15 Fulfilling Needs

She nodded and laid the towel on the bar as she left. "Thank you! Be careful on your way home," she told them.

Nobuko walked upstairs after work, sighing as she walked towards her bedroom. She opened the door and smiled, seeing Elijah lying down on her bed. "Comfy?" she asked him as she took her shirt and what might constitute for a bra. She slid her jeans off as teasing him just a little.

He opened his eyes and watched her. "Very," he answered.

She sighed and pulled her hair into a large bun on top of her head. "I'm going to take a bath," she told him, turning to walk back out. She grabbed a towel from her closet and walked into her large bathroom. She leaned down to start the water when she felt hands trail up her back. She went to lean back up but Elijah grabbed her hips, keeping her bent over.

"You shouldn't be such a tease," he breathed, placing a kiss on her neck. He pulled the tab to turn it into a shower instead. He wasn't wearing anything, clearly intending to shower with her. Turning her around, he removed the rest of her clothes. His fingers laced into the hair at the back of her neck as he pulled her into a kiss.

She hesitated, but grabbed his arm and kissed him back. She knew this wasn't the love Elijah wanted, but they were close enough to fulfill each other's needs. She pulled away to look at him. His blond hair fell over one shoulder, his brilliant blue eyes looking at her with lust.

"Nobu," he breathed, pulling her into the shower and sliding the glass door shut. He pinned her to the shower wall. Warm water hit them both as he claimed. Her little cries echo in the bathroom.

Nobuko was so exhausted by the time they had finished. Her thin body lay against his with her hair down and flowing across the sheets. Her skin was pale and smooth, but wasn't without stain. She had several tattoos on her and two large scars on her shoulder blades.

Elijah traced his hand down the small curve of her side to her hips. She was a lovely woman. She wasn't tamable, but that was part of the excitement. He lifted pieces of her hair and let them fall slowly. She had worked herself a little too hard the last few weeks.

"Mm," she moaned in her sleep as he played with her hair, too tired to wake.

Elijah looked at her face. How was it a Japanese princess ended up in Eastern Europe during such a crucial part of their history? How coincidental it was. Her father had taken her across the sea to China, where they had been ambushed by Mongols along the Silk Rode. As a tribute, he gave her to the Mongols to spare her life. Favored by Golden Horde, she trained in ways of combat. The Mongols were invading Russia, and Ivan III was doing a terrible job keeping them at bay. They sent her on a mission to spy on Eastern Europe, where she ended up in the crosshairs of Vlad Tepes' war on the Persians. How lucky she was to escape the Mongols. How unlucky she was to meet Vladimir himself. Elijah traced the scars on her back before placing light kisses against her skin. They must have been beautiful wings.

The coming dawn of the next morning brought Selene in. She was quietly waiting at the front door, awaiting Noboku to open shop so she could start. Typically morning shift was lacking, usually just her. She rarely saw John or Amari. They only worked late nights and evenings. It'd been a tough month. Two of her employees quit the coffee shop, and the doubles had her about burnt out, but finally she was back to some regularity since they hired three new workers.

Nobuko was refreshed and ready for the next day. She was glad Elijah left before she woke up. One less hassle. She unlocked the door and saw Selene. "Nice to see you again," she said.

"Sorry for the delay," she told her. "I wish I could have been here last week. Things just- Got crazy," she muttered. "John sent me a text last night. Said you hired someone."

She walked towards the bar to get the register ready. "Yeah. His name is Shouji. Kinda looks like John."

"Great," Selene laughed, rolling her eyes. "As if there aren't enough like him around town," she joked, putting down the chairs.

"Well, he better have the same work ethic. We need someone who can keep up with our growing business," she said before closing the drawer. She walked back around to help her with chairs.

"Well, if you want, I know someone looking for work," she told her, pulling an apron off the counter as she tied it to her waist.

"Yeah?" she asked as she turned the lights on above the pool tables.

Selene nodded, "Her name is Yasmin," she explained, "She's from- Korea, I think," Selene thought out loud. "I saw her in my coffee shop. She'd begged me for a job. Said she was willing to work any hours," she laughed. "It was kind of abrupt, really, I mean. She's a regular at the shop I work, but I guess I saw her have an outing with her boyfriend one day and she stopped coming in then." She shook her head. "Kids." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, she's 23. I still have her application."

"Alright. I'll consider it," she told her. She wasn't too sure. Amari's words had stung, and she would not put a regular human in danger. Shouji was different. She couldn't explain why yet. Maybe it was because his girlfriend was a vampire. It would be easier to trust someone with a job knowing that secret.

Selene nodded. "It's just a toss out," she told her, putting out the stools and dusting off the table. "What are you expecting for today?" she asked.

"The day will be slow, but it picks up heavily around six," she told her as she wiped the bar down again. "Although it's supposed to rain tonight so we'll see how packed we get."

"Hopefully stead, not packed. My friend called me saying her fourteen-year-old daughter will be at home alone tonight and she wouldn't be home till late. So I guess I'll be calling to check up on her through the night." She sighed. "And I don't want to be rude, but I've just got a very full plate."

"Your friend probably wouldn't work out here," she said finally. She would not put a mother at risk. "If it is too much for you I need to know now," she said looking at Selene.

"Huh?" she asked. "Oh no, my friend works at a business firm," she commented. "That girl from the coffee shop was just a customer. I was just saying I'm going to be taking several breaks to call her daughter to check in on her." She shook her head.

"We'll see how this kid works out and if we need her," she sighed. "Do what you have to."

Selene nodded, stepping back as she walked over to the counter and lifted a few bottles down. "Has Amari settled on sticking around this week, or is she leaving again soon?" Selene asked slowly. She was curious.

"I'm not sure," she said. "She might have said something." She couldn't remember.

Selene nodded, kind of taking it in. "I got a package in the mail. Amari asked me to keep. I've been holding onto it all week. I was wondering if she wanted it was why. She asked me to get it. Said she didn't have a home address, I guess."

"I think I have her working tonight. Maybe you can ask her," she suggested.

She nodded slowly, kind of pausing a bit before looking to her. She wondered why she didn't have it come to the store instead if she needed it delivered. Why her? "How long have you known Amari, anyway?" she asked, kind of interested.

She breathed a laugh at the question. "A lifetime."

Selene nodded, smiling at the thought. "She's a strange one. I'm assuming she's always been riddles and old wives' tales?" she asked. "From like Romania or Europe it seems. She's got that gypsy vibe."

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah she's always been like that," she laughed. Amari was stuck in her traditions, which was excellent she still had them. Nobuko couldn't just climb on a horse and practice her archery skills like she'd done for years as a human and beginning years of her vampirism. She thought back to her time with the Mongols. They taught her a lot about battle and combat. She was excellent with most weapons, but her skills with a bow surpassed all of them. Her accuracy from horse back would make even a Khan proud. It had been a long time since she had to fight like that.

"Huh," Selene commented slowly, walking over to the door to flip the open sign outward. "You sound like you're strolling down memory lane. Some crazy stuff you two must have gone through, huh?" she laughed lightly.

"She was quite the opposite of me when we met," Nobuko said. "Ive settled down more as of late."

"Wow," Selene commented, looking up. "Just exactly how old is Amari. She sounds like an old crone compared to you. Did she ever really have a wild side?" she asked, kind of intrigued. "She's rather mild. All the time. I mean, it's weird, since even John has his moments. He gets a temper when he gets overwhelmed."

"A thousand at least," she laughed then. "John gets easily flustered," she smiled. She loved her little family.

Selene's laughter kind of waned, "Hehe, right. A thousand years old." She rolled her eyes. "I didn't know you were much of a joker, Noboku." She smiled, sitting down at a stool till someone came in.

She smiled and looked up to see someone walk in. "Good afternoon. What can I get you?" she asked, spreading her arms over the bar and relaxing one leg.

He walked over to the bar, sitting down next to Selene. "A morning refresher for an old drunk," Haruto sighed glumly as he pushed forward his cash and tips.

Nobuko nodded and gave him a nice whisky. "This should do ya." She winked at him.

He nodded and kind of reserved the drink to himself, staring into it before drinking it.

Selene thought nothing of it, really. "Noboku," she started again. "What do you want me to do right now?"

She looked at her. "Cover the bar. I'm going to organize the back stock," she told her before heading downstairs. Couple hours and John would be coming in.

Selene gave a brief nod, stepping over to the front as she pulled down some high glasses to get herself started. While she pulled out some taps and clean them off, two more people popped in.

A group of guys walked in and over to the bar. One of them was a tall athlete looking man. He smiled at Selene. "Hey, baby. Can we get a bucket of..." He rattled off some cheap beer. He was a handsome man, but it was obvious he was full of himself.

Selene slid the glass down to him and flicked the tab off one handed, looking up at him. "Don't bite off more than you can chew, sweetheart," she smiled. "But I'll pop you as many drinks as you can handle."

He smiled and handed it to his boys. "You're a cutie. What's your name?" he asked.

She smiled at his eagerness. "Selene," she told him. "And I'm happily engaged," she flashed her ring at him. It was the easiest thing in the world to lie about, but he wouldn't know the difference.

"Of course you are. He keep you happy?" he asked. Oh, he was so full of himself, thinking he still had a chance.

"More than happy," she laughed. "Takes me out to dinner every week and brings me flowers just because. Couldn't ask for anything more. He's the better man than most." She swung her hair back and tossed another beer up. "Are you done drinking or do you think you can handle more?" she asked, the more she distracted from the subject the better.

"Oh, I can handle more." he took a drink. "Sounds a bit to good to be true." he kept staring at her.

"Well, he saved me from my abusive ex who used to hit me so... Say what you want," she snorted, passing him the drink. "Now are you going to drink or we going to keep chatting about my perfect life? 'Cause I've got other people to tend too," she laughed, turning away to pass another whiskey towards a customer.

He leaned back then and took his beer. He smiled to her with a hint of something in his eyes. He turned away then and went to shoot pool with his friends.

Nobuko came up a little while later and sighed. She noticed it had picked up and little. Good. She'd be busy. She stretched and walked around the bar. "You okay covering the bar for a bit?" she asked. She was going to wait tables and keep the place as clean as she could.

Selene shook her head to him as Noboku came back to the bar. "Yeah!" she perked up. "I've got it down pat."

Nobuko nodded and made rounds. Of course, people are in all corners of the bar. She grumbled to herself. She worked from one side to the other like an expert. She stopped by the pool tables and one guy whistled at her. She ignored it, being used to it by now. "Can I get you guys anything?" she asked.

Hide was the one from before that had been hitting on Selene. He put his pool stick down and leaned over to her. "Yes. Can we get a round of double shots of tequila?" he asked. "And I would like a side of you," he said, shamelessly whispering in her ear. He thought he could be smooth and slide his arm around her.

Nobuko looked at him with fire in her eyes. If she could have killed the man, then she would have. Instead, she grabbed his pool stick and rammed him in the gut with it. "How about this side of me?" she smiled.

His entourage perked up then, not expecting her to react like that. Not to mention bring someone Hide's size down so quickly. "Hey you can't just hit customers!" One yelled.

"Yeah where's your manager?"

"They just let any bitch in here to work, don't they?"

Hide laughed and stood back up, grabbing his gut. "Aw, she just likes it rough boys," he said taking a hold of her again only his grip was a little tighter.

Nobuko in a quick movement grabbed Hide's hand and bent it back before elbowing him in the throat. Hide fell back, gasping for air. "I am the manager and the next one of you that thinks you can lay a hand on me or my staff will die," she growled. "Pay up and get the fuck out of my bar!"

Each one put money on the pool table in fear. Hide was still gasping for air, grabbing his throat. His friends quickly gathered him up and dragged him out of the bar.

Nobuko gathered the money and turned to the other patrons and smiled. "Round of drinks on the house!" she called before heading up to the bar. "Here," she sighed, handing Selene the money. It was well more than enough to pay for their twelve beers.

Selene watched her in amazement. Kind of idolizing at the moment. She was sure she would've got the shit kicked out of her if she went that bold. "Round of drinks for everyone!" Selene cheered as a few more customers cheered behind Noboku in unison.

"Scum," she growled. She wasn't even wearing anything that exposing. Boys are scum.

"Not in the mood today for shit, I guess," Selene started, pulling the money into the drawer.

"Not at all." She remembered a time when people respected her and wouldn't dare treat her like a wench or whore. She sighed heavily. She was in a mood today.

She shook her head. "Hey, at least you can hold your own. He was pretty big. I was sure if I started a fight, my eyes and cheeks would be black and blue." She shrugged.

"Yeah. You should learn some self defense. Men are pigs," she told her. "Plus, if you're here, I won't let someone harass you."

She nodded. "I think I've only done that once," she commented slowly. "I think Tom got a little rowdy and grabbed my ass one time. I accidently cupped him in the throat with the serving tray," she sighed, shaking her head. "I still feel bad, but he shouldn't have done it." She leaned back and poured over a glass of brandy for someone and slid it their way.

"Well, don't feel bad for not allowing it. If anything gets out of hand, let me know."

"I will," Selene sighed, her shoulders drooping as she looked away. She kind of felt like she got insulted a little, but she tried not to take it to heart.

Bars were a lot different from Cafe's. The crowds were a lot different. She could be her cute, soft self in a Cafe, but bar people needed a little harder skin. "What's your favorite song?" she asked her.

"Mmm." She thought for a moment, remembering what she was playing on her computer and kind of just named something then. Favorites were hard, but a kind of song in the motion for her was, "Slim Pickens does the right thing and rides the bomb to hell. It's by the Offspring, I've been tuning into it and rocking to it quietly in my living room." She shrugged.

She nodded and walked over to the "jukebox" they updated it, but essentially it was the same thing. She looked through, trying to find the song."There it is." She picked it and a few others it suggested.

Selene sat back and watched her go pass around a couple of drinks to round the morning customers. It appalled her, all the morning drinkers.

They continued to get busy throughout the day. Not too overwhelming until John needed to come in.

John mulled over his hand softly, regarding the bite. It had healed pretty quickly, but he'd walked in with a stirring hunger he couldn't quite talk about. Selene made a pass at him as he came in, laughing, nudging him in the ribs and he'd dodged away from her, huddling behind the bar in a rush. "Damn," he growled, quietly examining his hand. His fucking neighbor's dog had quite the bite. Well, Rot, go out and had attacked him. Dawn had insisted it was unlike her dog, but it didn't matter. After all the years he'd lived there, he'd told her it had been an issue, and this wasn't the first time. Last time the dog had tried to attack one of the kids. This time it was him and he was boiling pissed.

"Uh, are you alright?" Selene asked, passing him an empty glass over the counter.

"I'm fine," he regarded coolly, closing his eyes as he sighed. "Just got a scare." He shrugged, tossing the rag up on the counter as he pulled out some glasses.

"You're sure?" Selene asked. "I mean, you don't look so hot."

"I'm fine," he smiled more, looking to her, straightening. "Like I said. Just a scare. One neighbor dogs got out. He tried to attack me."

"Oh, my god!" Selene gaped. "I'm sorry."

He nodded shortly, looking down. He really got him, bit him, hard, tore his hand to shreds and John had punched it twice. He was sure he broke a few teeth out of its head before it let go and he shoved himself against the fence, gripping his bloodied hand. He'd picked out a tooth or two and it festered a moment before healing and he'd almost screamed as it healed over. Animal blood just did not quite do the trick for things like this. And he knew he'd be growing a larger and larger craving for human blood throughout the night. It'd been so rough on the way here. He'd felt his fangs sink into his inner lip several times, trying to suppress it.

Amari walked in and greeted him softly before attending to the customers. She had noted his odd behavior, but she was waiting to see if he went to Noboku first.

Nobuko walked over to him. "Will you be alright to work? You know where I keep the food. Better to have it than a customer," she whispered.

He stood up, looking at her and kind of nodded. Typically, he would have argued for animal blood, but he was just too out of it. "Something," he rasped, covering his face. "If this goes on, I think I'll vomit."

"Take care of yourself," she said before being pulled away for customers. She sighed. Poor John. She'd owe him big time for this. Hell, she'd slay a tiger for him.

He slid back behind the counter to the small box she kept hidden on the shelf and pulled out one of the tiny vials and headed to the back room. He practically crushed it in his hand, drinking it down. The taste was human, his body craved it so hard in the flash it tipped his lips and tongue that he felt his stomach roll. He kept it down, closing his eyes as he tried to process it.

Nobuko watched him head to the back and frowned. "Amari, Check on him for me," she told her as she passed.

Amari stopped, tucking the tray under her arm, and nodded, walking into the back. As she peered around, she noticed him, slumped against the wall, on the floor. "You do not look so well, maybe you should return home."

John muttered in response, keeping his head down. His eyes were closed and his jaw clenched.

Amari knelt down to his level then. "John," she passed, reaching.

He opened his eyes, the ring a hot contrast to his eyes in the dark as he smoothly hissed before withdrawing inwards. "I know," he gasped, realizing it was Amari. "I haven't had human blood in a long while," he rasped. "And I don't think it's boding well for me right now. Leave me be, Amari. I'm just not in a good position to go home."

Amari nodded slowly, reaching out to grab his wrist. "We will go downstairs then," she added, pulling him up with an unnatural strength.

"Selene! Take over. I've gotta grab the bar," she said, noticing they didn't come back out. "Sorry about that, sweetie." She winked at a customer and poured him a double.

The two of them had ventured to the cellar, and Amari was gently wiping his forehead with a wet cloth. "How long does it take to sweat out the craving?" she asked.

"Depends," he muttered, seeing double. He sat down in front of a keg and covered his face again. "Why? What are you doing?"

"Helping, does it matter?" she asked, pulling open her satchel, which looped to her dress belt. She poured a light mixture of something in the alcohol and then a bit of blood before forcing him to drink it down. "This should help counter it."

He winced. "What is it?" he gasped. It tasted unnervingly sweet, but somewhat repulsive.

"A secret herb. You won't know it, but it's a bane of sorts mixed with fresh goat's blood."

He gagged.

"It's better you don't ask next time."

He rolled over, feeling it subside and his stomach hurt less. "Do you have more?" he asked, closing his eyes, not quite quenched.

She nodded, making another before giving it to him. "If you can handle it."

He snatched it quickly, downing it. He gagged again and slumped on the floor, his vision doubling now entirely. He could barely see.

"It'll put you out a few hours if you fight it, just relax," she told him.

He groaned.

Amari sighed, pulling him up before giving him a light fix of wine. "Drink something else. You're not looking well."

He shoved it away. "I think this is good."

"You're passing out," she remarked.

"No- It's better," he rasped, his head falling to the side. If he just slept through the hunger.

Nobu was dancing to music and making several drinks at once. She was a master bartender. She made a rainbow of fresh drinks and slid them to each customer at the bar.

"Firefly!" One guy yelled.

Nobuko's eyes widened. Crap. Why did she make that rule? Only old patrons knew of it. She took the sign down forever ago. Nobuko sighed. "Pick a song!" she yelled.

Several people's yelled songs at her, but one made her smile. "Cry me a river. Alright." She grabbed a beer from behind her and downed it before jumping on the bar to sing. At least it kept people entertained and slowed down the orders.

Selene was trying her best to keep up. People were shoving past to go to the bar to get a good look at Nobuko. Before long, Amari reappeared in the line of faces and was dishing drinks behind her.

"He's fine, Nobuko," Amari remarked, sliding down some drinks.

Nobuko had an excellent voice, and she did it in a 1930s style. Once the song was over she jumped down and smiled. "That's it for tonight!" she called to them. Tips rushed in by the hundreds after that. She smiled. That's why she had the rule. She looked to Amari. "Thank you," she said before hurrying out to help Selene.

Selene never quite understood the firefly rule. She's started working later after they removed the sign. She rushed to grab tips flying up at Nobuko as a few people straggled in to grab free cash.

Amari was swift, swiping bills as she tossed out drinks and rushing to catch up.

John was in somewhat of a drunk daze. His eyes on the ceiling as the medicine worked its way in, his body numb as the hunger kind of squashed down beneath the weight of his body. He'd never felt so heavy. Even if he drank himself till he was ready to pass out.

Elijah walked in then to see the mess of money and customers. "I missed it again," he sighed.

Nobuko sighed at how busy they were again. For the second night in a row. They'd never had this many customers. She had to help them behind the bar, make drinks and deliver them out to the rest of the bar.

Amari paused, noticing Elijah. "You came at a bad time," she remarked, passing over a tray of drinks.

Selene gave Elijah a familiar nod and ushered him up to the bar. "What will you have?" she asked, taking in a large deep breath.

"Looks like it," he mumbled. He smiled at Selene. She was beautiful. "Mm. How about gen and coke, on the rocks?"

"Right on it!" she told him, pulling the can from the fridge as she popped the tab and poured it half in, then the rest with his favored liquor. "Okay," she passed to him, pushing towards him, leaning on the counter. "Alright, who's next!?" she hollered.

He grabbed his drink and walked towards Amari. "Where's John? Why isn't he helping you girls?" he asked.

Amari eyed him carefully, then pulled him down to the back, near the back door, away from the crowd. "He's having withdrawals. I gave him a sedative to ease his pain and hunger but he refuses anything else." She looked back. "With the increased activity, I'd say he's most liable to lose his way with a diet of animal over the regular meal." She diverted, trying to keep her words from sounding too vague for eavesdroppers.

"I see. Well, if he'd just eat he wouldn't have this problem," he sighed. He knew his 'religion' kept him from it, but still. The man could die one day because of this.

Amari nodded shortly. "He's down in the wine cellar," she remarked. "Maybe you could help him home tonight? It should wear off around closing time. Hopefully," she breathed. "He was arrogant for only taking half of what he needed. He should have fed more."

"I'll talk to him," he said. "For now, I think you all need some help. I'll help out at the bar for now. I'll send Selene to help you girls out here. I'm worried Nobu will break after this," he sighed, walking around to the other side of the bar. "Selene let me take over. Go help Nobuko and Amari," He told her. He started making drinks without even having taken orders. He passed them along then.

Nobuko walked up to the bar. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Helping. You need it. What's the order?"

Nobuko told him and got the drinks quickly. If he thinks, he's getting something for this.

Selene blushed, kind of shocked a customer was taking over. She nodded and climbed over the bar and hopped down to snatch up a tray and rush off to the pool tables. Thank god. She was reaching eleven plus hours now.

Amari nodded and disappeared in a wave of bodies, emerging moments later with a list. She could get fast when she wanted to.

After several hours, things slowed down. By one o'clock Nobuko was getting the last person out. She fell over the bar. "I swear the next time someone says firefly I'll kill them."

Elijah had already cleaned the bar and was helping stack chairs. He laughed, hearing Nobuko. "I'm sure. It was your rule though."

"I had more employees back then," she whined.

Selene looked at her, kind of puzzled. "What's firefly?" she asked.

Amari smirked, remembering it lightly. "Go on, give her a good story. The girl deserves to know." She laughed, beaming at the remembrance of a happier moment of her life. Rare these were, for Amari was a hard woman.

"Hotaru means 'Firefly'," she said, sitting up. She sat on a stool and leaned her head in her hand. "When I first started running this place, I made a rule that anytime someone said 'Firefly' I would have to sing a song of their choice."

Elijah laughed. "It was a huge hit, but it became an every night thing, so she took the sign down. Now and then someone will say it."

"And I love my customers, so I oblige."

Selene gave a short laugh, smiling. "Well, damn, I'd love a good dance."

Amari shook her head. "Not like that you wouldn't," she chuckled, sighing. "Has anyone gone to the cellar yet to pull up drinks?" she asked, pulling a chair up on the table.

"I'll go," Selene offered.

"Probably better, Elijah goes. That's a bit heavy for your tastes, dear," she remarked, since John pulled all the new bottles, but actually, it was because he was done there and she was human.

"Oh," she sighed. "Did John go home sick?"

"Right!" Elijah said as he started down the stairs.

Nobu took a deep breath. "Yeah. Conveniently," she sighed. She wasn't really upset. In fact, she was actually worried about him.

Elijah got down there and saw John in a little world of his own. "Hey there, buddy," he said trying to pull him up a bit.

John slumped forward in his arms, his fangs half elongated as his head flopped forward in a delusional state. "Hu-.....nh..." he muttered, blinking slowly. He'd been seeing shit. Rabbits. Rabbits were dancing, jumping. A low growl erupted from his throat and he grabbed Elijah's sleeve tightly, then came the vomit. He hurled his head, pounding. He knew it, he'd never keep down human blood.

Elijah sighed and let him throw up. That was one more thing to clean up tonight. It smelled terrible. What did that Gypsy give him? He even gagged. "Alright. I've got to get you home." He wrapped one of John's arms around his shoulder and stood him up. Now it'll just look like he's carrying a drunk friend home. Which technically, he needed to talk to him though about his diet.

"Go a head and go home, Selene. I know you've had a long day. You've got the shop to open in the morning to don't you?" Nobuko asked.

John didn't bother to nod or shake his head, he merely let it be. "..." He tried to speak but just kept it on the low, till he thought of something more to say. "Whatever she gave me- Is about the only thing keeping me from attacking someone. But that," He shuddered, closing his eyes. "Humans-" He gagged. He couldn't even think about it.

"Oh yeah, I'm totally beat. I might just call in," she laughed, throwing her apron up. She wondered what the big secret was they were keeping from her but otherwise left, walking out the front.

Amari shook her head after she left. "That animal blood is like poison," she coughed. "I've never seen someone so starved," she shuddered, walking over to the counter as she poured a bottle of old wine in a glass and gave it a small drink. "He's liable to attack someone one night. You ought to talk to him about it," Amari said constructively.

"I've tried! He gives me the 'It's none of my business' speech and continues on." She sighed and laid her head on the bar. "I'm gonna sleep here tonight," she yawned.

"You've got to get used to eating it, John. You're killing yourself." Elijah frowned, watching his friend struggle. "You can't go on like this."

He shook his head, laughing, as if Elijah forgot the night he ripped open a sixteen-year-old girl's throat fifty years ago when he still drank blood. "No," he argued. "This is fine," he breathed, closing his eyes.

"Well, you can't just give in," she said, putting her foot down on the matter. "I've seen him struggling. He's losing it! It's he learns the diet, or he'll become something to put down. Whether it's us or the humans, I doubt he's got much will to live through another decade of this," she said slower, looking down. They all knew John was praying for death. He'd been praying for a long time, but the years were starting to get to him. He was losing it.

Nobuko winced and buried her face in the bar. Put him down. Like he was some rabid dog. "I-I know," she said sadly. "He tried tonight, didn't he?" she asked. She pulled her head up then.

Elijah frowned. "It'll happen again," he told him, his voice a little deeper. "You've got a duty to your friends too, you know. We hate watching you suffer."

"He tried," Amari said, the strain in her voice. "Tried to what? Eat something that absolutely revolts him? Try to continue to live an eternity when he never wanted this for himself? Marice was about the only one who shared a like mind with him. She withered down till she couldn't bear it anymore. Are you going to turn a blind eye again, Nobuko?!" she cried, getting a little heated herself. She felt tears in her eyes and she stepped back. "I don't want to see it again. I don't want to find another one gone. It's lonely enough to live this long, but when the faces that stay eventually fade, it makes it hard to imagine why we go on as we do. It's been a long time, Nobuko. I'm tired, and frankly I'm tired of watching people wither down till they're animals," she sniffed, closing her eyes. "Please. Talk to him. You're the only one who's ever made him budge."

John laughed hoarsely. "That's what the pastor told me," he said in a half daze, remembering the night he had flung himself from the church. He'd been friends with him in his youth, before he had turned. It was probably his saving grace. But at the age of fifty and telling him he had some further purpose, after watching his love marry someone else because he had disappeared two months before their wedding. He laughed. "But now he's dead. Isabelle is gone. Everyone has left me behind and they're waiting. I'm waiting too. I want to go home, Elijah," he breathed, tears in his eyes.

"I respect your beliefs. I do, but that's shit John! They'd be glad you could still have life! Because of you, they can still be remembered. What would they say to you, withering away to nothing? Do you think they'd be proud of you?" he growled at him.

"I didn't ask for this either!" Nobuko finally raised her voice, and the lights flickered a little. "I've lived a very long time, Amari. I've seen enough death for a thousand lifetimes. Trust me." She stood up then, knocking the bar stool over. "I hate seeing it more than anyone. What do I need to do? Why do you think I work with him so much?! I make sure he's here, so he has at least something to live for!" Nobuko grabbed an ashtray and slammed it into a few glasses, shattering them. She burst into tears then. It exhausted her from over working herself, it scared her to death over her friend. She had secrets coming in of a growing hunter society that was creeping quietly right to their very doorstep, and she only had whispers to save them.

Amari shuddered, the glass shards shattering, and she glaring looked at her. "Nobuko, you've done well to keep yourself far from reserved. I've done well to handle it and I'm telling you because I care." She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "You won't get a rise from me like last time. Not again. I will not cry this time like I did for Marice. I will not be surprised again." She walked to the door, opening it before slamming it shut behind her, sniffing as she walked down the alley.

John could only close his eyes, remembering- Remembering Isabelle. She had laughed, despite marrying someone else they had met a few times. He tried to stay away, but she had cried for him. She had thrown herself in his arms, begged him to take her with him. And he had missed her. He couldn't resist visiting once a year. And the kids grew, and she grew. And he found out long later that the first child had been his own, and he had cried. He had sobbed in regret. Wondering why she never told him and then she had promised to meet him and he agreed to watch the morning sunset for her birthday. She got caught in front of a carriage and trampled. How he laid by her as she passed away, crying for him to go with her. He cried, wishing he could go to. He lost, he broke down sobbing. He didn't want to do this anymore. He couldn't force himself. "They wanted me to go with them," he sobbed, his shoulders shaking.

Elijah stopped when they made it to Johns front door. He didn't expect to hear that. "You have another family now. Don't leave them behind just yet," he told him, practically begged him.

Nobuko watched her leave, and she screamed. The lights popped then, leaving her in darkness. Why didn't Amari put him out of his misery then? Nobu didn't have the strength anymore. She'd killed enough men before she was ever even in the Ukraine. She dropped to the floor. Of course she'd talk to him, but that never stopped Marice. She pulled her legs up and cried. She didn't want to lose John either. Maybe she was spreading herself to thin.

Amari reminisced of the day Marice died. It was tragic and probably one of the worst days she'd ever felt. When it had come down to the early evening, Amari had remembered Marice was in hysterics. She'd said she tried to save someone, a child, and the child had fallen to their death in fear of her in a burning building. She'd risked death, and a child fled from her. Missing her children. Regretting not being able to be with them, to grow old. She'd been in hysterics for a month after, and it had finally just boiled down to where she was just done trying. When someone flinched at her, she just shut down. Probably the worst part of all was when Amari sat down to talk to her long-time friend. She'd tried to sooth Marice's pain, wipe away the memory, but it was hard ingrained and no matter how she pressed. 'God, Marice!' She remembered John laugh sarcastically. 'You're bringing even me down. Come on, relax.' And she snapped. She'd probably been the closest with John, they'd always played off each other and their weaknesses in good humor, but she'd just- she couldn't handle it. Amari remembered a flurry of fangs and claws as she jumped to stop her from literally tearing John to shreds. By the time Amari got her calmed down, Marice was sobbing. She was literally losing her mind. The next week she never came back. Amari had grown sullen and quiet and the small quirky personality that budded within her closed off. 'I miss you, please, come out' Amari had begged, finally having enough when she'd come over. No answer. Finally, she turned away, and she heard a last sob. It was probably the last thing she heard before she a quiet, 'I'm sorry' and Amari busted through the door to see Marice kick the chair as a piano string literally cut her entire head off. The room was scattered in corpses, men.... Women.... Children. Angry finger prints scrawled the walls. People were unrecognizable. Faces torn off. Amari remembered dropping to her knees, trembling before breaking into a sob that had torn a fresh wound haunting her every night for the next thirty years. John never spoke about it. In fact, he asked her to wipe his memory of her completely. He couldn't deal with it. It hurt. It absolutely did, and she couldn't forgive herself for it. What had Nobuko done to resolve this? What could she have done now? And she was more concerned about the bar. She covered her face in her heads, sobbing. It was getting harder each time.

John barely moved to his bed, he just lay there motionless. "Barely matters," he mumbled, closing his eyes.

Nobu didn't handle Marice's death very well at all. She had been to caught up with the bar and of course was over working herself like usual. Why did she always do that? To keep her mind off of things? To keep her fears at bay? She remembered how much hatred Amari had for her then. Nobu, in response to it all, closed the bar down and left. Twenty years it took her to come back. Maybe she'd gotten enough courage finally, or maybe she just missed everyone. Elijah had been the one to find her. She hated how that sly fox always found her. Elijah found her feeding off of scum in America. She'd practically eaten her way from Chile to Washington. Nobuko had been on such a blood high that it took Elijah a full year to get her off of it. The screaming matches. Finally, he figured out a way to help her. It was a cheap trick, but it exhausted her and benefited both of them. Even after she came back it took Amari a long time to forgive her. John was there to help rekindle the friendship, luckily. Had it been up to Elijah, he'd have said 'fuck it' and gone back to America. But eventually they reopened the bar and things have been treading cooler waters.

Elijah left John on his bed and turned to leave. He'd come back later to check on him. He started back to the bar when he ran into Amari in a huff. Great. "What happened?" he asked.

Amari shook her head, not able to form words for how she felt. She mustered together one word. And it was. "Marice." It was enough for Elijah to understand what she meant. It scared her. Obviously and hurt and she just felt alone, seeing as she'd been the one to handle it all. To clean the mess up, drag her friend's body down, erase memories. All of it and here she stood, the last and only one to deal with it. Remembering broke her heart. She squeezed her dress above her chest and shook her head, trying to get herself to calm down, but it'd been so long since she'd cried it was hard to imagine being calm.

Elijah sighed and pulled her into a hug. "Cry," he told her. He wasn't about to tell her how to deal with it, or that John would be different. He didn't know. He hoped, but there was a good chance he couldn't. He'd be there to try to stop it, though. He had an up and down friendship with Amari. She didn't like him because he was proof of Nobuko's recklessness. And on top of it all, his carefree attitude seemed to piss her off sometimes. He thought that was what it was, anyway.

Amari held her breath, but when she felt her face hit his chest, she just slumped into him and sobbed. She hugged him tightly, sobbing hard. They'd always had their differences, Amari had always shown her clear distaste but never voiced it. It had been within her to keep to herself, to hide away her opinion. She never quite hated him, she really didn't, she just knew from where he came. How he had made his way here, and she'd been wary, skeptical of him and trusting him, but it'd been so long and she'd been so uptight about Nobuko's decisions - partially disliking him because of her bringing him in with her when she came back - that she'd never understood him or let him understand her much. He'd been spot on with her nature, he had. She was serious and had dealt with her life in this manner for a long time. It was only natural because she was very much guarded against everyone, including herself.

Elijah said nothing. He just let her cry. She obviously needed to get it out.