Chapter Twenty-Eight – Bitten
Naru paced restlessly. They had decided to let Monk-san go first with John. It was wiser to space them out in case of a medical emergency. It would be hard for Ayako to deal with two casualties at once. It would also give Zero extra time to convince Mai to drink something before Naru arrived. So far she'd refused, but perhaps making it clear that Naru's life would be on the line would be motivation for her. Naru himself wasn't confident though. He knew Mai's stubborn streak. She'll turn Zero down, and then she'll try to turn me down…He thought, though he already had a plan to deal with that. It was getting out of this alive that bothered him. I put my chances at twenty percent…Probably less…He thought with an almost resigned sigh.
"Are you sure about this Naru?" Lin asked, noting the way Naru's eyes snapped in his direction. It was as close to surprise that the teen got these days. It's just like him to forget I'm still here…The Chinese man thought with a huff, though he didn't take it personally. They had both been sitting deep in thought for some time before Naru took to pacing. It had been about half an hour since then.
"I wouldn't let anyone else go in there." Naru stated with a hint of possessiveness. Lin knew how his charge felt about Mai. It had been obvious since they'd first met. He was quite sure most of their group knew, though obviously Mai was slow on the uptake. It had taken Naru time to recognise his feelings too, but he'd slowly started to act on them. It was small things like saying please and thank you when Mai brought his tea, or standing a little closer than necessary to her on the job. Not to mention the numerous times he'd put himself in harm's way to protect Mai. Then there was this assignment. Lord only knows how Mai fell for the girlfriend-boyfriend cover routine. Lin thought, though the rest of their group seemed oblivious on that point too.
"You could wait, and get her to drink first." Lin said, though he knew Mai almost as well as Naru did. She wouldn't go for it.
"You know how stubborn she is. She'd die before drinking again." Naru replied as he took the chair across from Lin. They were still in the large dining hall at the long table. As promised they had enjoyed a hearty meal, in fact Naru was still occasionally picking at his almost empty plate. "Lin…I know you promised my parents..." The young teen trailed off guiltily. They both knew Lin would be in trouble if anything happened, and Naru had no desire to put his parents through hell the way Gene had.
"I can handle your parents…but it isn't news I want to deliver." Lin replied, which was as close to I care about you as he was going to get. Neither of them was the clingy, sentimental type. It was part of the reason that they got on so well. With Naru's parents always working Lin had taken a large role in caring for the twins on a daily basis. He was only seven years older, but he'd always acted the same. Unlike the twins. "I have faith in Mai's self-control where you're concerned." The older man added, which was not a sentiment Naru shared.
"You're putting a lot of faith in a girl half-starved…" He trailed off, worried about what he'd find inside the room upstairs. Their last encounter had been less than pleasant, and she hadn't even been hungry back then. If she couldn't control her hunger then, there's no way she'll be able to now…
"Half-starved or not, I trust her with your life." Lin replied, showing no doubt in his sharp hazel gaze. Naru wasn't sure how his guardian could be so sure, but it was somewhat reassuring to know. Naru tapped his leg impatiently, something he only ever did when he was nervous. He used to do it often when Gene was away, and when Gene went missing it became an almost constant habit. Then it had stopped. It only started up again when Mai came into their lives. If they were on a job and Mai wandered off Naru's leg would be twitching, the heel bouncing off the floor as he waited.
"What's taking so long?" Naru wondered as he got to his feet and took to pacing once more. It hadn't really been that long. An hour at most. Lin kept his opinion to himself though as he returned his attention to his laptop. He didn't have any work per say, he was mostly just idly researching what he could about vampires on the internet. As he'd expected, it was mostly just fictional, and it was hard to separate out the facts. Most information linked back to Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Hardly an accurate source of information. Lin had read the book once, and the vampires they'd met weren't at all like the ones from Dracula. One of the only similarities seemed to be their vulnerability to holy symbols.
"It seems they're ready for us." Lin stated as he heard footsteps on the stairs. He could tell Naru was holding himself back from yanking the door open, but it didn't take long until the door opened and Aido appeared.
"You ready?" He asked, absently sweeping his strawberry locks away from his crimson eyes. The scent of blood must be getting to them. Lin observed as Naru nodded wordlessly and headed into the hall. Lin followed at a distance, knowing there was really nothing more he could do. There weren't any protection charms that covered this, and short of going in with Naru to form a physical barrier there was nothing more to be done.
"Naru…" Lin muttered, watching his charge hesitate before the door. He shifted his intent gaze to Lin and gave him a firm nod. Be safe…Lin thought, but it was a futile thought. He was going in there to wrestle with death. Naru took a breath, staring down the wood of the closed door, his cobalt eyes tracing the delicate grain. He reached out and grasped the handle, his expression unreadable as he stepped inside.
"I said no!" Mai cried as she pushed Zero away, his back hitting the wall, which had been five feet away moments before. Naru remained silent as he watched the silver haired teen get to his feet once more, frustration evident on his face. He clutched an untouched blood pack in one hand while he supported himself on the wall with the other, clearly winded by the impact. "Naru…" Mai trailed off quietly as she shifted her gaze to him.
"Are you crazy?" Zero snapped as he rounded on Naru. There was no way they should have let him in until Mai had at least drunk one blood pack. It was suicide. Naru remained silent as he looked at Mai, who looked much worse than the last time he'd seen her. It was strange. It had only been a few days, but she looked quite malnourished. She was thin, her skin was pale, and there were dark shadows on her cheeks and under her once bright honey eyes.
"Mai…" Naru hesitated, unsure what he should say. He decided on his usual cold honesty. "You look terrible." He stated, watching a small smile flicker across Mai's chapped lips. Hasn't she even been drinking water? He wondered, wanting to rush over and wrap her in his arms.
"You can't be here right now! She's not ready!" Zero insisted, not wanting Naru's life on his conscience, or Mai's. Naru shifted his blue gaze to Zero's and held it firmly. He wasn't about to back down on this. They both turned to the door as it opened and Yuuki appeared, looking less than pleased. She nodded to Naru and laid a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Zero, it's time." She said firmly, and Zero knew what that meant. He could tell she was ticked off by the way the corner of her eye twitched, and she worried the inside of her lip. What's Kaname thinking? He wondered, though the elegant brunette didn't appear himself to explain. "Outside." She added, Zero's violet eyes widening at the order.
"Outside? You can't be serious!" He exclaimed. It was suicidal enough having Naru do this with both Zero and Yuuki in the room, but if they were waiting outside then it was totally suicidal. He shifted his gaze to Naru, who met his gaze. He knows…Did he…request this? Zero wondered, knowing that Kaname wasn't so cold that he'd do this without reason. "But…" Zero objected, a small hiss from Yuuki silencing him. She was furious.
"Kazuya…I can't guarantee your safety this way. Are you sure?" She asked, her dark eyes imploring him to see reason.
"I am." He replied in a surprisingly soft tone, the pureblood looking away as she nodded. Zero didn't want to leave, but if Yuuki and Kaname both insisted then there wasn't much he could do. If he didn't leave voluntarily then Yuuki would likely carrying him out herself.
"Wait a minute! What are you saying?" Mai objected from the bed, holding a weak hand out as Zero pushed himself off the wall and approached her. She gripped his arm as he laid a hand on her shoulder, offering her the blood pack one more time. She shook her head, trembling as he left the pack on her folded knees.
"If you don't want to kill him, you should drink." He advised before pulling back, his chest feeling heavy as he felt Mai's grip tighten. He managed to ease himself free, leaving her shaking on the bed as she watched him retreat. He didn't turn around for fear of changing his mind, which would put Yuuki in the awkward position of dragging him out.
"You can't! You can't do this!" She cried as Yuuki opened the door and stepped into the hall apologetically. "You can't leave him in here!" She objected as Zero joined Yuuki and the door closed. She looked at Naru, unable to form words as he remained by the door. She could feel her darker side pushing to the surface. Her room wasn't exactly small, but with the doors and windows shut Naru's scent filled the space in seconds. She swallowed as her mouth began to water.
"Mai…You know you have to drink." The ebony haired teen chided as he slowly walked towards her. Perhaps it was the vampiric nature of her eyes now, or the way the moonlight filtered in through the window, or her starvation, but Naru looked more beautiful than ever. There was a shine to his deep blue eyes that she'd never seen before. His skin was like alabaster in the dimness of the room. His hair was black as night, a few strands brushing his delicate eyebrows.
"Please don't…" Mai trailed off, frozen in place as Naru reached the end of her bed. She raised her foot and placed it firmly on his chest as he rested a knee on the end of the mattress, clearly planning to crawl up to her. "Stop!" She ordered, her skin tingling as Naru reached up and grasped her small ankle with one hand, gently moving her leg aside. He paused again as she kicked his chest with her other leg, sending him off the edge and onto the floor.
"You're so stubborn." He almost huffed as he stood, Mai crying out as he all but dove onto her smaller body. Mai bucked, kicked, flailed and pushed as Naru fought to remain on top of her. He grasped her small wrists in his hands, pinning them firmly on either side of her head. "Mai…It's alright." He soothed in a tone she couldn't recall him using before. He'd come close at times when they were in trouble and she was afraid, like when they got trapped in the well, but it was different somehow.
"I don't want this." She said quietly, Naru giving her an apologetic look.
"How would I go on without you?" He whispered as he leaned down to her ear, determined not to let her see his face as he made his confession. He felt Mai still beneath him, likely stunned by his plea. "You're stubborn, and argumentative, and disobedient, fiercely loyal, warm, supportive…You're…the only one who makes my tea right." He added finally, barely believing he'd allowed himself to say even that much of how he felt. He'd never been good at feelings. That's what Gene had been for. He knew Gene would have had all the right words, and used them at just the right time.
"Naru…Don't make me..." She begged, her chest quivering against his as she sobbed. He'd said such kind things, things she'd never dreamed he would say to her. It was more than she'd dared to hope for. She felt Naru shift above her, his blue eyes meeting hers. She could feel tears spilling down her cheeks and knew she must look a mess, but in his blue eyes she could see a warmth that took her breath away, and an apology, burning guilt.
"I'm sorry." He whispered as he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. His apology confused her for a moment until the scent hit her.
"No!" She cried as she writhed, trying to throw Naru off as he lowered his mouth towards hers. She turned her face away, feeling her hunger rise as the scent of his fresh blood hit her like a sledgehammer. She put her hands on his shoulders as he released her, his hands cupping her cheeks. "Naru…" She gasped as he leaned in, a small trill rising in her throat as his lips caressed hers. It was a small kiss at first, just enough to make her body relax into his. Her eyes closed as he nibbled her lip, the small nip forcing her mouth open in surprised.
Naru kept his eyes open as he kissed Mai, wanting to feel every moment with her until the end. He felt his blood filling his mouth where he'd bitten the inside of his cheek. As soon as Mai's mouth opened he swept his tongue forward to tangle with hers, his blood finding its own way to her lips. Her crimson eyes snapped open. Mai was gone. Naru grunted as she turned the tables, his back hitting the mattress roughly as the honey haired beast straddled his hips.
"Don't hold back." He instructed, though he knew he didn't need to tell the vampire that as she tore the shirt from his shoulders. She raked his chest with sharp nails, the welts swiftly opening into small red rivers. He gasped at the burning sting, which was soothed as Mai's tongue lapped at the trails. He moaned as she moved her hips against his own. She barely registered as one of his hands stroked her soft hair.
He shivered as her tongue moved higher, leaving the burning trails behind as she moved up his body until her hair tickled his cheek. She was going for one of the major arteries, the quickest way to get her meal. Naru took a few deep breaths as he realised that this was it. Once she bites I'll have about fifteen seconds…He thought, one hand winding in her hair and gripping her locks tightly. She growled as he pulled her head up.
"Mai…I…" He trailed off, unable to force the words out even then. He pulled her into a searing kiss, hoping that some small part of her would remember when she woke up. As if she could hear him, he felt one of her hands grip his arm gently. He smiled softly as he pulled back and turned his head away, easing Mai's lips down to his throat. He cried out as her teeth sank into his skin. So many feelings rushed to the surface at the sensation. It hurt. It was like fire, but it wasn't a bad flame. Part of him was terrified, but mostly he just didn't want her to stop.
He felt her hips press against his, his lips opening in a small gasp, which quickly became a moan. He caressed her spine, his hand slipping up her white summer top to caress her silken skin. The few seconds he had felt like a lot longer as her hands left his shoulders to explore his exposed torso. Her nails gently scraped over his pale skin to leave thin red tracks. Naru moaned out loud as she ground their hips together, one of his hands slipping down to rest on her bare thigh, stroking the skin beneath her tartan skirt.
"You know this tartan skirt is my favourite…" He murmured, his head spinning as he felt his arms getting heavier. Despite that he wanted to touch Mai until the last second. His arms shook at the effort of keeping them up, one gripping her spine while the other gripped her thigh. He took one last look at Mai, though he could only see the side of her head as she sucked as his throat. He closed his eyes, letting the pleasurable haze consume him at last.
