‘So this really is holy water…’
Seeing Sirius step back with a rigid face made it even more certain. Beside him, Procion clicked his tongue, saying, “Tougher than he looks.” Yan found it fascinating that these two seemingly fearless men were intimidated by a mere water gun.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks to you. Though I could have handled it sufficiently myself.”
“…”
“I spoke thoughtlessly. Thank you, Yan.”
Sirius corrected himself belatedly, recognizing the meaning in Yan’s stare. Of course, Sirius, who had reduced the opponent to that state, wouldn’t have been in danger. But everything had happened so quickly that there hadn’t been time to consider that. Besides, Yan would have pulled the trigger even if he had known.
“I’ve wanted to repay my debt to you for a long time.”
“What debt?”
“My life.”
Beyond his unrequited love for Sirius, Yan had always hoped to be of help to him someday. That hope sometimes drifted in a misaligned direction—”under conditions that don’t affect breathing, life, physical and mental health, could a situation arise where Sirius might rely on me just a little—not a lot, just a tiny bit?” In any case, the life debt to Sirius had been weighing on Yan’s mind.
“It wasn’t as impressive as when you saved me, but would you consider this enough to repay the debt?”
So now there’s nothing left between us.
Yan rolled these words on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t speak them aloud because he feared they might truly become reality.
Having repaid the life debt and resolved his resentment, there was no reason to see the twins again. His unrequited love was over, and there was no reason to continue the lessons in becoming a masochist. They weren’t even personally close to begin with, so…
‘I know I should forget them.’
Yan had an illusion of returning home. How lonely his home had been after work. How vast the living room had seemed, and how cold the bedroom. Yan was already afraid of how long this feeling of heartbreak would last.
“Very well, Yan. If that’s what you want, consider the debt paid. Though I never thought I had placed any debt on you in the first place.”
Yan silently nodded.
“Then we can talk properly now.”
“What?”
Talk? He didn’t understand what conversation remained between people about to part ways. Looking at Yan, who was just blinking in confusion, Sirius said:
“Would you undergo the third stage of bonding?”
“…What?”
Now he truly had no idea what Sirius was talking about. Seeing Yan’s dumbfounded reaction, Sirius hesitated, and Procion spoke instead.
“Will you become our bound one?”
“Th-that means you’re asking me to become a vampire, right?”
“It’s a bit different. This is a kind of symbiotic relationship. We complement each other’s species weaknesses…”
“But if one party is severely injured or dies, the other will also be affected,” Sirius said, pointing to the deceased kidnappers.
“Their bound ones are probably dead by now.”
“…”
“Nothing can have only advantages. The disadvantages are fatal. But if Yan still wants… no, let me phrase it differently.”
Sirius, not particularly skilled at expressing himself, fell silent for a moment. Yan patiently waited for him. Finally, Sirius’s correction resembled a confession.
“If Yan wishes to be with us.”
“Won’t you become our bound one?”
Procion picked up the thread. It implied that they too wanted to be with Yan.
Numerous responses came to mind. Acceptance and refusal were present simultaneously. He was happy, incredulous, and above all, surprised. With so many emotions surfacing, he was rendered speechless.
“Yan?”
Growing impatient with waiting, Sirius called to him. Meanwhile, Procion tried to persuade Yan like a salesman.
“I guarantee no one will be able to hurt us. In about a month, no one will even dare to touch us. And I promise you’ll never be kidnapped again.”
“Ah… wait…”
His head spun. After all, he had thought it was the end, but a new beginning was opening up.
The two men with identical faces were waiting for Yan. It wasn’t the first time he had been under their gaze, but this time felt different. Yan unconsciously realized the answer.
‘They’re waiting for my response.’
He had thought he was nothing to them. But that seemed to have been a huge misunderstanding. Procion and Sirius were awaiting Yan’s answer like men hoping to be chosen.
Yan knew that bonding wasn’t a decision to be made lightly. In his line of work, he had seen bound ones who regretted being bonded to vampires. Nevertheless, Yan answered directly.
“All right.”
His reason asked if he was confident he wouldn’t regret it. Honestly, Yan wasn’t that confident. Perhaps he had no choice from the beginning. After all, Yan Circuitz was already captivated by the two vampires.
There was no more resentment. The life debt and deception were gone. Like a new building rising from ruins, a new relationship began on the foundation of what had crumbled.
Side Story: The Second Contract
“You threw away the diet contract?”
“Yeah. …I mean, yes.”
Having some sense of propriety, Yan lowered his head slightly. His posture had become respectful without him realizing it. In contrast, Procion asked with a stern, intimidating expression:
“What were you thinking?”
“I didn’t really have any particular thought…”
To tell the truth, he had intended to end everything. His relationship with Procion, his lingering attachment to Sirius, all of it… But saying so would likely anger both men. They might not rage wildly, but they would be elegantly, quietly furious. Yan knew the latter was more frightening.
“Do you remember the contents of the contract, Yan?”
“Yes.”
“Say it out loud.”
“‘Procion will develop Yan Circuitz’s hidden masochistic talents. Yan Circuitz will follow Procion’s guidelines as much as possible.'”
Both parties—or rather, one person and one vampire—seemed to have faithfully fulfilled this much. But Procion tilted his chin as if indicating Yan should continue.
“…’During play, I will be Procion’s faithful slave’?”
“That’s not the end of it.”
“The safe word is unicorn…?”
Procion looked down at Yan with an increasingly cold expression. Yan felt somewhat aggrieved. What was the point of establishing a safe word when the other party didn’t honor the contract terms either? Of course, it was Sirius who had toyed with him despite him uttering the safe word, but Procion shared the responsibility for not stopping him.
Procion urged on Yan, who was inwardly grumbling in dissatisfaction.
“What was the final clause?”
“Uh, well…”
Yan mentally recalled the diet contract he had discarded. Though he hadn’t particularly looked at it except when he wrote it and when he threw it away, its shocking content made the sentences come to mind without difficulty.
Gasp—Yan inhaled. Seeing his expression that clearly indicated his memory had returned, Procion smiled sinisterly.
“This contract will be terminated upon the request of either party. Even after the contract ends, the confidentiality clause must be strictly observed; failure to do so will result in legal and personal penalties, to which I agree.”
Just as Yan finally uttered those words, Procion rose from his chair. Yan flinched at the suddenly elevated eye level. With well-defined shoulders and strong wrists evident even through his shirt, he was a man who suited the title of master.
“Look, I just tore up the contract paper… Strictly speaking, I didn’t terminate the contract. And I did observe the confidentiality clause.”
“Really?”
The narrow-eyed smile seemed to say, “Is that so?” in a mocking tone. Yan’s survival instinct whispered, ‘It would be better to simply admit wrongdoing and receive less punishment.’ Finally, he hung his head and said:
“…I’m sorry.”
I’ve done wrong so I must be punished, Yan thought. With what he had heard, seen, and learned, he understood at least that much. But what came from Procion’s mouth was different.
“Then we should write a new contract, shouldn’t we?”
Yan raised his eyes slightly. There he saw Procion with a playful expression. He seemed both angry and not… After briefly losing himself in the man’s face, Yan responded belatedly:
“…Yes, Master.”
***
After deciding to become a vampire’s bound one, Yan’s relationships changed dramatically. Given that vampires didn’t have the best reputation and most of his friends were police officers, it was inevitable. Everyone was startled, cautiously asking if he had been threatened, and eventually seriously questioning, “Are you crazy?”
Particularly Dave, who had been Yan’s closest colleague, refused to even speak with him.
