A Bloodborne Tragedy

Chapter 10

Daniel poured himself and Sho a glass of whiskey when they were both sat down side by side on the bed. "Everything." He started, "I wanna know everything. And don't give me any more half-assed answers." Daniel glared at Sho, attempting to intimidate him. Sho sighed, and Daniel could see the hesitation on his face. "A century ago, almost exactly 100 years, I met you for the first time. You were just a lowly peasant boy working on a farm."

Daniel nodded his head. He was relieved at the fact he's finally getting his answer, the story he so desperately begged Sho for from the beginning of the strange confrontation. "Everything about you looks the same, even your personality. From the strands of hair on your head to your eyes. Even your voice, though your accent has changed. I thought it was only a coincidence when you walked in the bar that night. I knew it was real when you told me your name the day after." Sho cracked a small smile from the sides of his lips, quickly hiding it by tilting his head down.
"Who was that man looking for you?" As soon as Daniel said that, he could see Sho becoming tense. He began breathing heavier. Sho looked up at Daniel, with the look of pure fear on his face. Before answering, Sho gripped the middle of his stomach. Specifically near his hip. At that point, he was nearly trembling. Daniel started getting irritated again. It seems no matter what, there's always a question Sho wants to avoid. "Well?" Daniel tapped his foot idly, crossing his arms over his stomach.

"He's—how should I put this...I'm—well, I was married to him. I ran away. I have many times. I don't work for him. He always says that, to hide the truth. I'm simply an object for his own demented pleasure. Every time I've tried to fight back, I've failed. He's stronger than I am." Sho gritted his teeth and stood up rather quickly. "Which is why you need to leave! Far away! He'll kill you if he finds you!" Daniel's eyes widened. Married? They were married?

"You were...married?" Sho fiddled with his fingers, "Not by choice..." Not by choice? He kind of understood that, knowing stories of cruel men taking young girls by wedlock. He hadn't ever thought that might've happened to Sho, but it made sense why Sho was so eager to run away now. Daniel came to the conclusion that Sho indeed had a very tragic story, even though he had only heard part of it. "Daniel," Sho bit his lip, the racing of his heart starting up again. "You..we—" Sho scoffed. "Nevermind." Daniel jerked his head up at Sho once more. "We what? You already started, I'd like to hear it now."
Sho folded his arms and turned away from Daniel. "We were... I loved—I love you." Daniel froze, gasping softly, and the room went silent. Was what why he felt so connected? Sho dropped his arms to his side and clenched his fists. "Why do you think I went so far to protect you? Why do you think I'm always there! Daniel, isn't it obvious?! I killed a man for you!" Sho turned around quick and opened his arms, tears flowing from his eyes.

Daniel was left speechless, mouth agape, and eyes widened. Sho did it all out of love, a love Daniel hadn't even known existed. Sho sat down in the chair, placing his head between his legs and resting his arms on his knees, covering his face with the palms of his hands as he sobbed. "Every night for 100 years I cried thinking about you. I couldn't grasp that you were gone." Daniel didn't think that Sho had any kind of emotion like this. He always seemed so serious. Every now and then he'd see a small grin, maybe a distant look of sadness or knowing. But now he understood what was so familiar. He knew this man. Though he had no memories, he knew him. Any normal person hearing this story would think of it as pure nonsense. Nobody would believe it. Daniel didn't want to, but something in him told him it was true. Something he couldn't dismiss no matter how hard he tried.

"What killed me?" Daniel asked slowly, shakily. Once again, Sho had a look of fear wash over his face. "Him." Him? Him as in the man he'd seen before coming back? Sho's ex husband? Is that why Sho told Daniel he wasn't safe? Repeated it like his life depended on it? Sho grasped his stomach again, and Daniel noticed it, quickly asking, "Why do you keep doing that?" Sho looked down at his arm, down to where his hand was, and back up at Daniel. "I—I didn't realize I was. It's nothing. I'm sorry." Daniel looked at the glass in his hand. "Don't apologize. Thanks for... finally telling me the truth." He lifted the glass to his mouth and slowly drank. He needed to feel the burn better than he would've if he drank it fast.

He had lived before, and he had known Sho. Sho had loved Daniel, which must've meant that Daniel had loved Sho in return. They were having an affair, and that's why Sho's husband had killed him. Daniel was lost in thought when Sho suddenly spoke. "Daniel...please, leave. This town. This state. Get as far away as possible. You aren't safe here anymore." Daniel shook his head. "So you tell me your–" he coughed, quickly correcting himself. "Our story, and then you kick me out?" He joked. "I'm serious. Please." Sho said, looking at Daniel with an almost solemn expression now. But Daniel just sat, his slight grin at his own joke turning into a frown as he looked at Sho.

Listening to orders was never quite for Daniel, just look at where he was now. An outlaw, on the run from the law, easily disregarding a vampire's pleas to leave. "Well, he didn't kill me then. If he would've done something, he had a good chance and lost it." But then he thought of the conversation with him, remembering something. "He looked like he knew me, or something close to it. He's... like you. Right?" He didn't want to ask it outright, not knowing if it would've been rude. Was he also a vampire? He assumed so, but wanted to hear it. Sho understood what he meant and nodded slowly.

Daniel sighed, taking another drink, faster this time. He had a rough guess of the story now. "I'm not gonna leave. I ain't afraid of him." Sho looked anxious, looking between him and the window, before sighing. "Fine, if you're going to be so persistent... If you see him, leave for me." Daniel grinned, finally coming to a compromise. At least now he could stay, ask questions, and learn more about Sho. And maybe Sho could learn more about him as well. Maybe Daniel could have a companion in the crazy world, one who would stay with him. One who wouldn't die when he found himself most comfortable around them. It was a thought that helped him look forward to the future instead of despising it and the rough life he'd lived.

They sat drinking and talking through the night. The conversation seemed to flow easier now that Daniel had gotten his story straight. But he was still curious. He wondered if Sho knew the problems that came with his way of life, If Sho even knew he was an outlaw. He'd tell him soon, when he runs out of money and has to leave again, or when it came up? He wasn't sure if It'd even come up. He just had to wait it out, learn more about Sho. He was beginning to like staying in one place, not having to run. He rather liked having company that knew him, loved him, or at least something close to it.