Dark Kiss

Chapter 7: To Outlive A Cat

"Is that true?" Yamato asked Sora, who had told him everything about what she saw yesterday between Vamdemon and Taichi, even Yamato had a hard time believing this, how Taichi is now willingly accepting Vamdemon's advances.

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it myself, do you think that Taichi has actually fallen for Vamdemon?" Sora asked, some concern in her voice "I mean... it was only a few days ago that Taichi demanded we don't ask for Vamdemon's help, I thought it was because he hated him still"

Yamato grumbled as he scratched the back of his head, not quite sure what's going on with Taichi either "Do you think..." Yamato suddenly had an idea "Something happened between them after he left? I mean... he was quiet ever since then, until I finally got to talk to him yesterday, he seemed to want to know more about how vampires work"

"That does seem odd" Sora agreed, huffing a slight sigh "What should we do about it? Should we let Taichi be with him?"
Yamato paused for awhile as he thought about it, if Taichi were to be with Vamdemon, how would that work in the long run? "Sora" he finally spoke "If Vamdemon works like an actual vampire, that wouldn't be good for Taichi"

"What do you mean?" Sora questioned, some concern in her voice.

Yamato's eyelids lowered a bit "Vampire lords, once they have a lover who is human... they'd have to turn them into one of them so they could stay with them for eternity"

Sora's eyes widened slightly "But that means... Taichi would have to become undead?"
Yamato gave Sora a stern look as he nodded, Sora's eyes becoming more concerned "But... Taichi wouldn't accept that though..."
Yamato thought about it, she was right, Taichi would never accept that, he'd be more willing to stay with his friends then be with Vamdemon like this "That's true, as far as I'm aware we wouldn't have to worry about that"

Yamato smiled softly at Sora "He cares more about his duties as a chosen"
Sora smiled with relief in return, however it was short lived "But we also never thought that he would willingly kiss Vamdemon either..."

Yamato stared at Sora, quick to come up with a solution "Let's go see Taichi, ask him about it"
Sora smiled, hoping this will clear things up "Alright"

"Here you go big brother" Hikari smiled as she handed Taichi some coffee, Taichi gladly accepting it "Thanks Hikari" shortly after taking a sip of it "So, big brother, is it still bothering you? Your feelings about Vamdemon?"

Taichi stared down at the table as he sat in his seat in the dining room area, fiddling with his coffee mug "I've just been very conflicted with it..."
Hikari leaned on her hands as her elbows rested, sitting on the other side of the table "How come?"

Taichi looked up at Hikari, lifting an eyebrow "Aren't you bothered by it?"
"Not really" Hikari replied, her expression unchanged "But... he tried to kill you years ago!" Taichi exclaimed, a little surprised by Hikari's support of this situation.

"Well... There's a little thing called forgiveness, if he is willing to change and become good, then I can't fault him anymore, right?" Hikari softly smiled at her brother, Taichi staring at her with his eyebrows lifted slightly, a little surprised by her welcoming behaviour.

Taichi then stared down at his coffee cup again "You're always so quick to forgive, but... that's not a bad thing... It just catches me off guard sometimes"
Hikari's smile remained as she tilted her head slightly "So? Are you still conflicted?"

Taichi nodded slowly "That's not the only reason I'm conflicted, but it does help clear up some of my worries'"

Just then the doorbell rang "I'll get it" Taichi offered as Hikari nodded "Okay" then taking a sip of her own coffee.
Taichi opened the door and was a little surprised to see his friends Sora and Yamato there "Yamato? Sora? Is something wrong?"

"Can we come in? We'd like to chat with you about Vamdemon" Yamato insisted, Taichi noticing both of them seemed quite serious about this "Sure"
Taichi allowed his friends to walk inside, as they took off their shoes before Taichi closed the door again "So what do you want to talk about?"

Yamato nudged Sora, making her look at him as he nodded at her "I..." Sora spoke up "I saw you with Vamdemon yesterday... In the park..."
Taichi's eyes widened slightly before his expression became awkward "Uhh... How much did you see exactly?"

A blush formed on Sora's face as she clutched her shirt near her chest, Taichi noticing this made his expression become even more awkward as he turned his head away slightly "Okay you don't need to say it... I can tell by the look on your face..."

"I'm sorry, Taichi" Sora apologized, Taichi sighing as he walked towards the dining table and sat back down in it again "Don't worry about it"
Yamato's eyes narrowed slightly "That's why we're here, we are worried about it"

Taichi turned to look at the two, lifting an eyebrow at them "Nothing special was going on, okay? I just..." Taichi paused, the others waiting for him to continue his response "I honestly don't know why I did that, or what came over me... As soon as it started I couldn't stop myself, even though my mind was screaming at me to stop, I couldn't"

Sora and Yamato exchanged surprised expressions as they looked at each other before looking at Taichi again "So you don't have feelings for Vamdemon?" Yamato asked, hopeful he'd get the answer he wanted "I never said that..." Taichi sighed

"I don't know if I do, it's just..." Taichi remembered that night where Vamdemon and him both shared a passionate embrace, remembering his whispers in his ear, his touches, his charming personality, Taichi hugged himself thinking about it again "I'm confused..."

Yamato's and Sora's eyes were no longer hopeful but sympathetic, Yamato began approaching Taichi as he stood next to him "What happened that day? After you stormed out of the meeting?"

Taichi's eyes widened with a small almost unnoticeable gasp, his thoughts giving him flashbacks of that day once again, in more detail.
Taichi shook his head harshly "It's nothing..."
Yamato's eyes narrowed with impatience "Something obviously happened, Taichi"

Taichi then slammed his hands on the table as he stood up from his seat "IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS YAMATO!" he shouted in anger, Yamato being taken back by this sudden outburst along with Sora and Hikari.

Everyone was quiet as Taichi slowly realized he had yelled at his friends, who were only trying to help him, Taichi sat back down as his hands were brought to his head, clutching it as many emotions ran through his mind "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Yamato... I just... can't tell you that..."

Yamato stared at Taichi for awhile longer, expressing guilt on his face for pushing his friend like this "Taichi..."
Sora stepped closer as she placed her hand on Taichi's shoulder, making him look at her as she smiled softly "I just want to know... If you do end up loving Vamdemon... What would you do? Would you... Allow him to... make you like him?"

Taichi's eyebrows rose hearing this as he stared at Sora "Like him? How so?"
Yamato then answered for Sora "How vampires work, if they have a human lover they would turn them undead as well so they can be with them forever, would you be willing to go down that path?"

Taichi then turned to look at Yamato, remembering that Vamdemon's new deal was if Taichi fell for him, he promised to be with him forever, he didn't think that's what it meant, Taichi lowered his head, his eyes narrowed "No... I would never do that"

Sora and Yamato both gave sighs of relief "That's good" Yamato said, a slight smile on his face, Sora feeling better about this conversation "Thank you, Taichi, I was really worried"

Taichi traced his finger around the rim of his coffee cup, an irritated pout on his face as his other hand supported his head, his elbow on the table "Sure"
Yamato and Sora both looked at each other before looking at Taichi again "Well, we better head off now" Yamato said, Sora speaking after "Take care of yourself, Taichi"

Soon enough both Yamato and Sora put their shoes back on before heading out the door and finally leaving, Hikari, watching the whole thing, noticed her brother had been troubled about this more than she originally thought.

"So what would you do? If you chose to be with Vamdemon?" Hikari asked her brother, curious to know his actual answer, Taichi continuously traced his finger on his coffee cup, his pout remaining "I don't know... I guess I'd be with him but I wouldn't allow him to undead-ify me..."

Hikari huffed a small laugh "You have too much pride for that to happen I guess"
Taichi's eyes looked up at Hikari "Too much pride?" he then looked back at his coffee cup again "Nah, if I am in love with someone it doesn't mean all of my boundaries go away, I still won't allow them to cross the line with me"

Taichi then sat up as he leaned back in his seat, taking another sip and then setting his cup back down again "I mean even if it was Sora who was a vampire and put me in this situation, I would never give up being human"

Hikari turned to look at the TV as the news was playing, something about baseball, it wasn't really important "I didn't know you actually willingly kissed Vamdemon, or well... unconsciously did anyway"

Hikari turned to look at her brother again "You seem to be very confused about all of this, you say you don't have feelings for him yet your heart disagrees, but... I'm sure your answer will come to you in time"

Taichi continued to stare down at the table, his eyelids lowering slightly "I hope so..."

Later that night Taichi decided to take a walk down the sidewalk, it was a little chilly but it didn't bother him too much, he was too focused on what to do about Vamdemon, his feelings towards him, what should he do? How does he really feel? Thinking about all of this, he couldn't quite grasp an answer to any of them, should he just...

Taichi stopped walking, he could sense a presence nearby "Vamdemon... Come out from hiding" Taichi softly said, knowing fully well Vamdemon was following him again, and sure enough, Vamdemon floated down behind Taichi, staring at him with a casual expression.

Taichi turned to look at Vamdemon "Vamdemon... I have to ask you something"
"What would that be?" Vamdemon replied, listening carefully to whatever was on Taichi's mind.
Taichi stared at Vamdemon long and hard, giving him a stern expression "If I were agree to be with you... Would you want to make me a vampire like you?"

"Hm?" Vamdemon's eyes widened in surprise to this question, however shortly after he shook his head as a his expression softened "I can't do that..."
He huffed a small chuckle to Taichi's question "Only a real vampire could, I can only go as far as my data allows me to as a vampire-like creature... after all... I'm like a vampire, but I'm actually a Digimon"

Taichi stared at Vamdemon, his eyebrows slightly raised hearing this before sighing a sigh of relief "I see... That's good then"
However Taichi still was curious about how eternity would work with them "But... How would I be able to be with you forever?"
Vamdemon stepped a little closer to Taichi as he placed his hands on his shoulders "Technically speaking, you can't, you would pass away eventually, but..."
Vamdemon took hold of Taichi's hand, clasping it between his own "I was speaking more for myself... I want to be with you, in your forever, not mine"

Taichi's eyes widened more hearing this, he was talking about Taichi's eternity, not his own? As a Digimon he would live on forever, but Taichi could not "Wouldn't... you be sad once I pass?"
Vamdemon nodded "Absolutely, there is no denying this, but aren't humans sad of their loved ones passing before them as well? Pets like cats and dogs for example, they are very much like family to whoever adopts them... but they were adopted with the complete knowledge that humans would out live them"

Vamdemon leaned down to place a gentle kiss of Taichi's hand, as if a prince would, catching Taichi by surprise a bit "I've chosen to be with you with complete knowledge that I'll outlive you... But even so..."

Vamdemon looked up at Taichi's face leaning close to it "I will still cherish my time with you"
Taichi stared at Vamdemon, his eyes never leaving his, he didn't know what to say, thinking about how cats and dogs can't outlive their owners, the owner knows very well they will pass on before them, but Taichi was experiencing being on the other side of that view...

He never thought how it would feel, being the one to die before his loved one, from his birth until his passing, humans would adopt a cat from it's birth, be with that cat for all of it's life, give it the best life, and even be with the cat once it passes away, but how does the cat feel? Watching it's adopter stay by it's side in it's final days, petting it, calming it, telling it that 'you'll be okay' and loving it until the end.

The cat watches as it's adopter keeps a brave face for their little loved one, until it finally closes it's eyes and passes, but the cat never sees the aftermath, when the adopter holds it's lifeless body in their arms and cries, mourning it's loss for a long time afterwards...
Now Taichi was the cat, not the human, the one who is asking to take the hand of someone who was born before him and will live after he's gone, would he mourn? Would he be able to move on? Would he be able to love again?

"Vamdemon..." Taichi spoke almost in a whisper, Vamdemon really, truly, had fallen in love with him... He didn't know how to respond, was it more painful being the human, suffering after their loved one passes by out living them? or the cat, knowing they'll die and the human will suffer after their death?

Vampire flicks always made this lifespan difference seem romantic, but in reality it wasn't, it was painful, both sides suffering for each other simply because they love each other.

"Vamdemon I..." Taichi finally spoke as he stared down at the ground "I just... I'm not sure what I should do... Last time I kissed you but... I wasn't really doing it... my mind told me to stop but my heart... my heart..."

"Which one do you agree with more?" Vamdemon said shortly after, seeing Taichi struggle with his words, Taichi continued to stare down at the ground "I... don't know... I'm so confused... I'm conflicted..."
Vamdemon continued to stare at Taichi, watching him as his head remained low, until finally, he pulled Taichi into a loving embrace, taking Taichi by surprise a little.

"Taichi... I can ease your confusion..." Vamdemon softly said, Taichi's eyes looking over at him "How?" he replied, curious about what he wanted to do.
Vamdemon then slowly lowered Taichi's scarf around his neck, before leaning in and biting down into it "Ghh! Vam...!"
Taichi gasped as he felt his throat being pierced "Wait...! Hhng...!"

Taichi trembled, shivered as Vamdemon drank his blood, gasping at the feeling, his hands gripping Vamdemon's arms tightly.

Vamdemon only drank very little of Taichi's blood before releasing him, Vamdemon licked his lips then backed away from Taichi slowly as Taichi quickly covered his neck where he was bitten "W-Why did you...!?

"Did it hurt?" Vamdemon asked, a stern expression on his face "What... Why does that matter?" Taichi replied, still in shock at what just happened.
Vamdemon caressed Taichi's cheek with his hand, calming the other a bit "If it wasn't painful, then you've already accepted me"

Taichi's eyes widened to hearing this, his expression softening only slightly "It... It... wasn't... painful" he admitted, making Vamdemon smile down at him, satisfied with hearing this,"Now you know your answer"

Vamdemon then turned around, about to fly off somewhere "Wait!" Taichi yelled as he grabbed Vamdemon by his cape, Vamdemon turning himself slightly to look at Taichi "Where are you going?"
Vamdemon stared at Taichi, his expression back to being casual again "I'm going to give you more time to think it over, call my name if you need me"

Vamdemon then removed Taichi's hand from his cape before flying off, until out of sight, Taichi watching as he disappeared into the night sky, placing his hand on his neck again where he was bitten, feeling a little frustrated about it "Good thing it's autumn or this would be difficult to hide without suspicion... Damn it..."

(Author's note: He was finally bitten! \070/ But will Taichi be able to hide it? What if his friends find out about it!? What would they're reactions be!? We'll have to find out next time!)