The number one reason not to let me watch vampire movies: I get story ideas. I finally saw _Interview With A Vampire_ the other day, and this came to me as a result of it. I now have this very nice picture in my head of this story. Enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Yuu*Yuu*Hakushou The Kiss of Life I toss another seed to the ground ahead of us, and with a small burst of energy, it writhes and unfolds into a glowing five-petaled flower. "StalagMITES are the ones that grow from the floor, right, Kurama?" Yuusuke asks me. "Yeah," I reply. I look around at the walls of the cave as Yuusuke takes a closer look at a four-foot high stalagmite. "Is that your science lesson for the day?" I tease. "Science bites," he replies. "I'd rather just skip all the stuff I'm never gonna use and _do_ something instead of sitting around in some stuffy classroom listening to a pompous ass of a teacher all day." "What about your future?" I ask, turning around to look at him. "What are you going to do for the rest of your life?" "I dunno. Something," he replies. "Maybe I'll teach martial arts or run a ramen shop." I laugh. "I can always teach you thievery," I offer in jest. "Maybe," he replies, also laughing. "But do you think you could stand...." His voice trails off. "Kurama?" he asks. "Is something wrong?" "N-no," I reply. I turn back to the wall and pretend to study the different types of rock imbedded in it. "Nothing's wrong." "Okay," he says, a little unsurely, then falls silent. I think to myself. But a cold chill sweeps down the back of my neck regardless of my silent protests, and I can feel a hunger build within me that has nothing to do with when I ate last. I try to fight it off, but I might as well try to stop the wind from blowing. I half-turn from the wall, looking at Yuusuke as he shines a flashlight up to the roof of the cave, examining the stalactitic growths there with a look of wonder on his face. His head is craned back, and the smooth skin of his neck is exposed. The smooth, pale skin... so beautiful. So hypnotic, as each breath goes through him.... I silently plead, turning back to the wall, shuddering. "Kurama?" he asks from behind me, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay?" "No," I whisper. "I'm not. If you know what's good for you, Yuusuke, you'll run." "Kurama?" he asks again, his tone worried. "What's wrong?" "Run!" I tell him, shaking his hand off my shoulder. "Damn it, Yuusuke, get away from me before I hurt you!" "... I don't know what's wrong, Kurama," he says, "but I'm not going anywhere." "Run," I whisper one last time as I slide helplessly down the wall. I'm not sure that I actually cry, but I feel the tears prickling the back of my eyes. Why does Yuusuke insist on staying? Damn him for being a good friend. I can't hold on much longer, and he won't go! Then the hunger/need within me whispers what to do as it tears away the last of my control of it. "Kurama?" Yuusuke asks, on his knees beside me. I lift up my head and look at him, almost unconciously reaching out with my mind to ease him into sleep. My hand reaches out to brush the side of his neck, caressing his smooth, soft skin. "What...?" Yuusuke asks distantly, just before his eyes empty of sight and his mind rests. I smell the sweet scent of Yuusuke's skin, perfume to the senses. My mouth gently touches his neck in a kiss, and I taste him. There is a fine layer of saltiness, the taste of dust, and then the warm honey that is him. I feel the blood pulsing just below his skin, and it is intoxicating. His heartbeat echoes in my ears, warm and comforting. I draw back a little to look into his eyes. He doesn't see now, and I doubt he can hear me, either, but _I_ know. I will always know. "I'm sorry, Yuusuke," I whisper, "but I don't have a choice if I'm to live. Forgive me...." I turn my attention back to his neck, where a vein pulses with life. I lower my mouth to it again, feeling my canines extend down and outward. Then I bite. He gives a muffled gasp, jerking slightly, but remains in the trance. His blood begins to flow from the cuts as my teeth retract back. It flows over my tongue, hot and sweet. It burns my mouth and fills my being. The taste of iron and copper and so many other things I cannot name roars through me, Yuusuke's heartbeat the only sensation that comes to me over it. His heart beats faster and faster, pumping the blood to me. I feel his heartbeat in my own body; I am him. Distantly, I can see through his clouded eyes, feel as he feels. I know the pleasure that he derives from this feeding, the strong undertone of sexual expression and fulfillment. I resist it, but Yuusuke has no choice, and is swept helplessly along in its embrace. It is the coin with which I pay for what I need, and a survival device that makes him stay until I have taken enough. That's the logic I've worked out for it, anyway. As life, sweet life, fills me once again, I listen closely to his heart and hear what it tells me. Once again, I owe him my life. I have taken his into me, and now we will be joined even more closely by bonds of friendship and debt. I drink deeply, but slowly. I take a drop at a time, increasing his pleasure, until I have a mouthful of Yuusuke's warm, rich blood. I swallow, and my senses enter a hazy pleasure. Yuusuke's blood is so powerful, a compression of his strong emotions, love and hatred both. There is only the slightest taste of fear in him, and like a spice, the bitter edge but enhances the entire dish. It is with regret that I pull away. I think that I could taste him forever, but too much more will hurt him. To lose Yuusuke would be unthinkable. I do not kill friends. And a mouthful will last me for a long time.... Soon, the flow of blood slows, and then stops altogether as the white cells clot and start to heal the wound. I lick the last of the blood clean from his throat, kissing the angry red marks that will soon fade and heal scarlessly. I move away and sit, watching him, and waiting for him to awaken. As I wait, the euphoria wears off, and I slowly come to realize how easily I had just slid into the role of a vampire. How easily I could have killed him, regardless of my good intentions. I feel a raw, sick horror settle in my stomach as I admit to myself that I nearly lost control this time. Yuusuke could have DIED from my carelessness.... Yuusuke's shallow breathing slowly deepens, and the emptiness of his eyes fills. He raises a hand to his throat, touching the two marks made by me, before he meets my eyes. "Kurama?" he asks simply, and I know that he asks for an explanation, not an apology, but I can't help but feel guilty. I'd never intended for this to happen to any of my friends. I didn't _want_ them to know this side of my nature. "I'm sorry, Yuusuke. I never meant for this to happen," I say quietly, looking at the ground. "I never know when it will come, and had I known that it would come today, _now_, I would never have come with you." "What is it?" he asks. "You don't do this for fun, do you?" "No," I say, shaking my head. "It's because I deliberately reincarnated myself at my death into this body. I had my reasons not to want to go to the Reikai; I've committed crimes against them in the past. I knew that if I successfully reincarnated, there would be a requirement of blood. I didn't know that it would be so random." "You have to drink blood to live?" Yuusuke asks me. I don't hear horror or revulsion in his voice, and it surprises me. I don't even hear blame. It's almost like it doesn't make any difference to him that I just drank his blood. That I could have killed him.... "Yes," I reply. "Not often, and not much, but I can't control when or where. I'm sorry, Yuusuke. I never meant to attack you." "You didn't exactly attack me," he replies. I look up, startled. He honestly doesn't blame me? Yuusuke rubs his neck and grins. "It wasn't that bad," he tells me. "Actually, felt kinda... nice. Not that I'm volunteering to go again, though!" I have to smile at his attitude about the whole thing. Yuusuke is one of those people who just has a way about him of setting others at ease. "It doesn't really matter; I shouldn't have to... shouldn't have to again for several months." "You're squeamish about it, aren't you?" he asks, watching me. I nod. "I didn't have to before, you know. It isn't something that I was brought up to believe is wholly natural." Yuusuke grins widely. "Come on, let's get going," he says, after a quick glance at his watch. "Your mother should have dinner ready by the time we get back to your house." "Sure," I say, standing up. "And-- thank you, Yuusuke." "What for?" he asks, a puzzled expression crossing his face. "My life. For a third time." He shrugs as we follow the trail of glowing flowers out of the cave. "Whatever. But could you answer a question for me?" "What?" "Does garlic work?" I laugh, and we walk out of the cave together. "No. I _like_ garlic." Author's Ramblings: Characters obviously stolen from Togashi-sensei.... I'm not making money off of this.... Please don't sue... yadda yadda.... I hope you liked this story (I certainly wish Kurama would go for _my_ neck!), and that it gets put out on r.a.a.s. in time for Halloween.... Until the next fanfic, ja ne!