"Good Morning, what can I do for you today?"
Dae walked swiftly to the Count, grabbed one of his hands urgantly, and said, "I-I have to talk to you."
The Count was mildly started at this, pulled his hand gently from Dae's grasp and gestured for him to sit. "Then, please, tell me what is on your mind?"
Dae sat, buried his face in his hands, and thought. Where to start? The Count set a fresh cup of tea in front of Dae. Dae took it graciously and sipped it, it seemed to sit warm on his tongue, and Dae found he could talk easier. "I think I'm loosing my mind, Count."
The Count did not seem startled by this information, he just politely asked, "Oh? And what makes you think that?"
"It's my bat... I have these crazy dreams, at least, I think they're dreams, but they seem so real, and... I dream my bat is a man, and... but that can't be possible, can it?"
Dae looked to the Count, and was surprised to discover he was still calmly sipping his tea. He didn't seem astounded at all at hearing this news. After a moment, he spoke around his cup. "I must admit, I did not think Souji would have been so forward in his actions. I thought he would at least wait a little longer."
"Souji... hey, how did you know his name? I never told it to you."
The Count looked up and seem to smile a little. He set his tea on the table and laced his fingers together. "Everyone who has ever taken care of your little bat knows his name, he names himself." Dae thought to how the name "Souji" had just popped in his head the day he brought his pet home. The Count continued. "You bat is very special, his race originated deep within the mountainous reagions of Europe. Only a few have ventured out of their native land, that is why he is so rare. As you have guessed, he's no ordinary vampire bat, he has very special and unique... talents. Your bat has never known sickness or injury he could not heal. And as you have seen, when he is stong enough, he can transform into a man. You are going to spill your tea."
Dae looked to his hand and found it shaking, the dark liquid within quivering as well. Dae sipped from the cup again and set it on the table, laced his fingers tightly to calm his trembling hands. "But... I don't understand... how can that... be possible?"
"There are a great many mysteries in this world, Dae. I doubt we will ever solve them all. Your pet happens to be one of these miraculous mysteries. I'm sorry, if you will excuse me. Was that all you needed?" At that moment, a small boy and his father had walked into the store. The Count stood, as did Dae.
"Yes. Yes, that was all. Oh! Wait, I need a rat."
The Count nodded and pointed Dae in the direction of the rat cage. As Dae paid the Count for Souji's meal, the Count whispered to him. "Do tell me how this progresses, I would very much be interested in the end to this story." Dae nodded, and headed home.
Dae went straight home and uncovered Souji's cage. The tiny brown bat was curled into a ball, hanging from the top of the cage. He was sleeping. Dae checked a nearby clock, it was still hours until sunset. Dae couldn't wait that long!
"Oh, come on, come on, wake up, won't you?" But the bat did not wake up, and when Dae finally made enough noise to rouse him, the bat glared at Dae sleepily and tucked his head back under his wings. Dae sighed, he would have to wait until sunset to see the beautiful man again. So, Dae set the little rat in the bottom off Souji's cage, and wandered over to his computer. He turned it on and did a word search on "vampires." It took hours for Dae to root through all the information he was given. He had read about vampires that could walk on walls, vampires that ate human livers instead of blood, and vampires that could sprout demon-esque wings and fly into the night. But Dae doubted any of the information in front of him had been gathered from hard facts, but rather fantasized stories. Still, some of it was pretty gruesome. There was one site that said vampires only drank from virgins--Well, I'm not technically a virgin, am I?--to babies. He read that vampires were the children of Satan, that some how powers to render a man paralyzed while it fed off him, and that some could make themselves so desireable, the most pious man or woman could not refuse them. Dae leaned forward, peering at an old, gothic picture of a demon-like vampire ravaging a woman when a hand was set upon his shoulder. Dae had been reading so much dark stuff for so many hours, he jumped with a squeal. The hand relaxed him back in his seat, and slipped around his chest.
That's not me, said that strange voice in his head.
"What?" It took Dae a moment to get over his startled.
That picture. That stuff your reading. That's not me. Souji leaned down and pressed his cheek to Dae's. Dae felt himself instantly melting in the mans embrace.
"I didn't think it was. I didn't have any information on you..."
What do you need to know?
Dae thought a moment. What had he been looking for? "Do you drink blood from humans?"
Yes. Sometimes. It's nice. More powerful, tastey. But I already told you. I won't ever hurt you. Souji must have senced Dae's dread at hearing that.
"Do you... like to taste my blood?"
Yes. It's sweet, and salty. It dances on my tongue. Dae wasn't sure how to that the... "compliment?"
"You picked me, in the petshop. Why?"
Souji took a moment answering. Silently, he took Dae's hand and pulled him up from his chair. He pulled Dae back into the bedroom (Oh my god, he's naked again. Ugh, stupid pants) and Dae tried to shift his pants, give his growing erection room. (Oh god, tell me I'm not gay. Tell me I'm not gay.) Souji pulled Dae right in front of his mirror, then stood behind him, looking over his shoulder.
Now do you see?
Dae looked to his own refection, then to Souji's--another myth he'd learned on the internet thrown out the window--then back to his own. He shook his head, not understanding. Souji pushed Dae closer to the cool glass, so Dae's face was inches from it. Souji raised a finger to Dae's cheek.
Your pretty. I like looking at pretty things. But that's not why I chose you. I chose you because of what I saw, here. Souji brushed his finger over Dae's eyelid, and Dae stared into his own cool blue eyes. They looked the same as every other time he had looked in the mirror, except, there seemed something cold about them. Something raw. Like glass. Broken glass.
Do you see now?
"My pain? From being dumped? That's why you picked me?" Dae turned and looked up at Souji.
Your loneliness. I feel it too. Here. Souji put his fingers over his own heart. Dae looked to the place and soon, put his hand over Souji's.
"Your lonely. Like me." Souji nodded. Except your pain has lasted a few weeks. Mine has lasted several years.
Dae pulled both their hands from the space above Souji's heart. Several years? Dae couldn't even comprehend the notion. Several years, spent in quiet loneliness? In emotional isolation? Dae pressed his ear to the space on Souji's chest. His cheek kissed the cold skin that sent shivers down his spine. His ear heard nothing, except the rushing off his own blood through the canal. It was like listening to a sea shell. Years?
Dae looked up suddenly, startling Souji a bit. He spoke with firm resolute. "I won't let you be lonely anymore, Souji." Souji's lips parted, and Dae swore he could hear a sigh leaving Souji, though he feltt nothing on his upturned face. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to Souji's. Fire ran through his viens again, and all his cloths seemed to tight now. He wanted to press his bare skin against that cool body, while the fire raced just beneath his flesh. He shrugged out of his leather vest, pushed his chest against Souji's. He felt Souji's tongue try to wedge between his teeth, gain access to his mouth, and Dae obliged. He pulled the other mans tongue into his mouth, danced his tongue along Souji's. He became aware of something poking into his hip, and it didn't take two guesses to figure out what it was.
Yes, this is what I want. Take me, hold me, save me from my loneliness, while I am saving you.
Dae was surprised to discover these thoughts had been his own.
You are sure? Dae nodded, finally releasing Souji's mouth. He walked Dae backwards until Dae felt something hit the back of his legs, and he sat down on his bed. Souji pushed him back, then run his hands over Dae's chest, careful not to cut him with his sharp nails. Souji found Dae's pants and after several moments working with them, finally had them undone. Dae got the feeling it had been a long time since Souji had done this. He lifted his hips so Souji could pull down his pants, but sat up as Souji worked them off his ankles.
"Souji? I'm not... I mean, I've never... I'm not prepared to..."
Souji came back up and silenced Dae with a kiss. I won't hurt you. I need lotion.
Lotion. Lotion. Where on earth would Dae have lotion? Ah! He freed himself from Souji long enough to dig around in a drawer, and produced a bottle of massaging oil. His old girlfriend had loved to get massages. He brought it back over to Souji. "Will this do?" He squeezed some in the other mans hand, and Souji nodded, rubbing it bewteen his hands. He coated two fingers very carefully; it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what he was going to do. Dae took advantage of his distraction. he squeezed some of the oily lotion in his own hand, and reached for Souji's standing errection. The man was huge, how was he ever going to fit all that in lil ol Dae?
Souji jerked a little when Dae began to run his hand up and down Souji's length, it was very obvious Souji was greatly enjoying the experience. He made no sounds though, Dae didn't think he was capible of making sound. He didn't breath.