Chapter Text
It was a full moon night, shortly after Barok had turned ten. He bounded about, relishing in the freedom granted to him in the countryside, where the vineyards were vast and the forests were plentiful. He practically skipped into his family's summer home after a night of hunting wild hares and playing outside. Mud trails followed him into the manor, tracking all over the family’s fine rug as he passed the atrium and peeked into the sitting room. It was there that he witnessed his brother hovering over a table, his entire hulking frame shuddering. His tail pressed between his legs as every strand of light lavender fur stood on end.
“Klint?”
Said werewolf whipped around in shock. He seemed to place some sort of piece of paper down. Barok caught a glimpse of the emblem of the hunter’s guild stamped on the page.
Klint always told him to avoid that emblem.
“Barok?! You’re inside already?”
“Yeah! I’m tired now.” Barok steadily approached his brother. “What’re you reading?”
Klint took a very long moment to respond. His eyes were glassy, almost watery, but Barok couldn’t make heads or tails as to why as his brother kneeled down to hug him.
Barok nearly suffocated, not yet having gone through his growth spurt Klint promised he’d get when he grew older. As fluffy as he was, he was still about the same size as a child. He leaned into the hug anyway, confused at the low whimpers he heard from the man.
“Barok… Our parents will be gone for a very long time.”
“Are they traveling again?”
A moment of hesitation. “… Yes. They’ve gone away for now. It’ll just be the two of us from here on out.”
Barok tilted his head to the side, but Klint didn’t explain any further.
Instead he held up Barok’s paws in his own, much too large and unwieldy as they gently clasped around the young boy’s.
“Barok… Your teeth… your claws… Do you remember what they're for?”
Barok gave a wide, toothy grin as his tail wagged wildly.
“Protecting!”
“Yes…” Klint gave his little brother the softest of smiles, as best he could with such a cruel, jagged muzzle. “That's right. No matter how painful it may be to resist your instincts, your claws and teeth are only meant to protect the people you care for. Nothing else. Can you promise me you’ll never forget that?”
Barok nodded, his tail wagging even faster.
“I promise!”
~*~
Ryunosuke didn’t even have time to process it.
His body couldn't move, too paralyzed with horror, too numb with fear. By the time his panicked and muddled mind became clear enough to see, Kazuma was already standing over him, blade in hand, staring down the werewolf who had backed away. Blood trickled down from the tip of Karuma, each droplet splashing against the brick floor, echoing through the tunnels. The bit that stained the blade's silvered edge sizzled and bubbled vigorously, like boiling acid. No other noise dared to make itself known but the sounds of the trio's ragged breaths.
Kazuma was an efficient killer. Every swing of his blade was an act of mercy, to dispatch his targets as quickly and painlessly as possible.
And if van Zieks was a slower beast, his head most certainly would have been rolling lifelessly across the floor. But the blade barely missed the wolf's neck, only marking a shallow wound across his chest. Kazuma, realizing his mistake, lunged forward to alleviate it, sword swinging about too quickly for the untrained eye, too relentless for a weary beast.
They were mesmerizing to watch. Every movement Kazuma made was cold, focused, and calculated. Like clockwork, as though this was simply another target. Van Zieks's movements, however, were rushed and frantic, his frenzied eyes filled with a certain savagery that mismatched his demeanor. He almost appeared to be… frightened. But Kazuma couldn’t have been the source of his fear, not when his eyes were so unfocused on the hunter. He dodged and parried with the tips of his claws, backing away, sidestepping, doing anything but fighting back despite his bared teeth and twitching, gnarled hands. With each passing second, he only became more desperate, slower to react, nicks and scratches collecting as he tried and tried to retreat. Ryunosuke still lay there on the ground, too paralyzed with fear at the sight before him: the deafening clangs of blade and claw, the coagulating blood matting lavender fur, the visible deterioration of van Zieks’s resolve.
But the scariest part was Kazuma's eyes.
Within the shadow of his face, his eyes nearly shone in the tunnel's darkness. The moonlight's rays reflected off of his cold, merciless gaze, widened with concentrated rage, pupils shrunk down to pinpricks amidst the red veined whites.
Malice. Pure malice. Blinding fury. An insatiable lust for blood. The look of a predator.
And van Zieks was nothing more to him than some despicable prey, trapped between his jaws, fruitlessly prolonging his suffering.
Ryunosuke only just now realized how much his throat hurt. Blood was rushing behind his ears and his heartbeat was pounding too loudly to hear himself begging for Kazuma to stop. But his echoing pleas fell on deaf ears. Kazuma was far too focused on eliminating his target.
Both the man and the monster, whichever they may be by this point, were beginning to lose control. Kazuma's blade moved faster, slashes shallow with increasing hysteria. A sick, joyless grin was forming on his face as he fought, eyes still wide with bloodlust. Van Zieks's body shuddered with wavering restraint. His growls grew louder. His fur bristled as his ears pulled back. Each step and dodge was getting shakier, his jaw agape and twitching, fully prepared to tear into Kazuma's throat.
If this went on any longer, someone was going to die.
So Ryunosuke's legs moved on their own. He ran up and pounced forward to tackle Kazuma to the ground with his full weight, screaming. Karuma clattered and slid across the floor, stopping at the werewolf’s feet. For a moment, Kazuma was writhing and pushing at Ryunosuke, desperate to grab the sword, clawing his way towards it with that same ravenous obsession as before.
“Ryu, what are you doing?! Let me go! That werewolf is gonna-” He cut himself off when he gazed back up at the injured, unmoving werewolf. Clarity then seemed to overtake his fury. His shoulders relaxed first before his whole body slumped underneath Ryunosuke’s weight. They both lay there on the ground, staring up at van Zieks, who was holding up a hand to the gash in his chest. No one moved, save for the rapid rise and fall of their chests as their lungs tried to catch up with them.
After a moment, Kazuma opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by more footsteps coming from deeper within the tunnel.
"The guild… they're coming." Ryunosuke muttered, then stared up at van Zieks, feeling a wet warmth in his eyes. "Please, get out of here while you can!"
Van Zieks hesitated, briefly glancing at Ryunosuke, then to the sword at his feet, then he turned around and ran off into the fog.
Everything else that night was a bit of a blur. More hunters appeared, asking about the noise and if anyone was hurt. Kazuma managed to explain it all away by claiming they were simply shooing off a werewolf who'd come scarily close to discovering the headquarters, and nothing else. Ryunosuke was dragged by the wrist back to the infirmary, where Dr. Mikotoba and Susato fussed over him, even though he lacked any injuries.
Huddled in a blanket, between sips of hastily prepared cafeteria tea, Ryunosuke explained everything. That night he saved a werewolf, the letter, the subsequent outings they'd gone on. All of it.
Susato was the quickest to accept, telling Ryunosuke she was happy for him. Dr. Mikotoba met the story with wariness, but by the end of it, offered Ryunosuke a fatherly smile and a pat on the back. But the frown that settled on Kazuma's face throughout the explanation did not go away. Ryunosuke avoided looking at him the whole time.
Eventually the Mikotobas left them alone, tending to some other business Ryunosuke couldn't quite recall. Kazuma still did not abandon his frown, eyes dark with deep thought, a million miles away. Then, he seemed to return to the present, staring at Ryunosuke, though it felt more like he was staring into him.
"You said his name was… Lord Barok van Zieks?"
"Yes." Ryunosuke gulped. "That's his name."
He could've sworn he saw an odd flash in his partner's eyes, but it was gone in a second. Kazuma instead shrouded it with a smile and placed his hands on his hips.
"I'd like to meet him. Properly."
Ryunosuke blinked. "Y-you what?"
The other man's laugh practically sprang out of his chest, boisterous and comforting, reminiscent of the halcyon days of their partnership.
"Is it unusual? I want to meet the wolf that's been dating my best frie-"
"We're not dating!" Ryunosuke's posture stiffened when he sputtered that out, nearly dropping his empty cup. The whole display only earned him a skeptical raise of the eyebrow sitting upon an otherwise flat expression. Right before him was a challenge, a soundless bet, a battle of attrition. One he was very sorely losing. After a record breaking speedy surrender, Ryunosuke slumped over and groaned.
"… Okay, maybe we are dating."
"Right. Then would you allow me to meet him? He at least deserves an apology from me for attacking him."
Ryunosuke's eyes widened to saucers. The very last thing he'd expected from Kazuma was, well, acceptance. After a bit of thought, he lowered his head.
"I suppose… that makes sense."
~*~
Finding the van Zieks manor required minimal research. The lord was well known, even if his reputation fit well under infamy more than fame. Ryunosuke prayed the man was still doing fine as he and Kazuma tentatively walked past the stone and iron gate and up the cobblestone path. A well tended garden adorned the front of the manor surrounding its front porch, but it did nothing to mitigate the oppressive atmosphere about the massive brick building. The place towered over the pair, dark in hue and atmosphere alike. Despite the late daytime hours, they could've sworn they spotted bats fluttering above the roof amidst the overcast skies. Kazuma inched a bit closer to Ryunosuke once they reached the front door.
With a shaky hand and an audible gulp, Ryunosuke took hold of the highly fitting gargoyle shaped door knocker and gave the meticulously carved hardwood three quick taps.
Promptly, the door was opened by a picture perfect butler.
"Good afternoon." The butler bowed. "Please, state your business."
Kazuma spoke first. "We'd like to speak to Lord van Zieks."
The butler's face gave a nearly imperceptible twitch.
"I'm afraid the young master is busy at the moment. I can relay a message to him, if you would kindly offer your names."
After Kazuma's short introduction, Ryunosuke straightened his back, realizing slightly too late that the pair was waiting for him to speak. "Ah! Er - I'm Ryunosuke Naruhodo… sir! I was just wondering if Lord van Zieks was okay…"
He could've sworn the butler's eyes widened a bit.
"Naruhodo, you say?" The butler bowed again. "Please, wait just a moment."
He shut the door, and returned only a short moment later, as promised, his demeanor just a bit warmer than before.
"The lord will gladly see you and your company now, Master Naruhodo."
Kazuma and Ryunosuke exchanged shocked glances before eagerly accepting the invitation, following the butler inside.
Tall ceilings bore glistening candlelight chandeliers that overtook the pair as soon as they entered. Despite them, the interior remained cloaked in a certain darkness, attributing to the dancing shadows from flickering flames against ornate furniture. The scent of wine and flowers permeated throughout, as well as the faint fragrance of tea. The manor harbored scant few servants it seemed, as the trio only passed one maid dusting away at some hardly touched shelves decorated with musty books.
To say the place was simply imposing would be a disrespect. It was just as oppressive as its outer shell, the ceilings too high for mere mortals, the carpet too expensive to be beneath Ryunosuke's shoes, the atmosphere more befitting a vampire than the wolf he'd come to know.
But the place was not so hauntingly opulent in its entirety. There still lay evidence of a home rather than just some stately building. A scratch on the wall here, an old paw print stained into the carpet there, a bit of fluff peeking out from a plush ottoman, a waste bin filled with shattered glass… Near a hallway on the west end stood a pillar, decorated with small notches signifying the progress of a growing boy. Though, further down said hallway were a series of portrait paintings - all men who somewhat resembled the lord of the manor. Curiously enough, The portrait at the very end didn't seem to capture the man Ryunosuke was so familiar with very well. This one was much too handsome.
The pair was led to what appeared to be a study. Behind a desk, van Zieks was penning something on what appeared to be some important legal document. When the pair entered, he stood up to greet them, though his softened expression at the sight of Ryunosuke turned wary when he spotted Kazuma.
"Ah, Mr. Naruhodo. And his friend, I presume?" He bowed just as politely as always. "Welcome."
This may very well have been the most casual Ryunosuke had seen van Zieks dress. Simple trousers and a ruffled white shirt seemed only slightly too small on the man, stretching a bit over his muscles, much to Ryunosuke's unsubtle joy. He still donned the Wellingtons, however casual everything else may be. Bandages were wrapped around his torso and shoulders, peeking out from under the shirt's collar, and his eyes carried concerningly deep bags, but overall, he appeared just as discontent as he usually did. Though, most curiously, he appeared to be in some sort of in-between state of transformation. While he looked mostly human, his tail stuck out awkwardly from the waistband of his pants as his fluffy ears rested upon his head, smoothing down the man's more intimidating edges.
They looked… adorable. Ryunosuke pondered for a moment just how soft they'd feel between his fingers.
Said ears twitched in irritation. "Mr. Naruhodo… Are my ears truly such a novel concept to you? After all this time?"
Ah, he must’ve said that out loud. Either that, or he was staring for too long.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"How degrading." Van Zieks crossed his arms. "I am not just some dog meant to be coddled with shallow affections."
Ryunosuke sighed.
Then why is your tail wagging so fervently at the idea?
Whether he said that out loud or not, it wasn't graced with a response. Kazuma raised an eyebrow at the exchange before tilting his head.
"Why are you… mid transformation?"
"Is it not obvious?" Van Zieks narrowed his eyes. "It's most comfortable. I needn't strain myself to stay human in the comfort of my own home, and fully transforming indoors is simply unwieldy. Many werewolves do it."
Kazuma looked off to the side. "I… didn't know that."
A click of the tongue. "I'd wager it's because most of your time spent around my kind is post-mortem."
Ryunosuke winced, but Kazuma took it in stride. He instead grinned, offering a hand to van Zieks. The wolf obliged his offer, but was clearly gazing past the hand at the sword still hanging from Kazuma's hip.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord van Zieks. I'm Kazuma Asougi. I've come to properly meet you, and," he lowered his head a little, "to apologize for attacking you yesterday. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."
The werewolf raised his eyebrows in surprise before his face settled back into his neutral scowl. He shook his head.
"You needn't apologize. Your assumption was not without reason."
"Nevertheless, I shouldn't have gone so far."
With some hesitance, van Zieks accepted his apology with a rare smile, then invited them to tea in the sitting room. Ryunosuke found himself pleasantly surprised at how well the two got along. Thanks to Kazuma's natural charisma, the conversation never turned awkward or dull, and relief washed over Ryunosuke. Though, oddly enough, van Zieks kept eyeing Kazuma's sword the whole time. Eventually, the topic of yesterday came up.
"By the way," Kazuma put a hand up to his chin, "you displayed exceptional fighting prowess. You were deceptively nimble and parried my blade without issue. So why didn't you fight back?"
The resting scowl on van Zieks's face grew deeper.
"I had just transformed, barely able to resist the full moon's madness. If I had drawn even a little blood, I fear I may not have been able to control myself." He solemnly placed a hand over his heart. Ryunosuke noticed his fingers were tipped with claws. "I didn't wish to cause harm to Mr. Naruhodo's closest friend."
"Huh?" Kazuma slammed a fist on the table. "How did you know that at the time?"
Ryunosuke's posture straightened as he opened his mouth to explain, but van Zieks cut him off.
"Well, Mr. Naruhodo speaks highly of his friends whenever asked." He crossed his arms as his ears twitched endearingly. "He always seemed especially fond of the friend he described as being a skilled swordsman with a horrible haircut… and a tendency to trip over his words."
Kazuma shot a glare at Ryunosuke, who decided that perhaps anything else in the room was more interesting to look at.
"Uh, if I may, Lord van Zieks…" Ryunosuke sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "Could I make use of your facilities?"
"Running away, aren't we?" Kazuma teased, pushing Karuma slightly out of its sheath.
Ryunosuke groaned. "N-no… I'm serious…"
Nonetheless, van Zieks called a servant to lead Ryunosuke to the nearest restroom, where he got a bit distracted admiring the place, almost enough to forget why he went there. Nicely tiled floors, porcelain amenities, advanced plumbing… He wished for a moment that he lived here.
But eventually, he returned, only stopping right outside the sitting room as he overheard the pair talking. He backed away and hid behind the wall to listen. The light-hearted tone they'd kept up in Ryunosuke's company was all but completely gone.
"I don't think I could ever bring myself to forgive you." Kazuma was practically hissing, hatred and malice dripping through every word. The air was heavy, thick with too many unspoken words to unpack. After an agonizing pause, van Zieks's voice sounded, low and remorseful.
"I do not believe I am deserving of your forgiveness. But you deserve to know the truth." Another brief pause. "And you also deserve my deepest apologies, whether you wish to accept them or not."
Then came the sound of Karuma scraping its sheath, then a click. So it was already out…
"Well… If I'm being honest. I came here to tell you to stay away from my friend. The way I saw it, he'd been nothing but miserable ever since he helped you that night."
Someone nervously shuffled a bit in their stance.
"… I was unaware of that."
"Of course you weren't. Because you weren't the cause of his misery."
More shuffling.
"As I'm sure you're well aware, Ryu's eyes are very… telling. They expose his every thought. His every feeling. And whenever he looks at you…" Kazuma let out a deep sigh. "I can tell that you make him very happy."
There came no reply from van Zieks. Briefly, a sniffle sounded amidst the silence. Kazuma's voice trembled a bit as he spoke.
"So who am I to get in the way of his happiness?"
Another pregnant pause. One so quiet that Ryunosuke could hear his heartbeat. Then finally, finally, van Zieks spoke.
"… Thank you, Mr. Asougi."
A click of the tongue. "Just remember." The sound of blade and sheath came again. "If you harm him in any way-"
"Kazuma."
Ryunosuke stepped out into the room, a million questions buzzing through his head. Kazuma quickly resheathed his sword with a wide-eyed look on his face. Van Zieks was still just as infallible as always, standing there with his arms crossed. Not even his tail betrayed his emotions. Ryunosuke furrowed his brows together.
"What's this all about?"
With a shake of his head, Kazuma started towards the exit.
"I've overstayed my welcome. Plus, there's some things I need to get done."
"Kazuma-"
"Alone. You can stay here, Ryu."
From the look on Kazuma's face, it seemed there was no room for debate. He turned to van Zieks with a shockingly genuine smile. Or perhaps he'd become skilled at faking them. "It's been a pleasure, Lord van Zieks. Take good care of him, okay?"
Van Zieks gave him a cordial bow. "Of course. Have a good evening, Mr. Asougi."
After the two heard the front door close, Ryunosuke opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Reading the situation, van Zieks sighed.
"I suppose you… have questions."
Ryunosuke's lips fell into a thin line.
"Do you have answers?"
"… For once, I do."
~*~
Through the sitting room's suffocating air, van Zieks's confession rang out, weighing said air down to lead.
"I am responsible for the death of Mr. Asougi's father."
Despite his sneaking suspicion that that would be the very answer he'd gotten to his inquiry, Ryunosuke recoiled in shock. The pair had spent a considerable amount of time in silence, Ryunosuke trying to figure out where to even start asking, van Zieks seemingly stumped on how to explain it all. And yet the result was simple. Brief. It brought everything to light and nothing at all.
Ryunosuke clenched his fists that rested upon his thighs. "So you're admitting to it? You are a killer?"
"…"
The air was heavy. The tea was cold. The couch suddenly did not feel so comfortable. Ryunosuke shifted a bit, antsy, ready to run. His voice was quivering, almost too quiet to hear.
"Milord, please answer me."
And finally, a response, coupled with an unreadable expression. "Never in my life had I bitten another. Not once did I run my claws through human flesh. But I cannot say his blood is not on my hands."
"Then what happened?"
The lord poured himself a glass of wine, a habit Ryunosuke knew well. Van Zieks was attempting to ground himself. After a sip, he'd calmed down enough to talk.
"My family… prided itself in its monstrous roots. Generation after generation, we sparked terrible legends throughout the capital. Citizens always thought of us as something inhuman, though often quite off the mark. Bloodsucking vampires, wraiths, deities… reapers. My family wore their labels with pride, spending their full moon nights massacring the weak and fueling the city's fears. But my brother, Klint, wished to end that cycle."
Ryunosuke patiently sat there, unsure of what to say, carefully watching the way van Zieks's throat bobbed as he took another sip of his wine. When he'd lowered the cup, his trembling hand made the liquid slosh a bit against the glass.
"So he raised me to never harm a soul. Our parents were hardly present, so I hadn't the chance to learn their savage ways. Every day, Klint taught me how to suppress my urges and safely sate my cravings. He did everything in his power to ensure that I never became a killer. Which is why…" Van Zieks was beginning to choke up. "… Which is why I never thought he'd kill."
Ryunosuke tried to piece it all together in his mind.
"He killed Mr. Asougi?"
"The senior Asougi was a hunter who'd been investigating a serial killing werewolf that was targeting nobility. I couldn't fathom Klint being the culprit at the time, so on the day that man went to confront my brother, when I'd witnessed both of them in their final moments…" His ears pinned back as his voice began to waver. "… I saw nothing more than a wretched man who'd betrayed my brother."
He stared down at the wine glass in his hand. A miniscule crack formed in his tightened grip.
"Klint was beyond saving; that blasted sword your friend brought was the very same one that was pierced through his heart. But Mr. Asougi was still bleeding out from his wounds. Had I been more merciful, I may have been able to save him in time… but…"
Ryunosuke felt his stomach drop.
"You left him to die."
"… The guilt settled in when a copy of Mr. Asougi's case files were later sent to me. Klint was the killer. I could not deny the evidence."
A full minute of silence hung over them, threatening to crush the pair under its weight. When he'd processed it all, Ryunosuke sighed and shook his head.
"I don't believe those are the actions of a killer, Milord."
"Then what, pray tell, would you say they were?"
"Nothing more than the mistakes of a grieving man."
More silence. As if a burden had been lifted, van Zieks's shoulders relaxed.
"Thank you, Mr. Naruhodo."
"I've done nothing but listen."
Van Zieks poured him another cup of tea, and they sat quietly, finally comfortable again. In that moment, a thought occurred to Ryunosuke.
"Lord van Zieks, if I may… Has your family's instinct ever felt overpowering? Have you ever considered disobeying your brother's words?"
The wine glass swirled curiously between the werewolf's claws. "From time to time, but I never acted upon it. The longer I go without bloodshed, the easier it becomes to resist."
"… Have you ever wanted to hurt me?"
The following hesitance spoke volumes, but van Zieks turned to Ryunosuke with that very same cold look. Had he been inexperienced in trying to read the man, he would've missed that infinitesimal twitch of the eye.
"I assure you, my initial motives were pure. I only intended to repay my debt to you and pray our paths never cross again. But… Upon our first outing, there was something about you I found… tantalizing."
As he set it down, the sound of the wine glass clinking the table was far too loud.
"Perhaps it was your rather…" van Zieks tilted his head, almost playfully, "… slight frame?"
A set of clawed fingers carefully grabbed Ryunosuke's chin, but van Zieks kept himself at arm's length, still offering an escape route.
Ryunosuke wouldn't dare run.
"Maybe it was those flittering eyes, frantically searching for some phantom notion of courage."
Van Zieks was leaning in a bit closer. There was still a chance to run. He certainly wouldn't chase Ryunosuke if that chance was taken.
"It could very well have been the trembling legs, ready to flee at any moment. Or your shallow breaths. Or the utterly intoxicating scent of your fear." He leaned in closer. There was little room for escape now. "You, my friend, were the picture perfect prey."
The candlelight glinted against his canines.
"And for the first time in years, I found myself needing to restrain myself."
A deep seeded feeling began to well up within Ryunosuke. That doubt, that trepidation, that primal sensation only shared by a mouse in a trap, or a hare writhing between strong jaws, or a deer at the end of a rifle's barrel.
For the first time in weeks, Ryunosuke was afraid of van Zieks.
And yet, a special kind of heat was pooling within him, rising to his face, causing his legs to tremble and his eyes to flit about as he faltered under that steely gaze. His mouth felt dry and, god, it was hard to breathe.
He wondered if there was ever a mouse that would set off the trap for the thrill of it. If there was ever a rabbit that tested fate, nestling itself between a sleeping dog's jaws. If there was ever a deer that got a rush from the feeling of a bullet whizzing right past its head.
Or perhaps he was simply insane.
Dizzy with excitement, he leaned into van Zieks's touch, noticing that very same grasp on him only became softer. Van Zieks spoke in a mellow, gentle tone, that predatory bite from earlier all but completely gone.
"Despite those ravenous thoughts of mine, yesterday, when I'd transformed, harming you was the very last thing on my mind. It made me realize that what I'd felt towards you… was far from simple bloodlust."
"Then what was it?"
It was the dead of winter in London, and yet Ryunosuke felt too hot for his disdainful university uniform. Van Zieks finally closed their distance with an all too gentle and chaste - almost coy - peck on the cheek. He leaned down only to nuzzle Ryunosuke's neck.
"Hm… what, indeed?"
It was getting far too late to ride to Baker Street, so the pair agreed to spend the night together. Despite the implications and the setting, they didn't do much but cuddle. Van Zieks was still recovering from Kazuma's assault, and the revelations of that evening weighed too heavily on Ryunosuke's mind. As he lay in bed that night next to the man, he let it all sink in, feeling that same heat from before when he recalled that kiss. Something so mild shouldn't be setting him on fire like this, but here he was, flustered, reduced to a puddle.
Whether it be by teeth, or claws, or by a simple heart attack, Ryunosuke was certain of it.
This man will be the death of him.
~*~
Another full moon shone through the dark clouds that filled the murky, humid skies. Despite the approaching spring, it only grew colder with each passing night as the days were filled with overcast skies and pouring rains. Holding forward a gas lantern in a trembling hand, Ryunosuke desperately huddled into his cloak for warmth, even though the chill seeped well into his bones. As always, Kazuma was unbothered, somehow fine in just his skintight leather and flowing red cloak.
The target for the night was a woman who went by the name Jezaille Brett, a notorious killer werewolf, known for her poison-laced claws and brutal maulings. She'd been a slippery target who had wiped out many hunters and gotten away with it.
But tonight, Kazuma decided to end her rampage.
To say Ryunosuke was nervous would be the understatement of the century. His teeth weren't just chattering from the cold, after all.
Kazuma stopped at a clearing, which seemed to be an older campsite left by another hunting team. He turned back to Ryunosuke with his signature reassuring smile.
"Relax, partner. You trust me, right?"
Unable to trust his own voice, Ryunosuke nodded. Kazuma came closer and gently patted his shoulder.
"Good. Then you know I'll be bringing back her head. Nothing to worry about."
Ryunosuke huddled a bit close to his partner for warmth, muttering between chattering teeth. "B-b-but if sh-she s-strikes you even o-o-once-"
"That won't happen. Please stay here, alright? You're shaking too much to aim your bow anyway."
Unable to refute him any longer, Ryunosuke slumped down against a tree to curl in on himself.
"Here." Kazuma removed his own cloak to wrap it around his shivering friend, which earned him a grateful hum. "Remember to call me if you're in danger."
"Okay…"
Kazuma turned to leave, then suddenly paused, placing a hand on his chin.
"By the way… I spoke with Lord Stronghart yesterday."
"Huh?" Ryunosuke nearly bit his tongue as he stuttered between chattering teeth. "W-why?"
He turned back towards Ryunosuke, face still pensive. "I told him that I don't think you're fit to hunt anymore."
"What?!"
"Additionally, I mentioned that your medical skills are exceptional." That pensive look morphed into Kazuma's classic million dollar smile. "And that perhaps it'd be better for you to get paid working under Dr. Mikotoba."
Ryunosuke could only gape at him, but Kazuma was patient enough to let him process it all.
"Wait, then w-what about you? You'll need a new p-partner, won't you?"
Kazuma shook his head and chuckled. "Always worrying about others, huh?" He kneeled down in front of Ryunosuke, his grin falling into something much softer. "For your sake, I'll gladly hunt alongside whatever British bloke Stronghart sends my way. Don't worry about anything but patching me up when I return to base, alright?"
Suddenly, it felt a lot less chilly outside. Ryunosuke couldn't help the upward twitch of his lips.
"Thank you, Kazuma."
"Anything for you, partner."
And with that, Kazuma grabbed his gear and disappeared into the forest.
With a giddy warmth in his chest, Ryunosuke waited. It was much too humid to start a fire, so he simply curled up further, searching for comfort in his partner's cloak. At least his lantern kept him company, even if it emitted more light than heat.
Then it started to lightly drizzle. Perfect. As the rain gradually soaked through his layers, he passed the time desperately attempting to warm himself between bitter and quiet complaints.
Then he heard a twig snap nearby.
He sucked in a breath, but he had a feeling it was a bit too late to hide. A low chuckle sounded from behind, so he whipped around to see it.
Against the lantern's light was the silhouette of a beast. Lithe and slender, but a werewolf, no doubt.
The creature inched closer and closer, until their silhouette became clear. They stood tall and proper, somehow elegant in such a beastly form. Their fur was a light brown, completely unembellished save for the black spot around the glowing white eyes that resembled a raccoon's mask. Most notable, however, were the long, beautiful claws, as if they’d been meticulously manicured and painted in a glistening black sheen. It was then that Ryunosuke realized.
This was the face in the wanted poster. This was their bounty, Jezaille Brett, the notorious killer werewolf who’d taken out whole groups of hunters with ease.
This wasn't supposed to happen. Kazuma was supposed to be the one to find her and slay her like he always does. Ryunosuke was simply meant to stay out of the way. He'd miss the bloodshed and sit there quietly freezing then return to base as if he'd actually done much more than act as moral support. And yet, here she was, right before his eyes, grinning as she slowly stalked closer.
“I usually do not indulge myself in such scrawny prey. But, I do find myself most curious… if perhaps foreigners taste different from my own.”
Her voice was sickeningly sweet, almost like that of a true gentlewoman. But it was disarming and melodic, yet dripping with venom. Like a temptress. Or a siren.
Or a monster.
Ryunosuke was frozen. He couldn’t reply. His tongue felt too heavy in his mouth and his mind was blank with nothing but fear, his fight or flight instincts firing off like sirens within him. And yet, he couldn’t even move.
That is, until a voice in his mind sounding eerily similar to Kazuma told him to snap out of it and get his shit together. Without thinking, he quickly scurried backwards and fumbled with the crossbow at his hip. That action was the only reason he was able to barely dodge Brett’s lightning fast strike, her claws crashing into the dirt between his legs, mere centimeters away from slicing him straight down the middle. Just as her claws missed him, Ryunosuke closed his eyes and fired the crossbow clumsily - a one-armed, badly aimed shot - as he scrambled to his feet and began to run. He must’ve somehow shot her if he truly heard that hiss in pain behind him, but he didn’t stick around to make sure. Brett’s feminine, composed voice gave in to animalistic rage as she outright growled.
“You little BRAT!”
Ryunosuke heard her footsteps getting closer and god, he cursed his human legs. Even with the adrenaline, they were never meant to outspeed a monster. He glanced back only for a second to see Brett coming scarily close, preparing for a pounce. So he sharply turned to the right, off the forest path, where the trees were thicker and the underbrush grew harsher. It bought him a little time as Brett pounced and missed, quickly turning with a frustrated growl once she’d landed.
Vines and branches whipped at his face and his sides as Ryunosuke uncaringly dashed through the thick vegetation. Thunder clapped and it was just his luck that the drizzling rain very quickly started to fall in sheets. He couldn’t even see in front of himself anymore, but he just kept on running.
Unfortunately, Brett was faster.
She inevitably caught up with him and pushed him to the ground, oddly careful with her claws. When she finally had him pinned down underneath one large paw, she let out a low, humorless chuckle.
“You dared to tarnish my luxurious fur with blood… Since you’ve no idea how to properly treat a lady, I believe you do not deserve such a merciful death as the others.” She put more pressure onto his back with a snarl. “My poison is too kind and painless for a boorish knave such as yourself!”
She applied even more pressure. It was starting to hurt. Despite his desperate struggling, Ryunosuke couldn't fight back against a werewolf's strength. Not even Kazuma could do that. Slowly, his frantic scrambling died down as it began to sink in.
Tonight, he was going to die. He was sure of it.
He sobbed as she shoved his face into the wet dirt, only realizing he was crying from his aching throat. His hot tears mixed with the freezing rain until it was impossible to tell the difference. A phantom pain festered in his gut. Stinging apparitions of claws dragged ghastly cuts down his legs. As if to mock him, his mind replayed the sound of a cackling laugh bellowing out from a blood soaked snout.
Maybe it was all real. He couldn’t really tell by this point. Brett was speaking to him, but he couldn't hear. His mind was too foggy with panic, too numb with acceptance. He squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for the worst.
But it never came. The crushing weight on his back was suddenly lifted as he heard Brett yelp in surprise. With a herculean effort, he pushed himself up by his elbows to turn and see what had happened.
Standing over him protectively was a much larger, much more familiar werewolf. Though, what was most unfamiliar was the savage look in his eyes, enraged and bloodthirsty, muzzle pulled back into a gnarled scowl.
“L-lord van Zieks?!” Ryunosuke choked out in shock. Van Zieks turned towards him for just a moment and that ferocious expression disappeared, drowned out by nothing but fondness.
“Mr. Naruhodo… I’m glad I’m not too late.”
“You mindless brute! Who do you think you are, protecting a hunter?!” Brett hissed as she tried to cover the four deep cuts on her face. It was then that Ryunosuke noticed the blood dripping from van Zieks's left paw.
That unfamiliar, beastly ferocity returned the very second he turned back towards Brett.
“You will leave now, or face the consequences.”
Brett glared for a moment, but then she started to chuckle. The chuckle then turned into a haughty laugh as she teased her claws along a nearby tree.
“You must take me for some sort of fool. I know who you are, Lord van Zieks.” Her voice was calm again, dripping with honey, laced with poison. “You’re the smaller one. The ‘little darling’ of your family, as I’ve heard. A weak willed pup who always cowered behind his big brother.” She smirked and cut deeper into the tree. “You don’t have the backbone to kill me.”
Van Zieks had no response. He simply glowered back at her, eyes icy with barely contained rage. As the rain soaked into their bones, the thunder clapped again, and that prompted van Zieks to silently pick up Ryunosuke in his arms and back away.
“Aha! So I knew it! You’ll run away like always, won’t you? Cowardly little mutt!” Brett taunted.
Van Zieks paused and then spoke in a low growl, almost too hard to hear against the rain.
“Tell me, Miss Brett. What do you think is more cowardly: backing away from a fight, or casting aside your pride to give in to the most base and savage of desires?”
Brett’s smug grin dropped. Her face was set in a serious frown as van Zieks continued.
“You may play pretend all you’d like, but there is nothing refined about slaughter." He narrowed his eyes. "What makes you so different from a mere hunting dog?”
“Why, you…!” She brandished her claws, eyes glowing with beastly wrath. “I'll kill you where you stand!”
Van Zieks wasted no time dashing away from her, huddled over Ryunosuke as a protective shield from the whipping branches and pelting rain. He was fast enough to keep Brett at a distance as she chased them with fervor. Ryunosuke peeked out from where he was huddled in van Zieks’s fur to notice an odd patch of wet leaves and moss. Something under it glinted against the meager moonlight.
A bear trap. He recognized them from the various hunts he’d accompanied Kazuma on. Only a werewolf hunter would set one. After all, there are no bears in London.
“Watch the ground!” Ryunosuke’s shout was more like a loud whisper, voice hoarse from his crying, but van Zieks heard him just in time to subtly sidestep the trap. He mumbled a short word of gratitude as he continued to run.
Then he stopped when they both heard a loud SNAP amidst the pattering rain. Brett cried aloud in agony.
In her own tunnel-visioned fury, she’d gotten caught. As she struggled to pry the trap from her leg, Van Zieks’s ears twitched.
“I can hear a group of hunters approaching, Mr. Naruhodo. I can leave you to them-”
“No!” Ryunosuke clung to van Zieks’s chest fur with a white knuckled grip. “No… Please stay with me.”
He wasn’t even sure why he made that request. Brett would most certainly be killed in this vulnerable state, and the hunters would send him to the infirmary to get cleaned up, and he would be safe. But the adrenaline was dying and the moments before what he thought would be his demise were playing in his mind.
He was too scared to be alone.
Van Zieks nodded in understanding. “Then I shall take you to my home. Is that okay?”
Ryunosuke nodded and curled into van Zieks further as he was rushed off to the manor.
~*~
They stepped into the van Zieks estate, drenched in rain, dirt, and blood. At the sight of the pair, the servants immediately got warm baths ready for them. After some soft, gentle words of affirmation from van Zieks, Ryunosuke was sound enough in body and mind to hobble over to a restroom and wash away all of the events of that night. He sat in the bathwater for a long time, well after his fingers wrinkled and his muscles relaxed, as he tried to process his eventful night. When he finally stepped out of the basin, he was at a loss for clothing. So he wrapped himself in a towel and stepped out the door, only to come face to face with a maid, which nearly scared him half to death. After a yelp in surprise, he bowed and apologized profusely. The maid smiled softly, unphased as she held out a neatly folded stack of clothes.
“The lord of the manor suggested I find you some fresh clothes whilst I wash your hunting gear. This is his old college wear, so deepest apologies should they not fit.”
Ryunosuke meekly accepted the clothes with a stuttered “thank you!” before he retreated back into the bathroom to change. The white button up shirt draped over him like a comfortable nightgown. However, when he tried to put the pants on, they were too loose around the hips, even with a belt, and the pant legs were far too long, completely covering his feet and dragging on the floor. He shook his head and sighed. He’d have to go without them, counting himself lucky the shirt covered him up enough despite the distinct lack of underwear.
He met van Zieks again when he’d walked out into the sitting room, where he was lounging on the floor in front of the fireplace, much too large for the couch. Van Zieks’s fur was much fluffier than usual, possibly from drying off after his bath. A blanket was draped over his legs as he sat near a low table arranged with tea and sweets. When he saw Ryunosuke, he urged him to sit with him, though an odd expression was set on his face. Ryunosuke blushed as he carefully approached, not quite sitting down yet as he nervously shifted his weight on his feet.
“Ah, sorry… The pants didn’t fit.”
What a massive beast. Even while sitting on the floor, the werewolf was eye-to-eye with Ryunosuke. Something about that made his heart flutter.
“I supposed they wouldn’t, but it was worth a try.” Van Zieks gently grabbed Ryunosuke’s cheeks between two clawed fingers, checking the light cuts from his reckless running through the bushes. “Pray, forgive my lack of proper garments, but you needn’t apologize for any indecency. I don’t mind at all.”
That much was obvious, Ryunosuke thought as he eyed van Zieks’s eagerly wagging tail. The wolf wasn't any more decent, wearing naught but the fur on his back and a blanket. Apparently the usual tattered pants he recycled each month were out of the question.
Not that Ryunosuke minded either.
“Please, join me for tea. I requested the servants prepare a soothing blend and gather up some sweets.”
Ryunosuke knelt down next to him, leaning into the fluffy fur at his side as he practically inhaled the sweets set out for him. They ate in comfortable silence together, save for the brief moment of teasing from Ryunosuke, pointing out how comically small the teacup was in the wolf's grasp. He eventually spoke again when he'd had his fill of treats.
"Thank you for everything tonight, Lord van Zieks." He lifted his head to gaze up at the other man's muzzle, a dopey grin spread across his face. "I guess this means you've repaid your debt, huh?"
Van Zieks froze up for a moment, then he lowered his head.
“A part of me is relieved that I’ve saved your life, but another part of me is selfishly regrettable.”
Ryunosuke tilted his head. “Why is that?”
“It's as you've said. My debt is repaid.”
“C'mon, now. It was a joke. I’ve told you time and time again that you owe me nothing.”
“I understand, however-”
“You lack an excuse to take me out to dinner now?" The dopey grin had fallen, giving way to disappointment. "You believe you can’t invite me to the park anymore? To the fair? To simply spend time with you?”
Van Zieks’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and Ryunosuke pouted when he’d realized he hit the nail on the head.
“Do you truly believe I agreed to go because I felt like you owed me a favor?”
Van Zieks remained silent, so Ryunosuke leaned in closer and grabbed the wolf's hand, softly caressing his fur.
“Surely you’re smart enough to realize that is not the case." He paused to place his other hand onto van Zieks's waist, still running it through his fur. "I’d even been saving up the money to finally invite you somewhere just as nice someday…” Ryunosuke then moved to climb up over and straddle van Zieks's thigh, smiling a bit at the way the thump of the man’s tail against the floor betrayed his straight face. “...if it would please Milord.”
Van Zieks’s resolve then crumbled as Ryunosuke gazed up at him with nothing but pure affection. The wolf's scowl settled into a fond expression. Almost a smile, if one would be generous enough to call it that.
“Saving up? Don’t be a fool. I would find myself pleased in the deepest pit of Hell so long as I’m by your side.”
Well now they were both flustered.
The two of them sat there, giddy and trying their hardest to calm their rapidly beating hearts until Ryunosuke finally took a deep breath and refocused himself. Gently, he rested his head onto the werewolf's chest and let himself become smothered.
“Lord van Zieks… would you accompany me tonight?”
A strange noise between a gasp and a low, guttural growl sounded from the man. “Tonight? Surely you don’t mean…?”
“I do.”
Ryunosuke’s eyes were set with a boiling mixture of resolve and lust, which only seemed to make van Zieks hesitate further, despite his eager tail.
“The moon is full. I cannot take on my human form.”
“And? I like every form you take.”
“I could very well hurt you.”
“So could any man.”
“The events of this night are still fresh. You would most certainly remember your suffering under a werewolf’s grasp.”
“Then, please…” Ryunosuke curled up as he spoke, feeling smaller than ever, a wet heat behind his eyes, voice barely above a whisper.
“... help me forget.”
Thus the final wall fell before him. Van Zieks sighed in resignation before carefully running a hand down the smaller man’s back.
“Very well, then. Tonight, I’m yours.”
~*~
Ryunosuke woke up the next day feeling a dull ache pulsing through every muscle. To say he was tired was an understatement. His entire body felt like a block of lead. He couldn't even feel his legs. His back and shoulders were stinging, bandaged from some scratches.
As careful as van Zieks was, maintaining that level of restraint would be near impossible in the heat of passion. Unfortunately, the consequences of said passion were making themselves well known to Ryunosuke with each attempt to stretch his overworked muscles.
And yet, he didn't regret it one bit. He'd very likely spend a full moon's night in van Zieks's company again. Though, perhaps, he thought, he should work a bit more on his stamina since he was pretty sure he'd passed out at some point. He certainly didn't remember getting cleaned up and bandaged.
Van Zieks was sleeping at his side, arm wrapped around Ryunosuke’s waist. With the fall of the moon and the rise of the sun, his more beastly features have disappeared in his sleep, making him wholly human again. Ryunosuke smiled fondly at the man, reaching out to pet that downy soft hair and earning himself a soft, approving grumble.
The morning's tranquility only yielded to the outside's cooing pigeons and horse hooves on cobblestone. The sunlight's beams shone through flowing white curtains, painting a near heavenly image of the room. It reflected off a glass chalice display that made everything that much brighter, yet, the gossamer veil of the lord's canopy bed softened the light, urging Ryunosuke to fall back into his slumber despite the morning's call. The peace was soon interrupted by a knocking on the door, to which van Zieks replied with a reluctant grunt and a clipped “Come in.”
Ryunosuke panicked for a second about being seen in bed with the man, quickly laying back down and shoving himself slightly under the covers, but when the butler stepped inside, he gave no reaction. Instead he wordlessly set Ryunosuke’s clothes and gear on the bedside table, bowed, and left the room. The sight of his neatly folded hunting outfit started to turn some gears in his head until it suddenly clicked.
He’d abandoned Kazuma.
Kazuma, who hadn’t seen or heard from Ryunosuke since the beginning of the hunt.
Kazuma, who would likely have returned to see Ryunosuke’s abandoned crossbow, travel bag with the communicator, and naught much else.
Kazuma, who was probably very, very worried at the moment.
As the guilt flooded his entire being, he felt van Zieks mutter incoherently and pull him slightly closer, and that immediately cleared his mind. He could return to the guild and face Kazuma’s panic-induced tongue lashing right this moment. Or, he could further indulge himself in van Zieks’s company and resolve that issue later. The second option began to feel particularly appealing when he felt van Zieks softly nuzzling his neck. So he relaxed once again and let his drowsiness take over.
Just a little bit longer, he bargained. For just a little bit longer, he'd stay in the wolf's embrace.
~*~
