Don't Fear The Reaper

Part 8

Is there a point to pretend he doesn't know the name?

"He asked me out when I was in Tokyo."

"When was it?"

Tsukki sees where it going.
"A few weeks ago."
Vladimir hums.

"Right before you left the country, right?"

Tsukki feels his legs muscles tense, but nods.

"Do you know what Kentaro Kyoushi is famous for, Tsukki?" Vladimir asks after a short pause.

"He's famous?" Tsukki chuckles nervously. Vladimir chuckles too, savouring the look on Tsukki's face.

"Oh, yeah. He's famous even here, in Russia. Not like blogger or politics, his fame is quite ...specific." Vladimir's fingers are twirling the teaspoon, he thinks for a second and says:
"I would say he's famous as one of the most dangerous men in the northern hemisphere."

"Good I got away from him then?" Tsukki suggests, but he already feels like the floor is crumbling underneath him and he's falling deep into the vortex.

"The thing is, Tsukki." Vladimir sips the tea, pointedly, "He isn't the one who let go of his goals easy."

Tsukki's jaw hardens. Does it mean Kentaro found out where he is? Did he ask Vladimir about it? Why Vladimir is telling him this? What does he want? To get Tsukki away? To frighten him?

"He's in Moscow right now."

Fuck! The sense of the highest insecurity and inability to do something spreads all over Tsukki's limbs once again. If he could, he would scream it out. He knew modern technologies made nearly impossible to disappear. But it wasn't even a few months of quiet life. He shouldn't have been taken flight to Moscow, where they have cameras on every step. Should've go to another city

Though he doubts now whether it would help.

"When my brother told me he's going to have a friend over, I was surprised. Who would've come straight into the middle of russian Siberian winter willingly I thought. But I let it go." There's a sense of threat in Vladimir's voice.

"When he told the friend probably has some troubles with Yakuza, I was worried. He might bring his troubles right into my brother's house I thought. But I let it go too." Tsukki thinks hardly how to get out and barely listens.

"Yet now, when I know Kentaro is searching for my brother's friend... Tsukki, I'm on the verge of panic." Vladimir stares at him, "Hell, no. I'm panicking. Cause if Kentaro wants someone, that someone means danger. Do you know what kind of danger I'm talking about, Tsukki?"

There was no way Vladimir didn't know who was in front of him.

"I would never hurt Marat," Tsukki only say, voice is barely out of his throat.

"Funny you should say it now when you what, twenty days without any... food?"

"Fifteen," Tsukki mumbles.

"Grabbed a bite on the way here? Wise move. But time isn't helping you, is it, Tsukki?"

What should he say? They both know it's true and if there won't be any chance to drink someone else, Tsukki can reach the state where it doesn't matter for him whom to sink his teeth in.

"I bet you already feel it. See how my veins are pulsing," Vladimir strokes the neck with his palm and Tsukki gulps, watching, hearing the essence of life running underneath the skin. "Tempting , isn't it? I once has seen how one of your kind was three months hungry," Tsukki shudders, the imagination takes better out of him. "That was both frightening and pitiful scene. He was so out of his mind, he tried to bite a chunk of wood I threw him. Got his canine broken."