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Bound by blood	By : Cynthia Category: M through R > Moonchild Views: 984 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own "Moon Child" or any characters therin, and I make no profit from writing this fanfiction. This is for non-profit entertainment, only.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
"Bound by blood"
Chapter 5
A "Moon Child" fan fanfiction
~***********************~

Author's note: Life got in the way of me updating faster, as frequently happens. I hope readers enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Moon child" or any of the characters. This is strictly a non-profit endeavor, written for entertainment purposes only.

~**************************~

Several months later, Hana married Hanyu Chan. By then, he and Sho had indirectly done business together on several occasions, and though they were both reluctant and wary of each other, they had established a rapport of mutual—albeit grudging—respect. Yang worked as a sort of mediator between them, as their mutual associate. Mr. And Mrs. Narita didn't know the details behind what the two men involved in their foster daughter's life did for a living, and they didn't care to. They employed a mixture of denial and practicality to cope with the fact that the daughter they loved as their own was forever bound to the Mafia—first through blood and now through marriage.

At Hana's request, they had an evening ceremony and Sho arrived with Kei in time to witness the end of it. He stood at the back of the assembly silently watching, with his hands clasped before his hips and his legs slightly parted. He'd tied his braids back into a long ponytail and his hair was combed back in an orderly, attractive fashion. He wore white dress pants, a matching blazer and a black shirt. Beside him, Kei had his hair pulled back into a ponytail as well, and the blond locks feathered gently over his deceptively youthful brow. He wore a similar outfit to Sho's, except he wore burgundy colors with the black. They had two of Sho's Yakuza with them, to remind the Chan family that they were part of Mallepa's hierarchy as well.

When Chan and Hana finished exchanging the rings, their vows and drinks of sake, they gave their traditional bows, held hands and faced the assembly. Sho clapped slowly, managing a smile for his daughter when her hopeful, dark eyes met his over the distance. Kei's smile was more genuine and revealed fewer teeth, as his wasn't tainted with aggression. He nudged his partner when he caught Sho staring at Hanyu with a cold warning in his blue eyes.

"Now isn't the time for that," murmured the blond. He nodded at Hana. "Look at how happy she is. Let's put aside mistrust and share it with her, tonight."

"Grmmph," came the grumbled reply. Sho faked another smile for Hana's sake, sighing through his teeth.

Kei leaned closer and pitched his voice even lower. "Without the fangs, Sho."

The taller man retracted his fangs, just in time. His daughter approached after exchanging hugs with her foster parents. Hanyu was speaking with his family, receiving their blessings and congratulations. Kei guessed that Sho hadn't even realized his fangs had come out, and he felt some relief that none of the humans around them seemed to have noticed them. Being more sensitive to the appearance of them as one who had to avoid revealing his own on a regular basis, Kei guessed he was simply more aware of that part of Sho's anatomy.

"Hana," murmured Sho, taking the young woman's hands in his. "You look so beautiful in that dress…like your mother when we were married. It suits you."

Hana looked down at the wedding gown bequeathed to her by Yi-Che. "I had to have some adjustments made. Mother was shorter than I am." She gazed at him and Kei shyly, absently tucking a loose strand of hair back into place with the rest of it in the elegant twist. "I worried you wouldn't approve."

Sho's tense expression finally softened, his eyes revealing old grief and regret. He reached out to caress his daughter's face and he shook his head. "Your mother meant for that dress to be yours, some day. Of course, I approve. I just wish…she was here with us to see you in it."

He leaned over her to place a kiss on her forehead, before stepping reluctantly away and allowing Kei to come forward. The blond smiled at Hana with quiet pride and took her hands in his, as Sho had done. He squeezed them gently and searched for words, feeling his throat tightening oddly.

"Even though you have a husband now, I'll still watch over you," said Kei, picking his words with care. "That's a promise I made for life, and I'll keep it for as long as I'm able to."

She swallowed and nodded, losing a bit of her composure. "Thank you, Kei. I know."

Kei looked down awkwardly, feeling so much at the moment but afraid of acting inappropriately and giving anyone the wrong idea. He'd loved Hana's mother, after all, and he loved her father just as much. He started to express his affection in his customary way of patting her on the head, but it occurred to him that such a thing was even more inappropriate to the situation than his initial instincts.

Behind him, Sho sighed. "Would you just hug her? You won't offend anyone."

Caught between embarrassment and relief, Kei smiled and he hesitantly held his arms out for Hana. "May I hug the bride, then?"

She nodded and came into his embrace. "Of course, Uncle Kei."

He held her carefully, like a china doll. He stroked her coiled hair gently and he smiled a little, before finally holding her a little tighter. "Don't forget your dream, Hana."

"I won't," she promised. "And Hanyu will support me. You'll see."

Kei really, truly hoped that was true—not just for Hana's sake, but for Chan's.

~*************************~

"Thank you for coming," Hanyu said to Sho after Hana had her time with him and Kei. He looked over at his new bride, who was speaking to his parents. "Hana insisted that we get married at night, to accommodate your schedule. I wouldn't have wanted to deprive her of the joy of having you here. Your presence here has made this moment even happier for both of us."

Sho shook the young man's hand, resisting the urge to crush it in his grip. "I'll always be here for my daughter. Remember that."

"Of course." Hanyu's attractive countenance was calm, and his black hair—now collar-length—feathered to the left of his brow, almost like Kei's. "I love Hana very much, Mr. Sho. If you believe nothing else about me, believe that. I respect your desire to protect her, however."

Feeling as though he'd been one-upped by the younger man's graciousness, Sho motioned his companions away and he was thankful that Kei was busy speaking to the Narita's, else he might give him one of those lecturing glances, right about now. His men stepped away obligingly and Chan's did the same when likewise instructed by their boss. They busied themselves on opposite sides of the shrine while their bosses finished talking.

"We both know that Hana deserves better than a life with someone involved with the Triads," murmured Sho, "but she's made her choice, like her mother before her. I can protect her physically to an extent, but I can't protect her heart."

"And you're suggesting I'll break it."

Sho looked at him sidelong. "It isn't uncommon for some men in the organization to take mistresses, especially after a few years of marriage. I'd better not hear of you becoming one of them."

"I can only offer you my promise," reasoned Chan. "You won't believe me until I prove it."

"Then I guess you'll have to prove it," Sho said dryly. "I've got nothing but time."

Seeing Hana's foster father approaching, Sho decided to end the conversation. "We've seen enough bad blood between our people, Chan. I'll continue to put the past aside for the sake of peace, for Hana's happiness." He turned his glittering gaze back to his new son-in-law, holding his eyes. "The offer is only good for as long as you keep to our terms, Mr. Chan."

Hanyu gave a stiff, formal bow and left his side to rejoin Hana.

~*************************~

"Can I have a word alone with you, Mr. Sho?"

There was nothing to do but comply, and Sho walked outside with Mr. Narita to follow the garden path. He slipped his hands into his pockets as he kept pace with the shorter man, passing beneath some blossoming trees as their steps carried them away from the building and the congregation.

"I know you're like him," Narita said at last, stopping by the wishing fountain when they were far enough away. He nodded back at the shrine. "Your friend, who still appears as young as our Hana. Neither of you are human, are you?"

Sho bit back a curse. "No," he admitted. "But we were human, once."

"Of that, I have no doubt," answered Narita. "But I suspected your nature the day you gave her to us to raise. Tell me, will she become like you, some day?"

"No," answered Sho immediately, "absolutely not. This isn't genetic. We have to be…made…this way. I'll never allow it to happen to her."

Narita nodded pensively. "I see."

"You can't tell anyone," Sho said firmly. "Not just for our sake, but for your own."

"Who would believe me?" Narita shrugged. "Besides, I could never endanger Hana's father that way. You gave us your child when we couldn't have one of our own. I'll never do anything to make her cry."

"Unlike me," sighed Sho, recalling the sight of her weeping face the day he left her.

"You did what was right by an innocent child," defended the other man. "And having confirmation of what I suspected, I understand even better now. It wasn't just grief and your ties to the crime organizations that drove you. Thank you, for putting her needs before yours…and for giving us a child to raise, though you will always be her father."

Sho realized that this was the perfect time to say something he'd been wanting to say for a decade, but could never find the words. He stared at the shorter, older-looking man and he forced his thoughts to the surface, allowing them to manifest in his words.

"Thank you," he said softly, "for raising my girl for me, when I couldn't. She grew up…even more special than I had hoped she would. I know I have you and your wife's influence, to thank for that."

Narita bowed modestly. "It has been our honor and privilege. Hana is indeed a very special girl."

Sho offered his hand and Narita took it. As they shook, the vampire sighed and glanced back at the building. "The banquet will be starting soon. We should get back in there, before our girl comes looking for us."

"Agreed."

~******************************~

After the banquet, the newly married couple said their good-byes and thanks to their friends, families and work associates, and then they got into their limo and left. Sho sighed heavily as he watched the luxury car drive away with his one and only child, and beside him, Kei sighed as well.

"It was a nice ceremony," offered the blond. The crowd was breaking up as people left to go home.

"I guess so," grumbled Sho without any real enthusiasm.

"Boss, where to next?" asked one of their men.

Sho looked at them, then at Kei. "Is there somewhere you want to go?"

Kei covertly ran his tongue over his teeth. Yes, there was somewhere he wanted to go. It had been nearly a week since he'd last fed, and Sho needed blood, too. He didn't like doing it in the presence of the men, though…even though they were aware of his and Sho's nature. Only those who had proven their loyalty beyond a doubt knew the truth. It felt vulgar to him, though. He didn't want to leave it up to chance that one of these men might turn on them under pressure and list off their victims to the police, or to their enemies.

He considered telling them to take the car and leave him and Sho to take a cab elsewhere, but it wasn't a good idea to leave without an escort—even if he and Sho were impervious to bullets. Kei recognized a couple of players from the Xu clan hanging around, supposedly there on behalf of their boss to extend his blessings to the new couple. The Chan's weren't likely to attack them, but if the Xu's decided to, they would probably join in. The last thing they needed was to end up in a shootout in public.

"Let's go to the restaurant," suggested Kei. "They can drop us off there and take the car back. We'll take a cab when we're ready to go home."

~***************************~

"Sho, we should go out and feed," suggested Kei softly once they were in their favorite booth at the restaurant.

Sho stirred his cocktail absently with the little straws, staring at the pale golden liquid in the glass as if the floating ice cubes held hidden answers within them. "Doesn't feel right, so soon after Hana's wedding. I'll pass."

Their favorite waitress stopped by the table with a pair of menus. "I'm so sorry for the wait," she apologized with her sweet little smile. "We are very busy tonight."

"That's okay, Mariko." Kei smiled at the young woman and opened his menu. "We aren't very hungry tonight, so there's no rush. It's been a big day."

"Right," she said, her dark gaze sliding to Sho. "Your daughter's wedding was this evening, wasn't it, Mr. Sho? Forgive me if it's none of my business."

"That's okay," Sho said to her, managing a half-hearted smile for her sake. "Yes, Hana got married tonight. No, I'm not happy about it."

"Most fathers wouldn't be, to see their daughters go to another man," she reasoned kindly. "At least, not at first." She frowned in concern when he looked up from the menu at her. "Are you feeling all right this evening, Mr. Sho? Forgive me, but you seem a little pale."

"I'm fine," assured Sho. "I just need some…iron." His gaze went to the girl's throat and Kei knew potential trouble when he saw it. The blond cleared his throat—more to get Sho's attention than the waitress—and he pointed at an item on the menu.

"How is the squid tonight, Mariko?"

She gave a delicate grimace. "Not as good as usual, unfortunately. The last batch to come in was from a different supplier, and it wasn't the usual quality. The rest of our seafood is good, though. Can I recommend the steamed ginger fish?"

Kei thought about it and nodded. "That sounds fine. Sho?"

The other man stared blankly at the menu, before shaking his head and folding it up. "Nothing for me, thank you."

"You're sure? I could put in a special order for you, if you like."

Sho considered it and he looked as though he would turn her down again, but he changed his mind. "Bring me a steak, then. Make it very rare. I want it to moo when I cut into it."

She smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mr. Sho. I'll put in the order right away. Would you like some rice and steamed vegetables to go with that?"

"Sure, why not?" There was a shrug of indifference in Sho's voice.

The waitress started to leave, but Kei thought about the taste of blood in his mouth—even if it was just the teasing tang of animal blood, and he stopped her. "Mariko, could we change my order to the same thing, please? Very rare, like Sho's."

She gave him a little bow and a smile, tucking the menus under one arm. "Of course, Mr. Kei. I'll be sure and stress that you both want it extremely rare."

When she left them, Kei looked at his companion and his brows furrowed with concern. Mariko's observation wasn't wrong. Sho was starting to get that pallor associated with anemic people and starving vampires. His lips were losing pigment and they were beginning to look chapped. His gaze was blank, like someone who had trouble focusing his eyes due to lack of sleep or illness. Beneath the table, Kei brushed his foot against Sho's.

"You skipped the last feed too," he whispered, "and you used to lecture me about starving myself. Please, we have a lot of business to attend this week. You need your strength. Take your own advice, and don't deprive yourself out of guilt."

Sho made a huffing sound and shrugged. "This isn't guilt," he assured him. He took a drink from his glass and swallowed, his blue eyes meeting Kei's over the table. "This is…depression. Let me mourn what I've lost tonight, Kei."

"I think you've mourned enough," challenged the blond seriously. "You haven't lost Hana. I know you have regrets over missing her growing up, but you can see her whenever you want now. You ought to be trying to celebrate, not feel sorry for yourself."

"You're one to talk," countered Sho with a frown. "You've spent more time on the pity pot since I've known you than I could even hope to compete with."

"But that was me," insisted Kei with a painful smirk. "This is you. This isn't your style and it never has been."

"Haven't you figured it out?" Sho demanded. "My 'style' has changed since I was mortal. Just let me fucking brood, all right?"

The reprimand stung, whether Sho meant for it to or not. Kei nodded and took one more sip of his cocktail, before getting to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Sho asked as the blond turned away from the booth.

"Letting you brood," answered Kei softly. "I'm stepping outside for some air."

Sho spread his hands helplessly. "There's plenty of air in here. Kei, wait…"

"I'll be back before the food comes," Kei assured, not stopping.

~*****************************~

Sho agonized inwardly. A part of him was still the petulant boy Kei once knew, deep inside. He believed he had every reason to sulk but the man in him knew that his companion was right. Hana was alive, healthy and apparently very happy with her life, so he should be satisfied with that. He couldn't balance his fatherly concerns with logic right now, though. All this time, he'd hoped secretly that his daughter would break things off with Chan before the wedding day arrived, but it was not to be. Now he'd gone and hurt Kei's feelings…again.

"I'm good at doing that," he sighed to himself. All Kei had ever done was support him and be there for him, and all Sho seemed to be able to do in return was add more grief to his already burdened, eternal life.

Deciding that he needed to fix this, Sho got up to go outside and look for Kei. He motioned to one of the waiters—a Cantonese boy whose name he could never remember. When the young man obligingly came to his side, Sho pointed at the booth he and Kei had been sitting at.

"I'm going out for a smoke with my friend. Make sure nobody clears our booth or takes it, would you? We have food coming."

"Yes sir," agreed the waiter respectfully.

Satisfied that they wouldn't lose their seats, Sho waited for a young couple to pass through the doors before going outside to find Kei.

~**********************************~

Kei glanced at the other vampire briefly as Sho found him in the alley and leaned against the wall with him. He saw the orange flash of the lighter and he smelled the cigarette smoke as the other vampire lit up. Sho held the smoking cigarette out to him invitingly.

"Peace offering," murmured the taller man, exhaling a jet of smoke into the night air.

Kei took the cigarette and enjoyed a long, slow drag. He tilted his head back and blew the smoke up, before turning his head to regard the other man. "I'm not mad at you."

Sho looked at him warily. "Maybe you should be. I was a jerk back there."

Kei shrugged his slim shoulders and looked up at the strip of night sky visible between the buildings. "I've done the same thing to you plenty of times in the past. Maybe this is just karma." He looked at him and a quiet smile curved his mouth. "Besides, at least I know that when you push me away like that, you'll always bring me back in sooner or later." He offered the cigarette back.

Sho took the item and had a puff as he looked down at his nice dress shoes and kicked a bit of trash away. "Do I jerk you around, Kei?"

"Maybe you could, if I let you," answered the blond calmly, "but I know how to handle you by now."

Sho expressed a hint of amusement in his gaze. "You wish. I don't get 'handled'."

"Of course you do," insisted Kei, gazing at him with playful flirtation, "you just don't know how to admit it."

He demonstrated his point by stepping away from the wall and in front of Sho. After a quick look up and down the alley to be sure nobody was nearby, he slipped his hands around the taller man's waist and he kissed him. There was some uncertain resistance at first, because they generally avoided publicly displaying the nature of their relationship. Sho responded quickly, losing his inhibition as desire took over. He dropped his cigarette to the broken pavement and he crushed it beneath his shoe, before turning Kei around and pushing him up against the wall.

Taken briefly off-guard by the abrupt move, Kei felt a little thrill go through him. He couldn't say he'd ever been with anyone as impulsive as Sho, and in situations like this, it was a huge turn-on. He murmured into his mouth and sucked on his tongue as it caressed his, and he threaded his fingers through Sho's as the taller man held his hands up against the wall. Kei groaned softly when that exploring tongue stroked back and forth over his teeth, caressing the sensitive canines that threatened to elongate. The sensation was almost sexual and he suspected Sho was very much aware of that. The situation in his pants quickly mimicked the situation of his teeth as his fangs began to grow under the erotic assault.

"Mph…Sho," muttered the blond warningly, "we shouldn't get carried away. The staff could come take the trash out at any moment and see us like this."

Sho gave him one last, deep kiss and tickled his fangs for a moment, holding him firmly against the wall. When he released him, Kei was breathless and caught between hunger and horniness. Sho looked him up and down, grinned subtly at the protrusion in his pants, saw the state of his fangs and then winked at him.

"Gave you a 'fanger'."

Kei shifted uncomfortably and closed his mouth, trying to bring his teeth back under control. "Jerk."

Sho allowed a brief, low-pitched chuckle of sensuality. Everything about the man was sensual, Kei decided. "Come on, let's go back inside. Our steaks are probably ready now. It isn't as though they had to cook them for long."

Kei nodded in agreement, adjusting his pants and closing his jacket to conceal the lingering effect of Sho's manhandling. They walked out of the alley together and as soon as they made it into the open, someone called Sho's name from the open window of a red sports car parked by the curb. Kei had time to see Asian features, partially masked by a pair of shades, before he noticed the gun. He jumped in front of his lover as the man in the driver's seat fired three shots, and he vaguely heard the alarmed shouts of passers-by and Sho's yell of protest. His preternatural body absorbed the slugs, stopping them from going right through him as they might have in a mortal body.

"Kei!"

The shout was full of rage and shock. Strong arms caught hold of him from behind as he fell, and he was eased down to the ground. He looked up and saw Sho standing over him a moment later, drawing the twin pistols holstered to his thighs beneath the white coat. Coughing blood, the blond vampire reached clumsily for his own gun, but he was lying on it. Sho fired rapidly at the retreating vehicle, and the tires squealed and there was the pungent smell of burning rubber as the car peeled away. Kei saw two bullet holes appear on the rear window of the car, before a third shattered it. He thought he saw someone flail in the back seat before the vehicle turned around a corner, and then it was out of sight.

"Sho," he coughed, climbing to his feet painfully.

Some of the staff had come outside to investigate—including Mariko and Kwan. Sho stopped shooting, and he glared down the street at the escaped threat. He turned his gaze to Kei and his hard expression softened. He holstered his weapons and he squatted down to help the injured vampire back to his feet, while Kwan, two bus-boys and the pretty little Japanese waitress they both liked came hurrying over.

"I'll call an ambulance and the police," offered Kwan.

"No," countered Sho firmly. "Don't call either of them. This is Yakuza and Triad business. The law has no place in it."

"But he's been shot," argued Kwan with a worried look at Kei's bloodied, hole-ridden shirt. "He should be in the hospital!"

"I'll…be okay," promised Kei, leaning into Sho's support. "I have body armor on under my clothes. We both do."

"But…there's blood!" One of the bus-boys said with a gesture at the ruined shirt.

"It's fake," Sho improvised. "You think this is the first time someone's taken a shot at either of us?"

"Please," Mariko said with a worried look around, "We shouldn't stay out here. They could come back."

Kei sensed something odd from the girl and if he weren't suffering the gutting pain of the bullet wounds, he would have taken a moment to examine it. As it was, she made a good point, and there were too many curious eyes about. "Yeah, we should get inside."

"Not through the front," Sho advised. "Through the back. We don't need the customers asking questions."

~*******************************~

They took over Kwan's office and shooed everyone away. Once they were alone in the office, Sho locked the door and he turned to regard his lover. Kei was sprawled on the loveseat opposite the desk, breathing heavily as he fought two kinds of torment. The pain of his injuries would soon be at war with the increased thirst for blood, thanks to the loss of his own. Feeling the burning in his own parched veins, Sho sighed and walked over to him. He knelt before the loveseat and put his hands on the blond's parted knees, looking up at him. Only his eyes expressed his deep feelings for him as he spoke.

"Well, you wanted to hunt. I think we have our targets."

Kei grimaced and wiped at a trickle of blood that seeped from the corner of his mouth. "I couldn't identify them."

"I memorized the car make and license plate," Sho informed him, "and I know they were some of Xu's men. I got one of them as they tried to get away. I could smell the blood. I hope I blew his brains out."

Kei reached out and stroked Sho's hair, running his fingers through the thick lion's main on top. "He'll be hard to drink, if you did."

Sho smirked and lowered his bright gaze. "We need to get these bullets taken care of, before we do anything. Do you want me to call Lynch?"

Kei appeared to seriously consider it, but he shook his head and sighed, laying his head back against the back of the loveseat. "No. You don't have the lightest touch, but I know he's out on another job tonight. We'll make due."

Demont Lynch was one of Sho's foreign men, originally from the Caribbean. He'd had some medical training before things went downhill at home and he immigrated to Mallepa like so many others, looking for work and an affordable cost of living. Sadly, he never became the doctor he wanted to become, but his skills proved useful in situations where the crew got hurt. Sometimes hospitalization was necessary in severe cases, but it was best overall not to leave any of their men in a vulnerable position, where enemies could sneak in and take them out while they recovered in the hospital. Sho hadn't regretted hiring him on yet, and he paid him well for his services.

"You sure? It's just a minor job and they aren't likely to need him if I call him away."

Kei nodded. "It's okay. Just get me to the apartment and give me a couple shots of Vodka, before you start."

There was a knock at the door, and Mariko's voice floated through. "Excuse me please, but can I get you anything? We are…very worried."

"I'll take care of her," Sho murmured when Kei cast a concerned look at the door. He winked at the blond. "I think she likes you."

Kei shook his head, giving a wan smile. "No, she likes you."

Sho rose partway to his feet and he loomed in for a brief kiss. "Maybe she likes us both. It just means she has good taste."

Kei sighed, though his lips were quirked with amusement. "Would you just go and tell her we're okay?"

"No need to get upset," Sho teased.

He got up and walked to the door, unlocking it before opening it a crack. The waitress' pretty little face looked up at him outside, and her velvety dark eyes were full of concern. "I'm sorry to intrude," she apologized again. "Mr. Kwan asked me to see if you need anything, and I was worried too. Will Mr. Kei be all right?"

"He'll be fine," Sho assured her. "He's just got some bruising from the impact. Tell Kwan we'll be out of his office, soon. We're leaving."

She gave a nod. "Of course, sir. Please let me know if I can do anything for you, before you leave."

Sho's gaze automatically went to the graceful column of her throat and he swallowed. He could feel her concern, and her willingness to help. He also caught a brief, confusing mental image of her wielding a gun and shooting at the men who had attacked him, and he presumed it was just her personal fantasy about defending them. He almost smiled, but he thought about what it would be like to taste her, and his teeth elongated as a result. He pressed his lips together and nodded curtly, careful not to show his fangs as he responded to her.

"We'll let you know. Thank you."

~****************************~

A little while later in another part of town:

Sho winced as he dug out the final slug and dropped it in the tray with the other three bloody pieces. He looked up at his companion with concern he couldn't mask, torn by the pain twisting Kei's sculpted face.

"Sorry," he murmured. "I've never been good at this sort of thing. I wish you would have let me get Lynch."

"It's fine," Kei assured him. "You did better this time than the last. I'll heal."

Sho sighed. "You'll do it better with some blood in you." He wiped off the last remaining traces of the substance in question from Kei's lean torso and he watched the final wound close up slowly. Usually, breaks in the skin healed instantly for a well-fed vampire. "Do you feel up to it?"

Kei nodded and he reached for the fresh shirt draped over the side of the couch. He slipped it on and he paused in the action of buttoning the black garment up, his eyes catching Sho's. He stroked the taller man's hair affectionately and gently drew his head to his chest, urging him to rest his cheek there.

"Don't worry so much."

"I'm not worried," insisted Sho, but he rubbed his cheek against Kei's bared chest, returning the affection in a way he mightn't have done a few months ago. "I'm just hungry, and you're no good to me if you weaken." He spoiled the gruff comment by turning his head and pressing soft kisses against Kei's chest.

"If I weren't starving, I'd be tempted to put off the hunt," sighed Kei.

Sho paused his kissing to shake his head. "Not happening. Those bastards shot you—"

"They were aiming for you," reminded Kei.

"But they hit you," countered Sho, "and they're going to bleed for that. I'm tracking them down tonight, and even if I can't find them in time to repay them, I'll at least find out where they are. I understand if you aren't feeling up to it, and I'll try to bring one back for you—"

"Whoa, hold on," interrupted Kei with a look of alarm. "First, I didn't say I wasn't up for it. Second, even if I weren't up for it, you can't just 'bring one back' for me like takeout! We never take our kills to the lair, Sho. You know that. Never bring the trail back to us."

"Stop calling it a 'lair', you sound like Dracula."

"I will, as soon as you promise you won't go dragging Mafia punks back here for me to feed on," insisted Kei.

Sho pulled away and smirked at him. "You were the one insisting that we feed tonight, remember? Now I've got a good reason to. Don't worry though; I won't spoil you that way. I'd steal from a blood bank, first."

Kei snorted. "I can see you holding up a hospital to rob the blood bank."

"I'd do it, for you." Sho's lips had a hint of a smile on them, but his gaze was serious.

Kei briefly toyed with the hoop piercing Sho's left earlobe, drawing an involuntary shiver of pleasure from him. "I'm sure you would." He finished buttoning up his shirt and when Sho stood up and offered his hand, Kei took it.

"Let's check our ammo, before we go," suggested Sho. "I've got to make a phone call, too."

~*************************~

Sho had to enlist the aid of a friend he knew in the Mallepa police department to locate the guilty party. Kei was impressed by the number of people who seemed to owe his companion favors—on both sides of the law. Sho never talked about it in detail, but he hadn't stayed completely out of the loop over the years, even though he avoided direct contact with people as much as possible during his self-imposed isolation. He'd built up a powerbase and Kei highly doubted that the Chinese Triads even realized just how strong it was.

"Thank you," Sho said to the officer on the phone. "Consider your debt paid."

Kei watched him as he put his cell away and got up from the couch. "That simple? One phone call?"

Sho checked his guns one last time and he went to the window, looking out at the city. "The Chinese think they own Mallepa, and maybe they do," he said softly. He turned a bit and looked at Kei. "But people like us know how to survive here, better than they ever will. I use resources they take for granted."

Kei nodded in understanding. "You were always resourceful. So, what did they have for you?"

Sho retrieved a cigarette from his jacket and he lit it. "Those guys tried to cover up their tracks, but their license plate was on record and my friend pulled the file on it. The owner is one of Xu's men, and he's got about a dozen unpaid speeding tickets. He also threatened an officer last week, so my 'friend' on the force didn't really have an issue with giving me a name and an address." Sho looked him up and down. "You ready?"

Kei checked his watch. "If you think we can do this before sunrise, then let's go."

~*******************************~

South-side Mallepa, the next day:

"Boss, I think you should see this."

Xu looked up from his computer and he frowned at his associate. "Can it wait? I still have a lot of figures to go over."

"We lost seven guys last night," answered the other Taiwanese man, holding a data hub device in his hand, "and this is the security clip retrieved from the scene. I think you should watch it, sir."

Xu sighed and gestured. "Fine. Hand it over and let's have a look."

His first thought was that some low-life, rival gang members did a heist against his people to make a name for themselves. That happened a lot, in Mallepa. When the security stream started up, he was forced to revise his opinion. At first, nothing seemed amiss. Some of his low-rank employees sat around a table, playing Mahjong for cash. Others could be seen moving around in the background of the private club, chatting.

The sound of gunfire rudely interrupted the game, and the men at the table hastily reached for their weapons. One of them went down with blood spraying from his neck, shot before he could retaliate. Xu narrowed his eyes when he saw the figure of a man doing an impressive flip through the air, and he recognized the face and hairstyle of Sho. The Japanese mafia boss kicked the gun right out of one man's hand, whilst simultaneously shooting another man directly in the heart. His blond friend came up behind him and he did something that had Xu staring hard at the screen.

"What in the hell are they?" he murmured as Kei took a flying leap that defied nature.

Only in Kung-Fu movies should moves like that exist. In reality, no matter how skilled a person was with martial arts, they still had to obey the laws of gravity. This man was apparently immune to them, however. There were shouts of alarm and yells of pain as the Triad opened fire on the two men in a desperate attempt to defend themselves.   The blond guy took a grazing hit in the arm. The bullet gash was visible in his bare arm. He didn't seem to notice it at all, except to frown when some of his blood spotted his Led Zeppelin logo'd muscle shirt. He passed out of view of the security camera, evidently in pursuit of the men responsible for the hit.

Someone went down out of sight of the camera, their cry abruptly cut off. Another agonized yell from a different voice followed it, trailing off into the background. Sho was demonstrating substantial skill with martial arts, somehow dodging bullets while performing moves straight out of a Bruce Lee movie. He did a cartwheel in mid-air, before kicking one of Xu's men in the head and shooting another in the leg. The carnage went on and despite the odds against them, the two Japanese men were the only ones left standing when the conflict ended. The blond guy Kei stood off to the left, wiping blood from his lips. Sho stared straight up at the camera, and he made a gesture of greeting before aiming his pistol at it and firing. The feed went black.

"This is not good," remarked Xu after several moments of silence. "I want people on this immediately, and I want the other bosses informed of this unprovoked attack."

"Pardon me Sir, but it wasn't exactly 'unprovoked'", remarked the gangster that brought him the data. "Word is out that the men in that club tried to take down Sho, outside that restaurant he's invested in. His blond friend took the bullets meant for him. They tracked our people down a few hours later and we found what was left of them after sunrise, when some of the boys went to collect the weekly earnings from them."

Xu pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, feeling a headache coming on. The blond friend made a remarkable recovery. He must have been wearing body armor. "Our people tried to do a hit without my permission?"

The bald man nodded. "I'm afraid so. If we take this to the Triads, Sho will claim self-defense."

"Perfect."

Xu clenched his jaw and thought the matter over. No matter what he did, there was going to be a reckoning of some sort. War between the Triads was inevitably coming, but he fully intended for it to start on his terms, not those of some reckless kids trying to make a name for themselves. His family had grown in might and influence over the years, and it was now arguably even more lucrative than the Chan family. He was working on integrating smaller families into his own—a common practice in the business when a Triad wanted to expand. This sort of thing threatened to put a kink in his plans, and he couldn't have that. He'd given his sanction to screw Sho over the first time he did business with him, but once it became clear that he was a bigger player than first thought, Xu kept his distance and observed. Now his reckless underlings fucked things up and lost their lives, in the process.

"Let's arrange a meeting of the Triads," he suggested after mulling it over. "I'm going to publicly denounce these actions and make it known that this clan had nothing to do with it. Let's see if we can maintain some semblance of peace with Sho and his Yakuza, even if it's only temporary."

His underling nodded. "Right away, Sir."

As the other man left him alone in his office, Xu's gaze went to the computer screen again, and he replayed the security stream. It was a puzzle to him that two men could take on seven with hardly a scratch to show for it. Then again, Sho had a reputation for landing on all fours like a cat, despite the odds. Xu thought the stories he'd heard of the man's past exploits were exaggerated, but now he wasn't so certain of that. Fortune clearly favored the Jap, and it would be wise to step lightly, until a weakness could be discerned.

~****************************~

A couple of days later, just after sunset:

"Kei, wake up." The feel of the velvety, seductive lips caressing his jaw was a pleasant way to rouse from sleep, and the blond murmured sleepily and reached out for his companion. He heard the low rumble amusement in Sho's chest as the other man chuckled. "Now isn't the time for that. You need to get up."

"What's so important?" Kei muttered, disappointed that the other man wasn't allowing him to cuddle. He looked up at Sho and covered a yawn as the taller man stepped away from the bedside.

Sho went to the closet and opened it, going through Kei's side critically. "Don't you have any nice clothes at all?"

Kei sat up and scratched an itch on his shoulder, shrugging. "I was turned before I even became a legal adult, Sho. I guess my taste in clothes reflects that."

Sho gave an unimpressed snort, and he paused in sorting through the hanging garments to look over his shoulder at Kei. "That's no excuse. I dressed better than this when I was a teen."

"I've never been that worried about fashion," argued Kei, trying not to smile at the other man's distress. "You know that, and it's never bothered you before. Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"We've been invited to a meeting," answered Sho. "And all the Triad bosses are going to be there. Yang said it's been put together by Xu, and he wants to bargain with us."

"He tried to take us out," reminded Kei with a frown. "I think it's a little late to bargain."

"I agree, but he's claiming he had nothing to do with the hit, and his family is disassociating with the men that did it." Sho paused and stared thoughtfully into space. "I'm interested to hear his excuse. According to Yang, he's accepted responsibility for the first attack on us, but not this one."

"Something smells funny," observed Kei warily.

"Probably those socks you left on the floor." Sho gave him a brief hint of a smile.

"I'm serious," Kei said, rolling his eyes. "This feels like a setup, to me. Why would he own one attack on us, but claim innocence on the other?"

"Maybe because now he knows what we're capable of," suggested Sho. "I made sure to say 'hello' to the camera when we took out their guys the other night. He has to have seen the security feed and he knows exactly who's responsible for the death of his men."

Kei paled, having neglected to even consider the possibility of security cameras. "Sho, do you think he saw me feeding on his people?"

"I doubt it," answered the taller man. "I only saw one camera in that place and you were out of range of it when you pigged out."

"But what if I wasn't?" insisted Kei. "What if it got caught on film?"

Sho shrugged, unconcerned. "Then he probably thinks we're a pair of psycho cannibals and he's got even more reason to avoid pissing us off. Look, I'm sure the camera didn't catch you feeding, okay? Let's just worry about finding you something decent to wear. We want to look professional for this."

Kei sighed, hoping he was right. The ugly truth of the matter was that if anyone ever got their hands on visual proof of his and Sho's nature, it could be used as a tool to blackmail. He desperately hoped that wasn't what this meeting was really about. He got out of bed and came up behind his lover, looking forlornly into the closet.

"I guess I really don't have many nice clothes. I could wear the same outfit I wore to the wedding."

"No, that would give the impression that we can't afford to dress you properly," sighed Sho. "Just put something on and we'll go shopping, before we head to the meeting. I want you looking sharp."

Kei sighed again, looking down at his jogging pants. Sometimes Sho made him feel like he was a teenager again…and not in a good way. For practical matters such as this, the 'younger' vampire was the mature one. He put up with it though, because it made his companion happy to fuss over him.

~**********************************~

Sho was a little surprised when he found Hanyu Chan at the meeting. "Shouldn't you still be on your honeymoon with my daughter?"

The young man appeared slightly uncomfortable as he glanced around at the other bosses present, but it was so well concealed that only those with supernatural senses could have detected it. "This was too important for me to pass up, Mr. Sho. Believe it or not, I'm here to support you."

"Hmph. We'll see." Sho had a quick look around and did a mental head-count of the names at the table. Indeed, all influential Mafia bosses of Mallepa appeared to be present.

"Thank you for the invitation," Sho said as he and Kei took their seats at the table. The meeting was taking place in Yang's office—which was considered neutral territory between the Triads. Sho nodded at the young lady who offered him a glass of champagne, and he gave her a brief smile. He noticed Kei roll his eyes and he gave him a look that asked what his problem was.

"Flirt," mouthed the blond, but he also smiled at the woman and thanked her for the drink.

"Look who's talking," Sho mouthed back. His gaze swept over the blond admiringly though, and he forgot all about the attractive serving girl. Sho had to hand it to himself; he knew how to dress people. Kei looked fuckably sensational in the dark, forest-green long-sleeved shirt and black pants. Reds were generally his color, but Sho wanted to try something different and he found that his lithe companion wore greens quite well, too.

Kei fidgeted a little and bit his lip, visibly fighting a grin as he looked away. Realizing he was staring and that it would raise some questions if their associates noticed it, Sho tore his gaze off of his companion and he addressed the graying Taiwanese man sitting across from him. "Mr. Xu, I'm sure you have a good reason for inviting us here. I'm interested to hear what that is."

Xu took his drink from the serving girl and nodded to her, and Yang motioned for her to leave. Once she was gone, the latter addressed Sho. "Mr. Xu regrets the actions of his people, and he has assured me they were carried out without his permission."

Sho kept looking at Xu. "I'd like to hear it from him."

"Very well," agreed Xu as Yang fell into silence. "I did not tell those boys to attack you, Mr. Sho. They were young and impulsive, out to make a name for themselves by taking down the only Yakuza boss to ever climb so high in the ranks of Mallepa's organized families. They thought you were my enemy, and they acted to gain my favor. They acted foolishly and they have paid for it. There will be no retaliation from Clan Xu for your actions."

Sho smirked and he reached into his pocket to pull out his pack of cigarettes. He raised his brows at Yang. "May I?"

Yang pushed the ashtray over to him and nodded his consent. "Of course, Sho. I think I'll join you, in fact. Gentlemen, smoke if you've got them."

A couple of the lesser crime lords took him up on the offer. The rest seemed more interested in hearing what Sho was going to say in response to Xu's claims, and they watched him with quiet eagerness. The vampire put his amusement on the back burner and he offered a cigarette to his companion, who took it with a nod of thanks. Once he lit up and inhaled, Sho blew the smoke in Xu's general direction and made his statement.

"Seems like your people do a lot of this kind of thing behind your back, Mr. Xu. Maybe you should look into controlling them better."

"This was the first incident of that nature," argued Xu. "I already admitted to approving the first."

"But to what gain?" asked Chan, puzzled. "The first attack was unprovoked to begin with. Do you expect us to now believe that you're innocent of planning the second one?"

"The first was a test," insisted Xu. "Gentlemen, we make it no secret that we have no love for foreigners. They take our business and they interfere with the hierarchy of the Triads."

Several of the men nodded in agreement, staring at Sho and Kei with less than friendly expressions.

"Then you and I have a problem," Sho informed, refusing to be intimidated, "because I bring in a large chunk of the business you profit from."

"Yes, you do," agreed Xu. "And had I realized it would be that way from the beginning, I never would have tested your strength the way I did. I'm here today asking you to put the past behind us and start with a clean slate. You are clearly worthy of doing business with the Mallepa Triads, Mr. Sho. I would like you to consider joining my family."

Sho couldn't contain his grimace. He'd been through all this before and he liked it no better now than he did then. "Sorry, but I've always operated on my own. I'm willing to compromise with you on business and see if we can work together for profit, but my organization will remain independent."

"That's a shame." Xu swallowed the last of his champagne and he made a graceful gesture at the general assembly. "All of these men have chosen to take my offer. You and Mr. Chan are all that remains."

Chan looked at Yang, just as surprised as Sho by the revelation. "Yang?"

"I'm sorry, my friend," answered the older boss with a sigh, "but my people need to be paid, and the Xu's have a market I can't ignore. Until such time as they prove untrustworthy, I must make the call I feel is best for my family."

Sho's expression darkened, and beneath the table, Kei squeezed his knee in warning before he could act on the angry thoughts churning in his mind. Suppressing his reckless urges, the Yakuza boss demonstrated unusual patience as he responded to the announcement.

"What is this supposed to mean to me?"

"It means that we could form an alliance of guilds," answered Xu, his tone filled with promises. "One united Triad, ruling Mallepa. Think about it, Mr. Sho. Mr. Chan, your family goes back many generations, and we have the utmost respect for you. You and Sho are the last pieces to the puzzle. If we unite, there will be no more conflicts between our families, and any encroaching Triads coming into Mallepa will have to answer to all of us. This is better, for all of our people."

He looked at Sho, his expression cooling. "You are the first and only outsider I have ever extended the offer of an alliance to, Mr. Sho. I hope you can see the benefit in considering my proposal."

Sho glanced sidelong at Chan. He sensed the conflict within the young man and at this point, he honestly couldn't blame him if he took the easy way out and caved. For himself, however, there was only really one right answer. He took a long, slow drag of his cigarette and the men around the table stared as it burned down to the filter before their eyes. Sho put the cigarette out, tilted his head back and expelled an abnormally dense fog of smoke into the air. When he'd finished clearing his lungs of the smoke, he lowered his head again and he gazed unwaveringly at Xu.

"You and your offer can both get fucked."

Someone gasped, and another man snickered behind his hand impulsively. Xu stared into Sho's eyes for several moments, before giving a nod. "A shame." His gaze went to Chan. "And you, Mr. Chan? Will you be uniting with the rest of us, or will you do as the foreigner has chosen and decline our offer?"

Chan looked at Yang, then at Sho and Kei. Fully expecting him to comply with Xu's proposal, Sho sighed and nodded. The kid had to look after himself, after all, and it was probably better for Hana in the long run if he didn't rock the boat, as Sho had.

It therefore came as a complete surprise when Chan gave his answer. "I decline. My family will stand beside Mr. Sho, in this. We once made a move like yours and it ended in disaster. I won't repeat past mistakes."

Sho stared at him, his mask of indifference slipping for a change. "I'll be damned," he blurted.

~*****************************~

-To be continued
- 4
- 5
- 6
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Bound by blood