Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifice ❯ Loyalty ( Chapter 62 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

By: MellyN

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Sacrifice

By: Melissa Norvell

Chapter 62: Loyalty

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The next day, everyone woke up early to see what they could do to help the king out. The only member of their team that had still been sleeping was Azmy. As soon as Keiji woke up, he decided to check on the newly converted vampire prince. The boy had a rough start when he arrived at the castle and he wanted to make sure there had been no complications during his transformation and flood of new memories.

Blue eyes cracked open and a placid smile crossed the navy-haired boy's face as he looked up to see Keiji, sitting on the edge of his bed. Fife said his name in a soft, endearing tone. He was happy that Keiji cared enough to come and check on him. There were so many people that were hurt, depressed and suffering and out of all of them, Keiji had chosen him. For that, he was thankful.

"How do you feel?" Keiji looked over to the boy resting below him.

"I can definitely see why it hurt Hiroshima so much. I don't think I can move until I'm fully converted. Where is everyone else?" Fife was a little curious as to why no one had checked on him, or maybe they already had when he was asleep and ended up leaving.

"They are in the castle somewhere," the green-haired boy had seen the others when he woke up and had told them all good-morning but after that instance in time, he had no clue where they all had disappeared to.

"I do say, I saw Hiroshima sitting on one of the pillars. He looked mighty lonely though," Bass stated from his position at the doorway.

"I can't blame him. I'm sorry Lord Bass," the prince apologized.

"Sorry? Oh, whatever for, my liege?" The bewildered lord asked. The prince really didn't have to apologize for anything. There was no need.

"I'm sorry that I didn't believe you," Fife had regretted that moment in time, when he was told that he was actually a vampire and he had refused to believe that statement. After all, everyone in Sumeria had the same story and he should have noticed that his was the only one that didn't match up. Things would have been easier if he had only just believed him.

"Quite alright, I know now that Vasca didn't want you to know just yet," Bass informed. How was he to know that such an event had even occurred? He knew that the prince had been sent away to live with Angeline when he was small, but he had no idea that he had absorbed fragments of the girl's memories.

Fife then looked to Keiji and asked him why he wasn't with everyone else.

Keiji flushed a little and quickly glanced to the side in embarrassment. He had waited all this time to gather courage to even confront the prince on such an ordeal and now he had found himself at a loss for words. It appeared to be now or never, so Keiji nervously brought up the subject.

"I remembered something Hiroshima said earlier about vampires needing donors."

Fife blinked a little, not sure of what to say about the situation. Part of him was hopeful for a certain topic and another part was warning him not to get too worked up. After all, Keiji had turned down his advances and the prince would not let himself get built up only to come crashing down in flames.

"What are you saying?" He asked cautiously.

"Maybe you're tired because you need blood. It might make your conversion less painful," Keiji blurted out as quickly as he could before any shy tendencies were to take over and cause him to make a different decision. He wished that he could have helped Hiroshima in that situation, but now that he knew what to do, he could help Fife so that he didn't go through the suffering that the angel had.

"What are you saying, Keiji-kun?" Fife sincerely hoped that Keiji wasn't jerking his heart around.

Bass simply glanced from one boy to the other, wondering if he should stay or leave. Before a question could escape the winged canine's mouth, the green-haired boy picked up the prince's hand and gently kissed the top of it, causing a slight flush to adorn the navy-haired vampire's cheeks. He was very stunned at Keiji's reaction to him. Never in a million years did he think that the stoic boy would want to get near him, much less kiss him anywhere.

"Please allow me to be your martyr. I want to be useful and I don't want you to die," the green-haired boy knew of the consequences to people who didn't possess special abilities and strengths like the angels did. Sure, Hiroshima could handle the conversion but even he was crippled by it severely. If Hiroshima was that defenseless, then what Constantine and the others said about it possibly killing people was pretty much spot on for the truth.

Fife had almost died when he first met him and Hiroshima stabbed him with the Crimson Blade but things had been very different then. Hiroshima was true to his legend and even though he was still as vicious as he had ever been, he had a certain amount of trust for him and even considered him a friend and ally.

Even though Hiroshima was depressed, he was alive and that was truly all that mattered when things got down to the technicalities.

"Are you sure about this? I don't want to weigh you down." There were certain rules that applied to being such a thing. One had to constantly be around the other to ensure that the vampire would not run low on his or her blood supply. Also, he could not risk a serious injury. If he lost too much blood and could not give any up, there would be trouble for Fife. Usually, when a vampire had a donor, they were to only drink their blood.

"I'm sure," Keiji nodded. He had thought about it for a while and there was nothing that he was surer on.

"You have to be with me all of the time," Fife brought up one of the drawbacks.

"I don't care. I've thought about this for a while. I want to do this for you," the green-eyed boy looked straight into the eyes of the prince. It was a piercing look, a look of determination and one that could not be swayed.

Fife looked flattered at the fact that he was willing to commit to something like this and commit to him. "Thank you...Keiji-kun." Long, slender hands grabbed his new martyr's and pulled the other body on top of him, Their faces were so close together that Keiji could feel the breath of the other boy bright against his skin. It was awkward to be bent over with his knees facing a different way than his body, so he pivoted his hips so that his body could be aligned. His green eyes never unlocked from the peaceful, navy blue gaze of the vampire prince.

"Prince Fife..." Keiji finally spoke after five minutes of silence between the two males.

"Keiji-kun, I..." The other boy trailed off, the last bit of his retorts faded into the air around them.

"Don't worry; I'm going to stick by this decision," the green-haired drummer smiled reassuringly at his prince.

But, what came next was completely shocking. He felt a slender, elegant hand push the back of his head down as Fife reached up and kissed him on the lips. While Keiji was completely shocked that Fife, who had been so drawn back before, was now being completely the opposite, he eventually gave in and closed his eyes, trying to quell the questioning feelings deep within his being.

Fife felt a little strange. He didn't know why he suddenly reached up and kissed the other boy. Was it because he was so happy that he only reacted naturally? Was it that he couldn't hold back the urge any longer? Whatever it was, he was caught off guard that the boy was kissing him back.

"You...You let me kiss you?" Fife pulled away slightly.

As if he were a child with its hand caught in the cookie jar, Keiji flushed a beet red and quickly turned away. "I-It's weird to be kissed by a guy but...you are..." The green-haired boy glanced down. He was to be Fife's servant now, so he had no choice but to let him do what he wished with him, even if it was against his wishes.

"I don't own you, Keiji-kun. I'd never try and keep you for myself. I want you to make your own choices, whether it's with me or not." Even if it hurt for Fife to say, he figured that it should be said. He would have been happier if the kiss had meant something.

"You do love me, don't you?" Keiji asked. He knew Fife better than that, he would never kiss anyone that he didn't love, not like that.

"Keiji..." It was almost a sorrowful voice that begged him not to press the subject.

"I knew that you weren't playing around when you said it."

Fife looked down at the white sheets below him and smiled softly. "If this is some kind of joke, I don't like it."

"It's not a joke. Do you ever take anything I say seriously? Maybe Chichiri's right. Maybe you are being paranoid." For some reason Fife had always acted like he had to watch his back, even around close friends. Keiji thought it just might have been his compulsive lies but it was beginning to look like it was just a part of his nature now.

"About what? My plans have all failed and you know everything about me," Fife looked back at the boy's face. His mask was quickly shredded and his true misery surfaced.

"Oh, I doubt that," Keiji remarked. Once a liar, always a liar.

"Why would I lie now?"

"Why wouldn't you?" The green-haired boy questioned, though his words were in a normal tone, they seemed to cut Fife like razor blades. "I know you, even if you have nothing to stand on; you struggle to keep a hold of that dignity of yours. You want people to think that you're always happy and carefree but your miserable inside. You think about other things when you laugh and smile. I have to hand it to you though; you're good at playing us for fools. The only reason that you feel that you can't face us now is because you're the fool this time. You think you're so on top of the game. You got what you deserve."

"I say, you shouldn't talk to the prince like that!" Bass wanted to let Keiji know that he was still in the room and not only that, he was a member of the royal court! He could defend the prince's honor, no matter what it cost him.

"Its fine, Lord Bass," Fife knew the words were the truth. Bass shouldn't defend him if he was truly wrong.

"But sire-!" The winged canine couldn't believe that his majesty would let someone talk to him like that!

"Let him talk," the vampire's voice held a slight edge, warning the lord not to step too far over his boundaries.

"Your condition-"

"Please..." The words came sharper.

"But-"

"I asked nicely," then they grew cold and were accompanied by an irritated glance.

"I apologize. I was only trying to help," Bass bowed respectfully. He knew that he shouldn't trail the prince's nerves any more.

"I don't blame you," Fife's hardened expression softened up.

"You love this boy, my liege?" Bass asked.

"I can't hide it anymore, can I?" The prince closed his eyes with an irresolute smile.

"I never knew you liked men, my prince. I do suppose that makes sense." No matter what his preference, it made no difference to Bass. He felt no differently about him.

"What does that mean?" Keiji was confused. Did Bass think that Fife was going to be gay all along? How could it make sense? Make sense according to what, exactly?

"Prince Fife is an Inheritor Vampire. He was born of two parents that are vampires. A true blue blood but he won't be able to have children because of that factor," Bass noted. It could be a factor that turned him gay, aside from the fact that he wanted to be like his mother when he was small.

"That's kind of sad, don't you think?" Keiji's look was sympathetic as he glanced back at the prince. He didn't really know what to say at a moment like this.

"That's not why I'm this way. I just don't like women," the prince smiled. It was a nice theory but throughout his whole life, he had never been sexually attracted to women at all.

"Is it because of Angeline?" The green-haired boy asked. Sometimes, when people were young, if a certain gender did something bad to them, then they developed a hatred for them as a result. Maybe that was the case with Fife.

"No, I like women it's just that I'm not sexually attracted to them," the prince replied.

"You know, at first it bothered me that you were that way. I just didn't want you to be in love with me," Keiji admitted in a low tone. Keiji didn't want anyone to possess feelings towards him. It was better to keep them all at a distance. Perhaps that was a way that he identified with Hiroshima. He understood his stubborn logic.

"That makes me feel better."

"I'm being honest. I didn't want to hurt you but lately I've felt a little strange and I don't know why. If I'm close to you like this, I'll figure out my feelings. So..." Keiji began to unbutton his coat. He removed the embroidered item, unlaced his tie and unbuttoned his white undershirt and pulled it over one shoulder. "I want you to bite me."

He then felt the feathery touch of the prince as he laid his hands on the boy's exposed shoulder.

"I'll be gentle," Fife said tenderly as his head neared the nervous boy's body. The vampire closed his eyes as he thought to himself about the events ahead of them and what this first bite meant in terms of their relationship. He had told Keiji how he felt and it was far from the picture-perfect confession. 'Still, I am rejected. There is no happiness for me.' Just then, the vampire felt a tear run down his cheek. 'Why am I crying? Is it just the pain of the catharsis? No...' His thoughts trailed off as he bit the boy in a non-lethal spot on his shoulder and began to drink his blood.

Keiji winced at the entrance pain but remained still. He didn't want to move, or Fife might end up accidently hitting a vital vein. 'It hurts...but at the same time, I really like it.' His body began to relax as he closed his eyes, taking in the strange sensation of being fed off of. 'I can feel the blood running into his mouth...and the gentle sucking of his lips. I don't know what Chichiri was so freaked out by, vampires aren't mean to their donors at all. In fact, he's very gentle...' A flush came to his cheeks at the thought. 'Why? Why do I feel so relaxed around him? Every time I'm around him I feel light-headed and worried. I was so mad when I found out what he had done as a profession. It hurt...I do feel bad. I was so quick to act liek it disgusted me around Hiroshima and Tsurugi...Maybe I should talk to Hiroshima later. He's always been good at giving advice. I feel tears...Is he, crying? But I've never seen Fife cry. Even when he faced death...He acted like he wanted to die...With a life like his, no wonder he wants to die.' The green-haired man placed a hand gently on the back of Fife's head and pulled the blue-haired vampire back to reveal his face, which was stained with tears and the one trickle of blood that ran down the corner of his mouth.

"What's wrong?" Keiji asked.

"Sorry, I'm not good at this. I made a mess. I can clean it up," the prince wanted to change the subject as he pulled the decorative cloth from his breast pocket and began to wipe the blood from the boy's shoulder.

"I know you're not crying because you can't drink blood right, you dork."

"No...That's not it at all," Fife replied. "I'm just emotional from the conversion. Even Hiroshima is a little down." In reality, Fife was lonely and sad. He knew that he would not have a chance with Keiji and the last thing he wanted to do was to be honest with his feelings at a time when he was at his lowest. The prince was tired of the sympathy acts. If someone was going to turn him down, then they should just tell it like it was.

"Would you stop lying to me? Is it that hard to be honest? Hiroshima didn't cry-" Keiji was cut off.

"I'm not like him. Hiroshima is...different, even more so then the other angels. He's one of the people that I cannot hide from. He knows the real me. I now know why he's here and why he does what he does. He's judging you."

"What are you talking about?" The green-haired boy wasn't so sure about Fife's sanity at this point in time. Sure, Hiroshima was harsh but that had nothing to do with anything. It was simply a character flaw.

"I can't say..." The prince knew he might have stepped over his boundaries but he couldn't help but to be honest to Keiji, even if it was only through hints.

"Never mind that, you're trying to change the subject. Tell me why you're crying." It nearly sounded like a demand but to be truthful, Keiji was tired of going around in circles. He was sick of people hiding things from him, especially those who claimed to be so close to him.

"Because, in the end, I'm still alone and I knew that would happen. I am never going to be loved. I stay close but don't wish to be forward...However, if I stay too far, I fear that I'll die," the vampire admitted as he closed his eyes in submission.

Green eyes narrowed.

"You don't have to feel sorry for me. I'm already so pathetic that you couldn't possibly like me now."

"You're not pathetic," Keiji responded and moved forward, kissing the crying prince. It was meant to be a gesture of comfort and a symbol of their closer bond but Fife had other ideas.

The boy was quickly shoved back. "Keiji-kun...Please don't make this more difficult then what it already is," the vampire picked up his handkerchief and wiped the steam of dried blood from the corner of his mouth. The blue-haired boy then went back to cleaning his shoulder. "From this moment on, I'll take care of you. Don't worry about taking things on your own."

Keiji silently nodded as he pondered over events in his head. This wasn't going to be easy. What had he just gotten himself into?

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Hiroshima pulled away from Azmy's wrist and glanced up at her with his ice blue eyes. Azmy asked if that was all that she could do for him. She wanted to be important to him and respected. Her position was one of utmost importance and no matter what she felt, she wanted to be all that she could, even if that meant giving up her very life source for him.

"Being a donor requires a special contract," Hiroshima informed.

"What do you mean?" The girl was confused by his words. Was there more to this contract then simply giving blood? Her answer was met as the angel gently took her hands in his own. Her heart raced and her slate-blue eyes grew wide with surprise as she felt herself free-falling. The short-haired girl landed against the soft, poofy bed covers and mattress below as the dark male towered over her.

He was six foot tall, compared to her mere five foot two. Aside from Undine, she was nearly the shortest member of the group. She found herself staring into his chiseled expression and those cold, distant eyes were surprisingly filled with some sort of emotion that she couldn't quite place...Something playful and sinister and yet, something kind and loving.

"What about Tsurugi? Don't you love him?" She asked. It wasn't usual for Hiroshima to be this way with her. It was something special that he had shared with his angelic lover. She didn't understand why she was getting special treatment.

"He knows that, I'm just marking my territory," Hiroshima explained.

"Didn't you do that by biting me?" Azmy could hardly keep her pounding heart still. They were so close together! The girl wasn't sure how long she could keep her feelings in check without completely letting go.

"Didn't you hear what Mikunai and Helix spoke of? A sexual bond is important as well." Those very words caused the girl to flush and gasp below him. Were they really going to go that far? Azmy uttered his name in a whisper of shock as she looked up to the figure that loomed over her.

Her eyes widened as the angel began to take off his clothes and strip down in front of her. All she could do was stare helplessly into those ice blue eyes, trying to read any feeling that he might have. Why was he so intent on this? What made him change his mind so quickly? What about Tsurugi? After this happened, would she and Tsurugi still be friends? Her worries quickly faded as she only thought about the moment at hand. She and Hiroshima were about the have an intimate moment and no one would take this away from her. 'Hiroshima...This feels so right. I have no regrets and I don't care what Tsurugi thinks. I'm selfish but I'm free of those thoughts that purge me.'

Soon, she was unclothed by the angel as well. Her night wear hit the ground beside of the bed as she glanced up at the man's graceful form above her. He was beautiful. His bi-colored wings were outstretched behind him. This was the first time that she had seen him nude. The girl knew that he was well-built, but her most vivid daydream could not compare to what she had now laid eyes on.

"Please...Please take me. I know what these feelings are. I love you," the girl spoke in a shaky voice as large, powerful hands began to roam her body. The responsive girl leaned into every touch. "I truly do, I want to be with you, my love."

The two kissed passionately, the angel was silent as his hands continued to roam over every inch of the girl's form. They continued to make out for about six minutes before they pulled apart from their passionate embrace, both of them were panting heavily and she uttered his name in an erotic tone.

A large, elegant hand was placed on the side of her face as the angel smirked in an endearing way at her. "I think we should do this more often. That way, we'll have a closer bond."

Azmy flew up out of bed, broken out in a sweat and nearly hyperventilating as a worried and overly emotional look crossed her face. "STOP!" She shouted. "I don't want it! I don't! I don't love him! I won't!" The emotional girl broke out into a fit of tears. "It's wrong! I do care about Tsurugi! I don't want him to be sad! I'd rather die...I'd rather die than see he or Hiroshima so sad..." The girl wailed. "Please...Please purge these thoughts from my mind! Please..."

She had these dreams since she had first started to fall in love with the legend. At first, they were just an escape to a place she could have what she wanted. Now they affected her judgment and even caused her to abandon her true feelings towards her friends. Azmy wanted nothing more then to make them stop.

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Later, everyone gathered in a large, open roon with several pillars, a checkered tile floor and several elaborate paintings. Azmy stood behind everyone and looked miserable. No matter what, she could not get her dream off of her mind. The girl would not have the guts to even look Hiroshima in the eyes today. She wanted to stay as far away from he and everyone else that she felt like she had betrayed as possible. If anyone saw her, they would question her about what was wrong, and she didn't know what she would do when that happened.

"Is something wrong, my lady?" Lord Treble walked up and noticed her downtrodden expression.

"I don't feel well today," Azmy smiled through her pain. "I'm alright."

"Somehow, I don't feel as though you are but I will not question you further," Treble knew when it wasn't suitable to pry but he worried about the girl's condition. Since she'd come to the castle, she had not looked well.

'Why? Why can't I get over this? Why can't my feelings change?' Azmy spoke. "I wonder something..."

"What is it, Azmy?" Treble asked.

"Do we burn in hell, like we do down here?"

"Azmy..." Treble seemed taken aback by such a question. He had not expected something so dark to come from that girl's mouth. Now he worried, more than ever about her condition.

"Where's Hiroshima?" They both could hear Ko ask from the front of the group.

"He'll be here momentarily. He's been experiencing a few difficulties," Shizume told them. She knew of his condition but she didn't know if he wanted the others to know of it as well. Soon, the angel in question walked through a large, open archway to meet his comrades. He looked like hell and he was obviously a train wreck.

"What's with him?" Keiji asked.

"He looks like he's depressed," Fife pointed out the obvious.

"Or he hasn't had any sleep," Ko commented on his unkempt appearance.

"Or he's been crying," Chichiri brought up his guess.

"Yeah right, why would Hiroshima cry? He's never cried, not even when Elf Kaizer cut his wings off or when the plants nearly killed him. Hiroshima doesn't cry," Ko hit the blonde upside the head for even suggesting something like that. Hiroshima just had a rough night. Why would he cry about something like that? It was childish and not like him at all! Someone as tough as Hiroshima would have no need to cry.

"Ouch!" Chichiri retorted as Tsurugi entered behind Hiroshima and placed his arms around the other man's waist and laid his head on his chest in a comforting way.

"Hiro-kun..." The blonde angel's voice was concerned. It wasn't like Hiroshima to be depressed. The legend was seldom in that state and when he was, it was no small matter.

Hiroshima gave his lover a light squeeze. "I'm really depressed today, sorry..."

"I was right," Fife noted.

"Now that we're all together. I want to tell you all of the Time of Ending. This is the event that will change the outcome of this war, as well as the people of Sumeria," Shizume told them all. Now was the time to discuss what was really going on, and what the Time of Ending was all about.

...To Be Continued...