if he ever tried to come back for me." the raven- haired vampire told him. "It's been twelve years since the night I last saw him...I've heard rumors of him being dead. I suppose he is. That would make sense as he *was* very weak the night he left me. Either that or he's begun a new life somewhere else."
"I'm so sorry. I thought for sure he'd return to you. I was certain he loved you enough to do that. Your relationship seemed so promising," said the reporter.
The vampire nodded slowly, but said nothing.
"Well, what is your life like nowadays?" The reporter asked breaking the silence.
"I go on, night after night," the vampire told him. "I feed on those who cross my path. But all my passion went away with those dark crimson eyes, and all the strength of preternatural flesh detached, unchangeable, empty."
"Empty? That's it?! No it can't end like that!" the reporter protested refusing to believe that the story was over.
"Ah, but it can," the raven-haired vampire sighed, looking at him wistfully. "There is nothing more to tell."
"There has to be more to tell," Christopher Matthews insisted. "You-you don't understand yourself, you're not empty. W-what people wouldn't give to be...Hell! What I wouldn't give to be like you. To have your power, to be able to have seen the things you have seen in your life time."
Rei shook his head slowly. "You haven't been listening."
"Yes, I have been listening," the reporter told him. "The story you've told me is... is incredible, utterly amazing!"
The vampire looked at the cassettes on the table. "Do what you want with it. Give my story to others. Learn what you can from it. Even throw it away if you please, there is no more."
Christopher Matthews continued to stare incredulously at the young vampire for a moment. "I get it," he said slowly after a long silence. "I know why you've told me your life story. You could have told any reporter, but you chose me. There must have been a reason, am I right?" he asked.
"And what reason would that be?"
"You've told me your life story because you think I may be able to help you. T-to heal your pain. I think you w-want me to be your new companion, I mean, take me. That's what I want, to be like you. I know I will never be able to fulfill you the way Kai once did, and complete the void deep within you," he continued. "But I know I can help you *if* you allow me to experience what you've become."
Rei was slowly horrified, then outraged and angry. He turned away from him. "Dear God I've failed again, haven't I?" Rei sighed sadly to himself.
The reporter looked disappointed, but refused to give up so easily. "You haven't failed, God has nothing to do with this. And besides, you and I both know that the only way I'll ever be able to experience what you've been through, would be to step inside your world. Please," he beseeched. "I...I want to be a vampire."
The raven-haired vampire looked at the reporter. Then suddenly grabbed his collar, lifting him off the floor effortlessly, baring his petrifying fangs and bringing them down to his throat. Christopher was in sheer terror. "Do you like this? Are you enjoying it?" the vampire sneered.
The reporter shook his head frantically, too afraid to speak.
"But I thought this was what you wanted," the vampire said teasingly. "Do you really want to be like me now? Do you like being food for the immortals? Do you like dying?" he asked in a very uncharacteristic, and dangerous voice as he pulled the reporter face closer to his own.
"P-please," the reporter gasped breathlessly. "S-STOP!" Rei dropped him. Christopher fell to the floor, terrified and choking. When he finally looked up, Rei had vanished, and he alone stood in his living room. He looked up at the tape recorder, which was still turning. He grabbed the recorder opened it and shoved the tape into his pocket, hands shaking like mad. Christopher ran a hand through his now sweaty hair, and shook his head as an attempt to clear it. "Did that REALLY just happen?!" he asked himself breathlessly...
"HEY!" said a voice suddenly. "HEY! Excuse me? Wake up!"
"Huh?" a tired reporter grumbled as he awoke. He was startled to find a rather hefty man's face staring intently into his own. Christopher Matthews almost immediately snapped out of his sleepiness, peering around himself, only to discover that he was still on the city bus. And happened to be the only one there besides this man. "W-what am I still doing here?" he asked himself aloud.
"That's what I'd like to know," said the hefty man who appeared to be the bus driver. "This is the end of the line. This bus has been around the city five times tonight, and now its time to put it away for the night."
Christopher Matthews turned around on his seat to stare out the window of the bus. To his astonishment, the bus driver was right. This was the City Bus Garage, about ten other buses were parked and the bus drivers were locking them for the night. "I don't understand," the reporter said at once. "I can't believe I'm still here. I thought I went home, I could have sworn I went home, and interviewed a...a..." he stopped himself. "What day is it?" he asked the bus driver suddenly.
He stared at Christopher a moment, as though he was an idiot. "It's Wednesday," he answered slowly.
"But it's supposed to be Friday. You mean, it was just a dream? Everything that...that happened...didn't?"
"I guess not," the large man shrugged. "Look can you please get off my bus?"
"Wait! Was a young man on this bus earlier tonight?" the reporter asked the bus driver.
"We get a lot of young men and women on this bus everyday, a little description wouldn't hurt."
"He was really pale, and he had amazing golden, cat-like eyes that seem to look into your very soul. And he had long raven hair too," the reporter told him. "Have you seen anyone like that today?"
"Nope don't think so, sorry. Hey! Aren't you world famous reporter Christopher Matthews?" asked the bus driver, finally recognizing who the man before him was.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Wow! It's a pleasure to meet you! Really, I've never met a celebrity before," the driver continued. "We'll anyway, I'm going to have to ask you to step off the bus. The garage is going to be closing in six minutes and I really have to park this thing."
Christopher Matthews nodded and walked off the bus. He left the City Bus Garage and walked outside only to find himself at the end of town. He checked his watched which currently read 11:45 pm. (Damn) he scoffed. (I'm in for a long walk...unless...) he paused. " I guess I have no choice but to call...Jamie," he sighed, literally cringing at the thought of having to ask his obnoxious cousin for a ride.
The reporter soon spotted a phone booth, ran inside and dialed his younger cousin's cell phone number. It rang, and rang, and rang but still no answer. Growing tired of listening to the incessant ringing, Christopher began to gaze out the window of the phone booth as he listened to it ring. Finally, his cousin picked up. "Jam," he called him by his nickname, the one he used whenever he wanted to butter him up. "Listen, I'm at the end of town (long story I'll explain later) anyway do you think you could..." he paused as he saw someone pass by the booth. He didn't get the chance to see their face for it looked like nothing but shadow in the dark. However, they were clad in a long leather jacket, strangely familiar, and seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
Christopher stood flabbergasted. Who was that? And why did he feel that he knew that person, even though he could not see their face? Maybe his interview hadn't been a dream after all. Maybe it was real. The reporter quickly finished up with his cousin on the phone, who had after much deliberation agreed to pick him up. He then hung up the phone and dashed out of the booth to find the person who had just walked by. However, when he looked around he saw no one. That strange person had disappeared without a trace. All that stood before Mr. Matthews was a eerie quiet one-way street, and the small road that lead into town.
Christopher Matthews felt compelled to find out who that person was that had walked by the phone booth, unfortunately the person was now gone, perhaps they had walked into one of the houses. He didn't know. About ten minutes later a red Cadillac Escalade pulled up to the side of the small road. Hip-hop music blaring from the stereo, it was loud enough to make your ears bleed. "That's my ride," the reporter groaned, and he climbed into the passenger's side. As he sat down, something in his pants poked him. He reached into his back pocket only to find a tape, he had remembered shoving his tape into his pocket after the interview, if he had even had one tonight. He smiled slightly to himself, shutting the car door.
Jamie leaned over in his seat, his attractive young face currently screwed up in a look of curiosity. "Whatcha got there, Chris?" his blond cousin asked him haughtily. "Another piece of junk from your job or something?" he guessed smirking. The reporter willed himself not to punch his annoying cousin out, as he *was* giving him a ride. He ignored Jamie's question and immediately shoved the tape into Jamie's stereo. His cousin gasped in protest when his music was cut off, but the reporter told him shush, as pressed the play.
(If I really did have that interview, then this will prove it.) Miraculously, the tape began rolling, at first there was nothing but silence and Christopher began to fear that nothing was on the tape. Suddenly there was a voice, a calm yet firm voice, one in which seemed to be in dire need to spill their heart to somebody, anyone who was willing to listen, because it was killing them to keep it all inside. Rei's voice.
"It all started back when I was sixteen. I was always going to parties with my buds Richard and Kyle...
"Whose voice is that?" Jamie asked a bit excitedly. "They sound hot!"
"Will you shush!" Christopher yelled.
They listened to a bit more before Jamie pressed stop. "Who was that? Come on tell me!"
The reporter sighed but finally agreed to tell his cousin about his strange day. Once he was finished, Jamie just stared at him for a moment.
"That must have been some day," he smiled kindly, which was not like him at all. "I doubt this guy was a *real* vampire, but his little story definitely could make for an awesome fiction novel. However, if you really believe that what happened today was real, I suppose you could still write this Rye dude's bio."
He turned to Jamie, glaring a bit at the fact that his was in denial of Rei's story being true. "Actually his name is Rei, b-but you're right! That's what I'll do. I'll write a book about this vampire's life, and my closest experience to nearly becoming one!"
"Sure, okay," said his cousin. "But one more thing, when you get rich and famous for this story (because I know you will) don't forget to tell the media that turning his story into a book was purely MY idea."
Christopher snorted loudly, "all right, sure," he laughed, knowing he'd *never* go through with Jamie's wish.
"Come on, Chris," his cousin whined pathetically, as his fits of laughter continued. "CHRISTOPHER!" he screamed over his laughter. "You'd better! You little runt! If you don't, I'll stop this car and you can get out and walk home!" But Christopher just continued to laugh at his cousin's ridiculous demands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A raven-haired vampire watched as the red Escalade rode off into the night. They continued to watch it until it was completely out of sight. When it was gone the vampire sighed loudly. He was beginning to regret bring the reporter into the near future to have their interview, and then returning him to the present. "Should I have really given that common mortal my life story? Have I made some kind of terrible mistake?" he wondered aloud.
He was suddenly overcome with the feeling that he was not alone. It was as though someone was watching him. He had actually been having this feeling a lot lately, and it frightened him not knowing who or what it was after him, and what they wanted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From somewhere deep in the shadows, dark eyes watched Rei silently. They had been searching for Rei for quite sometime now, and had finally found him. It had been so long since their last encounter, but tonight Kai would change that.
~OWARI~
Hope ya'll liked the ending. ^_^
OMG! The very first 'Interview With A Vampire' fic is actually finished! Yeah! All right! Who hoo! *throws confetti*
Kai: congrats!
Silverstorms: Thanx! *huggles Kai* Now that I think about it...I sort of feel bad. I hate to put a good fic to rest. ~_~
Kai: You've only made three fics by far. And this was actually the ONLY one you've ever got around to finishing! Not including that one shot fic!
Silverstorms: Ahem...Moving on...
Kai: Hey! I'm still talking!
Silevrstorms: Hehe, anyways. Tell me whatcha thought of my first completed fic! E-mail, review, etc. Questions, comments, advice are all welcomed! P.S. One more chapter dedicated to thanking my reviewers will be posted soon, keep a lookout for it!
Also be sure to check out my new fics coming soon
Till then
CIAO! (Remember to write me Anna! And if you DARE forget...*shakes fist again*)
~*~Silverstorms~*~
Anywho, it's been sooooo long since my last update! Gomen! But at least I'm here now right?
Kai: Yeah sure, wtf
Silverstorms: This is the LAST chapter of this ENTIRE fic! Who's happy?
Readers: We are!
Silverstorms: I said who's happy?
Readers: We are!
Silverstorms: I said who's ha...
Kai: Dammit Silverstorms! They said they were!
Silverstorms: Hehe! Just checkin' because here it is! Chapter 20 (part2)
THANK YOU to all those who reviewed!!! Much appreciated!!! Now unto da fic!
Disclaimer: It was in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, I'm not sure about 5, but I think it's in 6, 7, 8...was it in nine? Mah! I kno it was in 10, I'm kinda certain it was in 11, not so sure about 12...you get the picture. (And if not...check back in other chappies, RETARD! Ahem, scratch that last part. Heh...)
Warnings: course language, yaoi, violence, minor gruesome details...there might be a few more but who really has the time to sit down and check? *silence* I thought so.
Thinking: ( )
Speaking: " "
Me: (SS:)/(A.N:)
Flashback: ~~~~~
Change Scene: ~*~
Chapter 20: Rain On Me (part 2)
"This isn't a fair battle," Kai said at once. "I thought you wanted to beat me at my best. You said so yourself that you wanted this to be a just battle."
Lei shrugged carelessly. "I don't remember saying that," he lied. "Frankly, I don't care who decides to indulge in our battle, that is, as long as I end up the victor."
"Bastard," Kai swore.
"I know I am," Lei said smugly. "But tell you what, how about I reveal a very important amount of information to you?"
"Go on," Kai told him, a bit enticed.
"Now," began the dark-haired vampire. "As you already know, we have a sniper watching us at this very moment. Within the next five minutes three arrows will be fired at you. The first two arrows will be warning shots, which will shoot across your vision. The last shot however will be fatal, for it will be poisoned and will be fired right through your chest. Ironically, your death will be slow and painful," Lei finished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hold up!" the reporter said at once. The raven-haired vampire paused, and turned to stare. "Um...well I thought you said that legends like vampires being killed with garlic and objects through their chest were all lies."
"Well, the garlic part is true, but can't anything die if a sharp and deadly object is impaled into their chest?" the golden-eyed vampire questioned him calmly.
"Uh...very true," Christopher Matthews said at once, a tinge of pink forming across his cheeks. "My apologies. Please continue..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If what you're saying is true than why are you telling me this?" the crimson-eyed vampire asked his fledging, skeptically.
"I tell you this because I do not want your death to come to you as a surprise," the tawny-eyed vampire drawled. "Be prepared to die within five, sorry, four minutes." Just then an arrow flew by Kai's face, and hit a wall at the side of the room.
"Oh look!" Lei said beaming. "The first warning shot! How delightful! So tell me Kai, do you have any death wishes?"
Kai merely glowered, making sure to maintain his tough front. However, deep inside he was frightened. Lei's first prediction had come true. Surely the other two arrows were on their way? (What will happen if I die?) Kai wondered to himself. (What will become of Rei?)
"Don't worry Kai," Lei cooed teasingly. "I'll take good care of your precious Rei after you die. I'll be the maker he never had and he will be mine." Kai glared much harder at this. "Yep! ALL mine, to do what ever I please with," he said again, loving to watch Kai's anger pump him so full of life.
"I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!" Kai announced lunging toward Lei with his sword, just then another arrow whipped across his face. Kai paused in mid-step.
"Careful Kai, only two minutes left," Lei smiled. "It's so sad that it has to end this way. Don't you think so? I mean, we could've been something, you and I. But you just *had* to get together with Rei. Didn't you? Speaking of the little home-wrecker, from what I've heard, he begged you not to come to my theatre tonight. Never mind how I know this," he said answering Kai's question before he could even ask it. "Sad truth is that he was right. It turns out that this was all a setup. I invited you and Rei to my theatre tonight, for one reason only...to DIE!"
Kai was about to respond, when suddenly he felt a familiar sensation. It was the same feeling Kai had felt right before the other two arrows had shot past him, and for some reason he knew that the last and fatal arrow was near. Trusting a feeling deep within himself, Kai held out his uninjured hand, ready to grab what was coming. Sure enough the arrow came, heading straight towards his chest, and he caught it with ease. Lei was rendered speechless.
"DAMN!" cursed a voice from the door. Mariah's voice that is. "How could I miss?!" she wondered aloud, as she stepped into the room with a bow in hand and a pouch of full of arrows strapped to her back. Kai watched as she began to load up another metal arrow.
"You?!" he realized in anger.
A smug look crossed Mariah's pale face. "Hello Kai," she began. "...Well... this is certainly awkward. You weren't exactly supposed to catch that. It *should* have killed you! I guess I didn't launch it as quickly as I could've. If I had, it would've torn right through your hand and impaled you anyway."
"Oh," said Kai, smiling a bit. "You really think that launching it quicker would have made all the difference?"
"Of course," Mariah answered curtly, as she raised her bow and held a new arrow.
"So...you mean if you had slung it like this?" Kai asked innocently, and flung the arrow back at her with as much strength and speed as he could muster. Mariah lowered her bow and arrow seemingly paralyzed in utter shock.
"MARIAH! LOOKOUT!" Lei cried.
A scream tore through Mariah's throat as she prepared for the impact of the deadly arrow, which was heading toward her. That is... until Alan ran into the room. He dove in front of Mariah, ready to take it for her. The arrow ripped right through Alan's neck, the tip of it poking out from the back of his pale throat. Alan's green eyes widened as his body went rigid. He stood there for a good moment before his eyes glazed over, his head lolled backwards and he fell to the floor, moaning in pain.
"ALAN!" Mariah screamed diving to her knees. (A/N: What have I done? Poor Alan!)
Lei stared at Mariah who looked pathetic in his opinion, as she hovered over the dying vampire that was Alan. Lei soon turned away apparently disgusted. "The poison in that arrow kills its victim slowly," he said turning to Kai. "It first paralyzes them, then it painfully melts the organs of its victim into liquid. This process can take up to half an hour," he said shuddering slightly at the thought. "HALF AN HOUR OF PURE AGONY, KAI!" He screamed. "I hope you're happy. You're responsible for the death of an innocent bystander."
Kai glanced over at Mariah and Alan. "Alan knew the consequences of pulling such a stunt," Kai spoke up finally, his voice no higher than a whisper. "I had nothing against him, though," he said as remorse began to build up inside of him. "Alan was *never* who I intended to injure, you know that."
"Yes Kai," said Lei. "But you have killed him. Perhaps not yet, but there is no antidote for the poison in his body, therefore his death is assured... Mariah, get him out of here," Lei commanded when he saw yellowish liquid beginning to trickle out of Alan's ears, most likely a combination of the poison and his deteriorating organs. (A/N: gross I know!). "GO NOW!" he said when she didn't move right away.
"Be sure to behead Kai for what he's done to poor Alan!" Mariah demanded, genuinely angry.
He nodded. "Yes, now go." He watched as she took Alan's limp hand in her own, and teleported away. "...He was a loyal servant," said Lei. "He died gallantly, protecting my love. Now I *must* kill you."
"Then come and get me," Kai dared him, his voice dangerously low. Lei looked more furious than Kai had ever seen him before, and he charged toward Kai hell-bent on killing him. Lei's moves were quick and powerful as he swung his sword every which way. Kai was doing a decent job blocking Lei's assaults, but he couldn't keep it up. He was much too weak, and Lei managed to stab him in the stomach with one swift movement.
Lei smirked triumphantly as Kai doubled over, immediately grabbing the blade of Lei's sword, trying to stop him from driving it further into his stomach. Finally, Kai broke free somewhat and shoved Lei away from him, drawing out that dreaded sword as well. Lei stumbled backwards a few steps but quickly regained his balance. Kai clutched his stomach tightly with his uninjured hand, he felt like his insides were on fire. He was surprised that it wasn't bleeding much, but it hurt like hell and Kai was sure that serious damage had been done.
Lei came at him again ready to finish the job. The tawny-eyed vampire raised his sword high above his head in both hands, leaving his torso vulnerable to attack. It was then that Kai drew out his own sword and in a last-ditch effort, shoved it through the chest of Lei, then ripped it out.
Lei gasped loudly, and his face went ghostly white. He dropped his sword and lowered his arms, gasping for breath. Kai watched him as he fell to his knees with both hands clutching his chest where he had been stabbed, blood seeping between his fingers. Kai watched in horror as the crimson blood gushed out of Lei's wound faster and faster, drenching his black shirt and staining the carpet beneath him. Kai had never seen so much blood in his life, and he stood there both sickened and horrified.
"W-what h-have you done to m-me?" Lei demanded in a hoarse whisper. His voice no longer threatening, instead it was full of pain. He soon broke into fits of coughing, and was soon choking on his own blood.
Kai soon heard the sound of footsteps at the door. He turned. Max and Takao dashed into the room and ran to Kai.
"Are you going to be all right?" Takao asked him, noticing all the cuts that covered his body, the smaller ones were slowly healing over, but the larger ones remained.
"I'll be fine," Kai whispered, still clutching his stomach, and staring at Lei. Takao and Max quickly took notice of Lei's helpless state. They stood there watching him, seemingly shocked, each of them as speechless as the next.
"You-you actually did it!" Takao spoke finally.
"Yeah, I did," Kai said softly.
Moments later Mariah reentered the room. "What the hell!" she screamed. "I leave for five minutes and this happens?!" She ran to Lei who was sprawled out on his front, as he lay on the ground, too weak to even sit up. His eyes were closed and if his hitching breath could not be heard, one would have thought him to be dead. Mariah turned him over pulling Lei into her lap, his blood soaking her white nightgown. "Lei!" Mariah screamed. "Baby, speak to me," she pleaded, "are you all right?"
Lei opened his eyes slowly, and still managed to laugh, though it was hoarse. "Mariah, I've been stabbed. Of course I'm not all right. I'm dying," he informed his idiot of a girlfriend.
"No! You're not! Maybe if we get you to your coffin and..."
"It's too late," he told her. "Kai did it...he 'ended my reign of terror.' Just as he promised. But it's not truly over," he assured her. "Others will take my place and successfully demolish the human race along with the weaker vampires. Kai, you will soon realize that by killing me you have accomplished nothing! For there are others worse than me out there, just waiting for you to find them," he laughed throatily. "Evil is everywhere. It can't die. I will get my revenge! Take care of yourself Mariah," he said turning to her. "Goodbye," and with that said his eyes closed and his body went limp in Mariah's arms. Lei was dead.
Kai knew that he should have felt proud. He had finally defeated Lei. This was what he had wanted for so long. Wasn't it? Kai had stopped a sadistic killer from harming anyone ever again. Then why did he feel so horrible? He felt as though he was no better than Lei.
Kai lost his train of thought when Mariah began crying, quietly at first. However, it soon became hysterical sobs that racked her body. "He's dead! My love is dead! I'll get you for this Kai!" she kept saying between sobs. Takao, Max, Kai, watched her cry over her love's dead body. All of them not exactly sure about how they should be feeling.
Just then Rei ran to the door. "Who's crying?" he asked staring around. "What's going on? I got here as fast as I could because I thought..." he paused in mid-sentence. Takao, Max, and Kai all turned to him, as he stood in the doorway. His eyes traveled over to Mariah and the lifeless body she was weeping over. He paled considerably. "Lei!" was all he could manage.
"Rei," Kai spoke up, and began to walk over to him.
"You idiot!" Rei cried out, and bolted from the room. Kai froze in mid-step utterly bewildered.
Max walked over to Kai after a moment, "what was that about?"
"He never wanted Lei dead," was all Kai could say. His eyes still glued to the door. "I-I need to talk to him."
"We can come to if you'd like?" Takao offered eagerly, wanting to be anywhere but in that room where Mariah's sobs echoed loudly.
"No thanks," Kai said turning to him and smiling kindly. "You two should go home. You've both been a great help to me, but we've all had a long day. Besides, I need to do this alone."
"Gotcha," said Max, smiling up at Kai suddenly becoming extremely fond of him. "Come on Takao, let's go." He took Takao's hand in his own and the two made their way out.
Kai watched them leave, before looking back at Mariah as she continued to mourn Lei's death. When Kai could no longer stand the sound of her voice he left the room. Then exited the theatre altogether. By this time it was very late, the sky was a bluish-mauve color. It was raining, and bleak. Kai hugged himself tightly, trying to protect himself from the onslaught of cold air and rain that unmercifully stung at his open wounds.
Kai walked out into the parking lot, heading for his Porsche. When he got to it he briefly wondered where Rei was, and prayed that he was all right. Kai stood beside his car, thinking about all that had happened that night. He had so much to tell Rei, so much to explain. And he stood there for a good moment just musing, as the downpour soaked his clothes and hair. Suddenly Kai felt a hand on his shoulder and he spun fully around only to face large, and distressed golden eyes.
"Rei!" he cried hugging the shorter vampire tightly. Rei slowly raised his arms and hugged Kai, probably twice as hard. Kai winced slightly, his stomach was still badly injured, as was his arm, but he didn't care and refused to pull away from his koi's embrace.
Rei soon released him and sat down on the hood of Kai's black Porsche, looking up at him silently with sad eyes. Kai soon joined him there. "I'm sorry I ran from you," Rei told him at once. "I know that was rude of me...I know how much it must have hurt you. It's just that...you hurt me too...a lot."
"Rei that's what I don't get. Why didn't you want Lei dead?" Kai said after a moment. "He deserved to die... didn't he?"
"...I suppose," said Rei finally. "But you act as though killing Lei was the ultimate punishment for all that he has done."
"It was. Wasn't it?" said Kai. "What can possibly be worse than death?"
Rei stopped for a moment to consider the question. "Living with a guilty conscience," he answered finally. "Having your conscience slowly eat away at you more and more each day. Reminding you of your horrible past. Killing you softly. Slowly driving you mad. That's what's worse than death, and that's what he deserved," Rei explained quietly. His demeanor was deadly calm, and this alarmed Kai somewhat. Rei's words sounded so cruel and bitter, yet when he said all of this his face remained so innocent.
"By killing him you probably just set his soul free," Rei said after a moment of silence. "Lei 's lucky. He doesn't have to live with the pain and guilt of what he's done to people. He's probably laughing in hell right now, thanking you for ridding him of the guilt of his sins."
"I never thought of it that way before," Kai admitted. "I should've listened to you. He could have suffered much more, and ultimately got what he deserved. I'm sorry."
"What's done is done," Rei said. "Most people think that physical pain is worst possible pain one can endure. Yet they are all wrong. For in truth the worse pain there is would have to be emotional pains. Cuts deep within our very souls that cannot heal. Scarring us for life." Kai nodded in agreement, for the first time he realized where Rei was coming from. He only wished that he had understood sooner.
"Kai?" said Rei quietly; staring at him with those huge distressed eyes, that were partially covered by wet bangs.
"Yeah," Kai breathed, studying this angel before him.
"What will happen now?" Rei asked reaching up to Kai's face, tracing along a shallow wound on his cheek, and watching him, hiss and recoil.
"What do you mean?"
"Kevin and the others, surely they'll want revenge once they all find out of Lei's death?"
Kai nodded, "they will. Mariah said so herself."
"What will you do?" Rei asked him.
"I'll have to go into hiding until I regain my strength," Kai explained. "I'll see what happens from there."
"You are aware that you'll have to leave tonight, are you not? Mariah swore revenge on you. She and the others will most likely try to hunt you down in your weakest state. This one," Rei informed him.
Kai nodded knowingly. "I know," he said. "And, I do plan on leaving tonight. This way I can get a head start. It should take them a few days to figure out that I've skipped town, those few days will be vital to me. I'll use them to nurse myself back to health."
"Do you plan on having company? Mine perhaps?" Rei questioned him.
"No, I needn't nor do I want company when I decide to go into hiding," Kai rejected him. "I got myself into this mess, and it's up to me to get myself out. Besides, if I allowed you to come with me I'd be selfishly risking your well-being. If they ever found us, you know they wouldn't think twice about killing you. What's more you'd only slow me down anyway," he added.
"Where will you go?" Rei inquired, his voice breaking slightly.
"I have an idea of where I can stay for awhile. But I don't want to tell you because if they find out that you know where I am, they'll do anything to get that information from you. I don't want to see you get hurt again."
"I see. How long will you be gone?" Rei questioned him in that same nonchalant voice.
"As long as it takes me to heal completely, grow stronger, and come up with a plan to get them off my back," Kai told him. When Rei did nothing but look up at him expectantly, he added, "It'll probably be a few days, maybe weeks."
Rei's calm demeanor immediately became one of vexation. "Stop lying!" he yelled rising from where he sat on the car, and standing over Kai. "You and I both know it will take you much longer than a few days or weeks! You'll probably be gone for months! Even years, won't you Kai?" he demanded more than asked. Kai stared up at Rei, shaking his head, he never could hide anything from Rei.
Kai sighed running a hand through his now wet bluish-white hair. "You're right...as usual. It most likely will take me that long." Rei's anger suddenly subsided and his face was once again one of sorrow, as he hung his head.
Kai stood up, tilting Rei's head up so that their eyes met. "I will be gone for a while, Rei," he whispered softly to him, his hand still under his chin. Kai slowly inched closer, "but I promise I'll come back for you," he said, his lips like butterfly kisses gently brushing against up Rei's. Rei inched back a bit, but Kai moved closer. Rei pulled completely apart from Kai, seeing that Kai didn't seem to understand that he didn't want to kiss.
"I'm afraid I won't be here when you return," the golden-eyed vampire, whispered averting his gaze, too ashamed to face Kai's shocked face.
"What do you mean 'you're afraid you won't be here' when I get back?!" Kai asked incredulously. "Where the heck else would you be?"
"I-I don't know exactly," Rei admitted. "Just not here...there are too many memories in this town. And none of them are good. I want to begin my life all over again, somewhere else. Away from here. Away...from you." He said, his face now completely hidden by his dark, silk-like hair.
"You're leaving me?" Kai gasped, out of distress or anger Rei didn't know. "But why would you? Why would you just up and leave me like this? What would compel you to go? I don't understand, I thought...we had something..."
Immediately Rei glanced up at him. "Of course we have something. In case you haven't noticed I happen to love you more than anything in the world. It's just that...we can't be together, not now anyway. You hardly ever listen to me until it's too late. You have no respect for me because you treat me like I'm some kind of common idiot that you feel you have to make decisions for. And above all that, you killed Lei when you promised you wouldn't. You lied to me!"
"I did it to protect you Rei, he was going to kill you. Besides, I deeply regret it now. I wish we never came here tonight, like you said." Kai admitted, a tinge of pain evident in his voice.
"I want to trust you, really I do. But I'm scared I don't want to be hurt again. We went to Lei's theatre and all this time you were lying to me. How do you think I feel?" Rei asked him, his voice cracking. Kai knew what was coming next, as he saw Rei began to shake a bit. He soon heard his breath hitching and was aware that Rei was crying silently.
"I know it hurts, and I really AM sorry. I won't hurt you again, I've told you that," Kai said sincerely.
Rei just stood there, silently crying to himself with his face in his hands, the rain mingling with his tears. "I want to trust you again." He muttered. "I love you."
Kai soon walked up to him, pulling him into a strong embrace. "If you love me so much...then why leave me? Please stay until I come back," he mumbled in Rei's ear. "I want you, I need you. I'll always need you. You can't leave me, you can't go."
Rei soon pulled away, his eyes bloodshot from crying. "You don't understand," he whispered. "You *still* don't understand. I have to leave. You can't possibly expect me to stay here for years awaiting your return. Besides, I still have many unanswered questions about our kind. Remember? I'd like to travel and learn, but I can't do that here."
"Understood," Kai said sighing, he knew there was no changing his stubborn koi's mind. "I'm sure we'll meet again," he said positively.
Rei nodded in agreement, though he knew the odds of them meeting up again years from now were very slim.
The golden-eyed vampire looked disappointed until Kai unexpectedly pulled him into a kiss. One that bared all his emotion. Everything that he felt at that moment was poured into that kiss. Rei kissed him back just as tenderly. But soon Kai broke the kiss only to wish Rei luck on his journey, and bid him goodbye. The raven-haired vampire watched helplessly as Kai walked off into the night. The rain seemed to pound harder when he walked away...as though the sky was crying for this couple's end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Of Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He literally walked out of my life, and I out of his," Rei whispered quietly, tears running down his face.
"So vampires do cry," the reporter pondered aloud.
Rei just shook his head at the reporter's naive comment. "I heard months later that Mariah had in fact had died," the raven-haired vampire told the reporter after a minute. "Apparently, she had committed suicide. She was never really the same after Lei died. She gradually stopped appearing in the plays, then stopped feeding, and even refused to talk to anyone anymore. Mariah couldn't imagine a life without Lei because she was always so dependant on him. So one sunny afternoon, she took her own life. Ran out into the light of day and burnt to death."
"I see," the reporter said slowly. "So tell me, what ever happened to Takao and Max?"
"I don't know." Rei admitted. "They were like angels, in a sense that they came into my life when I needed them the most, and then disappeared as mysteriously as they had come. All I know for sure is that wherever they are, they're happy," Rei said smiling a bit.
"And as for Kai?" asked the reporter. "What became of him? You never said."
"What ever happened to Kai I'll never know. I left town the same night he did so I wouldn't know if he ever tried to come back for me." the raven- haired vampire told him. "It's been twelve years since the night I last saw him...I've heard rumors of him being dead. I suppose he is. That would make sense as he *was* very weak the night he left me. Either that or he's begun a new life somewhere else."
"I'm so sorry. I thought for sure he'd return to you. I was certain he loved you enough to do that. Your relationship seemed so promising," said the reporter.
The vampire nodded slowly, but said nothing.
"Well, what is your life like nowadays?" The reporter asked breaking the silence.
"I go on, night after night," the vampire told him. "I feed on those who cross my path. But all my passion went away with those dark crimson eyes, and all the strength of preternatural flesh detached, unchangeable, empty."
"Empty? That's it?! No it can't end like that!" the reporter protested refusing to believe that the story was over.
"Ah, but it can," the raven-haired vampire sighed, looking at him wistfully. "There is nothing more to tell."
"There has to be more to tell," Christopher Matthews insisted. "You-you don't understand yourself, you're not empty. W-what people wouldn't give to be...Hell! What I wouldn't give to be like you. To have your power, to be able to have seen the things you have seen in your life time."
Rei shook his head slowly. "You haven't been listening."
"Yes, I have been listening," the reporter told him. "The story you've told me is... is incredible, utterly amazing!"
The vampire looked at the cassettes on the table. "Do what you want with it. Give my story to others. Learn what you can from it. Even throw it away if you please, there is no more."
Christopher Matthews continued to stare incredulously at the young vampire for a moment. "I get it," he said slowly after a long silence. "I know why you've told me your life story. You could have told any reporter, but you chose me. There must have been a reason, am I right?" he asked.
"And what reason would that be?"
"You've told me your life story because you think I may be able to help you. T-to heal your pain. I think you w-want me to be your new companion, I mean, take me. That's what I want, to be like you. I know I will never be able to fulfill you the way Kai once did, and complete the void deep within you," he continued. "But I know I can help you *if* you allow me to experience what you've become."
Rei was slowly horrified, then outraged and angry. He turned away from him. "Dear God I've failed again, haven't I?" Rei sighed sadly to himself.
The reporter looked disappointed, but refused to give up so easily. "You haven't failed, God has nothing to do with this. And besides, you and I both know that the only way I'll ever be able to experience what you've been through, would be to step inside your world. Please," he beseeched. "I...I want to be a vampire."
The raven-haired vampire looked at the reporter. Then suddenly grabbed his collar, lifting him off the floor effortlessly, baring his petrifying fangs and bringing them down to his throat. Christopher was in sheer terror. "Do you like this? Are you enjoying it?" the vampire sneered.
The reporter shook his head frantically, too afraid to speak.
"But I thought this was what you wanted," the vampire said teasingly. "Do you really want to be like me now? Do you like being food for the immortals? Do you like dying?" he asked in a very uncharacteristic, and dangerous voice as he pulled the reporter face closer to his own.
"P-please," the reporter gasped breathlessly. "S-STOP!" Rei dropped him. Christopher fell to the floor, terrified and choking. When he finally looked up, Rei had vanished, and he alone stood in his living room. He looked up at the tape recorder, which was still turning. He grabbed the recorder opened it and shoved the tape into his pocket, hands shaking like mad. Christopher ran a hand through his now sweaty hair, and shook his head as an attempt to clear it. "Did that REALLY just happen?!" he asked himself breathlessly...
"HEY!" said a voice suddenly. "HEY! Excuse me? Wake up!"
"Huh?" a tired reporter grumbled as he awoke. He was startled to find a rather hefty man's face staring intently into his own. Christopher Matthews almost immediately snapped out of his sleepiness, peering around himself, only to discover that he was still on the city bus. And happened to be the only one there besides this man. "W-what am I still doing here?" he asked himself aloud.
"That's what I'd like to know," said the hefty man who appeared to be the bus driver. "This is the end of the line. This bus has been around the city five times tonight, and now its time to put it away for the night."
Christopher Matthews turned around on his seat to stare out the window of the bus. To his astonishment, the bus driver was right. This was the City Bus Garage, about ten other buses were parked and the bus drivers were locking them for the night. "I don't understand," the reporter said at once. "I can't believe I'm still here. I thought I went home, I could have sworn I went home, and interviewed a...a..." he stopped himself. "What day is it?" he asked the bus driver suddenly.
He stared at Christopher a moment, as though he was an idiot. "It's Wednesday," he answered slowly.
"But it's supposed to be Friday. You mean, it was just a dream? Everything that...that happened...didn't?"
"I guess not," the large man shrugged. "Look can you please get off my bus?"
"Wait! Was a young man on this bus earlier tonight?" the reporter asked the bus driver.
"We get a lot of young men and women on this bus everyday, a little description wouldn't hurt."
"He was really pale, and he had amazing golden, cat-like eyes that seem to look into your very soul. And he had long raven hair too," the reporter told him. "Have you seen anyone like that today?"
"Nope don't think so, sorry. Hey! Aren't you world famous reporter Christopher Matthews?" asked the bus driver, finally recognizing who the man before him was.
"Yeah, that's me."
"Wow! It's a pleasure to meet you! Really, I've never met a celebrity before," the driver continued. "We'll anyway, I'm going to have to ask you to step off the bus. The garage is going to be closing in six minutes and I really have to park this thing."
Christopher Matthews nodded and walked off the bus. He left the City Bus Garage and walked outside only to find himself at the end of town. He checked his watched which currently read 11:45 pm. (Damn) he scoffed. (I'm in for a long walk...unless...) he paused. " I guess I have no choice but to call...Jamie," he sighed, literally cringing at the thought of having to ask his obnoxious cousin for a ride.
The reporter soon spotted a phone booth, ran inside and dialed his younger cousin's cell phone number. It rang, and rang, and rang but still no answer. Growing tired of listening to the incessant ringing, Christopher began to gaze out the window of the phone booth as he listened to it ring. Finally, his cousin picked up. "Jam," he called him by his nickname, the one he used whenever he wanted to butter him up. "Listen, I'm at the end of town (long story I'll explain later) anyway do you think you could..." he paused as he saw someone pass by the booth. He didn't get the chance to see their face for it looked like nothing but shadow in the dark. However, they were clad in a long leather jacket, strangely familiar, and seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
Christopher stood flabbergasted. Who was that? And why did he feel that he knew that person, even though he could not see their face? Maybe his interview hadn't been a dream after all. Maybe it was real. The reporter quickly finished up with his cousin on the phone, who had after much deliberation agreed to pick him up. He then hung up the phone and dashed out of the booth to find the person who had just walked by. However, when he looked around he saw no one. That strange person had disappeared without a trace. All that stood before Mr. Matthews was a eerie quiet one-way street, and the small road that lead into town.
Christopher Matthews felt compelled to find out who that person was that had walked by the phone booth, unfortunately the person was now gone, perhaps they had walked into one of the houses. He didn't know. About ten minutes later a red Cadillac Escalade pulled up to the side of the small road. Hip-hop music blaring from the stereo, it was loud enough to make your ears bleed. "That's my ride," the reporter groaned, and he climbed into the passenger's side. As he sat down, something in his pants poked him. He reached into his back pocket only to find a tape, he had remembered shoving his tape into his pocket after the interview, if he had even had one tonight. He smiled slightly to himself, shutting the car door.
Jamie leaned over in his seat, his attractive young face currently screwed up in a look of curiosity. "Whatcha got there, Chris?" his blond cousin asked him haughtily. "Another piece of junk from your job or something?" he guessed smirking. The reporter willed himself not to punch his annoying cousin out, as he *was* giving him a ride. He ignored Jamie's question and immediately shoved the tape into Jamie's stereo. His cousin gasped in protest when his music was cut off, but the reporter told him shush, as pressed the play.
(If I really did have that interview, then this will prove it.) Miraculously, the tape began rolling, at first there was nothing but silence and Christopher began to fear that nothing was on the tape. Suddenly there was a voice, a calm yet firm voice, one in which seemed to be in dire need to spill their heart to somebody, anyone who was willing to listen, because it was killing them to keep it all inside. Rei's voice.
"It all started back when I was sixteen. I was always going to parties with my buds Richard and Kyle...
"Whose voice is that?" Jamie asked a bit excitedly. "They sound hot!"
"Will you shush!" Christopher yelled.
They listened to a bit more before Jamie pressed stop. "Who was that? Come on tell me!"
The reporter sighed but finally agreed to tell his cousin about his strange day. Once he was finished, Jamie just stared at him for a moment.
"That must have been some day," he smiled kindly, which was not like him at all. "I doubt this guy was a *real* vampire, but his little story definitely could make for an awesome fiction novel. However, if you really believe that what happened today was real, I suppose you could still write this Rye dude's bio."
He turned to Jamie, glaring a bit at the fact that his was in denial of Rei's story being true. "Actually his name is Rei, b-but you're right! That's what I'll do. I'll write a book about this vampire's life, and my closest experience to nearly becoming one!"
"Sure, okay," said his cousin. "But one more thing, when you get rich and famous for this story (because I know you will) don't forget to tell the media that turning his story into a book was purely MY idea."
Christopher snorted loudly, "all right, sure," he laughed, knowing he'd *never* go through with Jamie's wish.
"Come on, Chris," his cousin whined pathetically, as his fits of laughter continued. "CHRISTOPHER!" he screamed over his laughter. "You'd better! You little runt! If you don't, I'll stop this car and you can get out and walk home!" But Christopher just continued to laugh at his cousin's ridiculous demands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A raven-haired vampire watched as the red Escalade rode off into the night. They continued to watch it until it was completely out of sight. When it was gone the vampire sighed loudly. He was beginning to regret bring the reporter into the near future to have their interview, and then returning him to the present. "Should I have really given that common mortal my life story? Have I made some kind of terrible mistake?" he wondered aloud.
He was suddenly overcome with the feeling that he was not alone. It was as though someone was watching him. He had actually been having this feeling a lot lately, and it frightened him not knowing who or what it was after him, and what they wanted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From somewhere deep in the shadows, dark eyes watched Rei silently. They had been searching for Rei for quite sometime now, and had finally found him. It had been so long since their last encounter, but tonight Kai would change that.
~OWARI~
Hope ya'll liked the ending. ^_^
OMG! The very first 'Interview With A Vampire' fic is actually finished! Yeah! All right! Who hoo! *throws confetti*
Kai: congrats!
Silverstorms: Thanx! *huggles Kai* Now that I think about it...I sort of feel bad. I hate to put a good fic to rest. ~_~
Kai: You've only made three fics by far. And this was actually the ONLY one you've ever got around to finishing! Not including that one shot fic!
Silverstorms: Ahem...Moving on...
Kai: Hey! I'm still talking!
Silevrstorms: Hehe, anyways. Tell me whatcha thought of my first completed fic! E-mail, review, etc. Questions, comments, advice are all welcomed! P.S. One more chapter dedicated to thanking my reviewers will be posted soon, keep a lookout for it!
Also be sure to check out my new fics coming soon
Till then
CIAO! (Remember to write me Anna! And if you DARE forget...*shakes fist again*)
~*~Silverstorms~*~