Captured Hearts

Chapter Forty-nine: The Beautiful

Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- All-Inclusive Enclosure- 2:00 AM The Next Day...

"Is everyone comfortable?" Dino asked as he laid a blanket over Lal. A murmur of 'yes' rose throughout the group, and Dino stood upright, smiling. "All right, I'll head out, then. We're opening very late and closing very early tomorrow in recognition of the vampire holiday 'Bloody Tuesday.'"

"Oh? Then... it's already autumn...," Fon murmured, "Bloody Tuesday is held on the second Tuesday of September."

"What's celebrated in it?" Colonello asked.

"It's a day where vampires get together, sing, dance, and often reunite with their whole clans," Fon said, smiling. "It's a glorious celebration! Everyone donates a mouthful of blood to a large tortoise shell, and then, after letting the moon bathe it with light, they each take a sip of the mixed blood, which means that all of them recieve a piece of each of the vampires present."

"Sounds like a lot of fun for you lot," Colonello chuckled. "Bummer there are only two vampires here..."

Enma hopped over. "I can make it three," he said, morphing into a full vampire form. Fon smiled.

"If only Hibarin was here... Although, the only thing we can do here is a group blood-share anyway."

Dino had already left, knowing the whole of Bloody Tuesday. Apparently, long ago, the day was actually based on a prior situation where hunter and a vampire had bred. It was the day in which vampires had believed that they established peace with mankind, and then, the day itself- the Bloody Tuesday, was a day when five thousand vampires had been slaughtered in retaliation for the creation of the repulsive hybrid of the lovers.

While to mankind, five thousand wasn't neccessarily a lot, the vampire population hadn't been so high at the time. Five thousand was actually one third of the worldwide population! Luckily, they had made a superb comeback. Vampires began to outnumber humans, and the creatures were currently at a overall population of two million. And now that there were so many of them, they were all able to celebrate Bloody Tuesday together.

Well... almost all of them.

Dino headed into his room, and changed out of his work clothes, before sliding into bed. It was soon after that Lussuria did the same- of course, in a different bed as Dino. "Have a nice day, hun?"

"A long day to say the least," Dino sighed. "You?"

"Oh, Mukuro and I snuck out to try and find Hibarin."

"Really?" Dino said, turning on his side to look over at the other man. "How did that go?"

"Well, we did find him," Lussuria replied, taking off his sunglasses and placing them on the nightstand. "Unfortunately, the poor dear seems to be very sick."

"Sick?" Dino repeated.

"His skin was very red, and he kept coughing up blood."

Dino thought for a moment. "Did anyone mention anything about his blood betraying him?"

"... Yes, something like that," Lussuria agreed.

"Well then! He's not sick at all," Dino said. "The red skin on its own could be fever, but it sounds to me like he's just in a situation where his heart doesn't want to be. A vampire will always rely on the source of its blood in order to figure out where it's supposed to be. Hibarin's probably just ignoring his blood."

"So what can we do to help?" Lussuria asked. The tamer smiled.

"I don't think we'll need to worry about him for much longer."

Meanwhile, in Crimson Forest...

Hibari was sitting up on the stones that made the dens, watching as Basil and Daisy enjoyed their meal together. The elite felt no jealously as he watched the two, because he had already figured out why Basil and he were incompatible. First off, the younger had never loved him for real. Basil had been influenced by the wants of the Science Center, as well as his own uncontrolled maturing lust. The poor thing didn't know true love then- after all, a vampire of his age was not fully grown in the arts of romance. But Basil was starting to come out of that age, and Daisy had found him at just the right time. The elite sighed, looking at the bright sky above.

It was only one more day until Bloody Tuesday.

Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- In the Hunter's Bedroom- 12:00 PM...

Mukuro lied on his bed, his eyes closed as he thought about Hibari Natsu Kyoya II. About the flawless skin, and the rare, gentle smile. About the blood of aristocratic ancestry, about the fangs that were known vampire-worldwide for their supremacy. About the eyes that pierced his soul, the arms that embraced his body, the hair that fell about his face in the most perfect appearance. Hibari Natsu Kyoya II- an elite above all others.

And the hunter wanted him back.

Mukuro lied there for hours, just thinking... dreaming about the vampire whom he loved. Wanting the return of his precious vampire... needing the comfort of Hibari's arms. He wanted to spend his life at the creature's side... but it seemed impossible now. Hibari loved Basil, right? So... there was nothing left for the hunter.

The hunter sighed, rolling over, and closing his eyes. He wouldn't eat again today.

Meanwhile, in the Darkest Corner of the SCSB...

Xanxus sat with his back against the wall, Squalo in his arms. The cold, smooth fingers of the merman clutched Xanxus's clothes tightly, even in his sleep, as if his dreams involved the same situation. The older vampire smiled, leaning in, and kissing the merman's forehead. "If you're scared of losing me, you're just going to have to stay by my side forever. Agreed?" Squalo murmured 'yes' in his subconcious state, and nuzzled against the older being's shoulder, hugging him just a bit tighter. "That's my fish," Xanxus teased, his long fangs glinting dangerously as he came towards the pale shoulder.

Snap! In an instant, Xanxus's fangs had dislocated Squalo's shoulder, and he sucked greedily, the merman quivering against him. "Xanxus," Squalo breathed. "Please... it hurts..."

"You always say that," Xanxus growled, his fangs still lodged within the bone. "Why should I stop?"

"... Because you love me...," Squalo sighed. The older vampire thought for a moment, then jerked his own fangs out of the bone, before helping to set the damaged shoulder back in place. "Thanks," the merman grunted.

"Bah, if you're gonna be a baby about it," Xanxus pouted, draping his arms around the slender waist.

"Heh. Funny you should call me that," the shark answered.

"Hello~? Squalo? Xanxus? It's Fran!" called a new voice. "I just came through our old enclosure. I wanted to spend some time with you guys."

"Ushishishi~ We wanted to. Not just him," said another. Xanxus sighed, and struck the alloy wall with his powerful fist, causing a shower of sparks to hit an extinguished torch on the wall. He and Squalo approached the couple, and the four sat down, Fran setting down the fish he'd brought as a peace offering. Xanxus returned the favor by giving the other couple a portion of his meal. After all, he didn't really favor lamb over fish when steak wasn't an option. The four began to eat and share news, all cheerful even in the gloom of the cavern.

And as they spoke together, they made a pact. From then on, they would be a team, and they would share any potentially beneficial information with each other as soon as possible. Particularly amused, Belphegor decided to give the four of them a nickname.

The Varia.

Science Center for Supernatural Beings- Japan Branch- All-Inclusive Enclosure- 9:00 PM...

The vampires huddled together, all baring their fangs, Colonello nervously standing alongside them, and Fon started, coming in and locking his jaws about Skull's shoulder. The other vampire grinned, and did the same to the morph Enma, who used his somewhat false fangs to bite Colonello. As the four drank, they grew closer, invigorating the bonds that all vampires shared as a species. And before they knew it, others had decided to participate, as well. Hayato and Takeshi playfully snuck into the knot, and each picked out a shoulder to lovebite, soon drawing in more creatures. Rasiel and Mammon, who'd used to have centaur meat, wanted to remember that taste, even if just a little, and they groomed Takeshi's horse back, moving on to more as Ryohei, Kikyo, and a hesitant Byakuran joined in. Without the tamers around, Bel and Fran smuggled Squalo and Xanxus into the group bloodshare, although the only one who would dare to take a chance at being bitten by Xanxus was Squalo. Eventually, only Fuuta and Bluebell stayed out of it, but they let affection circulate amongst each other as they embraced. Lambo hesitantly joined in. Even Lal Mirch joined in, knowing that this was her last chance to safely chomp on her former mate's shoulder.

"Happy Bloody Tuesday, everyone," Fon said softly. The gentle phrase was passed between each pair of lips, before suddenly being given to an outsider.

"Happy Bloody Tuesday, everyone." The creatures all looked back, to see Dino, and he walked forward, ignoring Byakuran's threatening stomps against the ground. At last, he stopped before Lal, and hugged her tightly. "I know I'm not one of you... but... please let me participate in whatever way I can," Dino said. The beings looked amongst themselves, and at last, Byakuran strode forward, and actually bowed to Dino.

"In order for me to express to my mate that I'm a changed pegataur, please step on to my back."

"Huh? You mean that?" Dino said, his caramel eyes wide. The other nodded, and lied a wing down on the ground, granting Dino access to his flawless back. The tamer reluctantly came forward, and placed both hands on to Byakuran's shoulders, before pushing himself up and straddling the white horse back. The wings folded around his legs, and Byakuran sighed, returning to Kikyo and lying his tail over his mate's.

"Come on, now everyone, it's just a human, no big deal," he sighed.

And everyone agreed.

-End Chapter

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