BLOOD. LUST. FAMILY. CHAPTER 14
Jun. 18th, 2021 07:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learashiPairing: Sakumoto
Genre: Vampire AU, fantasy, drama, mpreg
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Contains violence, gore, blood.
Summary: Stuck in hospital, Jun receives visitors and some interesting information.
Previously: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13,
“I should've brought a machete with me,” Sho joked, as he battled his way through a sea of flowers to reach Jun’s bed. The meeting was finally over, and he had rushed back to the hospital as soon as possible.
“King Sakurai didn't come empty-handed.” Jun grinned and took a deep appreciative sniff of a bunch of long stemmed roses which were sitting on the bedside cabinet next to his head. The deep red petals were the closest thing to black which he had ever seen in a flower, and felt like velvet beneath his fingertips. “Why didn't you tell me that he was so sweet?”
“SWEET?” Sho yelped. “That is not a word I would associate with my father.”
Jun’s laughter bubbled out as he restrained the urge to coo at Sho’s pouty expression. He looked around the room which was filled with a riot of roses, peonies, orchids, and Satoshi’s sunflowers. “The florist had to make three trips to deliver them all.”
As he allowed his hand to drop back down to the mattress, Jun’s expression turned serious. “We talked for a long time. He was different from how I have always imagined. Unlike my father, he actually listened.”
“He certainly did. It's a shame you were asleep when he spoke to the Council on your behalf. I don't know what you said to him, but I have never seen him defend anyone so passionately before.”
Jun took Sho’s hand and played with his fingers. “You mean a lot to him, even though I know you don't think so. He regrets the rift with your mother, and the loss of both you and her for those years when you lived apart. He is proud of you, and of your commitment to our mating and our youngling.”
Sho felt perilously close to tears. He blinked hard and sniffed. Although the words had been spoken to Jun, rather than directly to him, his heart felt full; never before had his father expressed such pride in his only offspring.
A small face peeped into the room. Ishihara frowned and made small noises of displeasure as she entered. “Too many flowers make it impossible for us to do our job properly.”
Jun bestowed one of his most charming smiles upon her. “But they will definitely make the nurses station a much prettier place. I was just about to ask Sho to redistribute some around the floor.”
Ishihara brushed a stray hair which had escaped from the tight bun on the top of her head behind her ear, and blushed prettily. “That would be most kind.” She took hold of herself and added, “And then Prince Sakurai can go home. It is long past sunrise, and you both need to sleep.”
Sho opened his mouth to argue, but she cut in. “You will be better able to care for Prince Matsumoto if you are well rested, and you can't sleep properly in one of our uncomfortable chairs.”
Her tone invited no argument, so as she firmly tucked Jun in and checked his IV, Sho kissed Jun goodbye and left him in her care.
****
There was only so much sleeping that anyone could do, and Jun was awake and bored and watching the dripping of his IV, when he could sense someone hesitating outside the door to his room. The scent was familiar, and definitely not that of a vampire. He sat up eagerly and called out, “Aiba-chan, please come in.”
The door slid open and Aiba poked his head into the room. “Is it really okay? The nurse didn't seem very happy to see me.”
“It is more than okay. I am dying for some company.”
Aiba grinned, and stepped into the room, shadowed by a small figure carrying a bunch of flowers made from pipe cleaners and tissues. “That's good, because I didn't come alone. Genki made you a get well gift and wanted to give it to you personally.”
Jun was touched. Despite seeing dozens, if not hundreds of photographs of Aiba’s children, he had never met any of them in person. The thought of being around vampires made Aiba’s wife nervous, and although he or Sho would never harm a human, he understood her need to protect her family.
Genki was small for his age, but very bright. He had large eyes and a soft mouth, which suited his shy and gentle nature. He peeped at Jun around Aiba’s legs, looking a little disappointed.
“Is everything okay, Genki-chan?” Jun asked softly.
“You already have so many flowers,” the five year old said sadly, trying to hide his gift behind his back. “And real ones. Mine are only paper.”
The sight of the sad little face caused a wave of pregnancy hormones to bring Jun almost to tears. He dearly wanted to scoop the little boy into his arms and comfort him. “But yours will last forever, so I can enjoy them long after the others are gone.”
Genki’s eyes grew even bigger. “Like you? Papa says that sometimes he feels really old because you are forever too.”
Aiba blushed and wished that he could sink into the ground. Genki was like a little sponge; he didn't speak much but he listened when his parents talked, and soaked up as much information as possible about his father's interesting employers.
Jun beckoned Genki closer, so that they could talk more easily. “Vampires don't live forever, but we do live for a very, very, long time.”
“So you will still look this pretty when my Papa is old and wrinkly?”
Jun stifled a giggle, and caught Aiba’s eye. Aiba looked mortified, and was blushing furiously, so Jun tried to help him out. “If you mean will I still look the same, then yes I will, but I'm sure that your Papa will still be handsome, even when he is older too.”
Something else attracted Genki’s attention, as he carefully handed over his bunch of pink paper flowers. “You look fat like Mama did before she had my baby brother Kaito, but you're a boy. Does this mean that boys can have babies?” He jumped up and down excitedly. “Does this mean that I can have babies too?”
Aiba stepped forward and placed his hands on Genki’s shoulders, worried that his son was asking too many questions. “That's enough questions for one day. Prince Jun needs his rest.”
But Jun was more than happy to answer Genki’s questions, or at least partially. He was more than happy to leave explaining the facts of life up to the little boy's parents. “You’re very observant Genki-chan. I am expecting a baby, just like your Mama. Boy vampires can have babies, but unfortunately human boys can't. If you put your hand on my belly, you can feel my youngling kicking.”
Genki looked up at Aiba with eyes as big as saucers. “May I?”
Aiba nodded. “You may, but be gentle.”
Jun took Genki’s tiny hand and placed it where he could feel his youngling moving.
“It feels squirmy, just like my grandparents dog just before she had puppies,” Genki said happily. “She had six. How many do you have inside? You look like you have room for lots.”
Jun burst into laughter and Aiba said hastily, “I’m so sorry”.
“Don't apologize. He is adorable,” Jun said to Aiba, before replying to Genki. “I only have one youngling inside me, and I hope that they turn out to be just as sweet as you.”
“I like you, Mr Vampire,” Genki gripped Jun’s pinkie with his fingers, and solemnly declared, “When my Papa is old, I promise to take over from him and look after you just as good as he does.”
Jun took Genki’s small fingers in his and formally shook his hand. “Thank you for your very kind offer Genki-chan. As you grow up you might find something else which you would rather do, but if you don't, there will always be a job waiting for you ”
****
“Pet, my parents invited me to visit them. Do you mind if I don't return to the hospital immediately? I can put them off until you're allowed to come home.” Sho was hesitant to accept the invitation which had been made shortly after waking. He tapped his fingertips frustratedly on the back of his phone. He could sense that Jun and his youngling were both well, which had been confirmed by a phone call from Shun, but he knew that he would feel happier to confirm it with his own eyes.
“Go. Your father is reaching out to you. I haven't had so much as a twinge for hours. It seems as if our youngling has been persuaded to stay put.” Jun was pleased that King Sakurai was following through with his promise to improve his relationship with Sho.
“If you're sure. I'll be with you as soon as possible, and I will bring you anything your heart desires,” Sho offered.
“All my heart desires is you,” Jun replied seductively.
“Mine too,” Sho’s voice was like sweet molasses in Jun’s ear.
“There’s something else which would make my heart race,” Jun purred.
“Anything, Pet.”
“Could you stop by our favourite bakery and bring me some of that extra dark chocolate cake?”
Sho’s loud laugh stayed with Jun, long after they ended the call.
****
“Say thank you, your Royal Highness.” Toma placed Jun’s breakfast where Jun could reach it.
After two days of hospital food, Jun looked at his offering with mild distaste. “Thank you? Although by looking at this, I don't know what I am supposed to be grateful for.”
Toma’s cheeks dimpled as he grinned and gestured to the IV stand. “Oguri-sensei has advised that I can unplug you. You should feel more comfortable once this is removed.”
Jun immediately stuck out his arm. “Thank you in advance.”
As Toma deftly removed the cannula he added, “You’ll have a visitor in a moment, if he can drag himself away from chatting with our handsome Oguri-sensei.”
Jun’s curiosity was piqued. “You said chatting, but it sounds as if you mean flirting. Tell me more.”
“Only if you drink at least half of that glass of blood by the time I've finished disposing of this IV equipment,” Toma teased.
As the nurse left the room Nino entered, looking surprisingly cheerful, and Jun knew that he didn't need any extra information from Toma. The answer was standing right in front of him with a faint pink colour in his normally pale cheeks.
****
Jun took another morsel of liver and silently observed Nino. A few moments after Nino’s arrival, Shun had entered the room and pointedly ignored Nino while examining Jun’s chart.
After delivering the good news that Jun would be discharged the next day, Shun had departed, finally acknowledging Nino’s presence with a slight nod as he passed him on his way out the door.
Nino was always so secretive about his private life, which frustrated Jun; there seemed to be an invisible wall between them, blocking the deepening of their friendship. He sensed that behind his hard shell, Nino was more sensitive than he would ever admit. Although he knew that Nino would probably push him away, Jun decided to try and break down that wall.
After Shun departed, Nino had produced a neatly packed homemade bento for Jun, containing lightly seared liver and kidney, along with a selection of appetising side dishes. It provided the perfect opportunity for Jun to delve a little deeper.
“Thank you for the food, Nino,” Jun said with an appreciative hum. “It is truly delicious.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve heard more complaints about the food here than you can imagine, and I figured that you have more than enough flowers.” Nino pushed away a vase of orchids which were threatening to poke him in the eye.
“Something has been puzzling me since you prepared dinner for Sho and me. Where did you learn to cook human food, and why, since you don't eat it?”
Nino didn't answer right away, and sat perched stiffly on the edge of his seat, as if contemplating a hasty departure. Jun wondered if he’d been too blunt; he hadn't meant to make his question sound like an interrogation.
It seemed that Nino made up his mind about something, as he took a deep breath and released it before he slumped down into his usual relaxed round-shouldered posture. “A close friend of mine got sick of my refrigerator containing nothing but alcohol and synthetic blood whenever he visited. He began to bring groceries with him, and I watched him cook.”
“You weren't tempted to ever try any of the food?” Jun asked as he selected a broccoli floret and admired its green bright green perfection.
Nino shook his head, and pulled a face. “Absolutely not.”
Jun decided to push his luck. “Is Shun such a bad cook? He certainly looks like someone who eats well.”
“Shun?” Nino’s eyes narrowed for a second before he threw his head back and laughed loudly. “He looks even better with his clothes off.”
The broccoli wedged itself in Jun’s throat as he snort-laughed, prompting Nino to leap from his seat and whack him on the back until he managed to swallow. “That quickly went somewhere I hadn't anticipated,” Jun wheezed. “And I’m not talking about the broccoli.”
Nino shrugged as the corners of his lips rose in a smirk. “It’s what you really wanted to know, so I cut out all the preliminary chit-chat.”
“In that case, tell me more.” Jun put down his chopsticks and leaned forward eagerly.
“There's really nothing to tell. We became friends after Shun stitched me back together, and we hang out together sometimes.”
Jun raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of synthetic blood. “And the naked part?”
“Well, obviously we have sex,” Nino replied and rolled his eyes. “Why else would I put up with him cooking food in my kitchen and making my place smell like human food?”
This was a side of Nino which Jun had never before seen, and Jun liked it very much indeed, as he relaxed back against his pillows and listened to Nino elaborate on his ‘friends with benefits’ relationship with Shun. Boredom had just gone out the window.
Genre: Vampire AU, fantasy, drama, mpreg
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Contains violence, gore, blood.
Summary: Stuck in hospital, Jun receives visitors and some interesting information.
Previously: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13,
“I should've brought a machete with me,” Sho joked, as he battled his way through a sea of flowers to reach Jun’s bed. The meeting was finally over, and he had rushed back to the hospital as soon as possible.
“King Sakurai didn't come empty-handed.” Jun grinned and took a deep appreciative sniff of a bunch of long stemmed roses which were sitting on the bedside cabinet next to his head. The deep red petals were the closest thing to black which he had ever seen in a flower, and felt like velvet beneath his fingertips. “Why didn't you tell me that he was so sweet?”
“SWEET?” Sho yelped. “That is not a word I would associate with my father.”
Jun’s laughter bubbled out as he restrained the urge to coo at Sho’s pouty expression. He looked around the room which was filled with a riot of roses, peonies, orchids, and Satoshi’s sunflowers. “The florist had to make three trips to deliver them all.”
As he allowed his hand to drop back down to the mattress, Jun’s expression turned serious. “We talked for a long time. He was different from how I have always imagined. Unlike my father, he actually listened.”
“He certainly did. It's a shame you were asleep when he spoke to the Council on your behalf. I don't know what you said to him, but I have never seen him defend anyone so passionately before.”
Jun took Sho’s hand and played with his fingers. “You mean a lot to him, even though I know you don't think so. He regrets the rift with your mother, and the loss of both you and her for those years when you lived apart. He is proud of you, and of your commitment to our mating and our youngling.”
Sho felt perilously close to tears. He blinked hard and sniffed. Although the words had been spoken to Jun, rather than directly to him, his heart felt full; never before had his father expressed such pride in his only offspring.
A small face peeped into the room. Ishihara frowned and made small noises of displeasure as she entered. “Too many flowers make it impossible for us to do our job properly.”
Jun bestowed one of his most charming smiles upon her. “But they will definitely make the nurses station a much prettier place. I was just about to ask Sho to redistribute some around the floor.”
Ishihara brushed a stray hair which had escaped from the tight bun on the top of her head behind her ear, and blushed prettily. “That would be most kind.” She took hold of herself and added, “And then Prince Sakurai can go home. It is long past sunrise, and you both need to sleep.”
Sho opened his mouth to argue, but she cut in. “You will be better able to care for Prince Matsumoto if you are well rested, and you can't sleep properly in one of our uncomfortable chairs.”
Her tone invited no argument, so as she firmly tucked Jun in and checked his IV, Sho kissed Jun goodbye and left him in her care.
****
There was only so much sleeping that anyone could do, and Jun was awake and bored and watching the dripping of his IV, when he could sense someone hesitating outside the door to his room. The scent was familiar, and definitely not that of a vampire. He sat up eagerly and called out, “Aiba-chan, please come in.”
The door slid open and Aiba poked his head into the room. “Is it really okay? The nurse didn't seem very happy to see me.”
“It is more than okay. I am dying for some company.”
Aiba grinned, and stepped into the room, shadowed by a small figure carrying a bunch of flowers made from pipe cleaners and tissues. “That's good, because I didn't come alone. Genki made you a get well gift and wanted to give it to you personally.”
Jun was touched. Despite seeing dozens, if not hundreds of photographs of Aiba’s children, he had never met any of them in person. The thought of being around vampires made Aiba’s wife nervous, and although he or Sho would never harm a human, he understood her need to protect her family.
Genki was small for his age, but very bright. He had large eyes and a soft mouth, which suited his shy and gentle nature. He peeped at Jun around Aiba’s legs, looking a little disappointed.
“Is everything okay, Genki-chan?” Jun asked softly.
“You already have so many flowers,” the five year old said sadly, trying to hide his gift behind his back. “And real ones. Mine are only paper.”
The sight of the sad little face caused a wave of pregnancy hormones to bring Jun almost to tears. He dearly wanted to scoop the little boy into his arms and comfort him. “But yours will last forever, so I can enjoy them long after the others are gone.”
Genki’s eyes grew even bigger. “Like you? Papa says that sometimes he feels really old because you are forever too.”
Aiba blushed and wished that he could sink into the ground. Genki was like a little sponge; he didn't speak much but he listened when his parents talked, and soaked up as much information as possible about his father's interesting employers.
Jun beckoned Genki closer, so that they could talk more easily. “Vampires don't live forever, but we do live for a very, very, long time.”
“So you will still look this pretty when my Papa is old and wrinkly?”
Jun stifled a giggle, and caught Aiba’s eye. Aiba looked mortified, and was blushing furiously, so Jun tried to help him out. “If you mean will I still look the same, then yes I will, but I'm sure that your Papa will still be handsome, even when he is older too.”
Something else attracted Genki’s attention, as he carefully handed over his bunch of pink paper flowers. “You look fat like Mama did before she had my baby brother Kaito, but you're a boy. Does this mean that boys can have babies?” He jumped up and down excitedly. “Does this mean that I can have babies too?”
Aiba stepped forward and placed his hands on Genki’s shoulders, worried that his son was asking too many questions. “That's enough questions for one day. Prince Jun needs his rest.”
But Jun was more than happy to answer Genki’s questions, or at least partially. He was more than happy to leave explaining the facts of life up to the little boy's parents. “You’re very observant Genki-chan. I am expecting a baby, just like your Mama. Boy vampires can have babies, but unfortunately human boys can't. If you put your hand on my belly, you can feel my youngling kicking.”
Genki looked up at Aiba with eyes as big as saucers. “May I?”
Aiba nodded. “You may, but be gentle.”
Jun took Genki’s tiny hand and placed it where he could feel his youngling moving.
“It feels squirmy, just like my grandparents dog just before she had puppies,” Genki said happily. “She had six. How many do you have inside? You look like you have room for lots.”
Jun burst into laughter and Aiba said hastily, “I’m so sorry”.
“Don't apologize. He is adorable,” Jun said to Aiba, before replying to Genki. “I only have one youngling inside me, and I hope that they turn out to be just as sweet as you.”
“I like you, Mr Vampire,” Genki gripped Jun’s pinkie with his fingers, and solemnly declared, “When my Papa is old, I promise to take over from him and look after you just as good as he does.”
Jun took Genki’s small fingers in his and formally shook his hand. “Thank you for your very kind offer Genki-chan. As you grow up you might find something else which you would rather do, but if you don't, there will always be a job waiting for you ”
****
“Pet, my parents invited me to visit them. Do you mind if I don't return to the hospital immediately? I can put them off until you're allowed to come home.” Sho was hesitant to accept the invitation which had been made shortly after waking. He tapped his fingertips frustratedly on the back of his phone. He could sense that Jun and his youngling were both well, which had been confirmed by a phone call from Shun, but he knew that he would feel happier to confirm it with his own eyes.
“Go. Your father is reaching out to you. I haven't had so much as a twinge for hours. It seems as if our youngling has been persuaded to stay put.” Jun was pleased that King Sakurai was following through with his promise to improve his relationship with Sho.
“If you're sure. I'll be with you as soon as possible, and I will bring you anything your heart desires,” Sho offered.
“All my heart desires is you,” Jun replied seductively.
“Mine too,” Sho’s voice was like sweet molasses in Jun’s ear.
“There’s something else which would make my heart race,” Jun purred.
“Anything, Pet.”
“Could you stop by our favourite bakery and bring me some of that extra dark chocolate cake?”
Sho’s loud laugh stayed with Jun, long after they ended the call.
****
“Say thank you, your Royal Highness.” Toma placed Jun’s breakfast where Jun could reach it.
After two days of hospital food, Jun looked at his offering with mild distaste. “Thank you? Although by looking at this, I don't know what I am supposed to be grateful for.”
Toma’s cheeks dimpled as he grinned and gestured to the IV stand. “Oguri-sensei has advised that I can unplug you. You should feel more comfortable once this is removed.”
Jun immediately stuck out his arm. “Thank you in advance.”
As Toma deftly removed the cannula he added, “You’ll have a visitor in a moment, if he can drag himself away from chatting with our handsome Oguri-sensei.”
Jun’s curiosity was piqued. “You said chatting, but it sounds as if you mean flirting. Tell me more.”
“Only if you drink at least half of that glass of blood by the time I've finished disposing of this IV equipment,” Toma teased.
As the nurse left the room Nino entered, looking surprisingly cheerful, and Jun knew that he didn't need any extra information from Toma. The answer was standing right in front of him with a faint pink colour in his normally pale cheeks.
****
Jun took another morsel of liver and silently observed Nino. A few moments after Nino’s arrival, Shun had entered the room and pointedly ignored Nino while examining Jun’s chart.
After delivering the good news that Jun would be discharged the next day, Shun had departed, finally acknowledging Nino’s presence with a slight nod as he passed him on his way out the door.
Nino was always so secretive about his private life, which frustrated Jun; there seemed to be an invisible wall between them, blocking the deepening of their friendship. He sensed that behind his hard shell, Nino was more sensitive than he would ever admit. Although he knew that Nino would probably push him away, Jun decided to try and break down that wall.
After Shun departed, Nino had produced a neatly packed homemade bento for Jun, containing lightly seared liver and kidney, along with a selection of appetising side dishes. It provided the perfect opportunity for Jun to delve a little deeper.
“Thank you for the food, Nino,” Jun said with an appreciative hum. “It is truly delicious.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve heard more complaints about the food here than you can imagine, and I figured that you have more than enough flowers.” Nino pushed away a vase of orchids which were threatening to poke him in the eye.
“Something has been puzzling me since you prepared dinner for Sho and me. Where did you learn to cook human food, and why, since you don't eat it?”
Nino didn't answer right away, and sat perched stiffly on the edge of his seat, as if contemplating a hasty departure. Jun wondered if he’d been too blunt; he hadn't meant to make his question sound like an interrogation.
It seemed that Nino made up his mind about something, as he took a deep breath and released it before he slumped down into his usual relaxed round-shouldered posture. “A close friend of mine got sick of my refrigerator containing nothing but alcohol and synthetic blood whenever he visited. He began to bring groceries with him, and I watched him cook.”
“You weren't tempted to ever try any of the food?” Jun asked as he selected a broccoli floret and admired its green bright green perfection.
Nino shook his head, and pulled a face. “Absolutely not.”
Jun decided to push his luck. “Is Shun such a bad cook? He certainly looks like someone who eats well.”
“Shun?” Nino’s eyes narrowed for a second before he threw his head back and laughed loudly. “He looks even better with his clothes off.”
The broccoli wedged itself in Jun’s throat as he snort-laughed, prompting Nino to leap from his seat and whack him on the back until he managed to swallow. “That quickly went somewhere I hadn't anticipated,” Jun wheezed. “And I’m not talking about the broccoli.”
Nino shrugged as the corners of his lips rose in a smirk. “It’s what you really wanted to know, so I cut out all the preliminary chit-chat.”
“In that case, tell me more.” Jun put down his chopsticks and leaned forward eagerly.
“There's really nothing to tell. We became friends after Shun stitched me back together, and we hang out together sometimes.”
Jun raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of synthetic blood. “And the naked part?”
“Well, obviously we have sex,” Nino replied and rolled his eyes. “Why else would I put up with him cooking food in my kitchen and making my place smell like human food?”
This was a side of Nino which Jun had never before seen, and Jun liked it very much indeed, as he relaxed back against his pillows and listened to Nino elaborate on his ‘friends with benefits’ relationship with Shun. Boredom had just gone out the window.
