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The lack of light in UNDEAD's production studio left the room barren and gloomy after another grueling practice. Once Koga and Adonis had left, it was almost completely silent, save for the enticing beat of Kaoru's racing heart beneath his skin, which reverberated through the whole room within seconds. Rei had always found the cardiovascular system captivating, fascinated by its inner workings: how blood traveled through valves, into arteries, and back through the veins; how a single organ could supply oxygen to the entire body.
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 … It was only natural for him to inquire how it disperses his favorite food source. His lifeline.
Rei's eyes darted to the mirror wall in front of him; now seeing himself clearly, a look of need decorated his face. Even worse, the man kindling his desperation was casually lying on a couch, shirt collar tugged loose, his chest heaving just a few feet away. The tune of Kaoru's pulse straining against his entirely exposed throat was far too tantalizing. He attempted to divert his attention to the window, down to the courtyard, focusing on the lilting trill of the grasshoppers in the bushes below; all in vain, as the rhythmic chirping was too comparable to Kaoru's relentless rhythm.
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ𐀔 … It was only natural for him to feel the compelling urge to sink his teeth into his best friend.
Rei sat on the floor, his back pressed against a mirror wall, while Kaoru walked over and handed his dance partner a water bottle. "Drink up, Rei-kun. I'm so serious when I say this: you look like a corpse. More than usual, I mean. If you're gonna pass out, do it on the couch, not the hardwood floor."
Rei didn't answer. Instead, he stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with Kaoru, his pupils dilated. The thump-thump-thumping of Kaoru's pumping heart echoed; his life force signaled to Rei’s anticipating ears.
Kaoru sighed, walking closer. A lack of concentration was to be expected of Rei while he was in a state like this, but the utter severity of his absentmindedness was concerning. "Hey, ya listening, Rei-kun? Look at me." Kaoru knelt in front of Rei, his fingertips brushing warmly against his friend's jaw. The fluttering sensation of Kaoru's digital arteries magnified over Rei's face. Too much. The alluring scent of musk and sandalwood cologne wafted from Kaoru's skin, filling Rei's lungs. Far too much, and far too inviting.
Rei clenched his fingers together in an effort to hold himself back from doing something he would later regret. "Kaoru... don't. Step back. You have been... way too loud tonight."
Kaoru frowned, missing the implication from Rei's warning. "Too loud? I'm barely whispering... and you're shivering. Come on, don't be difficult now; let me help you up--" He leaned in closer and reached around Rei's shoulders to lift him. The urge to bite into Kaoru's exposed neck, inches away from Rei's face, was impossible to resist. Their studio was the Garden of Eden, and Kaoru's throat bore forbidden fruit; in the end, Eve found it far too tempting.
"Kao- No- I said--"
Rei's fists unfurled; his hands suddenly shot out, gripping Kaoru's wrists tightly and pinning him against the cool floorboards. Something felt rather intimate about two pulse points meeting: maybe if they made contact long enough, the tempo of their hearts would sync. But Kaoru's panicked whimpers immediately snapped Rei out of his fantasy.
“Rei--?! Ah- wait, that hurts- you're hurting-"
He ignored his friend's cries and lunged forward--completely overtaken by primal instinct--sharp teeth pricking Kaoru's flesh. Before Rei could stop himself from sinking his teeth further, he bit down into Kaoru and desperately drank. The pain pierced Kaoru, eliciting a gasp from him. He squirmed and writhed beneath Rei's ambush.
Kaoru's widened eyes became heavy and glazed over, bitter terror fading into sweet intoxication; he stopped resisting as his labored breaths and his frantic heartbeat slowed. Rei's grip loosened once Kaoru's muscles relaxed, his hands sliding upward. He pulled off Kaoru for a second to breathe. The crimson blood dribbling down Kaoru's neck was a sanguine paradise, prompting Rei to lap up more of the rejuvenating essence that sat before him. Kaoru weakly grabbed the fabric of Rei's practice shirt, pulling him closer, while his other hand remained slack against the ground.
"Haahhh..."
A pleased sigh left Kaoru's lips, his arched back slumping into the floorboards. His soft blonde locs were splayed across the glossy wood floor, framing Kaoru's head, a blinding golden aura shone directly behind him. Rei couldn't help but watch him glow, and waves of pleasure rippled through Kaoru's body, a warmth coursing through him that was comparable to the ocean he always frequented, enveloping him in a soothing blanket. Unraveled and drunk on Rei's touch, the man tilted his head back further. The vampire fed on him; pliant in Rei's arms, he wordlessly begged for more.
A lack of resistance forced Rei out of his trance, and he shoved himself off Kaoru in fright. Enough force to stumble backward. A thud echoed through the dim room when Rei hit the wall. Rei's eyes met his own in the mirror's reflection, and he saw the horror that struck him. A deep shade of wine-red befouled Rei's once-pale face. Blood found its way there in the same way it found itself tainting Kaoru's once-blank canvas on his neck. Guilt crashed over Rei when he realized how grave the situation was. Kaoru let a monster corrupt him.
"Nhhh- Rei- kun...? Why'd…you stop?" He slurred with a ditzy smile. Kaoru's feeble hand reached toward the vampire's direction.
"No, no... I'm sorry, Kaoru, so sorry--what have I done?" Rei's voice trembled as he stared down at Kaoru lying on the floor, downright disgusted by his monstrous desire. Kaoru's eyes were half-closed, dark red smears staining his skin. Yet Rei couldn't stop himself from jutting his tongue, tasting the last of Kaoru's warmth remaining on his lips.
"Geez, Rei... a warning would've been nice. You're a pretty aggressive guy when you're hungry, huh?"
"Kaoru... please do not joke. Look at yourself; you are bleeding. I lost control, and I could have severely harmed you." Rei couldn't look away, although he had really wanted to. When he turned his head, he would be met again with the sight of his bloodied face in the mirror, a much-needed reality check. Right..Rei couldn't just wish the situation away. He winced, anticipating the grueling consequences of crossing a friend's boundary — could he even still call them friends after this?
"But you didn't. Though, seriously..." Kaoru's reassurance broke the tension between them. For a moment, Rei was lost in Kaoru's sweet sound, convincing himself their relationship could remain the same after all this.
"... If you wanted to get that close to me, you could've just asked. Slipping me a vampire roofie and going straight for the neck is a bit much, even for a gothic rockstar."
"Stop trying to poke fun at this! You thrashed and yelled that it hurt. And then, I poisoned you with my venom until your mind was too foggy to fight back. You are a human, Kaoru. You're supposed to be safe from beasts like me; I used my own nature to force myself upon you."
"Listen to me, Rei-kun... Yeah, I was shocked at first, and it did hurt for a second. But I didn't stop fighting because of whatever reason you think. I stopped because I wanted to help you. If it were anyone else, I would've kicked their teeth in. But I know you, and I know you really needed it. Honestly, once I calmed down, it wasn't even that bad, and it started to feel good."
"That's the corruption speaking. You should fear me, you should hate me! Instead, you sit there, covered in your own blood, smiling at your monster." Rei's breath grew shallow, and he stood up. "I must leave. I will send someone to help; I shouldn't be near you."
"Shut up, Rei-kun. You're not going anywhere, as long as you think you can bite me, turn my brain into mush, and then run. You know I won't let you leave, not even a chance."
"Kaoru, you are weak--"
"Because you made me this way. Sit down and help me," Kaoru snarled. "If I pass out because you walked out that door, it's on you."
Rei sat back down on the floor with him. His face was made up of total defeat and an agonizing plea for forgiveness as he looked at Kaoru.
"Good boy, now grab the first-aid kit from that cabinet over there. My legs feel like jelly from all the blood you drank."
Rei got up yet again, and he walked across the dance studio to grab first aid. Back at his friend's side as he took gauze from the kit, he couldn't help but feel terrible about the predicament he put Kaoru in. Woe set upon him.
"Clean it up."
And so he did. He pressed the gauze firmly onto Kaoru's wounds, rubbing at his side for a soothing distraction and letting the excess blood be absorbed until the bleeding finally slowed. Rei gently cleaned the area with an antiseptic wipe, covering the worst parts with bandages afterward.
...
Although Rei thought he had taken care of the problem, he felt deeply wrong, and he had to address it. He could no longer bear to stay silent about what troubled him. "You know...this isn't how a relationship should be, Kaoru. I am a parasite."
"Then let it be mutual." Kaoru pulled Rei close, wrapping him in a warm embrace to punctuate his statement. "We're in this together. That's what mutualism means, right?"
"...I suppose it does."