Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Side of Gravity ❯ Down a Dark Path ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: Down a Dark Path

"Still sleeping, Shuichi?"

Hiro's cheerful voice made Shuichi's head pound.

"You'd better get up or K will be in here in a minute."  Hiro plopped down on the bed and Shuichi groaned.  He covered his head with a pillow.  Hiro's muffled voice still made his head pound.  "What'd you do last night that you're still so sleepy?"  It took a minute, but Hiro's faintly suggestive tone finally sank in and Shuichi sat up in righteous indignation.

"I just drank too much, ok!" he exclaimed.  "That's all!"  And then he sank back down with a moan.  "Oh, my head!"

"Are you going to be sick?  You look a little pale."

"I think it'll hurt too much to be sick," Shuichi moaned.  "I think I'll just lie here."

"Well, you can try that, but I'm pretty sure K has us booked to do a radio show this morning to promote tonight's concert.  The station is having a contest to give away ten pairs of tickets."

"Oh, god!  I am going to be sick!" Shuichi leaped out of bed and sprinted to the bathroom, gagging.  As he wretched into the toilet, Hiro spoke from the doorway.

"I'll tell K you'll join us in a little while."

"Thanks, Hiro."  Shuichi wiped his mouth and looked up at his friend.  "I really didn't do anything last night.  Honestly."

Hiro smiled affectionately.  "I know you didn't.  Come join us in the lobby when you're ready."

Sunglasses made it easier to endure the brightness of the daylight.  And as a rock star, looking cool in shades was an acceptable fashion statement.  But there was nothing Shuichi could do about how loud everyone was talking.  It did not help the pounding in his head at all.  And his neck hurt.  He wore his favorite red leather collar to hide the strange red marks he found there after his shower.  He remembered what happened last night, but he didn't want to think about it.  He'd had a lot to drink.  Maybe Satoshi Seido had not spent the entire ride in the taxi drinking his blood.  But those marks on his neck, and the paleness of his face, made it hard to deny.  Well, he wouldn't let it happen again, that was for sure.  Only a fool let a vampire attack him twice.

- - - - - - - -

"Good evening, Mr. Shindou."

Shuichi froze in his tracks and then turned slowly to find Satoshi Seido leaning against the wall outside the door of their dressing room.  He looked around nervously to find that Hiro and the others were already on their way down the hall in the opposite direction, heading for the limousine and the post-concert party.

"Mr. Seido!" he exclaimed nervously.

Satoshi pushed away from the wall and took a step toward Shuichi.  "I was hoping you would allow me to accompany you to the party."

Shuichi took a step backward.  "I should really ride with the rest of the band," he replied in a shaking voice.

"I have already cleared it with your manager, Mr. K."  Satoshi glided forward and offered Shuichi his arm.  "I have my own limousine waiting, Mr. Shindou.  I promise to get you to the party without undue delay."

Not knowing what else to do, Shuichi took Satoshi's arm and let himself be guided down the hall and out to the waiting limo.  The rest of the band was already gone.  Shuichi was alone with a man he was pretty sure was a vampire.  Panic burned in his chest as he climbed into the limo and slid across the wide seat.  Satoshi climbed in and sat on the far side with a slight smile on his handsome face.  His glossy black hair was pulled in a neat coil over one shoulder.

"You were very good tonight, Mr. Shindou.  I was quite moved."

"Thank you."  Shuichi looked out the window at the passing traffic.  Maybe his fears were unfounded.  Maybe what he remembered from the first time he met Satoshi Seido was just imagination.

And then Satoshi leaned across the seat and held out his hand.  "Mr. Shindou, look at me."

Without thinking, Shuichi met his eyes and was lost.  Satoshi's luminous green eyes were hypnotic.  He felt like someone else was doing it when his right hand rose and settled into Satoshi's grasp.  Satoshi pulled him across the seat and into his embrace.

"You are the most charming man I've met in a long time, Mr. Shindou," he murmured.  He stroked his fingers through Shuichi's hair.  "Such innocent beauty. And your ensemble is certainly charming.  It exposes so much skin."  He slid his hand along Shuichi's shoulder and pushed his jacket off, letting it fall down his arm.  He gripped Shuichi's slender upper arm and kissed his exposed shoulder.  Shuichi shuddered helplessly.  Satoshi kissed him again a little farther down his arm, with his mouth open and his tongue caressing Shuichi's skin.  Then his sharp teeth pressed against the tender skin on the inside of Shuichi's arm and punctured him.  Shuichi moaned faintly as Satoshi sucked blood from the small wound.

"Please, Mr. Seido, I don't think I want to do this."

Satoshi ignored his protest and continued to drink.  To Shuichi's surprise, it didn't really hurt.  The bite was momentarily painful, but like the first time, the drinking itself was vaguely exciting, even arousing.  It was an intimate act, almost like foreplay.  Shuichi had been too drunk to realize that the first time, but he recognized the feeling now.  A terrible shame came over him.  He felt like he was cheating on Yuki. 

Satoshi kept drinking from him until they arrived at the hotel where the party was being held.  Then he sat up, licking his lips contentedly.  "You taste even better without the wine in your blood." 

Shuichi looked down in dismay at the trickle of blood running down his arm. 

"Oh dear, we don't want to ruin your jacket, now do we?"  Satoshi produced a handkerchief from his pocket and tied it neatly around the wound in Shuichi's arm.  Then he pulled Shuichi's jacket back up onto his shoulder and settled it in place.  "There, now no one will know."  He patted Shuichi's cheek and smiled at him affectionately.  "I'll let you go in alone, if you don't mind."

He opened the door and Shuichi wriggled out past him, feeling a tremendous sense of relief.

"Mr. Shindou."

Shuichi froze again, but this time he did not turn to look.

"It would probably be better if you didn't mention this to anyone."

Shuichi hesitated and then nodded vigorously. 

"Good.  I'll see you again."

At the sound of the door closing, Shuichi sprinted away, letting his rising panic drive him.  Of course he was not going to tell anyone.  Who would believe him?  And he was afraid of what Yuki would say if he found out.  Shuichi had to fight back tears.  He was involved with another man.  There was no way Yuki would ever forgive him for this.