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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
- 5
- 6
"Bound by blood"
Chapter 6
A "Moon Child" fan fanfiction
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Disclaimer: I do not own "Moon child" or any of the characters. This is strictly a non-profit endeavor, written for entertainment purposes only.

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Kei winced as the glass sailed through the air and hit the wall with shattering force. "Sho, calm down."

The taller vampire's eyes were bright with rage as he looked at him. He'd held his cool until they returned to their apartment unit, but now he was demonstrating how he really felt about the way things went. "It's just like Son, all over again," he growled.

Kei lowered his gaze. He hadn't been around when their Taiwanese friend decided to toss his lot in with Chan. Seeing as Chan's people were responsible for Toshi's death, Sho naturally considered it a betrayal. Now another gangster that Sho had started to see as a friend was doing the same thing, but with Xu.

"Sho, try not to take it so personally," advised Kei soothingly. "Yang didn't make the call to insult you. He's just doing what he things is best for his people, that's all."

"Getting in bed with the Xu clan isn't best for anyone," argued Sho vehemently. "He's playing with fire and he'll get burned."

"Then that's his mistake to make," insisted Kei, "and there's nothing you can do about it. We've both been involved in the business long enough to know how things work, and this doesn't really surprise me. There is a bright side, you know. Chan has sided with you, at least."

Sho calmed down somewhat. "That surprised the hell out of me, I admit."

"I know." Kei smirked. "I wish I'd had a camera, to take a picture of the look on your face. I can't remember the last time you looked so surprised." He almost confessed that he thought it was cute as hell, but he sensed Sho wasn't in the mood to be playful.

"I'm sure he's only doing it for Hana," mused Sho. He walked over to the window and put his hands on his hips, looking outside. "The things men will do for a woman."

Kei shrugged and walked over to join him. "If that's the case, at least you know he genuinely cares for her. He's taking a risk by turning down the offer, and he really didn't have to do that."

"I know." Sho frowned. "And that means we're going to have to keep a sharp eye on him for different reasons. Xu didn't take it well when he sided with me, and I wouldn't put it past him to shed blood over it. His power lust is going to cause a lot of trouble for all of us."

Kei nodded, frowning in thought. It was time to re-visit an old idea. "Maybe we should consider moving to a different place, now. I know you're attached to this apartment and I am too, but Xu probably knows where we live and that's not a good thing."

Sho sighed and bowed his head. "I know. Damn it, you're right."

Kei embraced him from behind, feeling how tense his body was. He rested his cheek against his shoulder as Sho's hands covered his over his stomach. "We could probably afford a place in the suburbs."

"The suburbs?" repeated Sho. "You trying to domesticate me?"

Kei chuckled. "No, I'm trying to be sensible. Xu wouldn't expect it and having a basement to sleep in during the day would be useful."

"With your tendency to walk in your sleep, I have to agree with that," muttered Sho. "Okay, tomorrow I'll see if I can find a real estate agent willing to work night hours with us, and we'll get started as soon as we can."

Feeling his angst and understanding it perfectly, Kei decided to reward him for thinking with his head, instead of his heart. He slipped his hands lower and he nuzzled between his shoulders. Sho didn't try to stop him as he boldly cupped his package and started to massage it through the cream colored trousers he wore.

"That's going to get you in trouble," warned Sho huskily.

"I'm counting on it," answered Kei.

He kept kneading and rubbing with practiced skill, making Sho's breath catch. He hardened quickly under the stimulation and he drew the blinds before turning around to face Kei. His lips descended to the blond's and he groaned with pleasure, the sound muffled against Kei's mouth. Kei tactfully began to undress him with his free hand, without stopping his erotic massage. The dress jacket fell to the floor and the buttons of Sho's black silk shirt were flicked open one by one with deft fingers. As he worked to remove the barrier of clothing so that he could enjoy that tawny body in full, Kei subtly steered his companion toward the hallway. He smiled against Sho's lips when he felt a faint spot of dampness on his crotch, and he knew he had him right where he wanted him.

"I want you inside of me," he murmured breathlessly against those sinfully gorgeous lips.

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to make such a lascivious comment, after getting Sho worked up like this. Kei found himself suddenly pushed against the corridor wall, and the taller man's kiss became searing. It was a poignant reminder that Sho still had impulse control issues, but Kei honestly didn't mind. His moan of lust was genuine as Sho ground himself against his hand and broke the kiss to explore his neck. Guessing what was coming, Kei obligingly tilted his head to give better access, and he gasped sharply as the fangs pierced his skin. His body started to go helplessly limp as the saliva mixed with his bloodstream and he sighed with pleasure, enjoying the sensation of Sho's suckling.

Sho seemed satisfied by the submission, and he tugged Kei's shirt out of his pants to slide his hands up underneath it. Kei murmured with husky appreciation as the calloused fingers tweaked and rubbed his nipples, making them tingle with pleasure. Sho pressed a leg between Kei's thighs and he rubbed against his crotch, creating a delicious friction that had Kei biting his lip. Unbelievably horny now, Kei tried to urge his companion into the bedroom, again. His fingers felt clumsy as he started undoing Sho's pants, intent on exposing him. He made a sound of relief when he got the fly undone and worked a hand into the pants.

Sho's straining erection was warm and velvety in Kei's hand as he gripped it and eased it out. He stroked the head of the organ, slicking the dew of precum over it and provoking a low groan of appreciation from his companion. Sho stopped drawing his blood, mindful not to drain too much despite his impulsive nature. He kissed the blond deeply and Kei tasted the tinny flavor of his own blood on his lips. Somehow, they made it into the bedroom and Sho turned Kei around and pushed him up against the wall again. Kei strained a little, just to get a reaction, and he moaned when the taller man pressed firmly against him from behind and held him in place. His naked erection pushed against Kei's bottom and it turned him on so much that he twitched in his pants.

"I want to take you like this," purred Sho, his voice deep and seductive.

Kei had absolutely no objection to that. "The lube is on the bedside table, where we left it last night."

Sho took both of Kei's hands and guided them up to rest flat against the wall, on either side of the blond's head. "Don't move," he ordered, his breath tickling Kei's ear. He nibbled the lobe briefly before pulling away from him.

Kei obediently remained as he was, still reeling a bit from being fed on. His pants felt uncomfortably tight and it was a struggle to resist the urge to reach down and unfasten them. This was his gift to Sho. They had both felt powerless during the Triad meeting and Sho in particular hated to feel like he wasn't in control. Putting aside the insane hotness of Sho asserting himself, Kei thought this would help him feel secure again.

Sho collected the tube and returned to Kei's back again. He reached around between the blond's hip and the wall, and Kei groaned as he fondled the bulge between his thighs.

"Mmm, feels like you're ready to pop," Sho observed in a darkly amused tone. "I guess you want me to get you out of these pants."

"Please," agreed the blond. "They're getting really uncomfortable."

Perhaps Sho could have tortured him for a bit and kept rubbing him, instead of complying with the request, but he wasn't as much of a sadist as he let on. He kissed the side of Kei's neck, licking and sucking at the healing bite mark from earlier, and he dragged the zipper down on Kei's trousers. Kei shivered with need as Sho temporarily pocketed the lube and pulled his pants down, exposing his groin and ass. He left it at that, rather than pull the garment off completely, and he gripped the base of Kei's naked erection and gave it a firm pull.

"Like that?" Sho asked huskily as the blond impulsively rocked into the touch and moaned. He stroked the length of the organ with slow deliberation, his lips caressing the side of Kei's neck.

"Oh, that's good," approved Kei breathlessly. Sho had learned exactly how much friction and pressure to use when he stroked him, and it was hard to believe that just a few months ago, he'd never touched another man like this before. His confidence and determination to please was extremely sexy, and every intimate encounter just seemed to get better each time.

Kei was surprised when a lube-slick finger eased carefully into his rectum. He hadn't even noticed Sho applying the gel; he was so absorbed in the feel of his kisses and stroking.

"Damn, you're good," he gasped in all sincerity.

Sho didn't respond verbally, but he could feel the smug grin against his skin as the other man continued to kiss his neck. Deciding he didn't need further ego stroking, Kei consciously relaxed his body as much as possible, not fighting the intrusion. Sho's finger pumped insistently inside of him, curling against his prostate to tickle it each time it pushed forward. Kei began to tremble as the combination of his fondling and thrusts provoked delightful sensations. He hardly felt any discomfort when Sho added another finger, and by the time he added the third, Kei was panting and bucking in his hand. Sho squeezed firmly to prevent the orgasm and Kei whimpered in frustration, but he didn't protest. He knew his companion wanted to be inside of him when he came, and he wanted it that way, too.

Sho stopped what he was doing to lube up his cock and he bit Kei again as he pressed the tip against his prepared hole. "Oh god," cried the blond helplessly as the thick length drove into him with slow, steady care. He swooned again, his body relaxing further as Sho's bite put it into a state of euphoria. This was probably the easiest way to get him adjusted to the penetration, and Sho had gotten into the habit of biting him each time he entered him, to make it easier on him.

He resumed stroking his erection with one hand, while he caressed his torso and fondled his nipples with the other. The heavy pressure of his cock eased up little by little as he began to rock carefully against him, and soon Kei's eyes were rolling with ecstasy. He loved the way Sho's dick slid against that spot inside of him, causing that zip of sensation up his spine that made his knees weak. He panted his name as Sho began to thrust just a little harder, careful to take it slow at first. Kei appreciated his caution and thoughtfulness. As a result of it, they hadn't had a disappointing encounter yet. He began to push back against his companion, synchronizing his hip motions with Sho's as the pleasure grew. Sho stopped feeding on him again and he groaned into his hair, pumping faster.

"Feels so damned good," gasped Sho. He gripped Kei's right hip with one hand and he kept fondling him with the other. Kei was getting very, very close to his peak again and he let him know with an unsteady warning.

"Sho…I'm about to come…d-don't stop….oh…ahh!"

Sho obligingly kept his rhythm consistent and he uttered husky encouragement in his ear, urging him to come for him. Kei couldn't have denied the request if he wanted to. His balls tightened and his ass clamped down on Sho's thrusting sex as he bucked in his hand. He splattered the wall with his libation and he moaned helplessly, shutting his eyes. Sho brushed his hair aside and kissed his neck again, breathing heavily himself. He thrust deep inside of him and held it there as the orgasm played out, caressing his body and gentling his stroking.

"I love it when you do that," confessed Sho in his resonant voice. He kept fondling the blond's softening cock and he cupped his jaw with his free hand, urging him to turn his head to the side. Blue eyes met dazed, sated brown ones as Sho examined Kei's expression of pleasure. "You look so sexy when you come."

Kei didn't know how true that was, but he certainly appreciated the orgasms Sho gave him. He tilted his head and he kissed the other man's palm, sighing with contentment. Sho started to move again, his breath catching in that telling way that warned he was getting close to climax, as well. Kei redoubled his efforts to push him over the edge, using his muscles tactfully to squeeze his thrusting sex just right, each time it withdrew from him. Sho grunted in appreciation, his hips snapping with his efforts as he took him harder and faster. He blurted an expletive as their actions provided the desired results.

"That's it," encouraged Kei breathlessly as Sho embraced him tightly and bucked into him. He felt the other man's hot breath shiver against his skin as Sho twitched inside of him, filling him with his seed. Kei smiled in satisfaction and he rubbed the tense forearms embracing him so tightly. Sho was squeezing hard enough to make him breathless, but Kei didn't mind. The powerful body trembled against him as it was overcome by the pleasure of the orgasm, and Kei leaned his head back against the other man's shoulder and closed his eyes.

He could relate to Sho's comments about climaxes. He too delighted in making his companion come. It was one of the few times when Sho was openly vulnerable. The walls around him dropped, and all the pain he'd been through seemed to go away for those brief, precious moments.

Sho rested his cheek on Kei's shoulder as his climax tapered off, breathing heavily. His hold on him loosened, but he didn't release him from his embrace. "I needed that," he gasped.

Kei smiled. "Me too."

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

A couple of weeks later, they were looking at houses in the suburbs, as suggested by Kei. Sho had a sour look on his face as they inspected the third house of the night. Having grown up in the city, he wasn't a bit keen on the idea of living in the suburbs.

"What do you think?" the real estate agent asked him warily. She was a middle-aged Chinese woman, and it was clear by the way she addressed him that she knew he wasn't impressed.

The Mafia boss shrugged. "I guess it's not without its charm." He started opening cabinets in the kitchen, inspecting them without any real interest.

"What is the neighborhood like?" Kei asked.

"This is a very good, family neighborhood," assured the woman, "one of the best you can find in Mallepa. It's well within your price range and the people here are friendly and respectful."

"It has a lawn," observed Sho with a frown, looking out the kitchen window into the back yard.

"Yes," agreed the agent with an elegantly arched brow. "Most houses in the suburbs do, Mr. Sho."

"I hate nature."

Kei rolled his eyes. "You do not. You just don't want to mow it."

The taller man shrugged. "That too."

"I promise to take care of any required mowing, if we get a place with a yard. Better?"

Sho smirked at him. "I'll remember you said that."

Kei shook his head and regarded the real estate agent. "Do you have anything with more of an apartment feel to it? This might go easier if we find some place with a more familiar atmosphere. I think we're looking for something with a modern feel to it."

"I understand," she answered. She retrieved her touch-screen data pad from her purse and she frowned in concentration as she conducted a search with it. "I do have a city house available on the corner of 7^th and Crane. It's slightly above your stated price range, but not by much."

Sho and Kei exchanged a look, and the taller man nodded. "That sounds good. Let's look at it."

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

The house was in the heart of uptown Mallepa, and it had everything they desired in style, features and location. Kei could hardly believe their luck, and he guessed Sho was likewise impressed. The basement was apparently used as a "man cave" by the previous owners, as it was set up with a bar and a pool table. The latter didn't come with the house, but since they intended to use it as a bedroom, that didn't matter. The living room on the first floor had an aquarium set into the wall that divided it from the dining and kitchen area. The second floor had two bedrooms and a modern, Japanese style bathroom. The tub was large enough for two people and equipped with water jets.

It was more luxury than either of them were used to, and Kei felt a little overwhelmed by the thought of living here. His mixed excitement and trepidation must have shown on his face as he looked at Sho, because the other man's mouth twitched in a brief display of amusement before he masked it.

"How much?" Sho asked. The agent showed him and his brows went up. "That's more than a 'little' over the range we agreed on."

"I can get you a good deal," assured the woman. "This is just the asking price, but the owners will compromise if the numbers are good."

Sho considered it, and his eyes met Kei's. "Give us a minute, would you?"

The woman gave a brief, courteous bow. "Of course. I'll wait in the kitchen while you gentlemen discuss it."

Sho waited for her to leave before leaning in close to his companion. "Well, what do you think?"

"I like it," confessed the blond. "I really do, but don't you think it's a bit too much for us?"

Sho looked around at the living room, with its modular furniture and the big screen television against the wall. "Business is good. We can afford it. I gave her a lower price range on purpose, because I don't like advertising my finances, but we can swing this. The upstairs bedrooms can be for guests, or Hana can take one if anything goes wrong with her marriage and she needs a place to live."

"Something tells me you'd like that," muttered Kei dryly, "but I agree, the extra rooms could be useful. It just feels like…we'd be spoiling ourselves by getting this place."

Sho rolled his eyes. "And what's wrong with that? After all we've been through, maybe it's time we spoiled ourselves a little. The business isn't exactly predictable and we may not be in the position to do something like this, a few months from now. I say we do it while we've got the money to spare."

Kei smiled hesitantly. "You're sure?"

Sho nodded. "We aren't likely to find a deal like this again. It's got everything we need and there's no yard to mow. Let's get it."

"Okay," agreed the blond. It was really Sho's money to spend, anyhow.

The taller man patted him on the arm. "Let's go talk numbers."

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

Once they got settled in to their new place, they invited Hana to come over and see it. Sho gave her the grand tour and he ended it with one of the upstairs bedrooms. "This is your room," he informed her as he opened the door to reveal the delicately furnished bedroom. "I set it up just for you, so you'll have somewhere nice to sleep when you visit…or if you get rid of that husband of yours and want to live with us."

"I'm not leaving Chan," she sighed patiently, smiling at him. She stepped into the room and looked around. It was definitely a girl's room, with French influence in the design. The four-poster bed had a gauzy canopy around it, and the window seat was stacked with lacy pillows. Hana walked over to it and sat down, resting her hands on her denim-clad knees.

"It's beautiful, Tousan. I'm sure I'll sleep well in here, when I visit overnight. Would you…allow Hanyu to visit, as well? I know you don't like him."

Sho sighed. "If it would make you happy, then yes. As long as he keeps doing right by you, he's welcome in my house."

She favored him with a bright smile. "Thank you. I never want to feel as if I have to choose between you."

Sho lowered his gaze. "I know. I'll do my best to make sure you never have to feel that way, Hana. Your happiness is more important to me than my personal feelings."

From downstairs, Kei announced that dinner was ready. Sho offered his hand to his daughter and he helped her up when she took it. He put an arm around her for a brief hug as they exited the room together.

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

Hana bit her lip as she selected a dumpling from the bowl passed her way. How would she tell her father the news? He just barely tolerated Chan to begin with, and they had only been married for a short time. She picked up a dim sim with her chopsticks and she bit into it delicately, her stomach fluttering nervously.

"How is it?" Kei asked softly.

Hana smiled at him and she nodded, chewing the morsel and swallowing it before answering. "Very good, Uncle Kei."

Sho bit into his dumpling with appreciation and he nodded in agreement. "You handled the spices better, this time."

Kei smiled with pleasure. "Good. The last time, I thought you were going to choke to death."

"The last time nearly made me breathe fire," muttered Sho before wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I swear you dumped so much pepper in there on purpose."

Hana covered her mouth on a laugh when Kei looked at her father sheepishly. "Okay, so I got a little too generous with the spices. I've learned, since then."

Curious about what food could do for them, Hana shyly asked the question that always sprang to mind when she shared a meal with them. "Does eating food do anything for you? I know you have…special diet needs, but do you ever get hungry?"

"Yeah, we get hungry," answered Sho, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Just not the way we used to."

"We can still enjoy food," assured Kei, "even though we don't really need it, anymore. We don't usually eat when we're alone, but it's still nice to share a meal with you now and then, Hana."

"Then next time, I should cook for you," she offered. "You could come to our house for dinner."

Sho grimaced briefly, but he quickly brought his expression back under control. "If Chan doesn't have a problem with that, sure. I've never tried your cooking before."

"I could make one of Mother's recipes," Hana said with a smile. "One of your favorites."

Sho smiled at her. "You still remember my favorites?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. Family meals were a big part of my life as a child, and I never forgot which dishes Mother liked to cook especially for you. I would like to make one of them for you, some evening."

Sho reached across the table and laid a warm hand over hers. "I'd like that, Pumpkin."

Feeling the warmth of his affection, she gathered her courage and decided there probably wouldn't be a better opportunity to tell him her news. "I…hope to be as good a mother as she was, someday."

Sho gave her hand a brief squeeze before releasing it and going for another bite of his dim sim. "I'm sure you will, Hana. As I've said before; you are your mother's girl."

She took a deep breath. "I'm glad you feel that way, because I'm expecting."

Sho paused with the food partway to his lips, and he gave her a blank look. "Expecting what?"

Kei was staring at her with wide eyes. "Sho, I think she means a baby."

Hana nodded in agreement, smiling nervously at her father as the dumpling fell un-noticed from his chopsticks. "Yes. I'm going to have a baby."

Sho didn't move.

"Papa?" Hana watched him uncertainly, unable to tell what was going through his mind or how he was going to handle this.

"Uh." The dumb response tumbled from Sho's slack lips as if he'd forgotten how to speak.

"Sho, I think Hana could use your support, right now," Kei advised. He frowned and waved a hand in front of the other man's face. "Sho?"

"Uh." The blank look didn't leave Sho's face.

Hana compressed her lips. "Father, please say something. Are you angry?"

"Uh."

Evidently deciding he'd had enough of this, Kei rolled his eyes and jabbed the other man in the ribs with a chopstick. It seemed to shock some sense into him, because Sho jumped and yelped, glaring accusingly at the blond.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"To make sure you haven't had an embolism," countered the blond. "Now would you please speak to your daughter about this news?"

"Don't poke me like that again," warned Sho peevishly, rubbing the spot. He gave Hana a frowning look of disbelief. "You're pregnant? Already? You just got married last month! Hana, is this why he married you? He got you in trouble?"

"No! It isn't like that, Tousan. I swear, I only found out yesterday."

"But you two have…done things…before the wedding," reasoned Sho, swallowing.

She lowered her gaze and toyed absently with her napkin. "I don't want to disappoint you, but yes."

"Sho, virgin brides are a thing of the past, these days," reminded Kei. "Don't make this about Hana's personal life, okay?"

"Would you stop lecturing me?" snapped Sho. "I'm just trying to make sense of this! My little girl is pregnant! Let me figure this out!"

"There's nothing to 'figure out'," reasoned Kei with faint amusement. "Hana is going to be a mother, and you're going to be a grandfather. You knew this day would come, eventually."

"But not so soon," objected Sho with a gesture at Hana. "Look at her! She's still just a baby, herself!"

"I'm an adult now," Hana reminded him gently. Her eyes welled up with tears. "Please, try to be happy for me. I need your approval. This is a scary time for me, and I need to know you'll be here for me. Please, Papa?"

The sight of her tears did Sho in, and he got out of his chair and circled around the table. "Oh no…don't cry. I can't bear it when girls cry…especially not my daughter." He knelt before her and drew her into his embrace. "Shh, Hana, don't worry. I know I acted like a jerk, but it was a shock. I could never be disappointed in you, okay?"

She hugged him back and sniffled. "P-promise?"

"Absolutely," he assured her, his voice slightly husky with emotion. "You're my girl and I love you. I'm going to be here for you as much as I can, so don't be scared."

And just like that, all the fear and uncertainty went away. She knew it might take a while for him to get used to the idea of her starting a family, but as long as Sho supported her, she knew it would all work out.

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

A few nights later, Kei went out of town to conduct some business for the 'family', while Sho kept a close eye on things at home. When Kei returned and locked the front door behind him, he called out to Sho, half-expecting to find the house empty.

"Up here," answered the other vampire from one of the upstairs rooms. Kei went up the stairs and down the hall, following the sound of his voice. When he opened the bedroom door, he was stunned by what he saw inside.

"Wow…how long have you been at this?" Kei looked around the room and blinked. Sho had transformed it from a basic guest room into a themed nursery. There were panda bears painted on the walls and more caricatures of the animals hung from the mobile dangling over the crib. The crib itself was made of dark cherry wood, and a gossamer white canopy draped over it. Sho had clearly spared no expense.

The taller man finished adjusting the wind-up baby swing he'd put together, and he glanced Kei's way as he tested it out. "I told Hana I'd be here for her, and I meant it. The next time she comes to visit, she'll see that her baby is welcome, too."

Kei smiled at him. Sho never did anything by halves. "I can tell you worked really hard on this. I know she's going to love it, Sho."

Sho sighed and stuck his hands into the pockets of his leather pants. "Hope so. I almost called her to have her come over and paint the pandas on the walls, but I want this to be a surprise."

"So you're finally getting happy about being a grandparent?"

Sho snorted. "Please. I barely had time to adjust to Hana being married, before this bomb was dropped on me. Her life is going by so fast, I'm afraid if I blink, I'll miss something."

Kei nodded in understanding. "It can be like that, sometimes. You did a really good job on this, though. Think of how happy you'll make your daughter, when you show it to her."

Sho smiled hesitantly. "All I want is for her to be happy. You two are the only things in my life that really matter to me."

Kei approached him and he ran his hands over his chest and shoulders, trying to give him the emotional support he so clearly needed, but was reluctant to ask for. "Everything is going to be all right. Hana's a smart, responsible girl and she'll take good care of herself. I'm sure she's seeing her doctor regularly and she'll have a healthy pregnancy."

Sho sighed. "I don't even want to think of something going wrong."

"Then don't," advised Kei. "You'll just get yourself worked up over nothing. Have you fed recently?" Sho was looking a little pale, which indicated a lack of precious nutrients.

"I was going to hunt tonight," answered Sho. "You?"

"I'll join you."

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

They had to be increasingly careful not to leave behind evidence, when they fed. Kei was getting better at controlling the hunger, and as a result, the body count was dropping. Sho unfortunately failed to stop in time to avoid killing his latest victim, and they ended up putting the body in the trunk and paying a visit to a crematorium across town to take care of it. As they got the corpse ready for burning, the wallet fell out of the back pocket and Sho bent over to retrieve it. He flipped it open and took the cash out of it, but as he started to close it again to replace it to be burnt with its owner, he caught sight of a photo inside.

"Sho? What's the matter?"

"His family." Sho turned the wallet to show his companion the photo of his victim, sitting on a couch with a smiling young woman and a toddler. "He had a family." Sho generally avoided listening to his victim's fading thoughts as he fed on them, to avoid losing his nerve out of sympathy. He wanted to think of them as mere juiceboxes for his needs and if they survived, so be it. Seeing proof that this man had been an actual person, complete with a family of his own, cut him to the core.

Kei looked at it with a frown and he sighed. "Sho, most of our victims have families of some sort. They didn't just drop out of the sky, you know. Just remember, if we let it get to us, we'll end up starving ourselves. That's what you're always telling me, remember?"

"I know," agreed Sho softly, "It's just…sometimes I can't hide from it. I play it off like it doesn't matter, but the picture got to me. Maybe it's because I'm going to be a grandfather."

"He killed an old woman," reminded Kei. "A defenseless old woman…and all because he wanted her money so he could buy more drugs."

Sho nodded, trying to follow his own advice and put aside the guilt that was trying to surface. "You're right. Let's get this over with."

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

Whatever doubts Sho suffered about the morality of his nature faded away as the days passed by. Simply put, he had too many things on his plate to worry about whether it was evil to feed on druggy murderers, or not. He felt bad for the families of those who didn't survive his feedings, but he was at the core a practical man. Having grown up on the harsh streets of Mallepa and having to survive through petty theft as a mere boy, guilty feelings never quite stuck with Sho. You did what you had to do to get by, and for a vampire, that meant draining the lives of others.

He concentrated on maintaining his organization and keeping Xu and his people from taking business away from him. As angry as he was with Yang for caving to Xu, he did understand where he was coming from. He'd already been down this route once in his life, and it wasn't worth it to him to repeat history. He didn't want his friendship with Yang to take the same route as his friendship with Son. Kei agreed with him and they still did business with Yang on occasion, having no reason yet to mistrust him.

Sho invited Hana over to the house on the weekend, and he reluctantly extended the invitation to her husband, as well. It was difficult to bury the past and forget whom Hanyu was related to. Old hatred died hard, but for the sake of his daughter and the child she carried, Sho tried to see Chan with new eyes. The man had sided with him against Xu, after all, and he and Yang were the only Triad bosses in Mallepa that Sho felt he could remotely trust not to screw him over.

When they arrived, Sho urged Hana to go upstairs with him and he made her cover her eyes as he guided her to the nursery. Chan followed curiously and Kei took up the rear.

"Father, what are you up to?" Hana asked with a nervous laugh.

"You'll see, soon enough," promised Sho. He flipped the light switch after opening the door and he steered her through the door. "Okay Hana, you can look now."

She took her hands away from her eyes and looked. Her dark eyes went wide as she saw what he'd done to the room, and behind her, Hanyu demonstrated surprise as well. Sho looked at her, quelling his uncertainty. "Well, do you like it?"

"Oh, Papa, it's wonderful! I'm not sure what I was expecting to see, but this wasn't it!"

Sho relaxed a bit, giving her a smile. "Now you have a nursery for the baby, whenever you come to visit. We'll put in a bed eventually for when the kid gets older, too."

"You must have put a lot of effort into this," Hanyu remarked, stepping into the room to inspect it. "Hana was worried that you were unhappy about her pregnancy."

Sho stroked his daughter's hair. "She can stop worrying. Like I said; I'm going to be here for her as much as I can. I've got a lot to make up for."

Hana embraced him, pressing her face against his shirt as tears threatened. "I'm sorry…I don't mean to be a crybaby," she sniffed. "It's just such a wonderful surprise."

"At least you can use hormones as an excuse for crying," soothed Kei. "Your Dad, on the other hand—"

"Shut up," muttered Sho, giving the blond a warning look. The last thing he needed was for his son in law to hear about the times he'd cried on Kei's shoulder.

Kei lapsed into silence, but there was a teasing look in his eye that only Sho could detect.

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

A couple of days later, on the other side of town:

"That Jap bastard is taking away my business," fumed Xu as he paced before the assembly of ranking Triads. "I want it stopped."

"I spoke to him about it," Yang said, "and he says these people approached him, not the other way around. He claims that all he did was offer them a fair agreement, and they found it more reasonable than the one you gave them."

Xu narrowed his eyes. "Then I suppose I'll have to demonstrate to them why Sho's 'fair agreement' isn't in their best interest. He may not be able to protect them, as promised."

Yang lowered his gaze, clearly troubled. He didn't offer an argument, however. The best he could do was stay out of the conflict himself as much as possible and try to get a warning to Sho. The Yakuza boss never should have poached Xu's profits like that, even if the business owners did approach him first.

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

The first shots weren't fired at rival gangsters, but at unsuspecting merchants. Chan was the first to see the profit hit when the butcher shop he collected from got robbed at gunpoint. These things happened frequently in Mallepa though, so he wasn't that concerned about it until he met up with Yang for lunch and the other Taiwanese man warned him that Xu was planning to make a move against Sho.

"He's got it in for you, too," said the older man. "You should watch your step, Chan. Xu didn't appreciate your turning down his offer, and he may set out to make an example of both of you."

Chan frowned, thinking of his expecting young wife and the danger this could put her in. "Does he intend to declare a Triad war against us?"

"He hasn't said it in so many words," offered Yang, "but I think it may be coming on the horizon, my friend. You should prepare your people and so should Sho."

"And where will you stand in this, if it comes to the conflict you fear?" Chan sipped his tea and considered the menu, though he'd lost his appetite.

"I intend to stay out of it, if possible," answered Yang. "My business decision doesn't reflect on our relationship or my desire to maintain peace with you, Chan."

The younger man nodded and brushed his hair back from his eyes. "You may not be able to remain impartial, though. Xu will likely push you to choose a side, if he intends to fight us. He isn't satisfied with doing his business and leaving us to do ours; he wants total control of Mallepa and all Triad business here."

"I know," agreed Yang unhappily, "and I've considered that carefully. If it comes to us drawing guns on each other, I hope you'll remember that it's nothing personal."

Chan lifted his cup in a toast. "Then let's try to avoid the conflict for as long as possible, and hope it never comes to that."

Yang toasted him back. "Agreed."

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

While the two Triad bosses discussed the grim possibility of all-out war between the families, a young woman was attending a Public Security Bureau meeting in a building outside of Mallepa city boundaries. Detective Hidaka had important information regarding the case he was heading against the Mallepa Triads, and he explained what he'd discovered to the attending agents.

"I have reason to believe that the Xu family is planning to a coup. They've already made a power grab and several of the other Triads have merged with them."

It was the first she'd heard of this, and Agent Sasaki was curious to know if her mark was on that list. "Which families merged with them, Sir?"

"According to my source, all of the major ones except for Chan and Sho. The remaining families are little more than gangs of street punks, unworthy of Xu's interest. He's building an empire and if this continues unchallenged, he could become unstoppable. We are going to have to keep an extra close eye on the inner workings of these Triads, and our field agents will have to be especially careful, now. If any of you are discovered, we may not have the resources to protect you."

They all knew the risks of their assignment, and the grimly determined faces reflected that as Hidaka paused to let that sink in. His gaze went to Sasaki. "I realize there's only so much information you're privy to with your cover, but it's very important that you pay careful attention to everything those men say or do whenever you see them at the restaurant. We had to pull out of watching Chan because he was getting suspicious of the agent assigned to him, and Yang is very secretive about his private affairs. That leaves you and our lead with Xu to monitor this situation, for now. Please do your best, and be very careful."

She nodded. "Of course, Detective. I have no reason to believe they suspect me as anything more than a working college student. I'm as safe as I can be, for now."

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

She shouldn't have spoken so soon. Yes, she appeared to be safe from Sho and Kei, but the next evening when Mariko returned to her fake job to wait tables, a terrible situation occurred. The last customer of the evening paid his bill and left, and Mariko was just returning to Sho and Kei's booth with their final drinks for the night when it happened. Mr. Kwan went to lock the front door for closing, but just as he reached it, someone shoved it open from the other side. Mariko heard Kwan's nervous objection and she frowned, pausing in the act of placing Sho's drink on the table.

"I'm sorry, but we're closing for the night," Kwan was saying. "You'll have to come back…tomorrow…" he trailed off, and as she turned to see what was happening, Mariko saw why. Eight men dressed in black had come through the doors, and they all wore ski masks to hide their features. They were armed with guns and the one in the lead had his trained on Mr. Kwan.

"You're going to give us all your cash," informed the man in Cantonese, "If you don't cooperate, we'll shoot you and everyone else in here dead."

One of the bus boys came out from the kitchen and as soon as he saw the danger, he dropped his tray and tried to run, blurting an oath. One of the masked men immediately fired at him, hitting him in the back of the calf as he tried to flee. The bus boy went down screaming and someone in the kitchen yelled an inquiry. One of the cooks came out and his eyes went wide when he saw the bus boy whimpering on the floor, bleeding from the bullet wound in his leg. The cook held his hands up in surrender when one of the robbers pointed his gun at him, and he got down on his knees without question.

Mariko looked at Sho and Kei, knowing full well that they were both packing. The two men both looked remarkably calm and unimpressed as they stared at the group of intruders silently. Kwan was pleading softly with them as one of them locked the doors and told him to get down on his knees. The leader looked at Mariko and he smiled in a slimy manner, his dark gaze scanning her admiringly.

"You, Sweetheart…get the money from the register." He looked at his companions. "Two of you go check the back and bring all the employees out here, before any of them can call the police."

As they hastened through the swinging doors leading to the kitchen and back rooms, the leader motioned at Mariko again. "Move it. Don't make me ask you again."

Mariko hesitated for a brief moment, before moving to comply. She thought she saw Sho covertly reach into his trench coat before she went behind the bar to open the cash register, and she mentally braced herself for what was sure to become a shoot-out. She didn't know if these men were associated with Xu and his plan to take over, or if they were just common thugs out to make a buck. Either way, she believed they were in for a nasty surprise—and not just from the two Yakuza members sitting at the table.

"You two, get on the floor with everyone else," instructed the leader to Sho and Kei when the two men he'd sent to the back came out with three more hostages. "Don't fuck with us, if you want to live through this."

Sho and Kei looked at each other, and for a moment it appeared that they weren't going to comply with the demand. Seeing that the robbers' attention was on them for the moment, Mariko subtly reached under the counter for her purse, stashed beneath the register next to one of the other waitress'. She went through the motions of opening the register pulling out stacks of currency, while carefully reaching into her purse for the gun she kept in there. While she worked on getting armed without alerting their captors, Kei and Sho slowly stood up. Sho's expression was eerily blank, and Kei wore a pair of light brown, rectangular shades that concealed his eyes and whatever thoughts that lay behind them. Mariko felt like she was watching a gathering storm, though neither of the men had reached for a weapon or made a threatening move, yet.

"You should reconsider this," advised Sho in his deep, compelling voice. "While you still can."

The robbers looked at each other with amusement, exchanging chuckles as the leader responded. "You reckon? You're in no position to threaten anyone." He looked at Kwan and motioned at him with the gun, while his companions kept their weapons trained on Sho and Kei. "Get up, old man. Do you have a safe?"

"Y-yes," answered Kwan, his complexion sickly pale with fear. "In the office, at the back."

The leader nodded at a couple of his people. "Go with him. If he takes too long to open it, blow his kneecaps off."

Kwan whimpered with fear and he stumbled when one of them shoved him to get him moving. He nearly tripped over the fallen bus boy on his way through the swinging doors and he could be heard pleading with his captives as they went through with him. The leader turned to Sho and Kei again—who were still standing, instead of lying on the floor as they had been instructed.

"Don't be assholes," warned the leader. "Get down on the floor with the ret of them!"

Sho shrugged and spread his hands, his blue gaze cool and unmoved. "No. They haven't mopped, yet. I don't want to get my jacket dirty."

The robbers looked at one another, clearly nonplussed by his lack of concern. "What's wrong with you, man?" demanded their leader. "I said to get your ass down on the floor!"

"And I said no," answered Sho. "Can't you understand plain Cantonese?"

"You asked for it," snarled the leader, taking aim with obvious intent.

He never got the shot off, because Mariko drew her gun and fired at that moment, hitting him in the wrist. Stunned with surprise and pain, the leader fell to the floor, clutching his injury. His companions realized the shot came from the waitress and she dove behind the counter as they opened fire on her. Glasses and bottles shattered as bullets struck them, and the mirror behind the bar cracked as it too was peppered with bullets. She heard the screams of the staff and she hollered for everyone to take cover and stay down. The gunfire aimed at her stopped abruptly, but she could still hear the weapons going off.

She dared to crawl to the end of the bar and peek around it, and she saw that Sho and Kei had joined the firefight. The former wielded twin pistols and he shot two of the robbers at the same time, before jumping aside to avoid the return fire. His blond companion had a single gun and he looked oddly bored as he shot at the intruders. He didn't dive away like Sho when the enemy returned fire. Instead, he jerked to the side, then back the other way—somehow avoiding the bullets with astonishing ease. Mariko was reminded of a water bug skimming over a pond, watching Kei. The robbers were practically firing at point-blank range, but none of them could seem to hit him. The ones that had gone with Mr. Kwan had come out of the back upon hearing the commotion, and they joined the fray.

The leader collected his dropped weapon and started shooting with his uninjured hand, aiming at Mariko. She ducked back behind the bar and waited until he was forced to reload, before returning fire. He had pushed over one of the tables for cover and she swore when she failed to find an opening. His companions were busy with Kei and Sho, trying unsuccessfully to gun them down. The former just kept evading bullets like they were merely annoying insects, while the latter employed some rather impressive acrobatic moves. How anyone could move like that in leather pants and studded boots was a mystery to her, but Sho somehow pulled it off.

Another robber went down, shot in the throat by one of Kei's bullets. A fourth soon followed after receiving a kick to the head from Sho that would surely leave a boot imprint behind. They were left with only four of the robbers still able-bodied enough to present a threat, and Mariko put another one out of commission with a shot to the knee, since she couldn't get a clear shot at the leader.

"Sho, I need a clip," called Kei. The taller man dug one of the requested items out of his coat and obligingly tossed it to him. Kei reloaded with shocking speed, just in time. He jerked his head to the side as one of the robbers tried to shoot him in the temple, and the bullet meant for him hit another robber that had been standing behind him, instead. The man went down, leaving only his accidental shooter and the leader standing. The shooter appeared to be shocked by what had just happened, and he when he saw that he and his leader were the only two left, he dropped his weapon and put his hands up.

"Don't shoot," he pleaded, looking nervously between Sho and Kei. "We were paid to come here, all right?"

"Paid by who?" asked Kei, keeping his gun aimed at him.

Before the guy could answer, his leader put a bullet through his skull, without warning. He dropped like a stone and Sho quickly fired at the leader, despite Kei's hollered warning for him not to. The leader soon joined his companion in death as Sho's bullet struck true and hit him right beneath the left eye, boring a bloody hole in his face and blasting brain matter out the back of his head.

"Well, so much for questioning him," sighed Kei. He looked around at the carnage and he found that the man Sho had kicked in the head was still alive. The one with the knee injury was not, however. A stray bullet finished him off during the fight, hitting him in the lungs.

"Don't shoot him," Kei warned when Sho took aim at the unconscious guy. "He might be able to answer our questions."

"I don't need him to answer any questions," growled Sho. "It's obvious who set this up."

Kei didn't respond to that. Instead, he looked around at the staff to check for injuries. "Is everyone else okay?"

The bus boy was still groaning on the floor, and Mariko went to his side to put pressure on his injury. "I don't think anyone else was hurt," she announced, failing to notice the little cuts on her arm where some flying glass had struck her. In the distance, approaching sirens could be heard. The police were on their way.

Kei joined her and he nodded at the cuts with a frown. "You're hurt."

Overhearing, Sho walked over and he grabbed some napkins off the bar, squatting beside her. His blue eyes were oddly intense on the blood welling from the cuts, and he swallowed.

"Here."

He offered the napkins to her and if the situation were different, she might have found his and his companion's attentions boyishly endearing. There was a young man with a bullet wound on the floor and there they were, fussing over a couple of minor cuts on her.

"It's nothing," she assured gently, deliberately putting a quiver in her voice to maintain the act that she was only a waitress. "Lu is hurt a lot worse. Could we…call an ambulance for him, please? And where is Mr. Kwan? Is he okay?"

"He's fine," answered Kei, looking up as the man in question came out from behind the swinging doors on shaky legs.

Sho's gaze strayed to the gun Mariko had placed on the floor when started applying pressure to the bus boy's gunshot wound. "That's a nice piece," he complimented. "What's a girl like you doing with a gun like that?"

Mariko thought quickly, imagining the day her father gave her that gun for her birthday. "This is Mallepa," she said, lowering her gaze shyly under his intense stare. "Doesn't everyone have a gun?"

Sho smiled slowly. "Everyone with half a brain, sure. Good point, and that was some nice shooting you did."

"Father taught me," she said truthfully. "He wanted to be sure his daughter knew how to protect herself in the city."

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

Unfortunately, the man Sho kicked in the head was still unconscious when the police arrived, and they couldn't stop them from taking him into custody. The police took their statements and got an ambulance for Lu. When they asked Sho if the owner had enemies that might have orchestrated the robbery, Sho denied it and insisted that Kwan wasn't involved in any criminal activities. Of course, he didn't mention his own enemies, as his ownership of the restaurant wasn't official public knowledge. The robbers were unmasked and identified as members of a local street gang, and the attack was written off as a common heist.

Once the police left, Sho sent everyone home and he and Kei remained behind to clean up some of the mess. He would hire people to repair the damage tomorrow. As he swept the broken glass up, he thought of how that pretty little waitress had handled herself and he found himself entertaining less than wholesome thoughts.

"Shit."

Kei looked up from the blood he was scrubbing off the floor. "What?"

"Nothing." Sho avoided his eyes and kept his head down. The mental image of a three-way stubbornly clung to his mind, though.

"You're blushing," observed the blond.

"Am not."

Kei dropped the sponge in the bucket and got up, wiping his hands off on his pants. "You're thinking about the waitress again, aren't you? You always get embarrassed when you're caught thinking about girls, Sho."

"Drop it," insisted Sho, blindly staring down at the sparkling glass as he swept.

"It's okay," soothed the blond. "I told you before, you're entitled. I don't mind."

Sho sighed. "It isn't you. It's…Yi-Che. Feels like I’m being unfaithful to her."

"That doesn't make any sense to me," admitted Kei, tilting his head. "How can you feel like you're being unfaithful just by thinking of another woman, when you do a lot more than that with me nearly every night?"

She shrugged. "With you it's different." He raised his eyes off the floor and his gaze met Kei's. "You're my soul mate. You always have been. I know she wouldn't mind us being together the way we are."

Kei's expression softened. "I'm glad you feel that way. I'd hate to cause you any guilt."

"Well, it's true. I haven't really thought of any other women since she died, though. It's bugging me."

"There's nothing wrong with appreciating female beauty," insisted Kei. "I wish you'd stop being so hard on yourself."

Sho sighed and rested his wrists on the handle of the broom. "I guess I'll just have to try harder. A pretty girl with a gun? I can't help it…I'm sold."

Kei chuckled softly. "I'm right there with you, trust me. You know, if you ever wanted to go for it, I wouldn't mind."

Sho blushed again and immediately shook his head. "No…I can't do that. It wouldn't feel right, even if you say you're okay with it. I'd be okay with it if you wanted to go for it, though."

"You would?" Kei smiled at him in that semi-teasing way of his. "It wouldn't bother you?"

"No. If you went for a guy it would bother me, though. Don't ask why…I can't explain it." Growing more uncomfortable and embarrassed by the moment, Sho resumed sweeping, just to give himself something to focus on besides the dirty thoughts going through his mind. He'd never fully outgrown that damnable shy streak, when it came to women.

"You keep me satisfied enough," assured Kei in a fond tone. "I can't believe how bashful you can still be, though. You must be having some potent fantasies, to blush this hard."

Sho grumbled incoherently, refusing to take the bait.

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

-To be continued
- 5
- 6
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Bound by blood