Bitten By Love

Nineteen

As Uruha drove across the highway, Akiko blankly stared at the dark scenery outside. She was too dazed and exhausted to do anything else.

That gave Uruha plenty of time to think about what had happened. And it wasn't something he liked.

Ever since he'd fallen for Akiko, all he wanted to do was make sure she was safe and happy. Whether through her own efforts or his, he just wanted to make sure she was okay.

And he had failed her. By coming so late, he'd seen her tortured to within an inch of her life. He could have just taken a train...

"I know what you're thinking, Uruha," Akiko said softly. "It's not your fault."

She shakily opened her cellphone, which Uruha had found near her. She'd seen the messages a couple of minutes ago.

"But I could have come earlier..." Uruha began.

"You did what you thought was best," Akiko said in one breath, too tired to say any more.

He sighed, and shifted his focus back to the road.

*  *  *  *

It was nearly dawn when the two finally reached Red Town. Akiko was surprised at how normal it looked. She'd been expecting a very sinister town.

Uruha helped her out of the car, and into the house. "Well, this is my place."

The house was a beautiful three-story structure, with a large garden behind. "The first floor is where we have guest bedrooms which we rarely use, seeing as we don't have guests over often. The second floor has our rooms, and the third floor is where all our equipment and instruments are."

Uruha would have said more, but Akiko looked drained out. "Let's get you inside," he said gently.

He softly opened the door, and carried her up the stairs without waking anyone. "Shall we go to the guest rooms?" He suggested.

Akiko shook her head, and clung to him. "Alright. I'll run you a bath first, though. We should get the blood off you."

He carried her to his room, and made her sit on the bed while he filled a tub full of warm water.

"Will you be able to remove your clothes?" Uruha asked.

Akiko nodded, and tried, but couldn't. She whimpered softly, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Here, let me help," Uruha said. Akiko's clothes were torn apart, but they still needed a fair amount of work to remove.

She shook her head at first, but then allowed him to help her once she understood that he had no other intentions.

Once that was done, he picked up Akiko, and gently helped her into the bath. He scrubbed her wounds clean and, after he'd washed them, applied antiseptic. Despite the fact that Akiko was a vampire, her body would need a little help to recover.

Finally, he dressed her in one of his shirts, and tucked her into his bed.

"Sleep, my love," he whispered, kissing her gently. He stayed with her until she fell into a long, deep sleep.

Uruha knew it would be several hours before Akiko woke up. Getting turned into a vampire took a toll on people. He himself had slept for sixteen hours when he had become one.

He quietly left his room and shut the door.

*  *  *  *

"Uruha! Where have you been?" Kai asked as Uruha entered the kitchen.

"Long story," Uruha mumbled.

"The others are already asleep, should I wake them up?"

"Yeah, can you?"

And so, a short while later, the five vampires were all seated in the kitchen, three of them half-asleep.

"Akiko's here," Uruha began.

"That's great!" Aoi said, stifling a yawn. "Where is-"

"I turned her into one of us."

Everyone stared at Uruha, stunned.

"You know how I had a flat tyre, right?" He continued. "In the time that it took to get the tyre and drive all the way to her town... some people, probably the local officials, killed her uncle and aunt, and tortured her publicly."

Ruki gasped. "Why?" He asked, horrified.

"From what I could get from Akiko, her relatives supported the protestors, and the officials wanted to show the protestors how innocent people would suffer if they continued to protest."

"That's horrible," Reita said, clenching his fists. "How can they do that to someone??"

"I've said it before and I'll say it again," Ruki muttered. "I don't understand why humans are afraid of us when they are their own worst enemy!"

"What happened next?" Aoi asked.

"She was dying when I reached her." Uruha looked away. "I tried using vampire saliva, but it was too late. I didn't want to turn her yet...but I didn't want her to die!"

Reita clapped Uruha on the shoulder understandingly.

"You did what you thought was best," Kai said. "Don't worry."

"But I wanted her to choose! I-I wanted to spend time with her while she was human...a long-term relationship...maybe even have a family together..."

The others looked at Uruha sympathetically. "Where is Akiko now?" Reita asked.

"In my room. I ran her a bath, and now she's asleep."

"The effects of the change will be more severe for her," Aoi said, "given the situation she was changed in. Don't expect her to wake up for atleast a whole day."

"Go to her," Ruki said. "She'll sleep better with you around."

Uruha nodded, a lump in his throat. Opening the door of his room, he saw Akiko's gentle face on the pillow, sound asleep. One hand was poking out from under the sheets.

He sat down on the bed, and held her hand. Akiko's face seemed to relax, and she sighed in her sleep.

"I'll protect you," Uruha said. "I have faith that you'll get stronger again, but even if you don't, I'll take care of you. I promise."