Listening to The Duke of Venomania and being in the mood to write I just couldn't help but write this. Just as a warning this is Yaoi, boylove, however you want to refer to guy on guy! If you're staying after that warning then do enjoy, its been a while since I last wrote something for others to see so I'll apologize for any errors or mistakes.

Chapter 1 - Plagued by the Beast

There is a beast that resides in the Venomania Castle just on the outskirts of our quiet and secluded town. It plagues our town by spiriting away the women, they disappear behind the castle walls in the middle of the night never to return. What happens behind the high walls and sealed doors of the castle is unknown but those who have ventured close have sworn to have heard the mournful wails of the beasts victims. None have seen it but those who have been taken into its lair.

The townsfolk are thinking about raiding the castle to free their daughters and wives. A town meeting has been held and they are currently arguing about what to do. Some fear that if left alone the beast will soon start taking everyone in the town, others feel like women should be invited to the town and offered to the beast to keep the peace. One man shouts over the voices demanding that the beast be killed, that it has terrorised this town for too long. I sit and watch the commotion unfold as questions about how are thrown around. I look around at them all and sigh before standing up and clearing my throat loudly. As an outsider the townsfolk are wary of me and are quickly subdued.

The room is finally silent and I cast my gaze over each of their worried faces as I push a piece of blue hair from my face. "If killing the beast is what you want then you would have first get into the Venomania Castle, correct?" A murmured agreement was uttered through the gathered townsfolk. As they fell quiet again I continued, "What you need is a wolf in sheep's clothing." For a moment a stunned silence hovered over the room as if they were wondering just why a simple plan as that had not come up before. From the front of the crowd an old voice called to me and I turned to the elder man stood up on the podium.

"Young man, it would be a wondrous plan, however do you see a single person in this hall capable of pulling of such a guise with the exception of yourself if it's not to blunt to say." Blushing at his indirect compliment I glance around me again and see much to the townsfolks dismay that his words are true. All of the men in the hall are blaringly obviously men and the women that are left are either much too young or much too elderly. I shake my head slowly and the town's chief sighs from the podium.

A clap on my shoulder lifts my gaze to a man's bearded face looming over me. Although he's almost two time broader than myself his face is kind beneath the thick dark hair. "T'was a good plan though, lad." He reassures me and I find myself nodding a little and finding my seat again. "It was…" As I retreat into my thoughts the hall bursts out again into arguments about what it to be done with the Venomania Beast.

What if I did it, what if I snuck into the castle? The chief said I was the only one who could pull of such a guise and I do owe this town after all they have done for me. But would I be able to slay the beast? I'm not as strong as these townsmen, I don't think I'd be able to singlehandedly kill a beast. If I could find a way to get the townsmen inside the castle then they could kill the beast.

My heart is pounding in my chest as I once again stand up and once again all attention is on me. "I-I'll be your wolf." The words sounded distant over the roaring in my ears. In the silence that followed I was sure that everyone could hear the rapid pounding of my heart. I swallowed in an attempt to wet my suddenly dry throat. "I-I won't be able to kill the beast, but I might be able to let you into the castle to do it." They all looked at me for a while, before cheers broke out. Hands clapped my shoulders, their merriment forced the tension out of my body and I was soon laughing along with them.

I'd been dragged to the town chief's house after the townsfolk had left the town hall. They had been saying something about getting the preparations ready for tonight and the longer they left it the more likely the beast would get wind of their plan. It was all a bit hectic and before I knew it several of the townswomen had fitted me in a blue and white ball gown with a black a white ribbon pulling around my waist. A bow was pinned under my chin with a sapphire brooch and a pair of small blue heels adjusted to fit my feet. Before I even had chance to look at what I was wearing the women attacked my faces with various powered and creams before taking a cap of blonde waves and fixing it on my head.

By the time they had finished and presented me in front of a mirror I could hardly recognise myself. I really, unfortunately, looked like a woman. As I stared at myself my cheeks filled red with embarrassment and it only seemed to add to the look. The chief moved from the other side of the room and hide a small blade within a newly made pocket within the dress.

"I don't even recognise myself." Beside me the chief nodded his head appreciatively, "If I didn't know any better I would have been taken in by your beauty." He thoughtlessly admitted causing my blush to intensify, "Well, it's getting dark. There's no time to waste. Go, wander the town as if you're lost. Quickly before it comes and sees you leave here." As he spoke he hurriedly began pushing my down the stairs and out the house.

Nervously I wandered the cold streets, my breath escaping in short columns of white smoke. It wasn't long before the lights in the town's windows were put, plunging the town into a moonless dark. I swallowed, my heart hammering in my chest again as a creeping feeling of being watched pasted over me. I span around expecting to see something horrific only to be greeted by the sight of an empty street.

Slowly I turned and continued my wandering of the town, nervously looking for a place I knew didn't exist. Footsteps behind me had me falter to a halt and the smooth hum of a gentle voice reached me.

"Are you lost, little one?"

My breath snagged in my throat and I had to will myself to turn around. A few paces away stood a man, clearly not a man of this village as his garb was embellished with silver thread trimmings and shoulder details. The high collar of his purple tail coat encircled a large ruffled stock tie held in place with an amethyst pin. It was held closed by two rows of silver buttons down the front and each laced cuff at the end of the sleeves was held closed by three of the same buttons. Black boots with a slight heel covered the most of his leg, leaving a section above his knee to be covered by pale beige breeches.

As I brought my gaze up to his face I soon found his clothing wasn't his most striking feature. Pace skin was framed by long flowing purple hair that seemed to shimmer in the lightless dark. The most of his hair was pulled up together with a black ribbon and left to cascade down his back in faint waves. Amethyst eyes gazed at me from under long lashes and a gentle, inviting smile curved his lips.

For a moment I found myself fixated by the man, unable to tear my gaze away from his. Blushing I finally managed to free myself from his eyes hold, "I-I'm just looking for somewhere to stay…" I murmur and I feel his gaze leave me for a moment. Curiosity gets the better of me and I risk a glance through the blonde waves. His profile is just as captivating as his gaze and I can't help but wonder how such a man as him in wandering this town's streets at such an hour. He must have felt my gaze as he turns slightly to smile at me. I'm thrown by this man, somehow his gaze in almost impossible to look at yet its unimaginable to look away once I meet it.

"If you'd like, young miss, I have a place just outside of this town you can stay until morning?"

There is something off about his question but I couldn't refuse, it would look too suspicions and the beast could be watching. I swallowed and nodded my head a little, "If it isn't imposing too much on you, sir?" My words were received with a smile and a shake of his head. "Not at all, miss. This way then." He turned and crossed an arm in front of him, gesturing in the direction I had come from.

The silence was somehow comfortable as we walked, the beast would have to wait for tonight it seemed. There wasn't much I could do about this situation, especially if the beast was watching. Stupid Kaito, couldn't you think of something better than looking for somewhere to stay. I hardly notice as we leave the town behind and make our way quietly through the darkness of the surrounding forest.

"Forgive me if it is too bold, but may I ask your name, miss?" His voice cuts the silence and I turn to look at him, once again falling into the trap of his shimmering gaze. "K-Kaito." I stammered not able to think of anything else to say. I watched him frown for a moment and as if seeing his train of thought I quickly start coming up with excuses to say.

"Kaito, such a masculine name for such a beautiful young lady, no?"

"Ah, m-my mother wanted a boy, she named me that anyway." I blurted out almost before he has time to finish his question. Surprise crossed his face briefly before he chuckled, the sound just as captivating as his purple gaze. I blushed and pulled my gaze away fixing it on the ground.

"In that case it is a beautiful name, Miss Kaito." His words sounded off, like there was some kind of hidden meaning behind the words, or was I just being paranoid. I sneaked a look at him from under the golden locks covering my true hair. He smiled at me as if he had been expecting me to look at him. When I blushed and looked away he began talking again.

"In case you were curious, I'm Gakupo the Duke of Venomania and this is my home."

I lifted my gaze as looming out from the darkness came the reason why is mention of somewhere just outside of town sounded so off.

Towering above me were the dark towers and keeps of Venomania Castle…

If you're still here to read this than that makes me extremely happy. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are eagerly awaiting the next ^^

Thanks for reading!