Chapter 38
How long he had been kneeling here with the redhead in his arms, he had no idea. Outside, things were beginning to grow silent but Mello wasn't in a hurry to go back out to see who had come out victorious. He didn't care anymore. First he had lost Near, and now Matt. No, he had had enough. Without Matt, there was no living. No point in it. No fun in it. His sobs had long since quieted. Now he was simply running his leather clad fingers through the teens blood matted hair.
Mello was so caught up in thinking of all he and Matt had been through, that he didn't notice someone walk into the room and shut the door behind them. It wasn't until something hit the floor with a dull thud and rolled into his thigh that he looked up to see who had come to interrupt his mourning. His eyes were unreadable, no emotion in them as he met the familiar violet eyes.
Kyosta stood a few feet from him, hands at his sides and blood splattered over his pale face and clothes. The expression on the vampires face matched the look in the blond's eyes. Empty, smooth and free of any emotion. For a while, there eyes just locked, both trying to read each other though it seemed as though they weren't get very far. There was nothing there to read.
Kyosta parted his blood stained lips and the words that followed sparked the tiniest bit of reaction in the blond vampires face. "You win."
Mello stared back at him, unable to believe what he had just heard. He was about to ask his cousin to clarify, when he remembered the object that had bumped against his thigh. Looking down, his eyes went wide at realizing that it was a severed head. The hair on it was messy and darker than night, the eyes that stared back at Mello were the deep ruby color of blood. And suddenly, he couldn't help but smirk. His deep blue eyes flickered back to meet violet. "You killed B. You're a traitor." He chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Light will kill you."
To the blond's surprise, his cousin smirked right back. There was no fear in his eyes. No worry whatsoever. "I know." Kyosta moved toward the blond and his dead mate, removing his leather gloves as he did so and discarding them. Though his snow white hands were spotless, he could see nothing but blood there. Blood that would never be washed away. "You'll die too?"
Mello nodded. Yes. He didn't give two shits about his revenge anymore. Revenge only brought suffering to the person seeking it out and those around said person. He had learned this the hard way. Light would win and Mello didn't care. Light could kill him and let him rest in peace. Finally..."Correction," He chuckled. "He wins."
There's a look on the purple haired vampires face that the blond can't really read but he doesn't bother to try and figure it out. Nothing matters anymore and so he will wait here for Light who was no doubt somewhere doubling over in agony at having half his coven -and creations- wiped out. Though how such a heartless vampire would feel the pain he had felt when he lost Near...was beyond him. "After all you've done to get to where you are. You're going to give up?"
And the blond nodded.
"You always were unpredictable and stubborn dear, Mihael." With a sigh, Kyosta moved to kneel beside the blond. His gaze fell on the cut up body in Mello's arms and grimaced. B had really gone all out on the poor boy. Regret weighed heavy in his chest and he knew Mello was staring at him but fuck...there was nothing he could say.
Nothing he could say would bring his mate back. There was no point. "Mihael," He started hesitantly. "looks like we'll be seeing them again real soon." He knew that Kyosta was referring to their family. A small smile spread across his lips. At least he had that to look forward to. And with a little faith, luck and a hell of a lot of mercy, he would bump into Near and Matt along the way and he would drag them along with him. "Soon." He replied. And he didn't even flinch when the purple haired vampire wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.
The small act of affection told of so many unspoken apologies, unasked questions, and un-assured reassurance. Though Mello didn't return the hug so as to not let go of Matt, Kyosta still heard the genuine mutual feeling in the blonds mind.
"Touching as this is, I hate to say I despise family reunions."
To Mello's surprise, it was...B. B was leaning against the closed door, looking as casual as if he had arrived to have a nice pleasant chat with them. Mello's eyes went wide. What? But...Kyosta had killed him! With a low growl Mello shoved his cousin off him. "Liar!" Looking back at the severed head, he noticed that it had changed. Now, the midnight hair it had once wore had turned a deep chocolate brown, the blood red eyes were now brown as well, and Mello realized at once that it was Light.
It had been another of Kyosta's illusions.
Kyosta looked somber as he watched the blonds expression go from angry, to shocked, to down right confused. "I'm sorry, I know you wanted to kill him yourself but-"
"You killed Light..." Mello's tone was low and incredulous. Years and years of having avoided the vampire, to prepare himself for the moment they would meet again to settle the score. Years of dreaming about having Light's blood running down his throat. Of getting his revenge on the son of a bitch for what he had done to him and his family...and now to see the vampire dead at the hands of another. He didn't know how to feel. How to react. Was he grateful? Or was he angry?
Just moments ago he had said that he no longer cared about his revenge, yes, but now...now that it had actually been carried out. Well...fuck. He didn't know. He just didn't know. B was still standing by the door, his eyes a mixture of different emotions. Fury, sadness, betrayal, more fury. But his face held a calm composure that had the hairs on the back of Mello's neck standing on edge. A calm B was very dangerous...
As if he had been waiting for the two to finish speaking, B finally moved. It was so fast that neither had seen it coming. With the single bat of an eyelash he was across the room, dragging Kyosta to his feet by his deep purple hair. "Get up!" He growled. And Kyosta did as he was told, though he was wincing as B's fingers curled into his hair, forcing his head back while B's free hand held both of his hands behind his back. "He trusted you..." B's voice was low and dangerous in Kyosta's ear.
And for a second they seemed to forget that Mello was there. But the blond was already laying Matt down gently fully prepared to defend his cousin from this psychopath. He had, after all, repented for what he had done and damn if Mello was going to let someone else die because of him. Kyosta had done quite a bit in the short time the war had been going on. He had tried to get him to Matt in time. He had killed Light for him...and now, looking into his cousins calm, violet eyes, he knew damn well that that was what he had planned from the beginning.
He had planned to lure B here away from the other vampires so that Mello could have his chance at avenging Matt. And... he had planned to die for him. Mello was speechless. Kyosta had betrayed the others in order to help him.
"Stay back, Keehl!" B spat at Mello. There was a crazy animalistic look in his eyes that just made the blond freeze mid-step. It's not like Kyosta wanted to be saved anyway. That much was clear by the calm expression he wore. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, the corners of Kyosta's lips tugged up into a smile. And not two seconds later, B's hands grasped the sides of the purple haired vampire's head and twisted.
There was a loud sound, like glass breaking against cement as Kyosta's head was ripped from his body and Mello couldn't help but look away. Now, he truly was the only one left. He was the only Keehl. Now, as Kyosta's headless body was tossed aside, Mello was left to face Light's crazed mate. Alone, because God only knew if Aaron and Celestria were okay.
"Now, to deal with you." B murmured as he moved toward the blond. His pace was slow -human speed- and menacing. "Light didn't want to kill you. He merely wanted to test your strengths. Your abilities. To play with you so you would keep him entertained. In the end, he wanted you to join him." A low snort of disgust. "But now that he's gone...I'm going to kill you. For him." And Mello didn't even try to defend himself when the back of B's hand connected with his jaw.
He was sent sprawling onto his back, head smacking against the rough wood floor. Mello scrambled to get to his feet, but B was already there, kicking him in the side. "Agh! Fuck!" He cursed as the loud snapping sounds signaled the breaking of at least three of his ribs. They immediately began to mend themselves, shooting more pain up the blonds back and side as he managed to dodge another kick by rolling away and jumping up to his feet.
"And here I thought you were going to just sit there and take it."
Mello spat a mouthful of blood as their eyes met in a cold battle of intimidation. "I have unfinished business with you." For the longest time, neither moved and Mello took this chance to think up a strategy. B was obviously a lot more experienced in fighting than he was, but damn he was going to kill him if it was the last thing he did! He was not going to get away with hurting Matt the way he had...Light, he looked almost like a Saint next to Mr. Beyond Birthday. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something shiny sticking out from the inside of Kyosta's coat.
It was the color of silver. It was a gun...Could it work? But...what was Kyosta doing with a gun? Vampires never used weapons, but shit, he sure as fuck wasn't going to give in to his pride right now. He knew when he was up against a wall and he would use anything to his advantage. Thinking quickly, he faked left and then went right, moving with his vampire speed to retrieve the weapon that would gain him his advantage. Because really...even vampires slowed down a bit when they were injured.
It would give him the chance to gain agility and strength over B.
But, as luck would have it. B wasn't much of an idiot. He had spun on his heel after the blond and so Mello had only just managed to turn, gun in hand, before B had him pinned to the ground. The gun, though it had fired once and nipped the dark haired vampire in the shoulder, now lay a good few feet from them out of Mello's reach. Shit.
B didn't let his healing wound slow him down though, his fists were relentless against the blond vampires face. Back and forth Mello's head whipped as the blows forced him to turn in the opposite directions. It was obvious that this was only being done so B could let go of all the pent up anger and frustration of having just lost his mate.
This was it, Mello mused. This was the end of the line. He had somewhat won this war. Light was dead, but then again, the one that he had sworn to kill on Matt's behalf would still live and then what? He would continue Light's work and eventually the world would rot under the control of demons and devils alike. No one would be safe from the cold claw of the beast. The human race would perish, and then, so would the vampires because really? What other food source could they use? The animals would have gone too, then what? All they would succeed in doing, would be in bringing the earth to ruin before its time. Nothing more.
B's punches stopped abruptly and Mello licked the blood that flecked his lips, tasting it. It was cold and slightly sweet but nothing compared to Matt. With a sigh, Mello closed his eyes; B's fingers were already around his neck, no doubt getting a good grip on him to pop his head right off like he'd done to Kyosta. And like Kyosta had done to Near. Mello didn't care anymore. Death would be bliss. He'd find his Mail, and his Nate, and he would be with his mother and father again. Fuck everything else.
He was finally coming home.
"Scared?" B chuckled. "Funny. I can almost hear your heart beating. You must be scared, listen to it hammer away."
What? What the fuck was he talking about? His fuckin' heart didn't beat anymore...what was he?...Wait, there it is. It was loud and fast in his ears. Like the fluttering of hummingbird wings. Funny, indeed. It really did sound like a heart beat. Was it really his own? Was this because he was about to die?(again) The body was reacting to the possibility of death once more...probably. He wasn't too sure about how vampire death worked.
BANG!
Wha-?
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!
Something cold and wet spilled over his chest and he opened his eyes to look up at B. Eyes wide, Mello let out a shocked gasp as the dark haired vampire stared back at him with blood red eyes that were just as wide as his own. Blood was pouring out from between his eyebrows and down his face, dripping onto Mello's chest and stomach. More blood was blossoming in the vampire's chest, visible against the white material of his long sleeved shirt. They were bullet wounds.
BANG! BANG!
And then B fell on top of him, motionless. Was he dead? R-really? What the hell? Who?...And then he saw it. The shock of crimson hair, almost as deep and rich as blood. Thinking he was going nuts, Mello shoved B's still body off him and sat up and there, standing on shaking legs and holding Kyosta's gun up at B as if he would jump back up, was Matt. Mello was stunned into silence. No way...He...Matt was dead! But there he was!
The cuts on his body looked as though they were beginning to heal. No longer did they look fresh, but now they were closing up and healing, turning a light pink in places. Mello was still in shock and he didn't move until he saw the redhead drop to his knees; his weak legs unable to keep him up anymore. Quickly, Mello was on his feet and running over to the redhead, reaching him in seconds. He threw his arms around him and squeezed, sobs tearing from his throat. "Matt!"
The gun fell from Matt's shaking hand, making a sound like thunder in the room. The quick beating of a heart was still ringing delightfully in Mello's ears and for a second he didn't care to question how or why. All he knew, was that Matt was alive! "M-mello..." Matt croaked weakly. A trembling hand moved up to brush against the vampires bleeding cheek. "What took you so long?"
And Mello sobbed happily. Fuck, Matt was alive! He was alive and he was speaking and his heart, though a bit fast, sounded as healthy as ever! How was this possible though? Matt had been dead, there was no doubt in his mind. Mello had listened and the redhead's heart had not been beating at all. Why then? Why was he alive? Not that he was complaining, fuck no, he was so relieved and overjoyed and ecstatic! Every damn synonym under the sun for the word Happy, yeah he was it. "I'm so sorry, Matt. I'm so, so, sorry! I tried to get here as fast as I could, I'm sorry!"
The blond felt Matt chuckle weakly before coughing. Warm blood splashed onto his cheek and panic began to rise in Mello once more. "Matt? What is it?" But the redhead just slumped against him, coughing. "Matt!"
"M'okay." He whispered. "Really. J-just so tired..." Matt sniffed as he gazed up at the blond with his tired bright gree-whoa. Wait a second. Mello's eyed went wide upon seeing the redheads eyes. They were no longer the deep green he had come to love...no, now they were of two different colors. One was still that beautiful forest green color he had been so use to, but the other...it was a stunning cold grey. Just like Near's had been...Why? Was Matt?..."Matt, open your mouth please." Mello blurted out.
Confused, Matt did as he was told. Opening his mouth wide to give the blond a good look. And Mello had been right. There were two sharp fangs there and now everything was beginning to piece together. Matt wasn't human, well...he was, but...he was part vampire too! His heart still beat, but there were vampire fangs in his mouth and Mello was damn sure that the reason why Matt felt so weak, was not just because of the wounds, but because he was thirsty. "Here," The blond bit into his own wrist, hard so as to let the blood spill easily, then he held it to Matt's lips, watching in interest as Matt's own new fangs broke the surface of his stone skin.
"Matt," Mello's smile was a little guilty, but he was so happy that Matt was alive. Even if he had condemned his poor redhead to eternal damnation, Mello was now sure that both he and Matt wouldn't have it any other way. "I love you."
- - - -
New York; Two years later.
"Have you become a masochist now, Matty?" Mello murmured as he crouched beside the redhead. His gaze moved to the redhead once before moving down across the street where a young couple is sitting on a porch swing. The man had jet black hair and eyes the color of coal. This, Mello remembered, is L. His little redhead's ex-boyfriend, and though he had been more than a little bitter, he had agreed to come with Matt to see what had become of him. "Why do you put yourself through this torture?" He added in a softer tone.
Matt shrugged his shoulders. Reaching up, he pulled the orange tinted goggles he had taken to wearing now -on account of his odd eyes- down so that they hung around his neck instead. Color rushed back to him as all the gold and orange melted away. Beautiful. His eyes didn't move from L and his young wife on the porch swing. And only after he had brushed a trembling hand through his now crimson locks, did he answer. "I still care about him, Mello. Now I know he's okay."
Mello frowned at his mate before looking back at the couple. The woman's hair was a natural red color, the kind of red that looked more orange-ish than anything. She was slender, though her belly was swollen and L's hand was resting lovingly on it, rubbing slow, gentle circles against it as he smiled at her with warm eyes. The blond looked over just in time to see a single tear slide down Matt's cheek before the redhead pulled his goggles back up over his eyes once more.
"Lets go." He whispered.
Mello nodded. He stood and helped the redhead to his feet. "He seems happy."
"I hope so." Matt sighed and licked his lips. "I love you, Mells."
The blond vampire chuckled. "I love you too." He did. He really did. Matt was still pretty much human, so his body was still warm and soft as he held him against his own cold chest. After kissing the crimson locks, he added. "You can't always protect him, Matt. What are you going to do, come by every night? Follow him from work?" He chuckled softly at hearing the mumbled curse of annoyance from the redhead. "Let them him live his own life. Let him make his own mistakes."
Matt was still not too happy, so the blond tried a different approach. "It's kind of like blood and chocolate. For humans, blood is bitter and is often seen as something unpleasant, and chocolate is sweet and it puts a smile on everyone's face. So, you see. Even though both blood and chocolate is sweet for us, it isn't the same for them, Matt. Let the humans taste their own fate. Its how life is suppose to be."
Silence as Matt thought this over, then; "You're right." The two exchanged smiles before their lips met in a soft kiss, a simple caress of cold skin against warm. Fire and ice had been reunited once more and this time, with Light out of the way, there was nothing that would keep them from staying together for the rest of eternity.
A/N: So, there it is. Done. I could either end it here, or continue on with the sequel 'Fire and Ice' Want it?
~ Matt.