disclaimer: No, I do not own Moon Child. No, I do not own Camui Gackt or HYDE (damn, I wish I did though…they are yummy!)
warnings: Shounen-ai….male/male pairing
a/n: This fic sorta follows the movie, but I've changed a lot, so I hope you guys don't mind! Enjoy!
Less Than Three
By Ivin Artemis Draconis
He always loved him. That he knew for sure. Ever since he had stumbled across the vampire as a child, he had felt that certain feeling in his heart. The night creature was special to him, more so than anyone else had been, more so than anyone else will be.
Kei always was there for him, like an angel sent from above. Whenever he was upset and in desperate need of comfort, Kei was always the shoulder he'd cry on.
He grew up, with Kei by his side, nurturing him, teaching him. Thanks to the vampire, he had become a skilled fighter. To them, their robberies and gunfights were merely games. Nothing more, nothing less. And he never had to worry because Kei was always by his side, just as he always was by his.
He knew, though, that Kei was more than just a friend to him. Kei was special – he was the world to him. The vampire would never let the younger man down, and he was always there for him, through all the hardships he had ever had to face.
Kei was the only one who could comfort him. Kei was the only one who made him feel special. When Kei held him, all the troubles in the world were forgotten for that brief moment. Kei's gentle hands running through his hair and rubbing his back was all it took to appease his tears when he cried.
He knew and accepted all of this. He knew he was in love with the vampire. However, he also knew that there was no way that his feelings were returned.
No doubt that the older man just thought of him as a mere child – like a sibling. There was no way that Kei would or could love him; it was just wishful thinking.
He knew and accepted this, even though it pained him. It hurt to be so close to the vampire, yet at the same time, so far away.
The day Toshi died was the day that his assumptions of his unrequited love were proved true. As he held his dying companion in his arms, he felt as though a part of him was being destroyed as well. He loved Toshi –not the way he loved Kei- and to see one of the men he had grown up with die in his arms slowly, hurt more than he could possibly imagine.
"Wake up, Toshi!"
He had shaken the man, screaming, ignoring the raindrops that ran down his face. No, he would not cry. Only Kei was allowed to see him cry.
Kei.
Toshi was dead. He needed the vampire. He needed to be held, to have sweet words whispered in his ear, saying everything would be all right. Glancing up, he saw Son, standing a few meters in front of him, as though unable to move.
Kei.
Clumsily, he had stood up and walked to Son, knowing he would find Kei close by, and he was right.
There Kei knelt, sucking the life out of one of the men who had killed Toshi. He couldn't take it; all this death. He needed Kei….he needed Kei now.
"Please…Kei, please stop. Toshi's dead."
His pleading voice seemed to have no effect on the vampire whose mouth was dripping with blood.
Why wasn't Kei stopping? Why? He needed him…couldn't Kei sense that?
"Please."
His final word came out as a whisper, seeming to echo in his ears. Slowly, Kei raised his head.
But instead of coming to comfort him, the vampire just made brief eye contact – his brown eyes flashing with a quick moment of regret – before he suddenly took off.
As Sho watched the fading back of the vampire, he felt his heart break. For the first time in front of others and not Kei, tears crept from his pale blue eyes, mixing with the rain dripping down his face.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x It was hard. Life felt so empty without Kei. x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Sho stared avidly at the television, unable to believe his eyes.
"Police have found an unidentified suspect for the murder-"
Tuning out the reporter, Sho gasped when the picture of the criminal appeared in front of him. Kei.
It had been…how many years? Eight? Nine?
Sho was only vaguely aware of Ya-Chi (a/n: Is that how you spell her name?) rubbing his back soothingly, for his mind was fixed on other matters.
Kei was alive. Kei was not too far away. Kei was in prison. Kei was a murder suspect. Kei…Kei…Kei.
Suddenly, it became too much for him to take. Quickly, Sho stood up and walked to the main bedroom, shutting the door behind him and locking it swiftly.
I need…some time to think…Kei…God, even after however long it was, Sho still loved him. His heart had been aching for the vampire ever since Kei had abandoned him.
"Kei."
Sho whispered the name, it feeling foreign to his lips after all of this time.
"I…I love you."
Sho felt tears burn his eyes as he sat down on the window seat, leaning his head against the cool glass. It was raining, as though the clouds felt his pain and were weeping for his shattered heart.
A soft, hesitant knock was heard on the bedroom door, drawing Sho out of his thoughts for the vampire.
Ya-Chi.
The woman who was his wife, even though he did not love her.
No, that was untrue…he did love her. But it wasn't the way men love their wives. Sho loved her as a sister, but nothing more. He didn't love her as he loved – no, loves – Kei. Granted, he only married her because she became his comfort after Kei left.
Sho had been devastated after the disappearance of the vampire. He sought comfort – he just needed someone. Ya-Chi just happened to be the one who gave it to him. She held him as he cried, doing all the things Kei did. But still, it was not Kei. Her comfort kept him alive, but barely. There still was that large hole in his heart; a hole that could only be fixed by the one who had caused it.
And thus, his thoughts returned to a certain vampire once again.
Kei…
x.x.x.x.x.x.x
Sho woke up early the next morning, hands shaking as he got dressed. He couldn't help it, but he wanted to look spectacular when he visited Kei. He thought about wearing his leather pants and his white jacket that he had always worn during their "games," but he couldn't bring himself to put those old clothes on again. It brought back too many memories; memories he didn't wish to face at the moment.
Finally choosing an outfit, Sho walked out of the bedroom, only to come face to face with his wife. Ya-Chi looked worried, glancing at him questioningly, her silent question asked.
"I am going to visit K-Kei," Sho answered to her non-spoken query, still stumbling over the vampire's name. Ya-Chi's eyes widened slightly, but slowly she nodded, giving him a small, encouraging smile.
"Papa!"
Sho whirled around, just in time to have Hana jump into his arms. The smiling young girl giggled, hugging her father tightly. Sho smiled back, returning the embrace before setting his daughter down gently.
"Papa, where are you going?"
Kneeling down so he was her height, the young man placed his hands on Hana's shoulders.
"Hana, I am going to visit an old friend-"
"Oh, can I come? Please, please, please!"
Sho smiled, glancing up at Ya-Chi who smiled back before pulling her daughter slowly away. Sho stood up, and put on his coat, ruffling his daughter's hair gently.
"Sorry, Hana, but this is something daddy must do alone, ok?"
The small girl pouted, but nodded slowly. Sho gave his family one last look before he headed out the door.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Sho couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped his lips when the guards brought out Kei. The once lively vampire looked so frail; so broken. Was this the man he loved?
Kei sat down across from him on the other side of the glass, looking empty; just like a shell.
"Kei…"
No response.
Sho began to tell Kei about what had happened since he left, watching the vampire intently, searching for some kind of response.
None.
Taking out a picture of his daughter, Sho pleaded one last time.
"Please, Kei. Look at her. She's my daughter. I've always wanted you to see her." I love you, can't you tell?
"You…you more than anyone else." Kei, you're breaking my heart again…
"Please."
Finally, the blonde slowly turned his blank gaze to the photograph. He married Ya-Chi…Sho has a daughter…a family…without me.
Kei's mouth moved, and he said something, but it was as though he wasn't controlling his body anymore. He couldn't even hear his own voice. All that echoed in his head was, Sho is alive…Sho is married…Sho has a family…Sho doesn't need me…
Whatever he said, though, appeared to make Sho happy.
The two exchanged a few more words, and Kei watched regretfully as Sho left. The vampire could tell that his young companion was holding back tears.
Sho…I'm so sorry.
x.x.x.x.x.x. Everyone is gone. I can't go on alone. Kei…I need you. x.x.x.x.x.
"You are being moved to death row."
Kei looked at the investigator with his usual blank stare.
"Thank you," he said emotionlessly. The investigator began to say something, but all Kei could do was stare at the moving mouth. Am I finally…going to die?
Suddenly, certain words caught his attention. "Next time?" he asked, puzzled by what the investigator meant.
"In your next life…if you are reborn," the man explained. Kei almost laughed. Only the innocent were reborn, not a monster like himself. The detective began to lead the way out of the prison, when the phone began to ring.
"Hold on."
The guards halted, and Kei watched as the man picked up the phone, the detective's brow furrowing as he spoke.
"I'll allow it just this once."
Kei took the outstretched phone, and held it up to his ear, confused.
"K-Kei…I need you."
The vampire's eyes flickered as Sho's sobbing voice rang through his ears.
"I…I can't go on alone…please, Kei. I…I need your help."
In his mind, Kei could practically see the younger man's face tainted by tears, his blue eyes glistening. A painful twist stung at the blonde's heart. Numbly, he handed the phone back to the detective, the world seeming to go totally silent. He barely noticed anything, and the next thing he knew, he was in a police van.
Sho needs me.
Sho needs me.
Sho needs me!
Finally, his numb body regained life, and for the first time for a long time, Kei felt truly alive. Quickly, he grabbed the guard's handgun, and before the poor man realized the prisoner had even moved, he was dead. Swiftly, Kei grabbed a blanket that was randomly there, and he burst out of the van, running.
Sho…I am coming.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
"His execution is tomorrow. Pray for his soul."
The detective's words rang Sho's head as he paid for cotton candy.
Kei is…dead.
He felt empty. Toshi was dead. So was Shinji, and the rest of his group. Ya-Chi was dying. And now…Kei. The man he had loved as long as he could remember was executed today.
Nodding at the cart owner, Sho took Hana's cotton candy, and turned back to where his daughter was, freezing in his tracks.
Kei was kneeling in front of her, talking to the young girl.
He's alive?Sho watched as Kei stood up, gesturing a greeting as he smiled at the young man. Sho stared, not believing his eyes, smiling back tentatively.
"Kei…" he whispered under his breath.
x.x.x.x.x.x. I hate fighting with you, can't you see that? x.x.x.x.x.x.
Sho sat in his room, staring at the ceiling, after having an argument with Kei. Ya-Chi loved Kei, it was obvious. And no matter how much it pained Sho, he wanted Kei to be happy! Why couldn't the vampire see that? Why did he have to be so stubborn? Kei would be happy with Ya-Chi for all eternity…after all, she loved him and could give the vampire what he couldn't.
Sho sighed. He wanted Kei to be happy, and it was blatant that Ya-Chi would make him happy.
Oh well. It doesn't matter. Soon, I won't be in the way of their relationship…soon.
And with that thought, Sho stood up and pulled on his white trench coat. It was time for revenge.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Sho ignored the pain in his arm as the bullet sank deeper and deeper into his skin.
"Are you crazy! Do you want to die?"
Kei's voice seemed so far away, and Sho ignored it, shooting rapidly, killing enemies left and right.
Yes.
He watched as more men fell to the ground, half-listening to Kei's directions. Then, suddenly, more pain engulfed him, and Sho fell to the ground, gasping as he lost more blood. Looking up, he saw Son walk toward him. Quickly, Sho grabbed for his spare gun, struggling on holding it steady with his injured arm.
"This slaughter can't be much fun. Let's fight man to man, Sho."
The young man grinned and nodded, getting up slowly, looking out of the corner of his eye as he did so. Ah, yes, Kei was there, ready to help his friend.
I'm sorry Kei…But you can't interfere yet.
Glancing around, Sho walked over to a machine gun, and began shooting at the ceiling, the sunlight falling around him, giving him an ethereal glow. He watched as Kei blindly began backing away, confusion written all over his face.
"What's going on?" the vamprie yelled. Sho just waved, and smiled regretfully, before he disappeared with Son.
I wish I could've told you just once how much I love you, Kei…x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
"This is fun, isn't it?" Son called out as he dodged another bullet, shooting in return.
Sho felt dizzy due to blood lost, but nonetheless, he ducked just in time behind a pillar, narrowly missing the shot.
"It's a thrill," he replied.
"Let's fight till we run out of ammo!"
The two shot blindly at each other, dodging bullets this way and that, and somehow ended up in a rundown courtyard. Guns pointing at the other, both men glared.
"I've got one left."
"Me too."
"So, it's a draw. Survivor takes care of the families."
Sho smiled in agreement. "On the count of three?"
Son smirked. "So simple."
Both put down their guns to their side.
"One." I made the mistake of falling in love with someone I could never have.
"Two." I just want him to be happy, but I'll only be in the way. He's better off without me.
Silence filled the courtyard with its deadliness, and a single tear made it's way down Sho's cheek, unnoticed by the other man.
I love you, Kei. "Three."
Sho felt the pain in his chest before he saw the bullet hit him. Blood oozed out of the wound, and Sho placed a shaking hand over it, feeling the warm blood seep onto his fingers. He looked up at Son, before collapsing to the ground, jerking in pain.
"You didn't fire!" Son accused.
Sho smiled a pained smiled, holding up his hand. "Of course I did."
Slowly, his vision began to get blurry, and while he heard Son saying something, all he could make out was static.
The pain…It hurts.
Sho could feel his blood rise to his throat, his writhing becoming worse. Then, though, another voice joined Son's.
Kei?x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Kei ran quickly through the streams of sunlight after killing those bastards that had shot him. He hadn't heard any gunshots for a while, and he had a bad feeling about this. Finally, he reached a courtyard, and hearing Son's voice, he walked into it, eyes widening at the sight that lay before him.
Sho!The young man was lying on a bed of rocks, jerking as blood soaked his pure white trench coat. Kei felt himself become filled with anger, and he glared at the man who was still standing.
"Son! What the hell is going on?"
Son's face filled with regret. He obviously knew what was going to happen next.
"This is our destiny."
A choked gasp of pain from Sho met Kei's ears, and with a cry of rage, the vampire pulled out his gun and shot Son several times, watching as the man fell to the ground, dying instantly.
"Nnnnng…"
Kei turned his attention back to Sho, rushing to his friend's side, ignoring the pain as sunlight hit his arm.
Sho…no…don't die.
"What happened?" Kei asked softly, as he cradled his young friend's head. Lifting him up, Kei held on tighter when Sho coughed up blood.
"Sho…don't die on me. I need you," Kei said, tears running down his cheeks. Memories of Sho played through his mind; Sho as a young child, Sho as a teenager, Sho crying into his shoulder; Sho pleading to Kei to stop feeding when Toshi died; Sho-
"No!"
Kei cried out in rage, his grip on the younger man tightening even more.
"Sho, don't you dare die on me!" Kei growled, staring intently into the other man's eyes. Sho stared back blankly, as he reached out with a bloody hand to something beyond Kei.
"K-Kei…I…l-love…you…"
Kei froze, not believing the words he had just heard. Suddenly, he noticed Sho's body had become limp and still, and the bloody hand dropped down, as a small sigh breathed through the younger man's lips.
"Sho!"
He could smell the sweet blood, the blood he had always wanted to taste. Kei always had been tempted to drink from his friend, ever since he had first laid eyes on the boy.
"Sho, you can't die…I love you too."
Softly, Kei planted a chaste kiss on the younger man's lips, before he moved slowly to the nape of the neck. Licking the skin gently, he slowly sunk his fangs in the artery, moaning at the taste that filled his mouth.
It's sweeter than I ever imagined…Sho…He felt the body beneath him grow colder, and Kei hardly even noticed as the sun was covered by clouds, causing darkness to overrule the courtyard. All that the vampire could pay attention to was saving the life of the man he loved.
After a few moments of feeding, Kei slowly pulled away, looking at Sho's pale face and closed eyes. Placing a kiss on the man's forehead, Kei gently picked up the body of his friend, and carried it home.
Now, all he could do was wait.
x.x.x.x.x. If we can't be together in life, we can be together in death. x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
His blue eyes opened slowly, quickly shutting when bright light greeted them. Slowly, he sat up, rubbing his head, before opening his eyes again, using his hand as a shield from the light.
Where…Where am I?Sho's eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room, and he looked down to see he was in a bed, half naked.
The last thing I remember is…'Sho! Don't you dare die on me… …Sho! You can't die…I love you too.'
Sho gasped as the voices replayed in his head. Suddenly, he remembered. He had been shot by Son. But then, shouldn't he be dead?
'Sho…I love you too.'
Unless…did Kei save him?
"I see you're finally awake," a soft voice from his right spoke. Turning, Sho saw Kei sitting in the armchair, watching him with gentle eyes.
"You've been unconscious for three days. I was scared that it didn't work…" the blonde trailed off, looking away. Sho stared at Kei, finally realizing what had happened.
"Kei…did you-"
Kei glanced up worriedly. "I'm…I'm sorry. I just couldn't let you die…I couldn't!" he cried out, turning his gaze back to the floor, tears in his eyes.
Sho stared for a while, before he tried to get up, an attempt that was a failure.
"Pssshhht," he hissed in pain, as the world began to spin in front of his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he tried to rid the dizziness as he lay back down, shutting his eyes tightly. He reopened them when he felt a droplet of water hit his nose, and he glanced up to see Kei's tear stricken and worried beautiful face looking down on him. Slowly, Sho reached up and stroked Kei's face, causing the blonde to smile gently.
"Sho, I-"
"Shhhhh…" Sho said, placing his finger on the blonde's lips. Then, with his free hand, he pulled Kei down, so the blonde was lying next to him on the bed. Turning so they were face to face, Sho kissed Kei softly on the lips, before snuggling up against the blonde's body.
"I love you, Kei," Sho whispered, tears flowing down his cheeks as he buried his face in the nape of Kei's neck.
Kei froze, and then smiled, slowly stroking Sho's long hair. Planting a kiss on the other man's head, Kei whispered back, "I love you too, Sho; I always have."
The End…Or not…
a/n: well, that was short and fluffy…garg…hope you guys don't choke on the fluff….sorry…
well? how was it? I want to continue it, but I only will if it's good enough to continue, so please tell me. This chapter was sort of just setting up Sho's becoming a vampire (hence the random time skips in this story…the rest of the story won't have as many random time skips) and if I continue, the ending will be different than the movie - maybe (insert happy-sweat drop face here) So please review!
It's up to you guys whether or not I continue this story!