BLOOD STAINED ROSES

Chapter 7

"Kisaki-san," called Yami.

She was in the same cemetery she had met him in the night before, having switched with Yuna, who's turn it currently was to hunt. It was not very hard to find him since he never went anywhere else and his silver hair stood out in the dark night.

"You're later than expected," answered Kisaki.

"Sorry..." muttered Yami, "Ryou just left."

"Chuu's room or the house?" asked Kisaki.

"Both."

Kisaki was silent. He argued with himself over whether or not he should ask the question that he really wanted to ask; he was not sure if he wanted to know the answer. Kisaki sighed and turned around. He studied Yami for a minute, noticing the worry showing plainly on her face.

"How bad is it?" he finally said.

"Pretty bad..." Yami reported, "Not bad enough to kill him but... it's worse than last time. I left Yuna-chan with him."

"I should go then."

Yami nodded. "I'll see you there."

He gave a short nod back and was gone. Yami followed soon after. She had to get new sheets for Chuu again.

***


The first thing that Kisaki noticed when he arrived in Chuu's room was the smell of blood. Chuu's blood. He had appeared facing away from Chuu himself and when he turned to face the small human, Kisaki saw the red fluid that stained yet another perfectly good set of blue sheets where it showed more violet than red. Yami had not been exaggerating when she had said that he looked worse than before. Chuu was bruised more for one. He was lying on his side. He had expected to find him lying on his back, not wanting to move like the last time. When he got closer, Kisaki noticed the blood that streaked Chuu's back as well as welts. It was apparent that Ryou had probably taken out his whip.

He stroked the side of Chuu's head gently and his turquoise eyes opened slightly. He did not even attempt to speak, his throat was so dry. Instead, he just watched as Kisaki thanked Yuna for helping and she left. After she was gone, he saw Kisaki moving closer and closer to him until Chuu could see nothing but the black of his clothes. Then he was picked up and carried to the bathroom so he could be washed.

When Chuu was bathed and his new wounds were bandaged, he lay down on his side, snuggling into Kisaki's chest. Kisaki stroked his hair softly, afraid to touch any other part of him.

"Kisaki?" Chuu whispered after a long silence that had begun when Kisaki had come in.

"Yes?" Kisaki murmured.

"How much longer am I going to have to go through this? Is... Is there any point for any of it? I mean... There's almost no chance of me..."

He could not continue. He kept remembering what Ryou had said about what happened to almost everyone who stayed in the room that was now his. They ended up dead. Kisaki seemed to understand what Chuu was trying to say, though. The hand that had been petting Chuu's head froze and he sighed sadly.

He did not want to think about that. He had been trying so hard to block out those thoughts. The probability of Chuu dying was something he did not like to think of -- considering it was considerably high -- so he tried to keep them away, but they always seemed to come back. Ryou only ever gave two choices -- when he did give someone a choice -- either become a vampire or die. Kisaki did not want Chuu to be a vampire, but he disliked the thought of him dying even more.

"I won't let him," he promised, although he was not sure if making such a promise was a good idea since he had no idea how he would keep it. He continued anyway. "I'll find a way to get you out of here. No matter what. I won't let you die."

"But-!"

Kisaki put his hand over Chuu's mouth to quiet him. He already knew what Chuu would say. "But you said it yourself! You're no match for him!" That was what he would say and it was true; Kisaki really was no match for Ryou. It did not matter, though. He would find a way.

"Shh," he soothed. "You shouldn't talk right now. Is your throat sore?"

His reply was a sleepy grunt as Chuu shifted to get more comfortable. He's avoiding questions again. He thought, but did not have the energy to argue anymore. Kisaki was right: His throat hurt.

"Just go to sleep now..." Kisaki insisted.

By the time he said this it did not make a difference. Chuu was already asleep. Kisaki, on the other hand, found that sleep was almost nothing more than a fantasy. He had to figure out a way to get Chuu as far from there as possible. He did not know if he could, but he had to try. If he did not, there was an undeniably high chance of Chuu dying.

***


It pleased Chuu immensely to see Kisaki next to him when he awoke the next morning. In fact, he was so happy that he flung himself onto the already awake vampire and hugged him tight. He ignored his throbbing limbs and the building pain on his stomach from the bruises and scratches Ryou had left behind.

When Chuu rolled off Kisaki, he flinched slightly. Seeing this, the vampire scolded him for not being more careful. After a half-hearted promise to be good from Chuu, Kisaki helped him change. Sometimes he worried about Chuu -- well, most of the time, actually -- he could be reckless sometimes.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" he said once Chuu was changed and lying comfortably in his bed.

The night before he had not gone anywhere before or after coming to Chuu's room, meaning he had slept in his normal clothes. He had just taken off the coat he had worn. From its pocket, he pulled out a small, black box. He handed it to Chuu who looked curiously from it to Kisaki before finally opening it. Inside was a single cross earring made of sparkling white gold. Chuu picked it up, studying the intricate design.

"It's beautiful!" he said.

"Well... I noticed that you have your ear pierced and I saw it and thought you might like it so..." mumbled Kisaki, obviously embarrassed and not used to giving gifts like this.

"I love it!" Chuu reassured him, making a show of putting the earring in his left ear.

He smiled brightly at Kisaki; he wanted to make sure that the vampire knew that he really did like it. Kisaki smiled too, though it was not quite as big. He still felt a little weird, though Chuu was making it obvious that he liked the gift and it did look good on him.

"Um... Is there a mirror so I can see how it looks?" asked Chuu.

"Hold on. There should be one in the bathroom," said Kisaki, leaving for a minute.

He handed him a small mirror. Chuu examined himself, not only looking at how the earring looked, but also at his practically unblemished face and the patch of gauze on his neck. Ryou never touched his face other than to bite his lips. Chuu figured that, to Ryou, any marks on Chuu's face would make him unappealing. On the other hand, he loved leaving bruises and cuts just about everywhere else.

After his examination, he gave the mirror back to Kisaki who took it back to the bathroom. When he came back, he sat on the edge of Chuu's bed, carefully pulling him closer so his head rested on Kisaki's chest. His arms were not as tight around Chuu as they normally were out of fear of irritating the wounds on his back that had barely begun to heal.

"So, do you like it?" he asked.

"I already told you that I do!" Chuu reminded him.

"I know. I'm just making sure you hadn't changed your mind."

"I haven't changed my mind."

Almost as if to demonstrate this, he kissed Kisaki lightly on the mouth. Then he smiled again, this time a little more shyly. Kisaki ran a finger through his hair.

"I have to go," he said, "but I shouldn't be gone for more than half an hour."

"Half an hour? That's it?" asked Chuu looking puzzled. Kisaki was usually gone until Chuu had finished all of his meals.

"Unless you'd rather I leave for longer..."

"No!" said Chuu quickly, "I'm just surprised. Usually you're gone the whole day... You do realize that Yami-chan and Yuna-chan are going to be here at the same time you are, right?"

"Well, they've basically figured everything out, so I doubt it would make any difference whether I'm here or not. They've probably already made up strange stories in their minds," reasoned Kisaki.

"I guess you're right," agreed Chuu.

"I'll see you later, then."

"Yeah, see ya."

***


Chuu had just finished eating when Kisaki returned. Yami was the only other one there since Yuna was out and Miku was still sleeping ("and who knows when he'll wake up.") She also did not seem to have any luck getting anybody else to come with her. Noriko did not really talk to her and she did not know Ichirou that well.

"So, I'm afraid you're stuck with me for the time being!" she had said cheerfully.

Then, not much later, she had almost jumped out of her seat when she saw Kisaki appear in the middle of the room. It was obvious that she had had absolutely no idea about Kisaki's plans to come back early.

"Has it been half an hour already?" asked Chuu.

"It took less time than expected," said Kisaki, simply as he shrugged his shoulders.

As he spoke, Yami watched him, wondering if he would acknowledge her presence or ignore her entirely. Thoughts of just sneaking out flashed through her head. She could just come back for the tray. Or maybe Kisaki would just take it. Then again, her leaving without a word might seem strange... but... Her mind kept going in circles. Finally, she decided that she should at least say something and not just leave.

"Um... should I leave?" she murmured, still looking thoroughly bewildered.

"I don't see a reason why you would have to..." said Chuu, "but I am done eating."

Yes! Good luck, for once! Thought Yami. She really did not want to stay in that room with both of them.

"I'll take the tray back!" she offered, obviously relieved to have a good excuse to get out of there.

"Um... okay."

He handed the tray to Yami who took it. When she left the room, she was practically running. Kisaki and Chuu watched her in confusion, wondering what her hurry was. They decided that it was probably better not to ask. She probably would not have told them if they did.

She had never been so glad to be out of there. Yami sighed and went in search of Yuna, who should have returned by then. As expected, she was standing beside an unconscious body, waiting.

"Oh my god, I just escaped hell!" sighed Yami.

"What hell?" asked Yuna.

"Kisaki-san decided that he wasn't going to leave for the whole day like he usually does. As great as that is for Chuu-chan, it makes it really weird for me to be in there with both of them together. I don't have any idea what to say. If I had stayed in there it probably would have been completely silent the whole time. That would have just been weird!" complained Yami, "I'm afraid of what lunch is going to be like!"

"We'll think of something..." Yuna told her, "but it seems that Kisaki-san has stopped hiding most of the night. That's still a good thing, even if it makes it a little awkward for us. I'm happy for both of them."

She had a point. Yami had already thought that this was a good thing, even though it made her feel very uncomfortable to stay in Chuu's room with both of them. Maybe she was overreacting and it would be better than she thought...

***

It turned out that Yami's original predictions were right -- it was hell being in the same room with both Kisaki and Chuu. It was not really Chuu that was the problem, though. To be more accurate: It was hell for anyone who was not Chuu to be in the same room as Kisaki.

For the next two days, Chuu ate his meals in a deafening silence, wishing that someone would say something. He was glad that Kisaki did not leave for the whole night anymore, but when he ate his meals, Chuu almost started to miss Kisaki's absence. Almost, but not quite.

"Would somebody say something!?" yelled Yami, finally reaching her breaking point.

"Murder," said Miku who had decided to join them today at Yuna and Yami's request. They had hoped that more people would make it seem a little better.

"It feels like someone was murdered in here," muttered Chuu.

"Ya think?" said Yami.

"'Dearly beloved, we're gathered here to say our goodbyes!'" recited Yuna.

They started laughing. Even Kisaki could not help but give a short chuckle. They needed the silence and ridiculous over politeness to end, or at least get a break from it. This was the perfect thing. Who would have thought that something as simple and strange as Miku saying 'murder' could lead to actual conversation.

"You really need help, you do know that right?" Yami told Yuna, shaking her head.

"I know."

When everyone left and Kisaki and Chuu were the only ones left, Chuu let out a sigh of relief. He had thought that he would scream if the silence had continued any longer. It seemed that Yami had beaten him to it... though she did not exactly scream. It did not matter, though. At least there had been talking today.

"Well, that was a little better," mumbled Chuu.

"What?" asked Kisaki.

"It's been too quiet in her the last couple of days," explained Chuu, honestly. "Probably because you've been here and you are way too intimidating."

These words confused Kisaki a little. He had not tried to be intimidating. Now, he could not help but feel a little self-conscious. Maybe throwing that vase at Yuna had not been such a good idea...

"I'm intimidating?" he asked.

"Well, maybe that's not the right word..."

He tried to think of something better, but soon gave up. It did not really matter anyway. He was pretty sure that Kisaki got the point. People simply did not know what to say when he was there.

"Anyway," he said after his minute of thinking, "I just hope that there aren't anymore really long silences."

He lay back on his bed, trying to think of something he could say when they came the next day. As interesting as the topic of 'murder' had been, he did not think that it would be as interesting two days in a row. The only reason it had been so interesting was because of how randomly it had been brought up in the first place.

"I'm sure things will get louder... Those two can't stay quiet for too long -- no matter how... intimidating I am. Believe me, they'll probably be talking non-stop tomorrow," assured Kisaki.

"You're not really intimidating," said Chuu, now wishing that he had picked a different word, "People just don't know what to say around

you..."

"I know what you meant... but do you know what to say around me?" asked Kisaki; he rested his hands on the bed on either side of Chuu and looked down at the other man's face.

Chuu rolled his eyes, noticing the small grin on Kisaki's usually somber face.

"I got used to you," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Kisaki, frowning slightly.

"Well, when someone you don't know comes in and hugs you for no apparent reason, then pushes you away -- also for no apparent reason-- you really don't know what to think of him, let alone what to say."

He waited for Kisaki to say something, but was instead met by silence. He sat up straight and looked away from Chuu who was now regretting everything he had just said. It took awhile for the silence to end and it was Kisaki who finally broke it.

"I had decided to stay away from you..." he muttered. "I didn't want you to get hurt because of me, but..."

"Hey, I was joking," said Chuu.

He sat up and put his arms around Kisaki. He had not realized just how much Kisaki was beating himself up for everything that had happened recently... especially about how badly Ryou had beat him. He had been trying to hide it from Chuu, not wanting to worry him.

"But... he hurt you so badly..." said Kisaki.

"He brought me here... I was going to end up hurt no matter what you did," Chuu pointed out.

"He's been worse with you than anyone else that I can remember. He even came back early so he could 'punish' us. That last time... I've rarely seen anyone who looked that bad..."

"So what? I'd rather have you here with me and get hurt a little more than be alone!"

He tightened his grip on Kisaki and fought back tears. What was he trying to say? Did Kisaki plan to leave him? No, Chuu would not allow him to. Sure, Kisaki was a lot stronger, so he could break any physical hold that Chuu tried to hold him in, but he would find a way to stop him from leaving.

He turned to look at Chuu, who released him a little so he could meet his gaze. Kisaki sighed.

"I'm sorry. I made you cry," he said, wiping a tear away that had escaped, making a glistening path down Chuu's face.

"Just... don't leave me."

It sounded corny, even to his own ears, but Chuu could not think of any other way to voice his thoughts. He was surprised to hear Kisaki give a short, hollow laugh.

"Didn't I tell you that I wouldn't stay away anymore?" he asked. "It seemed that it was impossible, anyway. I always used to end up in here when I was trying to stay away."

"I'm glad," said Chuu.

"You're glad that there's an intimidating vampire in your room every night?" asked Kisaki, raising an eyebrow.

"Not that again!" said Chuu, rolling his eyes.

"Sorry."

"No more apologizing! For anything!"

He rested his head on Kisaki's shoulder. He had been through so much, and it would be easy to blame Kisaki for some of it, but what good would come from blaming him? He would just lose the