- The next day went by in a dreary daze for Dae. he barely paid any attention in his classes, and work was not much better. He was sent home early and told not to report back until he had his head gathered back together. Dae checked on his new pet when he got home; Souji was still asleep. Quietly, Dae picked the living rat out of the box and set it in the bottom of Souji's cage. He replaced the cover over the cage, he wasn't exactly keen on the idea of watching the bat drain the rat of blood. Dae fixed himself a supper, but barely ate any of it. For most of the time, he sat staring at the steam rising off of his food until it had grown too cool to emit any steam at all. The Dae heard his pet squeeking for attention in the bedroom. It took Dae a moment to get up and move into the bedroom. He lifted the cover to see Souji near the top of the cage again, clinging to the bamboo bars, and staring at Dae. The rat was dead on the cage floor.
"Ew. Did you enjoy your supper? Hope it was more appetising than mine." Dae opened the cage and removed the rat. He left the apartment and threw the thing into the garbage can outside his apartment building, where it would not stink. On his way back, he heard something strange.
"Yep, I heard she found herself a better guy."
"She dumped him like a hot potatoe."
Dae stopped and pressed himself against the wall, listened to the voices around the corner.
"That's right! She's in one of my classes, she was talking about him the other day. He has long, platinum hair, right? What was her boyfriends name?"
"Dae. His name was Dae, he lives here in the building. You know the guy, short purple hair. He has this illusion he's going to change the world, make it a better place once he leaves college."
"Yeah, that's him. You know the worst part? She doesn't even know his name. She dumped Dae for a man she doesn't even know!"
Dae pushed himself away from the wall and decided to take the stairs instead. He ascended the stairs and went back into his modest apartment in stoney silence. He walked past the cooling supper for one on the table and went straight to the bedroom. He crawled onto his bed and curled up, promising himself he would not cry again.
"What do they know, those stupid hens. It's none of their business. It's none of their business she broke up with me, she broke up with me over a guy she doesn't even know." Dae covered his face again, shut his eyes tight against the tears that wanted to spill over his cheeks. Dae didn't notice the door to the bamboo cage still open, he couldn't see the tiny bat watching him with it's glowing red eyes. As Dea wept himself into a dreamless sleep, he didn't hear the footsteps approaching his bed.
Dae had no idea how long he had slept, but before he was even fully awake he became aware of a feeling, a sensation. Something was petting his cheek, rubbing it gently. And it felt nice. Before Dae's alarm system went off, telling him he should be alone in his room, he turned his face into the gentle petting, felt a body beside him. That's when his mind came to realize what was wrong with the situation. He sat straight up, eyes snapping open, only to be greeted by complete darkness. He felt a pair of hands on his shoulders and began to struggle, pulling away, when a mouth very near his ear whispered, "Shhh."
The sound was almost like a hiss, but it was warm and comforting, while at the same time demanded obeydiance. Dae stopped struggling, and the strong arms pulled him back down on his own bed. Dae's heart pounded with fear, he couldn't breath properly. He couldn't see who else was in the room with him, so he shut his eyes tight in fear. What was this other person going to to do him? The petting sensation returned to his cheek, and Dae released a sound like a fearful whimper. The feeling on his cheek was removed, and Dae gathered his muster to ask in a quiet, squeaky voice, "What are you going to do?"
Again came the reply, "Shhh." The sound came from an area still very near Dae's ear. The Dae felt a pair of cool lips pressed to his cheek. The sensation should have frightened him, but instead his tense muscles began to relax, his pounding heart began to calm. Dae felt a hand slip inside his vest-shirt, and began to unbutton it. Dae's voice caught in his throat, and again he tried to sit up, but the hand on his chest kept him on his back. Whoever else was in the room with him, he was very strong.
He!? Dae thought with startling realization. It had to be a he, no woman could be that strong. Oh no, please don't... The other had fineshed opening Dae's vest and was now running his hand up Dae's chest. Though he did not cut Dae, Dae could feel he had very sharp fingernails. Dae raised his own hand and wrapped it around the other wrist, stopping the hand.
"Please..." Dae started. "Please, don't. Don't hurt me."
Dae felt another kiss on his cheek, and his grip on the others wrist weaken. No, he's gonna... no, I can't let him. Dae shook his head, trying to clear the warm, relaxing feelings from it. He felt the other mans hand drifting downward again, but it didn't stop at his chest. It went over his stomach and his pelvis, until Dae felt it pull at the snap to his pants.
No! He can't! He mustn't! "No!" Dae tried again to sit up, and was only pulled back down again. He began to squirm, trying to escape the strangers embrace. "No! Please! I've never... Don't do this! Don't hurt me!"
The stranger stopped, and Dae felt relieved. Maybe he would leave now, maybe he wouldn't hurt Dae. Dae felt the mans hand lift from his pelvis, and take Dae's hand. Dae barely had time to wonder what he was doing before he felt a tiny sting on the inside of his wrist, and warm fatigue wash over him, forcing him back into sleep.
The next day, Dae awoke on his bed, stretched the sleep stiffness out of his muscles. He sat up and wondered why he was still in yesterday's clothes, when he remembered... Then he remembered his strange experience last night. His eyes darted around the room, looking for any sign that anyone else was still in the apartment. Dae looked down at himself, he was still fully clothed. He checked his wrst, the one that had hurt just before he fell asleep. It looked normal as well, except for a tiny scratch, which he could have gotten anywhere. Dae checked the rest of the small apartment. Last nights supper was still sitting on the table, and his front door was locked. No windows were broken, nothing seemed out of place. Dae returned to his bedroom and sat on his bed, scratching his head. Maybe it was just a dream...? Dae looked up as a tiny squeak pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, no, I left Souji's cage open." Dae stood and walked over to the awaiting bat, it's eyes glowing scarlet red. "I'm sorry, Souji. Really I am." Dae closed the cage door, and recovered the cage, when his alarm went off. "Oh, man! I'm so late!" Dae grabbed his books and dashed out the door, while the little bat Souji curled up, upside down to sleep the day away.
The rest of that day, and the whole week passed very much in the same way for Dae. He could not stay focused on anything, not his books, not his work. All he could think about was his little Souji, waiting at home for him in his cool, dark cage, and that strange "dream" he had had. Dae was sent home two more times for absent mindedness. The last time, he had accidently set his hand against the machinery at his work, and it had cut a nasty little wound in Dae's palm. Dae's boss was threatening to fire him if he did not get his mind back on his work. And above all that, Souji was supposed to get a rat today, but when Dae finally had time to run to the Pet Shop in Chinatown, it had already closed! All the pet stores were closed. Dae couldn't find anything for his little friend. Needless to say, he was in a very sour mood. He came home and shed his jacket and soaked t-shirt; it had rained to top things off, and Dae was freezing. He ran himself a hot bath, and then went into his bedroom to check on Souji. He lifted the cover to see Souji anxiously awaiting him, clinging to the side of the cage as usual. Dae smiled, at least someone was happy to see him. He opened the cage, and Souji hopped onto his un-wounded hand.
"See what I did today?" Dae held the bandaged hand out to Souji to see. "I'm such an idle-brain. I'm also freezing, let's take a bath." Dae carried Souji into the bathroom, after grabbing a plate of grapes, and set him on the sink. "Now, don't fall off. I don't want you to get hurt." Dae dimmed the lights to make his little pet a little more comfortable. Dae shed the soggy shoes and socks, and pants. He set the plate of grapes on the floor, picked up the little bat, and set him down by them. "I'm sorry, I know your supposed to get a rat today, but this is all I have. Can you forgive me?" Dae stepped into the warm water, letting it heat his cold skin, and leaned over the side to watch Souji munch away on the grapes. Dae even reached down and played a little tug-o-war with the bat over a few grapes. Dae smiled down at the bat, then removed the bandage to his hand. Dae wrinkled his nose, it wasn't a deep cut, but it was still bleeding. Dae held it under the running water, and it turned his bath water pink. Dae yawned and sat back, what was it about baths? They always made you so... sleepy...
There it was again, that strange sensation against his skin, like someone petting him, except this time it wasn't on his cheek, it was on his palm, and it was wet. Dae startled awake and sat straight up in the tub, he couldn't believe he had fallen asleep in the tub! It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light, but when they did dim, he saw a figure, a rather large figure, bent over his hand. It was holding onto his hand by his fingers and wrist, and it was licking his palm! Gently caressing the sore wound with it's wet tongue. Dae snatched his hand away from the person, moved to stand out of the bath tub, but when the man turned and looked at him, he froze. Their eyes met and locked. Dae's lungs forgot how to breath, his heart neglected to beat, and his mind ceased to function, except to admire the creature that was crouching outside the tub.
In the dim light, Dae could make out the man's pale white skin, like moving marble. His ears were tapered, his eyes were mere slits, and to Dae, he was simply beautiful. An eternity they sat there, staring at each other, before the other man picked up Dae's wrist again, and turned his face down into Dae's palm. Again the tongue emerged, caressing the tender wound. It was a strange feeling, the man's tongue was cool to touch, sort of like stone, but it sent an electric impulse through every nerve in Dae's body. His body moved on his own accord, he relaxed back in the tub, laying back down in the hot water.
Soon there after, the other man stopped licking Dae's hand, and looked to Dae again. Dae's hand no longer hurt, he wanted to see what the man had done to it, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the man's face.
It feels better?
The phrase just popped into his head, Dae had no idea where it came from. He opened his mouth to talk, but it had suddenly become very dry and Dae couldn't utter a coherent word. The man put a finger to Dae's lips, it was just as cool as his tongue. The man stood (Sweet Jesus, he looks like a god...), and stepped into the tub. He knelt down to lay with Dae, but the tub wasn't incredibly big, and the man wound up laying on top of Dae for the most part.
Does it hurt?
Where were these phrases coming from?
From me.
How?
I can't speak. This is how I talk.
Who are you?
I am Souji.
Dae's eyes widened, this was impossible. It couldn't be. This incredibly gorgeous man laying on top of Dae's limp body could not be his precious bat. Could it?
I am.
Dae opened his mouth to speak again, but he was silenced as the man, Souji, pressed his cool lips to Dae's. It was like kissing soft, pliable marble, but it sent fire through Dae's body. Life surged back through Dae's limbs, and he lifted his arms, wrapped them around the other man. Souji deepened the kiss, and Dae felt the sharp points of fangs against his mouth. Dae's blood ran cold with realization.
The Count told me he was a vampire bat... is he...? Can he really be...? Oh god...
The other man stopped kissing Dae and sat up. He looked down into Dae's frightened, confused eyes, and seemed to decide something. He moved, stood up, stepped out of the bath.
Dae reached for him weakly, his limbs were beginning to feel like jelly, but his tongue was working again. "Wait, what are you... where are you going?"
Souji looked down at Dae. Your not ready. Dae didn't understand what Souji meant, he wanted to ask him, but Souji merely shook his head. He reached into the water and lifted Dae out of it. Souji carried Dae as though he weighted nothing at all, he carried him back into Dae's bedroom. Dae pressed his face into Souji's cool neck, his mind racing with questions. Can this really be real? If it is, what is the vampire going to do? What are you talking about, this can't be real! Vampires don't exist! They're creatures of myth, aren't they? Oh god, is he going to kill me?
Souji set Dae down upon the bed, and stared deep into his eyes again. I would never hurt you. Suddenly, Dae was very sleepy again. He fought off the dreams, he had so many things he wanted to ask Souji, he needed so many answers, he wanted to feel the sensation of Souji lips again, he wanted so many things, but not to sleep! Not now! Souji leaned down and planted a tender kiss on Dae's forehead.
Sleep. I'll be here tomorrow.