Pairings: Ryu/Tatsuha
Warnings: AU, horror
Author's Notes: I recieved many requests on the places this fic is hosted to continue...so I have! Welcome Chapter number 2 More Ryu-vampyness, and Tatsuha starts a journey that he never dreamed off!
Reviews are luffed upon! THANKS!
Chapter II
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This time he wasn't sure if he really wanted to go back to sleep.
The world was rocking slowly back and forth; calm, but put a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was dark and smelt of rot, chilled. But this time it was damp rather than dusty, and he could smell the salt in the air and on his drying lips.
Tatsuha found his legs were just as shaky as the floor when he tried to stand up. The room he was in was small and sparsely lit, one orange glowing candle being the only light. He stumbled back down onto the stiff cot, looking around the tiny chamber to find other cots like it. There was a door at the opposite side, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to make a run for it just yet.
Holding his head, Tatsuha winced. It felt like he'd been sleeping for far too long, which made him feel groggy with the beginnings of a pounding headache. There were voices outside that sounded much merrier than he remembered hearing earlier, but they were not familiar.
Where was he?
With wobbly, protesting muscles, he pushed himself off of the bed and made his way to the door. The rocking of the room only seemed more apparent in that short trek. His hand was on the handle when Tatsuha paused to listen. The voices outside seemed relatively friendly, and he could hear the tenable sounds of a song somewhere across the way.
Tatsuha made a quick check to make sure his robes were in place, only to find that he was rid of them. Padding himself all over, the raven-haired boy found that he was adorned in pants of a dark color and rather soft material, and large tunic-like shirt with a belt around the waist.
It was…strange. But Tatsuha wanted to know what was going on.
Taking a deep breath, he suddenly flicked the handle and the door swung open. The commotion outside just kept on merrily, very few people taking notice. It was night, the stars were out, and there were people all about. Somewhere chatting along the sides, others were gathered around a fire, some were star-gazing. But everyone was socializing.
And…it was the deck of a ship. Not the kind of ship Tatsuha had ever seen in his lifetime. It was large, robust with a high mast but the sails were down for the night, folded like sheets. Even the manner of dress of the sailors was foreign. He suddenly felt ill to his stomach. He wanted home.
What in the name of Buddha is going o—
"Feeling up to exploring, finally?"
Spinning around, Tatsuha saw nothing but the open door to the little cabin behind him. Then averting his eyes upward just a little, he saw a platform just above it and off to the side. There was the same person from before…Ryuichi.
That man, he was not sure what to think of him. He wore black pants, a white shirt, black shirt over it with another cloak-like jacket. It was chilly out with the night air and light sea breezes, but Ryuichi did not seem cold in the slightest.
"What? And now you've lost your voice?" Ryuichi seemed slightly disappointed, walking towards one of the sets of stairs as he watched Tatsuha from above. "Shock? Are you scared?" Running his fingers along the wooden rail, he watched the boy's reaction with faint amusement. Tatsuha's brows were scrunched in confusion, but also offended.
"…I…"
"Oh, he speaks!" Ryuichi exclaimed giddily, ignoring the stairs in favor of hopping over the railing to land in front of his guest. "It's a miracle, he's not a mute after all!" The man then laughed madly in an almost giggling manner.
Tatsuha began to feel that he had been kidnapped by an insane person.
"No no, sorry!" Ryuichi apologized, standing up straight and trying to seem serious, holding back a chuckle. "What were you saying…?"
This time Tatsuha stood firm, looking determined as he could with being nauseous and confused. "I…Let me go home!"
Ryuichi blinked, tilting his head to the side all too cutely. But there was something in his eyes that did not seem so innocent. "Huh? What are you talking about?" He blinked again, giving the boy a rather playful poke to the chest before suddenly smiling seductively. "Didn't you understand when I said it? Or did you blackout before that, hmm, Tatsuha?"
He frowned. "Understand what…?"
Ryuichi smiled sweetly. "Silly!" he said with a pat on the head, then began to stroke and smooth out the dark strands. "I said I'd like to keep you."
/ "My name is Ryuichi," the voice said with a warm, welcoming smile. Two little, pearl white points glinted in the darkness. Tatsuha's eyes went wide.
"And I think that I'd like to keep you." /
Tatsuha's face went pale as he remembered. "And I will!" With that, Ryuichi gave him a light bop on the nose before walking away, towards the bow of the ship.
But the boy did not understand. People couldn't just decide to keep other people like some sort of animal or pet. But with that memory, Tatsuha realized that maybe shouldn't be considered a person. He was definitely something else, but not a word that he dare utter, especially at night.
It was…silly, really. They were myths, he always thought. Yet before him leaning over the railing and kicking his legs in there air was Ryuichi. He was-
"Wait!" Tatsuha called, marching over to the other man with a purpose. Brown-hair flopping in his eyes, Ryuichi turned around, pulling himself up to sit on the side, not seeming worried at all that he might fall over. "You can't just decide to keep people! I'm not your…your pet or something!" Tatsuha huffed, coming to stand less than a foot from the other man.
Ryuichi giggled. "Pet? Oh, you're much more kinky than I ever imagined, Tatsuha!"
Maybe if he had heard that from someone else, it would have been cute. "I'm serious! Stop acting like this is some sort of game!"
Ryuichi tilted his head to the side again, hair still gently blowing in the sea breeze. He really was a pretty picture, Tatsuha had to admit with a gulp. But that did not make the man any else dangerous. Ryuichi watched the boy for a second, then smiled more kindly.
"Oh, but it is a game. A game I love to play so much"
"…Life isn't a—"
"—Perhaps…not the life you're used to," he said sweetly, hopping up to stand on the railing with amazing ease. Ryuichi had perfect balanced, and began to pace, Tatsuha watching his every movement closely. "But that's why you're here with me now, you see? You should feel…very fortunate, Tatsuha. You…you'll get to live a life that so many people dream about! It's a real…special gift to—"
"Get to the point!" The boy was surprised at his own sudden outburst, blinking. Then he just looked away, down at his feet. Ryuichi seemed to understand somehow, and kneeled to be eye-level with his new keep, still perched on the railing.
"I've known you for longer than you realize, Tatsuha…" Ryuichi said in that smooth, soothing voice of his that seemed to be a song just above the one being sung by the other sailors. A pale, delicate hand reached out to turned the dark-haired boy's face up to look at him. "I know all your secrets…your wants…your desires…That was no life you wanted back there. I'm saving you."
The air felt so warm and so cold at the same time. The salt from the gentle waves of the sea bit at his eyes and lips, making them chapped. Ryuichi did not seem affected at all. He was…perfect.
"…Save me from what?" Tatsuha asked, tentative, but in awe.
"From life. From death." Ryuichi just smiled.
A voice shouted behind Tatsuha. Ryuichi looked up to another sailor, answering him in that strange language that made the boy feel even more uncomfortable. It had fluidity to it, but he liked the tongue of home much better. When the sailor disappeared, Ryuichi turned his attention back to Tatsuha with a genuinely excited smile.
"We're going to see the world First, we're on our way to India."
…India?
"…W…Why am—"
Answering the unspoken question, Ryuichi put his hand behind the teen's head, silencing Tatsuha with ease, pressing his lips silently to the boy's. Tatsuha found himself immobile, unable to pull away. Those lips…so demanding and soft, flushed perfectly and still tasted sweet with the hint of sea salt. The taste itself was addicting.
He found himself give an embarrassing whimper of protest as they pulled apart. Ryuichi just smiled softly to the upset look on Tatsuha's face and the slight tint to the boy's cheeks.
"I just want you with me. I want a companion. I chose you. I want to share something with you."
He was almost afraid to ask. "…What's that?"
"That," Ryuichi began with a sigh, though never lost the good-natured look on his face. He ran those thin fingers over the two punctured holes, healing over with scabs on Tatsuha's neck, "is your salvation."