Bloody Lips

Hanayome

Light. Everywhere.

"Aki?" Reita? Was that him? I opened my eyes, and saw nothing but the dark. Where was I? "Aki? Can you hear me?" I groped around. I was... on a bed? I still couldn\'t see where I was. All I could hear was breathing... and a soft whirring. "W-where am I?" I managed to ask. "We're at the hospital," he replied. My head was spinning, and all I could feel was his hand on mine. I could hear footsteps along the hallway... a beeping ECG... faint but distinct voices... something sizzling... Is it just me or my hearing has gotten... sharper?

"Reita..."

"Yes?"

"I can't see."

I heard him sigh. "We have to bind your eyes for now, so that you won't get tired..." he explained. His voice was struggling. "Am I a vampire now?" I asked. I felt him smile. "No... you're... Dhampir." Oh. So that explains the weird hearing thing. I bit my lip as I felt a sting at my neck. "Anything hurt?" he asked. My hand flew to my neck. "Ah... the venom's not done yet. It might hurt once in a while..." he said. Everything was so quiet after that. I wonder where the others were? I could feel his lips brush lightly against my knuckles. While everything was quiet, I struggled with my memory. All I could remember was the pain... how Kai ordered Reita to bite me... Gackt... "Reita... you bit me, didn't you?" I asked. He exhaled sharply, and I could tell this was the question he was avoiding. "I didn't have a choice." he murmured sadly. "I couldn't let you die just like that." My heart leaped. I remembered something... but I wasn't sure if it was true. It seemed so real... I was so lost in my thought that I didn't realize that I was smiling. "What're you thinking?" Reita asked me. "I just remembered something... but I don't know if it's real." I replied. I felt him cock his head to the side. "Tell me." he urged. I bit my lip hesitantly before speaking. "You said you loved me." I admitted and bit my tongue. Maybe I really shouldn't have said that...

"I wasn't lying." 

"W-what do you---" "You heard me. I said I wasn't lying." No way. I felt my free hand curl into the sheets. "Aki." I didn't answer. I would cry if I could. "Aki, I---" Reita was cut off by the sound of the door opening. He immediately let go of my hand. "Ah, Aki-chan. You're finally awake." I heard a voice say. Was that... Aoi? "Aki!" Undoubtedly that was Ruki. He jumped to the side of my bed and pulled me to a gentle hug. "Hey, Ruki." I smiled. "How do you feel?" Kai asked me as Ruki let me go. "Eh... I feel a bit dizzy... and uncomfortable." I tried to explain. "I wish I could heal you myself, but that would mess some things up..." he said apologetically. "It's okay, Kai-niichan. I can wait." I assured him. "Yeah, about that... I heard you wake up so I told the nurse... They said you'll be discharged by tomorrow." Aoi said. I nodded. "Unfortunately... you still can't take the gauze off yet." Uruha said. "Why not?" I asked. I won't be able to see anything yet? "Yeah, well... Kai, tell her." Reita said. I heard him nudge Kai and scratch his head. "Yeah, well... you're too strong for a Dhampir, Aki. With Gackt's and Reita's venom combined, it got three-fourths of your blood... so... you're stronger than usual." Kai explained hesitantly. "And... my eyes?" I asked. "You'll see." he said. Pft. Like I'll be able to see it in this state. After a few hours, the others said they had to explain to the school of our absence. Reita, of course, insisted that he be left behind. "As I was saying." he said when they were gone. I gave a small laugh. "I'm quite frustrated about this." he admitted with a bitter laugh. "It's been a crazy year and I haven't even made you my hanayome yet." "Eh? I thought you already made me your hanayome?" I asked in confusion. "Yeah, but that's not enough to complete the process." he explained. I felt him sit down beside me and rest his head on mine. I sighed sadly. "How do I complete it, then?" I asked. "Well... you have to kiss me." he said. I cocked an eyebrow. "Don't lie." I said. "I'm not lying!" he said with a laugh. "Eh..." I couldn't think straight. "Fine, if you don't want to then--" "Reita, wait!" I pulled him to me, and our lips met in a fevered rush. It was a different feeling, and it sent my heart to a serious overdrive. It was my first time to kiss anyone, and I felt nervous. I felt something weird wash over me, and I gasped into his lips. Reita pulled away, and exhaled. Our foreheads touched and he smiled. "I never said it had to be on the lips, but... that'll work." he said. I pushed him away gently, playfully. "Oh, you suck!" I said.