Chapter 6: Questioning Motives

The heavy wooden door creaked open ominously, and Akashi stepped aside to let Kagami walk past him. The room was dimly lit by a lamp in the corner, throwing a golden glow on the couches that surrounded a low lying table. The large windows that stretched across one wall allowed Kagami to see the first vestiges of sunlight bleeding into the sky.

Sunrise already, huh? Kagami sighed to himself. Four more weeks before he could feel the strength of the full moon in his veins again.

He had a feeling he was going to need it.

"Please, take a seat," Akashi motioned, moving to a table on the side and bringing over a tray with two cups and a pot. He set it down on the low table, gracefully pouring out watery tea for both of them. "Help yourself."

Kagami went to refuse, but his stomach protested rather loudly, and he swore he saw a corner of Akashi's mouth twitch.

"You haven't eaten in some time, have you?" he observed, sitting down opposite Kagami.

Kagami felt uneasy, lifting the china cup and sniffing it. Smelt like green tea. He sipped it. Tasted like green tea, too, through the aftertaste of Aomine's blood on his tongue.

"It isn't poisoned," Akashi's voice held a hint of amusement, and he made an example by drinking his own tea.

Kagami flushed, finding his voice. "W-what am I doing here?"

"That's the question I'm meant to ask you," Akashi said. "But before we proceed, I would like to apologise for my behaviour earlier. I did not mean to harm anyone in any way, but circumstances are…" he stared at the leaves in the cup, and seemed a little lost in them. "Complicated."

"Well, I can't really blame you for it," Kagami smiled weakly. "I'm the one who…dropped in."

Akashi snorted. "Indeed. I hope you realise your position. A werewolf spying on a confidential vampires-only meeting is what one could call a crime, by VLSA standards. Do not assume that I am biased in any way," his pale red eyes bore into Kagami's deeper ones. "If it were a lycanthrope meeting and a vampire were to have 'dropped in', they would have to be punished as well. But I have not seen you here before, and I assume you do not know our laws. If you tell me who you're working for, I think we can come to some agreement."

Kagami chewed his lip. He was here under Riko's orders, but…technically speaking, Riko was now his Alpha. He was part of her pack. But he had just met them… Should he sell them out?

Apparently, Akashi took Kagami's pause as disagreement. "I guess werewolf loyalty is truly more than a myth," he said quietly. "Fine, if you are to behave that way, then I will need some details on you. What is your name? Where are you from?"

Was he getting arrested? Kagami's ears stood up in agitation and he put the cup down. "U-uh, I swear I didn't hear anything! I was too-" He broke off. In truth, he has been too caught up with Aomine to pay attention to the meeting at all.

A muscle jumped in Akashi's jaw. "My name is Akashi Seijuurou. I am the current head of the Vampire, Lycanthrope and Sorcerer Alliance here in Japan." Kagami's hackles rose at the change in tone, and he felt his muscles instinctually tense as though he would have to bolt at any second. "As a lycanthrope, you answer to me. You may not want to give up your pack name for your pack's sake, but when it comes to information pertaining only to you, I expect straight answers. Now…who are you, and why are you here?"

Kagami felt his skin prickle, his mouth run dry.

Akashi's red eyes shone gold in the light of the rising sun. "Tell me everything."

The chain around Kagami's neck burned cold. His head swam, and sweat broke out on his skin. He opened his mouth, and it was as though someone else were speaking.

Who are you?

"My name is Kagami Taiga," he rasped. "My…mother was human, and my father…is a pureblood werewolf. I was raised in Los Angeles, and my flight landed here at ten last night."

Why are you here?

"The reason I came here is because I…" the words scraped against his throat. "I need to…" he found it hard to breathe, but he had to say it. For some reason, he thought he would die if he didn't.

Why was he here?

A cheeky smirk, laughter in the woods.

You're so slow Taiga. Catch up!

His head swam, and his claws tore at the cloth of the seat. His necklace felt like it was choking him.

There's something here…to fill in that gaping hole…

Missing something…nostalgic…

What did she say? Why am I here?

The words found themselves and he gasped them out.

"I'm here for the Blood Moon Festival."


Aomine scowled as he skulked into the west wing of the manor, pushing open the door to the built in clinic.

"Someone's in a sour mood."

Aomine glared at the man who peeked at him from behind a curtain at the other end of the room, sharp grey eyes light with humour. "Fuck off, Takao."

Takao smiled, his fangs shining in the soft lighting. "I heard we have a visitor!"

"Shut up, Takao," a familiar voice snapped and the curtain was pulled aside. A man with emerald eyes and matching hair glared at Aomine. Midorima was human, but one of the most well versed doctors when it came to all things supernatural. He turned back to Takao, grabbing his arm and yanking out the needle that was in his vein.

"Ow, Shin-chan!" Takao pouted.

"Sorry," Midorima muttered softly, pressing a wad of cotton against the bead of blood that appeared.

Aomine smirked. "Huh, donating blood again?"

"It's for research," Midorima huffed, collecting the tubes. "Speaking of which, seeing that you got cut yourself, I'd like to use this opportunity to collect some of your pure blood…" he trailed off when he saw that Aomine's wound no longer existed. "What? It shouldn't have healed that quickly!"

"I got help," Aomine mumbled. "Anyway, if this was it, too bad but you're not getting my blood. Can I leave now?"

Miodrima frowned at the lack of answer. "Don't go just yet." He went to a locker and punched in the combination. "When was the last time you had blood?" he asked, taking out a marked packet full of thick red liquid. "You lost quite a bit in there, too."

"I had some a few days back," Aomine shrugged.

"You need at least a three litres every week, minimum, you know that," Midorima seethed. "If you don't take care, your health will fail, and you have many responsibilities as a pureblood-"

"Blah, blah, nag, nag," Aomine rolled his eyes, snatching the pouch. "I'm drinking it, okay?" he bared his fangs and sank them into the indicated area. A burst of blood flowed into his mouth and down his throat, but he couldn't help but wince.

"You're really something," Takao snorted, rolling down his sleeve. "Who ever heard of a vamp who hates blood?"

Aomine licked his lips, only realising how deprived he was once he clearly felt the strength returning into his body. "I don't hate it, I just don't like it. I mean, it just tastes funny."

"That's like a human not liking the taste of water," Midorima clicked his tongue. "Well, as long as you continue to get your required amount."

The government ensured the VLSA got enough donated blood to feed the vampire population. Nobody wanted rabid vampires attacking humans.

After all, if that ever happened, the Crimson Claw would have to be called.

Aomine shivered. They weren't a nice bunch, even after their previous head retired. Aomine had never met him, but he'd heard enough stories of the famous vampire killer, known only as Claw. If this were anyone else, he'd have laughed at the name.

There were also those who were hired to hunt werewolves, but that was something Aomine didn't like talking about either.

Akashi's words before their meeting was interrupted resounded in his mind.

There has been an attack, on a pureblood vampire.

Aomine felt a hand on his shoulder. Takao's eyes reflected slight concern at the expression on Aomine's face. "Hey, everything okay?"

Aomine nodded. "Yeah."

But he had the feeling that it wouldn't be very soon.


Kagami blinked away the pain, bright spots dancing in his vision as he got his bearings. His shirt was sticking to his back, his hair plastered to his forehead. There was a groan, and he looked up from where he had fallen against the back of the sofa to see Akashi cradling his face in his hands.

His nose twitched. There was a smell in the air, familiar. And not in the good way.

He looked around him. The room was in a mess, the tray upturned, the china pot on the floor. If he squinted, he could've sworn there was a crack in the window.

He rubbed his neck, but couldn't feel any burns or marks. It really had felt like his chain had been strangling him.

"What happened?" his voice was no louder than a whisper.

Akashi heard him nonetheless, raising his head. His face was ashen, his gaze bloodshot. The bags under his eyes seemed magnified all of a sudden, as though in those brief moments he had spent days without sleep.

"I-I'm sorry," his voice broke, and he went to stand but his legs couldn't hold his weight properly. He cursed under his breath. "I lose a bit of control sometimes. I apologise."

"It's stared, hasn't it?" Kagami spoke before he could stop himself. "The deterioration. I can smell it on you. It's slight, but it's there."

Akashi shot him a look of shock that morphed into one of cold anger. "I still have time. Watch your tongue, Kagami. My patience runs thin as it is."

Kagami had smelt it before, seen it before. He had seen it happen to her.

A sharp knock on the door jolted both the redheads out of their heavy silence.

Akashi frowned. "Come in."

A head popped in, twin ears peeking out of tousled blonde hair. "Akashicchi, we…uh, we have guests. Aida Riko, to be more exact, asking for your presence," the young werewolf bit his lip, his eyes flickering over the carnage but wisely not commenting on it.

"Go and see to her, Kise. I'll be there soon."

Kise hesitated. "She…she's asking for a Kagami Taiga, too."

Akashi took in a breath. "Very well. Kagami, follow him. I will be there shortly."

Kise held the door open and Kagami got up slowly, avoiding the spilt tea as he tiptoed towards the door.

"And Kagami," Akashi called out. Kagami turned around to face him with some apprehension. Some of the colour had returned to Akashi's face, but he hadn't stood up yet. "You'd do well to stay away from Aomine Daiki, for both your benefit and his."

Kagami felt a stab of irrational irritation at the words. "Why?"

Akashi pursed his lips. "That silver sword. Would anyone make a sword of pure silver for any other purpose than the hunting and killing of werewolves?"

Kagami didn't like where this was going.

"That sword is an Aomine family heirloom," Akashi bent down and picked up the tray, shaking the tea off it. "And it's not the only silver weapon they have. Maybe you should wonder as to why that may be the case."

Kagami swallowed, turning around and closing the door behind him.


Akashi stood up, but his knees buckled and he barely avoided cracking his head against the corner of the table. His fingers scratched the wood under him, and a harsh cough racked his body.

Drops of red splattered against the timber.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

Not yet. I still have time.

His eyelids fluttered over golden irises.

I will make more time.


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