Haruto and L-elf were taken to a small building in the middle of the town. "This is our council building", the young woman explained. "Our little group has grown, Haruto."
There were no windows, the building was lit brightly with lamps and walls lights that made it easy to see. She led them to a small room and served them some tea, finally acknowledging L-elf.
"My name is Rukino Saki. I'm a friend of Haruto's. Who are you?"
"L-elf. Haruto's partner."
"Partner?", her eyes widened.
"Yeah, well, it just sort of happened", Haruto replid sheepishly. "He promised I could drink from him."
"You're so easily bought off", Saki sighed. "You became his lover for such a little thing?"
"L-l-l-l-l-lo?!", Haruto stuttered and couldn't even choke out the full word.
L-elf frowned. "You are mistaken." At that moment, they were joined by a few others. Saki turned to greet them.
"Good timing. Haruto's come back after all these years with his lover."
Yamada and Inuzuka's jaws dropped while Akira and an old woman looked on in confusion. Inuzuka was frozen for a while but Yamada jumped back into action.
"OI! What do you think you're doing leavin' us for so long and then showin' up outta the blue?!" He pulled Haruto into a headlock and squeezed tightly. "Do you know just how much we've fucking been through while you were off sulking?!"
"Yamada-kun!", the old woman scolded. "Don't break his neck before we can hear his side of the story."
Inuzuka closed his mouth and agreed with a nod. "Aina's right. We have to at least listen We've got a lot to tell him too."
Yamada released him and Haruto rubbed his neck. "Wait, Aina? Sakurai Aina?", he looked on in amazement. So she had stayed with them this whole time. Inuzuka wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she looked up at him affectionately. Haruto smiled.
"Congrats...No, I guess I'm a little late on that", he blushed. "And Akira...", Haruto looked to the young-looking introvert. "Last time I saw you, it was a struggle to get you out of your room."
"You're late on a lot of things. Let's all sit and talk, us, you, and your boyfriend", Inuzuka said.
Haruto didn't have the energy to deny it at the moment anymore. He'd set them straight later. They all sat down at the table and Haruto's friends told their side of the story. When he left, they decided to stay in case he ever returned. They built homes for themselves and in time, more people came to the area and settled down. It began with just a few who knew the secret.
Presently, every citizen knew of their vampire neighbors. There were some bumps along the way but all who currently lived here were accepting and content. In that time, Aina and Inuzuka had gotten married and even had children. And some of those kids had kids.
"Are they...", Haruto spoke up but couldn't find the right words at first. "Are they like us?"
Inuzuka nodded. "Our children were half vampire, so they shared just a few characteristics. They could eat food but it had to be supplemented with blood. They age but slowly. But, once they married and had kids with other humans, the vampirism was diluted even more."
Aina added in, "Our grandchildren are almost completely human. They only partake of blood if they are particularly ill."
"I'm glad", Haruto smiled. "Um, I meant to ask this earlier but where's Marie?"
At that, the mood dampened. Yamada was the first to speak up. "When you and Shoko first went missing, she was the one to go searching for you."
The whole group looked in the immediate area and found Shoko's body first. Haruto turned his gaze away shamefully. Realizing what must have happened, Marie was the one who volunteered to go and find Haruto, wherever he had gone. After a few days had passed, they decided to go after Marie. Through word of mouth, they heard of a vampire who had been caught and killed in a nearby town.
"When we went to see for ourselves, they had her hanging in the center of the town." Inuzuka clenched his fists on the table. "It was night, so we took her body back to give it a proper burial."
Aina patted his shoulder comfortingly and turned to Haruto. "So what have you been doing all this time?"
"I've just been...moving around. Everyone, I'm so sorry about what I did. I didn't just kill Shoko, but it caused Marie's death..." tears stung and fell from his eyes. "If she didn't come looking for me...If I had just owned up to my mistake in the first place."
"So you just moped around all these decades?", Yamada asked, rolling hi eyes. "After we've been bustin' our asses gettin' this city together? Ad you just walk in with your boyfriend with nothin' to show for it. I oughta-"
"L-elf isn't my boyfriend! He's a Dorssian soldier that I'm working with!"
"Dorssian?", Saki spoke up. "What business does he have with you?"
"Tokishima and I have an agreement. He assists me in a coup against the current royal family and I give him my blood", L-elf finally said something.
"A coup?", Aina blinked.
"Against Dorssia?!", Yamada blurted before laughing. "You and this guy here?! I'd pay money to see that happen."
"You could see it for free if you accept my offer." L-elf spoke calmly, not put off by Yamada's disbelief. "We came to enlist you all. More vampires equals more power."
Yamada stood from his chair. "You think we're just gonna follow some bastard we don't know and the guy who abandoned us?!"
"Calm down", Inuzuka remained firm. "Haruto, I want to believe you're still the guy I knew. I want to believe that you're not about to invade a country with one other person just to drink his blood."
"You can all benefit from this", L-elf said. "If we succeed, vampires will have a place in the new society. You won't need to hide anymore."
Saki crossed her arms. "We don't need to hide now. This village is more than enough for us if the world won't accept us as we are now."
"L-elf is saying that we can change that. Look, you guys have proven that humans and vampires can live together just fine. Now imagine if everywhere was like that? Don't you all want to see the world without being afraid", Haruto smiled as if he truly believed in that sort of world. "I think we could do it, with L-elf's help."
"Haruto, I think we all need some time to process this", Inuzuka grabbed onto Aina's hand. "Until then, you guys are welcome to stay. This is our council building but it has a few guest rooms, for whenever people come through. You guys can stay there."
Hours later, one of the grandchildren had come and delivered some food for L-elf. After days one the road, a home cooked meal was heaven. He felt more energized. L-elf knew he had to keep his strength up if Haruto was going to keep feeding from him. Especially if he wanted to remain at one hundred percent. He couldn't go after Dorssia with anything less.
Haruto came into his bedroom and closed the door behind him. "Um, just so you know, I wasn't upset about them assuming we were dating because of you or anything. I think you're a really great person. It's just..."
"You don't need to say anything to spare my feelings, Tokishima. How you feel about me is none of my concern, as long as you get the job done."
"I think you're handsome!", Haruto yelled out with his eyes closed. "Y-you're really smart too. So I didn't want you to think there was anything wrong with you. I had just...never thought of it before, being with anyone else."
Without another word, L-elf sat down on the bed and removed his clothing until he was bare from the neck to his hips. Haruto didn't know why he was undressing so much, but he would accept the invitation. He sat down next to L-elf and put his hands on his shoulders to brace himself. L-elf tilted his head and exposed his neck. Something about seeing a person this strong and fierce submitting in such a way whetted his appetite.
The last thought that Haruto had before sinking his teeth in was that L-elf looked attractive, even from this angle