It Looks Like There's Going To Be An Epic Fight.

Some thoughts on Gaius and Kamilah’s relationship

Note: These are just my opinions on the matter. They may change depending on what the future chapters will show us.

I will be one of the first people to admit that seeing the two of them being so intimate together in the diamond scene of today’s BloodBound chapter made me feel frustrated. But after some reflection, I eventually realized that such an interaction between them makes sense.

I understand that Gaius is manipulative, power-hungry, deceptive, and cruel. But I think that it was his nature that initially drew Kamilah to him. I understand that  he Turned her against her will. She probably and most likely did not welcome her transformation immediately. And it's also likely that she initially felt anger towards Gaius for taking away her humanity.

But taking into consideration his deceptively charming and manipulative nature, as well as the fact that they spent centuries together, it should not be too surprising that Gaius was able to make Kamilah fall for him.

It's essential to first analyze the circumstances surrounding her Turning. Kamilah was an Egyptian nomarch whose guards were slaughtered by Gaius before the latter Turned her into a vampire. While it is certainly possible and likely that she might have felt anger and resentment towards him at first, he was probably able to force her to listen to him and obey him because she had no one else at the time.

Even before her Turning, Kamilah was already a mature, calculating, and logical woman. This is evidenced by the fact that she was given a position of power during a time when men were considered to be superior to women. Concerning this, it is likely that she realized that she had no choice but to follow and obey Gaius since he was the only she knew who was capable of guiding and teaching her to adapt to her new life as a vampire. She must have thought that it would have been foolish to reveal the truth to other humans. She also must have realized that she could have been destroyed had she done so.

If this were the case, then Gaius must have used her dependence on him to manipulate and convince her to believe in his ideas and views. It is possible that as time passed by, Kamilah started to share his views and eventually developed romantic feelings for him.

Another thing to consider is that they were in a romantic relationship for more than a millennia. On this, their relationship likely took years - probably even centuries, to develop into what it was. The passage of time can influence a person's way of thinking and perceiving things - and it probably caused Kamilah to see Gaius in a positive and romantic light. And Gaius probably used their time together and his deceptive charms to his advantage and made her his Queen.

So with centuries of history and experiences together, the fact that Kamilah and Gaius shared intimate and loving moments should not be too surprising. To his credit, Gaius was not always evil - at one point, he was capable of genuine sympathy and kindness. This was shown when he first met Rheya. When she was about to go into the caves, she asked for him to untie her. He did so and also gave her his dagger for protection before she ventured inside.

Another instance where Gaius exhibited kindness and compassion was when he was willing to face the Order of the Dawn all by himself to help the vampires who were being attacked and slaughtered as well as to give the surviving ones a chance to escape.

The significance of these scenes/moments is that they show that Gaius was not born evil and that before he became truly evil, he had a sense of humanity and a capacity for goodness. On this, it is likely that he did have genuine feelings for Kamilah and that he did care for her.

However, it has already been practically established that his cruelty, rage, and lust for control completely overtook whatever goodness and affection he might have once had. The darkness that grew inside of him became too much to the point that it consumed him entirely - when Adrian, who Gaius claims to have loved, turned against him, Gaius was furious and would have killed the younger vampire had Kamilah not intervened. 

Regarding that moment, I would like to give a quick analysis: Adrian is the opposite of Gaius. Whereas Gaius completely disregards humanity, Adrian understands that humanity has the potential for positive and progressive growth and that there are truly good humans. Kamilah loves Adrian as a brother. She acknowledges that Adrian has a good heart and has said herself that it's part of why she loves him. The fact that Kamilah cleaved Gaius into two indicates that she chose Adrian and his goodness over Gaius and his darkness.

This, I think, is one of the most defining points of Gaius and Kamilah's relationship. The fact that Kamilah chose to save Adrian despite having known and loved Gaius for a longer time shows that Kamilah cannot and does not condone the latter's evil. And even assuming that she did tolerate it before, she had already stopped doing so. Perhaps knowing Adrian changed her perspective - it is possible that his influence on her was strong, considering that she openly admits to loving him as a brother.

All in all, to say the least, Gaius and Kamilah's relationship was complicated. But considering all the relevant factors, it can be said that there was some degree of love and affection between the two at some point during their time together. However, it appears that whatever tenderness they might have had has no significant bearing on Kamilah's determination to stop him once and for all.

P.S.: I know that Kamilah admitted to having several lovers. With regard to that, I think that she and Gaius might have had an open relationship of some sort. It's certainly not impossible per se. The full extent and nature of their relationship are still currently unknown, though. So, I could be wrong. Like what I said, my opinions may change depending on the contents of the future chapters.

Scene no. 1: Accepting the offer to go on a holiday-tradition-themed date.

Scene no. 2: Trying eggnog which was made with love.

Scene no. 3: Decorating cookies.

Scene no. 4: Curling-up together before a (digital) fire.

I love how Kamilah not only indulges the MC in her interests, but also makes an effort to appreciate and enjoy them with her. All of this proves just how much she loves her.

I've missed her dominant side!

My first choice was the "Kiss her" option because I usually take any opportunity to have my MC kiss Kamilah. Hehe.

But out of curiosity, I replayed yesterday's chapter to find out what happens if players choose the "Continue to dance" option.

In this option-route, Kamilah opens up to the MC. I love how the vampire queen has become more open with the latter. Compared to before, she's now more forthcoming about how she feels and how things affect her. I also love how the MC responds in this scene by listening, understanding, and supporting Kamilah as best as she can.

I hope to see more tender moments between these two.

Hashira Wedding Night: A Spin-Off Inspired by 'The GiyuShino Low-Key Married AU'

Greetings, fellow GiyuShino shippers!

So, I've just been lurking in the GiyuShino tag for a while. But I've become invested in the ship quite some time ago. Haha. But anyway, I just wanted to say that I came across 'Hashira First, Spouses Second: The GiyuShino Low-Key Married AU' by Buriko, a.k.a @demonslayedher, and that it's a great read!

I especially had fun reading Chapter 4, which featured their wedding and wedding night. Hahaha. I know that since the fic is rated T, there wasn't anything explicit. Yet, reading it inspired me to write a smut fic of what could've happened on Giyuu and Shinobu's wedding night. Hehehe.

I reached out to Buriko, a.k.a. @demonslayedher, to ask for their permission to post my story. And they said yes! I'm glad that permission was granted, and I'm also excited to share the story!

I actually already posted the story on Ao3. Hehe. So, I am now sharing the story's link here on Tumblr! For my fellow GiyuShino shippers who follow the 'Low-Key Married AU' and want *ahem* more details about Giyuu and Shinobu's wedding night, you might want to give my story a try. Hehehe.

Just a quick disclaimer: The contents of my fic do not necessarily reflect how the storyline of Buriko's story will develop. I tried to make this fic match the source story's tenor and characterization, but I think that I did not quite stick the landing. Hahaha. But all the same, I hope you will still like what I wrote!

Anyway, here's the link to the story and its summary!

Hashira Wedding Night: A Spin-Off Inspired by 'The GiyuShino Low-Key Married AU'

Rating: M

Summary:

The softness of the towel barely registers in Giyuu’s mind even as he runs it over his head. His hands go through the motions on their own, with his mind preoccupied with other matters. One specific matter, at that. I’m supposed to make love to Kochou tonight. -- OR A fellow fanfic reader/writer's take on how Giyuu and Shinobu's wedding night went in the fic-verse of Buriko's 'Hashira First, Spouses Second: The GiyuShino Low-Key Married AU'.

If you read the fic, then please let me know what you think! Let me know your thoughts in the Ao3 comments section! Reviews, comments, and critiques are most welcome! And also, many thanks to Buriko for granting permission!

Honestly, I think that Tony Rez bears a greater resemblance to both Tanner and Pierce than Bryce does. This kind of makes me think: Maybe Tony is a Sterling? Maybe like Pierce's illegitimate son or an unknown distant relative.

As a Kamilah stan, I concur!

I just dont really get why some people are upset over hearing about Gaius constantly.

Kamilah was with him, for almost 2000 years, hes not just some insignificant figure from her past.

She said it herself this chapter. Gaius reminds her of everything she did, who she used to be. The pain and suffering that shes caused. All these things that shes suppressed, she now needs to face.

Her past isnt something that she can just 'get over', Kamilah herself doesnt feel worthy of redemption. Kamilah needs this, she needs to come to terms with what shes done, her relationship with Gaius. Then, she can truly begin to heal, and let go.

Its understandable that shes hurting, and its understandable that she needs time. Thats the process of healing, and forgiving herself.

We as her li should be understanding, and respectful of her space, just like MC was this chapter. It was good, healthy, and I liked it. I get that we all just want some time with Kamilah, I do too, but I think we should all acknowledge that Kamilahs situation isnt easy.

Gaius coming back has brought back everything that Kamilah has tried to keep hidden, its clear she hasnt properly had time to think about it, and if what she needs right now is time to come to terms with it, I think thats completely fair.

(I dont mean to offend anyone with this, its my opinion. I am not 'coming for anyone' or attacking them)

Who's willing to bet that this is Kano Yoshimasa of Japan?

Making Every Moment Count

Note: So, I saw some comments on Tumblr that Kamilah acting more affectionately in the most recent chapters seems a bit abrupt considering how she acted in the first few chapters. On this, I've had the idea for this story for some time now. This story is about Kamilah and the MC talking about the former’s noticeable change in demeanor. So, without further ado, here’s the story! I hope that you all like it. Hehe.

Amy's POV

After you fled Prague to escape the Order, you landed in one of Greece's major cities and made your way to yet another one of Kamilah's offices around the world.

It was agreed that you would leave for Mydeia tomorrow night and that you would use your first day to recuperate and prepare for the journey. And Kamilah, being concerned about your safety, insisted on using the time to give you more combat training lessons.

After two hours of intense training with Kamilah, you make your way to one of her office's bedroom suites to take a shower. Once you get into the shower, your mind starts to think about the Egyptian vampire and how she’s been more openly affectionate – a sharp contrast to the usually cold demeanor that you’ve become accustomed to.

----

After a 15-minute shower, you're now dressed and are about to lie down when you hear a knock.

You open the door to see Kamilah with a tray of food.

"Is that for me?" You ask, pointing at the variety of food items.

"Well, I wouldn't have brought it to you if it weren't, would I?" She quips with a half-smile. "Anyway, I thought that you might be hungry after our session."

As if on cue, your stomach growls. "Does being a vampire come with a sixth hunger sense?" You jest.

Kamilah simply smiles before holding out the tray to you. "Here."

"Thanks."

"Of course."

As you take the tray, Kamilah turns to leave, but you call out to her.

"Kamilah. Wait."

She turns back to face you. "Yes?"

You hesitate, wondering if this is the right time to bring it up. "Uhmm... can we talk?"

"About?"

You bite your lip before answering. "… us."

The vampire's eyes widen for a moment. Eventually, she nods. "Alright."

You step aside to let her in your room. Kamilah sits on the edge of the bed while you place the tray on the bedside table. You grab a few apple pieces before sitting next to her.

"Is there a problem between us, Amy?" She asks, with quiet worry in her eyes.

You shake your head while munching on the pieces. "No, there's no problem. I just noticed something different... about you."

Kamilah raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"It's a good kind of different, though!" You raise your hands up, and she chuckles at the gesture. "Lately, you've been... more affectionate. More expressive. I mean, you're even doing PDA now." You explain.

Kamilah's eyes widen in concern. "Oh. Are you uncomfortable with public displays of affection? If you are ---"

You cut her off by taking her hands in yours. "No! Not at all." To emphasize your point, you lace your fingers together. "I actually like it when you hold my hand in public. I especially like it when you... kiss me in front of other people." You blush at the last statement.

The vampire's eyebrows scrunch up with confusion. "Then what's the matter?"

You peer into her questioning brown eyes before taking a moment to collect your thoughts. You let out a breath before continuing. "It's just that when we first learned that Gaius returned, you focused all of your attention on stopping him at all costs. You had little time for anything else... including me." You look down at your lap as you mention the last statement.

"Amy... I'm so sorry about that." You hear the guilt in her voice.

You raise your eyes to meet hers. "No. It's okay. I get that stopping him is everyone's main priority. Up until now, it's still our main priority. So, I understand why you were so tense and busy back then.”

You pause for a moment. "But even before the whole Gaius-returning thing, you were already so quiet and reserved. Even during our... private moments back then. Well, you were usually more expressive during those times. But not as much as you are now.

"And I understand why you were so reserved and closed-off. You've been through a lot. And I can't even begin to imagine the things that you went through. So, I knew that I had to be patient – that I had to wait for you to be more open with me.”

You squeeze her hands. “And I was okay with it. Because you're worth waiting for."

Kamilah looks moved by your words. "Oh, Amy..." you feel her thumbs gently stroking the backs of your hands.

"Kamilah." You meet her gaze. "I'm glad that you're more affectionate and open now. It's just that I'm… surprised. Before I left for Paris, you asked me to go with you to your office. And you held my hand the entire time. And when we met again at the Prague airport, we kissed in front of so many people. We also kissed in front of all those vampires at Dracula’s castle. And well..." you trail off, not knowing what to say next.

Kamilah hums. "Hmm. I see what you mean."

She untangles one of her hands from yours to tuck your hair behind your ear. "Amy..." she says your name as she trails her knuckles down your cheek.

"You're right. I have been through a lot. I've been alive for more than 2000 years. And I've learned that if I let every loss and every pain consume me, then I wouldn't be able to go on. That's one of the reasons why I closed myself off. Why I didn't want to feel."

She takes your hand into hers again. "But when I met you, I started to feel again. I began to feel things that I haven't felt in such a long time. But at the same time, I knew that I had to tread carefully with my newfound emotions. One of the many things that my years as a vampire have taught me is that one should always err on the side of caution lest they wish to be ruined. So, I... held myself back, so to speak.

"But now that Gaius has returned, no one is safe. And now we also have the Order to worry about." She lets out a weary sigh. "All things considered, I came to realize that we have to accept the possibility that not all of us might survive. That our time might be limited."

She gently tugs at your arms, motioning for you to move closer. You edge closer to her, and she wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you to her side.

"When you had to leave for Paris, I knew that I was going to miss you. And after you left, I felt your absence... Spending time away from you made me realize just how much I want to be with you. And considering that the future is uncertain…” She pauses to cup your chin with two of her fingers. “…I want to make every moment that we have count.”

You take in her earnest and gentle gaze. "Kamilah…"

You meet her half-way as she leans down to close the distance between you. Her lips brush against yours, and you open your mouth to give her tongue access. As you continue to kiss deeply, Kamilah pulls you to her lap, and you move to straddle her. You pull her closer as she begins to trail kisses down your neck.

After a long minute, you eventually pull away. "I want us to make every moment count too." You rest your forehead against hers. "And I want us to have more moments like this, which is why I'm going to work twice as hard to beat Gaius and the Order."

Kamilah can’t help but smile at your declaration. You jab your index finger to her cheek. "And it goes without saying that you're going to have to work harder too, Miss Sayeed." You say in your best authoritative voice.

She laughs at the mock-command. "Yes, Ma'am." She jests before nuzzling your neck.

She places one final kiss on your neck before raising her head to meet your eyes again. "But all jokes aside, thinking of you does make me want to strive harder."

You smile at her. "The future may be uncertain, but that doesn't mean that we're not going to give it our best shot."

The vampire returns your smile. "You're right about that. Now, finish your food before it expires."

You laugh before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Yes, Ma'am."

End.