Vampire and His Pleasant Companions: Volume 4 - Part 10

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[“That was quite a heated argument. Were you speaking Japanese? I couldn’t understand a word.”] 

Stan spoke to Al, who was hanging his head. 

[“We argue all the time, but today was worse. And it’s Akira’s fault.”] 

Akira thought that offering a house and job would be enough, but that wasn’t it. Al didn’t care about a house or a job—he just wanted to be with the person he loved.

When they stepped into the mansion’s living room, Martha was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea. [“Akira’s in a terrible mood. He barely responds when I talk to him,”] she complained. 

[“I’m sorry. It’s probably because we fought.”] 

Al apologized and was about to head upstairs when Stan asked, 

[“You’re going to your room already?”] 

[“Yeah...”] 

[“Why don’t you give it some time? Maybe you both need a moment to cool off and think. That way, you can talk things over more calmly later.”]

It was clear that if Al went to the room now, the argument would just pick up where it left off. So, taking Stan’s advice, he decided to stay in the living room for a bit to clear his head. 

[“I’ve never seen Akira in such a foul mood,”] Martha sighed.  [“A rebellious phase after thirty? That’s a handful... though, it was kind of cute.”] 

Only Martha could find Akira’s full-blown bad temper "cute." 

[“Cute? I was scared. He was yelling in Japanese, and I couldn’t understand a thing,”] Stan said with a strained laugh. 

[“Sulking after a fight is adorable. You wouldn’t know, but Akira talks a lot more now than he used to. It’s like a cat that warms up to you after being cold and distant—it’s even more endearing.”]

Martha had no reservations about comparing Akira to a cat. 

[“When he first started living here, which was more than ten years ago, I thought Dick had brought a ghost into the house. He looked so much like Lily, wandering around the rooms in a daze. His English wasn’t great, so all he’d say was a brief ‘good morning.’ And, well... in the beginning, he seemed to be wary of us. Still, every time I cleaned his room or did his laundry, he’d always thank me. That’s how I knew he was a good kid. Over time, as we lived together, he got used to me and Dick, and we all became closer.”]

Martha took another sip of tea. 

[“I lost my husband and don’t have children. Dick doesn’t plan to marry, so Akira is like a son or grandson to us. Since he doesn’t have any family of his own, Dick has even suggested adopting him, but he never agrees.”] 

Listening to Martha talk about Akira’s past, the night passed by, and it was already after midnight. Stan kindly offered, [“There are other guest rooms if you need,”] but Al felt that despite the bad argument, it was better to stay close for now. 

When Al returned to the room, it was pitch dark. Even the nightlight was off. Though he could see in the dark, fumbling around was still a bit awkward, so he turned on a single lamp by the bed. Akira was curled up on the far end of the wide bed, hidden under the sheets like a cocoon. 

Al sat down beside him, the bed creaking softly. The lump under the sheets shifted slightly. Staring at Akira’s back, Al found himself at a loss for words. He had already said "I love you" and "I want to be with you" countless times, and Akira surely understood by now.

Even if it was called being selfish, he didn’t care. Even if it meant heartbreak later, he wanted to stay by Akira’s side. Gently, Al stroked the rounded shape of the sheet, over and over, like a mother soothing a child to sleep. 

“...Don’t touch me.”

Akira’s muffled voice rejected him. Ignoring the warning, Al continued, until the sheets were suddenly thrown back and Akira sat up, his upper body exposed. 

"Just go to sleep already!" 

When Al tried to get on the bed, Akira swatted at him like shooing away a dog, saying, "Get away from me!" But Al stubbornly stayed by his side, making the bed feel much smaller for Akira. Clearly irritated, Akira shifted over with an exaggerated huff, making a point to turn his back on Al.

“Is it because... I’m vampire?” Al asked his stubborn back. 

“If I human... you not throw me away?” 

There was no answer. 

“If I human... you no leave?” 

"It’s not about abandoning or not abandoning. You’re better off living here," Akira muttered. 

“I want stay... with Akira.” 

Al slipped under the covers and pressed himself against Akira’s back, clinging to him like a baby monkey.

“I choose... how I live.”

By a series of coincidences, Al had ended up with Akira. At first, he couldn’t go anywhere, but now he had the power to choose where he belonged.

“Don’t... throw me away,” Al pleaded to the warm back in front of him. 

“Don’t leave... me.” 

With each word, a painful wave of emotion welled up inside him. He felt so pitiful, so full of sorrow, that tears began to spill from his eyes. As he sobbed, Akira suddenly rolled over. 

"Stop crying. My back’s getting wet." 

The room wasn’t completely dark thanks to the dim light of the bedside lamp. Al could clearly see Akira’s face as they lay facing each other. 

Before Akira could finish, Al threw his arms around him.

“Wha—hey!”

Akira’s voice cracked, flustered.

“Let go!” 

Even as Akira punched him in the head, pulled his hair, and pinched his ears, Al endured it all. He waited patiently until Akira sighed, seemingly too tired to fight anymore. When Al slowly lifted his head, Akira’s black eyes, filled with irritation, glared at him. Al cupped Akira’s cheeks and kissed him. 

"I love you." 

Each time Al said "I love you," he paired it with a kiss. After about ten kisses, he hugged Akira tightly, and a strange feeling began to rise within him. He had always loved Akira and wanted to stay by his side, but this was the first time he felt this kind of urge.

He hesitated to call it desire, but he couldn’t think of it any other way. His chest swelled with warmth and longing. Al kissed Akira’s neck instead of his lips. When his tongue brushed Akira’s skin, he felt Akira’s body shiver slightly. The thought crossed his mind—what if they ended up having sex? If they became physically involved, Akira surely wouldn’t be able to leave him. Akira was a deeply compassionate person, after all...

As Al slipped his hand under the waistband of Akira’s sweatpants, Akira’s sharp voice whispered in his ear, 

"What do you think you’re doing?" 

“Can I... touch?” 

Japanese was tricky, especially in situations like this. Al wasn’t sure how to phrase things in such a delicate moment. 

"Who said you could touch me?" 

Akira definitely hadn’t given him permission. 

“Touch... okay?” 

"No."

Al bit his lip, still holding onto the waistband of Akira’s pants. 

“I want... with Akira...” 

Suddenly, a word popped into Al’s head. 

“I want... nyan-nyan with Akira.”’ 

Akira’s mouth dropped open in shock. His face was blank with surprise A friend of Sakeiri’s had told him that “nyan-nyan” was slang for sex, but now Al realized it might be a cruder term than he thought—perhaps the Japanese equivalent of ‘fuck.’

While Al turned pale with embarrassment, Akira narrowed his eyes and let out a small chuckle. His stomach began to shake, and soon he burst into a full-blown laugh, his body convulsing with laughter. 

"Oh my god, where did you learn that word?" 

"Um... from Sakeiri’s friend?" 

Akira scratched his head with a sigh. 

"That guy’s always teaching you nonsense."

His voice was still softened by the remnants of laughter. 

"Really, those idiots..." Akira flicked Al on the forehead with his finger. It stung a little. 

"So, you really want to have sex with me that badly?" 

Akira’s straightforward words caught Al off guard. Feeling like he would lose his momentum if he hesitated now, Al answered with a determined "Yes." 

"Alright then, go ahead." 

For a moment, Al thought his ears were playing tricks on him. Was it a hallucination? The man who had just been yelling at him not to touch was now giving him permission. Al slapped his own cheek to check. It hurt. 

“Really... okay?” 

"Don’t make me say it twice. If you ask again, I’ll kick you off the bed." 

There was no romance or mood in Akira’s words, but he had given the green light. Al sat upright on the bed, knelt formally in front of Akira, and bowed his head, saying, "Itadakimasu" like before a meal. 

"...What are you doing?" Akira narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed. 

“P-proper manners...” 

As Al prepared to "proceed" in accordance with Japanese etiquette, Akira pointed a stern finger at him. 

"Let me be clear upfront—no anal. I’m not sticking it in, and nothing’s going in me."

◇:-:◆:-:◇

He woke up. The room was dim, colored with a dull indigo hue. Al slightly raised his body and looked around. Akira was sitting completely naked, leaning against the headboard with his legs crossed. His expression was distant, and his dark eyes were staring intently at the empty wall.

When Al touched his bare thigh, Akira finally turned to face him.

"...What is it?"

Al sat up and kissed him. The soft sensation of Akira's lips was so pleasant, it made his chest feel warm and fuzzy. He wanted to keep kissing forever. Although he'd had some experience with girls before, this was his first time with a man. He had been extremely nervous, but he had never experienced such fulfilling sex before. Just touching Akira made him so happy that his fingers trembled, and oddly enough, he felt moved when he heard Akira's suppressed voice.

Like when he was a bat, Al pressed his nose against Akira's neck. Akira's hand wrapped around Al's back, gently stroking it. The tender gesture, full of affection, touched Al deeply. He had never imagined that being in a lover's position could bring such overflowing happiness. For no particular reason, he wanted to thank everyone in the world.

“…Your body is cold,” Akira said, the gentle fingers on Al’s back stopping.

"Warm me up." Al climbed onto Akira's lap and hugged him tightly, only to be smacked on the head with a "Cut it out."

“Akira,” Al said, cupping Akira’s face with both hands.

“Take me... back with you. Promise,” he said, kissing him as he spoke.

“Don’t leave... me.”

When there was no response, Al grew anxious and shook Akira's shoulders, pleading, "Promise me, okay?" Akira narrowed his eyes and, with a smile-like expression, replied, "Yeah."

Relieved, Al hugged Akira tightly. It was going to be okay now. Akira had promised. Al leaned in for another kiss, but just as he got close, a strange sensation overtook his body. Heat surged through him like a fire, and Akira’s face grew farther and farther away...

Before he knew it, Al had transformed back into his usual bat form.

"Squeak, squeak (I love you)."

Even as a bat, he tried to express his love. Lying flat on his belly on the sheets, he squeaked desperately, pleading for Akira to understand. Akira, his face unreadable, looked down at Al with those dark, emotionless eyes.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

Akira had been awake since before dawn. He neither left the bed nor fell asleep, just sat still on the sheets. Al, in his bat form, perched on Akira's shoulder and head, rubbing himself against Akira as he basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking, but Akira remained motionless.

Despite being filled with happiness, Al was concerned about his lover's tired expression. They had indeed engaged in some exhausting activities during the night. But Al couldn't help but wonder if Akira had disliked the sex itself. It hadn’t been forced; they had both agreed to it. If Akira had truly hated it, he wouldn't have let Al touch him, and he could have pushed him away at any time. The fact that he hadn’t suggested that Akira must have at least somewhat desired their intimacy.

However, Akira’s face didn’t reflect the joy one would expect on the morning after their first time together. As Al pondered this, he recalled something Akira had said in the past: "I don't get aroused by living things; I'm insensible to that." Yes, Akira didn’t feel desire toward living beings. So where did that leave Al? His heart had stopped, and technically speaking, he wasn't alive, but outwardly, he appeared to be. He seemed to be on the borderline of what might arouse Akira. Yet, during the night, Akira had shown some degree of arousal... It was confusing. Akira never clearly expressed his feelings, so Al couldn’t know what was in his heart.

A little after eight in the morning, Akira began to move. He took a shower, got dressed, and went downstairs. He was intercepted by Martha at the bottom of the stairs, who asked, [“Breakfast?”], to which Akira replied, [“I don't have an appetite this morning.”]

[“Hey, Akira. Isn't Al with you?”] 

Martha, who would never guess that the bat on Akira's shoulder was actually Al, glanced around as she asked.

[“He wasn’t there when I woke up. Maybe he’s out for a walk in the garden.”]

Short Martha put her hands on her hips and looked up at Akira. 

[“I know you're an adult and all, but did you two make up?”]

Akira frowned slightly. 

[“...It wasn’t much of a fight to begin with.”]

[“So, you made up?”] 

[“Yeah.”]

Just then, Stan walked into the living room, distracting Martha long enough for Akira to slip into the kitchen. He took out a single ice cream from the freezer and went out to the garden through the back door. He sat down on a chair by the pool and began to eat.

Though Al thought it would be better for Akira to have a proper breakfast, he didn’t want to nag him on the morning after they had made love, so he just watched his lover eat the ice cream. Even as he ate, Akira remained absent-minded, gazing at the pool’s shimmering surface.

After finishing the ice cream, Akira returned to the kitchen. He hid the empty ice cream cup behind his back as he threw it into the trash, probably trying to avoid being scolded by Martha for eating ice cream instead of breakfast. Akira then opened the upper cabinet and took out a white cloth bag.

"Al, get in here."

Even though Al understood what this meant, he couldn’t help but ask, "Squeak? (Why?)"

"If I don’t freeze you soon, you won’t make it in time for the return cargo. I could put you in the freezer as you are, but Martha might freak out if she finds you, so this is to cover you."

They had lost a day because of the hijacking, and today marked their third day in LA. Considering Akira’s schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly announced they were going back. Freezing Al meant Akira would take him back to Japan. Even though Al understood this, his chest still felt uneasy. Despite having made love so intensely, why did he still feel like he was about to be left behind?

Al recalled the whispered words from the dawn. "Take me with you," "Don't leave me behind." Akira had responded with an "Yeah." They were no longer strangers—they were lovers now.

Trusting his lover, Al chirped, "Squeak (Got it)," and willingly entered the small bag. He didn’t want to be frozen, but if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be able to go with Akira. He had no choice but to trust Akira. Akira’s fingers slipped into the bag and gently petted Al’s head. It was unusually tender. Al was momentarily lost in the sweet, affectionate gesture of his lover. But the bag was quickly sealed, and Al was placed in the subzero freezer.

In the freezer, colder than anything he had experienced even in Japan, Al shivered. As his body gradually froze, becoming immobile and drowsy, he kept thinking about his lover until the moment he closed his eyes.

When they returned to Japan, he would ask Akira to buy a bigger bed. He would also improve his cooking skills to make meals so good that Akira would want seconds... These were the thoughts running through his mind.

When Al woke up, everything around him was pitch dark. The feel of sheets against his cheek told him he was lying in a bed.

...Where am I? Bringing his hand to his face, he saw five human fingers. He was in his human form again. This meant they were back in Japan. But the smell was different. The scent of the room was off. And the springs in Akira’s bed were much softer.

Slowly, Al sat up. The sheets slid off his skin, and he realized he was completely naked. He looked around. Thanks to his night vision, he could vaguely make out the room, and he was certain this wasn’t Akira’s room.

He needed to get dressed. But first, he wanted to turn on the light. He got out of bed, and as he walked barefoot along the wall, his fingers brushed against a protrusion that felt like a switch. When he pressed it, the room lit up instantly. It was a bare room with only a bed and a chair. His heart, which wasn’t supposed to be beating, suddenly pounded loudly.

He had been thawed out. He should be in Japan, but it didn’t feel like it. Why? A bad feeling, like a swarm of insects buzzing all at once, filled his chest. Driven by anxiety, he dashed out of the room. A narrow hallway. He had been here before... He had... Running through the hallway, he reached a staircase leading down. The ground floor, dimly lit, was visible from there.

Al rushed down the stairs. In the living room, there was a dark green sofa set, and someone was sitting on it. The person’s hair was black.

When Al realized he was in the house Akira had bought in LA, he felt like crying. But Akira was here. If Akira was here, then he hadn’t been left alone. Of course not—they were...

The black-haired figure turned around.

[“Awake?”] 

It wasn’t Akira who was there.

[“Wh... why are you here?”]

As their eyes met, Kyiv smiled warmly.

[“I've been waiting for you to wake up. ...First, put on some clothes. Didn't you notice them on the chair?”]

Ignoring Kyiv's question, Al searched the surroundings. The bedroom, kitchen, bathroom... After realizing Akira wasn't on the first floor, he rushed upstairs, checking every room in the house, even inside the closets. Unable to find any trace of his lover anywhere, he returned to Kyiv in the living room, tormented by a growing sense of despair.

[“...Where's Akira?”] 

His voice trembled as he asked. Kyiv let out a small sigh. 

[“I’ll tell you, but first, put on some clothes. You can't just stay like that—it’s unbecoming.”] 

[“I don't care about clothes! Where is Akira?!”] 

Al shouted in frustration. 

[“I’ll talk once you're dressed.”] 

Al kicked the back of the sofa violently before rushing upstairs. He put on the clothes as instructed, then stood in front of Kyiv with a scowl on his face. 

[“Tell me... where is Akira?”] 

Looking directly into Al's eyes, Kyiv calmly replied, [“He's not here.”] Al had feared as much, but hearing it confirmed in words made his entire body and spirit feel instantly weighed down, as if by lead.

He sprinted towards the front door, but just as he grabbed the doorknob, Kyiv caught him by the arm. 

[“Where do you think you're going?”] 

[“To Richard's house.”] 

[“It’s pointless. Akira's no longer in America. He’s gone back to Japan.”] 

Al shook his head vigorously. 

[“Then I’ll go to the airport. If I leave now, I might still catch him...”] 

[“Akira is already back in Japan.”] 

Though Kyiv's voice was gentle, it cut into Al's chest like a knife. Kyiv dragged Al away from the door and forced him onto the sofa.

[“I’ll explain everything, one step at a time. You've been asleep in the freezer for three days. During that time, Akira went back to Japan.”] 

[“That's a lie!”] 

Clenching his fists, Al shouted. 

[“It's not a lie.”] 

Kyiv's voice remained calm. That quietness only served to amplify the uncontrollable anger within Al. 

[“He promised. Akira promised he'd take me back to Japan!”] 

Al stomped his feet in frustration. 

[“He promised! He did!”] 

Even as he clung to the word "promise," Al knew deep down that he had always feared being left behind. He had been anxious, but he never thought Akira would actually abandon him after they had confirmed their feelings for each other. He wanted to believe in Akira... and that’s why he agreed to go into the freezer.

[“You insisted on going back to Japan, so Akira had no choice but to lie to you.”] 

His clenched teeth made a grinding sound. 

[“Akira always intended to leave you behind in America. I think it was the right decision too. You're better off here than in Japan. You've got friends here who can help each other out.”] 

[“No, I don't want that!”] 

Al shook his head violently. 

[“I... I want to be with Akira.”] 

[“You might want to be with Akira, but he decided it was better for you to stay apart. After all, vampires and humans experience time differently. Even if you get along, you can't live together forever. A parting is inevitable. We’re destined to be left behind, forever.”] 

Al covered his ears. He knew it. Unlike him, whose time had stopped, his parents and sister were aging. His nephew, who shared his name, would keep growing up. He knew he was the one who would be left behind. He knew that, so he didn't want to hear any more.

[“You can't turn away from reality. Even if it’s painful now, one day you’ll realize it was better to part ways.”] 

Al fell to his knees and clung to Kyiv's legs. 

[“Please... please... I’ll do anything, just send me to Japan, frozen.”] 

[“That’s not possible.”] 

Kyiv slowly shook his head. 

[“Why not?!”] 

[“...Akira asked me, no matter what, not to send you to Japan.”] 

Al slammed his fists against the floor. 

[“Aren’t you a vampire, Kyiv?! Whose side are you on, mine or Akira's, a human?!”] 

[“Of course, I’m on your side. But in this matter, I believe it's better for you to stay in America, so I won’t send you.”] 

Kyiv gently but firmly rejected Al's plea. No matter how much Al begged to be sent to Japan, Kyiv wouldn’t agree. But still, he desperately wanted to return to Japan, to be by Akira's side. Al placed his hand on his chest, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his raging emotions.

[“Akira has a terrible temper. He’s also stubborn and can’t express what he’s really thinking.”] 

Even as he tried to maintain composure, his voice trembled. 

[“We had a huge fight before he left for Japan. I’m sure he held onto that grudge and left me behind. He must be regretting it by now. Akira’s too proud to apologize, so I have to go to Japan and hear his excuses.”] 

Kyiv remained silent, gazing down at the pleading Al. Even though he could tell that Al’s desperate words were a lie, Al couldn’t stop talking.

[“I didn’t tell you before, but Akira and I became lovers. It’s not just that I love him; Akira accepted my feelings. We connected in both body and soul, so...”] 

Kyiv’s right hand moved, gently stroking the cheek of the kneeling Al.

[“You've been left behind.”]

Kyiv’s lips moved slowly, as if engraving those words into Al's stubborn mind.

[“Akira left you behind. I want you to face the reality without turning away.”]

Al gasped, feeling as though he was being slowly cornered to the edge of an inescapable cliff.

[“Perhaps Akira accepted you out of his own sense of kindness.”]

Al pressed his hands over his mouth, shaking his head frantically. He didn’t want to admit it. Even if he knew deep down, he didn’t want to acknowledge it. The fact that Akira wasn’t as passionate or as eager as he was to be physically close. Akira responded when Al reached out, but never initiated anything himself.

Even so, it made Al happy, and he wanted to believe in it. He wanted to believe…

[“It might be cruel to say this to you now, but I think Akira loves you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have bought a house for you or found you a job.”]

[“I don’t need any of that...”]

Al whispered in a small voice.

[“I don’t need any of that. I just... I just wanted to be with Akira.”]

A sharp slap rang out as pain spread in a radiating pattern across his cheek. It took a moment for his brain to process that Kyiv had struck him.

[“All you can think about is wanting to go back. You’re acting like a spoiled child.”]

Kyiv’s eyes, which had been gentle, now looked at him with stern reprimand.

[“Even though Akira loves you, he chose the path of being apart. Can’t you try to imagine how he must have felt?”]

...There was no way Al could understand what Akira was thinking. He didn’t want to understand the man who had used his body just to keep Al calm and then left. If Akira truly loved him, why would he push him away? Al couldn’t understand, didn’t want to understand. Because if he did…he would have to accept the reality of the situation.

Al’s shoulders slumped, and his head hung low. His feelings were trapped, with no place to go. There was no escape from the sadness, anger, and pain.

Kyiv’s fingers gently stroked Al’s head.

[“When Akira entrusted your frozen body to me, he told me to stay by your side when you woke up. If possible, he asked me to live with you until you settled down… because he knew you’re very lonely and wouldn’t be able to endure being alone. Akira understands you well.”]

The balloon of emotions Al had been holding back suddenly burst. He collapsed onto the floor, sobbing loudly. The sadness kept pouring out, a flood of tears blinding him to everything else.

[“Al, the man you fell in love with is a very kind person.”]

...Kyiv’s words resonated in Al’s ears, so painfully that it felt like his heart was being torn apart.

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T.N: Is Akira a side? I'm not sure; we might need more evidence. However, I think this is the first BL I've read where the MC and ML don't engage in anal penetration, and where the male lead explicitly states that he has no interest in either penetrating or being penetrated. I think it's a very inclusive perspective. Let me know if you know of any other novels with this theme.