Distance

It hurts. It hurts so much.

A small brunet quivered in the corner of the room, tears leaking from his eyes, biting down hard on the back of his hand, trying to sate the unquenchable fire burning hot at the back of his throat. Blood dripped off his fingertips.

He was pale as death, and every time he blinked, his vision tinged with red until he could hardly even see what was in front of him.

Please no one come in, please let nobody come in and see me like this. He pleaded silently. If they saw... if they found out what he had become...

[I'd rather die than hurt them]

"Yoichi!"

No... he cried harder, digging into his hand with a monster's fangs to stifle the sobs. He tried to stand, to get away, feebly supporting his weight along the wall, leaving smears of blood as he made his way to the windowsill. As he opened the window, a blast of cold air nearly knocked him over. He steadied a foot on the rim. Now the only question was; would even a monster survive this fall?

He swallowed thickly as he stared down into the shifting blanket of fog that concealed the ground.

"YOICHI!!" Kimizuki flung open the door. Yoichi's eyes flew towards him, heart racing all of the sudden. The grip he had on his hand slackened. He drew in a shuddering breath.

Kimizuki's eyes were drawn the blood steadily trailing down Yoichi's hand, staining his lips red, the expression on his face; fearful, but hungry. Yoichi was scared; Kimizuki wanted to help him. But that look in his eyes, like a predator sizing up his prey, made him nervous.

[I don't want it, I don't want it, I don't want it!]

Yoichi licked his lips. I do want it. Smells so good... so good. He imagined sinking his teeth into that pretty neck. He imagined how it would taste, warm against his tongue, running down his chin. He imagined finally being full.

Kimizuki took a step back.

"Yoichi..."

Yoichi snapped back to reality. A fresh wave of guilt hit him head-on. A sob forced its way through his lips.

"K-Kimizuki-"

The piercing look was gone, replaced by a sheen of hopelessness. Kimizuki let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in. He resumed his approach, lips set into a comforting half-smile. Yoichi's eyes grew wide.

"D-don't!" He cried, holding up his blood covered arm. He was shaking worse than before.

Kimizuki's smile vanished, but he didn't falter, reaching Yoichi in a few more steps and wrapping his arms around him tightly. Yoichi clenched his teeth.

It was so hard. He was so close. He could smell it vividly, hear it pulse just beneath the surface, feel soft skin on his lips as Kimizuki pressed against him.

"Yoichi, we were so worried. Where've you been? What happened to your hand-" Kimizuki was interrupted as Yoichi cried hysterically into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Kimizuki."

"...Yoichi? What are you-"

It was a quick, sharp pain, accompanied by muted sucking noises and the brush of Yoichi's hair against his cheek. Frigid air drifted in through the open window.

Kimizuki did nothing. He couldn't.

"W-when... did you..." he trailed off, feeling warm tears and blood run down his skin. He slowly rested a hand on Yoichi's head. The brunet was still shivering.

An explanation could wait.