USA

It was a comfortable weekday afternoon as Jesse lie in bed next to a sleeping Han, staring at the freshly fixed patch in the roof as he contemplated life. Ever since his brush with death a few weeks ago, he'd been seriously contemplating having that talk with Han about the longevity of their relationship. Before he met him, he'd come to terms with his mortality, welcoming it even! But their relationship had changed his outlook on life, and he wanted to do whatever he could to prolong it.

But the real dilemma was bringing it up!

Hanzo detested being a vamp with every fiber of his being, so getting him to agree to turn him was slim. But what was his plan after Jesse was no longer of this world? Did he plan on shuffling around like a sad sack all by his lonesome for all eternity? Did he plan on putting himself out there and meeting someone else who could keep him company for the time being?

He chuckled to himself at the thought, glancing over at him. What a silly idea. He barely wanted to be with him in the States, why would he go and find someone else to be with? But he did wonder what his plan was. Time wasn't as kind to Jesse as it was to Han, and he wasn't getting any younger. In their six years together, he'd already gotten so many more gray hairs and he'd been feeling like his bones were becoming brittle.

He'd been contemplating turning in his license, but how would he make ends meet after they ran through his savings? He couldn't very well ask Han to go and get a job somewhere, it wouldn't be right! His goal was to take care of him just as he offered when he saved him that fateful English night.

His phone buzzed and Han rolled over into him, throwing a tattooed arm across his torso. He hated it whenever he took a job and must have subconsciously heard it and thought it was work again, but luckily for his exotic lover, it was his personal phone instead. He picked up his phone with his free hand, glancing at the contact before answering. "Yello," he drawled.

"Jesse! How are things?"

"Well, aside from Han being a little more down in the dumps than usual, things over here are good. What about you, Ange? Anything significant happen after the little incident?" He asked, sitting up and digging in the nightstand for a cigar.

"Well…"

"I get it," Jesse said knowingly. It had come to his attention that Han had given their identities away unknowingly, and he could only imagine the unrest it caused for them both. Her not wanting to talk about it was understandable. However, she called him that same evening telling him that Genji might be holding a grudge, so he was unsure if they should return.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've finished the final product!"

"Great, then you can just send it on over, right?" Jesse asked, striking a match.

"As much as I would love to, I would feel more comfortable if he were here while I administer it so I can keep an eye on him for a few days. I want to make sure there are no side effects since this is a new medicine."

"Can't argue with that logic," Jesse took a puff, blowing his plume of smoke toward the open window before looking at his peacefully sleeping Han. "I'm just worried, y'know."

"I completely understand," Angela said from the other end. "If it makes you feel any better, I can send Genji to go do something before you guys get here?"

"And afterward, we can go stay at a hotel for a bit to make sure he doesn't show any symptoms and head home from there," Jesse nodded in agreement. "Just make it as quick as you can. I don't want any trouble while we're there."

"Of course."

"Got any time specific you want us there?" Jesse asked, rubbing Han's arm.

"As soon as you can. Just let me know when I should be expecting you."

"Will do. Thanks, Ange."

Jesse leaned against the headboard with a heavy sigh, surprised his conversation didn't wake him up. How was he going to take it when he learned he was going to have to go back to the source of his turmoil? He wasn't looking forward to that conversation! But… the sooner they went and got it over with, the sooner they could get back to their lives.

Then, a thought crossed his mind.

Since they were already going to see Ange, maybe he could bring the idea of turning up to Han sooner than anticipated since she could sedate him and give him the same meds. It would make the most sense, especially since he was going to have to go to her eventually. Or should he wait until his next batch in six months? Supposedly, the concoction she was making was only to be injected twice a year, so that would give him and Han some time to think about it if that's what he wanted.

His mind was made up. He didn't want to leave Han in this world alone.

Hanzo shuffled in his sleep, the familiar and comforting smell of smoke gently waking him from his slumber. He cracked open an eye to see Jesse sitting in deep contemplation. What was that about?

"You're awake," Jesse leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Have a nice nap, honeybun?"

"I did." Hanzo sat up with a stretch, refreshed from his midday cat nap. "What has you so lost in thought?"

Jesse took a long drag of his cigar, thinking hard about if he should bring it up now. What kind of reaction would he have? Would he get angry and shut him out? Would he be disgusted with it and tell him to never bring it up again? He looked at the analog clock hanging on the wall, transfixed on the seconds hand as it ticked away, time never to be recovered. "I've been thinkin' about the little chat we didn't get to finish before the hunt a couple weeks ago."

"Oh," Hanzo knew what he was getting at, and he'd been avoiding the topic ever since! What if he didn't mean what he thought he meant? What if he was just swept up in the job and had his head in the clouds? Surely, he wouldn't have said something that held so much meaning so casually! The thought of him staying by his side forever was nice… but for some reason, it made him feel embarrassed and weak! How shameful would it be if he were mistaken in his assumption? It was best to just cast it aside. "Think nothing of it. I am certain you were just caught up in anticipation of a decent hunt."

"'Think nothin' of it'?" Jesse knew he'd say something like that, but he needed to know he meant every word. "I want you to know, that I've had time to sit an' think about what I truly want. Ya followin'?" He asked, ashing his cigar.

Hanzo only grunted with a timid nod as he looked away. He was staring holes into his face!

"An' I meant every word I said when I told ya I would never leave ya by yourself in this lonesome world," Jesse reached over and turned his head to face him. He wanted to make sure he understood what he was saying. "Ever."

"Jesse…" Han couldn't keep the moisture from welling in his eyes again. "That is something I could not ask of you."

"But I want to!" Jesse jammed his cigar in the ashtray, outing it sloppily before holding his face in his hands. "I want to stand by ya an' make sure ya don't run off and get yourself into any trouble."

Hanzo let out a short laugh. "If you were to depart from this world, I would probably drive my katana into my chest." He knew that was a bit extreme, but it was because of Jesse he'd come to terms with being an otherworldly creature. It was because of Jesse that he'd gotten a second chance and a new outlook on life. And it was also because of Jesse that he never once felt like anything other than human. How did he expect to survive by himself?

"All I wanna do is prevent that," Jesse kissed his nose. "I know as much as ya don't wanna admit it that you can't live without yer old cowboy, and it's the same fer me."

"Jesse," Hanzo couldn't find the words. He was moved by his bold offer, but he couldn't let him give up his life so easily. "This is my burden and my burden alone. I cannot expect you to give up your humanity just for my sake."

"Han, it became my 'burden' the moment I caught ya in the woods that night six years ago," Jesse said, gently bumping foreheads with him. "I knew what I was gettin' myself into when I took ya in, and I never once thought of ya as a 'burden.'"

"How can you say something like that so easily?" Hanzo couldn't believe he'd gotten so lucky in finding him. Without his hospitality, he'd have been dead a long time ago.

"Believe me, it wasn't easy bringin' this up," Jesse lounged in bed, pulling him into his chest and holding him comfortably. "I know ya have yer reservations about it, and I was afraid of how you would react. Like I said, I've had a long time to think about this, an' I'm pretty confident in my decision."

Hanzo held him loosely, resting against his chest. "There is nothing I have done in my life to deserve your kindness." However, he would be a fool to reject him. Why was he having a hard time saying it out loud?

"Says who? You been nothin' but good to me, an' all I wanna do is return the favor. You deserve to be loved for more than just a sliver of yer life."

Hanzo was glad he couldn't see his face while they were like this. He was so touched that he was willing to do such a thing, he'd probably burst into tears if they made eye contact! "To be content standing by the side of a ruthless murderer for an unpredictable amount of time… how foolish."

"Haven't ya learned by now that I'm the biggest fool?" Jesse asked with a grin, giving him a squeeze.

"Just…" Hanzo couldn't deny him! If this idiot wanted to turn into some creature, who was he to stop him? Besides, it was a huge weight off knowing he wouldn't be alone. The only downside to it all was the fact that he'd have to use whatever vampiric abilities he had, which was what he'd avoided doing for the past six years. Why would he want to do something to remind him of the fact that he was no longer human? Though… the outcome would be more than worth it. He just needed some time to come to terms with things. "Let me think about it."

Jesse was relieved! Even though he didn't give him a flat 'yes', he didn't say 'no', which was better than nothing! He'd take the small win for now and bring it up again in a few months. By then, they'd both be ready. "I love ya, honeybun. More than you'll ever know," he said with a satisfied sigh. "By the way, I just got off the phone with Ange."

That was faster than he expected! She must have been better at her craft than he anticipated. "When is she sending the medicine?"

"That's the thing…" Jesse figured it would be best to come out with it rather than beat around the bush. "She wants ya back there so she can monitor ya for a few days. Make sure you don't have a reaction to the new meds."

"What a preposterous thing!" Hanzo said with a scoff, pushing himself up from his chest and looking at him sternly. "I am not going back there. I would rather take the old medicine."

"I had a feelin' you would be a bit reluctant," Jesse pulled him back down, needing him to stay calm. "Ange also figured somethin' was up, so she offered to send your brother away for a bit before we get there."

"Still." Hanzo couldn't go back knowing the possibility of having to face his brother again was grand. What would he say? He knew more than anyone that an apology meant nothing, and it was clear Genji was holding an understandable grudge. "I would rather not risk running into him."

"Listen, we'll get on our flight, I'll let Ange know as soon as we land so she can send him away, then you get your new meds, then we go back to a hotel and wait it out there until we get the 'all clear' to go home," Jesse explained. "How's that sound, huh?"

Hanzo shook his head. It was still too risky. "While that sounds like a well thought out plan, I still run the risk of him showing up while I'm there or not wanting to leave in the first place."

Jesse sighed. "If ya want my honest opinion, I think this is the perfect opportunity to have that conversation with your brother."

"Have you gone mad?" Hanzo asked, craning his neck up to look him in the face again. "Why on earth would you think that is something I can do? You saw how he reacted! There is no way he would speak to me on cordial terms."

"You're sayin' you wouldn't have reacted the same way if you were in his shoes?" Jesse asked knowingly, answered with silence. "He just needs time. Maybe if you turned that frown upside down every once in a while, things wouldn't have gotten so…"

"This is not something that can be solved with time," Han said with a sigh. "But I see you will not let this go."

"Sorry 'bout that honey pie," Jesse kissed the top of his head. "Gotta put yer health first."

"Fine." Hanzo would go, but only to appease Jesse. He could get a bit obsessive over things like this, so it was best to just get it over with. Who knew? Maybe he wouldn't run into him. Though… he remembered how his brother used to operate, and if he was wired the same way, he'd be out for revenge. Who's to say he wouldn't be hiding, waiting to ambush him?

But Jesse would be there with him to de-escalate things like last time, right?

"But I am going for the medicine, and the medicine only. I will not approach my brother."

"That's all I want. We've got all the time in the world to build up that courage."

"Courage, you say," Hanzo didn't think there was any amount of time that would make things okay. This was something he would just have to come to terms with.

"After all, he's got a life as long as yours, granted he doesn't run off and get himself killed," Jesse said, thinking of a long future. What would they spend their time doing? He didn't plan on hunting forever, and if he planned to turn, wouldn't it be wrong to hunt anyway? What would Han want to do? Did he have things on his bucket list? All of these new possibilities only made him excited for what was to come. What type of fun things would they do to pass the time? How worldly would they become? Would they stay in the States?

The possibilities were endless.

Amélie sat in her seat at the airport, going over her latest findings while she waited for her flight. There was a horde of vamps in "hiding" in a small town outside of Durango living somewhat peacefully, however, no matter how peaceful they were, they were still vile vermin that needed to be eliminated. She'd been going from state to state for a while, both leisurely and for business, listening to any news she heard through the grapevine and investigating what she heard. Though North America wasn't lousy with them like Asia was, she found quite a bit of info that would satisfy a large chunk of hunters.

She was finally heading back to Yunnan to see Doctor O'Deorain after having traveled around for the last six months. She noticed she'd been letting her emotions get the best of her lately and wanted to put a stop to that as soon as possible. Unfortunately, her curiosity always got the best of her, so it was put on the back burner for a bit, hitting another jackpot shortly after she'd stumbled across the castle.

She was relieved to be taking the time to get treatment, as she found herself depressed around this time of year. She was approaching the anniversary of her husband's death, and she never took it well. She usually threw herself into her job, collecting data for other hunters and uploading her findings to the site, but she finally gathered the courage to visit their old home.

She pulled out an old photo of them and smiled fondly. She missed him dearly and hoped he knew that he was still with her in her heart. She never imagined her life would turn out like this. She'd known about the existence of those creatures beforehand but never once thought her life would be uprooted because of one. They were always so careful, but apparently not careful enough. Now, her life had done a complete one-eighty, turning her into the best and most known sniper amongst hunters across the world.

Though, as much as she wanted to seek revenge, she wasn't a killer, only doing so when she needed to. She mainly just wanted to pull every last one of them out of hiding and wipe them off the map, which was best done with the help of the large population of hunters. She didn't want what happened to her to happen to some other poor soul. It truly was an unfortunate event.

"Don't worry, darlin'. It'll all be over, and we'll be back home before ya know it."

She looked up from her photo looking for the source of the familiar voice. Why did it make her sad? 'Curse these repulsive emotions.' Her gaze landed on two men walking up to the desk, and even though she could only see the back of them, she could easily tell one was an American with that horrid cowboy attire. But the other one? His straight, jet-black hair was tied up in a bun, and he was wearing a thick brown jacket, hiding any features she could use to identify anything else.

It was obvious they were both hunters, given their equipment and the sole fact that they had access to this portion of the airport. But the more she studied them, the more her gut told her something was off. Why did she feel like she'd heard that voice before? It was too prominent in her mind to ignore, and it bothered her to no end! She put her photo away and opened up her files again, keeping her eyes down but her ears open as they approached the employee at the desk.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen! Checking in?"

"Yeah, should be two under Jesse McCree."

"Two tickets to the three forty-five flight to Osaka, correct?"

"That'll be it."

Amélie couldn't believe her ears! She kept her composure, opening her wallet and pulling out the old business card that was given to her that fateful night, matching the name with what she just heard. Suddenly, the depression that was creeping up on her began to consume her. She never saw him again after that night, nor did she want to, but she could never gather the courage to toss the card. As much as holding onto it reminded her of something she definitely didn't want to remember, it also gave her a sense of clarity.

He was the hunter who saved her from doing something stupid and avenged her husband's death. For that, she would never forget him or his act of kindness.

So, he was stationed in Colorado? She could see it. Did he know about the vamps outside of Durango? Should she tell him? Who was the man with him, and why didn't he have a reservation under his own name? Was Jesse the only hunter of the pair? It wasn't uncommon for hunters to have partners that traveled with them, but it'd been a while since she'd seen it. She had so many questions that she desperately wanted the answer to, but what caught her even more off guard was when they turned to find a seat.

It only took her a few seconds to realize just who the other man was, and she boiled with the same repressed rage she was filled with six years ago. It was a face she'd never forget; the vampire that took her husband. She was conflicted. Every bone in her body wanted to end him right there, but to cause such a nasty scene in an airport was far out of her character.

Instead, she was now brimming with more questions. Why was he still alive? Why was he traveling with Jesse? 'Don't tell me…' It couldn't be! Had Jesse betrayed his community of hunters? Had he been harboring him this entire time? For the past six years?! How could he stand there and tell her that he'd take care of it that night when that obviously wasn't the case?! How could he sit there knowingly sharing his space, his life, with a vampire?! Why was it that she couldn't even tell he was a vamp?!

There was no doubt about it. That was the monster that took Gérard away from her. But… he looked human, the energy he gave off felt human. What had Jesse done? Did he… save him somehow? Was her poor husband the only one that suffered by his hands? Whatever the case may have been, he needed to pay the price for his actions, even if Gérard's justice was six years late.

"Wanna grab a bite while we wait? Plane's not gonna be here for another hour."

"I suppose that will be enough to distract me for the time being."

She watched the two of them get up and walk away, and it gave her an opening to change her plans a bit. Like always, something got her attention and kept her on the go. She put her things to the side and made the short journey to the desk, pulling out her credit card for whatever she was going to have to pay to make this sudden change.

"Hi, Miss! How can I help you?" The clerk asked with a smile.

"I need to change my flight," Amélie said, pulling out her boarding pass and passing it over.

"Not a problem, Miss…" the clerk paused, looking at the name on the pass. "Lacroix? Please tell me I'm pronouncing that correctly!"

"Yes," she replied to the nervous employee. She knew she'd always been intimidating, and even more so since she became a hunter. However, his nerves were misplaced, as her grudge was against the person they spoke to just minutes ago.

"Great! I'm not so good with names! So, what are we changing? The departure time? The date?"

"The location. How much to get on the upcoming flight to Osaka?" This particular individual had far too much energy for her liking! Best to keep things short and sweet. "You know what? Don't even tell me. Just take my card and charge it whatever." She handed him her card and tapped her fingers on the countertop impatiently, watching the printer spit out her new ticket ever so slowly.

"Here you go, ma'am," the employee said. "The change didn't cost you too much, so you're in luck."

"Merci." She collected her belongings and moved to the far end of the waiting area, outside of the general view. She planned on boarding discreetly and keeping an eye on the two of them until such a time she could exact her revenge. It was amazing how quickly she could slip back into an old headspace, and not in a good way.

She wanted to know what possessed Jesse to take in a vamp, especially after witnessing a gruesome scene like that. He was the hunter who was supposed to avenge Gérard and save the public from another threat, but he'd so obviously done the opposite.

And for that, she'd never forgive him.

Japan

Ever since Genji ran into his brother and found out the truth behind his humanity, things had been a bit… strange. That night he came home covered in blood was an eventful one, having found him rooting through her filing cabinet and getting everything dirty. She'd asked him what he was doing, but he refused to speak. It was obvious to Angela that he'd snapped and most likely took the life of an unfortunate human, but she didn't know his mental state was fragile enough to be broken so quickly!

Her poor Genji, giving in to the desires of what truly lurked in his DNA. She wanted to help him and to be by his side, but it was like he'd completely shut down! He wouldn't speak to her outside of small talk here and there, which only worried her! Had he forgiven her? Was he still upset? He had every right to feel the way that he did with everything happening. His long-lost assailant of a brother popping up as a vamp, claiming that he also was one? It'd probably send her into a spiral, too!

She'd done everything she could, apologizing profusely and giving him the space he… wanted? Needed? He was still around, so she took that as a good sign that he'd stay, but would he ever return to his normal self? That night was the only time she'd seen him like that, and since he'd shut her out, she didn't know if he was feeding on a regular basis now, or what! He refused any medication she tried to give him, and he wouldn't even sleep in the same room!

She understood being upset, but to take it this far? Was what she'd done truly that bad? She only acted on impulse to save him! The thought of life without him?

Genji felt like he'd been sitting in limbo. He thought the day his very own brother, the one he looked up to, ruthlessly killed him in cold blood was the worst day of his life, but no. The day he showed up as a vampire, throwing him for a loop and telling him he himself was also a vampire took the cake. He thought his lust for revenge had faded away but seeing him after all those years only served as a refresher of sorts.

Seeing his long-lost brother, seeing how he'd grown and aged, it only made him angrier. While he was content with essentially being young forever, he felt robbed of his opportunity to grow and mature. He felt like the wisdom that came with aging gracefully was snatched from him, leaving him to sit idly in his youth. Why did he get to live most of his life as a normal being? Who gave him the right to play God and take his life from him? It didn't matter if Father told him to do it, he could have said no and taken the consequences like a man. But instead, he chose to make his little brother suffer.

By now, Genji had snapped. Hell, he snapped the day he found out, running out of the house to prey on an innocent human. He still hadn't come to terms with the specifics of his humanity, and he hated to admit that it felt good to act on those disgusting impulses. It'd been a few weeks since that day, and he'd fed a few more times since, turning more and more into the very thing he despised.

He kept it from Angela because of how much she would worry. He knew she was probably beating herself up over this whole thing, and he couldn't blame her with the way he was building walls and shutting her out, refusing to even sleep in the same room. He couldn't help it! He was just… overwhelmed and needed some time to figure things out and recoup. He wouldn't be able to think straight with her breathing down his neck with concern!

He was no longer angry with her, as he had the time to reflect and understood to whom he should direct his anger. If he were in her position, he probably would have done the same thing.

So why should he be upset with her when all she did was save him? Sure, it wasn't in a way he would have preferred, but he knew that it was the only way, and he was grateful to her for it. What she did was in the name of love, but what his brother did…? It was his fault that he was what he was. If he hadn't blindly obeyed Father, he'd still be alive and well! If he hadn't carelessly taken his life, he wouldn't be some unholy creature living off the blood of others!

He'd threaten to turn him, to make Hanzo feel the disgust he felt when the truth finally revealed itself, but he beat him to the punch, having turned a while ago. The only other thing he could do to make him feel what he felt was return the ever so generous favor from that fateful day.

Which became Genji's number one goal from that point onward. That night, he'd come back inside a complete mess and incredibly dazed from feeding for the first time, nothing but murder on the brain. He trekked through the house, not caring about the trail of deep red blood he was leaving with each step. All he wanted was information on where his brother was currently living.

He suspected he was residing in the States, but not wanting to make assumptions, he helped himself to Angie's file cabinet, where she kept her patient's documents and such. When he couldn't find any patient with the name Hanzo or Shimada in her records, he then remembered him mentioning the name "Jesse", the weird cowboy-looking guy he was with. And after only a few seconds of poking around, he was successful in finding someone by the name of Jesse McCree, her only patient with that name.

To his distaste, the address only led to a PO box in a town called Pagosa Springs, which led him to believe they were somewhere living off grid. What would be the easiest way to implement his plan? He didn't have special access, so it wasn't like he could board a plane with a sword! And even so, what was he going to do? Wait around at the post office until one of them eventually showed up? It wasn't realistic. Instead, a better idea hatched in his brain.

He overheard Angie on the phone with Jesse a few days ago and learned that his poor, unfortunate brother was coming back for his dose of new medicine! They were wise to be wary, but stupid if they thought he was just going to be "sent away" for a bit when they showed up! He'd play along and leave the house, but nothing was stopping him from lingering and waiting for them to leave!

He had it all planned out to the point where he even had a katana hidden outside in the bushes waiting for him. Yes, when Angie told him to "go somewhere", he'd grab the sword and wait for his dear older brother to finish up with his visit and ambush him as he was leaving. No doubt about it, the man named Jesse would step in, but by then, it would be too late, for Genji had always been faster than most when it came to drawing his blade.

If he had to die to exact his revenge, so be it.

"I am incredibly uneasy about this," Hanzo said as they walked down the familiar path to Angela's place. It was only a few days ago that Jesse had convinced him to go back to Japan, and it was as if his stomach was doing somersaults, and he couldn't figure out why! He made it abundantly clear that he just wanted to be in and out, as there was no need to linger in a place that had done nothing but cause him misery.

"Don't fret, honey pie," Jesse put an arm around him as they walked down the silent, damp street. It was like it rained every time they came. Maybe that was a sign. "I know how much of a toll bein' here takes on ya, so I won't force ya to come back again."

"If I am understanding everything correctly, this should be the last time I return to this place," as Hanzo expected, he hated being there in his older age just as much as he did when he was young. It was almost enough for him to search for medicine elsewhere!

"Once she sees that yer takin' the new meds well, we can go home an' I'll do ya one better an' have her send enough to last ya at least a year," Jesse wondered—well, hoped, really—if by then if he'd have turned or if Han would put it off for even longer.

"How long must I stay for this visit?" Hanzo asked with a weary sigh. The less time he spent in the vicinity of his brother, the better.

"Well, darlin', I'm not the one to ask," Jesse drawled. "But I can't imagine her keepin' ya any longer than needed. She knows the situation is rough."

"Then why could she not come to us?" Han complained, but he knew all too well that it was easiest to just go to the source.

"Unfortunately, due to the nature of her work, she can't just up and leave to go to the other side of the world," Jesse knew Han was just venting, and he too felt a little off and didn't know why. "But don't worry yer pretty little head, darlin'. We'll be back home before ya know it."

"Jesse," Hanzo stopped and faced him, feeling a bit more… expressive than usual. After the conversation they had a few afternoons ago, it was all he could think about, and for some reason, he felt like he needed to get his point across before they went inside to see the doctor. "I… about the other day…"

"Don't even think about it, sweetie pie," Jesse put a finger to Han's lips, knowing exactly what he was trying to bring up. "Don't force it. It'll happen whenever you're ready. An' whenever that time is, you'll know it. So, don't worry 'bout me. I'll wait however long."

"I… do not wish to wait," Hanzo wasn't sure where this sudden straightforwardness came from, but what he said was true. He was tired of being fearful of Jesse getting hurt whenever he went on jobs. He was tired of waiting, letting time tick by as he got closer to the end of his life. He wanted to prolong their relationship! He liked where things were, and he wanted to preserve their lives in this moment.

Jesse noticed his timid demeanor and pulled him in for a hug. How adorable was he? "I hear you, pumpkin." He held him by the shoulders, amused by the way he wouldn't look at him. "An' I just want you to know, I'm ready when you are. Don't think too hard about it."

"You are sure about this?" Hanzo cautiously met his gaze, wishing he could just say the three words that were sitting on the tip of his tongue. How did Jesse do it so easily?

"Han," Jesse held his face, seeing how hopeful he looked and wanted to ease his worries. "I've never been more sure 'bout anything in my life. I love you more than words can even describe. Don'cha know that by now?"

The relief that washed over Hanzo was greater than he'd ever felt so far. He teared up; just knowing he'd be able to keep Jesse by his side forever made the rest of his problems seem menial. And now that he'd have a lifetime of support, he felt like eventually, he could gain the courage to have a decent talk with his brother.

After all, life would be long for them all, right?

"Thank you, Jesse." Hanzo leaned into him, being wrapped in an all too familiar and comforting embrace.

"No need to thank me, honeybun," Jesse took his hat off and covered their faces before taking him in for a sweet kiss. "I know what I'm gettin' into, and I'm in it for the long haul. Trust yer man."

"I trust you," Hanzo sighed, turning and facing the path. "We should go. She is waiting for us."

"C'mon," Jesse walked him down the quiet streets of Nara, thinking about the near future. If he was lucky, Han would turn him that night when they got back to their hotel. It would be convenient since they were in town to see the doctor anyway. He could take the same stuff Han took! As much as he wanted to talk about it, he didn't want to spook him. He just came around to it, and he could get a little shy. The last thing he wanted was for him to change his mind.

He was excited. He thought he'd come to terms with his mortality, but he was curious to see how much things changed over time. He wanted to see how humans grew and evolved, and he wondered if they would ever learn to coexist with vampires. He'd give up hunting and find some hobbies they could share, maybe offer his skills and services as a freelancer. Life was long, and soon, they'd have all the time in the world to find stuff to do.

He wondered how Han felt. It was clear he was relieved, but when it came time to do it… would he hesitate? Or would he just go for it? When he thought about it, he still hadn't been bound to him after all this time. It wasn't surprising given how he hated the fact that he was a vamp in the first place, and because of that, he didn't want to use any of his vampiric abilities. But with how possessive he could be, he wondered how often he thought about it. How often did Han silently wish to keep him all to himself? How often did he wish to turn him?

How often would he have told him he loved him if he weren't so afraid? How he longed to hear those beautiful words.

"I believe we are here," Hanzo broke the silence as they approached the doctor's house. What was Jesse thinking so deeply about again? Was he having second thoughts? He wouldn't blame him; who willingly wanted to become something so vile?

"Yep," Jesse confirmed, walking up the few steps to the door. "Let's get this over with," he said right as the door opened, not giving him a chance to knock.

"Gentleman! Welcome back," Angela gave her usual warm smile as she ushered them inside. She was aware that they wanted to make this quick, and she shared that sentiment. She was successful in sending Genji away, but she wasn't sure how long he'd be gone.

"Thanks for havin' us back, Ange," Jesse said with a nod. "Hopin' to be in and out, if ya don't mind?"

"Of course," she shared a knowing look with her patient, who looked more uncomfortable than he did the first time he showed up! "He's not here, so don't worry."

Hanzo just grunted in response, not liking at all how they were lingering.

"Come along," Angela walked them to her office, sitting him down on the table and prepping her equipment. "How have you two been handling things?"

"We're just takin' it day by day," Jesse replied, taking his hat and serape off and sitting in one of the side chairs. "Han's been a little out of it, but it's a tough situation. I get it."

"I can speak for myself, thank you," Hanzo rumbled out, frowning at Jesse. He already hated the fact that this event was taking over every moment of his current life, and he refused to let it ruin his mood any further! "I am fine. Handling it well," he said stoically, directing his attention back to Angela.

"That's good to hear!" She pulled her small table over to him wanting to bring up Genji, but unsure of how he would react if she did. It was clear it was a very sensitive subject, and she'd steer clear of it if need be. "Any new symptoms or concerns since we last met?"

"No. I am just looking forward to not piercing myself with a syringe every month," Hanzo said as he rolled up his sleeve. He tried to inject it in a different spot each time, but they were starting to leave small spots on his skin, and he hated it!

"Me too," again, she shared his sentiment, having been on the same medication he was on for a while. "I will say, I've heard nothing but positive feedback on the new stuff!"

"You are taking it too, right?" Hanzo only wanted it if she gave the thumbs-up.

"Of course! I test all my medicine on myself before I test it on my patients," she knew the reassurance would make him feel at ease, but he truly had nothing to worry about! "Everything I use is organic, so you shouldn't have any side effects."

"Organic…" Hanzo let out a soft scoff. "How can something like that matter to us if we are technically not even of this world?"

"Just because we're not alive doesn't mean we can't take care of our bodies!" Angela said with a laugh. It was a small joke she liked to tell to a few of her other patients, and it was very much true! The dead deserve just as much care as the living, if not more. "I know you want to move fast, so… ready?" She asked, holding up her syringe.

She was right. Even though he was… what he was, he still liked to exercise and stay active from time to time to make sure he remained alert. It made him wonder, what would his and Jesse's life be like a month from now? A year from now? What kind of hobbies and common interests would they share? Would he give up hunting? Maybe he would eventually take him up on his offer and enter archery contests for some extra money. "Yes. I am ready."

"Okay, this'll only hurt for a moment," Angela said, doing her usual silent countdown before poking him in the arm and plunging the contents of the syringe into his skin.

Jesse watched as Han winced, knowing he soon would be doing the same. What did it feel like, being a vamp? What did it feel like to inject medicine like that into his veins on a regular basis? Jesse himself didn't take any meds, as he was a fairly healthy guy, and he noticed Han was the same, aside from reacting to the meds. "Hey, Ange," he sat up, clasping his hands together. "Can I ask ya somethin'?"

"Of course, Jesse," she said, wrapping up his arm and heading back to the sink to disinfect her tools.

"You guys don't get sick often, do ya? I mean like catch colds and stuff?" He wasn't sure he conveyed his question properly, or even what his question entirely was! This was all new to him! The only thing he knew was how to hunt them, nothing about their genetic makeup or what they needed to survive outside of whatever Han needed.

What a curious question! Was Jesse planning on turning for his lover? How romantic! "I'd say we're relatively healthy, granted we have someone watching over us, if you know what I mean," she winked at Hanzo as she walked back over to him, watching him share a glance with Jesse. "You two are in good hands."

"Thank you," Hanzo showed his appreciation, rolling his sleeve back down. It was as if she knew of their plans, and it wouldn't be a bad thing. Maybe he could summon the courage to do it while they were in Japan. That would be ideal, right? That way, he could get medicine from the doctor while they were there. Should he run the idea by him? Should he ask Angela if it was a good idea? He hadn't used any of his abilities since the night Jesse found him in England, so he didn't know if there was a proper way to do it or not!

"No worries! How do you feel? This new stuff should be fast-acting," she said, prepping a few tubes to send back with them. Jesse already requested ahead of time that they get enough for at least a year, and she was feeling generous and wanted to make sure they had enough to last two! This concoction had a long shelf life and Hanzo was only taking it twice a year, but on the off chance that he turned her dear friend Jesse… she wanted them to be prepared. Which was why she was also giving them some other medicines similar to what Jesse used to subdue him when they met. Just in case.

"Honestly, I feel better than I ever have," if Hanzo had to describe it, it felt like a coolness washed over his body as soon as she injected him with the new stuff. He felt lighter and healthier, and he no longer had the slight sluggish feeling he always had.

"Great! I hope you don't mind; I'd like to keep you here for about twenty to thirty minutes to make sure you don't have any immediate reactions," she breezed around her room, collecting supplies and packing them away. "I know we tested this on you a while ago, but it wasn't the finished product."

"I understand," Hanzo nodded stiffly. He didn't want to spend more time there than he needed to, but this was for his health, and he didn't want to hear Jesse complain, so he'd cooperate. "Do you mind if I go for some fresh air?"

"Not at all! There's a quiet path leading into the woods in the back, just make sure you don't lose track of time!"

"Don't worry," Jesse stood and pulled Hanzo off the table. "I'll make sure he doesn't get distracted. We'll be back in twenty, sound fair?"

"See you soon," she gave them her signature smile as they left the room. Why did she have this… unsettling feeling in her gut?

Amélie wasn't in her right mind. Ever since she'd seen her husband's murderer at the airport, she'd been consumed by her anger and her desire to avenge him. She'd changed her plans, instead of heading to Yunnan, she decided to follow them to Osaka and trail them until she had her opening.

They'd gotten off the plane and taken a cab eighty kilometers to a hotel in a small town in Yoshino District, but it wasn't time. She was a hunter, but she wasn't one to run in, gunning everything down like some hunters she knew. She let out a small laugh at the thought of the huge, mountain of a hunter that came to mind, what was his name again? Mauga, was it? He had a partner who was his polar opposite, and she remembered interacting with them a time or two a few years ago. What were they up to now? She kept up on stats and theirs were always at the top, but she didn't think she'd seen their names on the site since they claimed her post about the castle months ago. Whatever happened to that?

She eventually saw them leave their hotel and call a cab, quickly following them in her own. She paid the driver extra to have him follow the car ahead of them, her thoughts running a million miles a minute. However, her thoughts were cut short when they arrived at their destination after only a few minutes.

She ended up following a bit behind them as they walked through a small neighborhood in Nara, and they were too distracted in conversation to realize they were being followed. What were they doing there? What business did a vampire and hunter have in a residential neighborhood in Japan?

Not much longer after that, she found herself watching them walk into a rather nice home, realizing they could very well just be visiting a friend. Given the vamp's ethnicity, she assumed it was a friend of his, but she could be wrong. Either way, it was the perfect moment to go and scope out the area. It took her a few minutes to find the perfect tree to perch in, but once she did, she had a clear view of the entire house. No one was coming or going without her knowing.

"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" She asked herself as she zoomed in with her advanced headgear and found a guy hiding in the bushes with a sword near the same house. Was he planning an ambush?

Things were getting very interesting.

"How ya feelin' darlin'?" Jesse put an arm around Han as they walked, taking in the crisp air and appreciating the unfamiliar sights. They should really get out more often. Traveling with him like this was nice, and it gave him ideas on how to spend their time. Maybe they could relocate to another hidden gem in a different country.

"I feel fine," Hanzo felt more than fine really, but he couldn't express it. Instead, he welcomed the warmth of Jesse's embrace and walked alongside him. Knowing him, he was probably thinking about traveling or moving or something ridiculous like that. He was perfectly comfortable in their small home, no need to relocate.

"No side effects, or anything?" Jesse dug a cigar out of his jacket pocket and lit it in a fluid motion. He was feeling good about his decision and hoped his ray of sunshine wasn't having second thoughts. He saw firsthand how well Ange's medicine worked and had faith he'd be able to live normally just as they had been.

"No," Hanzo was glad something was going well for once. He had energy he didn't think he'd ever recover! "I must thank you again for taking such good care of me. Without you, I would not be alive."

"Such sweet words, sweetie pie," Jesse said through a plume of smoke. He was making progress, he could tell. Soon, he'd say the three words he really wanted to hear. "I know you'd do the same for me."

Hanzo stopped to face him, fixing his collar and staring at his handsomely rugged face. "I would do anything for you, Jesse. You saved me, and I am eternally grateful."

"Oh, darlin'," Jesse cupped his cheek, he was finally opening up and he loved it. Suddenly, he heard crunching footsteps nearby and turned, eyes going wide when he saw Han's brother charging at him with a sword, and he didn't have enough time to pull out his revolver! He was too close and too fast! In only a few seconds, he'd shoved Han out of the way and taken the blow in his place, blood pooling in his mouth, cigar falling to the ground. He looked down, hands trembling as the blade that had just been lodged in his gut was viciously yanked out of him. He fell to his knees, coughing up blood as Han rushed to his side. No, it couldn't end like this. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Han would save him, right? He had to.

Genji faltered a bit when he unintentionally stabbed Jesse, but he didn't care. He was prepared to end them both to avenge himself. He watched him fall to his knees as his brother crawled over to him desperately trying to save him. He had another thing coming.

"Jesse!" Hanzo scrambled over to him, holding him up before he fell completely. He needed to do something, but he didn't know what! Could he turn him now? He needed blood, right? "Jesse, Jesse! Stay with me, Jesse!" His vision was blurry, tapping his cheeks as he slumped down to the ground, bloodied hands gripping him weakly. "Jesse, please! You cannot leave me here! I love you… Jesse!"

Jesse's heart was full. Even though he was dying, he finally heard the words Han was so afraid of saying. He coughed up endless amounts of blood, trying to speak but having a hard time. "H-Han…"

"Jesse, don't speak! I, I'm going to—!"

Amélie was watching the entire thing from the scope of her sniper, completely conflicted about what action to take. The man that was hiding in the bushes was no man, but another foul creature that needed to be erased from the world. As she suspected, he was waiting for the same two beings she was waiting for, but something went wrong.

After the two of them shared an unpleasantly intimate exchange, the man charged at them, and to her distaste, Jesse saved that thing again. But… in the process, he'd been stabbed in the stomach, certainly where it was fatal. She put her finger on the trigger, aiming at the head of the only one she wanted as he tried his best to tend to the fallen hunter.

With a deep exhale and a mental prayer to her late husband, she went to pull the trigger but was a hair too late, as the man that ambushed them beheaded him with a swift swipe of his sword. Her gun fell to her side in defeat, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her vengeance… she was robbed of it, and by the likes of another animal. Snapping out of it, she raised her gun and killed the guy with no thought, not nearly as satisfied as she thought she'd be when his body joined the other two on the ground.

She thought she'd feel better when her husband's assassin was dead. She thought she'd feel better ending the creature that robbed her of having the pleasure of killing him herself. She looked through her scope at Jesse, who looked to be still clinging to life, gasping for air as he choked on his blood. How sad this was for him, seeing someone he cared about being brutally murdered. His face was so pained as he gripped at the dirt next to the vamp's headless corpse. He got to feel what she felt six years ago.

"Perhaps I should put you out of your misery," she said to herself, putting a bullet in his head and watching his body go limp.

Why? Why didn't she feel better? It was over, they were all dead, yet she still had a void within her. She supposed there was nothing that would make it better. The only thing that would heal her was no longer of this world, and she had to move on with this crappy closure.

Why was life so cruel?