Captured Hearts

Chapter Sixteen: The Sickened

Hibari yawned, his eyes fluttering open, and he sat up, then looked around the enclosure. 'Wait... was it just a dream...?' he wondered. He then felt something around his neck, other than the collar, and he picked it up, then blushed to see the fangs around his neck. Was it so? The fangs of his father, Kurou the third? Yes. There was no doubt.

"Ah, Hibarin, so glad thou art awake," Basil greeted, pulling the vampire up by his arms. He glanced at the necklace, then his eyes quickly turned shocked. "Thou dost know what that is thou art wearing, right, Lord?"

"They're the fangs of my father," Hibari said, brushing his hand over the necklace. "Mukuro gave it to me."

"Art thou sure?" he asked, frowning. "My Lord, it is a frightful thing to see my love bearing the fangs of a fellow vampire as he might a trophy."

"Basil, c'mon, it's fine," he answered, before coming in and kissing the younger vampire's ear. "I love you."

Basil blushed, then hugged Hibari tightly. "Lord Hibarin... um... I... we need to perform the usual vampire courting habits in order to be set free. So... uh... wait for a moment." Basil walked away, and Hibari exhaled, then let his instincts take over. What Basil was more than likely planning was a blood exchange using a rose- one of the more intimate blood exchanges in the vampire society. Hibari's suspiscions were soon proved true as he smelled the rose fragrance mingled with the sweet scent of blood. "You may open thy eyes, my Lord." Hibari opened his eyes, and accepted the white rose whose petals had been turned pink by a blood-water solution. "Please, accept this," Basil offered, holding out the rose. Indeed, the younger vampire had done a superb job of getting the rose to absorb his blood, and Hibari could appreciate a male capable of pulling it off. He accepted the rose, then plucked out a petal, and punctured it with a fang. The petal slowly lost its red-tinted color as Hibari nursed on it, drawing out Basil's blood, and smiling when he felt the rich nutrients inside his mouth.

"Good work on this," he praised. "I don't think I've ever seen a bloody rose done so well!"

Basil smiled, and bowed. "Like I have said, thou art sweeter than the sweetest rose, so this sort of gift seems only suiting, dear Lord Hibarin. Besides... since I've met you... I've begun to love roses much more..."

It took a lot of work to nurture a rose through blood, as Hibari recalled, so he was greatly impressed by Basil's efforts. But another important thing was to never leave a gift unreturned. Hibari smiled, and offered Basil his throat. "Basil... thank you," he said. The younger vampire smiled, and shook his head.

"It's all right, Lord Hibarin. This gift is solely for thee. I need not have it returned," he said, smiling. "Besides... to see your reaction was treat enough for me, my Lord."

"Heh, you're such a poet," Hibari chuckled, petting his mate on the head. "Thank you."

"Thou art very welcome," Basil replied, smiling brightly. Thou needst not to worry about repaying a gift to me. I art absolutely fine just to share the air you breathe, Lord."

Hibari grinned, and took another blood-raised petal from the rose. As one of the vampires who appreciated the finer things, he was actually a bit seduced by Basil's gift. After all, blood plus rose equals a happy vampire- that was why it was a courting act to begin with. Every vampire had their own style of gifting it... as Basil had, some simply gave it to the other in person; some did it through a elegant, seductive dance; some placed the rose in an evident place that their love could associate to the giver; and others still gifted the roses in banquets (but those were often store-bought anyway). But Basil's way was good enough for Hibari to enjoy, for he disliked it when creatures beat around the bush, no pun intended.

"Aw, man, am I interrupting?" Hibari and Basil glanced to the door to see Dino, who was waving sheepishly. "Sorry about that. Uhh... well... Squalo asked to see you, Hibarin."

"Okay...?" Hibari said. "Sorry, Basil. I'll be right back."

Basil nodded, and went over to tend to the garden, letting Hibari go along with Dino out of the enclosure. To his suprise, this time out, he wasn't leashed, but he wasn't going to complain about it. He and Dino headed up to the merman enclosure, and, when they got there, Squalo was waiting patiently. "It's about damn time you got back!" he shouted. "What took you, tamer?"

"Er- that is... Basil was giving Hibari a gift, so... I didn't want to interrupt...," Dino said, grinning.

"Voi, vampire, come," Squalo said, before yanking Hibari down into the tank. Dino yelled something as Hibari was dragged under, but was ignored, for both Hibari and Squalo were determined to accomplish something- even if the vampire didn't yet know what that 'something' was. Squalo pulled him through a tunnel, but, as Hibari was running out of air, he pulled the merman back, trying to send the message. There was an awkward pause, before Squalo hesitantly came forward, and kissed the vampire, giving him the oxygen to go on. Although highly disturbed, Hibari was able to make it the rest of the way through the tunnel with that.

When they surfaced once more, Hibari panted, and gasped out, "I can't believe you freaking kissed me...!"

"What other choice did I have?" Squalo snorted. "Forget that, all right? I need your help, badly."

"What is it?" Hibari asked, immediately giving Squalo his undivided attention.

"... It's Xanxus," Squalo said, biting his lip. "That bastard's sick, and I think it's my fault."

"Why don't you tell the scientists?" the vampire asked, looking around the place they'd surfaced in, and, using his night vision, he could identify the place as Xanxus's cave.

"Because they'll shoot him," Squalo said, worry thick in his voice. "He was too strong to be subdued by a shot before, but this is the first time I've ever known him sick, and he's not taking it well."

"But I don't know what to do about it!" Hibari protested. "It's not like I'm a doctor!" Squalo lifted himself out of the water, and helped the vampire out as well as his legs formed, before walking up to Xanxus's cage, dangerously close. "Hey, be careful!" Hibari warned.

"Don't worry... he's sleeping," Squalo muttered, starting to pick the cage lock.

"Squalo, that guy's trouble! Seriously!" Hibari protested, taking a step back towards the tunnel down the to the merman enclosure. Squalo soon opened the cage door, and walked in, then started to drag Xanxus out of the enclosure, looking concerned still. He lied the older vampire down beside Hibari, then looked up at the vampire with stern eyes. "Do me a favor, and let him drink your blood."

"What? No!" Hibari said, stepping back again. "The last time I did, he really hurt me...!"

Squalo snorted, and scooped up a handful of water, before pouring it over Xanxus's forehead. "C'mon, boss, wake up..."

Xanxus groaned, and opened his eyes, wiping the water off of his face as he glared at Squalo. "Damned shark trash," he snorted.

"Boss, I've got Hibarin here, willing to help you."

"Not so willing...," Hibari muttered.

"C'mere, little bird," Xanxus hissed, reaching out to take Hibari's arm. The other vampire didn't let him get within inches of his arm, but then looked at Squalo, nervous.

"Squalo, seriously, I don't want to," he protested. Squalo sighed, then indicated to his shoulder. Hibari looked at it, and could identify, even in the dark the many bite marks across Squalo's shoulder. "Hibarin, do me a favor, and just give him your wrist."

Hibari hesitated, but eventually offered his wrist to Xanxus, feeling that it was the right thing to do. Xanxus smirked, and his cold lips met Hibari's pale flesh, as if trying to soothe it before he punctured the skin with his rough fangs. With a quiet whimper, Hibari endured, and allowed his blood to be taken by the older vampire, even though he was bothered by the fact that Xanxus hadn't used any precautions to take away the pain. After a brief, but apparently satisfying drink, Xanxus backed off, a trace of blood lingering on his chin still. "Thanks, little bird," he chuckled, "I really needed that." Hibari nodded apprehensively, and Xanxus chuckled once more, before suddenly coughing, turning his head away from the two as he did so. "Damn," he cursed. "Freaking thing..."

Squalo sighed, and gently rubbed the vampire's back, looking up at Hibari with hopeful eyes. "Do you have any idea- any idea at all- as to what I can do to help him?"

Hibari shook his head, then muttered, "I myself have only been sick once... and that was cured by the medicine that the scientists had."

"Then... could you go to get some medicine for him?" Squalo asked. "Don't tell them who it's for, just-"

"Y'know, Squalo, that guy there nearly killed Basil. I have no reason to help him," Hibari said.

"Oh, Hibarin~!" called another voice. "I have a reason for you!" Squalo and Hibari turned as a second merman pulled himself up on to the land and scrambled over, looking blind. "It's really dark in here... where are you? Hello~o?"

"Over HERE, Fran!" Squalo yelled, making the voice echo obnoxiously throughout the cave. After it had at last died down, Xanxus punched the shark for being loud, and Fran finally released his facepalm.

"Well that didn't help," he muttered. "Anyway! Before I stray too far from the water, Hibarin, just think of the love you'll be wrecking if you don't help out!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? There's no way that that... thing is capable of love!" Hibari protested, jabbing a thumb at Xanxus.

"Maybe that's true," Fran admitted. "But Squalo, on the other hand..."

"VOI! FRAN, HOW ABOUT YOU SHUT UP?" Squalo screamed, but, even in the dark, Hibari could see the blush that he needed to in order to prove Fran's statement true. Hibari thought for a while, weighing the pros and cons of helping out a disgraceful, sadistic vampire that would probably die some horrible death if he didn't die sick anyway. It wasn't like he saw Xanxus very often in the first place, so it didn't really matter what he did, and he'd most likely earn some trust if he did this, whether it was from the loving merman or the cruel vampire was still up for debate.

Suddenly, a lantern was held out to the four, before it was dropped, illuminating Dino's shocked face for a mere second before it went out. There was a pause, before Hibari murmured, "Dino? You okay?"

"Wh-what's Xanxus doing out of his e-enclosure? Get him back in, one of you, please!" came the stuttering voice. "Please... Please..."

Squalo sighed, then helped Xanxus to his feet, before leading him back to his enclosure. Xanxus followed, but was clearly frustrated as the door was closed and locked behind him. "I'll come see you again later, boss," Squalo tried to soothe the older. "We'll find away, promise."
"Shut up, damn shark, just get out of my sight...," Xanxus grumbled, throwing a rock out from within his cage into Squalo's forehead. "Don't bother." Squalo seemed momentarily enraged, but easily calmed, and walked back to where Dino was.

"He's in," he said.

"Thank god, I've had some bad times with that guy," Dino sighed. "Xanxus is... well... just not your average vampire."

Hibari placed a hand on the tamer's shoulder, but the other jumped in suprise, batting him away. "Dino... it's just me," Hibari sighed.

"Oh... Hibarin... all right," Dino said, relaxing. "I'm sorry, Hibarin. Being in here just gets me all tense."

"It's okay," Hibari replied. "Fran, Squalo, you two should probably..."

"Roger!" Fran said, before making a run, slip, and sort-of-dive into the tunnel to their enclosure. Squalo followed, and Dino and Hibari were alone with Xanxus.

"I didn't know that the merpeople could get into here," Dino groaned. "But why...?"

"Uh... Dino... Xanxus is sick," Hibari said. "And... uh... I want him to get tre-"

"Sick? Xanxus?" Dino gasped, "Is he subdued, then?"

"Uh... I... I guess?"

"Ah, finally, we can get rid-"

"I want him to get treated!" Hibari cut off. "Please don't shoot him..."

Dino stared at the vampire, then posed a cunning smile. "Sure, Hibarin. Whatever you say."

But only moments after Hibari had reentered the enclosure, a gunshot sounded.

-End Chapter

:P And there we have it. XS! Just as requested~. HOWEVER! Just remember that I don't kill characters. Don't hate. Y'don't know what happened. Hehe~

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