Captured Hearts
Chapter Forty-Three: The Relieved
Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- In the Hall- 10:00 AM the Next Day
Mukuro had lumbered out of his room moments before, groggy and exhausted, and he then stood before Dino, both of his eyes speckled with a metallic, red gleam. "Dino...," he sighed. "I... drank Hibarin's blood."
"I know," Dino muttered. "I knew you would the second I gave you that bottle. A blood bond is powerful, Mukuro."
"Indeed," Mukuro sighed. "I didn't get a wink of sleep last night... it was... painful." Dino sighed, and patted the hunter on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Mukuro. They'll be fine out there." The younger man gave a small, uncertain nod, and the tamer smiled broadly, saying, "How about someday soon, you go into Crimson Forest and do a little... hunting?"
The other trembled, and reached up, rubbning his face with his dark, gloved hands, and he sighed, "I'm sorry, Dino... I can't. I hate this. True love... this emotion is more painful than any other I've ever felt..." Dino sighed, and reached over, patting the hunter's shoulder.
"It's all right, okay? You'll see him again, I'm sure."
Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- All Inclusive Enclosure- 11:00 AM
Kikyo gave a wide yawn, standing up tall on his legs as he did so, and he looked to his side. "Morning, Kikyo," greeted the phantom beside him. Just before Kikyo could return the greeting, a hand grabbed his shoulder, and he was turned to see Byakuran.
"Good morning, Kikyo," he husked. Kikyo whinnied with suprise and trotted back immediately.
"L-lord Byakuran," he stuttered. "G-good morning..."
"It's time for you to choose, Kikyo," Byakuran said, holding his wings out in a traditional welcoming position. "Me? Or Ghost?"
"Huh?" Kikyo grunted, continuing to step back. "But..."
"I love you, Kikyo," Ghost said, "don't forget."
"I love him, too, you know," the living pegataur cut in. "In fact, I loved him first!" The phantom smiled eerily.
"Did you, now?"
Knowing that Ghost was currently in a solid state, Byakuran lunged forward, and attacked his brother, leaving Kikyo to stare at them both with his weak, teal gaze. He loved Byakuran, but after what they had done, he didn't want to hurt Ghost either. The centaur flashed back to the days where he was trapped in a pasture, performing tricks for an audience, being whipped at every wrong move. He was never a free centaur for more than a few seconds. He was momentarily set into the wild, but just before he could reach a herd of his own kind, he was roped, tripped, tied up and dragged all the way into the Science Center. And, though the thought brought tears to his eyes, Kikyo would rather relive those days than hurt either of the beautiful pegataurs before him.
"Ghost, Lord Byakuran, stop fighting," Kikyo called. "Please..." Byakuran stood upright and stopped moving, but Ghost continued to rear up and slam his hooves against the other's, making bruises blossom over the pure skin until the centaur couldn't bear to watch any more. "Stop!" he cried, dashing forward and ramming into Ghost. Caught of guard, the phantom broke from his solid state, and vanished, leaving the appaloosa alone with the one he loved. Kikyo turned to Byakuran, then, having lost the whole of a strong veneer, ran forward and hugged the pegataur tightly. "Byakuran, oh, Byakuran!" he cried. "I love you so much..."
"I love you too, Kikyo," Byakuran whispered, reaching out and returning the other's embrace. "Shh... no need to cry, Kikyo, I'm here for you now. I won't ever hurt you again. Promise." The appaloosa quivered, and he gave a wide smile, knowing now that Byakuran never meant him any harm.
On the other side of the enclosure, Takeshi nudged Hayato and pointed at the two, his chocolate-brown eyes soft as they met with the werewolf's. "Cute, right?" he murmured. The silverette glanced over at the pegataur-centaur couple.
"Che! Not nearly as cute as you," he snorted. The ebony coated centaur gave a broad smile, and hugged his mate, when Hayato abruptly pushed him back.
"Hayato?"
"Shh, I think that damn tamer is talking about us to the observers," he said. The two listened closely, and Hayato, thanks to his sharp hearing, was able to hear some of the words.
"Yeah, it's actually really funny to watch them mate," Dino laughed. "Hayato makes this really hilarious face whenever Takeshi enters him. It's like he never sees it coming, you know?"
Hayato flushed red. "That bastard..." Takeshi laughed.
"Well, you do make a pretty funny face," he chuckled. The werewolf glared at him, and Takeshi awkwardly laughed it off. "All right, I think I know how to get him to stop." The centaur relayed a plan to his mate, and the silverette broke into a slow, almost Belpehgor-worthy grin, before hopping on to Takeshi's back, and uncertainly standing on the horse body. The ebony-pelted centaur stopped when they were near the overhang. "Just get on my shoulders the moment I rear up," he said. His mate nodded, and Takeshi reared up. The silverette quickly crawled on to his shoulders, then leapt up, successfully locking his arms over the stone wall to the overhang from which observers watched them. He clawed his way up, Dino watching in shock, then stood upright as he came on to level ground with the humans.
"Dang, Hayato, that was pretty good!" Dino said. The werewolf made a point of cracking his knuckles, and the observers ran away, leaving the silverette alone with the blonde. "Uh..."
"Think it's funny, do you?" Hayato snarled. "That a werewolf will make a face when penetrated by a centaur?" The tamer blushed, and closed his eyes as the werewolf came up close. "Well let me suggest this," hissed Hayato. "What does a blondie do when their boss bends them over on a desk?"
"Wha-? That never happened!" Dino protested. "Come on, Hayato, I haven't had sex yet!" The werewolf smirked as many of the supposedly-fled observers started laughing at the tamer, and Dino flushed red, and hid his face in his hands. "Hayato, did you have to?"
"I never made you say anything," the werewolf replied. "Anywho, I don't think a little virgin such as yourself has any business judging me and my face when you haven't experienced anything remotely close to that firsthand. Scram."
Humiliated, Dino ran off, and Hayato grinned, before leaping the fence and falling right back on to Takeshi's back. "That was pretty mean, Hayato," the centaur laughed. "How did you know?"
"I didn't," Hayato replied. "Just needed to embarass him. My job's done."
Takeshi chuckled, and reached back, then felt along his mate's thighs. "You're such a bad boy, Hayato," he husked.
"Mock me and I'll give you the fist," Hayato muttered. The ebony-pelted centaur smiled, and tugged the werewolf forward towards him, breaking into a trot as he admired his mate's beautiful body.
Meanwhile, in the Tamers' Bedroom...
Dino flopped down on the bed, and looked over at the male a small distance away. Lussuria was staring at him with confused eyes, his arms folded. "All right, hun, what happened?" the older tamer asked.
"I just got dissed by a werewolf," Dino muttered, turning away.
Lussuria clucked his tongue in disapproval, and sat down on the blonde's bed, reaching out and rubbing his shoulder in a soothing manner. "What did they say to you, hun?"
"Really, it's what they said that made me trigger my own insult."
"And that would be?" Luss pressed.
"... That I haven't lost my first time yet," Dino sighed.
"... And, how old are you, hun?"
"Twenty four..."
The older man bit his lip for a moment. "It's okay, hun. Take five; I'll handle the observers for you."
"Aren't you still getting ready?" Dino asked, glancing over his shoulder. The other giggled.
"My beauty can wait if you're down," he cooed. "Relax, dear. I'll be back to check on you at noon."
"Thanks, Luss," the blonde sighed, closing his eyes.
Lussuria walked back out on to the observation overhang, and asked the observers, "Where were we?"
"Uh, Dino was talking about Hayato's silly face when he mates with Takeshi," one announced. The tamer grinned.
"Hoohoo~ It is quite the funny face he makes, but let's change the subject," Lussuria said. "Any questions?"
"Who tops, Bel or Fran?" asked another. The older man leaned against the wall.
"Usually Bel, but he does give Fran his turns every so often." Suddenly, a wave of water crashed over the tamer, and he gasped as his glasses fell off. Creepy laughing from behind told him just who had done the deed, and he whirled around. "I just dried my hair, you two!" he cried.
"Sorry, Luss, looks like high tide is a little early today!" came Fran's call.
"Well, I never!" the tamer huffed, turning back. "Now, where are my glasses..."
Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- All Inclusive Enclosure- 9:00 PM That Day...
All of the creatures were at peace. There was a nest made by Colonello in which he and his mate slept in together, and beside them were Rasiel and Mammon, even though Mammon claimed he was only going to sleep there once. Belphegor and Fran snuggled close where the grass was shortest, and Hayato fell asleep on Takeshi's back, his arms draped around the centaur's waist. For the first time, Kikyo and Byakuran fell asleep leaning against each other, tails crossed. In the bottom of the pond, Fuuta and Bluebell slept adjacent to each other. Skull slept by himself, but that was just how he wanted it. Ryohei fell asleep with Lussuria beside him, but Lussuria soon slipped out, leaving the silver-pelted centaur in peaceful slumber. Even Squalo and Xanxus slept soundly beside each other, having not been moved back to the unpleasant cage below.
Only one 'creature' was unsound sleeping in the enclosure. It was Mukuro, who had snuck into the enclosure to uncover the last thing he had left of the one he loved. It was a dusty, torn cape, one which the hunter himself had replaced for the vampire. Mukuro came out and removed the cape from the bushes, and he inhaled the weak scent that still clung to the material, soon falling asleep to dream of the one who he continued to long for. He loved the vampire so much it hurt, and he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to withstand the pain.
Little did he know that it wouldn't be too long, for a certain blood bond was being revived even as they remained apart.
-End Chapter
Reviews? I'm slumped... Sorry for the slightly-shorter-than-normal chapter!
Also! Who do you want to see Dino paired with? Leave an answer in your review!