Omg it has been soooooooo long. But that's life right? Well I'm back and moving on to the sequel to the Healer which will just be known as the Healer 2 because I already used up all of my creativity on the story. I've been very busy between conventions and work and writing my own novels that I completely forgot about anything else. Sorry! I hope you guys enjoy!
Also my friend and I (not the one I wrote this story with) will be attending Colossalcon this year like usual and we will be presenting our famous Yaoi panel! So if you live in the northern Ohio area or Ohio in general come on out and check us out! We're listed under Punny Panels as guests of the con!
Chapter 1
Xigbar shifted a bit in his bed and hugged the pillow beside him nuzzling it. He had had a very long night and the rest he was getting now was well deserved. Hunting the hunters had long since stopped bothering him and now he could finally relax. He opened an eye, feeling the warmth of the sun on his back and glared at the clock beside the bed. Already it was ten o'clock. He groaned and rolled over.
The door to the bedroom opened and closed softly and moments later the room darkened as the curtain was closed. The bed shifted as someone sat down on the edge. "There, is that better?"
Xigbar merely grunted in response, letting his body sink towards the person on the bed. "It's like the sun didn't get the memo..." He mumbled into the pillow.
"Well unfortunately I can't do anything about the sun." the voice giggled and ran his fingers through Xigbar's hair. "But I can sit here and help you fall back asleep."
"Why did you come in? You know I have to have at the least seven hours of constant sleep to function right for however long I decide to stay awake, right?"
"Yes, I know. But I just wanted to be with you." he said and leaned over Xigbar to kiss the top of his head.
Xigbar opened his eye and took a slow breath before letting it out. "Or was it to bring me breakfast in bed?"
There was a chuckle and a pair of arms wove their away around Xigbar. "Maybe. Are you hungry?"
"For you? Always." Xigbar turned and looked up with a smile before pulling his mate down into a kiss.
Demyx smiled into the kiss and moved so he was lying next to Xigbar more comfortably.
The younger vampire continued to kiss the dirty blond and moved so that he was over top of him. He pulled away with a grin. "You know I can't keep away from you."
"I know." he said with a smile and touched Xigbars cheek. "And that's one of the things I love about you."
Xigbar chuckled and leaned forward. "You've completely thrown off my sleep schedule. Are you ready to pay for it?" Xigbar leaned in close to his neck, kissing it gently, his hand straying elsewhere.
"I always am." he whispered and wrapped his arms around Xigbar's neck, pulling him closer. "I love you Xiggy..."
The moment Xigbar bit down, his tongue was met with a fabric that tasted nothing like he expected. His fangs pierced the pillow and he dug his fingernails into it. A strange sound of lamentation came through the pillow.
Luxord walked into the room and sighed. "The pillow again? That's the third one this week." he said quietly to himself then put his hand on Xigbar's shoulder. "Another dream about Dem?"
Xigbar sat up quickly tossing the pillow aside in the small windowless room. "Why won't he leave me alone?" He asked quietly. "Luxord I can't stay in this room one more minute! I want to see him!"
Luxord put both his hands on Xigbar's shoulder and squeezed gently. "You can't. You know that you can't." The blond frowned. "Xigbar, they're still trying to find a cure, but it's been two years. Maybe it's time to think about... You know, moving on."
"Move on?" Xigbar glared at Luxord. "Move on to what? I gave up everything I was for him-for you, and your anti-hunting! And what do I get for it?" Xigbar wet his chapped lips. "I'm starving...and they've used the dampening poison on me! Two years I've been working my ass off with them and I have a fight with another vampire because I don't like how he handled the hunter he went after and I get the same treatment I got when I first came here?"
"Xigbar, calm down." Luxord said sternly and looked him in the eye. "Look, I know you're frustrated, and I know you miss Dem. I do too. And trust me I don't like the way they're dealing with you either. If I could I would take you home, but they don't think a Watcher is enough for you."
"I barely hurt the guy and for weeks they've had me in this stupid room, biting pillows because my mate haunts my dreams! I can't move on if he's in my head!" Xigbar shouted. "Just let me see him!"
Luxord sighed and sat down next to the other man. "Let me see what I can do, alright? But I can't guarantee anything."
Xigbar held his head in his hands. "I need to feed..." He muttered. "Hunting was the only way I could not think about Demyx and now that that's been taken away...he's all I can think of."
"I'll talk to the higher ups. It's been long enough, they should know where your loyalties lie." he clasped a hand onto Xigbar's shoulder. "I'll have them send you in some blood."
"I want good blood, not the poisoned kind..." He mumbled. "This is torture."
Luxord nodded. "I'll see if we can get you off that blood then." he stood up. "Just hold on a little longer, alright?"
Xigbar nodded. "Please...get them to let me visit him..." He begged.
Luxord looked back at the man and frowned. "I'll do what I can Xigbar." he said then turned to leave the room.
Xigbar followed after Luxord until the door shut quickly in front of his face. He leaned his head forward and gently hit the door.
Luxord closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm sorry Xigbar." he whispered to himself and he headed down the hall to an elevator.
(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
Axel walked into his and Roxas' bedroom, two steaming cups in one hand and a bowl of popcorn in the other. "Did you decide on a movie yet Roxi?"
"Shhh...I'm thinking!" Roxas looked at the huge flat screen and fiddled with the controller.
Axel laughed and climbed onto the huge king sized bed. "You get so serious over the littlest things. It's adorable."
"We could watch every movie ever made...but what's the right one to watch?" He flipped through the titles and frowned.
"Do you want me to pick?" Axel asked, holding out his hand.
Roxas let out a huff and dropped the remote into Axel's hand. "Fine…"
"Well what are you in the mood for?" he asked as he started flipping through the movies.
Roxas shrugged. "I don't know! I want something chill...snuggly..."
"Disney movie?" he asked going to the kids section.
"I don't care, you pick..." Roxas leaned back in the bed.
Axel put an arm around Roxas' shoulder as he pressed play on Beauty and the Beast. "I can't remember, have you seen this one yet?"
"I've...heard of it, but I don't think I've had a chance to watch it yet." Roxas leaned into him.
Axel smiled and kissed the top of Roxas' head. "Well I hope you like it. I'm going to make you watch all the Disney movies."
"Isn't there singing in like...all of them?" He raised an eyebrow.
Axel thought for a minute the nodded. "Pretty much."
The blond vampire shook his head. "I refuse to sing along." He laughed.
"Oh come on. It's fun, remember Aladdin?" he said and grinned down at his mate.
"Aladdin is totally different!" Roxas crossed his arms. The movie reminded him of his days on the run.
"How is it any different?" he asked with a chuckle.
"It just is." The blond ate a bit of popcorn and watched as the movie started and Belle began singing. "Wow, not even like five minutes in."
Axel laughed and kissed the side of Roxas' head. "This one is Nam's favorite."
Roxas nodded and watched the movie. "I can see why she likes it."
"Namine's from France. Did you know that?" he asked quietly as he kept his eyes on the television screen.
Roxas shook his head. "Isn't that where Xaldin is from?" He whispered back quietly.
"Yep, but Namine is older than him so they weren't actually in France at the same time." Axel put some popcorn in his mouth and leaned back further into the pillows.
Roxas made a sound of recognition and continued to watch the movie.
Axel smiled and pulled Roxas to his chest. "I love you Roxi..." he whispered.
"I love you too." Roxas ate more popcorn before moving to give Axel a quick kiss.
Axel smiled and let out a content sigh. Life couldn't get any more perfect. He closed his eyes and within minutes, was asleep.
(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
Axel opened his eyes to find himself, not in his bed with Roxas, but in a beautiful place. The grass under his feet was a brilliant shade of green and the trees around him had the same colored leaves. The grass seemed to go on forever yet fade off at the same time and the sky was nothing but endless white. Everything seemed to shimmer and there was nothing but the sound of wind rustling through the grass and trees, and somewhere distant the sound of a harp. He knew this place, but he couldn't figure out from where.
"Axel, my son." a soothing female voice called out and Axel turned around quickly to see a woman standing at the top of a short set of stairs. Her blond hair, almost white billowed around her shoulders; and her light grey eyes peered down at him filled with love.
"You're..." Axel trailed off and stepped closer to the stairs, that he now saw led up to a large white building. It was almost as if the building blending in with the sky.
The woman nodded. "Yes. I am your mother. Your Goddess." she said softly, yet her voice reached his ears perfectly. "I've brought you here to my Sanctuary to talk to you about something very important, but first; how is Roxas?"
Axel stared up at her unable to even think of a proper response. "He's... he's good." he said simply and the Goddess laughed behind her hand. "I-I mean he's doing well. He's much happier now. Thank you... for bringing him to me."
The Goddess smiled and placed her hands back in front of her. "It's good to hear that you're happy, my son. But, this is quite a problem. Axel, Roxas was not supposed to survive that battle. And Reno has already been lifted."
"What do you mean Reno's been lifted?" Axel asked with wide eyes.
The Goddess stared at her son and a sorrowful smile graced her red lips. "My son I do not write the story of your world. I merely foresee events and plan accordingly."
Axel clenched his fists in rage. "So, what? You see everything dozens of years in advance and can't do anything to stop them? You knew Roxas was going to die but you still made him my mate?"
"It was what was best for the both of you. But the tides of time have been changed, something that happens very often."
Axel scoffed and shook his head. "What was best? One breakdown wasn't enough for me? You had to take both of my mates from me?"
The Goddess' eyes flashed with anger. "You should consider yourself lucky you even got to experience those emotions. Namine has not even met her mate yet."
Axel took a wary step back from her but looked to the ground mumbling.
"Now hold your tongue." She said and folded her hands in front of her. "I did not foresee Roxas surviving, because I did not foresee Xigbar asking to be changed, much less remaining alive much longer afterwards. People change their own fate every day. Time, as Luxord would explain to you, is very much like water. It is constantly changing and flowing. It never remains the same and can change its shape at will."
Axel pursed him lips. "So what am I supposed to do when I find Reno again? It's not possible for a vampire to have two mates? Is it?"
"No. It is not. But yet, it will come to pass. And there will be great heartache if something is not done."
"Like what?"
The Goddess stepped down from the stairs and placed a cold hand on Axel's cheek. "I can alter events; force certain things to come to pass. But you must make a decision Axel. Will you remain with Roxas, or start a new life with Reno?"
Axel subconsciously leaned into her hand, but her words brought a sinking sense of dread to his chest. "What happens to the one that I don't choose?"
The Goddess frowned and caressed Axel's cheek with her thumb. "One must die. But I can promise you my son, if you choose Reno your pain will ease in one months' time."
"So in other words if I pick Reno… Roxas dies, but I'll find Reno only a month later?"
The Goddess smiled. "Exactly."
Axel, none-to-gently, pushed the petite hand from his cheek with anger in his eyes. "Only a month? You think that's enough time to grieve Roxas's passing?" the red head looked disgusted and took a step back from the woman. "I loved Reno, but… Roxas is just so much more important to me."
The woman frowned. "Axel, my son, once Reno finds you all of his memories will be restored. It will be like he never died."
"I would rather have lived never knowing Reno than to have never had the chance to love Roxas." He said. "I regret that Reno has to die again, but I will never surrender Roxas to death. Never."
She clasped her hands together with a solemn look on her face. "So that is your decision then?"
Axel took a deep breath and nodded once.
A smile broke out on the woman's face and she stepped forwards to hug the vampire. "That is exactly what I had hoped to hear from you, my son. To know that you have moved on and that you are happy is my only wish." She let go of the now confused Axel and started back up the steps.
"Wait… so… I'm confused." He said and took a step forward.
She turned and smiled down at the man. "You shall remain by Roxas's side, but you will meet Reno soon. He will remember his past life once he sees you, but he will be different and have a mate of his own."
Axel's eyebrows knitted together in his confusion. "So you can change a person's mate? Just like that?"
"It is not an easy task, but it is one that can be done." She said with a nod. "I pray that you will be just as good of friends as you were lovers."
Axel stared at her flabbergasted at the events of the past five minutes.
"Please understand Axel, I never meant to bring you any pain. I did not foresee Reno's death either. He was and is a good man. Now you must go, Roxas has been trying to wake you and is very worried."
"Wait!" Axel shouted as he tried to run forward but he was swallowed by darkness and was soon shaken out of it by a very scared looking and tear soaked Roxas.
"Roxi?" he murmured
"Oh thank the Goddess!" Roxas let out a relived sigh and buried his face in Axel's chest. "I've been trying to wake you up for hours. I didn't know what to do, I called Marluxia and he said he was coming over, but he lives so far away now and-"
Axel silenced the blond by pressing their lips together and pulled him close. 'I'm sorry I worried you.' He said and ran his fingers through the messy yellow locks.
Roxas pulled back and opened his eyes slowly. "Don't scare me like that ever again." He paused and searched Axel's face. "What happened?"
"The Goddess wanted to have a chat with me."
"The Goddess? But I thought you only saw her during your transformation?"
"Well apparently she can appear to us in our dreams whenever she pleases."
"Well that's… slightly terrifying." Roxas muttered, remembering the lecture he got during his transformation for killing his sire.
Axel chuckled and cupped Roxas' cheek. "How so?
"The last time I saw her she was angry with me." Roxas frowned. "You can thank her for my constant cheery disposition."
Axel laughed and kissed him again softly. "That's what you get for killing your sire." he sat up and stretched. "What time is it?"
"Like eleven." Roxas rolled his eyes. "I'm really tired-you freaked me out...I'm glad you're fine though."
"Why don't I call Marluxia and tell him everything is fine and you can get some sleep?" he suggested and pushed Roxas back down onto the bed.
Roxas bit his lip then nodded. "Okay, but don't take forever, this bed is too big for me to stay asleep alone in."
"I'll be quick." he said and grabbed his phone from the side table as he left the room. He shut the door and dialed Marluxia's number.
Half a ring and Marluxia picked up the call. "Axel? Roxas called and said you weren't responding-everything okay over there?"
"Everything's fine." Axel said with a laugh, then sighed and frowned. "The Goddess stole me for a bit. And I'm concerned."
"Excuse me?" Marluxia narrowed his eyes and frowned. "What do you mean stole you?"
"She brought me to Sanctuary, that's what she said." Axel rubbed that back of his neck. "It was like when I was changed except it was clearer and I remember everything."
All of what Marluxia was hearing wasn't really setting in, having never seen her before. "I've never heard of such a thing happening before." He ran his fingers over his lips in thought.
"Neither have I, but that's not what worries me." he said and looked over his shoulder at the closed bedroom door and decided to walk down into the living room. "She told me that Reno's been... lifted."
Marluxia shook his head and gave an exasperated sigh at not understanding. "I'm sorry, I don't...I don't get what you mean by that."
"She practically said that Reno is alive." he said and shook his head. "I don't really understand either. She said that Roxas was supposed to die and that I could get back with Reno but... she's letting me stay with Roxas. It really happened so fast. She said that I was going to meet him soon."
"Impossible. The Goddess has never been so kind to raise a vampire back to life." He muttered in disbelief. "How did you get into contact with her?"
"I didn't do anything. I just fell asleep and... well I was just there." Axel ran his fingers through his hair. It was frustrating that Marluxia couldn't give him any information. "She told me that Reno would be different, have a new mate."
Marluxia glared ahead, maddened by not being able to help. "I don't like that she's suddenly deciding to be talkative after being silent all this time...and all she said to you was about Reno?"
"Yeah that was it. She was very motherly though." he said with a smile.
"I see." He found it strange that the Goddess would simply inform a vampire that a past mate who had died was now walking around without having any issue with it. "If this happens again, tell me."
"I will." he said and sighed softly. "I have to go Roxas is calling for me."
"Glad to hear it was a false alarm." He ended the phone call and let out a breath. This was all too confusing. There were too many questions going on in his head for him to sort them out directly but one was prominent. "Why?" He whispered to himself.
(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
A vampire ran through the forests at a blinding speed. He had about five hunters chasing him and he ran straight into the forest about seventeen minutes ago. "Whoo! Come on, slow pokes! I'm thinkin' about slowin' down!"
"Dammit! He's too damn fast!" The hunter out front glared ahead of him and turned to the hunter on his right. "You think you can get a clear shot off?"
The hunter shook her head. "Not at this speed and not in this many trees."
"Man you guys are weak, yo!" the vampire let out a laugh and slowed his pace. "I should be paid for training you sorry lot to chase vampires!" He turned around and started running backwards, only slowing a fraction. 'You ready, partner? I think I have at the least three or four.'
'Three or four? That's it? You're slacking.' Another vampire stood in a clearing not too far from his partner. He was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed.
'Oh shut up! I said at the least-I'll get an army next time for us to play with.' The vampire grinned and whistled once he got to the clearing. "Seriously? Where are you guys? Did you all stop to take a breath or something?"
The tan vampire walked up to him and put an arm around his waist. "An army, huh? Sounds like fun."
"Of course it sounds fun, it's my idea." The vampire looked into the trees. "You really should be hiding, they still think I'm alone."
"I will, but first." he tilted the man's head up and kissed him deeply.
"Mm, no fair-you always do this before we go on a spree." The other vampire pushed him away reluctantly. "Go, seriously, before the hunters get a show."
The tan man chuckled and jumped up into a tree. 'Be careful.'
'The bait is never careful, the fish'd get suspicious if I didn't act reckless.' The vampire waved his hands around. "Really? Have you given up or did I lose you?"
The hunters burst into the clearing and the leader stopped short his comrades almost running into him. The hunter smirked. "You stopped. That was a mistake."
"Was it really?" The vampire grinned and focused on the hunter that was cocky, sending him into a crippling bout of pain.
As the hunter fell to the ground, screaming in pain, the female hunter lifted her rifle and aimed it at the vampire. "Stop what you're doing, now!"
The vampire broke out into a smile and looked away from the poor hunter. As he lifted his hands in surrender he shrugged. "Please, don't be hasty. If you shoot me, you lose a perfectly good runner!"
"That's ok, we have plenty." she said and pulled the trigger.
At first the vampire hadn't even noticed what had happened. He looked down at himself and shook his head. "I hate guns..." He muttered falling to his knees and held his hand over the wound. His other hand was lifted to the female hunter and short waves of pain were sent her way, but they eventually fizzled out.
The tan vampire jumped from the trees and rushed over to his fallen mate. "What's wrong?" he said worriedly and looked up at the hunters.
"The bitch shot me because you took your damn time." He tilted his head back. "And she's packing dampener's..." He glared ahead.
"Shit." The bald vampire stood up to fight then heard additional footsteps headed their way. He bit his lip then turned, picked up his mate and took off running. The hunters quickly followed after him.
"What are you doing? Do your job! Put me down and take them out!" The vampire hissed. "You can handle this measly group on your own!"
"No." the man said and stared straight ahead. "You were shot and your powers aren't working. That only means one thing."
"Dammit Rude, you can't run as fast as me, they'll catch up and take you down if you lug me around anymore-I'll be fine!" He glared.
"No." he said again and hefted the red head further up into his arms. "Getting you to safety is my number one concern."
"I swear to the Goddess if you don't kill those hunters now the last two weeks will have been a complete waste!" The red-head growled. "We're in the middle of a forest! There are no buildings for you to hide me in!"
The tan vampire continued to run and turned after he hit a thick patch of trees. "I'll think of something." he muttered.
The red-head tilted his head back and jabbed a finger into Rude's chest. "If there aren't five dead hunters by the time I wake up tomorrow, I'm gonna kick your ass."
"Like you could." he said and leaned against a tree to see if he could hear anyone following. When he heard footsteps he cursed then took off running again only to stop when a house suddenly appeared in front of them. "What the..."
"I so could...kick your ass." He looked over and pointed to the house. "Oh goodie, a hideaway." He looked back to his mate with a hard stare. "Put me down in there and then kill the hunters..." He sounded a bit out of it, coughing.
Rude stared down at the man in his arms then turned sharply when he heard the hunters enter the clearing behind him, but instead of coming straight at him, they kept running. "What the…" he looked back to the house. "A cloaking spell?" he whispered then quickly carried him up to the front door.
"Rude...you ass, you're letting them get away..." The other vampire watched as the hunters ran by.
"Shhh..." he shushed and knocked on the front door. "Hello?" he called out then pushed open the door after a few moments. "Sorry for just walking in, but my partner... he's hurt." when no one answered him he walked in and carried the red head to the couch.
"Put me down and kill them. You know I'll be fine here..." The redhead glared at him. "I'll be fine, you know it takes more than a shot to put me down."
Rude frowned and ran his fingers through the man's hair. "You expect me to leave you here by yourself?"
"Stop trying to be romantic." The redhead coughed. "Because if you don't do as I say, you ain't getting none of this later."
He chuckled and kneeled down. "We'll see who cracks first." he said. "I don't want to leave you alone like this."
"No sex for a month." The redhead gritted his teeth. "For each hunter you let get away-no sex for a month." He swallowed.
"Can you handle no sex for that long?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I know I can." The redhead responded in a no nonsense tone. "And I know you can't."
Rude sighed and kissed the vampire on the forehead. "Fine. I'll be right back. Don't move." he said the stood up and headed to the front door.
The other vampire turned slightly on the couch as he concealed the gun he pulled off of his partner, as a last form of protection from whatever was in this house. He slowed his breath and tilted his head back.
Axel sat up in bed with a gasp, a loud sound from outside startling him from his sleep. He looked down at the peacefully sleeping Roxas then slipped out of bed. He stepped out into the hall and turned on the light. He looked over the railing into the living room and immediately stopped breathing. "R-Roxas..." he called out quietly then sank to his knees still staring out at the motionless form on the couch below. "Roxas!" he called a little louder.
The blond vampire got out if bed after he heard Axel calling for him. "Nnh, Ax...what's wrong?" He asked from the doorway to their room.
"Tell me it's not real." he breathed his hands gripping the bars to the banister. "Tell me he's not down there..."
Roxas looked over the railing and he looked to the form lying in the couch. Another loud sound went off and he was jolted awake. "No..." He had never seen Reno but who else could Axel be referring to. He went down the steps and went to the couch, approaching slowly. "Get out of my house, you can't haunt here, go away!"
Axel took a shaky breath and tried to make his way down the stairs. "Roxas..."
The vampire cracked open an eye, still holding onto his abdomen before pointing the gun at Roxas. "Back off, kid, I don't want trouble." He glared at him.
Roxas instantly pulled away, suddenly wary that this wasn't even Reno. "If you're a hunter we got problems..." He said quietly.
Seeing the gun, Axel rushed forward, as if all of his strength had returned and stepped in front of Roxas. "Just relax. Reno?"
Reno aimed the gun at Axel's head this time, eyes wide. "How the fuck do you know my name?" He stared at him, his hand shaking.
Axel took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Oh Goddess it is you... She said I would meet you soon, but I didn't think this soon..."
"I said back off!" Reno tightened his grip on the gun, coughing a little more. "Stay away or my partner will rip you to shreds." He said as he lowered his voice.
"Reno." Axel moved forward slowly and turned on the light. "Relax it's me. She said you'd remember me."
As soon as Reno could see his face he dropped the gun and held his head. Letting out a howl of pain he bit his lip. "Axel?" He barely managed through his groans as memories flooded his mind.
Axel walked over to the man and crouched down. He was surprised at the lack of emotion he felt towards him. No love, no devotion, just concern. "Yeah, it's me."
As the last memory before his death set in Reno's breath caught in his throat. "Axel! Go to the cellar! Hide!" He clutched his wound.
Roxas watched on in disbelief. "What's happening?" He took a few steps back. "Axel?"
Axel put his hand over Reno's forehead, trying to calm him down. "Reno, relax." he looked over his shoulder at his mate. "Don't worry Roxi. I love you, remember?"
"I don't doubt that but what the fuck is happening!?" Roxas stared but upon looking at the wound Reno clutched he ran for the kitchen to get first aid.
Reno growled and shook his head left then right. "Rude! Rude!" He called out loudly.
"I'll explain it all later." Axel called out and turned back to Reno. He put his hands on Reno's shoulders and squeezed. "Reno, calm down! Who is Rude?"
"My partner!" He whispered and looked up at Axel, bright blue eyes shining. "What's happening to me?"
Axel looked down at his torso then back up to his face. "You were shot. You need medical attention." he said softly. "Where is your partner?"
"Killing the hunters I baited..." He groaned. "Stupid bitch broke the rules and shot me." He looked down at himself.
Roxas came back with a modified kit and started to take out supplies.
"We'll get you all fixed up." he said and ran his hand over Reno's hair. "Roxas will take good care of you. I'll go find your partner."
As Roxas peeled off the bloody part of Reno's shirt he grimaced. "Oh, Goddess, it's one of those bullets..." He started on extracting the bullet and he looked up. "I'm sorry but you're going to go to sleep for a while, I'm afraid..."
Reno looked down at him. "No, no...you're talking about the new strain, right? I'll...I'll be..." He lost consciousness before he could finish his sentence.
Axel took a deep breath and headed to the door. "I'm going to try to find this Rude." he said and headed out the door only to be met by the tan vampire.
Roxas set the barbed bullet aside and unrolled some gauze. He looked over his shoulder to see a vampire wearing sunglasses, staring down Axel.
The tan vampire stepped forward. "Who are you? Is this your house? Where's Reno?"
"He's here, this is our house, I'm Roxas, that's Axel. Patching him up best I can but I'm no healer. He got hit with the new strain I'm afraid." Roxas responded as he continued to fix up the bleeding vampire.
Axel bit his lip and stepped back into the house. "Come in." he said.
Rude rushed passed the red head and dropped to his knees next to the couch. "Reno?"
"He said he baited some hunters...what does he mean by that?" Roxas looked up at Rude.
Rude didn't look away from Reno. "It's what we do. We're anti-hunters. He rounds them up and leads them to me."
"That sounds incredibly stupid...rounds them up?" He frowned and looked to Rude again. "You do realize it's the middle of the night-you don't need to wear sunglasses all the time."
Rude gave him a sideways glance. "It's kind of... my thing. Now why isn't he waking up?"
"He's been shot. It had some really nasty stuff in it. You should know that." Axel said as he walked up behind them.
"It's the new strain..." Roxas frowned and pulled away. "If you're part of the anti-hunters then do you know if there's a cure for it yet?"
"No, no cure yet." he said and shook his head. "Reno's been grazed by one of these before. He was fine after a few hours though." he ran a hand over his head. "I'm sorry for intruding."
"It's alright." Axel said and crossed his arms.
"Only one other person has ...withstood the poison and he's an Ancient...Reno isn't an Ancient, just Pureblood, isn't he?" He looked up to Axel.
"Yeah. But maybe it's because he has Marluxia's blood." Axel said and Rude looked up at them.
"How do you know Reno? What's all this about him being a Pureblood?" Rude asked as he stared at them with narrowed eyes.
Roxas looked up at Axel and shook his head. "If that were the case, then Zexion wouldn't be where he is now." He looked back to Rude. "What is he to you?"
"Reno is my mate." Rude said defensively. "What is going on?"
"You sound surprised to be told he's a Pureblood, has he told you differently?" Roxas looked to Axel confused.
Rude stood up. "Reno had amnesia. He doesn't remember where he came from."
Axel sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "It's late. We can talk tomorrow." Axel said. "You and Reno can stay in the spare room. It's up the stairs and the second door on the landing."
Roxas sighed and pulled away from the couch. "Okay, Axel...tell me what's happening."
Rude looked between the two. "I'd like to know that too."
Axel sighed again and nodded. "I'll be willing to tell you guys anything, but not tonight. Tomorrow."
Roxas sighed and shook his head taking back the kit to the kitchen. "Suuuure...wake up to see your mate's dead mate on my couch, bleeding everywhere. Have to replace it but whatever, I hated the print on it anyway." He grumbled along the way.
"You can head up Rude." Axel said motioning upstairs.
Rude frowned but lifted Reno up into his arms and headed upstairs and Axel followed Roxas into the kitchen.
Roxas had put the kit away and was washing his hands at the sink. He stared at Axel with a fiery glare.
"Hey, what's with the glare of death?" Axel asked and walked up to the blond.
"I'm not waiting for an explanation tomorrow. I will ask you every five seconds and keep you from sleeping until you tell me what the hell is going on."
"Alright." he said with a sigh. "Where do you want to talk?"
"Right here." Roxas huffed. "Why do I need to leave our house to talk about it?"
"I was talking about either here or the bedroom." he said with frown. "Roxi, don't be mad at me."
"How is he alive?" He whispered. "Why would this happen?"
"The Goddess brought him back to life." he said softly. "It's one of the things that she wanted to talk to me about."
"But why? What's the purpose of him being brought back?" He chewed on his lip. "How long has he been alive?"
Axel bit his lip and took Roxas' hand. "She didn't tell me how longs he's been alive. But she did tell me that... that the reason she brought his back was..." he hesitated and squeezed Roxas' hand.
"What, Axel?" He furrowed his brow. "Why did the Goddess do this?"
"She said you weren't supposed to survive the fight." he said quietly and looked at the floor.
"Two years ago? I was supposed to die? When..." He frowned. "Xigbar."
Axel nodded. "Yeah." he said with a nod. "I owe him everything." he whispered.
"So she resurrected him so that you could be with him?" He furrowed his brow. "What does that mean for Reno's mate?"
"Yes that was her plan." he said and looked down into Roxas' eyes. "Hopefully everything will work out and no one will end up hurt."
"Wh-what if he falls back in love with you?" He whispered, then covered his mouth. "Goddess, he's gonna ask what happened to the house."
"He's not going to fall back in love with me." he said and cupped Roxas's cheek. "If he asks about the house, then I'll tell him."
"How can you know for sure! How can you know that the Goddess hasn't made him different. You heard what his partner said he's not fazed by the thing that is -killing- the other vampires."
"Roxas even if he does fall back in love with me, then that's too bad." he whispered and kissed Roxas' forehead. "I have you and I wouldn't change that for anything."
Roxas sighed and held on to his lover. "I was supposed to die...what a shitty life to live..." He muttered.
"But you didn't..." he wrapped his arms around his mate and kissed the top of his head. "I didn't even want to tell you... I knew this would happen."
"Now I feel like I owe Xigbar all that much more..." Roxas mumbled into his chest.
"I know, we own him a lot." he said softly and ran his fingers through the blond hair. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to take the love of my life back up to bed."
Roxas looked up at Axel and gave him a kiss. "I love you." He whispered and nuzzled his chest. "Y'know I was worried that he was a ghost...how awful would that have been?"
Axel chuckled and lifted Roxas's up into his arms. "We would've had to get an exorcism."
"That sounds even worse!" Roxas laughed quietly. "I'm going to want to ask his mate some things, but tomorrow."
"Tomorrow." he said elbowing off the lights and heading back up the stairs. "Right now, I need you in my arms."
Roxas smiled. "I need -you- in my arms." He wrapped his arms around Axel's neck.
Axel smiled and carried the boy into their room then laid him down on the bed. "I love you Roxi."
"I love you too." Roxas closed his eyes.
Axel lay down next to the boy and pulled his to his chest before pulling up the blankets. "Goodnight Roxas."
"Goodnight." Roxas whispered and curled his fingers around the blankets.
(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)(::)
"He's not a threat!" Luxord said for about the tenth time in their meeting. He looked down the table. "He just wants to see his mate! Separating them is just cruel."
Paine shifted in her seat, crossing her leg over another. "He assaulted one of our own." She said simply.
"He was on edge." Luxord countered. "Xigbar is one of us. I know he screwed up but doesn't everyone? He only wants two things, un-poisoned blood and to see his mate. Is that really too much to ask?"
"The poisoned blood is to keep him from escaping. I will not change the order." She narrowed her eyes. "As for seeing his mate...there will be monitored visits."
Luxord sighed and wanted to fight on, but figured that he should just quit while he had something. "Thank you." he said and stood up. "If you don't mind I would like to go tell him the good news."
"No." Paine responded. "No more visits for him." Her tone was cold. "If he wants visits to his mate then he loses the privilege of visits to himself."
Luxord tensed the nodded. "I understand." he said. He knew that Xigbar would rather see Demyx than him. He turned and left the room.
Paine leaned back in her seat and rubbed her fingers against each other. She would be the one to monitor the man. She did not trust him in the very least.
Xaldin stood outside the doors where Luxord had been and looked up. "How did it go?"
"Not good." he said and looked up at his mate. "But not terrible. I got him visitation, but not the blood and now no one can visit him."
"He's going to go insane without being able to talk with anyone...why would Paine do this?" Xaldin frowned.
"She doesn't trust him." he said with a simple shrug. "I don't know what I can do Xal... Demyx would be furious to know that his mate is being treated like a criminal."
"Perhaps this is the only form of justice she can dole out for the vampires he killed?" Xaldin asked quietly.
"Maybe." he said with a frown. "I just don't know how to convince everyone that he's on our side."
"It's been two years...we should have kept a closer eye on him." Xaldin shook his head.
"I blame myself. I should have stayed with him." Luxord let out a soft curse. "If I would have been there..."
"From what I heard, there was a vampire playing with his food. Xigbar didn't like it, punched the vampire, and spoiled the food." He sighed.
"To be honest I may have done the same thing, but because it's Xigbar..." He shook his head. "I want to go see Demyx."
Xaldin tilted his head to the side. "Want me to come with?"
Luxord smiled and held out his hand. "I would like that."
Xaldin took his hand and gave a light smile. "It's been a while...might do some good to see...how things are going."
Luxord smiled and led his to an elevator. "It breaks my heart every time I see him. I just hope we find a cure soon."
"I feel terrible about it...I haven't seen him in months...when was the last time you saw him?" Xaldin crossed his arms.
"A few days ago." Luxord pushed the button to call the elevator and sighed. "They won't let me see him every day."
"I can understand...allowing someone like you to see that the progress they've made is so slow..."He looked up, "They have made progress, right?
Luxord frowned and looked down at the floor. "Define progress?" he muttered and stepped into the elevator when the doors opened.
Vexen looked up from what he was studying and smiled. "Luxord, Xaldin! Have you come to visit?"
Xaldin smiled back with a nod. "How are things going?"
Luxord looked up and managed a smile. "Hello Vexen. How's your research?"
"Well...we're beginning to go out on a real limb here. We have tried everything we can possibly do-we've come up with cures for other sicknesses...for humans at least." He shrugged.
Luxord shook his head and sighed. "Well at least you're trying. And I respect that."
Vexen nodded sadly. "Have you seen Lexaeus...or Xemnas even?"
"Not recently. I think they may be out on a mission." Luxord crossed his arms. "You know, trying to take their minds off of what's going on back here."
The ash blond nodded again. "Tell them, that I'd like to discuss something with them...oh and after you're done here today I'd like to have some of your blood."
"Some of our blood? Whatever for?" Luxord tilted his head to the side. "What can our blood do?"
"Like I said we're going out on a real limb. Just yours Luxord. Xaldin isn't directly related to Demyx in any fashion." He nodded.
"Alright, sure. Not a problem." he said and let his arms fall to his sides. "If it's to help Dem..."
"Relax it's just a pint." He smiled. "Go on and see your brother."
"Alright, thanks Vexen. I'll meet you in the lab once we're done." He said just as the elevator rang and the doors opened.
Vexen looked down to the clipboard in his hands and walked off towards the lab to continue his research.
Luxord stepped out of the elevator, still holding Xaldin's hand, and headed off in the opposite direction towards the hospital ward.
As Xaldin walked with Luxord, his hand tightened its grip. "Every time I come here there just seems to be more and more of them..." He looked at the beds lined throughout the hallway. Far down the hall Lulu walked from one room to another.
"They do keep filing in. It's not looking good." He said with a shake of his head. "Our numbers are decreasing, we need a cure."
"Goddess, this place was only meant for...not many at all." He bit his lip. "Vexen...sounded hopeful, though."
"He's brilliant." Luxord said with a smile. "He's gotten close, but nothing seems to wake them up."
"This place just feels like a tomb."
"That would make me the grave keeper then?" Lulu asked from down the hall, striding towards them. "I admit it does get pretty quiet, sometimes I forget to breathe since no one else down here is."
"It's depressing. If something doesn't change, we'll have to expand the ward." Luxord said quietly. "How is Demyx doing?"
Lulu smiled. "He's good. Good old patient zero hasn't changed a bit." She cleared her throat. "Wish I could say he was doing great but...no cure, no change in diagnosis..." She opened the door. "I'm afraid for lack of space I've started doubling up in the rooms...but I'm sure Demyx wouldn't mind his roommate."
A dirty blond looked up from the seat he was sitting on top of and quickly looked away. "Sorry, I'll be going." He mumbled getting off of the seat and grabbing his jacket.
Luxord's eyes widened. "Nine? When did you get here? And how did you find out about Dem?"
Nine looked up from the floor and swallowed. "Two days ago." He cleared his throat.
Luxord stepped closer to the other vampire. "Where's King?" he asked.
Nine shifted uncomfortably. "Down the hall." He whispered.
"Are you alright?" Luxord asked and touched his arm gently.
Nine moved out of Luxord's reach. "I should have taken the hit, it's my fault he's here." He moved to pass through the door. "I gotta go."
Luxord gasped softly and stared after Nine. "No, not King..." He walked to the doorway and poked his head out. "Nine!"
Nine shook his head. "I've gotta keep watch." He called over his shoulder.
"Everything will be ok." He said. "We'll find a cure, we'll wake him up."
Nine stopped. "Dem was the first and that was two years ago." His shoulders slumped. "There's no cure."
"No, not yet, but we'll find one." he said. "You just have to have faith. Demyx would be disappointed in you for giving up so easily."
"I don't care what Demyx would think of me." He started to walk away and disappeared into one of the rooms.
Lulu shook her head. "He was a wreck when he came in. He's not fit for fighting."
Luxord's shoulders slumped and he stepped back into the room. "I can only imagine. He must be taking it hard. How did it happen?"
She shook her head again. "Don't ask me, they were in Brazil when it happened. Someone thinks he jumped all across the ocean with King slung over his shoulder. I don't think he took a single break to feed."
Luxord sighed and took a seat next to Demyx's bed. "Poor kid. We should go visit him."
"You're lucky to have gotten him to talk. He's been roaming the halls when he can't stand to be near King with his guilt." Lulu responded. "Queen came by to visit yesterday and she tried to talk to him but he just stared at King, got up after about two hours and started roaming. He didn't go back to King's room until Queen left."
Xaldin shook his head. "Is he at least helping you?"
"Xaldin, he doesn't need to help. His mate is in a coma right now." Luxord took Demyx's hand. "He's due a little down time."
Xaldin shook his head, moving over to Zexion, looking him over. "How many are here?"
Lulu tilted her head in thought. "King makes it...one eighty...seven."
"That many." Luxord groaned and put his face in his hands. "I hope that Vexen can make a break through."
"He's just about exhausted any kind of avenue...when you saw him did you get a chill or was it normal?" Lulu asked.
"Hmm..." he looked over to Xaldin. "Normal I think. I didn't notice a change in temperature." he said
Lulu smiled. "Good. He gets cold when he's hit a wall, that means he thinks he's got a strong lead...until he goes cold again." She looked around. "You know...I haven't seen Xigbar around, he's here every other day if he's not on a mission. Have you seen him?"
Luxord tensed and sighed. "Xigbar has been placed under intense isolation."
Lulu simply made a sound of acknowledgement. "Paine finally found a way to make him pay for his crimes, did she?"
"Xigbar didn't do anything wrong." Luxord muttered. "What he did before he was changed should not be held against him anymore."
Lulu sighed. "I'm sure he didn't do anything that would be fine if any other vampire did it. But past crimes don't just evaporate because you've become a vampire." She moved some hair out of Demyx's face.
"He's having dreams of Demyx. It's driving him crazy." Luxord whispered and took his brother's limp hand. "Hear that Dem? Your mate is thinking of you."
"Well...I've got others to look after. See you some other time, hm?" Lulu nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Luxord squeezed Demyx's hand and leaned down to kiss it. "We love you Dem. So wake up soon ok?"
Xaldin put his hands on Luxord's shoulders and squeezed them. "Vexen wants to see you. We should go." He whispered quietly.
Luxord sighed again and stood up. "I'll come see you again soon Dem." he said and kissed his forehead before turning to Xaldin. "Yeah, let's go."
"You're strong, I know this is painful for you." Xaldin kissed the side of his head. He led his mate out of the ward and into the research lab and Vexen smiled.
"There you are! Are you ready?" He asked directing Luxord to a seat. "This won't take too long...have you fed recently, Luxord?"
"Um..." Luxord blinked and took the seat. "Well human blood?"
"How long ago was that?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Two... No three days ago." he said and clasped his hands in his lap. "Why?"
"Just don't want human blood to be floating around in your system before your blood consumes it." Vexen flashed a smile. "That's good, that means I can get a good, clean sample of your blood, but I suggest you feed afterwards." He began to set up.
"Alright." he said with a nod. "What do you need me to do?"
"Oh! Just relax, it's just like donating blood..." Vexen handed him a small ball. "Squeeze this and then sit-it doesn't take too long." He explained as he wrapped Luxord's arm then tapped the inside of his elbow. "Ready?"
Luxord swallowed and looked down at his arm. "Is now a bad time to say I don't care much for needles?"
Vexen stared at Luxord incredulously. "The bite of a vampire is worse than anything a needle could ever do to you."
"Yes well... Fangs aren't metal." he said and reached out trying to find Xaldin's hand.
Xaldin took his mate's hand and shook his head. "Lux, you're starting to sound like Xigbar before you took his tracker out. This is for Demyx, you can do it."
Luxord squeezed Xaldin's hand tightly and nodded. "Yeah for Dem."
"Okay then, in it goes." Vexen didn't bother counting, simply shoving the needle in and watched as the blood went through the tube and into the bag. "Alright...don't forget to squeeze the ball or it'll take longer." Vexen moved off to work on something different.
Xaldin leaned over. "Now I understand what Marluxia means by completely different personality."
Luxord grunted and hid his face in Xaldin's chest. "Yep." he mumbled and squeezed the ball fiercely.
Xaldin started to laugh. "I get it now. You don't like anything entering your body unless it's my fangs. You are such a baby."
"...Not a baby..." the blond muttered his hand still squeezing away at the ball. "Needles are creepy..."
"You've done medical work, stitched up wounds, those are needles. It's because it's taking your blood, isn't it?" Xaldin gently pet his head.
Luxord was silent and nodded once. "Don't you dare tell anyone..."
"Only Demyx." Xaldin grinned. "I get it, trust me I do."
Luxord looked up at his with a glare that looked almost like a pout. "You're the only one who should be allowed to take blood from my body."
"It's for Demyx, if it helps then you should be happy to bleed yourself for him...so long as you don't run yourself dry, right?" Xaldin lifted his eyebrows.
Luxord sighed and put his arm around Xaldin's waist to bring him closer. "Yeah."
After a few minutes Vexen came back and checked the bag. "Oh, very nice, the color looks good." He held a bit of gauze over the needle and pulled it out, then started to release Luxord from the band. "I'm going into a different field entirely with figuring out how blood works with vampires, you're the first to give me blood to research. Thank you."
Luxord rubbed his arm and looked up at Vexen. "Yeah glad to help." he said softly. "What's your plan?"
"Well like I said, this is a far reaching limb. I wanted to study the nature of the blood of a vampire...and eventually I would ask to take a sample of Demyx's..." His face turned sympathetic. "Just enough to fill a vial."
Luxord nodded. "If it's what you need to wake him up, then you have to." he said softly.
"Lulu has expressed fear of breaking the skin of a vampire who is in a coma. She's afraid that despite it being a simple needle, that the skin will not heal and the bandage will not mend." Vexen's shoulders slumped.
"But if there's a possibility for a cure... We have to." he said softly and stood up. "I'm willing to take any chance."
"The question is...Is Xigbar willing?" Vexen sucked on his lower lip. "If Demyx dies he will be the one to suffer the most."
"You'll have to ask him. And in order to ask him you'll have to ask Paine." he said.
"Why would I have to ask her?" Vexen furrowed his brow. "I figured I would catch him on the elevator eventually."
"Paine has him under lockdown. Intense isolation. No one sees him." Luxord frowned. "I just barely got him his visitation rights back."
"Oh." Vexen looked down at the ground, tapping his fingers against the blood bag possibly calculating something and then turned on his heel. "I'll tell you if I find anything out."
"Alright. Thanks again Vexen. You've been an amazing help." Luxord said and turned to Xaldin. "Let's go home. I want to rest, and feed."
"I'll feed you, don't you worry." Xaldin smiled.
Vexen had gone straight back into work mode, completely ignoring the other two vampires.
"Let's let him work." he said and pulled Xaldin out of the lab. "I hope whatever he's thinking works."