BLOOD. LUST. FAMILY. CHAPTER 19 (FINAL)
Jul. 23rd, 2021 06:41 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: Jun turn feral, and a bunny comes to the rescue.
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, Chapter 17, Chapter 18
For a moment Jun was confused as to where he was, until he saw Sho awkwardly folded onto a small armchair in the corner, snoring softly as he slept.
The last few hours were hazy; blurry faces had loomed into Jun’s vision and disappeared before he could make sense of why they were there or even who they were. Everything after retreating to his nest seemed like a confusing dream. Fragments of memories floated to the surface of Jun’s mind, only to vanish like smoke. The one constant had been Sho, who remained steadfastly by his side, holding his hand and murmuring words of comfort and encouragement.
There had been pain and more of the tearing sensation, as if he was being shredded from the inside. The smell of his own blood had reached his nostrils, striking fear into his heart before a thin wail had penetrated the haze.
Underneath his loose night shirt he cradled a small bundle protectively to the bare skin of his chest. The bundle moved and a quiet snuffle broke the silence, before turning into a wail of hunger. Immediately Jun’s eyes flared with a fierce purple fire shot through with sparks of red. He swiftly pierced the pad of his ring finger with the tip of his fang and placed it between a pair of questing lips. As his youngling suckled, the world around Jun was once again lost to him.
****
Awakened by the cry of their youngling, Sho tried to adjust his position without attracting Jun's attention. In order to catch a little sleep, he had folded himself into a pretzel shape to fit into the small armchair in the corner of the hospital room. His limbs were numb, making his movements clumsy and Jun’s eyes glowed at him in a clear warning.
Since their youngling had been placed in his arms, Jun had retreated mentally and emotionally from the world around him. Sho's heart clenched every time Jun looked at him without any sign of recognition. Shun had hastened to reassure him that this state would only last for the first few hours after the birth, and he took comfort from the fact that he was tolerated to be in the same room, but it still hurt him deeply.
The flash of Jun’s eyes eventually dimmed as sleep overcame him, so Sho slowly levered himself out of his chair and cautiously approached the bed. He pressed his lips to Jun’s forehead, and tried to catch a glimpse of his son, but all he could see were the soft black wisps of hair on the top of their youngling's head where he lay nestled snugly against Jun's chest. Sho’s kiss woke Jun, and his eyes snapped open, burning with the deep purple fire which had been present since their arrival at the hospital.
Rather than step back, Sho moved closer, speaking in a low voice. "Pet, I want you to know that I'm here with you. We can protect our youngling together, if you will let me in. I love you and I'm willing to wait for as long as it takes, but please make it soon. I want to share these precious first hours of his life together with you."
Sho feared that his words had failed to penetrate the feral haze befuddling Jun's mind and his heart sank as Jun turned his back to him, shielding their youngling from his presence.
The arrival of the ambulance had triggered Jun, sending him into this feral state, which had lasted even until now. He had slashed at the vampires as they attempted to help him onto the stretcher, snapping and snarling whenever they came too close.
Toma had quickly realized that the situation was impossible and retrieved a sedative from his medical bag. Sho’s report of Jun’s mention of the ripping sensation indicated that their youngling was clawing their way out of their sac; therefore it was imperative that Jun be rushed immediately into surgery to prevent internal damage. Even in his feral state, Jun recognized Toma and allowed him to slide the needle into his vein. As the quick acting, but harmless, drug took hold Jun had clung tightly to Sho’s hand, refusing to let go.
Even now, Sho’s hand bore the marks of Jun’s claws which had ripped deeply into his flesh, anchoring him in place for the duration of the ride to the hospital and the delivery of their youngling. Jun had only let go when his youngling was placed on his chest. Jun had clutched him tightly, sniffing him to check that he was healthy, and to imprint his scent into his consciousness.
They had never discussed names, waiting to discover whether their youngling was male or female before making such an important decision. But when Sho caught a glimpse of a tiny face with angry eyebrows before Jun hid him from view against his chest, a name had immediately popped into his mind, and he hoped that Jun would approve.
Tears welled in Sho's eyes as he turned away from the bed, resigned to waiting for Jun to return to him. "Take all the time you need, my love, and then I will tell you the name I have chosen."
Out of the corner of his eye Sho noticed the small white plush rabbit which Jun had pre-packed in his bag in readiness for the hospital a few days earlier. It had fallen down the side of the mattress and was wedged down against the bed frame. He picked it up and straightened its ears before turning back and gently placing it on the pillow beside Jun's head.
Jun immediately snatched up the toy and pressed it to his face, rubbing the soft plush fur against his cheek. "I already call him Mr Bun," he murmured huskily. "Perfect name for a rabbit."
The knot of tension in Sho's gut unravelled as he heard Jun speak for the first time since arriving at the hospital. It appeared that the small toy had reached past Jun's feral exterior straight to the soft Jun hidden below. He smiled gently. "I meant our son."
Jun rolled onto his back, and turned his head to face Sho. His eyes had returned to normal, shimmering with love as he looked at his mate. “I thought I would lighten the atmosphere with a little joke. You were sounding very serious a few minutes ago.”
“You heard me?”
“A little piece of me hiding deep down responded to your voice, and squashed my feral side back where it belongs. Shun-sensei warned me that this was likely to happen, but he didn’t tell me that it could last for so long. I’m sorry to have deprived you of our youngling,” Jun said sadly. He supported their son with one hand while he struggled to sit more upright, wincing at the pain in the lower half of his pelvis. The surgical wound had already healed, leaving no external sign of the caesarean which Shun had performed only a few hours earlier, but his internal organs would take longer to repair after being clawed by their youngling in his struggle to reach the outside world.
Sho rushed to help, rearranging the pillows behind Jun until he was comfortable.
Jun unbuttoned his nightshirt and drew the small squirming bundle out into the dim light. He tightened the blanket around their son before holding him out towards Sho. “Meet our son. He has your eyes.”
Reverently Sho took hold of the bundle and his eyes filled with tears as he saw his youngling properly for the first time. He was mesmerized by the pouting lips and thick eyebrows creased in a frown. A pair of large dark eyes held his gaze quizzically, as if he was being assessed for suitability as a parent. He held him with great concentration, afraid of dropping the vulnerable newborn. “He has my eyes, but he has your looks, Pet. He is gorgeous. You produced a miracle.”
"I agree that we made a beautiful vampling together," Jun replied proudly. “What name did you have in mind? Because I have one too.” There had been one name in particular floating around in Jun’s mind for the last few days, and he was curious to know which name Sho had come up with.
“Say yours first, and if I like it then that’s what we will choose,” Sho said as he touched the soft cheek of their youngling with the tip of his finger. “You’re the one who carried him and gave birth to him.”
“That’s not fair. You should go first.” Jun protested. “As his father, you have just as much right to name him, perhaps even more than I, as he is the heir to the Royal House of Sakurai.”
Sho thought of the perfect solution. “Why don't we say the name at the same time?”
“Okay.” Jun smiled at the sight of Sho holding their youngling with more confidence, now that he was getting used to his squirming slight weight. “Three, two, one.”
“Raiden.”
“Raiden.”
They looked at each other in astonishment and delight, before bursting into laughter.
Their son Raiden lived up to his namesake, the Thunder God, by scrunching his face up in dissatisfaction and wailing loudly as he was startled by the sudden noise. Sho jiggled him helplessly before quickly handing him back to Jun, who soothed him and tucked him back against his chest.
It was normal for a newly born vampire youngling to spend the first few days nestled to the chest or breast of their birth parent, feeding on their blood. In addition, after the first week they would also drink breast milk or formula. As there were limits to the amount of blood they could take from their birth parent, it would gradually be supplemented by and then fully transitioned to specially blended synthetic blood, suitable for infants.
“I should let everyone know that Raiden has arrived safely,” Sho said as he grabbed his phone. “I'll send them a picture, so they can see for themselves how cute he is.”
“Don't you dare include me.” Jun glared and ran his fingers through his greasy hair. “I look disgusting.”
“Nonsense.” Sho perched on the edge of the bed and gently drew Jun into his arms, careful not to crush their youngling. “You are even more beautiful than usual. You’re glowing.”
“I didn't know that it was possible to be this happy.” Jun’s eyes were full of stars as he stroked Raiden’s hair.
Sho kissed Jun tenderly. “You deserve it.”
“We deserve it,” Jun replied softly.
****
Toma was teaching Sho how to change a nappy while Jun looked on in amusement when the door slid open dramatically.
All three of them gawped in amazement at Shun, who stood in the doorway encased head to foot in a layer of protective gear. Thick leather gloves reached up past his elbows and he wore a pair of protective goggles below a construction worker's hard hat.
"Just checking to see if it's safe for me to come near you," Shun said with a grin.
As Toma and Sho laughed, Jun blushed and giggled. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
Shun shook his head, and began to strip off the heavy gauntlets. "I've had much worse. You didn't even leave me with a scar as a keepsake."
Jun beetled his brows in mock anger, as Sho and Toma continued to snicker. "If you want a scar, I can give you one right now."
As Shun approached Raiden, the vampling crumpled his brows in an identical fashion and flailed one tiny fist in his direction. Shun reeled back dramatically. "No fair. I can't handle a fight against two of you."
“Did you have an actual medical reason for this visit, or did you just come here to tease me?” Jun enquired, as Sho handed Raiden back to him. Jun tutted and straightened his son’s onesie before settling him comfortably back against his chest. He picked up his phone and hovered his hand over the screen. “You’d better have good news for me or I am blocking you.”
Shun placed the protective gear down on the visitor chair and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Actually, I came to tell you that you can be discharged. All of your tests have come back normal, and I am confident that you are healing well. Just don’t lift anything heavier than your youngling for the next couple of weeks.”
Jun grinned. “You are definitely back on my friends list.”
“That’s a relief. Your household has the best cake,” Shun replied happily. “Although I suppose I don’t really have an excuse to visit you, now that your youngling has safely arrived.”
“You don’t need an excuse,” Sho said as he shook Shun’s hand. “You’re our friend, and welcome any time.”
****
Satoshi was the first to visit them at their home two days later. He was carrying a large bright blue teddy bear in one hand and a cake box in the other.
“Please tell me that isn’t dark chocolate cake,” Jun said as he eyed the box with disdain.
“Isn’t it your favourite?” Satoshi’s forehead creased in confusion.
“While I was pregnant, yes. But the thought of it now makes me ill,” Jun explained with a shudder. “I think I overdosed.”
“Good thing I bought a blueberry cheesecake then.”
Sho immediately snatched the box out of Satoshi’s hand and peeked inside. “It looks fabulous. I’ll make us some coffee and grab some plates.”
“While you’re doing that Jun can introduce me to my nephew,” Satoshi said eagerly. “I have a bear to deliver.”
Jun had Raiden strapped to his chest in a wrap carrier, holding him securely and leaving his hands free. The side of his face and the dark strands of his hair were just visible behind the folds of soft bamboo fabric which was tied around Jun’s upper body.
As Satoshi peered into Raiden’s face and waggled the bear, the youngling’s eyes grew wide with surprise. A moment later he burst into loud wails and turned his face firmly into Jun’s chest.
“Oops.” Satoshi snatched the bear back and stepped away. “I didn’t mean to frighten him.”
“It might be a bit big for him now. I’ll put the bear on a shelf in the nursery until Raiden is big enough to appreciate it,” Jun said as he repositioned his son in the carrier. “And don’t worry, he’s crying because he’s hungry, not because of you.”
Satoshi looked on in fascination as Jun punctured the skin on the tip of his little finger and waited for a bead of blood to form before offering it to Raiden who immediately stopped crying and latched on, feeding greedily.
Sho returned with the plates and coffee and barely restrained himself from cooing at the sight. While Satoshi sliced the cake, Sho went back into the kitchen and returned with a tall glass of synthetic blood for Jun to consume while he fed their son.
Jun sighed and took a deep breath. He gulped down most of the blood in one go, trying not to taste it. Specially formulated to quickly replenish the blood of vampires who were feeding their young, it had a thick syrupy texture and unpleasant taste. Drinking it always left Jun with the desire to scrape his tongue with a brush until the flavour was gone. “Blah. Quick, pass me some of that cheesecake to get rid of the taste.”
Satoshi handed over a large triangle, dripping with blueberry sauce and topped with fresh blueberries. He feared for the safety of his fingers as Jun snatched it from him with his free hand.
Humming happily, Jun closed his eyes in bliss and allowed the creamy dessert to melt on his tongue as Satoshi and Sho watched on with amusement.
****
They were on their second cup of coffee, and in Sho’s case, second slice of cheesecake, when the doorbell rang.
Nino was dressed in his usual black, and wearing the purple and yellow running shoes which Jun had purchased from him. He accepted a glass of his preferred synthetic blood and handed a small rectangular box over to Jun. “A small gift for the small guy.”
Now that Raiden had finished feeding, Jun lifted him out of the carrier to burp him and check if he needed changing, allowing Satoshi and Nino to see him clearly for a brief moment before tucking him back into his place of comfort. “Sorry that you can't hold him. In a week or so he should be less clingy.”
“We understand. It must have been quite a shock for him to be evicted from his home for the last eleven months,” Satoshi replied.
“No offense, but I'm perfectly happy to keep my distance,” Nino said as he edged his chair a little further away from Raiden.
Sho topped up Nino’s glass and smiled understandingly, “None taken. Not everyone wants to breed.”
“It’s more a case of the opposite,” Nino muttered to himself as he looked at Raiden’s tiny fingers splayed out on Jun’s collarbone.
Jun appeared to be the only one who heard him, and he hid his smile by looking down and adjusting the sling.
Nino’s cheeks were tinged with pink as he picked up his gift and thrust it towards Jun, hoping to distract him. He hadn't missed Jun’s knowing smile after hearing the words which had accidentally slipped out of his mouth. “Don't forget to open this.”
“I won't forget,” Jun replied pointedly, staring Nino down.
Satoshi looked between the pair of them with a puzzled expression; there was suddenly a strange atmosphere. “Is everything okay?”
“More than okay.” Jun smiled sweetly at Nino and admired the wrapping paper which was covered with bright yellow ducks wearing colourful bow ties. “Such sweet paper. Thank Shun-sensei for me.”
Nino made no reply, but the tips of his ears turned a deep shade of red.
The duck paper was wrapped around a cardboard box, which contained the smallest pair of running shoes Jun had ever seen. They were exact replicas of the ones Nino had on his feet, and absolutely the cutest things Jun had ever laid eyes on. “Nino, these are adorable. Thank you so much. Where on earth did you even find them?”
“What's the point of having a network of highly trained agents reporting to a person, if said person can't use them to find the perfect gift?” Nino replied nonchalantly.
Unlike human babies, vamplings had clear and sharp vision right from the moment of their birth. Raiden demonstrated this by fastening his eyes on the dangling shoes and staring at them with fascination, appearing to be pleased by his gift.
“If your offer to work for the Vampire Council one day still stands, I hope that it won't be as your personal shopper,” Jun drawled as he carefully packed the tiny shoes back into their box.
The thought of Jun working for the Council made Sho’s gut churn, but he restrained himself from commenting; that was a discussion to be had on another day.
In the carrier wrap, Raiden screwed his face up in concentration, before wriggling unhappily and starting to grizzle.
Jun instantly knew what that meant. He plucked his son out and handed him to Sho. “Somebody needs changing.”
As much as Satoshi wanted to spend time with his nephew, this was an activity that he was more than willing to miss. He quickly drained his coffee and stood up. “Let’s leave the new parents to get on with things, Nino. I'll buy you a drink, and in return you can tell me all about what’s going on between you and Shun.”
Knowing when he was beaten, Nino resigned himself to talking with Satoshi about his complicated relationship with Shun. Perhaps the older vampire would even have some good advice. “Fine. But I expect top shelf whiskey, not the cheap stuff.”
Satoshi hugged Jun. “I'm proud of you, baby brother. Raiden is in good hands. You and Sho make wonderful parents.”
“Thanks Satoshi. I will make sure that he grows up knowing that he is wanted and loved,” Jun said quietly, as he squeezed Satoshi back.
Satoshi immediately knew what Jun meant. “You are not our father, and never will be anything like him.”
****
After saying goodbye to Satoshi and Nino, Jun made his way upstairs to the nursery. Although Raiden was still with him twenty-four hours a day and the crib was untouched, the change table and rocking chair were both being used regularly. It always made his heart swell when he watched Sho interacting with their youngling. At this early age being away from Jun for any length of time made Raiden squirmy and upset, but it was important for him to imprint with his non-birth parent as well.
It was difficult for Sho, but his persistence was slowly paying off and Raiden was tolerating his touch much better than he had back in the hospital. Sho tickled his bare tummy as he fastened his fresh nappy, making Raiden wiggle with pleasure and stare at him, as if noticing him for the first time.
Jun snapped a photo of the cute scene with his phone before wrapping his arms around Sho’s waist from behind. “You’re so much better at that than I am.”
“You’re only saying that so I will continue to do nappy duty,” Sho said as he struggled with the tiny snap fasteners on Raiden’s clothes.
“Well, yes, but you are so much more confident than you were at first.”
“Why do these tiny clothes have fasteners which are even tinier?” Sho grumbled as he popped the last fastener closed.
“Lucky you have long, sexy fingers then.”
Sho sighed, but also preened a little at the compliment. Raiden allowed Sho to cuddle him for a few minutes before he turned his head and began to whimper, as he searched for Jun.
Jun scooped him up and was in the process of tucking him into his sling carrier when Aiba appeared in the doorway with his hands full of sheets of paper.
“Sorry to intrude Sirs, but the children have done some drawings to welcome your little one home. I figured that you might need some help with keeping the household running smoothly, so I thought I'd drop off the gifts and do some work while I’m here. It’s amazing how much time a newborn takes up.”
Sho and Jun exchanged a worried look. It was impossible to tell how Raiden would react to meeting his first human.
Before they could warn him, Aiba had placed the paintings down on the dresser and moved closer to Jun. He bent down to get a better look at their newborn.
“He’s as cute as a button,” Aiba cooed.
Raiden stared at the human and hissed with surprising volume for such a tiny creature. His eyes darkened and then flickered with a weak reddish purple flame before flaring brightly.
Aiba was unfazed, exclaiming, “Oooh, what a pretty colour! The perfect blend of both of your eyes.” He reached out and touched Raiden’s fingers and the fire in the youngling’s eyes was instantly extinguished as he gripped Aiba’s finger tightly, and stared at him with interest.
“Magenta! His eyes are just like in my dream,” Jun felt tears of pride pricking at the back of his eyes as Raiden’s vampire eye colour was revealed.
“Did I do something wrong?” Aiba asked guiltily.
Sho hastened to reassure him. “No, no. Raiden needs to learn to coexist with humans. This was the first time we have seen the true colour of Raiden’s eyes. It looks like he takes after Jun, all snarly at first and then all soft and clingy.”
“Hey!” Jun protested, but he looked pleased anyway.
“I think it’s better if I get out of your way. I'll go downstairs and sort through any incoming correspondence.” Aiba picked up a basket full of dirty baby clothes and towels which was sitting next to the doorway. “I'll toss these in the washer for you on my way past the laundry and make some curry for you to reheat later. This way you can focus all of your attention on getting to know your precious new arrival.”
“Please thank your children for the art work. Raiden will love them.” Sho was sifting through the paintings as he spoke, and picked up one which attracted his attention and examined it more closely.
Aiba noticed and explained, “That one is from Genki. He began working on it as soon as he heard that Raiden had arrived safely. It’s all he’s been talking about ever since. You definitely have a fan.”
“Once Raiden is a little older, we will invite Genki to visit, so he can see him for himself.” After making sure that Raiden was comfortable in his sling, Jun moved closer to get a better look at Genki’s work.
The painting depicted two thin misshapen figures wearing yellow crowns. They had large pointy white fangs in the corner of their smiling mouths and together they held a small round blob between their bodies. The small pink shape was also wearing a tiny crown on their head.
“It’s his idea of how you three look together,” Aiba explained, just in case they couldn't make out what Genki’s painting represented. He smiled proudly at his son’s artwork and picked up a tiny stray dropped sock before he headed downstairs.
Sho and Jun gazed at each other with wide-eyed wonder and love, as the significance of the childish painting sank in.
They were no longer simply a mated pair.
They were a family.
Genre: Vampire AU, fantasy, drama, mpreg
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Contains violence, gore, blood.
Summary: Jun turn feral, and a bunny comes to the rescue.
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, Chapter 17, Chapter 18
For a moment Jun was confused as to where he was, until he saw Sho awkwardly folded onto a small armchair in the corner, snoring softly as he slept.
The last few hours were hazy; blurry faces had loomed into Jun’s vision and disappeared before he could make sense of why they were there or even who they were. Everything after retreating to his nest seemed like a confusing dream. Fragments of memories floated to the surface of Jun’s mind, only to vanish like smoke. The one constant had been Sho, who remained steadfastly by his side, holding his hand and murmuring words of comfort and encouragement.
There had been pain and more of the tearing sensation, as if he was being shredded from the inside. The smell of his own blood had reached his nostrils, striking fear into his heart before a thin wail had penetrated the haze.
Underneath his loose night shirt he cradled a small bundle protectively to the bare skin of his chest. The bundle moved and a quiet snuffle broke the silence, before turning into a wail of hunger. Immediately Jun’s eyes flared with a fierce purple fire shot through with sparks of red. He swiftly pierced the pad of his ring finger with the tip of his fang and placed it between a pair of questing lips. As his youngling suckled, the world around Jun was once again lost to him.
****
Awakened by the cry of their youngling, Sho tried to adjust his position without attracting Jun's attention. In order to catch a little sleep, he had folded himself into a pretzel shape to fit into the small armchair in the corner of the hospital room. His limbs were numb, making his movements clumsy and Jun’s eyes glowed at him in a clear warning.
Since their youngling had been placed in his arms, Jun had retreated mentally and emotionally from the world around him. Sho's heart clenched every time Jun looked at him without any sign of recognition. Shun had hastened to reassure him that this state would only last for the first few hours after the birth, and he took comfort from the fact that he was tolerated to be in the same room, but it still hurt him deeply.
The flash of Jun’s eyes eventually dimmed as sleep overcame him, so Sho slowly levered himself out of his chair and cautiously approached the bed. He pressed his lips to Jun’s forehead, and tried to catch a glimpse of his son, but all he could see were the soft black wisps of hair on the top of their youngling's head where he lay nestled snugly against Jun's chest. Sho’s kiss woke Jun, and his eyes snapped open, burning with the deep purple fire which had been present since their arrival at the hospital.
Rather than step back, Sho moved closer, speaking in a low voice. "Pet, I want you to know that I'm here with you. We can protect our youngling together, if you will let me in. I love you and I'm willing to wait for as long as it takes, but please make it soon. I want to share these precious first hours of his life together with you."
Sho feared that his words had failed to penetrate the feral haze befuddling Jun's mind and his heart sank as Jun turned his back to him, shielding their youngling from his presence.
The arrival of the ambulance had triggered Jun, sending him into this feral state, which had lasted even until now. He had slashed at the vampires as they attempted to help him onto the stretcher, snapping and snarling whenever they came too close.
Toma had quickly realized that the situation was impossible and retrieved a sedative from his medical bag. Sho’s report of Jun’s mention of the ripping sensation indicated that their youngling was clawing their way out of their sac; therefore it was imperative that Jun be rushed immediately into surgery to prevent internal damage. Even in his feral state, Jun recognized Toma and allowed him to slide the needle into his vein. As the quick acting, but harmless, drug took hold Jun had clung tightly to Sho’s hand, refusing to let go.
Even now, Sho’s hand bore the marks of Jun’s claws which had ripped deeply into his flesh, anchoring him in place for the duration of the ride to the hospital and the delivery of their youngling. Jun had only let go when his youngling was placed on his chest. Jun had clutched him tightly, sniffing him to check that he was healthy, and to imprint his scent into his consciousness.
They had never discussed names, waiting to discover whether their youngling was male or female before making such an important decision. But when Sho caught a glimpse of a tiny face with angry eyebrows before Jun hid him from view against his chest, a name had immediately popped into his mind, and he hoped that Jun would approve.
Tears welled in Sho's eyes as he turned away from the bed, resigned to waiting for Jun to return to him. "Take all the time you need, my love, and then I will tell you the name I have chosen."
Out of the corner of his eye Sho noticed the small white plush rabbit which Jun had pre-packed in his bag in readiness for the hospital a few days earlier. It had fallen down the side of the mattress and was wedged down against the bed frame. He picked it up and straightened its ears before turning back and gently placing it on the pillow beside Jun's head.
Jun immediately snatched up the toy and pressed it to his face, rubbing the soft plush fur against his cheek. "I already call him Mr Bun," he murmured huskily. "Perfect name for a rabbit."
The knot of tension in Sho's gut unravelled as he heard Jun speak for the first time since arriving at the hospital. It appeared that the small toy had reached past Jun's feral exterior straight to the soft Jun hidden below. He smiled gently. "I meant our son."
Jun rolled onto his back, and turned his head to face Sho. His eyes had returned to normal, shimmering with love as he looked at his mate. “I thought I would lighten the atmosphere with a little joke. You were sounding very serious a few minutes ago.”
“You heard me?”
“A little piece of me hiding deep down responded to your voice, and squashed my feral side back where it belongs. Shun-sensei warned me that this was likely to happen, but he didn’t tell me that it could last for so long. I’m sorry to have deprived you of our youngling,” Jun said sadly. He supported their son with one hand while he struggled to sit more upright, wincing at the pain in the lower half of his pelvis. The surgical wound had already healed, leaving no external sign of the caesarean which Shun had performed only a few hours earlier, but his internal organs would take longer to repair after being clawed by their youngling in his struggle to reach the outside world.
Sho rushed to help, rearranging the pillows behind Jun until he was comfortable.
Jun unbuttoned his nightshirt and drew the small squirming bundle out into the dim light. He tightened the blanket around their son before holding him out towards Sho. “Meet our son. He has your eyes.”
Reverently Sho took hold of the bundle and his eyes filled with tears as he saw his youngling properly for the first time. He was mesmerized by the pouting lips and thick eyebrows creased in a frown. A pair of large dark eyes held his gaze quizzically, as if he was being assessed for suitability as a parent. He held him with great concentration, afraid of dropping the vulnerable newborn. “He has my eyes, but he has your looks, Pet. He is gorgeous. You produced a miracle.”
"I agree that we made a beautiful vampling together," Jun replied proudly. “What name did you have in mind? Because I have one too.” There had been one name in particular floating around in Jun’s mind for the last few days, and he was curious to know which name Sho had come up with.
“Say yours first, and if I like it then that’s what we will choose,” Sho said as he touched the soft cheek of their youngling with the tip of his finger. “You’re the one who carried him and gave birth to him.”
“That’s not fair. You should go first.” Jun protested. “As his father, you have just as much right to name him, perhaps even more than I, as he is the heir to the Royal House of Sakurai.”
Sho thought of the perfect solution. “Why don't we say the name at the same time?”
“Okay.” Jun smiled at the sight of Sho holding their youngling with more confidence, now that he was getting used to his squirming slight weight. “Three, two, one.”
“Raiden.”
“Raiden.”
They looked at each other in astonishment and delight, before bursting into laughter.
Their son Raiden lived up to his namesake, the Thunder God, by scrunching his face up in dissatisfaction and wailing loudly as he was startled by the sudden noise. Sho jiggled him helplessly before quickly handing him back to Jun, who soothed him and tucked him back against his chest.
It was normal for a newly born vampire youngling to spend the first few days nestled to the chest or breast of their birth parent, feeding on their blood. In addition, after the first week they would also drink breast milk or formula. As there were limits to the amount of blood they could take from their birth parent, it would gradually be supplemented by and then fully transitioned to specially blended synthetic blood, suitable for infants.
“I should let everyone know that Raiden has arrived safely,” Sho said as he grabbed his phone. “I'll send them a picture, so they can see for themselves how cute he is.”
“Don't you dare include me.” Jun glared and ran his fingers through his greasy hair. “I look disgusting.”
“Nonsense.” Sho perched on the edge of the bed and gently drew Jun into his arms, careful not to crush their youngling. “You are even more beautiful than usual. You’re glowing.”
“I didn't know that it was possible to be this happy.” Jun’s eyes were full of stars as he stroked Raiden’s hair.
Sho kissed Jun tenderly. “You deserve it.”
“We deserve it,” Jun replied softly.
****
Toma was teaching Sho how to change a nappy while Jun looked on in amusement when the door slid open dramatically.
All three of them gawped in amazement at Shun, who stood in the doorway encased head to foot in a layer of protective gear. Thick leather gloves reached up past his elbows and he wore a pair of protective goggles below a construction worker's hard hat.
"Just checking to see if it's safe for me to come near you," Shun said with a grin.
As Toma and Sho laughed, Jun blushed and giggled. "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
Shun shook his head, and began to strip off the heavy gauntlets. "I've had much worse. You didn't even leave me with a scar as a keepsake."
Jun beetled his brows in mock anger, as Sho and Toma continued to snicker. "If you want a scar, I can give you one right now."
As Shun approached Raiden, the vampling crumpled his brows in an identical fashion and flailed one tiny fist in his direction. Shun reeled back dramatically. "No fair. I can't handle a fight against two of you."
“Did you have an actual medical reason for this visit, or did you just come here to tease me?” Jun enquired, as Sho handed Raiden back to him. Jun tutted and straightened his son’s onesie before settling him comfortably back against his chest. He picked up his phone and hovered his hand over the screen. “You’d better have good news for me or I am blocking you.”
Shun placed the protective gear down on the visitor chair and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Actually, I came to tell you that you can be discharged. All of your tests have come back normal, and I am confident that you are healing well. Just don’t lift anything heavier than your youngling for the next couple of weeks.”
Jun grinned. “You are definitely back on my friends list.”
“That’s a relief. Your household has the best cake,” Shun replied happily. “Although I suppose I don’t really have an excuse to visit you, now that your youngling has safely arrived.”
“You don’t need an excuse,” Sho said as he shook Shun’s hand. “You’re our friend, and welcome any time.”
****
Satoshi was the first to visit them at their home two days later. He was carrying a large bright blue teddy bear in one hand and a cake box in the other.
“Please tell me that isn’t dark chocolate cake,” Jun said as he eyed the box with disdain.
“Isn’t it your favourite?” Satoshi’s forehead creased in confusion.
“While I was pregnant, yes. But the thought of it now makes me ill,” Jun explained with a shudder. “I think I overdosed.”
“Good thing I bought a blueberry cheesecake then.”
Sho immediately snatched the box out of Satoshi’s hand and peeked inside. “It looks fabulous. I’ll make us some coffee and grab some plates.”
“While you’re doing that Jun can introduce me to my nephew,” Satoshi said eagerly. “I have a bear to deliver.”
Jun had Raiden strapped to his chest in a wrap carrier, holding him securely and leaving his hands free. The side of his face and the dark strands of his hair were just visible behind the folds of soft bamboo fabric which was tied around Jun’s upper body.
As Satoshi peered into Raiden’s face and waggled the bear, the youngling’s eyes grew wide with surprise. A moment later he burst into loud wails and turned his face firmly into Jun’s chest.
“Oops.” Satoshi snatched the bear back and stepped away. “I didn’t mean to frighten him.”
“It might be a bit big for him now. I’ll put the bear on a shelf in the nursery until Raiden is big enough to appreciate it,” Jun said as he repositioned his son in the carrier. “And don’t worry, he’s crying because he’s hungry, not because of you.”
Satoshi looked on in fascination as Jun punctured the skin on the tip of his little finger and waited for a bead of blood to form before offering it to Raiden who immediately stopped crying and latched on, feeding greedily.
Sho returned with the plates and coffee and barely restrained himself from cooing at the sight. While Satoshi sliced the cake, Sho went back into the kitchen and returned with a tall glass of synthetic blood for Jun to consume while he fed their son.
Jun sighed and took a deep breath. He gulped down most of the blood in one go, trying not to taste it. Specially formulated to quickly replenish the blood of vampires who were feeding their young, it had a thick syrupy texture and unpleasant taste. Drinking it always left Jun with the desire to scrape his tongue with a brush until the flavour was gone. “Blah. Quick, pass me some of that cheesecake to get rid of the taste.”
Satoshi handed over a large triangle, dripping with blueberry sauce and topped with fresh blueberries. He feared for the safety of his fingers as Jun snatched it from him with his free hand.
Humming happily, Jun closed his eyes in bliss and allowed the creamy dessert to melt on his tongue as Satoshi and Sho watched on with amusement.
****
They were on their second cup of coffee, and in Sho’s case, second slice of cheesecake, when the doorbell rang.
Nino was dressed in his usual black, and wearing the purple and yellow running shoes which Jun had purchased from him. He accepted a glass of his preferred synthetic blood and handed a small rectangular box over to Jun. “A small gift for the small guy.”
Now that Raiden had finished feeding, Jun lifted him out of the carrier to burp him and check if he needed changing, allowing Satoshi and Nino to see him clearly for a brief moment before tucking him back into his place of comfort. “Sorry that you can't hold him. In a week or so he should be less clingy.”
“We understand. It must have been quite a shock for him to be evicted from his home for the last eleven months,” Satoshi replied.
“No offense, but I'm perfectly happy to keep my distance,” Nino said as he edged his chair a little further away from Raiden.
Sho topped up Nino’s glass and smiled understandingly, “None taken. Not everyone wants to breed.”
“It’s more a case of the opposite,” Nino muttered to himself as he looked at Raiden’s tiny fingers splayed out on Jun’s collarbone.
Jun appeared to be the only one who heard him, and he hid his smile by looking down and adjusting the sling.
Nino’s cheeks were tinged with pink as he picked up his gift and thrust it towards Jun, hoping to distract him. He hadn't missed Jun’s knowing smile after hearing the words which had accidentally slipped out of his mouth. “Don't forget to open this.”
“I won't forget,” Jun replied pointedly, staring Nino down.
Satoshi looked between the pair of them with a puzzled expression; there was suddenly a strange atmosphere. “Is everything okay?”
“More than okay.” Jun smiled sweetly at Nino and admired the wrapping paper which was covered with bright yellow ducks wearing colourful bow ties. “Such sweet paper. Thank Shun-sensei for me.”
Nino made no reply, but the tips of his ears turned a deep shade of red.
The duck paper was wrapped around a cardboard box, which contained the smallest pair of running shoes Jun had ever seen. They were exact replicas of the ones Nino had on his feet, and absolutely the cutest things Jun had ever laid eyes on. “Nino, these are adorable. Thank you so much. Where on earth did you even find them?”
“What's the point of having a network of highly trained agents reporting to a person, if said person can't use them to find the perfect gift?” Nino replied nonchalantly.
Unlike human babies, vamplings had clear and sharp vision right from the moment of their birth. Raiden demonstrated this by fastening his eyes on the dangling shoes and staring at them with fascination, appearing to be pleased by his gift.
“If your offer to work for the Vampire Council one day still stands, I hope that it won't be as your personal shopper,” Jun drawled as he carefully packed the tiny shoes back into their box.
The thought of Jun working for the Council made Sho’s gut churn, but he restrained himself from commenting; that was a discussion to be had on another day.
In the carrier wrap, Raiden screwed his face up in concentration, before wriggling unhappily and starting to grizzle.
Jun instantly knew what that meant. He plucked his son out and handed him to Sho. “Somebody needs changing.”
As much as Satoshi wanted to spend time with his nephew, this was an activity that he was more than willing to miss. He quickly drained his coffee and stood up. “Let’s leave the new parents to get on with things, Nino. I'll buy you a drink, and in return you can tell me all about what’s going on between you and Shun.”
Knowing when he was beaten, Nino resigned himself to talking with Satoshi about his complicated relationship with Shun. Perhaps the older vampire would even have some good advice. “Fine. But I expect top shelf whiskey, not the cheap stuff.”
Satoshi hugged Jun. “I'm proud of you, baby brother. Raiden is in good hands. You and Sho make wonderful parents.”
“Thanks Satoshi. I will make sure that he grows up knowing that he is wanted and loved,” Jun said quietly, as he squeezed Satoshi back.
Satoshi immediately knew what Jun meant. “You are not our father, and never will be anything like him.”
****
After saying goodbye to Satoshi and Nino, Jun made his way upstairs to the nursery. Although Raiden was still with him twenty-four hours a day and the crib was untouched, the change table and rocking chair were both being used regularly. It always made his heart swell when he watched Sho interacting with their youngling. At this early age being away from Jun for any length of time made Raiden squirmy and upset, but it was important for him to imprint with his non-birth parent as well.
It was difficult for Sho, but his persistence was slowly paying off and Raiden was tolerating his touch much better than he had back in the hospital. Sho tickled his bare tummy as he fastened his fresh nappy, making Raiden wiggle with pleasure and stare at him, as if noticing him for the first time.
Jun snapped a photo of the cute scene with his phone before wrapping his arms around Sho’s waist from behind. “You’re so much better at that than I am.”
“You’re only saying that so I will continue to do nappy duty,” Sho said as he struggled with the tiny snap fasteners on Raiden’s clothes.
“Well, yes, but you are so much more confident than you were at first.”
“Why do these tiny clothes have fasteners which are even tinier?” Sho grumbled as he popped the last fastener closed.
“Lucky you have long, sexy fingers then.”
Sho sighed, but also preened a little at the compliment. Raiden allowed Sho to cuddle him for a few minutes before he turned his head and began to whimper, as he searched for Jun.
Jun scooped him up and was in the process of tucking him into his sling carrier when Aiba appeared in the doorway with his hands full of sheets of paper.
“Sorry to intrude Sirs, but the children have done some drawings to welcome your little one home. I figured that you might need some help with keeping the household running smoothly, so I thought I'd drop off the gifts and do some work while I’m here. It’s amazing how much time a newborn takes up.”
Sho and Jun exchanged a worried look. It was impossible to tell how Raiden would react to meeting his first human.
Before they could warn him, Aiba had placed the paintings down on the dresser and moved closer to Jun. He bent down to get a better look at their newborn.
“He’s as cute as a button,” Aiba cooed.
Raiden stared at the human and hissed with surprising volume for such a tiny creature. His eyes darkened and then flickered with a weak reddish purple flame before flaring brightly.
Aiba was unfazed, exclaiming, “Oooh, what a pretty colour! The perfect blend of both of your eyes.” He reached out and touched Raiden’s fingers and the fire in the youngling’s eyes was instantly extinguished as he gripped Aiba’s finger tightly, and stared at him with interest.
“Magenta! His eyes are just like in my dream,” Jun felt tears of pride pricking at the back of his eyes as Raiden’s vampire eye colour was revealed.
“Did I do something wrong?” Aiba asked guiltily.
Sho hastened to reassure him. “No, no. Raiden needs to learn to coexist with humans. This was the first time we have seen the true colour of Raiden’s eyes. It looks like he takes after Jun, all snarly at first and then all soft and clingy.”
“Hey!” Jun protested, but he looked pleased anyway.
“I think it’s better if I get out of your way. I'll go downstairs and sort through any incoming correspondence.” Aiba picked up a basket full of dirty baby clothes and towels which was sitting next to the doorway. “I'll toss these in the washer for you on my way past the laundry and make some curry for you to reheat later. This way you can focus all of your attention on getting to know your precious new arrival.”
“Please thank your children for the art work. Raiden will love them.” Sho was sifting through the paintings as he spoke, and picked up one which attracted his attention and examined it more closely.
Aiba noticed and explained, “That one is from Genki. He began working on it as soon as he heard that Raiden had arrived safely. It’s all he’s been talking about ever since. You definitely have a fan.”
“Once Raiden is a little older, we will invite Genki to visit, so he can see him for himself.” After making sure that Raiden was comfortable in his sling, Jun moved closer to get a better look at Genki’s work.
The painting depicted two thin misshapen figures wearing yellow crowns. They had large pointy white fangs in the corner of their smiling mouths and together they held a small round blob between their bodies. The small pink shape was also wearing a tiny crown on their head.
“It’s his idea of how you three look together,” Aiba explained, just in case they couldn't make out what Genki’s painting represented. He smiled proudly at his son’s artwork and picked up a tiny stray dropped sock before he headed downstairs.
Sho and Jun gazed at each other with wide-eyed wonder and love, as the significance of the childish painting sank in.
They were no longer simply a mated pair.
They were a family.
