Chapter 3
At the end of the day, they were no closer to finding the whereabouts of Ryo then they were the day before. The tracks, as Sage had said, had simply stopped and never started again. But there were definitely two sets of tracks. They thought about taking this to the police but in the end decided it wouldn’t do them any good. Sage tried to use his Armor to find any hints or Ryo position, but got nothing for his efforts. After a half an hour he gave up with a quick shrugs.

“Well,” Kento sighed after they spent the better part of day searching for any clues, “we’re going nowhere. Why don’t we take shifts looking for him?”

“How do we even know that who ever took him will return here?” Sage said, with a sharp edge.

Kento gave him a glare and Sage returned it. “We don’t. But it’s been the only lead we have so far.”

Sage left out a frustrated sigh and brutally kicked at a snow bank.

“Fine, there isn’t anything here, can we go now?” Without looking to see if they were following, Sage turned and headed back to the car.

“Boy, he’s not making this any easier,” Sai noted.

Rowan let out a small humph. “He doesn’t like anything to be easy, why should this be?”

“Come on, before he breaks into the car, hotwires it, and leaves us here,” Kento said.

“Breaks into it? I’m hoping he doesn’t break it.” Rowan said.


The days pasted quickly for Ryo, Casey was the perfect host and perfect confidant. Never pressuring him to stay or forcing him to leave. It always up to him to decide what they did or didn’t do together. Ryo spent much of this newfound freedom staring out the window at the falling snow or reading on of the many books Casey had on hand. The ice was breaking and they soon found themselves talking to each other for hours about every subject imaginable; from movies and books to love and philosophy.

Ryo opened up to Casey, something he hadn’t really ever done to anyone, not even Sai (and especially not Seiji). And Casey opened up too him. They spent the nights talking by the fire, laying face to face at first, and then by some unspoken consent, Ryo moved into Casey’s embrace, sitting against him, wrapped in his arms. But it never went beyond this, not until one night.

It had been four days since Ryo had left Sage, and it seemed to him it had been another world, another life. One he was a little afraid to go back to. This night as they watched the crackling flames together, they did not speak. They simply were together and that was all that mattered. Ryo relaxed into Casey’s arms, content. And Casey held him, arms wrapped around his middle.

Then Ryo spoke, quietly, so as not to break the silence. “Why are you doing this? What are you doing to me?”

“Because,” Casey said softly, “I’m falling in love with you.”

Ryo jerked his head up to look into Casey’s eyes. “Me?”

“Yes, you. Who else is here?” A hand came up to stroke Ryo’s hair.

“But-but why?”

“Why else does anyone fall in love with someone? They like the person you are. I can see inside your soul and I am drawn to that flame inside of you.” Casey’s other hand slid up to rest over Ryo’s heart. “And I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it,” Casey whispered.

His head tilted down and his mouth brushed Ryo’s lips. Ryo stayed still, but he also didn’t push Casey away.

Casey took that as a sign of rejection. “I’m sorry-,” he started to say but Ryo’s hand flew to his mouth to silence him.

“No, it’s okay. I was shocked, that’s all,” Ryo said softly.

“Then, you didn’t mind?”

“No, I don’t mind at all.”

“And if I kissed you again?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” he said shyly. “I’d like it.”

“Good, because I plan on doing it again,” Casey murmured before he closed his lips once again on Ryo’s soft ones.

Ryo’s neck arched upwards, opening his mouth to Casey. Casey’s hands roamed the planes of Ryo’s torso, clutching and stroking his body with a need he had not realized was so strong.

“Ryo,” Casey panted has he pulled away from Ryo, “Ryo,” he tried again, “I won’t be able to stop if we keep going on…” he faded off when Ryo pulled his face down to meet his.

Ryo looked his square in the eyes, “I don’t want to you to stop.” He wiggled around until he was facing Casey, his legs wrapped around Casey’s hips snuggly. His arms came to interlock behind Casey’s neck, pulling Casey towards him. “Ever,” he said shortly before he kissed him.

Casey gave himself up to the kiss. He let his fire pass on until it was caught by Ryo’s. Together they let themselves be consumed by their flames of desire. Soon Casey was pushing them to the floor. No longer content to just fleeting touches and kisses. He quickly stripped Ryo of his shirt, and sat back, straddling Ryo’s hips, to admire the work that was in front of him. “God,” he whispered. “You are beyond words Ryo, for your beauty is…magical.” And with that Casey’s mouth found a hard dark pink nipple and began to suck with abandon.

Ryo let out a strangled cry as his whole body arched from Casey’s touch. He couldn’t stop the moans the issued from his own lips. And Casey’s own were more then encouraging. He moved from one side to another and then his lips moved up to his neck. His tongue was ghosting over his throat. His teeth nipping here and there, just causing a bit of pain, but it turned Ryo on to Casey’s glee.

Through his cloud of lust, Casey realized that Ryo’s hips were moving a bit too fast. He was so close already. The time for teasing was over, Ryo needed a release and he needed it soon. He let his hands slip down Ryo’s body and smoothly pulled off Ryo’s drawstring pants.

Ryo felt the cool rush of air on his heated flesh and then it was gone in the warmth of Casey’s mouth. His hips thrust upwards, needing to be deeper. Casey took him all easily.

Ryo cried out, his hands flew to be entwined in Casey’s red hair. His hips moved with a frantic pace that Casey only encouraged. “God…ooohhh, god,” Ryo moaned, his eyes clasped tightly shut. They snapped open a few mere seconds later as his climax hit him.

Ryo’s mouth opened in a silent scream; his throat worked, but no sound came out. He lay limp on the floor and his mind tried to start working again.

“Feel better?” Casey asked as he leaned over him, his long red hair dangling over Ryo face.

“Hmmmm,” was the only response Ryo could muster.

“I thought as much.” Their tongues mixed languidly and Ryo could taste himself in Casey’s next kiss. Ryo arms found strength again and moved up to start an undress him. Casey helped him and they both let out a gasp of pleasure when their bare skin touched for the first time.

“I didn’t want to rush this…” Casey began as Ryo went to work on Casey’s chest with his mouth. “But…uhhhhhh, gods Ryo…” Ryo’s mouth was clamped onto Casey’s nipple and his hands were moving all over his body, going lower and lower… Casey bit back a cry and Ryo’s hands found his cock.

Casey moaned deep in his throat as Ryo slowly started to stroke it. He arched up into that warm hand, wanting so much more of it, begging Ryo to go faster. But Ryo refused to faster, he had another idea in mind. His lips began their downward journey, but Casey’s hand slipped under his chin and halted him. Ryo looked up, afraid that he had done something wrong.

“No, you haven’t. I merely wanted to move to someplace more comfortable.” Before Ryo could form a reply, Casey had him scooped up into his arms. Ryo felt weightless for a few seconds, and that was all it took before he felt the softness of a bed on his back.

Casey propped himself over Ryo’s lean form. He slowly ran his fingers over Ryo’s face. “Let me make love to you.” He whispered.

“Yesss…” Ryo replied.

Their love making was slow but heated. Ryo couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so loved and consumed. Through his cloudy mind he felt Casey’s lips on his throat again. But this time he did not just lightly bite. He felt teeth pierce his skin. Ryo let out a strangled cry as a new wave of pleasure, stronger then he had ever felt, hit him and run violently down his body. Together they both came, arching back on one another.

What seems as though hours later, Ryo could not be sure, he awoke from his passion spent sleep. “You awake?” came Casey’s muffled voice.

“Hum.”

Casey turned Ryo around so they were facing each other in the dark. From the dim light Ryo could see the glassy like reflection of Casey’s eyes. He felt Casey’s hand caress his face and then Casey pulling him closer, enveloping him with his arms. “I love you, Ryo.” Casey said quietly. “I love you.”

And in the darkness, Ryo didn’t not know what to say.

****************************************************

Sage spent every waking minute looking for Ryo. He drove around town, walked the streets, over and over again. To the rest of the household it appeared that he hardly slept and ate even less. Sage let determination drive him. His only thought was to find Ryo. The news reports only helped to fuel is worries that some vile bloodsucking creature had found Ryo. When he was home his fuse was sharp, which left everyone to leave him a 10 foot radius, if not more. It was coming up to day 5 and Sage had nothing to show but dark circles under his eyes from constant fatigue. He sat almost slumped over his steering wheel in a grocery store when someone caught his eye. His gut instinct told him something was just NOT right with this guy. It might have been winter but he was just too pale. He didn’t move right, to fluidly to be human no matter how much training you had.

He watched a red haired man walk over to a black Mustang, open it and place the groceries in side and pull out his cell phone. Sage rolled down his window to hear what he was saying.

“Hello?” He was an American…maybe, there were more then just an American accent there, Sage couldn’t tell what else.

“Hey, yeah, I was just about to come back home. I should be there in half an hour.”

A slight pause. Sage couldn’t hear who was talking on the other end. He wished he was closer.

“What, miss me already?” A short laugh. “Don’t worry. Yeah. I’ll see you soon, Ryo.”

Ryo.

Sage’s eyes widened. Every alarm he had was going off inside his head. He had to control himself, he was shaking so much. He slammed his Jeep into gear, and tailed the black Mustang out of the parking lot. He let a few cars go ahead of him and then followed. He was on high alert. Please, he thought, please let Ryo be ok. Please.

The black Mustang drove out of the city and after a few miles they were the only two cars on the road. Sage knew he must know that he was following him by now, but Sage still kept his distance.

The car pulled up to a Victorian mansion. Sage parked his jeep along the side of the road and got out. A light snow began to fall be he could still see clearly. A figure was coming around the side of the house, a figure that Sage would recognize anywhere. Ryo almost ran up to meet the red head. They embraced and when their lips met, Sage saw red.

The headed back around the side of the house, arms around each other. Sage shot out of his car and was running like he’d never ran before. He was there in a few seconds, and rounding the house and there.

They were standing in the snow, kissing. Sage didn’t think, he just reacted. Later he remembered that he felt he was out of his body looking back, and that everything had gone into slow motion.

“Get your FUCKING had off of him, asshole!” Sage grabbed the red-head’s arm, yanking them apart. His fist pulled back and slammed into the side of his face with a satisfying smack. The red-head hit the ground, sending the groceries flying.

“SAGE!” Ryo’s voice was shrill in the cold air. “NO!” But Ryo moved to slow to stop him.

After recovering from the shock of being hit, Casey looked up at Sage with inferno glare that would have stopped even the most bravest man. But Sage was in his own blind rage and he saw nothing.

Casey spat out the blood in his mouth and wiped his lips on the back on his hand. He let out a deep growl. In a split second he was up and had Sage pinned against a tree. Casey’s face was contorted into an ugly sneer. His teeth were pulled back and Sage could see…fangs. And his eyes…they glowed red.

“Listen you selfish prick,” Casey hissed. “NO ONE hits me.”

“Casey, please, don’t hurt-,” Ryo said gently.

Casey swiveled his head around, and in his anger, had forgot the way he looked. “Why not?!”

“Oh…gods!” Ryo pulled back. “What…” Ryo shock his head.

“Ryo, I’m…I was going to tell you…” Casey instantly calmed down. He released Sage and turned to completely face Ryo. “Ryo, I’d never harm you, I swear.”

“Don’t listen to him Ryo,” Sage said sternly. “He’s a vampire. It’s all over the news. Multiple killings, bodies horribly mutilated and drained of blood. You saw him!”

Ryo looked between the two, torn, not knowing which to listen to.

“Ryo, please. It’s not me. I didn’t do it. I swear to you. I haven’t killed anyone here.”

“So it’s true? You are a-a vampire?” Ryo gasped. His hand flew to his neck where he had felt Casey bite him. “Last night…you bit me. After all we talked about, you LIED to me?! You USED ME?!” Ryo’s voice rose in pitch.

“Ryo, no! It wasn’t like that! I’d didn’t want to frighten you…I was going to tell you. And I got so caught up that I lost some of my control. Please, Ryo. You know that I’m not lying to you now.”

“I-I.” Ryo stammered.

“Ryo, listen to me. He’s a monster. He’s only using you. Come over here.” Sage said firmly.

Ryo was frozen in his spot. He didn’t know who to turn to. All he could do was to stare at them. His heart slowly began to crumble once more.

And the snow continued to fall.


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