Nightwalker Fan Fiction ❯ The Bells ❯ Silver Bells ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Cain and Shido or any of the other characters from Nightwalker, no matter how much the voice in my head sounds like Guni…

Warning: As in just about all the fan fiction I write, this fic contains YAOI, or Male/Male relationships that are, as always, incredibly graphic. To me, it's art, and therefore restricting it would be not only stupid, but futile as my muse would beat me into submission and scream for me to write it anyway…

Chapter Two: Silver Bells…

Shido groaned when he awoke and looked over to the owner of the gentle hands that stroked his face…

"K--Ken'ichi?" Shido breathed. His head was resting on the younger man--no, younger vampire's--lap. That fact was made blatantly apparent by the cat-like eyes and pearly fangs that glinted when he smiled.

"Yes, Tatsuhiko. I'm here."

"But," Shido groaned again as he sat up, "where's here?" He was grateful when Ken helped hold him upright. The purple haired vampire looked at the smile confines of a cabin with four beds, obviously belonging to a much larger mode of transportation. He was seated on the lowermost bunk on the cabin's right side as one faced the door. Kyoki Ken'ichi sat next to him looking at the elder vampire with slit-pupilled eyes. He looked out of the small window next to them and out over a rugged and dusk-darkened plain, one he hadn't seen in years…

"We're on a train, just inside of Romania," Shido looked to the blond when he spoke. "I've never seen it before, but I've read about it. According to Stoker, it was the cradle of vampire civilization."

"No," Shido replied, once again glancing out the window, "just of Cain's civilization."

"You sound distressed, Tatsuhiko," Ken said, leaning in close. He touched a hand to his dark brother's shoulder, and was surprised to see Shido spin around and away as if he'd been shocked.

"You don't get it, do you, Ken? You're about to be brought into the fold of one of the largest covens in the world!" Shido growled.

"It's what I wanted, Tatsuhiko!" Ken growled, and Shido started. Never had Ken shown half as much backbone in the past, and, while it was a vast improvement from his former self, it was shocking, to say the least. "Don't you see?" the youth's voice grew desperate, "I wanted to be brought in. I wanted a family, Tatsuhiko. I thought you wanted it too." Ken lowered his head. "I thought we were one."

"Ken. Oh, Ken," Shido hugged the younger vampire tightly, "I never meant I didn't want our family! It's just," he sighed into his siblings hair, scented sweetly with aloe and old world smells that clung to their dark father and master, "I know what will be asked of me, Ken'ichi, and it is not what will be asked of you. You are learning, you will be taken in as a new child. But I, I will be taken in as a wayward one. One who left the coven against his mate and master's will."

Ken wrapped his arms about Shido's waist. "I know why you ran away Tatsuhiko. I know you're disgusted by the way that vampires treat humans, but…I'm disgusted by the way humans treat vampires. The NOS…you weren't the first vampire to be taken in," Shido felt more than heard the young man's sobs. "I didn't stop them. I was afraid. But, I met you and…I knew you were just like us! But, you weren't. You were so much simpler, so much more honorable. I didn't care, Tatsuhiko. I care for you, and for Cain, though I haven't known him long. Please, please promise me. Promise you won't leave me, you won't leave us!"

"Shh," Shido hushed, trying to still the young vampire, "Ken'ichi--"

"Promise me, Tatsuhiko Shido! Promise you won't abandon me, not now that I've finally left that wretched life behind!"

"I--I promise, Kyoki Ken'ichi, to stay with you."

Long moments passed before either vampire spoke, but when he did, Ken's voiced threatened to crack. "Here I am…sobbing like a baby, when I told Cain that I would be the one to protect you!" He laughed.

"Protect me?"

Ken nodded as he wiped at his eyes. "Yeah. Cain said that when we reached the coven, that there would be several vampires that wouldn't welcome your return. I guess it is what you said earlier. About being the 'wayward child,' and all."

"How long?" Shido asked quietly.

"About two hours, we should make it there by full nightfall."

"Then that means we have time left in the day, and we shouldn't waste it talking when we should be sleeping." Shido leaned back on the small bed once more and took Ken along with him.

"T--Tatsuhiko?" Ken asked. He'd never slept with Shido before, even before they had become brothers in the darkness, no matter how much the younger vampire had wanted. He wanted to make sure this wasn't born of pity for his weakness.

"Ken, I'm tired, so are you. Get some rest while we can," Shido replied, tucking the blond's head under his chin.

***

Cain watched his sleeping children with interest. After a few fretful moments, Ken had embraced his brother and fallen to the day sleep's call, as most vampires did. Cain only remained awake to keep watch over them, force, due to their close confinements with humans, to wear a rather uncomfortable garb of dark denims and a black T-shirt that clung to his muscled chest. But, did Shido not like this attire? Perhaps he would wear it for his fledgling one day when they ventured out among the humans…

Cain shook his head. Here he was making plans when they hadn't even returned home. One step at a time Cain, he told himself. Shido hadn't even given himself over to the blond vampire, despite his apology, and their earlier lovemaking. No, he would have his fledgling's word before Cain's hopes arose. Shido may have thought he was the wronged party, but Cain had been just as wronged, and would not lay himself out for bare again. Cain smiled, of course, Shido's promise had made it all the more difficult for him to run away again, now hadn't it?

Sighing, Cain slipped into the train bunk across from his fledglings, and turned on his side to watch them as they spelt, their breathing having fallen into unison.