[Ayaka]

The cat pounce on a fly before looking up and tipping over slightly, what did she want again? oh yeah a drink, what kind of drink she wanted? a strong one, her kid had started school and her being the principal people kept on coming by and asking her stupid questions surely they could take care of a small child. They took care of several.

"A strong one, mah man!!~"

The cat spoke in a half purr, a strong what?

"Drink...plzzzeszz"

[Blood Brothers]

"Yes," Kokoro said slowly glancing at Yugure solemnly. "After Kaskaskia, how could I not want another?"

Digging around under the counter, he searched for something strong as Neko asked for. It was difficult with all the lids closed, but he persisted. There was one in the back labeled "Vampire's Bane", but he avoided it. Using such a thing unless it was specifically asked for was out of the question.

Finally, he found one that absolutely reeked of alcohol. Neko demanded something strong, after all. Pulling it out and opening it, Kokoro had to blink away the moisture the smell alone brought to his eyes. He poured a shot and placed it in front of the cat before quickly shutting the bottle and putting it down on his workspace behind the counter.

Whatever it was, it didn't seem good.

[S-O-Y]

Yugure swirled the words that Kokoro had spoke in his head for a minute. He had almost forgotten about that little girl. She was something special he knew that. He was not sure what is was she was special for but her face alone showed importance, and the way Kokoro spoke about her, they way he said her name....he knew he loved her.

"I can understand that. So your a father, and a bartender now. Anything else new?", he asked as he watched patiently while Kokoro poured a strong smelling substance into a bowl for the cat next to him.

He was beginning to get a vibe from the animal, and not a very nice one. Things were starting to get a little out of the ordinary, as if that was anything new.

[Ayaka]

Tumbling to the poured Glass the cat licked it once. One of her eyes shut close while she shivered. Her free paw hitting the counter a few times before she let out a sigh.

"That's some good liquor... now to find the one that will take it all off me...so I can go back to work."

[Blood Brothers]

"Not that I can think of off the top of my head... with me, in any case," Kokoro murmured, gaze shifting from Yugure to Neko and back. As far as he knew, Yugure didn't know any of his brothers aside from Seishin and that wasn't a good kind of 'know'. He knew Seishin in a way no one should in his other self's opinion.

Neko's words made him think of Ayaka, the only one connected in such a way to his ex-mistress and someone that he still hadn't visited in far too long. Perhaps, if he could, the vampire would go find her after work as long as it wasn't too close to the time Kaskaskia (and Nero) were let out of school.

[S-O-Y]

Nodding to the reply that Kokoro gave him, his eyebrows rising as he noticed the "...with me, in any case" part, he tried to let that perk of curiosity go for the cat licking liquor was too much to miss out on. It was priceless how the cat slapped it's paw on the counter like human would in a reflex to a hard shot.

"Well...I don't know what else to ask. Im kinda at a loss of words right now. Im sure you have been wondering where the hell I have been though that is...", he replied back softly towards the end as though he were afraid of what was going to come back for a reply.

He was guilty as charged for neglect of a loved one. He knew this, admitted it fully, and would take his consequences willingly. Hopefully they would be a little more "loved filled" but who knew. Only time would tell, but lately time had seemed to drag. If there was any way to mend the past year of faults he made he would surely do so. Only a mentioned order would make the effort quick and well made. Yugure looked up into the dark orbs of his past lover. Was there in love left in that heart that could find forgiveness?

[Ayaka]

The cat smiled up at Kokoro turned and patted the man's shoulder before jumping off the counter, turning in to a full fleshed Human like creature with years and a tail giving her back at both man she waved her hand slightly.

"Thanks for the good time, I must go back to work... but I would like to spend some more intimate times with you both..."

she walked out of the bar and vanished, Ayaka was going to have a fun field day after neko got a hold of her 'little sister'

[Blood Brothers]

Here Yugure was, asking for love again and even promising information about what has been going on since he saw his shadow plastered all over his lover. The offer was tempting, very tempting, but what he knew beyond a doubt was that Kaskaskia would not welcome Yugure and he had a suspicion that Nero would be even less willing.

He nodded at Neko, more than mildly surprised that she had been so cool about everything. Perhaps she was confident in the knowledge that their children would allow him no peace if he tried to reconnect with his old lover.

"I would enjoy keeping in touch with you again, I must admit," Kokoro stated slowly, still wondering how he was going to explain how his children were going to affect their relationship.

[S-O-Y]

Yugure nodded his head almost in awe from the stupendous exit. A wonderful creature all in all. His attention span snapped. Eyes back on Kokoro, well the one that was not covered, Yugure waited for the familiar woman exit completely. She was gone. A soft smile spread across his lips as a sudden drip began to fall inside him igniting a fire of passion.

"Kokoro...", he spoke out slowly his voice carrying the name like gold to the other's ears.

His heart was in the name, his true feelings in a wrapped item. Kokoro was his word's picture for L.O.V.E.

"I have dearly missed you my love..."

The bar grew a few shades lower than the previous, the shadows gathering quickly into hobbit like holes in the walls. Blinking his visible eye he brought his right hand to Kokoro's right cheekbone grazing it while doing so.

"Almost too much.", he locked eyes in a dead narrow.

[Blood Brothers]

Repressing a shiver, Kokoro couldn't stop himself from leaning slightly into the hand near his face. This was the man that he fell in love with all those years ago - before he remembered that he was more than an individual. His past still haunted him and his present would not let him rest, either.

The present that he could not avoid or cast from him in any way.

Leaning back a bit, the vampire smiled painfully. There was no doubt that this would hit Yugure hard, but it wasn't any easier for him.

"I... can't just yet. There are certain duties that I must fulfill," Kokoro explained slowly, trying to find the best and kindest way to tell his ex-lover that he had to raise a demoness and a demi-god before considering a romantic relationship with anyone aside from Neko.

Unable to continue staring into his lover's deep purple eye, he looked down at his hands clenched onto one of the towels behind the bar. He didn't even know if Yugure would be willing to wait. Wasn't that part of the reason why they were separated? The Darkness Element went missing frequently and for long periods of time.

"If you don't want to wait, I understand." The words were hollow and not quite true, but he would hold by them.

[S-O-Y]

Standing up from the bar, his head bowed a little in doing so, he inhaled slowly and deep.

"Waiting I can do for I have done that for too long already it seems. You know where I reside do you not?", he asked out in a deep voice, almost business like.

Raising his head to eye level with his ex-lover, he smiled weakly for his knees trembled at the face he tried so hard not to look away from. It was like he didnt even deserve to be forgiven. His actions, his deeds. Everything screamed neglect at Yugure, and it was only his fault. He scratched his head, the side with the bandages, and sighed.

"I have changed a lot in the time that has elapsed. You should know this true. Some way it is all good change, but there are a few that should be overlooked. We should have dinner sometime."

He winked delicately at his companion, his neck tensing up where those fangs used to pierce. And how that feeling was...it made Yugure's toes curl in his shoes. His wink came off as a blink merely due to the bandages.

"Consider it a casual meeting...", he said lastly as he stepped away from the bar a tad bit.

[Blood Brothers]

It took him a moment to catch on. There were so many things about Yugure's actions that demanded him to pay attention, not to mention his swirling emotions. His hand had shot out and latched onto the front of his ex-lover's shirt, pulling him back close to the bar. The move seemed awkward even with his long limbs and a little desperate if he was completely honest with himself.

He blinked slowly for a long moment, but seeing the questions forming on the other man's lips he decided to continue with what he really wanted to do. Tilting his head slightly, Kokoro leaned forward just enough to brush his lips against the corner of Yugure's mouth. The smell of his ex-lover was intoxicating from so close, tempting him to just fall into the bandaged man's arms once again.

This was the only time he could consider being so elemental as a good thing, but it was also a thing of the past. His memories were returned and with them all the joys and pains of being a has-been god with a plethora of brothers. It was easier to recognize the signs of being manipulated by the higher powers but harder to swallow.

"I look forward to it," he murmured, mouth still too close to his ex-lover and thus the rich blood in delicate flesh.

Pulling back was the hardest to do.

[S-O-Y]

Kokoro's movements were hurried as he stepped further back and then suddenly being pulled forward. The grace of Kokoro's lips met met his face it being almost to much for him, the cold and warmth collision upon his flesh and his lovers. The tears, sweat and blood that was shed on both of theirs. The memories flooded back like the gates of hell were open, the passion and lust, the love and neglect. He winced a little as Kokoro teased him with only centimeters to spare.

"I as well...", he said in a luscious voice.

Placing his own hand upon the other man's, he slid the grip Kokoro had on his jacket off and walked backwards a few steps.

"How do I keep in touch with you till then? Or shall we leave it a surprise...", he asked with a smirk.

The thoughts of being relaxed and naive amused him. Not knowing of the vampires appearance to happen allured him. A surprise visit sounded too much for the work bliss. Ravishingly he wanted it to happen like this, but he kept his request to himself. Those were only fantasies of his in the late hours of restless nights. The nights when he felt like surrendering his power to become slave, although he felt like a slave under it already. Punishment fled his mind for his past actions, causing his smirk to increase as he stood for a moment longer. A new look for him one would think, the smirk laid upon his pale face. But still handsome all in all. His tall frame, toned body, and soft skin. Hands of a musician, he wanted to play again. For him...only for him.

[Blood Brothers]

"I should be working here during the day, but if you can't find me then ring one of the angel's bells. The one who arrives is a younger brother of mine, Tenshi. Give him a letter or ask for me. It's the only guaranteed way to get a hold of anyone, really," Kokoro explained after nodding to indicate that he knew where Yugure resided, trying to keep his hand from creeping back over to the warmth of his ex-lover (friend?). Perhaps he would need to feed tonight because his fangs were itching too much just from being in Yugure's presence.

"I'll see if I can find a babysitter," he murmured, looking down again but thoughtfully, this time. The only ones that came to mind quickly were Ayaka, No Name, and Shimi. Perhaps they could, all three, play babysitter for him at some time or another. No Name, having a child, could prove to be the optimal choice as long as he looked after Amon every now and again.

That didn't sound bad at all.

[S-O-Y]

"Sounds like a plan then. If I do not hear from you by the morning I will take notice to these bells. Thank you for talking with me. You dont know how much better I feel about everything already...", he said to Kokoro.

Hands finding their way into the back pockets of his tight black pants, he inhaled deeply once more before stepping sideways in motion for the door.

"I hope to hear from you soon. Kokoro. It was great seeing you."

Walking to the door to exit the bar, Yugure pulled it open, the door creaking for a split second. He looked back over his shoulder, his only visible eyes glistening almost. He turned his head and walked out of the bar, the door swinging back with a hard thud. A breeze of chilled air ran through the bar only to hid in the corners.

[Blood Brothers]

Once Yugure was gone, the bar seemed a little colder and he hardly noticed as Sean reappeared from upstairs.

"Friend of yours?" The tone of voice was one of amusement. Shaking himself, Kokoro turned to his new boss, trying not to show how flustered he really was.

"Old lover. He was always away on business and then my family moved me out of town. We've decided to try again," Kokoro explained shortly, remembering some snippet of advice from somewhere about being honest with those in charge but keeping the nitty-gritty to yourself. The other vampire nodded, unsurprised and not requesting anymore information on the subject.

Silently, he handed over the paperwork Kokoro needed to sign. Taking it off to the side, the black-haired vampire started reading through it, letting Sean take care of the customers until he finished. It didn't take long and then he was officially employed for the first time in his life.

After that, Sean declared that the end of his workday had come and he had to concur since it was time to pick up Kaskaskia and Nero from school.