Don't Fear The Reaper

Part 4

Tsukki thinks he misheard and sits dumbstruck. He knows he shouldn't be. He knows he might be a fool. But what Kentaro says sounds so...

Sincere. Simple. Soft.

Vulnerable.

'Please, don't be like that,' Tsukki begs internally. 'Don't be such a human.'

Being a vampire does things to how you percept the things that are common and usual to the most of the people. There're less compassion, less care, less sensitivity and less humanity. It's how it should be if you want to survive, if you don't want to be crushed under the heavy wall of guilt falling on you each time you take part of someone's life.

But they're still inside. Coming up in the moments like this - inappropriate, unwelcome, unwanted. You think you lack them, shoved them into the deepest and darkest corner of your mind.

But then you see how tenderly and shyly he smiles when you call him handsome, despite his all brutal and masculine facade. And something shutters inside. The gates, keeping the old human nature break open and you feel it running wild in your system, the blood moves faster, like you've treated off the virus inside.

Like you came back into the moment you drink the blood for the first time.

It's different, you know. Your first and the rest of them. It's a bliss, not a curse. The way blood runs through the throat - the most renowned wine isn't able to compare. The warm feeling, glowing insides with the sense of power and infinite capacity. Like you can do anything.

Tsukki blinks the eyes very fast. What's wrong with him?! He should remember why he's here for. He should remember there's the enemy in front of him.

"Something got into your eye?" The concern in Kentaro's voice didn't make it better, if not worse. Tsukki shakes the head and Kentaro pulls away the hand thrown out to help.

"Sorry, I just daydreamed for a moment," Tsukki clears the throat. "Where were we?"

"You called me handsome," and now the old Kentaro's back. The confident smile, shoulders stretched wide, cheeky glint in that dark honey eyes.

"Ah, yes," Tsukki sighed out. "Well, while we're on the topic, do you see someone?"

"Nah. If I was, I wouldn't ask you out."

"Not a player then, huh?" Tsukki tries to tease.

"I just kinda have a lot on my hands. Seeing more than one person, would be overwhelming. Besides, I think there's no point of finding someone else until you gave everything you can to the person you've already chose." The hint of sadness slid through Kentaro's words though the face stays smiling.

What happened to his last love? Wasn't he the one who couldn't give him or her everything?

Chill runs the over Tsukki's fingertips. He suddenly remembers the story of Kentaro's girlfriend Ran told him.

Five years ago. Yuki. Beautiful, like the first fallen snow. Tsukki seen the pictures. Long dark hair, transparent skin, long lashes. Pretty.

The group of vampires who decided to kill Kentaro, found out about their relationship. It was hard not to. She was happy, and just like the girl would do, posted the story of their love in social media. Whether Kentaro didn't think of consequences or just was reckless, but it led to horrible ending.

Yuki was found raped and brutally killed. Her limbs were torn apart, the whole body was dried of blood and had massive amount of cuts. The police concluded it was just a murder. But only Kentaro himself could understand the killers were not humans.