Chapter 5: First Kiss

'How did it end up to this?'

These words came running inside his head soon as he felt her soft lips pressed to his. Even he's the so-called Vampire King, a being far from humans, there are times where things would come unexpected. Everything happened so fast and he was caught off-guard.

Who would have thought that the huntress, who was chasing him and aiming for his head few days ago was now right close to him, pressing her warm lips against his.

Is this their new way of attacking their opponent?

A new technique?

A new skill?

Whatever that is, for some unknown reason, he can't seem to escape this attack. It was as if his strength has been drained away with just a simple contact of the mouth.

And because of this, a memory of the past that he thought had long forgotten has suddenly came flashing inside his mind like a lightning strike.

***

"What?" Rae blinked several times as he heard the words that came out from the tall lad standing in front of him.

Gray looked away, "I said... I accept your offer as one of the SSG officers."

With that, Rae suddenly beamed a smile, "Oh thank you, Mr. Salem!" He rose from his seat and quickly shook Gray's hand.

"I swear you won't regret joining us. Let us work together and do our best!"

"Sure..." Gray mumbled, "But before that, there's something I've been meaning to ask you..."

"Hm? What is it?" He tilted his head to the side with those innocent eyes.

But Gray's face turned dark and serious, "Tell me, Mr. President... do I look human to you?"

Rae was surprised by the question at hand. By the looks of it, Gray seems like the type who's not fond of jokes. So the question isn't something he would ask just to make fun of him.

But whatever the reason for him to ask such question, he should answer it honestly, right? After all, he's someone who can't easily tell a lie.

Soon as he was about to open his mouth, a knock on the door suddenly came. And from there, Ms. Grosvenor came.

"Ms. Grosvenor, good morning!" He greeted her cheerfully.

The lass just nodded politely like how she used to. And it seems like she's better now compared the other night. She was burning hot due to fever. Good thing Rin was there to help him. Too bad this lass didn't remember any of it. Would he really call it something bad?

Was it something fortunate? Who knows?

But what's important for Rae right now is that he managed to save a life once again.

"I've brought them," Ms. Grosvenor said as she welcomed two more students behind her.

One was a girl with a short hair and side bangs. She's wearing circular glasses and looks stiff and nervous.

"N-nice to meet you... I-I'm Jennifer Adriano, 3rd year from the Education department, S-secretary!" She kept on bowing her head due to nervousness.

Next to her, a guy with a long straight bangs which covers his eyes. And on his neck, hangs the lace of the camera he's been carrying.

"My name is Hans Zuñiga, 2nd year from Fine Arts department, your Historian and the newsletter club president. Pleased to meet you." He smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm--"

"Mr. Rain Anderson Elliot Celis, 4th year from Education department, a top student and an ex-soccer club ace member." Hans suddenly said.

"T-that's true..."

"I-I've been your fan since then!" Jennifer said as her eyes twinkled in awe.

'Woah! I can't believe I'm now working with Mr. Rae! I've been watching him since in first year and now, here I am, working alongside with him! How I wish this dream would never end!' She thought.

'I heard the famous pop star idol Ciella was the SSG's Treasurer. But I can't find her here. What a waste! I thought I could get a first-hand scoop!' Hans said to himself.

Unknown to them, their thoughts have been read by Rae which now made him nervous.

'I have to be careful with these two...' He gulped.

"Oh by the way," He said, "We also have Mr. Salem with us, our Student Discipline Officer." He stood beside Gray's tall figure.

The two students were shocked when they saw his face.

"N-no way.. H-he's--!"

"G-Grayson Salem, 4th year, known for his strong and intimidating aura that's why he's been into fist fights since first year. Rumor has it that no one ever won nor dared to challenge him ever again after witnessing his strength!" Hans nervously narrated.

"Ha?" Gray glared at them with his fierce eyes.

The two officers trembled in fear and hid behind Ms. Grosvenor.

"That's amazing!" Rae suddenly exclaimed, "I never thought you're that strong and popular, Mr. Salem! It makes me want to work with you more!"

Everyone was surprised by his reaction including Gray. This is the first time someone didn't cower in fear after hearing the rumors about him. Well, it wasn't actually a rumor at all, some of it, maybe. But most of it were facts. That's why no one dares to approach him not until the day that this lad named Rae came barging into his life and wanted him to take part of the SSG.

'He's really weird...' He thought. But for sure, his weirdness doesn't faze him at all. Rather, it made him interested to know about this lad right next to him.

'Listen, Gray... No one is born alone in this world. That's just what people used to think. Sooner or later in their life, they'll surely have someone they can rely on. Someone they can call as a... friend.'

That's what someone dear to him used to say.

How he was hoping, that time of his life would finally come.

***

Soon, the night has come once again. After his usual routine of patrolling around the city, Rae came back from the spot where he was attacked by those vampires two days ago. He can't shake the feeling and he has to know why they've been attacking him. Well, aside for the reason of being a Vampire King candidate.

The lad landed on the same spot where he left his blood to explode and where he flee together with the huntress. He made the explosion not too strong to not destroy the building. But it was enough to leave a severe injury to those vampires.

"Looks like the Vampire King isn't a coward at all." Said the vampire behind him whom he believed was their leader.

"I came back to settle things. What do you want from me?" Rae seriously said.

Suddenly, the vampire leader burst out laughing, "That's nice, that's nice! I like that attitude of yours!" Then his eyes suddenly turned bright red, "Too bad I have to send you to hell now."

In such speed, he attacked and tried to harm Rae with his sharp claws. Good thing the lad managed to dodge that dangerous attack. With that, the other vampires joined in and attack Rae altogether.

"We shouldn't be fighting like this! We should work together! Let's stop this!" Rae said while dodging the vampires.

"I wouldn't take those words from someone who mercilessly killed my brother!"

"What?"

"Eclipse bar... he owes that place... Until you came in and ruined everything! You also killed my poor brother!"

The lad remembered the bar tender's face and the horrible things they did to humans.

"I did what I have to do. I came to stop their schemes."

"And I'm here to avenge him!" The vampire leader said as he took a bottle and drank the potion inside.

The other vampires took their bottles out as well and drank the potion.

'What's that?' Rae thought and observed how they transformed into much bigger and stronger vampire monsters.

'This... is... for my brother!'

Rae covered his ears as the vampire leader made a loud screech. The window glasses from the buildings nearby were torn to pieces.

The other vampires took this opportunity and attacked Rae. Seems like they aren't affected by their boss's screech. Using the blood he got from getting wounded, he turned it into sharp crystals and threw them towards the vampires' direction. Much to his surprise, the crystals shattered when each hits their skin. It seems like they can harden their fur to protect themselves.

'That won't work, you punk!' The vampire leader rushed towards him.

Rae was about to defend his attack with his blood when he suddenly felt a loud and painful throbbed in his chest that made him unable to move.

And with a swing, the vampire leader's giant claw pierced right through his stomach. Blood splattered as he vomited and groaned in pain.

'It hurts! Am I at my limit?' Rae thought as he felt the pain inside his chest more painful than the attack he just received.

'Ah, that's right... I haven't... drink... a human's blood for a long time...' He said to himself like he has finally assessed the reason of the sudden pain that he's feeling.

He can feel, sooner or later, he'll lost his consciousness. Would he be able to pull it off and make it out alive in his current state?

The vampire laughed, 'What's wrong, Vampire King? Out of luck already?! Let me do you a favor of sending you straight to hell!!!'

He was about to crush Rae on his huge hand when suddenly, a loud gunshot came and sent one of his crewmates into ashes.

'I-It's the huntress!'

From another side of the building, the huntress came running and jumped high towards them as she shoot her golden bullets. Some managed to dodge it, but most of them were shot straight to the chest and head.

"That vampire..." She said, "Hand him to me." Her cold voice sent chills to their spines that made the other vampires tremble.

'Why!?' Asked the vampire leader, 'Why are you helping your sworn enemy!?'

The huntress walked forward and pointed her gun, "Don't get the wrong idea. I should be the one to finish his life."

Suddenly, she shot his hand that made him groaned in pain and let Rae go. The huntress quickly came and took his body.

'Tch! I want to finish them all already. But I can't move freely while carrying the Vampire King.' She thought and quickly made an escape before the vampire leader could reach them.

If she didn't work out since the day she became a hunter, she wouldn't be able to have the strength to carry this vampire bleeding badly due to the damage he received. She managed to get away from the vampires and found an abandoned building where she placed his cold body for the mean time. She leaned his back on the wall while sitting weakly on the dusty ground.

"Why... are you helping me?" He weakly asked while breathing heavily.

The huntress gazed at him and removed her black face mask. He was indeed right, the huntress is Miss Grosvenor, his schoolmate and neighbor.

"Debt..." She mumbled, "I hate having debts to anyone. Treat this as my thanks for saving me few days ago."

"I... see..." Rae said as he slowly sat properly.

"Pardon me..." She said and lifted his shirt up to check his wound.

It was big and deep. Normal humans won't be able to survive on that attack. But since he's a vampire, he can take it and they have the ability to heal. What's amazing is she's now witnessing that so-called regeneration before her eyes. The huge wound is slowly getting smaller. But it wasn't enough to stop his bleeding.

"Y-you can stop... looking now.. and put my shirt down..." Rae blushed bashfully when the huntress kept on staring on his wound.

"Why?" She asked.

"W-why? I-is it obvious? You're making me embarrassed!"

She blinked and tilted her head on the side, "The vampire king, getting embarrassed?" It was like she can't believe that someone like him is capable of having such emotions.

"O-of course I do! It's not that I don't have feelings at all!"

"That reminds me..." The huntress mumbled, "The night when you saved me... The next day, I was inside my room already."

Rae gulped nervously, 'Urgh! Did she already find out who I am now?'

"Could it be... the vampire king is stalking me?" She gazed at him in disgust.

"Why are you looking at me like that!? Why would I even stalk a hunter? I was able to know your place by tracking your scent. You have a sweet smell of lavender flowers." He explained.

She nodded, "I see. But if I recall correctly, the moment I opened my eyes, I was wearing my pajamas not my hunter uniform. I wonder why is that?" She gave him a suspicious look.

Rae gulped again, 'I-it was Rin! But I can't possibly tell her that. I'm just going to put their lives in danger.'

"Well?" The huntress leaned her face.

"Alright, alright! It was me! I'm sorry!" He lied as he looked away, "I-I had to do it! You're soaking in sweat, so I have to change your clothes!" While he was in the middle of explanation, a pang of pain suddenly came in his stomach coming from his deep wound.

"Now that I think about it, I wonder why your wound heals slowly. You're the Vampire King."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you but... not because I'm the Vampire King doesn't mean I don't have limitations."

The huntress blinked, "Vampire King, could it be... you forgot to drink human blood?"

His eyes twitched at what she said.

'Well, I kinda forgot about it... But I can't possibly drink some from anyone!' He said to himself.

She heaved a sigh, "That can't be helped..." She took a pocket knife and wounded her palm.

"W-what are you doing!?"

"This is my thanks for saving my life. Drink." She offered her hand to him.

The strong scent of blood lingers around his nostrils that's impossible to ignore. He used to hate this smell. But now that he has accustomed to its smell and taste, he doesn't dislike it now.

'Snap it, Rae! You can't give in!' He shook his head and gently pushed her hand away.

"No thanks, I won't drink it."

She blinked, "Is it because I'm a hunter?"

"This has nothing to do with it. Aren't you afraid I might lose control after I drank your blood? I appreciate your offer but... I don't want to recklessly hurt anyone." He furrowed his eye brows.

'What's this? Did he just... reject a human's blood?' The huntress thought and was confused.

'Any vampire would give in to the temptation of blood. But this vampire... he pushed my hand away. What's wrong with him? Is he pretending? No... I can see clearly in his eyes how he's been holding back.'

She gazed at his deep wound which is still as bad as it was before. Somehow, looking at it makes her somewhat irritated.

'What's this? When did I ever feel like this? I should be fine since he won't be sucking any blood. It would be easier for me to kill him. But why... Why do I feel like it isn't right? Why does it feels so vexing? Is it because he rejected my offer?' The huntress stared at her bleeding hand. The blood continues to flow out without getting wiped. And just by looking at it, she realized the answer to her questions.

'Ah, it might be that... This is the first time I got rejected... To think it was the vampire who saved my life. I won't allow it... I won't let this night end without paying my debt!'

And with that, she has finally come up with a decision.

"You're such a handful..." She told him and secretly sucked some blood on her mouth.

Rae gave her a puzzled look, "What do you mean?"

But instead of answering, the huntress leaned forward, cupped his cheeks, tilted his head upwards and closed the distance between them.

'T-this is--!' From her mouth lingers the taste of something salty and metallic flavor. But soon turns out sweet as a candy. There's no doubt about it, that's definitely blood!

His heart suddenly beats fast. The blood he just received is starting to flow inside his body. He tried to push her away before it's too late. But the wound on his stomach made him unable to move for now.

'Not enough...' The huntress thought as she pulled away.

Rae gasped and coughed after that, "W-what were you thinking!?"

But instead of responding, the huntress sucked blood from her hand once again and delivered it using her mouth.

Rae can't resist. The taste of human blood in his mouth makes it impossible for him to stop her from giving it to him.

'H-how did it end up to this..?' He thought as he can feel his heart throbbing fast.

He was caught off-guard.

Actually, no.

He let his guard down around her. And now, with her warm and soft lips being pressed against his feels like his strength has been draining away.

All he could do is to grip on her arms as he can feel the warmth of her breath on his. As she transfers the blood with her mouth, he can feel her tongue pressing against his. It was warm and soft, yet strong and firm. It only shows her dominance even in times like this.

Slowly, he was forced to swallow the blood given to him. And soon enough, his strength has returned. His eyes glowed in bright red soon as they gasped for air after gently pulling away.

The huntress was about to suck more blood when he suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Enough..." He seriously said.

She was surprised and can't pull her hand away. His grip was way too strong.

'Is it because of the blood I gave him? Does this mean he lost control? Should I kill him now?'

Just when she was about to turn her golden ring into a gun, Rae suddenly pulled her hand and licked the remaining blood on her palm.

His tongue was warm, and the way he licked her blood is gentle and left a ticklish feeling. When he returned her hand, the wound suddenly disappeared! There are no traces left, it was as if she didn't left a wound earlier.

Seems like he hasn't lost control of his morality. And it's amazing to think that their saliva can heal someone else's wound.

Not only that, in just small amount of blood, his deep wound healed way faster than before. Now it has been completely close like nothing happened.

'So this is the effect of human blood to vampires...' She thought.

"What were you even thinking!?" He suddenly scolded her.

The huntress blinked, "I believe I already made myself clear. I wanted to pay my debt so I gave you some of my blood."

"I-I know that! It's just that... that..." Suddenly, his face became red as he looked away.

She tilted her head to the side and expectantly looked at him, "That?"

Rae took a deep breath and heaved a sigh, "Look, I appreciate your help. But you shouldn't have done it... through a kiss..." Seems like he was embarrassed to say the last words.

"Why? Does it bother you so much?"

Rae flushed, "Yes it does. That was my first kiss!"

"That was my first too." The huntress said in a casual tone.

Rae blinked in disbelief, 'Why does it look normal for her? Do girls usually take this matter seriously?'

He crossed his arms to his chest, "Anyway, my point is... You shouldn't kiss anyone so easily."

"Why?"

"Because you can only kiss someone you truly love. That's how special a kiss is worth."

"I don't understand." She blinked, "You're the Vampire King, yet you're saying such strange things."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

The huntress shrugged, "I guess."

Rae was about to say something more when his face suddenly turned serious as he turned his head to the side.

"They're coming..." He whispered.

Now that he has managed to drink human blood, his senses became keener that he can hear the flapping of their wings several kilometers away from them.

"Seems like they've found us."

The huntress wears her face mask again, "Then, we just have to finish them."

"Be careful, they've become stronger due to the strange potion they've taken earlier."

"I can take care of myself. How about you?"

Rae blinked and smirked, "I've gotten better, thanks to you!"

Sooner or later, the vampires came and surrounded them.

'Get the huntress!' The vampires charged towards her.

Rae was about help when he saw on his peripheral vision that the vampire leader was aiming for him. Quickly, he dodged his attack and kept chasing him.

'So this is their plan... to separate us!' He said to himself as he went to the next floor.

The vampire leader laughed, 'Now, it's just you and me... Let's settle this, shall we?'

"I agree." Rae said in a serious manner.

'For my brother!!!' The vampire leader attacked first and with his giant claws.

When Rae dodged that, the post behind him collapsed even in a distant.

'Just as I thought, there's something inside that potion they drank.'

With that, Rae bit his thumb and used his blood, turning it into a different kind of whip called scourge*.

The vampire scoffed, 'Do you really think a puny weapon can do me any harm?'

Rae smirked, "We'll see. There's only one way to tame a beast after all."

The vampire felt insulted and began to attack again, swinging his huge claws anywhere just to hit him. And the Vampire King effortlessly dodged all of his attacks. Due to the human blood he just intake earlier, he was energized even in the little amount.

Rae swings his arm and hit the vampire. Knowing he'll attack, this creature hardens his skin like how he did earlier. The whip just bounced back.

'Ha! What a fool! I told you it won't hurt me!'

Rae smirked, "We'll see how that skill of yours will last longer."

In such speed, he swings his arm and lashes his whip again and again.

'Not because you can't hit them doesn't mean they're invincible. You have to find their weak spot.'

His teacher used to tell him. Thanks to that, this kind of situation is nothing to the so-called Vampire King.

When his whip lashed on his knee, the vampire leader groaned in pain.

'That's it! The weak spot!' Rae thought and hit his knees once more. And with that, his fur suddenly went back to normal.

After that, Rae lashed his whip on his skin. When he pulled it out, several amounts of blood splattered on the walls and ground.

'Damn you' He was about to use that strong screech again when Rae used the blood around and turned them into red chains.

These chains were wrapped around the vampire leader's neck, body, limbs, and even around its jaws, preventing it to scream. He tried to struggle but the chains were too tight.

Rae panted and kept the bloody whip back inside his body.

He heard the vampire laughed, 'Well done, Vampire King...' He was communicating with him through telepathy*.

"Surrender now, it's your loss."

'Never! I will avenge my brother! I will make sure you'll pay for taking his life!'

"I did what I have to do. Your brother is the culprit behind missing humans inside the city. And he's using their blood all for their luxury."

The vampire scoffed, 'Finish me like how you did to my brother. Do what you have to.'

Rae shook his head, "No, like I said, we should stop this and work together. We shouldn't be fighting and decrease in numbers."

Before the lad could finish his words, the vampire leader laughed once again.

'I am disappointed of you, Vampire King...' His body became bigger and bigger that broke the chains in pieces.

'You're just as soft as the humans I've killed before!' He was about to smash him with his gigantic hand when all of a sudden, he froze.

'W-what's happening!? Why can't I move my body!?'

No matter how many times he tried, it seems like he was being forced to not move a single muscle. The more he struggles, the more painful it gets. The feeling that his veins are being twisted and might snap at any time.

Then, he glared at the Vampire King, 'Y-you! What did you just do!?'

The next thing happened terrified him. He hasn't felt fear for such a long time, enough to make him tremble.

"Did you just say... you killed humans?" His eyes glowed in crimson red that could pierce at anyone looking at them.

"When was the last time... you killed humans?" He asked in a serious tone, his voice was trembling like he was suppressing his anger.

'Heh... What does it have to do with you?'

"Answer me!" He said with a cold and firm voice that the vampire felt the twisting pain once again. But this time, it was way stronger than before.

'Y-yesterday night... I drank their blood... to get stronger!'

After confessing, the pain faded. And when he checked, the vampire can now move his limbs and body.

Rae turned his back, "Go... and never show your face to me ever again. Because if you do, you won't be able to survive." He bit his lower lip as if calming himself down.

'It's my fault! If I have settled things with him way earlier, those innocent people could've lived.' Rae clenched his fist as he felt the remorse.

'I thank you for your mercy... Vampire king!' The vampire leader suddenly jumped and was about to attack Rae from behind.

All of a sudden, a huge amount of blood splattered the moment he turned around.

***

As for the huntress, when the vampires attacked altogether, she quickly turned her golden rings into guns. The chase began as she swiftly dodged their attacks and blew their heads off the moment she has the chance. In a short span of time, she defeated those vampires and they slowly turned to ashes.

'I don't know if they should be called brave or fools for attacking a hunter.' She thought and heard a loud groan from above.

Quickly, she went upstairs and was surprised at what she saw next. The huge vampire, aiming for the king was now in the verge of death. There are red crystals that came out of its body as huge amounts of blood splattered around.

'H-how..!?'

"I already warned you," He said in a cold voice, "Since you're like your brother, you shall meet the same fate he had..." And when he closed his hand, the vampire leader's blood turned to crystal and was shattered to pieces.

Seeing that moment sent chills to her spine. She hasn't felt this way before.

Looks like no matter how he looked innocent, there's still a ferocious beast living inside him. He's the so-called Vampire King after all. He might be hiding his true strength all along.

Thinking these things made her blood boil for a moment. She felt like a fool.

'Vampires are all the same...' She said to herself and was about to shoot him.

When her gaze landed at him, he was having this painful expression while staring at the shattered pieces on the ground. On top of that, something fell on his left eye while gazing at it.

"I'm sorry you have to see that..." He sniffed and quickly wiped his tear away.

"Will you... let me go?" He asked.

The traces of his cold aura can no longer be seen anymore. It was as if he turned out to be a stranger earlier, someone she doesn't know and yet to know.

Nevertheless, the huntress sighed and put her guns down.

"Next time we meet, we're enemies again."

He smiled sadly, "I understand. And thank you." He bowed politely before he spread his wings and fly away.

Watching him from a distant, the huntress thought, 'Such a peculiar vampire. I can't understand him at all... Just earlier, why did he cry?'

She clenched her fist, "No, I shouldn't think any of it anymore. I cannot be swayed by something like this."

And with that, she left the abandoned building and went home.

***

Meanwhile, somewhere out there in the dark alleys of the streets, a man panting while he was covered with bruises and his clothes was tainted in blood. He was leaning on the wall, taking a rest while watching the cold corpse in front of him, slowly turning into ashes.

"What a persistent vampire... Now he gets what he deserves..." He mumbled in such deep and low voice as his crimson red eyes glowed in the midst of darkness.

***

Author's Note:

*scourge - the type of whip with a wooden handle, which is composed of leather, bones and metal; this is also the whip used on Jesus Christ before he was crucified on the cross.

*telepathy - a psychic technique where one can communicate to others using their mind; communicating without the use of vocal words.