A/N: Aww hecks guys :/ for some reason I was unhappy with this chapter guys :( i don't know why. I guess I was thinking of maybe getting a beta reader but I'm not sure yet. I was thinking of maybe posting this Friday but what the heck, I'll post it up tonight. (or this morning O_O) Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!~
~Sweetness~
Chapter 4 - What I Am To You
Swoosh!
"Another point, another win. The first place middle school champs from last year strikes back again!"
The crowd grew wild as the commentator announced the winner. They were so good; they were the ultimate team. Drowning in the audience's screams, nothing could have compared to it. But that was yesterday, this is today. Now, they were at school again.
G smiled as they all looked at their shining trophy placed in the the hallway.
"That's us," Giotto turned to all of them as they glued their gazes onto the trophy case. "We did good, guys. We did good,"
All six of them couldn't help but smile in pride. They did do well! To take first place twice in a row, it was amazing!
They showed their teeth to their capable captain. It wasn't just because they were happy, it was also because Giotto had reached that age. He had been giving off the scent – the sweet scent; it was the temptation of the pure blood. It wasn't teeth they were letting him see, it was their fangs growing.
The platinum blond noticed all their goofy faces and he suddenly turned serious. Grabbing their captain's hand, he pulled him away from the others.
"Come on, we have to get to class,"
The Italian followed stumbling behind the peeved boy, but his sudden movements mixed the scent into the air even more; it went right up the rest of the guys' noses.
Argh! They covered their face. It was torture! As soon as the two blonds were a good distance away, G moved as any respectable best friend would.
"Stop smelling it, guys!" he waved his arms where the Italian had been.
It was bad. Even he was getting trapped in it!
He took a glance at the rest of the guys as they shyly turned their faces away. It was getting hard to be with Giotto like this! Their faces flushed red at the brief intoxication. It was even harder when their captain was happy because the scent got stronger whenever his emotions ran high.
Knuckles scratched his head. "Well, I guess we better get to class,"
"Yeah," Lampo agreed.
The two walked on ahead as G studied their postures. He had to make sure they were all properly controlling theirselves! Even himself.
He rubbed his neck trying to calm himself down. How about Asari and Daemon? Were they okay too?
"Hey, " he turned back to his remaining teammates.
To his surprise, neither of the two boys were covering their faces. The black haired student looked like nothing happened as he stood relaxed while the other stayed there with a smile on his face, a hand on his waist.
"Are you guys okay?" he looked at them.
"Yeah," they answered at the same time.
Daemon took a small glance at Japanese next to him before he started to walk away. "See you guys at class," he waved.
"Hmn," he gave a nod.
The way he said goodbye, the red head didn't like it. Something was off with that blue haired boy. G couldn't put his finger on it, but he was acting a bit suspiciously. He studied his back as he disappeared down the hallway trying to figure him out, but a sweet scent still entangled the vice-captain's brain.
Jeez, was Giotto that happy?! He tried shaking off the demonic seduction. His body was sure he couldn't smell the spiky blond anymore, but there was still an alarmingly strong smell lingering around. Giotto gave off a hot fragrance that pulled you in, but this wasn't it. This wasn't the tug he got from before, or was it? The confused child couldn't tell anymore; he gave up trying to figure out pure bloods long ago. He brushed it off and started down the hall.
No, Definitely no. G stopped walking. His intuition was nagging him to get it right. Right now, he smelled something lighter. Something fresher, not warm. It wasn't as forceful as the captain's, it was a welcoming scent that left the door open for you to grab it instead. It was something a little like...
"Blueberries," the right word slipped from his mouth. Yeah, that sounded like it fit.
He didn't know why, but he turned back to Asari like he figured out the answer to life.
"You smell like blueberries,"
The other boy stared at him blankly expecting him to continue. It was the only two of them standing in the hallway as it hit the young vice-captain. He blinked as he suddenly realized what just happened.
"Asari, you smell like blueberries,"
The dark haired teen gave a smile. "Um, thank you?"
It seemed like the boy didn't get it. What did he mean "thank you?" This was trouble! Did he smell like this earlier?!
"Wait, do you know how Giotto smells like?" G was asking a serious question.
"Uh..." Asari was getting weirded out. "No, sorry, but I don't smell him. I don't really think he smells like anything,"
The red head remained still as he was struck dumbfounded. How could he not tell?! His teammate gave a calming laugh.
"I think you've been working yourself too hard," he patted his shoulder. "Now come on, we have to get to class or we'll be marked late,"
G gave a slow nod but the other boy just let out a soft half chuckle. "I'm not a girl. I don't put on perfume,"
"I know," he pouted.
But I didn't know you were a pure blood.
…...
It's almost been a full week now since he found out about Asari's true lineage. He felt awkward as he entered the traditional Japanese household.
Wait... Why was he here again? His shoulders hunched closely together as he followed his friend around his home. G looked around and felt out place as the surroundings made it seem like an actual traditional palace of the Meiji era.
Finally getting to the main house, the vice-captain remembered – he always hung out at Asari's house every weekend to wait for Giotto to come out of his church service so they could practice afterwards. Barely getting in the building, heavy footsteps shook the floor coming towards them.
"Asari-nii, I'm leaving now!" a dark haired kid that looked a lot like Asari ran by. "Bye!"
He squeezed by the two teens in the hallway and headed out the door.
"Be home by eight, okay?" Asari called after him just before the door closed shut.
G stuck his hands in his pockets stuck at the striking similarity between his friend and the chibi that went by.
"So that's him, huh?" he turned to the boy next to him, "the kid that you took in,"
"Yeah," Asari now had a big brotherly smile to him, "he seems to be adjusting well. He calls my parents 'Aunt' and 'Uncle,'"
"Hmn, that's good. How was the funeral?"
The dark haired teen let out a deep sigh. "He cried... But he's better now. He actually seems a lot better ever since school started,"
"Oh," G gave it a thought, "He was smiling a lot when he just left; did he need to go tutoring?"
"No," Asari laughed. "It's Saturday, he's going to a field trip. Who gets happy going to tutoring?"
A flush colored the red head's face as he heard the ringing laughter.
"Well, you never know," he scratched his head embarrassed, "people get happy at the weirdest things! Like you! You get happy when a lot of people sleep over at your house!"
"I like having company,"
The handsome boy gave him a beguiling look, and he found himself trapped in the stare. The red head shifted his eyes away, trying to free himself of the insufferable hold. It's the blueberries! The blueberries! He tried to convince himself that he was just smelling the demonic fragrance again.
"Speaking of company, do you want to keep me some for lunch?" Asari smiled at him.
His brows shot up. "Hm?"
"Everyone else has left the house, but I can get something for you,"
"Just you and me?" he blinked.
"Yup,"
G forced a smile. He suddenly didn't trust himself in a situation like this. Just him and Asari? What if he did something?! Something stupid like – like...
He didn't even try to go further into it. He grew too much aware of the quickly waifing scent floating around him.
"G," his host called out to him.
"Huh? Oh," he realized he still needed to answer and shook his head at his friend's host-like courtesy, " It's alright. I brought my own lunch,"
…...
Out in the garden, they didn't really need to talk. The size of it all gave the two more than enough space, lessening the need to fill the void rather than if they were in a small room. Still, every bite that the red head took tasted the same – it tasted like nothing. His senses blanked as his subconscious focused at his sense of smell.
A soft breeze brushed by, and the red head suddenly lost his appetite for food. He didn't want the bento, he wanted something else. Asari noticed him drop his chopsticks.
"You're not hungry?" he asked.
"Not really," he looked away.
He might have not known it, but his friend was more than aware about the sudden tension.
"Do you hate me?" the question suddenly slipped from Asari's mouth.
G jumped at his sudden probing. "What?! No! Why would you say that?"
"I don't know. You seem uncomfortable with me lately. You don't look me in the eye, you turn away when I try to talk to you, and you stay quiet when we're alone. Like right now,"
He suddenly felt guilty at his current behavior.
"I don't... I don't hate you," the red head became conscious that he was looking away right now.
"Is it because I'm a pure blood?" the dark haired teen reached for his hand but he twitched from the touch of his skin. There was a sadness that filled Asari's eyes as he pulled away.
"Sorry," G tried to apologize. An awkward silence came in between them.
"Hey," he tried to start up the conversation again. "Does everyone else know?"
This time, it was the other boy's turn to avert his gaze away. "No. Just you,"
"How come just me?" he could feel his face getting red.
"Because I don't want to get the same attention Giotto gets. Actually, it's quite a bother just watching him, so no one else knows. I don't think no one else has noticed but you,"
"Oh," his voice trailed.
"G," the other boy called his name.
"Yeah?"
"Can you not tell anyone else?"
The red head looked at him like he was asking for the impossible. "Huh? But everyone else will figure out eventually! Besides, we're all friends. We won't hurt you,"
"I know," Asari's voice was soft. "But just for a little while, I want to live a little bit normally,"
G bit his lip at his request. It's not like he could do anything about it anyway. "Alright," he nodded.
"Thanks,"
A heavy sigh escaped him at the troublesome situation. Normally, huh? How was that even possible? G looked over to the boy beside him and noticed that Asari was staring. A genuine smile brightened the boy's smooth face and the heat on the red head's cheeks returned.
"It's just between you and me,"
…...
Another day, another afternoon during lunch time. This time, they were all there as they sat in a circle. Everyone talked loudly, but the usual two were acting again.
"Here," Lampo motioned his bread to Giotto. "It's the new bread they're selling. You said you wanted to try it, right?"
The spiky blond shook his head. "No, it's alright. I'll just buy it next time. I don't want to take your food from you,"
"No, it's okay," the curly haired boy insisted. "It's just a bite. Anyway, I bought two, but I'm saving the other one for later. Just try it,"
Giotto looked at it meekly; everyone could tell he wanted it.
"Okay," he smiled caving in.
He was about to take a nibble straight from Lampo's hand when something beat him to eat. Chomp! Lampo's face turned purple.
"I said take a bite..." the kid bit the pain down, "But Alaude, that's my whole hand! If you wanted some, I could've bought you one! O-ow!"
The platinum blond pulled away chewing on the tasty bread.
"Hahaha!" Knuckles almost spit out his food. "That's what you get for flirting!"
"I wasn't!" a tear welled up in Lampo's eye as he rubbed his hand. "Argh! That really hurt!"
"Is it good?" Giotto smiled at Alaude.
The blond nodded and Asari began to smile. G noticed the dark haired boy's late reaction and studied his face. There was something similar to jealousy as the other boy looked at their basketball captain and Alaude.
Was it companionship? G was pretty sure that everyone treated each other well. So what was it? Asari said he didn't like how Giotto was being treated, but he looked like he wanted to be treated the same way. A frown set on his face as he tried figuring him out.
"Even Alaude protects him from the smallest of threats," Asari teased.
"I'm not a threat!" the green haired boy cried; everyone laughed as he snapped.
That was when he got it. Oh, G came to a conclusion. It was protection. So he was jealous about someone having to protect him. Is that why he didn't want to come out? Because no one would protect him? The red head looked over to the platinum blond and unconsciously furrowed his brows.
"Something bothering you?" Daemon nudged him on the side.
"Hm?" he snapped out of it. "No,"
Giotto overheard and noticed the glum mood the vice-captain gave off. "Something wrong?" he turned to him too. "Tell us,"
By now, everyone focused their attention to him too.
G brushed his hand through his hair frustrated. At what, he didn't even know,
"It's just, I was thinking. Maybe we should make a pact to not hurt each other,"
The guys looked at him puzzled.
"It's just a bite," Daemon laughed at him.
"No, I mean to try and drink from each other," he looked at them.
If he couldn't protect him, then at least he could make sure that the others wouldn't hurt him. But as he said that, a heavy mood dawned on all their faces.
"What do you mean?" Kunckles' voice was serious. "None of us would do that to each other,"
"I'm just worried," he didn't mean to offend the others.
The heaviness continued until Daemon spoke up. "I'm sure G's just worried about Giotto," he sounded friendly, "But no one's going to harm our captain, right?"
"Hmn," everyone nodded.
The spiky blond looked around and smiled. "Since we're brothers, then it shouldn't even matter. None of us are going to turn on each other. Let's just make it official that we have all sworn to protect each other," he turned to G. "No one is going to take a bite and drink from each other here. I promise,"
"I promise!" Lampo repeated after him.
"I promise," Knuckles went after.
Daemon gave a smile. "I promise Giotto,"
"I promise," Asari went after.
G gave the Japanese a lingering look until he looked back. "I promise," he aimed it Asari.
"I promise," Alaude nodded.
"See," the Italian kept his smile, "Our blood is safe within our circle,"
"Unless were lovers," someone cut in.
"Unless we're lovers," Giotto repeated, "Wait, what?!" he turned to Alaude.
Everyone laughed at their captain's mistake.
"That's it then!" Knuckles fist pumped in the air, "We all promised that we won't drink from each other unless we're lovers!"
"Not unless we're lovers!" the rest of the guys yelled just to tease the spiky blond.
"You guys!" he turned red.
…...
So he was successful, right? The bell rang signaling break was over. As everyone got up to leave, someone pulled the red head back down.
"Hm?" G looked to who wanted him to stay. It was Asari who had a troubled look on his face.
"Why did you make everyone make a promise?" his voice was serious.
G didn't want to answer truthfully. "You said you didn't like how Giotto was being treated. You meant how everyone looks at him, right?"
The dark haired boy let go of his hand as he gave a sigh. "I meant how others try to jump Giotto everyday. Not the ones that we know, but random guys that always appear out of nowhere. I trust everyone here. You said so yourself, we're all friends."
The read head looked down. Yeah. He said that, didn't he?
"At least you've confirmed that you have everyone's trust. We won't bite you,"
"Unless we're lovers," Asari gave a soft smile. He couldn't get over how Alaude manipulated the final say and laughed.
"Yeah," he looked at him sadly trying to laugh too. "Unless we're lovers,"
…...
"Get lost. Now." Alaude's deathly glare stabbed at the unlucky and foolish soul who tried to jump Giotto from the back.
"Wah~!" the sap quickly tucked tail and ran.
The death sentence that the platinum blond was going to deliver later still locked on the weakling even after he disappeared.
"I guess this is why Giotto's unscratched, huh?" Knuckles laughed. "Every pure blood should have an Alaude with them,"
The Italian shifted his gaze over to his guardian and the mere eye contact created a heavy pressure on the blue eyed boy. Alaude had somehow became the undisputed main bodyguard for the special child of the main branch family, and no one was going to get past him.
"Let's get to practice, guys" a surge of happiness filled their basketball captain. The simple things Alaude did for him somehow made him extra happier.
…...
Yup. Daemon smelled the exotic fragrance spreading to his senses. He could almost taste the spiky blond. How did undiluted blood from the original family line taste like? Good, probably. Really good.
He secretly eyed the drink he could never have as everyone walked ahead of him. Not with Alaude always by his side could Daemon have even a tiny sip. A few days ago, he had almost lost hope of ever getting to taste the rare delicacy of such a fine breed when he came upon a new find. Sulking that there was something he could never get, the fresh scent of another fine breed caught him when they were changing in the locker rooms after practice. It was just as good as Giotto's. It was new. Vibrant. It was Asari.
The blue haired teen had stared at his Japanese teammate as he changed, and the boy gave a smile when he noticed him gawking too long. Too innocent.
Other pure bloods didn't know about the scent they gave off unless they were told by others, and he didn't think Asari knew about himself. He was clueless. The plotting teen had tried to analyze his teammates and it seemed like no one else knew about it; it was still an early stage before his seductive fragrance fully developed anyway.
This was good then, he couldn't help but plant a smirk. Asari had no "Alaude" with him. No one knew what he was. He could finally have what he always wanted – to defile the purity of the precious crimson liquid inside a new young blood. It was perfect.
His focus never left his dark haired teammate as they practiced.
"What's wrong?" his prey retrieved the ball from the shot he just missed, "You seemed out of it lately,"
"Hmm..." he eyed the unknowing boy, "I guess I just haven't been focused lately,"
Heavy dribbles of the other players on the team shook their gym floor.
"Time to clean up guys!" their vice-captain went around, "It's time to go home. Everyone make sure that all the balls are put away!"
"Hai!"
The other boys in the team followed the red head's orders and went around retrieving their equipment.
"Hey," Daemon called out to Asari before he went off and helped, "can you stay with me for a little longer to help me on my shots?"
"Sure," the boy didn't hesitate.
This was going to be good.
…...
The orange glow of the gym as the final last half hour of the sunset started to kick in was beautiful. It always made the end of his day so fulfilling after practice.
G followed closely behind Giotto and Alaude as they headed out of school. The two spoke loudly as their captain asked the other for his plans for tonight.
"I still have something to do," the pale boy answered.
Giotto gave a pout.
"You're not going go after the kid from earlier are you?"
Alaude didn't respond and instead looked at the Italian annoyed. Of course! Obviously he had to. He made it his duty to to lay down the scythe to any punks that lifted a finger against the spiky blond.
"If you don't take care of those pests, they'll keep coming back."
"But I need you with me tonight! I need help with math homework," Giotto lied. He hated the thought of having to kill someone.
"Then I'll come by after,"
"Well, I haven't done last week's either! And the test!" he tugged Alaude's arm, "I need help studying for the test tomorrow,"
Alaude didn't budge. He needed to think of something fast.
"If you come home with me right now, you can stay the night!"
The other boy stopped walking and looked at him. Did he get him?
"Okay," there was a twinkle in Alaude's eye, "I'll take you home. I just have to sneak out somewhere in the middle of the night and come back,"
"No!" Giotto sighed. "It doesn't work that way!"
"I don't see why not,"
G laughed as they kept arguing. It was good they were always by each other's sides. The red head suddenly stopped walking as he remembered.
"Hm?" their captain looked back. "Is something wrong, G?"
He shook his head. "Yeah. I think I left something back at the gym. I'll see you guys tomorrow,"
He waved them bye and started to rush back to school. Looking at them, the idea of having every pure blood having a guardian by their side came back at him. Asari said that he was going to stay for a bit longer after practice didn't he? Maybe he could still meet up with him if he hadn't left already.
As he got closer and closer back to campus, there was a strong smell of the fresh scent he sniffed earlier - Asari was still here. But how come it was so strong?
He went up the stairs and neared the gym, but the smell got even heavier and heavier with every step; he had to stop as he reached the gym doors. Something was wrong. The scent never got this crazy before! G took a whiff of the air and a sudden dizziness pushed him back.
What is this?! He leaned himself over the wall. Blood was rushing to his head as his fangs grew at an unprecedented pace. A dark aura emanated behind the wooden doors and fear started to bubble up inside him. Why was he so scared? A dangerous excitement welled up within the fear as he carefully reached for the handle.
"Asari!" he called out as he went in.
His face dropped at what he walked in on.
"W-what... What are you doing?!"
His lips twisted in anger.
…...
It was sweet.
That was his answer. It was really sweet – better than any dessert man could make. He gorged himself in intoxication against the soft skin of his teammate as the boy lay still on the floor; a dark, almost black, flood of liquid surrounded the two like a small island staining their clothes.
"Blueberries," Daemon shifted his gaze at the red head who just came in. "He even tastes like blueberries."
A demonic smile spread across his face as he heard G yell.
"Get off!" the red head came at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
His teammate tackled him off his prey and decked him on the cheek. He only gave a laugh as he pushed the angry boy back and steadied himself back on his feet.
"What the hell's gotten into you?!" he kept yelling. "That's our friend!"
"Friend? Well he's one very good tasting friend!"
"You made a pact with us!"
"I made that promise only to Giotto!"
There was a twist of anger that crumpled the red head's expression as he ran up to him again.
"Argh!" Daemon grabbed both of G's fists into his hands. This was something he could do now that he gained even more strength after drinking such fine blood.
"Why?!"
"Why?" the blue haired teen looked at his teammate. "I couldn't get Giotto since that annoying blond's always around him, so I had to choose another target! Did you know that Asari was a pure blood? It was pretty selfish that he kept that from us, don't you think?"
The red head kicked him in the gut and sent him flying across the room.
"I knew! I knew that he was a pure blood!"
It looked like he was in the verge of breaking as the boy stood there glaring and panting.
"You knew?" Damon looked at him. "You knew and didn't tell everyone else?"
"To protect him!"
"Protect him?" Daemon gave out a laugh. "How?! Did you have your sights on him too? You wanted to keep him all to yourself?"
The blue haired teen looked back at the unconscious student on the floor; blood was still seeping out from him. He may have overdid it by biting and ripping different places on his flesh for better openings, but oh well.
It was truly ironic.
"If you had told someone, you might have been able to save him,"
Asari was truly going to die soon.
"Unless... Did you really think you could protect him on your own?"
He raised a brow at the angry teen. "Is that why you came back? To 'protect' him, or was that merely a coincidence? Nufufu... You're no Alaude,"
"Shut up!" G finally lost it.
The red head started swinging his fists and landed hard hits on Daemon's guts. His anger came out in his blows like an angry storm; G had reverted back to his old self when he was still a delinquent a few years back before he joined the basketball team.
The blue haired teen grabbed his collar and threw him off.
"Urgh!" the boy hit the ground.
Daemon slowly walked over.
"Do you know that there really isn't anything that separates those from the main family line and the lesser ranks?"
His teammate tried to get up from the floor but he quickly stepped on his back and kicked him back down.
"The only thing is," he continued, "is that pure bloods can play with fire."
Daemon's hand twitched and a sudden blue flame burst from his palm. He laughed as the image of the beautiful colored gas reflected in his teammate's eyes as he stared at the dangerous fire.
"Drinking their blood, you can temporarily gain their powers and the duration lasts based on how much you drank from them. I could probably last a week or two," he chuckled.
G remained mesmerized by the thing he cradled in his hand and a slight annoyance hit the blue haired teen.
"It's Asari's flame," he held his hand close to the red head's face, "do you want to feel it?"
He slammed his palm against the left side of his teammate's cheeks as the boy called out in agony. The smell of burnt skin and the sizzling beneath his hand tingled his senses as G struggled beneath.
…...
He was screaming at the top of his lungs as fear caught him. Daemon kept his hand heavily against his face and when he tried to struggle, the boy only smeared his palm even harder, the burning fingers reaching his eyes.
"Stop it!" He used his other hand and pressed against G's shoulder as the red head tried to struggle even harder; he could feel the amazing heat catch his shirt on fire. "Get off!" G screamed as he struck blindly in the air.
Luckily, he got Daemon on the eye tipping his balance, and pushed him off. Finally free, the red head rolled on the ground trying to put out the flames when something grabbed him and threw him across the room. Something sharp hit his back as he broke against a window, a loud shattering burst around his ears. Air rushed against his hair as he felt himself fly outside the building and crash into the ground of the P.E. field.
"Agh!" dirt jumped into his mouth as he gasped from the pain.
He held onto his side tightly as he wheezed for air unable to recover from the shock. There were no words to describe what he felt as the skin off his cheeks started to melt. He tried to rub the dirt off at the side of his mouth, but he screamed at the mere touch against his face. The gooey skin stuck against his fingers and ripped as he tried to peel them off.
"G!" he heard Daemon's voice boom in the air.
Panic quickly struck the red head and he fumbled on the ground trying to stand. That guy was a freaking demon! He immediately started running searching for a place to hide, and found the shed. He had to buy himself some time! He jingled the handle but it wouldn't budge. Damn it! He unconsciously looked back to see if the blue haired beast was coming, but he didn't see him.
Screw this! He hastily smashed his fists against the lock and broke in. The sun was gone and it was completely dim inside the small building. He felt around trying to use his hands as a guide when he bumped into something; the loud crash made him jump and he quickly stepped away.
A breath escaped him as he need to calm down. Pull yourself together, G. He looked down and saw that he pushed to the floor what looked like an archery bow.
A bow? He picked up the weapon on the ground.
"G!" Daemon called his name again.
…...
His throat tightened as he neared the other end of the field where the equipment shed was.
Why did he feel so hot? There was a sharp pain congesting in his chest and he started feeling unsettled. For some reason, after he used the fire, it felt like something was clawing inside his airways and searing it. He repeatedly pounded his lungs as it got harder to breathe and walk around; his joints felt oddly stiff as he moved his legs. What is this? He scratched the side of his neck as an itch began to spread across his skin. No matter how many times he scratched, it wouldn't go away.
"Urgh!" he dug his nails in and accidentally cut himself; something trickled down his ear as he tore his hand away.
He needed to find that red head soon – this cat and mouse chase was getting irritating!
But where was that guy hiding? Daemon walked around the field holding his right eye. He couldn't believe that G could hit so hard. The vision in his eye turned cloudy and he could only rely on the other to see. Where was he?!
"G!" he called out. "Where are you?!"
Thack! Something bounced off his head hard and he fell down. What the?! He looked around and found a football on the floor.
"Right here!" someone called up from above.
He looked up and saw something falling from the sky coming at him.
"Umf!" his chest tightened as an arrow pierced through his thighs and gut.
He looked back and saw a figure standing on the roof of the equipment shed. The person's arm drew back as he held a longbow and more arrows flew from the sky straight at him. The pain at his legs grew worse as he tried to run and more blood came out. Sharp metal drilled through his flesh as the archer got him on both shoulders.
What's with these toys?! Daemon grabbed the arrows stuck on his thigh and pulled them out.
"Daemon!" a scream rumbled beneath as something ran up to him.
The blue haired teen held out his hands to stop the rush attack, but the attacker was too fast. Surprise caught him as he swore he saw that coming!
Something slowed his reflexes that made him unable to move. Sharp pain pierced his ribs as the red head pushed him back; maybe there was something about the metal arrows that made him unable to move? Staring at his teammate's hateful eyes, he stood there frozen as blood spurted from his mouth.
"Do you know that there really isn't anything that separates those from the main family line and the lesser ranks?" the red head mocked him. "The only thing is, you can't drink their blood unless your lovers or another pure blood."
Daemon gave a hateful smile.
"It wasn't merely a thing Alaude spoke out, it was a warning! That wasn't just a pact we made, it was law, and you broke it! His blood will slowly attack yours, but you don't deserve to die by Asari's blood. Instead, I'm going to make you spill every drop you took from him,"
The red head sunk the metal arrow in deeper through his flesh, and a heavy stream of dark liquid began to gush out. So it wasn't the metal? Daemon drew a smirk that would never be wiped off. Blood was pouring heavier and heavier as he began coughing it out.
"Who's to say we aren't lovers?"
G glared at him and stabbed him with another metal arrow. "I do,"
…...
Daemon probably just said that to tick him off. Who'd believe Asari would ever like a guy like him? G watched as the the blue haired teen fizzled from consciousness; the last drop dripped out from him and his eyes rolled back.
He took out both arrows he stabbed him with, and let the boy fall to the floor. Daemon's true self was sickening. He threw the long metal arrows to the floor and hurried back to the gym.
"Asari!" he yelled the boy's name as he rushed back in.
He sat beside the fallen student and picked his head up.
"Are you awake?" he shook him.
Asari's lids lifted just so that a bit of color from his eyes could be seen. Still... He'd lost too much blood. All of it was on the floor, it was impossible to put it all back in!
G set his bow on the ground and unstrapped the quiver from his back. He ripped the buttons off his school uniform and stripped off his shirt.
"Drink me," he shook his teammate again to make sure he stayed awake.
The dark haired boy groggily shook his head and the red head repeated himself.
"Drink me! You've lost too much blood! You're going to die,"
His friend breathed deeply as he lay on the floor.
"We promised..." Asari closed his eyes, "that we wouldn't do it to each other... Unless we're lovers,"
"Screw that!"
G was losing his wits. Was he trying to make a joke right now?! Ever since he met Asari, he had trained him to be calm, calmer than he was when he was alone. G was a person that naturally became angry easily, and he thought he had grown mature, but obviously he hadn't.
"Look at me," he begged the boy in his hands, "I burnt my face so I could have you,"
Asari kept his eyes closed.
"Are you going to let yourself die like this?!" he yelled. He held they the dark haired teen closer to him. "Asari, I love you,"
His skin was so cold as he held it tight. There was a trembling in his hands and he was finally able to see it as the spasms grew stronger – Asari was shaking. He was scared, G felt an arrow go down his throat. He was so scared...
"I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you. I'm no Alaude but..." G felt the boy stir and he looked over.
"But Alaude's too overbearing, isn't he?" Asari gave him a smile.
Even though he was shaking, the simple change in his expression calmed the red head down as the boy placed his head back down against his shoulder. His mind went blank, and he swallowed hard as he moved his hand against his friend's dark hair. He needed to be gentle, but he didn't understand. Whatever Asari wanted, he'd accept it then.
There was suddenly a sharp pain against his neck.
"Ngh!" G jolted from the sudden pin prick.
There was a sudden hot breath breathing against his ear as he could feel something slide out from his skin.
"I'm sorry I don't have the strength to make it feel nice," Asari's tired voice whispered beside him, "but it will in a second. Just let me drink from you for a little while,"
The red head didn't dare look at what the other boy was doing, and just kept his eyes looking forward at the wall; his eyes darted against the broken window he just flew out of. Something smooth and sharp sunk back in his neck again, and a sudden heat fluttered in his body.
The orange gym – the glow wasn't there anymore. It became dark, and the shadows grew that it swallowed the whole inside of the building. The moon was captured full to where G was staring as if the gap against the wall where the window had been was a frame for a picture.
Regret started to fill him.
He was sorry he hadn't paid enough attention; he knew about Asari's lineage for almost a full two weeks now and he hadn't done anything.
He was sorry he didn't take it seriously enough.
He was sorry he had made all the wrong decisions.
He was sorry he wasn't strong enough to protect him.
He was sorry that things went wrong. Did he not care enough to prevent such mistakes? Were his feelings half-assed?
He was sorry that he was no Alaude.
…...
Someone nudged him awake.
"Are you okay?" a voice called out to him.
G opened his eyes and saw his friend's familiar face. For a second, he thought he was in still in the same gym three years ago as he looked at the ceiling; it was the same familiar darkness as no lights shined above them. He looked to the side and saw the same full moon up in the high windows. Emptiness...
He turned his head back and saw the pale face again, the jaw line more defined and hard; his friend's face had matured. So it was all just a dream, huh? A remnant of the past...
He looked up at Asari's worried face looking down at him – that was always his expression when they were together, he never smiles at him anymore. Is it because all he does troubles him?
"I'm okay," he sat up. He looked around and saw that the gym had cleared of the fight. It was just them and the rest of the other vampires from Namimori. "Are you?"
For a second, the expression on the other teen's face changed, but it quickly reverted back.
"I'm fine," he waved him off.
Isn't it okay to say that you're scared? He looked Asari in the eyes. The dark haired boy quickly looked away, reading his thoughts. Because of me, you met him again. He heard Asari sigh.
"Since you're okay, I'll help the others then," the dark haired boy got up earnestly trying to leave him.
G looked the other way so he couldn't see him go. I'm sorry, were the only words he could think of. I failed again.
Over to the side of the gym, his eyes fell on the new blood, Tsuna. Someone had placed it so that Giotto sat beside him with his head leaning over the young boy's shoulder. On the brunette's lap where the Italian should have been was instead Asari's student – the boy the dark haired teen had taken a liking to when his family adopted the abandoned child, Yamamoto Takeshi.
What is this? A smile pulled his face like he was laughing. His chest was heaving short staccato laughs muffled under his nose. He didn't want to laugh. Why the hell was he smiling? He kept looking at the three, his sight getting blurry like he was under water. Tsuna was looking at at the bastard child like some sort of mesmerized fool.
Hmf... A stream of air forced out from his nose. He pressed the top of his head deep into his hand, shaking; he was getting angry at himself. The unwanted laughs turned into a slightly more audible sound as they drew out in now long heavy breaths.
Damn this! He slammed his fist against the ground. Why the fuck did he keep on smiling?!
What the fuck was wrong with him?!
…...
"What is this?" Tsuna looked at Yamamoto.
Was that just a confession he made? His heart was beating loudly in his ears. Love? What is this love?!
The dark haired teen's masculine hand wrapped around his, holding it tight. There was something hard between their hands and he could only guess what it was.
"It's my ring," his friend's yellow eyes looked deep into his. "I'm not going to force it on you. I want you to take this if you feel anything for me. I mean – I guess I'm just trying to ask after all these years: Tsuna, what am I to you? This ring," his brows folded into to deep thought, "it may seem insignificant, but it means a lot to me. At least it's supposed to; it's my honor and pride. But when I think about you, there's nothing that I can compare that makes me feel the way you do."
Tsuna shrugged his shoulders shaking his head. "We're friends," a forced smile plastered on his face.
What expression was he supposed to make?
"I've never seen you as just a friend," Yamamoto looked pained. "When I first saw you back then," he smiled, "I though thought you were so cute walking down the isle with your father. Tsuna's blushing face from being teased, I wanted to tease you too."
His face turned red at the old memories. Talking about this now? He felt a hand brush against his side.
"It was just like this," his friend softly played with his cheeks making him release a happy purr, "everyone made fun of you being a vampire so you were always upset. They were all the same, picking on you, so I had to stand up to them just to be different so you'd actually notice me,"
"Notice you? You always stood out," Tsuna laughed.
"Being by your side, it was interesting. Your expressions all the time, it was funny. But when I first saw you smile, I knew I just wanted to make you happy. Your happy face beats that crying face anytime; I really wanted to see that face every time I saw you,"
"But you always make me smile," he looked at the boy hurt.
"And if you let me, can I keep doing that?"
His stare was so intense, the brunette looked at him not knowing how to answer. It's true, Yamamoto always kept him smiling when he was around, but what could he do to do the same for him? Making him happy, why would he stop him?
"Tsuna," he uttered his name; his hand's grip clasped tighter. "Have you noticed me yet?"
His heart beat even faster. The boy on his lap propped himself up with his elbow so that their faces drew close. Tsuna cast his eyes down as their noses touched, his hand shaking.
"I've noticed you..." his voice suddenly became quieter.
He could feel the taller teen smile as he backed himself further against the wall from embarrassment. They weren't the words "I love you," but he couldn't help but feel weak.
"Really?"
"Yeah," he whispered.
Yamamoto's hand never let go as the gap between them shrank, his friend's lips finally kissing his.
"Yamamoto," he drew a hot breath.
The dark haired teen slowly pulled away, but he drew in a haze and forgot what he was going to say. Giving him his second, Yamamoto dived in for another kiss, this time even deeper. One kiss, two kiss, Tsuna finally kissed him back. The soft brushes against his pink skin, there was a hint of something sharp that was getting more and more noticeable after each time they came at each other. The other teen drew away for a long moment as he heard a strange sound.
"Yamamoto," he called his name out again.
The boy went at his lips again and something thin sliced the inside of his mouth like a paper cut. There was a sudden jolt as Yamamoto got pulled away.
"Stop this," an angry gruff voice shoved them back to their surroundings.
A small sting pricked him and Tsuna felt the side of his mouth feeling something wet; looking at his fingers, a red painted the tips. Blood.
He looked up to who interrupted them and saw his red headed sempai, his eyes glaring at the two of them for doing some weird things just now. It looked like he ran a mile to get to them as his face colored the same as his disheveled hair.
"What are you guys doing?" he aimed the question more to Yamamoto who he had by his hand. "Get up," he pulled the injured boy to his feet. "Everyone needs to leave here. Now. We can't stay here in this school."
Tsuna watched as the dark haired teen refused to look at their senior even though he was being directly addressed. A guilty look on his face made him just stand there until their sempai told him to go outside.
"But sempai," Yamamoto argued.
There was flickering of the red stone on G's hand as he tried to speak. The dark haired teen stepped back drawing into a silence and nodded. The brunette was about to call after his friend to wait when the red head cut him off as well.
"Tsuna," his voice was sharp. He looked up at the boy in white uniform and saw that he was staring at the ground next to him and followed his gaze. Giotto's ring! it was Tsuna's turn to be guilty. "Put that ring back in your finger, and don't take it off,"
He gave the baller another look before he went and picked up the golden ring on the floor.
"S-sorry,"
He almost forgot that Yamamoto had taken it off. He held the small object in his hand and clutched it tightly with the other ring his friend just gave him. G stood there quietly waiting for him to put it directly on is finger but he just drew back; the weight of the Italian on his shoulder became more and more heavy as the red head kept his stare.
"G," someone called out to his senior from the shadows. The moonlight shining into the building wasn't bright enough to permit him to see further than five feet away.
"Yes?" the baller turned.
"I need to talk to you,"
The red head didn't look like he wanted to leave. Whoever it was, he gave off a commanding voice used to ordering people around; his sempai seemed to have no choice but to comply. The older boy gave Tsuna one last glance before he left demanding – Put it on. Put that ring on.
He didn't budge. Tsuna waited until his sempai went and disappeared into the darkness and he was left alone. A quietness surrounded him and the spiky blond as they were abandoned in private.
In those few minutes, he couldn't control himself. The floor and the wall at his back felt cool, but he was still burning hot. It was his whole body that was flushed. He clutched onto his hand where the two rings of his friends remained squished.
He was kissed today... By Yamamoto.
A burst of giddiness fluttered in his veins. What was this feeling?! He shifted his eyes to the boy leaning against him. In front of him, the cool, charming face of an old friend and upperclassman rested beside him. Before he met Yamamoto, all he had was Giotto. But now, his face crumpled as one of the rings burned in his hand.
But now, his mind was flooded with the dark haired teen who stole his first kiss. He sat there thinking, just looking at the spiky blond, but it didn't take him long. He reached for Giotto's left hand and took the golden ring from his palms.
"I'm sorry," he kept his brows furrowed as he slipped the other one from his hand too, "but I can't do it. I can't do it with you, Giotto-nii."
He slipped both golden rings back to his senior's hand.
"Because I think I'm in love with someone else,"
"Are you?" a voice suddenly made him jump.
Tsuna instinctively closed his senior's hand to hide what he had done. The beating of his heart pounded at his ears as his eyes drew wide; he was acting as if he was doing something wrong. He swallowed something dry in his mouth as he slowly twisted his head to see who had caught him.
To his surprise, a man in a crisp suit stepped out of the shadows; his eyes looking down at him. His features were shadowed by the dimness of the awful lighting, and all he could see was a faint lining of the man's tall figure.
It was the one who called to G earlier.
"Sawada," his eyes shot open.
The color. The instant he saw the color of his eyes, he stopped breathing.
"What is this talk about love?"
Suffocating.
They were there purest bloodshot red.