Summary: Sho's attempt to confess his love was rejected by Kei. Deeply hurt, he got careless and terrible things happened... Kei x Sho. (slash / yaoi)

Timeline: Set after Sho had met Son & Yi-Che, and before Toshi died.

Title: Ashes

Note: Italic is usually thought.

Part 1

It was a Saturday night.

In a tiny apartment, Kei leaned against the wall, watching Sho in his bedroom pulling out different clothes from the closet and laying them on the bed, apparently trying to decide on the apparel for his night's outing.

"Where is my leather pant... hm...?" Sho muttered while flipping through the hangers.

Kei couldn't help but smiled, there were at least 5 leather pants that had been pulled out and tossed carelessly on the bed.

As he continued to watch Sho, Kei realized this was what he did most of the time; leaning on the wall, watching Sho. This was the position he normally assumed when they went out on their nightly "jobs", and he was doing the same thing when they hanged out with Toshi and Son. Kei supposed he had grown accustomed to watching his little friend, or he should rephrase that, as Sho had now grown taller than him. Sho had been merely a little boy when they first met. Kei looked over Sho's features. There had been many changes from the little boy. The features were harden and toughened by the cruelness of life and age. Sho's features remained delicate, to the point where one could almost called it "beautiful" or "feminine", but the fierceness of his eyes told everyone that he was neither delicate nor fragile. In his lithe body wields a soul that's strong and never bending. He had already known suffering and pains since young, and knew what it took to live on the streets. Yet, somehow, a part of Sho remained innocent. There was always a twinkle in Sho's eyes that seemed pure and full of life, which attracted Kei and made "Sho watching" his constant habit.

As Kei watched Sho finally made up his mind on the clothing and pulled up his favorite skin tight leather pants, he wondered if he should ask the young man where he was heading tonight.

But before Kei had a chance to get his question out, Sho had pulled opened the door and left.

"Don't wait up." was all that Sho left for him.

XXX

"Woman... it must be with a woman..." Kei thought, "Sho is going out on a date." Most probably Yi-Che. He added as an afterthought.

Well, Sho was at this age now. He would be interested in woman, among other things, such as having a life besides cooping in a house with no sunlight and staying company with his vampire friend. Kei thought miserably. He knew this will happen, sooner or later.

Slowly, he drifted to his own room and lay on the bed, trying to sleep.

XXX

Kei woke up with a start. He looked out and he could see it's still dark out there. He couldn't have been asleep for more than 2 hours. Then he realized the sound that woke him up was from the closing of the apartment door. Sho had returned.

Only 2 hours? Kei wondered silently, as he listened on Sho's footstep. To his surprise, the footstep trailed towards his bedroom. It paused there for a minute or two, then a sigh, and then the footstep trailed away into Sho's bedroom.

XXX

Toshi came over the next day.

"Sho, did you have a good time last night?"

"Pissed off." Sho was not in a good mood. If it was anybody else hearing the icy tone, they would have left the guy alone. But Toshi, of course, was not just anybody else. His insistence on annoying Sho sometimes made Kei wondered if Toshi was indeed the bravest them of all.

"Oh come' on, spill the juicy details." Toshi winked as if he didn't see Sho's glare, "I saw you with a woman last night. Too bad I didn't see her face, but the general direction you two were walking was towards the love hotels district. So?"

"Nothing, ok. Now shut up."

"WHAT?" Toshi exclaimed in disbelief, "Are you crazy? You went out with a woman and you didn't do anything?"

"Because I went out with your MOM! Now get the hell out of here." Sho barked back.

"Are you a man or not?" Toshi shouted back, "Or are you... useless? Incompetent? Unable to..."

"Shut up and get out before I shot you!"

"Fine!" Toshi grabbed his stuff, "Remind me next time to deliver pizza glazed with Viagra to you when you go out with a date so that you can at least go for a minute or two!"

The door was slammed against Toshi's face.

The apartment was once again quiet, except for Kei's silent snicker. Sho wisped around and glared at Kei. For a minute or two he looked like he was about to barked the same command at Kei to leave the house. Then his shoulder slumped and he merely sat down on the sofa.

By then Kei realized something was amiss.

"What's wrong?" Kei asked in a quiet voice.

"I went out with Yi-Che." Sho said, avoiding eye contact with Kei.

"Oh."

"That's it?" Sho's head shot up, staring at Kei, "Oh That's it? Don't you care that I went out with the woman you like?"

"What?" Kei was almost as surprised as Sho had been, "Yi-Che? I like her?"

"Don't you?" Sho asked, "I saw you looking at her. ALWAYS looking at her in a special way."

"No, you're wrong."

Sho scanned Kei's face as if looking for signs of lies. When he saw none, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I only went out with her because I thought you like her."

That logic seemed so strange that Kei looked at Sho in puzzlement.

"Don't you get it?" Sho sighed, "I don't like her. I just don't want her to like you. I don't want you two together."

Why?

Kei was slowly putting the pieces together, but he remained quiet.

It must have been difficult to confess one's feelings under the vampire's nonchalant stare, but Sho had to try.

"I..."

"Say no more." Kei whispered. "It can never be."

"Please, Kei..."

"No, have you forgotten what I am?" Kei suddenly screamed.

"No, I haven't." Sho spoke quietly at first, then his voice grew in both volume and strength, "But I don't care. I don't give a damn what you are. I only know this... I love you... I have loved you for so long... maybe since I was a child... you are always there for me. You... you are gentle, caring, and... and beautiful..."

"Stop! Never say I'm beautiful." Kei interrupted harshly. "I'm a monster; not worthy of that word."

"But Kei, you're the most beautiful person I know. Not just in appearance, but also in your soul." Sho said, "None of the people I've met, not even Yi-che, can be compared to you. Kei, I love you."

"I don't. love. you."

Sho stared at Kei. The words were like a knife driving deep into his chest, cutting it opened again and again.

Turning around, he ran. That was the only way to escape from those hurtful words.

Behind him, Kei collapsed onto the floor.

XXX

Sho walked down the street, trying to hold back the tears of despair.

"Kei didn't love me. He said he doesn't love me. He said no, no, no, no, no..."

The words replayed over and over in his mind.

Even in his distraught, he still noticed two people tailing him.

I have just been rejected by the love of my life. Can't you bastards give me a moment here?

Fine, have it your way. You two deserved to DIE!

Sho thought violently as his fingers closed on the guns beneath his shirt and he began walking down a deserted alley, away from the crowd. The two followed a few steps behind.

Sho suddenly turned around with the gun in his hand.

Bang! bang!

One fell to the ground, lifeless, while the other managed to escape into the abandoned building nearby.

"Damn it!" Sho cursed. Normally he would have just leave, but today was different. He wanted, needed to shoot and kill. In his rage and hurt, he carelessly followed into the building, and walked straight into a trap.

Sho didn't even realize he was ambushed until suddenly tens of men came out of nowhere. Clearly outnumbered, he shot his best and looked for a chance to run. The chance never came and soon his gun was out of bullets. It then became a fist fight, of him against 7 or 8 men. His punch broke one's nose, and his kick to the groin of another sent the poor guy lying on the floor groaning. Sho grinned knowing that guy won't be able to use that particular part of his for weeks. His victory was unfortunately short lived as he was soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of the enemies.

Both arms being grabbed from behind, followed by two heavy punches to his stomach left him panting and seeing stars. A kick to his knees sent him kneeling down on the floor, with 2 guys holding each of his arms, and two more guys pinning down on each of his leg, effectively immobilized him.

"Boss, we have got him."

"So you are the little thief that has been stealing from me?" A gun was shoved beneath his chin, tilting his head up. Sho's blazing eyes glared at the tall man standing in front of him.

"Such spirit..." The gun trailed across his face, "and beauty..." The man known as Chan seemed genuinely surprised. "I hadn't guessed you possessed such a beautiful face, my little thief."

"I was going to cut off your limbs and scratched out your eyes and then killed you as a sign of warning for others... but it would be an unforgivable sin to destroy one as beautiful as you, especially those beautiful emerald eyes, don't you think?"

"Go fuck yourself!" Sho spat at him.

"Tsk tsk," Chan shook his head, "watch your mouth." The gun in his hand suddenly collided hard with Sho's cheek bone, sending the other's face tumbling backwards with its force. The two guys holding Sho pulled him back as Sho coughed blood onto the floor and a large bruise began forming on his cheek.

"See, I hate to destroy things of beauty... but you left me with no choice..."

"Go to hell, bastard!"

"That tongue of yours is full of filth." Chan signaled one of his man standing by, "Cut out his tongue."

The man gladly complied, and pulled out a sharp army knife from his boots. Another approached Sho to pry open his mouth as Sho renewed his struggle fruitlessly. The sharp object was almost making its contact with Sho's tongue and Sho could taste his own blood when suddenly a command was given, "Stop."

The knife was removed, with his tongue still intact. Sho couldn't help but released a small shudder.

"On second thought, I think I should leave that tongue of yours attached. You might be able to put it to better use later." Chan smiled, trailing his fingers across Sho's lips, "I think I shall enjoy fucking that sensual mouth of yours."

Stuck "it" in, and I will bite it off!

Chan clearly read the message in those blazing eyes and seemed amused. He laughed, "It is such a waste if I carry out my original plan. No, I have another plan for you. Bind him."

Sho was rewarded with a few kicks in the stomach and a particularly hard smash to his skull as he tried to struggle free once more.

"I shall enjoy taming you." was all Sho heard before he finally lost consciousness.

XXX

Kei stared out at the window. The night was almost gone and Sho still hadn't returned.

Heaving a heavy sigh, he finally sat down on the couch.

Sho had surprised him today. No, not really. He knew somewhere deep in his heart that Sho loves him. He was surprised that Sho thought he loved Yi-che.

Yes, he admitted at looking at Yi-che, but the one that he took the most pleasure and time staring at was none other than Sho himself? He took an interest in Yi-che because of the strong spirit the girl processed. After all that she has been through, she was still able to produce a painting that's full of hope and life. That makes her admirable. But love? No, Kei will never fall in love with her. His love had long ago been given freely to another who has an even stronger spirit. Sho...

"KEI! HELP ME!"

Kei bolted up. That was Sho's voice, filled with terror and helplessness and hopelessness.

He rushed to the window and scanned the surrounding. Nothing. There was only stillness in the night air, and it would seem like Kei had imagined Sho's plead for help.

Sho, please be ok...

I lied when I said I don't love you. I was a coward.. I'm merely unable to believe someone as beautiful as you, can love a monster like me...

To be continued...

Reviews are much appreciated!