Vampire and His Pleasant Companions: Volume 3 - Part 8

Previous TOC Next

They drank wine together in the living room, Richard and Al. It might have been the first time Al had consumed alcohol since becoming a vampire. He never felt the desire to drink. But when the esteemed producer offered, he couldn’t refuse and took a sip from the wine glass. As expected, anything other than blood seemed to disintegrate the moment it touched his tongue; it didn't fill his stomach, nor did it make him drunk. Still, there was something comforting about the act of drinking.

Richard, on the other hand, seemed to have a low tolerance for alcohol; his cheeks flushed after just one glass.

[“I was surprised when I heard Akira was living with someone. He’s stubborn, unsociable, and terrible at expressing himself. I’ve always worried about whether he’d be able to manage in the world with that personality. When he graduated from the mortuary school in California, I secretly arranged a job for him, but he up and returned to Japan. I was so lonely then.”]

Richard sighed.

[“To top it off, after he returned to Japan, he didn’t contact me at all. I thought he must be busy, so I held back, but an entire year passed without a single phone call. Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore and went to see him myself.”]

Richard’s affection for Akira was palpable in every word he spoke.

[“Um... Richard, what exactly is your relationship with Akira?”]

Al finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been on his mind. Richard smiled and replied, [“Call me Dick.”] The idea of addressing the great Richard by a nickname, even with permission, seemed too daunting.

[“We’re not related by blood, but Akira is like a son to me. He’s Lily’s only child, after all.”]

A memory flitted through Al’s mind.

[“Lily... do you mean Hanae Tamura?”]

[“That’s right.”]

Hanae Tamura was a glamorous and coquettish Japanese actress. Al recalled reading in a film actors' directory that her real name, Hanae, didn't catch on easily with those around her, so she adopted the nickname "Lily" after the flower she loved. Al had always thought the two looked alike, but he never imagined they were mother and son.

[“Lily and I were lovers, but we never married. I only learned about Akira’s existence after Lily passed away. I wanted to become a father to him, and I asked him to be my adopted son many times, but Akira never agreed.”]

[“I heard voices, so I came downstairs, and it seems you’re enjoying something nice,”]

Martha appeared by the staircase in a floral nightgown.

[“Would you like to join us, Martha?”] Richard offered, and surprisingly, Martha responded, [“I’ll take you up on that,”] as she walked into the kitchen. She returned with a wine glass and some sliced cheese, then sat beside Richard and drank the wine heartily.

[“It’s delicious,”] she remarked.

Richard, pleased, replied, [“It’s vintage.”]

[“We were just talking about Al and Akira,”] he added.

[“Ah, that stubborn boy,”] Martha remarked, somewhat harshly.

[“That child left all his charm in his mother’s womb. On top of that, he’s stubborn and sharp-tongued. Do you know what he said to me when we met for the first time in five years the day before yesterday? 'Did you shrink?' Can you believe that?”]

Richard chuckled softly, but Martha snapped, [“You’re rude too!”] and Richard shrank back like a scolded child.

[“There’s a lot I could say, but I’m just glad he’s doing well. And it’s quite remarkable that the usually aloof Akira brought his partner to introduce to us.”]

[“I’m surprised too, Martha. Even when he lived in America, he never brought friends home.”]

[“I always suspected that he might be gay,”] Martha said, surprisingly candid. [“But, well, that doesn’t matter. At my age, it’s even less of an issue. What matters most is that he’s happy, no matter what others might say.”]

Martha smiled warmly at Al. Every time the two of them expressed their understanding of same-sex couples, Al felt increasingly uneasy.

[“Um, Akira and I aren’t... we’re not really lovers,”]

Al mumbled awkwardly, but Martha, not hearing him clearly, cupped her ear and asked, [“What was that?”]

[“We’re not lovers. I like Akira, but he hasn’t accepted me yet.”]

Richard patted Al on the shoulder.

[“Don’t worry. I’m sure Akira loves you too.”]

His voice was full of compassion and certainty.

[“Akira isn’t the type to share a bed with someone he doesn’t care about. And this time, he came to America for you, didn’t he? He might not be clear about it because that’s how he is, but you are loved.”]

Listening to Richard, Al started to believe that what he was saying might be true. He had always felt that Akira treated him kindly, but if others could see it too, then it must be a sign of love.

The sound of footsteps made Al turn around to see Akira approaching with a somewhat puzzled expression.

[“Akira, everyone’s here. How about joining us for some wine and a chat?”] Richard suggested, but Akira firmly declined with a [“No, thanks,”] and walked into the kitchen. He came out holding what looked like a cup of ice cream.

[“It makes me sad that you’re so cold to me, my son,”] Richard joked, shrugging his shoulders playfully. Akira paused and frowned.

[“I’m not your son. If you want a child, why don’t you adopt one, like I’ve told you many times?”]

[“It’s not just anyone. I wanted to be your father. But it’s okay. I’ve already decided I’m your father, whether you like it or not.”]

Akira looked troubled, and Martha sighed.

[“Akira, you should accept it. And Richard, I have one piece of advice for you: Overprotective parents are usually disliked.”]

Richard pouted like a child, and seeing this, Akira softened his expression. He approached the sofa and placed a hand on Richard’s shoulder from behind.

[“Let’s talk tomorrow, Dick.”]

[“Alright.”]

Richard covered Akira’s hand with his own, patting it lightly. Akira gave a slight smile before disappearing into the guest room upstairs.

[“It feels like I’m in unrequited love with my own son,”] Richard murmured as he watched Akira leave. Martha laughed.

[“Akira doesn’t like being fussed over. You should realize that by now.”]

[“I know, I know, but... I just can’t help myself.”]

[“Just be there for him when he needs you. He’s already come to you for help when he needed it, hasn’t he?”]

[“That’s true, but...”]

[“He probably has his own worries and struggles,”] Martha said, holding her wine glass with both hands, her gaze lowered.

[“How do you know that Akira is troubled?”]

[“He’s eating ice cream, isn’t he?”]

Richard exclaimed, [“What?”]

[“That boy rarely eats sweets. But right before his final exams at the mortuary school, he ate ice cream every day, so much that I was worried he’d get sick. As soon as the exams were over, he stopped eating it altogether, so I figured the stress of the exams was getting to him.”]

[“If he’s worried about something, why won’t he talk to me?”] Richard looked like he was about to rush into Akira’s room at that very moment, but Martha watched him with an exasperated expression.

[“There’s a time for everything. If we’re needed, he’ll tell us when the time comes. Until then, we should quietly watch over him. Akira’s not a child anymore, so there’s no need for us to pry.”]

Al quickly stood up, drawing the attention of both Richard and Martha.

[“I’m going to bed too. I had a great time tonight. Goodnight, Richard, Martha.”]

Al returned to the second floor, nearly chasing after him, and stopped in front of Akira’s room. But he couldn’t bring himself to knock—there was no reason to. In the end, he retreated to his own room, flopped onto the king-sized bed, and glanced at the clock, which was about to strike midnight.

The windowpane rattled. The wind was picking up. Everyone said Chicago was a windy city. The rattling continued... the wind showed no signs of dying down.

Al jumped out of bed and approached the connecting door. Ignoring the doubts swirling in his head, he opened the door without knocking. In the dimly lit room, where only the bedside lamp was on, Akira, who was sitting on the bed eating ice cream, slowly turned to look at him.

"What do you want?"

Al stepped into the room and sat down next to Akira. The windowpane in this room was rattling too.

"I don’t like… the sound of wind."

Akira scooped the last spoonful of ice cream into his mouth, then tossed the empty cup into the trash. He pushed Al aside and burrowed under the sheets, turning off the light without acknowledging Al’s presence.

Torn between left and right, Al chose the side with more space on the right and climbed in forcefully.

"…Go back to your own room."

Akira’s voice didn’t sound particularly upset, so Al pressed himself against Akira’s back as he lay on his side.

"Hey!"

"I don’t like… the wind. Let’s sleep together."

Akira sighed loudly enough for Al to hear and grumbled, "Do whatever you want." Of course, it was natural that Akira's body was warm. Even away from work, his hair and skin still carried the faint scent of blood and embalming fluid. This is Akira's scent, Al realized, his heart softening. The sound of the wind, which had been just an excuse, faded far into the background.

At first, Akira’s breathing was a bit heavy, but eventually, it settled into a calm rhythm.

"Akira, are you asleep?"

Al peered into his face. Even in the dark, he could see Akira’s eyelids twitch. But still, he didn’t respond.

"I love you so much."

He saw Akira’s eyelids tighten, but Akira kept pretending to sleep.

"I really love you… you’re my favorite."

Al kissed Akira’s cheek and ear repeatedly, which he was stubbornly ignoring, and then embraced him from behind.

"Akira… I love you."

He kissed Akira’s unruly black hair. Feeling a wave of happiness, Al closed his eyes. He didn’t know what was bothering Akira enough to make him eat ice cream, but he hoped that someday Akira would share it with him. Meanwhile, Al rubbed his nose against Akira’s warm back, feeling content.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

Al was so exhausted from the long drive (which Akira had driven) and the chaos with the suitcase that he slept deeply, even transforming from human to bat without waking up. He remained in a deep sleep, sprawled out on his stomach near the pillow, until Martha came in to make the bed and picked him up.

“Aah!”

Al frantically looked around while held tightly in Martha's wrinkled hand.

[“Good grief... How did you sneak into this room? And to think you're sleeping on the bed! Unbelievable. Aren't bats supposed to hang from ceilings or under eaves to sleep?”]

As Martha peered down at him, Al let out a small, embarrassed squeak.

[“Oh?”]

Martha’s gaze shifted to the T-shirt and shorts left on Akira’s bed, which Al had used as pajamas. After staring at them intently, she picked up the shorts, and a pair of underwear he had slipped out.

[“So, Al slept in this room too, huh? Young people sure are full of energy. Well, while I’m doing the laundry, I might as well wash the sheets too.”]

Martha, having clearly misunderstood something, swung the window wide open and casually tossed Al outside. He tumbled through the air, but after three spins, he righted himself and looked back through the wide-open window to see Martha stripping the sheets from the bed.

Al figured he'd get scolded if he returned to the room, so he reluctantly flew around the mansion instead. He couldn't tell the time, but judging by the position of the sun, it must be close to noon. The weather was perfect, ideal for filming on location.

From up in the air, Richard's house looked about twice as big as the surrounding homes. Flying higher, Al caught sight of the shimmering, expansive Lake Michigan in the distance, almost like the ocean. A strong wind blew, pushing him back suddenly—perhaps the same wind that had shaken the windowpane last night.

As he drifted on the wind, Al noticed a man walking around the perimeter of the property. Seeing people passing by wasn't unusual, but what caught Al’s eye was that this man was looking up. Despite the high wall, all he could see was the roof of the mansion.

Though the weather was nice and not cold, the man was wearing a long-sleeved hoodie, a hat pulled low, and sunglasses that obscured his eyes. The image of the suspicious person Al had seen in the garden the previous night flashed through his mind. This man looked similar. He didn’t have a beard, but something about the shape of his face and his slender build seemed familiar. If this man was indeed the intruder from last night, maybe he was a fan of Richard’s trying to break into the house. But that didn’t seem right—the man’s aura felt off, a bit more rough around the edges.

Flying low, Al approached the man and let out a sharp, “Squeak!” The man flinched, his back twitching, but when he realized it was just a bat, he clicked his tongue in irritation. He only paid attention to the small creature for that brief moment before turning into another street. Al followed him, and the man got into an old pickup truck parked at the side of the road and drove south on Lake Shore Drive. Al tried to chase him at full speed but eventually had to give up, exhausted.

The last time Al had eaten was three days before he was frozen. He’d had plenty of blood then, so he should be fine for a week, but he was starting to get hungry. He needed to conserve his strength until the day they returned home. Unlike when he was in Japan, he couldn’t just visit a funeral home and get blood from a deceased. If his hunger became unbearable, Akira would probably share with him, but Al wanted to avoid that as much as possible.

Flying slowly back to Richard’s estate, Al spotted another suspicious man. This one was in a suit, probably around thirty years old, with acne scars on his face. He was looking around nervously as he walked through the garden. Al couldn’t believe someone would boldly enter the property in broad daylight. He screeched loudly to scare the man off.

The man glanced at Al but ignored him and continued deeper into the garden. Al debated whether to alert someone but decided there wasn’t enough time. Instead, he swooped down and scratched at the man’s head with his claws.

“Ow! Damn it, that hurts!”

Al flew up just before the man could swat at him, screeching loudly, “Get out, get out!” Anger flashed in the man’s eyes, but Al glared back just as fiercely.

“You damn bat!”

[“Is something wrong?”]

Richard suddenly appeared from the shadows, startling Al.

[“This bat attacked me!”]

Seeing that the man in the suit was an acquaintance of the homeowner, Al hung upside down on a nearby branch. Richard stared at Al intently.

[“Come to think of it, Martha mentioned there was a bat inside the house. Could it be this one?”]

Al nodded. Richard’s eyes widened in surprise.

[“Henry, did you see that? The bat just nodded in response to me.”]

While Richard was excited, the man called Henry dismissed it, saying, [“It was just a coincidence.”]

[“If this bat is causing trouble by attacking people, should I get rid of it now?”]

[“Get rid of it…?”]

[“I’ll shoot it.”]

The moment Al heard this, he flapped his wings wildly and took off. There was no way he was sticking around to be shot! But if he flew too far away, he’d end up naked when he transformed back into a human, so he couldn’t stray too far from the house.

Circling the garden to escape Henry, Al spotted Akira by the pool on the south side. It was a bit late in the season for swimming, so Akira was just sitting in a chair, slowly eating ice cream with a magazine resting on his lap.

Al perched gently on Akira’s shoulder. Akira glanced at him with his dark eyes but continued eating without a fuss. Just then, Richard and Henry, who had been chasing after Al, arrived.

Both men’s gazes were fixed on Al, who sat perched on Akira’s shoulder. Al figured he was safe from being shot here, so he quietly nestled closer to Akira’s neck, lowering his head.

[“Akira, are you… okay?”]

Richard asked, and Akira slowly turned around, responding with [“What?”]

[“Isn’t that a bat on your shoulder?”]

[“It is.”]

[“Since when did you become a bat handler? Oh, Martha mentioned a bat in your room earlier—could it be…?”]

Akira sighed, clearly annoyed.

[“It’s my pet. He’s difficult to handle, so I couldn’t leave him to someone else, so I brought him from Japan.”]

[“If it’s your pet, could you train it a bit better? That bat attacked me earlier!”]

Henry pouted, his lips pursed in complaint. Akira asked, “Is that true?” and Al, knowing it was a misunderstanding but still true, nodded. Akira gave him a light smack on the head, and Al let out a small, defeated squeak.

[“I’m sorry about that. I scolded him.”]

Although Henry still seemed unconvinced, he said nothing more since Al had received a punishment of sorts. With a bottle of mineral water in hand, Richard sat down on the chair next to Akira. Henry, however, stood rigidly behind him, his presence imposing even without being in the direct line of sight.

[“Henry, don't worry about us. Why don't you take a walk around the garden?”]

[“I can't do that. My job is to protect you.”]

Finally, it clicked. Henry was Richard’s bodyguard.

[“Then stay close to Martha. We’re men, so we can handle ourselves if something happens, but Martha wouldn’t stand a chance.”]

[“If I stay near that old wom... I mean, Martha, she’ll just have me doing chores like laundry and cleaning, which aren’t part of my job...”]

Henry muttered, and Richard laughed.

[“Martha’s getting on in years. Think of it as part of the job and help her out, won’t you?”]

Reluctantly, Henry disappeared into the mansion. As soon as he was gone, Richard leaned closer to Al, who was perched on Akira’s shoulder. It was clear that Richard couldn’t help but be fascinated by the bat.

[“Is this bat really your pet? Do you think it’s okay if I touch it?”]

[“Yeah.”]

Richard cautiously reached out to stroke Al’s head. Al nuzzled against Richard’s fingers, showing affection by sniffing them softly.

[“He’s so tame and adorable.”]

Al was genuinely pleased to be liked and tilted his head to strike a cute pose, letting out a small, cheerful squeak.

[“But why a bat instead of a cat or dog?”]

[“It just sort of happened. But I’ve always liked bats.”]

Richard’s eyes widened in surprise.

[“That’s news to me.”]

[“Is it?”]

[“Why didn’t you tell me?”]

[“You never asked.”]

Even though Akira cut the conversation short, Richard seemed content just to be talking to him, smiling throughout.

[“You always manage to surprise me. That’s something you have in common with Lily. She loved to surprise people too.”]

As Richard spoke about the past, his expression was gentle, making it clear that he still loved Lily. Maybe that’s why he cared so much for Akira—because he was the child of the woman Richard loved. Or perhaps Richard saw a bit of Lily in Akira.

[“…By the way, where’s your boyfriend? I haven’t seen him at all.”]

Akira placed his half-eaten ice cream on the side table.

[“He went out early this morning to meet someone. Dick, I think you’re mistaken, so let me make it clear—he’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a housemate.”]

Richard spoke slowly, almost as if explaining something to a child, as he called Akira’s name.

[“I live in LA, where 40% of the residents in certain neighborhoods are gay. Many of my colleagues and creative friends are gay. I have no prejudice against you being gay. What makes me happy is that you brought someone you love to introduce to me.”]

[“Dick, I’m telling you, he’s not my boyfriend.”]

Akira denied it with emphasis.

[“Al said the same thing. But if he’s not your boyfriend, why do you sleep in the same bed?”]

Akira fell silent.

[“You slept together last night too, didn’t you? Martha mentioned she felt bad for putting you in separate rooms.”]

[“We did sleep in the same bed, but that’s not unusual in Japan. Last night, he just said he didn’t like the sound of the wind...”]

Richard’s light-colored eyes, as serene and compassionate as the dawn, gazed at Akira.

[“There’s no need to be embarrassed, Akira. Al is handsome, kind, and a sweet guy. More than anything, he loves you deeply.”]

Akira narrowed his eyes as if finding it hard to bear.

[“Dick, to be honest, even if we share a bed, I’m not having anal sex with him.”]

Al, who had been listening, blushed with embarrassment.

[“Ah, well, not all gay couples do that, I’ve heard. As long as you’re both happy with how you’re expressing your love, that’s what matters.”]

No matter how the conversation twisted and turned, it was clear that Richard was determined to see them as a couple. Eventually, Akira grew tired of explaining and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, Richard snapped his fingers as if an idea had struck him.

[“That’s right, Akira! How about we go out for dinner tonight with Al and Martha? There’s a restaurant that serves delicious spare ribs.”]

Akira waved his hand lazily.

[“Al can’t. He has a drama shoot tonight.”]

[“A drama? Oh, right, you came to Chicago with him because he had a location shoot. Is the filming nearby?”]

[“I don’t know the details, but I heard they rented an old house in Oak Park for the shoot. Wait, that’s for the daytime scenes. He’s only appearing in the night scenes, so they mentioned filming in a cemetery.”]

Richard suddenly straightened up in his chair.

[“A cemetery at night! What kind of drama is this?”]

It was no surprise he was shocked. Even though cemeteries had been increasingly turned into parks and had a more pleasant atmosphere, there was no doubt that the dead rested beneath your feet. It wasn’t exactly the kind of place most people would want to visit at night.

[“It's a vampire drama, and Al plays the villain, the leader of the enemy vampires.”]

[“That sounds interesting! I'd love to see it.”]

Richard showed interest, but Akira clicked his tongue loudly enough for Richard to hear.

[“It's a boring show.”]

Akira had been saying all along that BLOOD GIRL Mahiro was dull, but hearing him declare it so bluntly in front of Richard was quite a shock.

[“I’m curious about both Japanese dramas and Al. Even if it’s just for a little while, could I visit the set? The producer in me is getting excited.”]

Akira hesitated, [“Well, that might be…”]

[“Oh, right. Even though Al is in it, you’re not involved with the drama, Akira. I’ll get in touch with my manager to speak with Al’s Japanese agent and arrange for a set visit. Could you tell me the name of the Japanese TV network and the title of the drama?”]

[“You don’t have to go through all that trouble. The producer of the drama is a high school classmate of mine, so I know him. Even if I haven’t arranged it beforehand, I think it’ll be fine if I just ask on set.”]

Richard exclaimed, [“Oh, that’s wonderful! Yesterday, you introduced me to your boyfriend, and now I’m meeting your friend. I’m so happy to meet so many important people in your life.”]

Even though Akira tried to deny it, saying, "He’s just an acquaintance!" Richard seemed convinced they were friends.

The two continued having slightly mismatched conversations. After a while, Akira began to nod off, and Al, conserving his energy for the night’s shoot, dozed off on Akira’s shoulder.

A shadow fell over them, and Al woke up. When he looked up, he saw Richard gazing intently at Akira. For a moment, Al's heart skipped a beat, wondering if Richard might have romantic feelings for Akira like Muroi did, but the warmth in Richard’s eyes was purely gentle.

Akira was truly loved by Richard. Even though Akira said he had no parents, he had someone who genuinely cared for him.

Richard gently stroked Al’s head. Not wanting to wake Akira, Al softly chirped, "Squeak, squeak," in gratitude.

[“An embalmer by trade with a bat as a pet... It's almost like you’re the one who’s the vampire.”]

Richard’s voice had a faint trace of laughter in it.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

Martha, having been introduced to Al as a pet bat, had a puzzled look on her face.

[“You didn’t bring anything like that when you first came here.”]

Akira made a weak excuse, saying, [“He got caught in baggage inspection and was held up at the airport...”] Al, trying to make the story more believable, nuzzled up to Akira and acted affectionate, as if he were used to him.

[“It’s not that I mind having a bat in the house. But does he, you know, poop all over the place?”]

[“He’s trained, so it’s fine.”]

Al nodded in agreement. Martha still looked skeptical. [“Are you sure about that?”] she muttered, half-convinced. Al, feeling her eyes boring into him as he flew around the room, eventually clung to Akira’s shoulder and remained quiet.

Before the sun set, Akira brought him inside the room. The weak evening sunlight filtered through the window, signaling that nightfall was near... the time when Al would transform into his human form. Al had assumed that Akira would leave once he brought him to the room, but instead, Akira settled on the sofa.

Soon after, Al transformed from bat to human. As the fur that had covered his body vanished, a slight chill set in. He hugged his shoulders and let out a small sneeze, "Achoo."

"Apparently, Dick is going to watch the drama filming tonight," Akira mentioned.

“Akira come too?” Al asked hopefully.

Akira, showing no restraint, clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Do you expect me to just tell him where it’s happening and say, ‘Sure, go ahead’? I have to introduce Dick to Sakeiri. Besides, why on earth he’d want to see your terrible acting is beyond me."

“Akira, terrible! I’m trying!” Al yelled, to which Akira shot him a sharp glare.

"I’m not saying you’re not trying. But bad acting is still bad acting."

Al bit his lower lip in frustration. Just then, Akira mumbled, "Come to think of it..."

"Even in that sloppy drama, Mitani’s acting was pretty good."

At that moment, Al felt a twinge of jealousy toward Mitani, the horror enthusiast.

[“Al, are you in there?”]

Richard’s voice called from outside.

[“Ah, yes!”]

The next moment, the door swung wide open.

[“I was just talking to Akira, and tonight I’d like to... “]

Richard’s smiling expression turned to shock as his gaze landed on Akira lounging on the sofa, doubling his surprise. Al, puzzled, tilted his head—then realized he had just transformed and was completely naked.

[“Ah, sorry for barging in so suddenly.”]

Richard’s face flushed bright red as he hurriedly closed the door. Al, suddenly embarrassed as well, rushed to the window and wrapped himself in the curtains, even though the door was already shut.

[“I’m truly sorry, to both of you.”]

Richard spoke through the door.

[“I was hoping to visit your... um, your filming location tonight. Would that be alright?”]

[“O-of course! It’d be an honor.”]

Wrapped in the curtain, Al fidgeted nervously, while Akira remained expressionless and cold.

[“I hear filming starts at 9 p.m. The cemetery where it’s being shot is a place I’m familiar with. When I asked Akira, I found out there wouldn’t be any staff pickup, so I thought I’d drive you both there myself.”]

["You’re going to drive, Dick?"] Akira asked, sounding surprised.

[“I don’t get many chances to drive myself, so I thought it’d be nice to go for a drive. I’m planning to leave at 8 o’clock. Could you both be ready by then?”]

Previous TOC Next