Chapter Five

The following evening after Aloys' and Mew's fight, Kyousuke was very quiet around Aloys. It wasn't because he was afraid or anything, but rather because the vampire seemed to be contemplating something.

Kyou had his own worries too, for one, how to fix the problem he was in, and two, was the current solution worth all this stress?

He was on the couch, legs crossed lotus style, and papers spread out in front of him. He had stayed at work until 6 that morning and slept the rest of the day. Now it was early evening and he was wide awake and ready to do some planning.

He had his hair pulled up into a small ponytail, the layered bangs were held in place by small, cheap clips as to not distract him while he studied the papers strewn across the furniture and the coffee table in front of him.

He had them all spread out: old books, papers, copied clips from newspapers- anything that he had managed to scrimp from the library on the way back from work.

It all had to do with one thing: Fiends. He got everything from pure lore to right up and through the time they actually started to show themselves throughout the world with in the last decade or so.

He had no idea what he was looking for and, unfortunately, none of it was really helpful. He didn't know what was true or what was just conjectured and full out lies. Besides the small amount he had learned about vampires from Aloys, he was completely ignorant.

He sighed and rubbed his face. He stilled mid-face rub as he thought of Aloys' library. There was bound to be books in there about how to protect himself.

Then he mentally paused again. He had been scared out of his fucking mind when Aloys found him in there the first time. He had been warned to not go in there again and he really hadn't given it another thought until now.

He was torn. Should he go in and risk it? Or should he try and find another way out of this?

Kyou was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't notice someone had come into the room behind him. He was startled out of his internal debate as Aloys sat down on the couch heavily. It stirred Kyou's papers and caused them to scatter in every direction.

One, in particular, was floating above his head. Kyou tried to reach out to grab it, but when he did he let out a small hiss of pain.

Across the pad of his thumb a thin line of blood appeared from a papercut. As he brought the digit to his lips, he was stopped by a strong and pale hand around his wrist.

He could not even voice an objection as he was jerked halfway across the couch and partially into Aloys' lap. The vampire put the bloody pad to his mouth and pressed it to his pale lips.

His tongue darted out and licked it. It was cold as ice, but Kyou didn't notice. His almond shaped eyes were once again locked with the vampire's sly red ones.

Then, without a word from either of them, Kyou was released. He became confused. And very suspicious.

"It's healed," Aloys muttered as he turned his head away and placed a hand under his chin.

"W-what?" Kyou asked, but when he looked back at his thumb, the papercut was gone, fresh pink skin in its place.

He was even more skeptical now. "What was that for?" he asked bluntly.

Aloy let out an irritated sigh unnecessarily. "Can't you just say 'Thank you' for fucks sake?"

Kyou huffed and realized he was still halfway into the fiends lap. He quickly scrambled off and sat back on his heels. "Why should I? I didn't ask you to. And, besides, you are the one who caused it in a way," he argued like a child.

Aloys snorted but was otherwise silent.

"...Is this your way of saying you're sorry for being a total dick yesterday?"

Aloys snorted again, still not looking at Kyou. "...Maybe…"

Kyou rolled his eyes and sat back down. He let out a long suffering sigh. "Why are you doing this, Aloys?" he asked, tired all of a sudden.

"I wish I knew, darling," the vampire replied, almost off handedly.

Kyou turned and looked at the vampire intently. "I'm not sure I believe you about that," he said.

Aloys nodded. He was quiet for a long time and then opened his mouth just when the silence was getting uncomfortable. " I don't know why, but when I see you I have an almost overwhelming urge to tease you."

Kyou was surprised by the vampires sudden honesty. "Alright…"

"Therefore," he continued, like Kyou hadn't spoken, "let me suck your blood. I need food and lately its been too much trouble to find my meals where they won't be missed."

Kyou sputtered at the conversation taking another 180°. "And what makes you think I'll agree to that absurd solution? This and that are two completely different things, and I, for one, happen to like my blood too- in my own body."

Aloys looked at his nails casually then sideways at Kyousuke. "You are practically free loading off me, love. I offered to help, yes, but I never do anything for free. Even if it's not blood, there needs to be a payment made of some kind."

"I'll pay you with money from my job," he said tersely. He clenched his hands into fists. Great, another fucking thing to worry about.

"Human currency means nothing to me. I need you , Kyousuke. Or more specifically, your blood and…. maybe something else," he added cryptically. His eyes darkened slightly as he spoke but whether it was hunger or something else was up for personal interpretation.

Kyou scowled and looked at Aloys, hard, from across the couch. He wished he could see through that cold as ice exterior and get some kind of read on what the damn bloodsucker was really thinking.

"I understand what you are saying," he said slowly after a long moment, and gathered his knees to his chest, "But I feel very uncomfortable with that, and you were the one who insisted I stay here," Kyou pointed out. "I didn't want to stay here to begin with, but until something is done about the situation, I'll do something else to help you in a way you do find useful."

Aloys frowned, but didn't argue. He stood as suddenly as he had sat down. "I'll hold you to that," he said quietly.

It was then Sera came out her bed room with a stack of material in her arms. "Allie, you promised to take me to Miss Ebony's so she can help me make my dress for her party," she said.

She barely spared a glance at Kyou as she spoke, not that Kyou really cared, but the slight, almost superior smirk she gave him made him feel like giving her a smack upside the head.

"How come I'm 'Allie' and she gets 'Miss Ebony'?" Aloys practicality whined.

Kyou watched the exchange and begrudgingly thought it was amazing how dangerous Aloys could look one minute, and then act like an actual human the next in the time it took to blink.

Sera looked at Aloys. "Cause she said she'd eat me if i didn't call her that," she said, although, to Kyou, she looked like she didn't believe a word of it.

"And you don't think I would?" Aloys asked with a slight glare.

"Mmmmm, no," Sera concluded pointedly and unimpressed.

Kyou let out a terse snort, which caused Aloys to direct a glare at him that reminded Kyou more of a pouting puppy then a immortal fiend of the night.

Aloys let out a soft growl of defeat and took Sera's hand.

He turned to Kyou. " I don't know when I'll be back, but please don't get into trouble," he said. "And don't bother to wait up,darling," he added teasingly as the shadows gathered around him and Sera before whisking them off into darkness.

Kyou scowled and stuck out his tongue belligerently even though no one was around to see it.

He waited a few moments before he stood up and marched right up stairs. He stopped short, momentarily, in front of the library door before he steeled his nerves. Kyou grabbed the handle and gave it a twist. It gave with no trouble.

He felt a little bad as he pushed it open. It not being locked showed that Aloys trusted Kyou to not go in there again, but then the human scowled as he remembered the threatening tone the vampire used.

It wasn't explained why he shouldn't go in the room, so Kyou decided that he didn't have to listen to it. With a huff to himself, he walked into the room.

It was just as dusty and dark as the first time Kyou had found it. Unimpressed, he walked over to a shelf and took out his phone.

He used the screen as a flashlight to look at the books' covers. It didn't take long to surmise that most of these books were memoirs and historical documents regarding the Keiran bloodline. He fought the urge to roll his eyes as he picked some at random and gently pulled them out.

They smelt moldy and made Kyou sneeze as he leafed through the thin pages. He came across some artists' rendition of the royal family and stopped on the small portrait sketch of Aloys.

It wasn't really a surprise that Aloys had been around for hundreds of years but the fact he had been a prince...Alright, maybe it wasn't that surprising either, he admitted to himself. The asshole's high and mighty attitude made a lot more sense now that he thought about it.

He snorted in amusement at the ridiculous pictures in the book as he put it back and the action triggered a chain of violent sneezes that caused him to lose his balance.

He toppled over and whacked his elbow on the corner of a shelf. The whole thing shifted and, for a fearful moment, the image of the whole thing toppling over and crushing him filled his mind.

Threw his arms up in instinct and half expected the books to start falling on top of him. One did fall, but it bounced off of him harmlessly. It skidded across the floor and stopped beside a chair on the oriental carpet on the far side of the room.

Kyou scrambled up onto his feet and quickly moved out of the potential danger of being crushed. With a sigh, he dusted his ass off and then his hands before he went over and picked up the book. He wiped off the cover and flipped through it.

The book itself was not very interesting, just a bunch of pressed flowers and descriptions of their various uses, but there was a small piece of paper peeking out of the back pages.

He slowly and carefully pulled it out and read it.

Keiko, attached to this letter is a poem I wrote with you in mind. Please read it and think over it carefully.

Yours always, Aloys Keiran

In my mind

I think of caressing your soft skin, kissing your warm mouth, gazing into into your bright eyes that are full of passion for me.

He couldn't help but blush as he read, but continued on,

In my arms

I hold you tightly to my chest, whisper sweet nothings in your ear, long to stay with with you- even if it is just for one moment longer.

In my heart

I keep you close, admire your innocent beauty, hope that you do not realize how desperate I am to be the man you deserve.

On my knees

I ask you humbly, with adoration, love, and passion I can scarce contain: Will you continue to love me and stay by my side? Will you marry me?

Kyousuke let out a long breath.A rush of uncalled for sorrow and other emotions hit him like a ton of bricks. His hand shook as he clutched the letter and held it to his chest. He couldn't help but see Aloys: Happy, smiling without reserve, holding out his warm hand to him. Aloys was human, he had been happy, in love. What the hell had happened to change all of that?