Author's Note: The first in a set of short drabbles which will be based on fanart, all unrelated unless otherwise noted. This one is an AU set after the Classic season of the anime, under the premise that each of the Shitennou were reborn in the spot where they died - Nephrite and Kunzite descend into their former Kingdom to find their lovers. This is what happens once Nephrite finds Jadeite.

"Jadeite, Jadeite – look you little energy sucker, open your eyes right now!"

The voice is frantic and loud, practically ringing in his ears. It's just like Nephrite, always demanding attention and focus... never caring when people who-work-long-hours are trying to sleep... can't he see how tired he is?

"Jadeite!"

"...whattya want..." The sound is tired and weak, barely a whisper; talking makes him realize just how dry his throat is and he coughs hoarsely, sending spasms of pain down his chest. One cough leads to another, and another, and by the time the fit is over he's completely exhausted and has nearly forgotten his rude companion.

Almost.

"I want you to open your eyes," he can hear the rough growl from above him but he doesn't move, and he's only vaguely aware of hands moving him, shifting him to lean against the solid man behind him. "Come on, Jade, open your eyes for me. We both know you're awake, come on, you can do this."

Blue eyes slit open wearily, but the sight isn't what he expects and Jadeite can feel himself begin to tense up as he sees the other man for the first time. The uniform of gold and white had been replaced by one of greyish-blue and yellow piping, a long cape the color of desert sandclasped to his shoulders, rather than the more familiar brown. Glancing at Nephrite's face, he can see that the familiar blue eyes almost the same – the whites tinted a pale blue, the sort of which the blonde normally saw only in the mirror.

"...Neph?" He heard himself ask hesitantly.

Nephrite doesn't answer the implied question, though relief breaks clearly over his face. "Thank the heavens," he murmured roughly, pulling Jadeite closer. "I was starting to fear I was too late."

Too late? This was all far too confusing and Jadeite didn't care for it. "Too late for – ugha – what?" He demanded through another fit of coughs. This time the burning in his throat and chest didn't fade and he dug his fingers into Nephrite's sleeve, leaning against him as another fit followed, each spasm making him gasp for breath and shake.

"Stop trying to talk, you're still too weak. Don't tell me that crystal rattled your brains Jade, you're telling me you can't feel how drained you are?" The words are harsh, but concern practically drips off them. Crystal? Drained? What is he -

And suddenly, as if thinking of it intensified the pain, he became aware of an intense, terrible pain in his throat, his chest, his heart – like a fire, burning inside of him, hungry and wrathful and demanding that it be satisfied. Jadeite may have cried out, but if he did the blonde was unaware, caught in the grip of agony. He forced it back as much as he could, vaguely aware of a hand stroking his back, holding him close as tried to think of something beyond the burning thirst.

Looking up at Nephrite again he became aware of something else – the thin, pale web of energy that surrounded him, flowing just under the skin. It was a familiar sight and right now it called to him like a siren song. The blonde leaned closer, utterly forgetting Nephrite and his voice, his concern, as he focused on that tantalizing, healing web. Licking his lips slowly, mouth just over the pulse point, he could see the life throbbing there, just begging for him to come and feast.

Before he could take even a tiny bit he was shoved back, Nephrite's hands gripped tightly around his shoulders to keep a space between them, The seer didn't seem angry – if anything, he looked amused.

"You really thought that was going to work?" He demanded, sounding as if he were hiding laughter. "It's a good thing you're practically frozen or I'd take that as an insult."

Ignoring the words, Jadeite tried to lean closer again, gaze flickering between the unfamiliar-familiar eyes and the web of energy still calling to him. "Neph, please..."

"I'm not going to starve you, Jade, but if you were thinking clearly you'd see just how bad taking to eat from my neck would be." Snorting, the brunette stood, pulling Jadeite up with him. The blonde sagged against him, head on his chest and instinctively he tried to pull at the energy again, this time with his own. Energy rose between them, lifting from Nephrite's chest and sinking in, the cool rush of it soothing the burning, an almost earthy touch to it all -

He was jostled again, pushed back, the connection breaking. He snarled wearily and looked up at Nephrite again with a glare.

There was an almost panicked look in the other man's eyes, sweat beading down his neck and face. "Not. There," he said through gritted teeth. "Jade. Please. Let me help you and stop trying to kill me!"

The resounding anger and worry there broke through to him finally and he stopped struggling. The faint taste of energy had only made the thirst burn hotter, hungrier. "Please," he whimpered.

A gruff noise, before a white gloved hand took his own. "I didn't say you couldn't have any," he heard distantly, but Jadeite was focusing on the glowing energy pulsing beneath his hand. He didn't wait for more verbal permission, fingers wrapping around Nephrite's wrist tightly as he started to absorb.

Light glowed dimly between their hands, rising from the sleeve of Nephrite's jacket and starting to spiral up Jadeite's arm slowly, sinking under cloth and flesh to meld with his own, weaker flickers of energy. Bright blue eyes slipped shut as Jadeite took more and more energy, head lowered as he focused, a hand on the small of his back all that kept him from losing balance.

"Just like that," he heard from somewhere over his shoulder. "Nice and steady, take what you need Jade."