Vampire's Kiss

*sigh* after long hiatus returned with new chapter(heck, need a bit time to deal with personal issues and get hold myself...ya all, don't need to know this, sorry.) Well, so far never written anything as darker as this. One thing for sure, wanted to add current reaction for this chapter as summary, cos while editing, noticed what is considered as crossing the line. So, all I can say : ''Kain, you evil swine...''. Yet accidentally stumbling upon 96neko - Cantarella (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giJSgXaXsOE), which helped to calm down. So, this one song helped to soften the ending of this chapter and helped to finish it...

Anyway, as always, thank you for the support and enjoy!
--------------------
Update: revisited and updated at 2025/05/13

_______________________

Nearly an hour has passed, which felt like an eternity carrying one vampire.

With each minute, it feels like Kyo is becoming heavier, but the redhead hunter is more stubborn and doesn’t give up.

More so, he is getting closer to his destination deep in the forest.

Not on his watch. Iori swears while breaking through the night with burning determination, whatever it takes – that stupid vampire shall not die on him, and he’ll turn back into the same lousy and trouble-maker brat as before!

However, Iori’s arms start to tremble, warning him that he won’t be able to keep up any longer.

Even so, he wants to be sure his vampire won’t fall and slowly kneels to rest him on the grass.

After taking a closer look, he notices Kyo remains emotionless, but now, he slowly opens his mouth and deeply breathes, and even his fangs appear.

Has this unfortunate creature reached the final stage of agony before taking his final breath?

However, Iori recalls from his training that vampires cannot be killed as easily as humans – you won’t drown or burn them, they’d survive even fatal wounds, even all known poisons of mankind do not affect them. Only chopping their head can stop them. They are perfect cold-blooded killing machines, who show no mercy upon their prey or enemy; these night-stalkers have earned their high rank not for nothing.

Unfortunately, the noble creature of the night resting next to the hunter looks so pathetic and weak.

It can be a perfect chance to end his misery, but Iori holds back even from thinking about it.

If he were after the bounty on Kyo’s head, he would have slain him during their first encounter and called it a day, but now…

He is an ordinary vampire, and killing him should make no difference, right? Just taking down another apex predator and getting quick cash for it – no more than that.

It was only for Iori’s own survival and satisfying his most basic and minimum needs. There’s no other reason than that because fame and fortune don’t interest this hunter.

Taking any monster’s life away doesn’t thrill or excite him. It’s rather an aggravating experience, and he doesn’t show any feelings or emotions toward his victims.

However, why does he feel bad for the kind that he has hunted for years? No, there’s no time for unnecessary questions or thoughts. Or so Iori wonders.

After a brief moment, the redhead takes a deep breath and takes the vampire into his arms, and continues his journey to the witch’s shop.

Fortunately, eventually, he notices a wooden hut surrounded by single trees.

Once he reaches the door, he kicks it. At least that should help to get the attention of the owner.

No answer, and the hunter tries again while demanding. “Hey! Just open the door already!”

When he is about to kick the wooden door again, it opens and barely keeps him from falling, but he is not confused and remains cool.

Now, he is greeted with a strict yet exhausted feminine voice. “It’s quite rude of you to intrude like this. The store is closed.”

A moment later, the owner of this shop reveals her face. It is a witch with long ebony hair and a white hairbow, wearing a long-sleeved white mantle tied with a black belt decorated with golden ornaments.

However, from her exhausted face alone, one can tell she has already had enough and slowly closes the door.

Just before shutting the door, the hunter quickly places his foot between the door and the frame.

After moving his leg deeper, he manages to open the door and makes the witch step back.

Now, Yagami gives a serious look and demands. “Just help me with this!”

When this woman notices the suffering vampire in the hunter’s arms, she gasps and frowns. “You sure are arrogant enough to come here and ask someone else to finish your work! Not only you’ve used the forbidden arts, but also shameless to let anyone else to get rid of your failure. Begone or else you’ll suffer a worse fate than this unfortunate creature!”

However, Iori grinds his teeth and fights back with a mixed desperation in his voice. “This is why I am here, you stupid woman! So, if you know what’s happening to him, then do something!”

The ebony-haired witch still doubts about the hunter’s motives, but she is too tired to argue with this stubborn fellow.

After taking a deep breath, she sighs before letting him in. “Fine. Come in.”

Entering the witch’s shop, the redhead is greeted by the scent of the various mixed herbs, which seem to be familiar.

No wonder. After all, there are several small bouquets of dried herbs hanging on the walls. So, perhaps these have awakened the false sense of nostalgia.

Behind the counter, an enormous bookshelf leans against the wall. There are a lot of books of spells, bestiaries, or scripts containing all kinds of value information. Along with that, there are lesser creatures kept in jars and even a few skulls of better-known monsters. Lastly, on the shelf, among other potions, there might be one that should save the vampire.

After lowering the brunette, Iori lets him rest against the wall and leaves everything to the dark-haired sorceress’s hands.

When she kneels and inspects Kyo, she notices that his condition is getting worse. Now, he roughly breathes and trembles while staring into the void with miserable, dull eyes.

A moment later, the witch covers her mouth and closes her eyes.

Iori doesn’t like this reaction and prepares himself for the worst, but he patiently waits for the final verdict.

Once the witch stands up, she holds her arms and places her hand under her chin while observing the nocturnal creature.

After a brief pause of the deadly silence, she looks at the hunter and comments. “… Just before the dawn of the new day and it would be too late for him.”

This is not the answer he wants to hear, but at least he may learn what is exactly happening to his supposed target.

Without realizing it, he clenches his fists and nervously asks. “What the hell is going on? … That wicked fool… Damn!”

Of course, this response is unexpected for her, and tilting her head, she explains. “Are you saying it is not a work of your hands, hunter? This vampire was poisoned by one of the rarest poisons that can only be found in the netherworld. Even a small dose can kill the most dangerous monsters or demons on the same day. At the first hour, it paralyzes the victim completely, and later, it causes the unimaginable pain until the creature’s final breath.”

However, the redhead hunter refuses to listen any further and insists. “Is there anti-venom to this? I’ll pay any price, you’ll ask.”

The ebony-haired woman only turns around and walks behind the counter.

Turning to the bookshelf, she scans and brushes the book spines. After searching for the perfect book, she selects a dark blue volume with golden corners.

When she places it on the counter, she spreads it and flips through the pages.

Even when Iori tries to read or understand it is useless information to him – it is written in a dead ancient language, and these symbols look too cryptic to him.

While the ebony-haired witch studies these texts, Iori impatiently asks. “Is there anything? How come you don’t know whether there is a cure?”

Suddenly, she gives him a strict yet calm look. “You are still quite rude. Besides, you are one of a very few people who asked for this. That’s why checking twice won’t do any harm. Apparently, there is no for it. Unless…”

After a brief pause, she asks. “What are you planning to do with this vampire? If you only seek to make him as your pet or sell him, then forget it and never show here again. I would end his suffering quickly and without causing pain.”

Iori grinds his teeth and slams his palms on the counter, making this woman step back. “He can’t just die yet! If you have a cure, then I’ll do anything, even destroy this shop for that damn potion! Then you and that foolish hunter will pay, got it?!”

The ebony-haired witch is shocked yet manages to keep a relatively calm exterior. When she is close enough to the hunter, she closes her eyes and exhales.

Upon opening her eyes, a harsh slapping noise echoes through the room.

Meanwhile, Iori is dumbfounded and feeling a stinging pain on his cheek.

While he remains, this woman scolds him. “Don’t act so arrogant. You have no right to attack me in such a savage way. Did you hunters forgot about even the basic manners? Keep any further talk or explanations for later. There might be only one way to help him. If you want to save this unfortunate soul, then stay quiet, because even the slightest distraction can make things worse.”

Now, she takes a silver key from her tunic pocket and kneels to search for the supposed cure inside the counter drawers.

Inserting the key into the keyhole, she unlocks the middle drawer and picks up with both hands a wooden box.

After placing it on the counter, she twists the switch and lifts the lid, revealing a small bottle filled with golden, thick, transparent liquid.

When she carefully picks the bottle, it begins to shine like sunlight beams. Surprisingly, this light is not blinding.

As the light slowly dims and leaves the glitter, Iori moves out of the way and allows the witch to approach Kyo.

When she kneels in front of the vampire and opens the bottle, she calmly explains to Iori. “It’s one of the most difficult to obtain potions that need a perfect precision to make it. Even the most skilled alchemists devote their entire lives just to make a single bottle of this mythical potion – Aqua Vitae. Now, let’s hope for the best because this is the last hope to save him.”

Gently holding Kyo’s jaw, she brings the tip of the bottle close to his mouth.

Even if Kyo still trembles, sensing such a nice and sweet scent strangely comforts him until it calms his body.

When the first drops reach his mouth, he feels a bitter-sweet taste.

Now, he gobbles the poured liquid, which is like a sip of water for the long-time thirsting person. The brunette never felt at such ease before, and he didn’t mind resting for eternity in this state. Even his once lively gaze returns.

Meanwhile, Iori observes how the vampire finishes the potion and is relieved that it might have worked.

When the witch puts the empty bottle down, she lowers her shoulders.

However, just as the redhead hunter is about to say something, the vampire freezes in the same spot.

No movement or sound for a few moments. Suddenly, Kyo widens his eyes and gasps.

As he collapses and curls into a ball, Kyo feels choked and throws up.

Even if there is nothing in his stomach, he spasmodically hiccoughs. It’s painful, so painful that he cannot stand it. Inside his head, which feels like being split in half, he begs to be killed. However, he can only shriek and whine.

While his entire body aches, every little part of him, or even the smallest cell, screams in agony. It’s unbearable, even his vision dies in a bloody red, and nothing beyond that, no world exists beyond crimson color.

He drools while his face is wet from tears, but it doesn’t matter. He only begs to be killed.

Suddenly, Iori’s knees give up, and he roughly grips the vampire’s shoulders.

“The fuck is going on?… Get a hold of yourself! Wake up! Fuck…” He desperately shakes Kyo’s shoulders.

However, his words do not reach the brunette whose body is now in convulsions.

Meanwhile, the ebony-haired woman instinctively hits the hunter’s hands and raises her voice. “Calm down! You may do more damage than help. There is nothing that you or I can do. His body is rejecting the poison. It’s up to him whenever he is strong enough to fight back. Now, all we can do is wait and hope for the best.”

The hunter never felt so useless, and he could not understand this woman. Why does she barely show any reaction? How can she remain so cold when someone whom she cures is now on the verge of death?

More so, no matter how hard Iori tries to get close to his partner, she easily blocks his attempts.

At that moment, it feels like time has stopped, and every second is like eternity.

After a couple of minutes, Kyo makes the final groan and ceases moving.

Is he dead?

Now the dark-haired woman places her hand on Kyo’s shoulder and sighs.

To her surprise, she can sense how the nocturnal creature is slightly shaking and how he is so calm during sleep.

Once she turns to the hunter, she reassures him. “He has only passed out. Right now, he needs to rest.”

Noticing how the redhead stands still, she adds in a slightly irritated tone. “Are you going to stay like this, or will you help me to carry him?”

When Iori gets close, he throws Kyo’s arm over his shoulder and stands up.

Now, he wraps his arm around the vampire’s shoulder to support him. It’s a miracle that Kyo is still alive, even if that was so close to having him...

He can still feel how the brunette’s shaking gradually fades, and he rests his head on his shoulder. Was his body exhausted to the point of losing consciousness, or did he finally calm down?

Iori can also swear that Kyo starts making quiet purring-like noises, and in between that, trilling one like a feline. Is this a common thing for his kind?

The redhead has no idea, and it’s his first time seeing a slumbering vampire.

On the other hand, he feels like a heavy weight is pushed from his chest.

For now, while he is prompted to follow the witch, where Kyo may recover, he thinks. Hell, that stupid vampire! When he wakes up, I’m gonna… I gonna… In any case, I’ll decide what to do next.

___________________

hmm, it seems gonna get into another hiatus, 'cos 3.25 is so near. Probably gonna bring and revive one of unpublished one-shot projects from Custom Team Bizarre Adventure (oi, I ain't only that kind of quality content writer, I swear! xD). And so - See you next time!~