BLOOD. LUST. FAMILY. CHAPTER 17
Jul. 9th, 2021 07:53 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: Aiba steps into a vampire nest, and Jun is grumpy.
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, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16,
In the gloom of the wardrobe, two amethyst fires burned brightly as Jun sat up to glare at the intruder into his space. He showed no sign of recognition as he knitted his eyebrows together and hissed a warning.
Sho held perfectly still in a non-threatening stance and waited for Jun to catch his scent. All breeding vampires nested prior to giving birth, so he had been expecting this, but it was still a shock to see his mate glaring at him with such venom.
He heard footsteps behind him, and before he could react, Aiba was craning his head over his shoulder.
“I heard that vampires build nests, but I have never seen one before. It looks really cosy.” Aiba bustled past Sho, carrying a mug of soup which he held out towards Jun. “I’ve set up lunch for us downstairs, but I thought you might like this.”
Frozen in horror at the sight of a human invading a vampire nest, even one which was incomplete, Sho prepared himself to drag Aiba to safety, but Jun meekly accepted the mug. The fire in his eyes faded as he sipped the clear broth. “Thank you Aiba-chan. I'll be down just as soon as I've had a quick shower.”
Jun’s voice sounded rusty as if from disuse, but the smile which he offered Aiba was gentle and genuine.
After Aiba’s departure, Sho remained rooted to the spot, warily watching Jun drink his soup while making adjustments to the placement of items in his nest.
Jun gathered the two towels which Aiba had stepped on to reach him and flung them out the door, barely missing hitting Sho in the face. When he was satisfied that no trace of the human’s scent remained, Jun finally looked at Sho, with a relieved smile. “It was a close thing, but it appears that my inner vampire has decided to not go completely feral before the birth.”
Sho sagged with relief; he had been fearing for Aiba’s safety and preparing to tell him to stay away from the house until after the birth. Hopefully this meant that Satoshi and Nino would be equally as welcome in Jun’s presence. He hovered in the doorway, waiting for an invitation to enter.
Although he could sense Sho’s disappointment, Jun had no intention of allowing him into his nest just yet. His instincts were telling him that soon the time would come, but today was not the day. He rose to his feet and carefully made his way across the uneven surface of the piles of blankets which lined the floor. He squeezed Sho’s butt and murmured, “Do you want to scrub my back?”
Sho immediately perked up as Jun led him away from the spare room after carefully locking the door and slipping the key into the pocket of his robe.
****
Satoshi placed the candy-striped cake box down and tried not to stare at Jun, who was sitting in his armchair next to the fireplace in the living room. Apparently he was unsuccessful, as Jun narrowed his eyes at him. He swallowed hard, and tried to evade Jun’s wrath. “Hi baby brother, you're looking well.”
“Is that a polite way of calling me fat?” Jun asked crankily.
Unable to drag his eyes away from Jun’s rounded midriff Satoshi shook his head vehemently. “No! I was saying that you look healthy.”
“So that's a yes, then,” Jun grumped. He was a little over a week away from his due date and feeling huge and ungainly; his youngling seemed to be permanently wedged beneath his ribs, making it hard to even breathe comfortably. No matter how he shifted in his chair and moved closer to the fire, he couldn't get warm or relieve the nagging pain at the base of his spine, and he wished that everyone would leave. The fact that this tea party had been his idea in the first place, was even more annoying. “You’d think that someone who is as fat as I am would have enough blubber to keep me warm, but I'm still cold.”
“I…” Satoshi was contemplating making a run for the door, when Shun-sensei, who was sitting on the sofa beside Nino, tossed him a lifeline.
“I'm sure that Prince Satoshi has merely noticed that you have good colour in your cheeks today,” Shun said smoothly.
Nino fanned himself and loosened his collar. “It’s so hot in here that even I have colour in my cheeks. Rotisserie chickens are probably more comfortable.”
Shun poked him in the ribs and muttered, “Rude.”
“And you’re not fat, you’re pregnant.” After placing a light throw rug over Jun's knees, Sho moved to stand behind him and gently massaged his tense shoulders. Jun's skin felt like fire under his fingers and he automatically looked to Shun, who silently indicated that he would speak to him away from Jun.
While Satoshi served himself a huge slice of the cake, and Nino offered Jun some synthetic blood from the decanter in front of him, Shun and Sho slipped silently from the room.
****
Sho's eyes were huge and worried as he led Shun to his study. "Jun's skin feels so hot. Should we make him move away from the fire? I hope he isn't feverish."
Shun shook his head. "All of Jun’s symptoms are perfectly normal. They are indicators that he is closer to giving birth than we calculated. If he mentions lower back pain, or is drawn to his nest, your youngling will definitely be here soon."
The room swirled around, and Sho suddenly found it hard to breathe. He was supposed to be the calm and in-charge half of their pairing in these circumstances, but despite having months to prepare for this moment, he felt seriously out of his depth. "What do I need to do to make things easier for Jun?
"If you have no objections, I would like to arrange for Toma to keep an eye on him. When the time comes you will be too involved with Jun and his needs to have time to worry about the practicalities," Shun said as he slid his phone out of his pocket and fired off a string of texts. "If you don't mind, it would be best if he stays here in the house with you. The safe delivery of your youngling is important to the future of the Royal House of Sakurai. King Sakurai has personally requested that Jun has round-the-clock medical supervision until he is admitted to the hospital."
Rather than object, Sho was deeply relieved. "That would be wonderful. I'll ask Aiba to instruct our maid to make up one of the guest rooms for him. What do you mean by Jun’s ‘needs’ though? What if I don’t understand what he means?”
The knowing smile which Shun gave him did nothing to clear up Sho’s confusion. “You don’t have to worry. Jun’s instincts will take over, and as his mate you will have no choice but to follow.”
****
The fire distracted Jun from the nagging pain in his back, and the prickling of his skin. The chatter surrounding him faded into the background as he watched the flames transform the wood into dancing flickers of light.
His youngling squirmed restlessly in the cramped space left to them, and Jun absent-mindedly stroked his hand over his belly in a soothing gesture, as he concentrated on the fizzing sensation in the back of his mind. His youngling appeared to be displeased by their lack of room to move, but there was nothing to be done except send them love and the reassurance that soon they would be out in the world with him and Sho.
He jumped slightly as Satoshi squeezed his shoulder and said, “I’m leaving now. Get plenty of rest. I look forward to meeting your little one, next time we meet.”
Jun wondered if he should find the idea of not seeing his older brother upsetting, but all he felt was relief that he wouldn't be forced to socialize with anyone other than his mate. He placed his hand over Satoshi’s for a moment and nodded, before going back to staring at the lively flames.
Even though Satoshi understood that this withdrawal was part of the process of vampire birthing, it still stung his heart. His shoulders slumped and began to turn away when Jun grabbed his hand again, and held it tightly. Although Jun didn't speak, Satoshi’s mood lifted.
Jun gravitated to Satoshi, mimicking a sunflower tracking the life-giving glow of the sun across the sky. He felt his brother's love supporting him and giving him strength.
They remained this way for a few minutes before Satoshi reluctantly drew away. Jun closed his eyes and rested his head back against the yielding softness of the armchair, and when he opened them again, he was alone.
Jun could hear Sho saying goodbye to their guests as they reached the front door. He stretched his toes towards the fire and tuned into the fizzing sensation in his mind. His youngling seemed calmer now that they were alone, and more accepting of the fact that soon they must emerge from their place of comfort and safety.
****
When Sho returned, he paused in the doorway, stopped in his tracks by Jun’s beauty. The warm firelight highlighted his strong bone structure, the unique curve of his thumbs, and the delicacy of his fingers where they rested on the curve of his belly.
Unexpectedly, Sho was struck by the memory of the first time they had made love with their hearts and not just their bodies. He walked over to his piano which was sitting neglected in the corner of the room and smoothed his hands over its lid before taking a seat.
His first notes were hesitant, but soon his fingers flowed across the keys. He played the same piece as he had on that occasion, and Jun responded immediately, rising with some difficulty and drifting over to sit beside him on the narrow bench seat.
As he continued to play, Sho felt his mind entwine with Jun’s. Tears welled in his eyes as he felt another presence. It should have been impossible, but through his deep connection with Jun, he felt the faintest fizz deep in the recesses of his consciousness which came from their youngling, and his heart swelled with love.
****
When Toma arrived he was carrying a small bag containing his clothes slung over his shoulder, and a larger medical case in his hand.
Sho braced himself as he waited for Jun’s reaction. Although Jun had agreed with Shun’s suggestion that the nurse stay with them, it was hard to tell how he would handle a virtual stranger intruding into his space.
It was a relief when Jun calmly sat and allowed Toma to examine him. In fact, it appeared that Jun barely even noticed that the nurse was there. All of his thoughts appeared to be focused inwards to his youngling.
"He is very close now. I expect his labour to begin shortly before sunset." Toma said quietly to Sho. "Vampires always give birth at night, as we are too vulnerable to attack during the daylight hours. He will retreat to his nesting space, and call to you when it is time for you to join him. If you let me know when he moves to his nest I will alert Shun and arrange for transportation to the hospital, when the time is right."
Although Sho's acquaintance with Toma had been brief, he instinctively knew that he could trust him to provide Jun with the best care, and he felt the knot of tension in his stomach loosen slightly.
****
To give the vampires some privacy, Aiba and the maid had discreetly departed when Toma arrived, so Sho prepared a simple meal for Toma and himself. They ate in silence in the kitchen while listening for any movement from upstairs. Jun had refused all offers of food and drink, which worried Sho, but Toma merely nodded and allowed Jun to retreat to the master suite with the intention of taking a long bath.
"Shouldn't Jun at least drink a little synthetic blood?" Sho asked with a frown.
Toma shook his head, and took a bite of his cheese sandwich, which was all that Sho's cooking skills extended to. "It will only cause him stress if you try to force him. Although he has never done this before, his vampire instincts will tell him exactly what he has to do and when to do it."
As much as Sho wanted to follow Toma’s relaxed example, he couldn't stay away from Jun any longer. "Please help yourself to whatever else you'd like to eat. There's cake, and we have a fridge full of blood. I'm just going to check on Jun. I promise to keep my distance if that's what he wants.”
“I'm fine for blood, but I'll make myself a coffee and try some of that cake, since you're offering,” Toma said as he finished the last bite of his sandwich. “Prince Sakurai, my advice is to not overthink about how to help Prince Matsumoto. You’re his mate; if you remain calm, and follow your heart, you will know what to do.”
Sho nodded and headed upstairs, calmed by Toma’s words and determined to do his best by Jun and their youngling.
Genre: Vampire AU, fantasy, drama, mpreg
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Contains violence, gore, blood.
Summary: Aiba steps into a vampire nest, and Jun is grumpy.
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, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16,
In the gloom of the wardrobe, two amethyst fires burned brightly as Jun sat up to glare at the intruder into his space. He showed no sign of recognition as he knitted his eyebrows together and hissed a warning.
Sho held perfectly still in a non-threatening stance and waited for Jun to catch his scent. All breeding vampires nested prior to giving birth, so he had been expecting this, but it was still a shock to see his mate glaring at him with such venom.
He heard footsteps behind him, and before he could react, Aiba was craning his head over his shoulder.
“I heard that vampires build nests, but I have never seen one before. It looks really cosy.” Aiba bustled past Sho, carrying a mug of soup which he held out towards Jun. “I’ve set up lunch for us downstairs, but I thought you might like this.”
Frozen in horror at the sight of a human invading a vampire nest, even one which was incomplete, Sho prepared himself to drag Aiba to safety, but Jun meekly accepted the mug. The fire in his eyes faded as he sipped the clear broth. “Thank you Aiba-chan. I'll be down just as soon as I've had a quick shower.”
Jun’s voice sounded rusty as if from disuse, but the smile which he offered Aiba was gentle and genuine.
After Aiba’s departure, Sho remained rooted to the spot, warily watching Jun drink his soup while making adjustments to the placement of items in his nest.
Jun gathered the two towels which Aiba had stepped on to reach him and flung them out the door, barely missing hitting Sho in the face. When he was satisfied that no trace of the human’s scent remained, Jun finally looked at Sho, with a relieved smile. “It was a close thing, but it appears that my inner vampire has decided to not go completely feral before the birth.”
Sho sagged with relief; he had been fearing for Aiba’s safety and preparing to tell him to stay away from the house until after the birth. Hopefully this meant that Satoshi and Nino would be equally as welcome in Jun’s presence. He hovered in the doorway, waiting for an invitation to enter.
Although he could sense Sho’s disappointment, Jun had no intention of allowing him into his nest just yet. His instincts were telling him that soon the time would come, but today was not the day. He rose to his feet and carefully made his way across the uneven surface of the piles of blankets which lined the floor. He squeezed Sho’s butt and murmured, “Do you want to scrub my back?”
Sho immediately perked up as Jun led him away from the spare room after carefully locking the door and slipping the key into the pocket of his robe.
****
Satoshi placed the candy-striped cake box down and tried not to stare at Jun, who was sitting in his armchair next to the fireplace in the living room. Apparently he was unsuccessful, as Jun narrowed his eyes at him. He swallowed hard, and tried to evade Jun’s wrath. “Hi baby brother, you're looking well.”
“Is that a polite way of calling me fat?” Jun asked crankily.
Unable to drag his eyes away from Jun’s rounded midriff Satoshi shook his head vehemently. “No! I was saying that you look healthy.”
“So that's a yes, then,” Jun grumped. He was a little over a week away from his due date and feeling huge and ungainly; his youngling seemed to be permanently wedged beneath his ribs, making it hard to even breathe comfortably. No matter how he shifted in his chair and moved closer to the fire, he couldn't get warm or relieve the nagging pain at the base of his spine, and he wished that everyone would leave. The fact that this tea party had been his idea in the first place, was even more annoying. “You’d think that someone who is as fat as I am would have enough blubber to keep me warm, but I'm still cold.”
“I…” Satoshi was contemplating making a run for the door, when Shun-sensei, who was sitting on the sofa beside Nino, tossed him a lifeline.
“I'm sure that Prince Satoshi has merely noticed that you have good colour in your cheeks today,” Shun said smoothly.
Nino fanned himself and loosened his collar. “It’s so hot in here that even I have colour in my cheeks. Rotisserie chickens are probably more comfortable.”
Shun poked him in the ribs and muttered, “Rude.”
“And you’re not fat, you’re pregnant.” After placing a light throw rug over Jun's knees, Sho moved to stand behind him and gently massaged his tense shoulders. Jun's skin felt like fire under his fingers and he automatically looked to Shun, who silently indicated that he would speak to him away from Jun.
While Satoshi served himself a huge slice of the cake, and Nino offered Jun some synthetic blood from the decanter in front of him, Shun and Sho slipped silently from the room.
****
Sho's eyes were huge and worried as he led Shun to his study. "Jun's skin feels so hot. Should we make him move away from the fire? I hope he isn't feverish."
Shun shook his head. "All of Jun’s symptoms are perfectly normal. They are indicators that he is closer to giving birth than we calculated. If he mentions lower back pain, or is drawn to his nest, your youngling will definitely be here soon."
The room swirled around, and Sho suddenly found it hard to breathe. He was supposed to be the calm and in-charge half of their pairing in these circumstances, but despite having months to prepare for this moment, he felt seriously out of his depth. "What do I need to do to make things easier for Jun?
"If you have no objections, I would like to arrange for Toma to keep an eye on him. When the time comes you will be too involved with Jun and his needs to have time to worry about the practicalities," Shun said as he slid his phone out of his pocket and fired off a string of texts. "If you don't mind, it would be best if he stays here in the house with you. The safe delivery of your youngling is important to the future of the Royal House of Sakurai. King Sakurai has personally requested that Jun has round-the-clock medical supervision until he is admitted to the hospital."
Rather than object, Sho was deeply relieved. "That would be wonderful. I'll ask Aiba to instruct our maid to make up one of the guest rooms for him. What do you mean by Jun’s ‘needs’ though? What if I don’t understand what he means?”
The knowing smile which Shun gave him did nothing to clear up Sho’s confusion. “You don’t have to worry. Jun’s instincts will take over, and as his mate you will have no choice but to follow.”
****
The fire distracted Jun from the nagging pain in his back, and the prickling of his skin. The chatter surrounding him faded into the background as he watched the flames transform the wood into dancing flickers of light.
His youngling squirmed restlessly in the cramped space left to them, and Jun absent-mindedly stroked his hand over his belly in a soothing gesture, as he concentrated on the fizzing sensation in the back of his mind. His youngling appeared to be displeased by their lack of room to move, but there was nothing to be done except send them love and the reassurance that soon they would be out in the world with him and Sho.
He jumped slightly as Satoshi squeezed his shoulder and said, “I’m leaving now. Get plenty of rest. I look forward to meeting your little one, next time we meet.”
Jun wondered if he should find the idea of not seeing his older brother upsetting, but all he felt was relief that he wouldn't be forced to socialize with anyone other than his mate. He placed his hand over Satoshi’s for a moment and nodded, before going back to staring at the lively flames.
Even though Satoshi understood that this withdrawal was part of the process of vampire birthing, it still stung his heart. His shoulders slumped and began to turn away when Jun grabbed his hand again, and held it tightly. Although Jun didn't speak, Satoshi’s mood lifted.
Jun gravitated to Satoshi, mimicking a sunflower tracking the life-giving glow of the sun across the sky. He felt his brother's love supporting him and giving him strength.
They remained this way for a few minutes before Satoshi reluctantly drew away. Jun closed his eyes and rested his head back against the yielding softness of the armchair, and when he opened them again, he was alone.
Jun could hear Sho saying goodbye to their guests as they reached the front door. He stretched his toes towards the fire and tuned into the fizzing sensation in his mind. His youngling seemed calmer now that they were alone, and more accepting of the fact that soon they must emerge from their place of comfort and safety.
****
When Sho returned, he paused in the doorway, stopped in his tracks by Jun’s beauty. The warm firelight highlighted his strong bone structure, the unique curve of his thumbs, and the delicacy of his fingers where they rested on the curve of his belly.
Unexpectedly, Sho was struck by the memory of the first time they had made love with their hearts and not just their bodies. He walked over to his piano which was sitting neglected in the corner of the room and smoothed his hands over its lid before taking a seat.
His first notes were hesitant, but soon his fingers flowed across the keys. He played the same piece as he had on that occasion, and Jun responded immediately, rising with some difficulty and drifting over to sit beside him on the narrow bench seat.
As he continued to play, Sho felt his mind entwine with Jun’s. Tears welled in his eyes as he felt another presence. It should have been impossible, but through his deep connection with Jun, he felt the faintest fizz deep in the recesses of his consciousness which came from their youngling, and his heart swelled with love.
****
When Toma arrived he was carrying a small bag containing his clothes slung over his shoulder, and a larger medical case in his hand.
Sho braced himself as he waited for Jun’s reaction. Although Jun had agreed with Shun’s suggestion that the nurse stay with them, it was hard to tell how he would handle a virtual stranger intruding into his space.
It was a relief when Jun calmly sat and allowed Toma to examine him. In fact, it appeared that Jun barely even noticed that the nurse was there. All of his thoughts appeared to be focused inwards to his youngling.
"He is very close now. I expect his labour to begin shortly before sunset." Toma said quietly to Sho. "Vampires always give birth at night, as we are too vulnerable to attack during the daylight hours. He will retreat to his nesting space, and call to you when it is time for you to join him. If you let me know when he moves to his nest I will alert Shun and arrange for transportation to the hospital, when the time is right."
Although Sho's acquaintance with Toma had been brief, he instinctively knew that he could trust him to provide Jun with the best care, and he felt the knot of tension in his stomach loosen slightly.
****
To give the vampires some privacy, Aiba and the maid had discreetly departed when Toma arrived, so Sho prepared a simple meal for Toma and himself. They ate in silence in the kitchen while listening for any movement from upstairs. Jun had refused all offers of food and drink, which worried Sho, but Toma merely nodded and allowed Jun to retreat to the master suite with the intention of taking a long bath.
"Shouldn't Jun at least drink a little synthetic blood?" Sho asked with a frown.
Toma shook his head, and took a bite of his cheese sandwich, which was all that Sho's cooking skills extended to. "It will only cause him stress if you try to force him. Although he has never done this before, his vampire instincts will tell him exactly what he has to do and when to do it."
As much as Sho wanted to follow Toma’s relaxed example, he couldn't stay away from Jun any longer. "Please help yourself to whatever else you'd like to eat. There's cake, and we have a fridge full of blood. I'm just going to check on Jun. I promise to keep my distance if that's what he wants.”
“I'm fine for blood, but I'll make myself a coffee and try some of that cake, since you're offering,” Toma said as he finished the last bite of his sandwich. “Prince Sakurai, my advice is to not overthink about how to help Prince Matsumoto. You’re his mate; if you remain calm, and follow your heart, you will know what to do.”
Sho nodded and headed upstairs, calmed by Toma’s words and determined to do his best by Jun and their youngling.
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Date: 2021-07-10 01:39 pm (UTC)