Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Colour me Blood red: Human after all	By : DragonBlade Category: Prince of Tennis/Tennis no Ohjisama > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 2135 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own prince of tennis, characters or ideas, and I am making no money from this

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
I hate the holidays. I'm not a scrooge, I work retail.

The song (the whole 3 lines that I use) is 'System' by Chester Bennington. I just happened to be listening to it while I was writing and it kind of fit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAPTER 9

Kirihara slipped quietly into his apartment, hoping and praying Marui was at school already. He could never remember his friend’s schedule, he could barely remember his own half the time.

He had woken up shortly after the sun rose, his body strangely acute to the change of time lately. His legs were tangled in the sheets and with the Master’s much longer ones. He was curled tightly against Sanada, his cold body body rigid as death. He had tried to detach himself only to realize the Master was still buried deep inside him. Settling back down he gave himself a few moments to enjoy the sensation before he really needed to try getting up. He was dry and it was almost painful to slide off of him.

With a curse he remembered telling Marui he was going to be home late that night. After a quick shower he raced home.

“You’re awfully late. Or would that be early?”

Kirihara froze mid stride, cursing quietly; busted. “Sorry, I know I promised I’d be home last night …”

“No worries …your hair’s wet, did you shower?” Marui lifted an eyebrow, wicked smirk slowly crossing his face.

Kirihara’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he managed to get out a long “uhhh …”

Marui grinned wider, “So, what will it take to get all the gory details?”

“Bunta-san …” he wasn’t really up to giving the ‘gory’ details, he was still trying to process it himself.

“If it had been a girl you would have told me …so I’m guessing it was a male …”

“Bunta-san …” a hysterical keen developed in his voice. Curse his friend and his incredible brain skills!

“And since you didn’t break and tell me right then, it wasn’t Niou, probably not a Hunter either …”

“Okay, seriously, I’m not playing this game!” Kirihara stormed into the kitchen, pretending like he was throwing a tempter tantrum and not hiding a blush. He banged cupboards and drawers as he set out making coffee.

Marui poked his head into the kitchen, “woo, with that kind of attitude it’s got to be someone you want to keep secret, so he’s either powerful or really embarrassing.”

Kirihara froze, but Marui knew him well enough to let out a low whistle and chuckle, “nail on the head huh?” Kirihara spun but Marui held up a hand to still any rude comments, if only for a moment, “I’ll drop the conversation on ONE condition!”

The Hunter frowned; he didn’t like where this was going, “what?”

“I can keep her.”

“Keep …WHO!?”

A soft keening suddenly drifted from the living room, and that was when Kirihara noticed the felt mouse in Marui’s hand.

“No!”

“I don’t take you for the type to take one for the team, no matter who’s on the team, so I’d put my money on someone powerful …”

Kirihara could feel his face burning, “the answer is still NO!”

“I can see you blushing dude. The list of powerful men who would get your panties in a knot is very short, my friend, shall I just start listing them all?”

The two glared at each other over the threshold to the kitchen; they were at a stalemate. If he told Marui who it was, that would ruin his fun of guessing, and also take away the alternative for keeping the cat. It wasn’t that he didn’t like animals, they didn’t like him. He was also rather attached to all the soft things in his house.

“Well, I don’t think it’s Tezuka …he seems like too much of a stick-up-the-ass type to do something like bang an employee …”

Kirihara nearly dropped his coffee cup; that was one piece of information he was NOT going to correct Marui on. Why didn’t he just tell him it was Sanada? He wasn’t ashamed of it, sure as hell wasn’t embarrassed by it. Either way, he couldn’t bring himself to just TELL his friend.

“Since I don’t think it was a Hunter that eliminates all the other team Leaders, who’s names I don’t know to even throw them at you to see if you blush more. That leaves …”

“Alright, alright! You can keep the damn cat!”

Marui fist-pumped and darted back into the living room. Kirihara sighed and leaned against the cupboards, Marui was ruthless when he wanted something. He knew his friend’s first guess would have been Sanada, and he knew he would have reacted the way Marui was looking for.

With coffee cup in hand he went back to the living room. He threw himself down on the couch next to Marui, the kitten in his lap. The tiny ball of fur swatted at the mouse Marui was dangling in front of it.

He put his cup down beside his laptop and booted it up. While waiting he turned on the TV and set it to a channel that was only partially annoying. He needed to write a report of everything that happened last night …well, almost everything that happened. There were certain details that needed to be left out …for his own sanity. Kite was at these clubs, and he assumed his helpers weren’t far behind. Plus, he had to tell Tezuka about the rumors he over-heard. There was no proof behind them, no evidence that they were more than just rumors and pipe-dreams, but he wasn’t willing to take that chance.

He knew this wasn’t the end of his trips to the club. Apparently ‘Sora’ visited a few times and it would be good for Sanada’s standing for him to be seen there. More Vampire politics.

The door rattled as someone knocked on it; he really needed to teach them that knocking on the door didn’t require beating it into submission. Plates were handed out as soon as shoes were off, and his living room started to sound more like a restaurant than his once normal home.

Kirihara noticed it all distantly, or at least attempted to. He was too absorbed with his report, well, tried to be. No one bothered him more than necessary, they’d all been there; a few glanced over his shoulder or over his laptop to see what he was doing and point out a spelling or grammar mistake. Plugging in his portable printer he printed out the several sheets, sliding them into a protective cover. He vacated the cramped room before something ended up on his report and he had to reprint it. Paper and ink cartridges weren’t cheap.

‘Good bye’s and ‘see you at work’s followed him out the door and he absently waved over his shoulder as he stuffed his feet into his boots.

The drive to work gave him too much time to think, which was never good for a person like him. Blaring his music couldn’t even keep him out of his own head.

He hated when other people were right, especially when they were right about him. Yanagi had told him to stop forcing his problems, and to just give them time to resolve themselves. He was right. He had come to terms with Sanada, had learned to deal with what happened and how to move past it. It was a slow process, but the ball was rolling. That ball might have been made of snow, and it may have been rolling towards a pit filled with hell-fire, but he wouldn’t know for sure until the end. That thought didn’t scare him; it was almost like he was numb. Working with the Vampires had become just another day on the job, he couldn’t even feel guilty about working so closely with them because the rest of the Hunters were in the same boat.

The only real problem was the dreams. They had started as just nightmares, something that seemed to fade once the sun came up. Now that demon was everywhere. He caught glimpses of the demon in his regular dreams, in reflections and around corners.

Then, it stepped out of his dreams.

Instead of seeing himself in a window he saw the demon, faces in a crowd snarled and laughed like the demon. He kept telling himself it was all in his head, and that he should go to see Inui. It had to just be hallucinations caused by his blood; his body was changing, he was faster and stronger, he healed faster, and he was more aware of changes around him. It only made sense that his brain was being effected.

Right?

He wasn’t stupid enough to believe it either. He kept trying to tell himself it was all in his head, but something in his gut told him it was more than that.

He pulled into the parking garage and parked in his usual spot. He turned the key off and yanked it out of the ignition, letting his hands rest on his knees as he put his forehead on the warm steering wheel. He didn’t know what caused his sudden melancholy, maybe it was just everything all at once?

“Back to work,” he reminded himself. He made his way to Tezuka’s small office, the one he used when dealing with the Hunters. He knocked on the door and it opened almost immediately.

“Ah, Kirihara, just in time,” Tezuka waved him in.

“Uh …I just came to …”

“Bring in your report I assume,” Tezuka pointed to the empty chair, “there is far to much you need to tell us so I figured it would just be easier if you debriefed everyone.”

Kirihara glanced around the small office; Oishi was against the wall behind Tezuka’s chair, Tachibana was perched on the corner of the desk, Saeki was standing near the wall examining a picture, and Shiraishi was in the other chair beside him.

Not nerve-wracking at all.

Inhaling deeply he began his story of the night, explaining the rumors and seeing Kite. They asked the typical questions like good little Team Leaders. Are you sure? What did they look like?

Then the different questions; what did the club look like? What were the other Vampires doing? Were there any other creatures there that may make this more difficult? He answered them as best as he could, his mind was a little fuzzy on details about the club.

“Do you think it is safe to start sending them out to the other clubs? It’s clear SOMETHING is going on, we just need to know how far this rumor stretches.” Tezuka asked the others.

“I think so.”

“Might as well, we need to find the source of this rumor and stop it before we get in over our heads.”

They bickered and planned, picking Kirihara’s brain for any information he could offer about what he learned.

“There’s really no use asking me,” he shrugged, “why not ask Dan?”

Silence fell over the Leaders and one by one they started sighing and slapping their foreheads. Why didn’t they think of it first?

“Dan is in later this afternoon, I’ll give him a call.” Tezuka’s voice said blatantly he felt like a fool.

Kirihara escaped and decided to head home. There was a small group of hunters put on reserve; basically, they were no hold until the Vampires summoned them at night. That left him with a free day with the knowledge that as soon as the sun went down Niou would be at his door to get him ready for the next show-and-tell.

His apartment was empty, Marui was in class and the rest of the Hunters had gravitated to work. The apartment felt too empty without Marui’s familiar presence and the noise of the other Hunters. When did he get so accustomed to being surrounded by other people? He couldn’t help but smile; somewhere along the lines he had been domesticated.

There was a light knock on his door and the kitten raised her head as Kirihara looked back over his shoulder. Who now?

He opened the door an inch and his eyes widened in shock, “Akira? Long time.” He stepped back to let the other Hunter in.

“Too long,” he smiled and toed off his shoes.

‘What brings you by?” Kirihara frowned; he had barely seen Kamio in months.

“Tezuka called everyone back so we’re kind of hanging around for a little while.” Kamio shrugged.

Not the answer he was looking for. “What brings you BY?” His eyes narrowed.

Kamio sighed, he understood the first time, “is it so wrong that I wanted to see you?”

“Depends, is this a social call or something else?” Kirihara leaned against the wall to the kitchen, arms crossed over his chest.

Kamio sighed again; even though Kirihara said he had forgiven him and they both put it in the past, it just couldn’t quite be forgotten. “Social. I wanted to see you. Word around is that Sanada has a pretty short leash on you and I …”

“Wanted to know if it was true?”

Kamio scoffed his toes on the floor, “something like that.”

Kirihara pushed away from the way, rubbing his chin as he though of a good way to put it, “the council seems to think we’re more than we are, so to make them believe that Sanada is still big heap Master Vampire I have to pretend to be a good little slave.”

“Are you sleeping with him?”

Kirihara glanced over his shoulder; not that it was any of Kamio’s damn business! He never asked him who he was banging at any given time! He opened his mouth to say just that when he noticed the hurt in the Hunters eyes, “yeah …I am …” but that was another long story he didn’t want to get into.

Kamio crossed his arms but looked more like he was hugging himself, “are you sure it’s all pretend?”

Kirihara tried to say it was but he couldn’t get the words out. Somewhere along the lines he knew he overcame his fear and moved on. Somewhere along the lines he had forgotten he was only acting. “No …not completely.”

“Does Sanada feel the same?”

“It’s hard to explain,” that wasn’t a lie.

“What about us?” Kamio’s voice cracked.

Kirihara knew this was coming, “what about us? I was always your back-up fuck when the one you wanted wouldn’t have you.”

Kamio threw himself at Kirihara, grabbing the collar of his shirt. They fell back against the wall, slamming together. Kamio’s knuckles hit the wall and a knee connected soon after. Kirihara’s hands flew back to cushion himself but Kamio’s added weight forced his spine against the drywall.

“That’s what you think of me?” Kamio pulled him forward and slammed his shoulders back into the wall.

Kirihara let him vent, he remembered very clearly a similar scene several months ago. It felt like a lifetime ago. Maybe it was.

“I never thought you were just a back-up, I went to you because I like you. You’re not some runner up prize!” He curled his lip in disgust. “I know it seems like it because I came to you after I had a problem with Shinji but …I feel comfortable with you,” he shrugged one shoulder and turned so he was facing into the room, one hand lingering against Kirihara’s chest, “safe, I guess you could say.”

“Akira …” what was he supposed to say to that?

“I missed you …I really did,” he turned back to Kirihara and smiled, showing a chipped eyetooth.

Kirihara sighed and held his arms open. As he guessed, Kamio rushed to him, burying his face in the crook of his neck. He had been around Vampires for so long he almost forgot what it was like to hold a human. Kamio’s warm body molded to his, he could feel the flutter of his heartbeat where their chests pressed together. Kirihara slipped his arms around Kamio’s waist, hands sliding up the back of his shirt. Soft skin marked by the odd rough scar, body warming as he brushed his hands over it. Kamio sighed into his collar, mouth brushing against the curve of his neck. The simple touch sent shivers up Kirihara’s spine.

It had been too long.

Kamio tiled his head up and Kirihara didn’t even realize he had moved until he had spun them both around and thoroughly kissed the other Hunter. Kamio moaned against his mouth, arms around his neck.

His emotions took over, body falling into a familiar rhythm. His hands roamed under Kamio’s shirt and Kamio’s tangled into his hair. Their kiss was messy and hungry; it had been too long for both of them.

When Kamio’s hand found his belt his mind threw on the brakes. He grabbed the Hunters wrist and broke their kiss with a curse.

“What is it?” Kamio’s bright eyes scanned his face.

“I can’t do this …”

Kamio paled and his face fell, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have …”

“No, no, it’s not that,” Kirihara cupped the back of Kamio’s head, “I have to go with Sanada tonight, I can’t smell like …you know …anyone else. They get suspicious.”

Kamio smiled guiltily, the light returning to his eyes, “you’re turning me down because of business?” He cupped his hand between Kirihara’s legs

The little Hunter moaned, head falling forward onto Kamio’s shoulders, “I must be an idiot …strike that, I’m a fucking idiot. But yeah, I’m turning you down because of work.” He lifted his head and kissed Kamio hard.

Kamio gave his hand a squeeze and Kirihara moaned, “okay, enough of that, shoo!” He playfully batted away Kamio’s hands and stepped back, “shoo! Shoo! I have work to do anyways before I go, shoo!” He shook his hands at Kamio in the standard ‘go away’ motion and with a laugh Kamio danced towards the door.

He hid his relief with a laugh; glad Kirihara was back to normal, and glad he hadn’t left him.

“Akira.”

Kamio lifted his head and blinked in shock as Kirihara kissed him again. Instead of the hungry kisses earlier this was tender and full of the emotions Kirihara never let himself show.

“Call me later,” Kirihara whispered against Kamio’s mouth.

The red-head nodded, kissing him one more time before slipping out the door. The door clicked behind him and Kirihara let out a long, tired sigh. He didn’t know his heart could be pulled in so many directions. He felt like a ridiculous sappy female but he wanted nothing more than to open the door and call Kamio back. But the thought of disappointing Sanada kept his front door firmly closed. Before all of this his life was easy; casual sex whenever he wanted, nobody to bother him, no attachments, and no commitments. Now he had more men than he knew what to do with. Part of him would always belong to Kamio, as cheesy as that sounded. Sanada somehow owned the other half of him, either through his winning personality or some metaphysical, supernatural, vampire whatever bullshit. Even Yanagi held a small part of him, a secret part that he kept to himself. The quiet Vampire that always looked after him but knew when to step back. Ryoma had become more than a casual fling, but there was nothing more to it than that, the Rookie couldn’t seem to make his mind up between the Captain and Momoshiro. Niou was slowly working his way in, but he knew nothing would ever come from it, the Vampire never admitted it but his Fledgling was the one always on his mind.

How did life turn itself completely on its head?

He spent the rest of the day puttering around and getting ready for the night. About twenty minutes after the sun set there was a knock on his door and the door he thought was locked swung open. Niou strut into the entryway, clothing bag over his arm.

Kirihara sighed; he was in for another long night.

After much cursing and swearing he had wiggled into the clothes Niou brought for him; if they could even be called that. The pants were slit up the sides and then held together with red lace. Large diamond patterns were cut into the front and backs of the thighs, showing more skin than actual pant-leg. He wore the same wedge-heel boots and jacket. A black vest was zipped up just above his navel, baring most of his chest. All the black made him look even paler than normal, made his eyes look that much greener.

Another cursing battle and Niou had wrestled him into a bit of make-up.

“It smears!”

“Would you give it up, you’re such a girl!”

“People will think I’m a whore in these pants!”

“Well if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck …”

Kirihara couldn’t forget what happened the last time Niou came over to get him ready. He didn’t know what kind of punishment Sanada had laid down after that, but the Vampire made sure to keep a distance between them. Granted, that didn’t stop him from molesting Kirihara with his eyes. The heat in his pale eyes was enough to make the Hunter blush.

Could the night possibly get any more awkward?

The club was completely different than the last one he had been brought to. Instead of a dark room with tables and booths he was brought into a brightly lit room with large, almost cubby holes formed into the walls with a low table and a scatter of pillows. The bright room had a haze, like trying to look through sheer curtains or gauze, created by the dozens of incense holders scattered around the tables and walls. No cages hung from the ceiling and the waitresses were dressed like high class geisha’s in golds and creams. Niou directed him to the table where Sanada and Atobe already waited. Sanada was stretched out, bare feet propped up on a pillow. His pants rose up slightly to expose the sharp bones of his ankle; his long thin feet were resting one atop the other, the angle of his foot making the tendons more prominent. His shirt was unbuttoned down far enough to show his chest and the curve of the bottom of his ribcage. He was propped up on his elbows, sipping from a glass bottle.

His lips quirked up in a quick smile, “you can play with him for a little while Niou, Atobe and I have something to discuss.”

Atobe smirked and tipped his glass in their direction.

“Play?” Kirihara squealed when Niou grabbed his elbow and dragged him away.

The tables were on a raised platform circling a round dance floor. Niou dragged him down the few steps and hissed in his ear, “Sanada gave me permission, this is the only way I’m allowed to touch you, but ‘play’ basically means don’t get carried away. Those two have been talking a lot lately, but they won’t let anyone overhear.” He quirked an eyebrow, “so, shall we dance?”

The music didn’t fit the bar at all; it was instrument heavy with a bass to fill the room. It had the dark undertones of heavy metal with a smooth sound that made you want to sway and move.

Niou circled around him like a predator, waiting until Kirihara twitched with nervousness. Hips swaying he wrapped his arm about the Hunters waist, bringing them together. A crash of the symbols and he bared his fangs, hovering his mouth over the arch of Kirihara’s throat.

‘Your blood and mine …’

Kirhara rolled his hips slowly, Niou followed, gyrating with him.

'Why won’t you die, your blood in mine …’

Niou’s fingers dug into his hips, pulling them together. Pupils mere pin pricks, cheeks flushed, lips parted as he breathed heavily. His fangs scraped over the tender skin above Kirihara's pulse, hands moving from his hips to his backside. He still moved to the music, the beat adding to his blood lust.

‘Then your body will be mine …’

The song ended and Niou stepped away from him with enough force he stumbled. He forced a grin onto his face, “I think you better run back to Sanada’s side before I do something stupid.” He turned and escaped into the crowd.

Kirihara blinked, what the hell was that? He frowned but did as Niou suggested, he wanted to run after Niou but the look in the Vampire’s eye worried him. It was the way he had been looking at him back in his room, only this time he couldn’t decide if he wanted to rape him or eat him.

He skipped the few steps up the dais and crawled around the table to lean against Sanada’s shoulder.

“That was quite the show,” Atobe smiled wickedly.

A firm ‘Fuck you’ was on his tongue but he didn’t think servants were allowed to tell other Masters off; as satisfying as it would have been. Sanada buried his face in Kirihara’s neck, hand sliding up the back of his vest.

“I smell a bit of a human, but otherwise nothing. Seems like you were a good boy today.” The Master pressed his nose to the curls behind Kirihara’s ear.

“Every once in a while that does happen, but I promise not to make a habit out of it.”

Sanada chuckled, “do you know why we’re here?”

“Same reason we were at the other one yesterday?” Was that a trick question?

“Wrong.”

See, trick question.

“’Sora’ frequents this club, as do many influential Masters. If your rumor has any grounds we’ll hear about it here.”

Kirihara sighed and wiggled down into his nest of pillows, it was going to be a long night.

Momoshiro watched the tiny pair, in the dim lights they could easily be mistaken for identical twins. Hell, even in good light they could be mistaken for twins. Dan threw his hands over his head as he danced, body curving and swaying around Ryoma’s. The Hunter ran his hands up the little male’s sides, grinding against him. Strobe lights alternately washed them in a rainbow of colours, the material of their clothes picking up the highlights.

He was sent with Ryoma and Dan to one of the seedier clubs; Dan’s connections were the only thing that got them in. The club was already in a bad end of town, but to add to it’s image they had loops of barbed wire by the door. Its dark doors promised anonymity, so many dark magic users and creatures passed through them.

Ryoma’s skin prickled; there was so much dark energy in the room it was suffocating. Witches, werewolves, Vampires, things he didn’t even realize existed were pressed into the small room. It was more like an undersized warehouse. One wide floor with a tiny bar squished into the far end. Broken chairs and wobbly tables were shoved into the dark corners. He pulled Dan closer, trying to use the little human’s bright energy to numb the dark.

Dan mouthed ‘you okay?’ when he saw the pinched look around Ryoma’s eyes.

The Hunter nodded, Dan wouldn’t understand anyway. He felt someone creep up behind him a moment before a hand almost fell on his shoulder. He turned enough to be able to catch the person’s wrist before his hand reached him.

“Can I help you?” Ryoma tossed the offending limb.

The male behind him was grinning mischievously, like he was enjoying some private joke. “Dan-kun, right?” He looked past Ryoma to the other boy.

Dan froze, nodding once. Ryoma sidestepped closer to Dan, wrapping an arm around his waist. The display looked possessive but he used it as an excuse to put his hand on his back, rubbing gently; comforting and reminding him of why they were there.

The guy grinned wider and tucked a lock of blond hair behind his ear, he turned his focus to Ryoma and the teasing light in his eyes died, “and you are?”

If this guy knew Dan, it meant he was someone Ryoma wanted to know. “Ryoma.”

He snickered, “no family name?”

“Not without a drink,” Ryoma teased. He wasn’t stupid enough to air his name in a place like this; his father was too well known. And not in a good way.

The blond laughed, “then you can call me Rin.”

Dan pinched him meaningfully. Ryoma took the hint - Dan knew him.

“Rin-san, is there something we can do for you?” Ryoma purred, letting he insinuation hang in the air.

“O-ho,” Rin chuckled, “I’m here on a more professional matter, or else I might take you up on that. Since you’re in a shady place like this I think you know what you are.”

Ryoma didn’t need Dan’s pinch to know where this conversation was leading, “I do know …but what is it to you?”

Rin looked around the room before his lips quirked in a fast grin at Ryoma, “somewhere we can talk? This shouting is getting old.”

Ryoma cursed mentally, he needed to tell Momo what was going on, but it was a little to obvious to look at him. He didn’t cast his eyes around, Rin might mistake it for nerves. Instead, he held the others gaze and slowly smiled, “sure. The hallway to the bathroom is secluded; the bathrooms are out of order so no one goes there.”

Rin nodded and gestured for Ryoma to lead the way. He kept his arm locked around Dan’s elbow as he weaved through the crowd to the dark hallway near the back of the building. The sound grew faint and was more just an irritating background thump.

“You’re a witch.” Rin didn’t wait for small-talk.

“Yeah, and?” Ryoma leaned against the wall opposite Rin, arms crossed. He crossed his ankles, head tilted back as he gave Rin the once over.

“I’m looking for someone powerful like you.” Rin started

“That sounds like a really bad pick-up line buddy, what’s the deal?” Ryoma toed around carefully, acting ignorant.

Rin laughed, “my pick-up lines are much better then that, don’t worry. I’ve actually got a little …project on the go, and I need some people who can pack a pretty big punch, if you get what I mean?”

“What kind of project?”

Rin wiggled his finger at him, “I can’t tell you that …”

“Or you’ll have to kill me?” Ryoma rolled his eyes, hoping his disbelief would make Rin tell him more.

Rin winked, “something like that. I need you to meet someone first, let her scope you out and see if she thinks we could use you. After that, I promise you kiddo, you’ll be glad you agreed to help us.”

She? Was this the witch that was constantly one step ahead of them? He pursed his lips as if he was thinking it over, trying to hide his shock. He needed to talk to Tezuka, A.S.A.P! “I don’t know …this sounds kind of shady …”

The blond laughed again, “funny, that.” He gestured to the building around them as if to say ‘look where you are’, “Look, I’ll give you my cell number, think it over and then give me a call.” He handed Ryoma a small black card. Embossed in white was his name and number with a strange elaborate emblem in the middle.

Ryoma pocketed the card, trying to hide the tremble in his hand. “I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think too hard.” He winked and then turned to Dan who had stayed silent the entire time, “heard from Akutsu lately?”

Dan shrunk back, face turned slightly down, “not for a long time …”

Rin murmured and pursed his lips, “what have you been up to, just work?”

“Pretty much,” Dan shrugged.

“I saw Akutsu the other day.”

Both males froze, Akutsu hadn’t been heard or seen since his escape from Yukimura. Ryoma glanced to Dan, trying to look as ignorant and mildly confused as possible.

“H-how is he?” Dan couldn’t meet his gaze.

“You mean is he asking after you?”

Dan flinched and after a long pause he nodded.

Rin hummed again, “he’s a little busy at the moment, but I’ll tell him I saw you.”

Ryoma wanted to scream and slap Dan; he was compromising the entire thing!

Dan shook his head, “no, that’s okay.” He finally lifted his head and smiled weakly, “if he’s busy don’t bother him.”

Rin blinked and frowned, studying the little human before shrugging, “up to you. Just thought you might like to talk to him again.”

Dan shook his head again, “I think it’s safer for both of us not to know about the other.”

“Ah,” Rin tapped the side of his nose, “gotcha. Yukimura still sniffing around?”

Dan nodded.

Ryoma could have kissed him.

“Alright, well, the rest of the night awaits,” he turned and pointed at Ryoma, “don’t forget to call.”

Ryoma waved and Rin sauntered back out of the hallway. Once they were sure he was gone Ryoma let out the breath he was holding and sagged against the wall. “Holy fuck.”

“Did I do okay?” Dan bounced on his toes, a bright smile on his face.

“That whole thing was an act?” Ryoma chuckled, hands on his knees.

Dan grinned, “obviously.”

Ryoma couldn’t help but smile; guess he wasn’t the only one who had the innocent little kid act down perfectly. He straightened and held his hand out to the little human, “shall we?”

Dan took his hand and pressed along his side, tilting his head so it was tucked close to Ryoma’s ear, “absolutely.”

Ryoma shivered; oh yeah, he had a whole new appreciation for the little guy.
- 8
- 9
- 10
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Colour me Blood red: Human after all