"Hey, L-elf, say something."

"..."

Haruto almost kicked him, but that wouldn't do anything. He sighed instead and looked to the grave he'd erected. Haruto feared that L-elf might cling to her body and fight him, but the Dorssian was completely unresponsive once it was confirmed she was dead. Haruto moved her body and on his own he dug a hole to lay her body to rest. After burying and putting a heavy stone to mark it, he pulled L-elf out to see and hopefully say a few words on her behalf.

But it was clear that wasn't going to happen. L-elf just sat on the ground, curled up on himself. He wouldn't respond to Haruto's words at all. For a moment, he thought he'd come to his senses and was going to speak, but he just moved to lay on his back, staring aimlessly at the sky. The vampire couldn't just let this person die without any sort of speech. The though saddened him. So he cleared his throat.

"I didn't know you. Not even a little bit. All I know is that you were very important to L-elf. Extremely important. When you were with him, he turned from ice cold to soft and warm. You were like a fire, melting him. And now that you're gone, he's like this...That's enough to tell me you were what he lived for. I'm sad to see you go when there's still someone who needs you very much. But hopefully you can be free of suffering now."

Haruto looked to L-elf, just in case his words roused up any reaction. He was disappointed at the silver haired's blank expression. The sky was beginning to get light and Haruto had to go back inside. He grabbed L-elf and carried him back. L-elf was left on the bed Haruto had first laid him on, while he went to the basement to await the night and think about things.

L-elf would probably move on. He'd want to go home, or more likely find a new life for himself. That was for the best. The alternative was him going into a depressive state for an extended period, leaving Haruto to care for him. He'd do it. He owed him and Haruto couldn't watch someone waste away. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He hunted animals and drained them of their blood anyway.

The human could eat the meat, which he usually left to rot in the woods. But if L-elf was running away, he probably had some intended destination. Haruto wondered if that was still the plan now that his companion was gone. Haruto had many hobbies that he could do in the darkness and decided to busy himself today with reading. He didn't want to make too much noise and bother L-elf.

Assuming he was still up there in the bedroom. It was very likely that he'd come to his senses and left, leaving Haruto alone once again. Those thoughts saddened him but what else did he expect? He and L-elf were strangers. They had nothing in common and no reason to remain together. Doing so might be in L-elf's best interests anyway. Otherwise he'd be in close quarters with something that could kill him.

Haruto didn't get much reading done as he spent much of the day thinking about this and sometimes pacing around in the basement. He waited until he was certain that the sun had dropped and went to see if L-elf was still there. He had prepared himself for the worst. He knocked on the door but there was no answer.

"L-elf? Are you still in there? ...I'm coming in."

He entered and found the other still lying in bed. His position had changed a little, but other than that, nothing was different. It gave Haruto mixed feelings. On the one hand, he wasn't alone anymore, at least for now. On the other, L-elf was clearly stricken with grief if he wasn't moving. It had been a whole day and he hadn't eaten. Haruto didn't know if he'd gotten dinner at least before being tied up in the woods.

"You need to eat", he said but there was no kind of reply. "I'll get something for you."

The vampire left and decided to kill two birds with one stone. All Haruto had was dried and preserved foods. L-elf needed something with more filling. He left the mansion and went into the forest, searching. He didn't feel like going for big game tonight. He'd keep it small. Maybe a medium sized rodent. Some raccoons passed but Haruto wasn't in the mood for raccoon.

He sniffed the air and continued on until some rabbits made themselves noticed. Haruto watched them carefully. Rabbits were known for their speed and he wasn't particularly fast. Once they were right in front of him, probably on their way to a burrow. He pounced and grabbed one by the ears and the other by the foot. He took the first and bit into it, draining the blood.

The taste seemed less pleasing than before, but he blamed it on having L-elf's blood earlier. Haruto drank the second rabbit's blood and usually he'd leave the bodies in the forest floor but tonight this would be dinner for the human. He brought them inside and started a fire. When he was still human, he'd learned how to skin and cook animals. It had always made him squeamish as a child. But it had been so long and his skills were rusty.

Still, he'd managed to free some of the meat from the fur and roasted it over the fire. Once it was finished, he dusted off a plate, making it as clean as he could, and put the rabbit's meat on it. He went up to the bedroom and saw that L-elf was still lying in bed. At least he was lying on his side, which meant he'd moved again.

"I brought you some dinner. You need to eat." Haruto moved closer and set the plate on the bedside drawer. He sat down by L-elf's side and watched him for a moment. His eyes were blank and staring at nothing. Haruto saw small movements that showed he was still breathing. He couldn't help himself and reached out to stroke L-elf's hair.

It was softer than he could have ever imagined and luxuriously silky. He almost lost himself in the sensation but he remembered he was trying to comfort the young man into eating.

"Come on", Haruto grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a sitting position. He held L-elf to lean against him and held a piece of meat to his mouth. "Go ahead and eat."

L-elf was still unresponsive and didn't open his mouth. It was like he was completely unaware of what was going on around him. Haruto sighed, unsure of what to do.

"That girl, she wouldn't want you to starve to death, would she? After you both left together...She said she wanted to see the world. Maybe you should see it in her place."

The Dorssian didn't speak but he parted and bit into the food and chewed slowly. Haruto smiled and was about to reach out for more when a hand caught him.

"I can feed myself."

L-elf ate quietly. He had been very hungry but it didn't register in his mind with the loss of Lieselotte. Haruto remained next to him and observed silently until the plate was cleaned.

"So, what will you do now?"

"Seeing the world in Lieselotte's stead is not a bad plan."

Haruto smiled widely at L-elf's admission of that. They would be parting ways now, and thinking like that made him lonely. But at least this way L-elf wouldn't fall in depression. He'd get to experience new things. He had a chance at happiness.

"But before that", he continued, "I will avenge her."

"Eh? Avenge? How?"

"The Dorssian royal family knew of her condition and yet instead of granting her wish, condemned her to a life behind walls. All she wanted was to go beyond them. For what they did, I will crush this kingdom. And you will help me."

Haruto's mind went blank and then it was whirring with unconnected ideas. "How am I going to help? I don't know anything about the royal family." He wasn't even going to touch on the fact that he hadn't agreed to doing this. Just what did L-elf expect him to do?

"Your ability to possess bodies will come in handy, along with your invincible body", L-elf moved the plate back to the drawer.

"I don't want to overthrow a king. I'm fine just living this way. There's no reason for me to do any of this!" Haruto's life was lonely, his world was small, and he lived in fear of one day the villagers coming and attacking him, probably during the day. It wasn't a perfect life by far. Even so, it was the place in the world that he had made for himself. There was nowhere else for him to go.

L-elf looked at him and Haruto saw something strong and full of resolve. L-elf grabbed the back of Haruto's head and pulled him in, putting the vampire's face near his neck.

"This. If you obey me, then you will be able to feed from me regularly. As long as you do not drain me completely or take an unnecessary amount. That will be our deal."

Haruto didn't answer for a while. His head was swirling. L-elf's fresh, warm blood was right under his nose. All that separated him from it was the thinnest layer of skin. He could even feel the pulse. Haruto's tongue peaked out and he licked at it lightly. L-elf's fingers tightened in his hair.

"Do we have an agreement?"

Haruto promptly answered with a bite.