Chapter 11

Shinya opened his eyes to the smell of pancakes. Uncurling Die from around his middle he made his way downstairs. Izam was still asleep on the couch and he found Toshiya in the kitchen. "Totchi-chan." Shinya said quietly and the younger vampire turned to offer a half smile. "Daijoubu?"

"I'm all right." Toshiya returned to his meal.

Shinya pulled a chair from the table and had a seat. "Toshiya, tell me about Kaoru." He watched as Toshiya stiffened. "Is he hurting you?" It was a stupid question but a good place to start.

"It's my own fault." Toshiya answered quietly.

Shinya's brow creased. "What's your fault?"

"Everything, it's all my fault."

"That's not an answer, what is your fault?"

"Ryutaro." Toshiya's shoulders hunched.

"Is that what he's telling you? That Ryutaro's death is your fault?"

"But it is. If I hadn't gotten in the way�"

"Izam would be dead." Shinya finished the sentence and Toshiya turned, his eyes shocked. "You know it's true. Ryutaro made his own decision and you had nothing to do with it." Shinya stood. "Look at me and say you wish you'd let Izam die."

Toshiya gaped like a fish then looked at the floor and back up at Shinya. "I don't want Izam to be dead, I saved him."

"Exactly. Why are you letting Kaoru tell you different?"

"Because it's true." Toshiya shook his head in confusion. "But it's not."

"Break out Toshiya. Don't let it rule you." Shinya hissed.

"Why is it my fault? Why should Izam die?" Toshiya's eyes narrowed and he looked at the floor. "Who's fault is it?"

Shinya took a hold of Toshiya's shoulders and looked him in the eye. "It's no one's fault. It was his choice."

"Why did I believe him?" Toshiya asked as he tried to rescue his pancakes from burning. "Why did I let him do that?"

"Kaoru's ability is mind control. In his current state I doubt he even realizes what he's doing. He basically lost Ryutaro twice."

"But it's not my fault." Toshiya reminded himself. "I saved Izam. He still has a chance at life."

Shinya nodded. "You can't let Kaoru take control again. You can move in with Die and I if you like, until you find your own house."

Toshiya set down the frying pan and moved to hug Shinya tightly. Shinya smiled and patted his back.

"Do I smell pancakes?" Izam called sleepily from the couch. "And eggs?"

Toshiya grinned and looked into the family room where Izam was stretching, his long hair a mess. "Shinya doesn't have any juice, do you mind milk?"

"Not at all." Izam sleepily flopped on the back of the couch to yawn and smile at Toshiya. "What 'cha lookin' at?"

"Kawaii." Toshiya whispered and returned to putting the meal on the table.

Izam raised a brow and moved to actually get out of bed. He paused to smile at the pile of black fur occupying a doggy bed by the heat register. The Chihuahua and rabbit were curled side by side with Die's mastiff curled around them, all perfectly asleep. Smiling he went into the kitchen.

*

Shinya walked back into the kitchen after showing Chisato and Hakuei out and Izam and Toshiya were nodding to each other.

"Izam said he'd drop me off at Kaoru's house." Toshiya announced.

Shinya frowned. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"

"I have to face him sometime and it would be better to do it in the middle of the day when his powers are the weakest. I'm just going to pack more clothing, a couple trinkets and get my bike back."

Shinya bit his lip, he couldn't argue with that. "Do you want someone to go with you?"

Toshiya shook his head. "This is something I should do alone. I'll be fine." He smiled at Shinya's worried expression.

"Maybe some garlic cloves will keep him safe." Die wrapped his arms around Shinya's waist. "I think our storm cloud can take care of himself."

Shinya gave a half smile. "All right. But you come straight home afterwards and call if you need help!"

Toshiya chuckled. "Yes mom."

*

"Izam? Can we stop somewhere first? I have some friends I've been neglecting." Toshiya watched the skyscrapers go by.

"Of course, where to?"

"Turn down Eighth street and take your first alleyway to the left."

When Toshiya asked him to park they found themselves behind a shabby looking bar with the name half peeled off the door so Izam couldn't read it. Toshiya's smile invited him along as he got out and went to the door. After a series of adjustments to the handle the door clicked open and Toshiya lead the way inside. The hallway was dimly lit in a bright orange color and lying on a body pillow partly down the hall was a sleeping figure. He had long sandy blond hair and lay with a purple gameboy near his head. Toshiya grinned and stepped up beside the sleeper, peeking down the small hall at the flurry of activity in the room at the end.

"Hey." Toshiya called. "Who left their Yasu lying around?" Effectively scaring the man awake several faces peeked out the door.

"Toshiya!" was the general outcry and several men in various states of dress or undress scrambled forwards, Yasu already wrapped around the vampire's knees.

Izam stood out of the way regarding Toshiya's oddly dressed companions. Each seemed to have a theme, save for the one in a thong and a bathrobe. There was a police man, a man in a suit, and even an elaborate geisha. It wasn't until one of them ran off after a call of "Aiji! You're on!" that Izam realized he was in a strip club.

Izam was introduced as Toshiya's good friend and immediately the whole group got an all-knowing look on their faces. Toshiya was teasingly scolded for worrying them all to death while others whispered Toshiya's likes and dislikes into Izam's ear, many of them making him blush.

The only thing that seemed to bother Toshiya was the absence of Jun. The others said he hadn't shown up that morning and wasn't answering his phone. Seeing the obvious worry on Toshiya's face the group doubled their efforts to amuse and embarrass him. Izam learned the reason they were all there so early was the practice before the bar actually opened. He also learned of nearly every embarrassing moment Toshiya ever had and by the end Toshiya was beet red and threatening to never come back.

It was well into the afternoon before the pair could make a retreat, Toshiya promising to visit as much as he could. Explaining he had something to do before the sun went down Toshiya gave each of them a hug or hand shake and lead Izam back to his car.

"They were all so nice. No wonder you felt bad for not visiting." Izam announced as he started the engine. "So that's what you did before Mana?"

Toshiya nodded. "Thanks for not freaking out on me."

Izam glanced at Toshiya. "Did you know that many University students who want to become doctors prostitute themselves to pay fees?"

"What?" Toshiya had to laugh. "Where did that come from?"

"Just because society views your work as sleazy doesn't mean you are. You shouldn't worry so much."

Toshiya gave a half smile. "Thanks Izam."

"Now to face the dragon." Pulling out of the alleyway Izam pointed the car towards Kaoru's home.

Izam stopped and parked and they both turned to regard the old house. There was no movement from inside and Toshiya looked up to watch the storm cloud roll in. "I�m so worried I'm calling clouds." He muttered unhappily.

"Maybe we should have invited Shinya then." Izam glanced worriedly at the vampire.

"No I can still do it, I'm just going to flood the city first." Toshiya gave a wane smile.

"Are you sure you want to go in alone?"

"No but I have too. You don't have anything to do with this Izam." Toshiya reached for the door handle.

"Liar." Izam snorted.

Toshiya's brow furrowed. "You weren't asleep, were you?"

"Sleep through the smell of cooking pancakes and eggs? Never!"

Toshiya raised a brow and glared for a moment. "It's not safe for you to come with me."

"It's not safe for you to go by yourself." Izam countered.

"So it's not safe period." Toshiya frowned.

"Exactly."

They sat in silence for a moment. "Well then, I guess we'd better go."

The two stepped out of the car and made their way up the walkway of broken sidewalk blocks. Toshiya pulled his keys out of his pocket but found the front door unlocked. Taking a deep breath and glancing at Izam he pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Kaoru?"

"Welcome back." The older vampire announced from the sitting room where he kept his books. The two turned to find him seated on the couch regarding them coldly with a half smile. "How was your sleep over?"

"Where's my bike Kaoru?" Toshiya steeled himself and stepped partially in front of Izam.

"Why do you need it? I thought you said you'd look after me till Ryutaro got back."

"Ryutaro wouldn't want me getting hurt for his sake."

"His sake? What about me? You took him from me!" Kaoru rose slowly to his feet.

"No Kaoru. It was Ryutaro's choice. I would have taken the arrow for Izam one way or the other."

It was then that Kaoru really looked at Izam and his eyes narrowed. "You." Izam tried his best to look threatening at Toshiya's shoulder.

"My bike Kaoru." Toshiya prompted.

"No!" His eyes returned to Toshiya. "Yoshiki gave you to me!"

"Yoshiki told you to take care of me Kaoru! I don't belong to you!"

"You're mine! You said you'd take care of me!" Kaoru snarled and stepped towards them.

"No Kaoru! Only Ryutaro can help you now."

The pain flashed through Kaoru's eyes. "But you took him from me! You both did!"

"Ryutaro chose!" Toshiya tried to inch a touch more between Kaoru and Izam. "What would he say if he saw you now?"

Something sped through Kaoru's expression and his cold smile returned. "At least you brought home dinner." Toshiya's eyes widened but Kaoru's age gave him the superior speed. Before Toshiya could raise an arm Kaoru was around him and had Izam by the throat and middle. "Hungry Totchi?" he purred.

The thunder rumbled loud enough to rattle the windows. "Let him go Kaoru!" Another strike of lightening and thunder seconds later.

"Oh, scary Toshiya. Good thing we're inside." Kaoru smirked. "What do you think Izam? Is Toshiya scary?"

Izam had a hold of the arm Kaoru had around his neck and managed to whisper, "Let me go."

"No, I'm hungry Izam, very hungry. And you smell so good." Kaoru buried his nose in Izam's hair. "Did Mana ever get a taste?" he asked the mortal. "Did he show you how good it feels to be sucked dry?"

"Let him go." Toshiya's eyes narrowed as the rain beat relentlessly against the window.

"Just a little taste Toshiya. Just enough to stop his heart." Kaoru gently licked the pulsing vein on Izam's exposed neck.

Kaoru's fangs extended as he met Toshiya's gaze. The two stood without moving almost daring each other to make the first move, Izam caught between them.

"It was Ryutaro's choice." Toshiya broke the silence.

Kaoru's eyes narrowed and without a word he sunk his canines into Izam's skin. Toshiya's scream of rage was drowned out by the crack of thunder as lightning descended upon the house.

The rain pelted Toshiya as he slowly returned to himself. He opened his eyes to the mess of wood and concrete around him. He lay on one side of the rift his fury had made of the house, a jagged crack in the floor that drained water into the basement below. Across the rift lay two prone forms and Toshiya struggled to move. Fighting against the wet that threatened to blind him he moved across the rift and pulled Izam from Kaoru's slackened grip. Moving away he practically fell under a half-broken wall that partially blocked the rain and cradled the mortal in his arms. "I wanted you to live." He whispered.

Kaoru opened his eyes to the haze of gray and the beat of rain that was Toshiya's mood. Each drop was like a needle in him. "Ryutaro." He found himself whispering. "Please�" But what could he ask for after all that he'd done? "Ryutaro!" he said louder.

A shadowed figure made its way up the walk way, huge blacked wings decked with heavy silver claws curled against the rain. It stopped before it reached the steps and kneeled down to move some rubble. Lifting the bobcat from the ground they moved up into the ruin. The demon moved slowly to Kaoru who wailed Ryutaro's name and kneeled to gather the vampire into his arms. The bobcat curled up in Kaoru's arms as Kaoru looked up into the pale face and big brown eyes that regarded him gently.

"Will you ever forgive me?" he asked quietly.

"Of course, but most of all I can make you forgive yourself." Ryutaro whispered and held him close, wings sheltering the group from the pelting rain.

Toshiya's arms tightened around Izam as he watched Ryutaro with Kaoru. "He is loved, why can't I be?" he whispered to the form in his arms.

Izam erupted into coughs and Toshiya held him tight, eyes wide. When his breathing was somewhat normal he opened his eyes to look up at the vampire almost wistfully. "I've never been hit by lightning before." He admitted quietly with a lopsided grin, Kaoru's poison still effecting his system.

Toshiya chuckled weakly. "Don't you ever scare me like that again." He scolded the mortal playfully.

*

Toshiya set the cup of hot tea down on Izam's beside table and sat down on its edge. "Izam." He brushed his hand over the human's forehead to gently wake him. His eyes fluttered open and Toshiya smiled gently. "I should go."

"But I'm still sick." Izam pouted cutely.

"No Izam, like really go." Toshiya explained sadly.

Izam's brow creased. "You're leaving me?"

"I'll always be around when you need me." He explained gently. "But I can't stay with you, I want you to live as though Mana, Kaoru and I never came."

"I don't want you to leave me." Izam took a hold of Toshiya's hand.

"I know you don't but it's better this way. When you're ready I'll come back."

"You promise?" Izam whispered.

"Promise." Toshiya squeezed his hand. "And to prove it." Toshiya reached down to scoop up his familiar and lay it next to Izam. "Take good care of him and I'll always know how you are doing." Gently Toshiya leaned down and touched his lips to Izam's. Reluctantly pulling away Toshiya smiled wanely. "Now live Izam." He whispered and left the room.

*