Revised: I fixed some errors and added Mokona.

Story: Heartbeat

Authors: evilteddybear and Hyuu92!

Genre: Romance/Angst

Summary: The struggles of life, love and self-control as a vampire. Spoilers for manga ch. 125.

Date completed: 09/01/06

Disclaimer: Me no own. You no sue.

A/N: This story was spawned as a result of Hyuu92 asking me to write more vampire fics. I said I'd do it if she helped. She did. Thus the fic. I am doing 2 scenes a chapter. So far I'm planning 9 scenes and it isn't finished. We're looking at at least 5 chapters.

Rant: I would like to take this time to be mad. On my last first drabble I got 0 reviews out of 371 hits! Now if I got 2 hits, 0 reviews would be understandable. I do not appreciate you people reading my fic and then blowing me off! If I don't at least get one review for this chapter I'll probably not continue the fic! Gees, people!

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The children have been placated Fai hugged Mokona & Sakura telling them I' m alright. Fai smiled his smile at Syaoran.

There had been a brief explanation of this world. It had plumbing and electricity. They were taken in at the price of being warriors for the lord's guard. Now that all that was done, Fai was alone with Kurogane.

"Do you remember all that's happened?" Kurogane asked calmly.

"Yes I remember." Fai sounded tired, weak. Yesterday's events wore heavily on him. He was exhausted and…hungry.

Kurogane crossed the room in two strides. He raised his arm so that his wrist was in front of Fai's face.

"Drink," Kurogane commanded, "You are weak. This is a world with war. You can't afford to be weak."

"Kuro-tin, even if I drink your blood I'll still be weak," Fai joked morosely.

"Didn't you hear me? I said drink, damn it!"

Looking Kurigane in the eye Fai smiled, always smiled, and said, " Ehh…no."

He knew Kurogane could probably make him with their difference in physical strength at the moment. Well he couldn't force him to swallow…could he? Maybe if he plugged Fai's nose so that he had to swallow before he could breathe.

Still, to drink Kurogane's blood was to admit that Fai was inhuman. It would make the predicament an irreversible reality. To know that he could only live by causing another pain, not just another but Kurogane. It was horrifying. No, he would not condone that.

Kurogane gave in for now. If Fai collapsed then Kurogane would force feed him no matter what the witch said.

"Kuro-puu," Fai said, "Now that we're stuck together, we had better form a working relationship. It will cause us both a lot of trouble if we don't get along. That means you need to try to stop hitting me all the time."

"Oh no! Don't you try to pin these problems on me! I'm not the one who doesn't want us to be close. Why don't you ever tell me or the kids anything important, anything about yourself?" Kurogane replied waspishly.

"But Kuro-wanko, I talk to you almost non-stop!"

"I know why," Kurogane continued. "Because you don't want to get close to us. Why don't you want to be close to us?"

"Kuro-tan," Fai replied, "I'm very close to you guys. I even sleep next to you most nights!"

"I know the awnser to that question, too. It's because you don't trust us! Why don't you trust us?"

Fai snapped back, "Well, since you've decided you know everything about me, why don't you tell me?"

"Have we given you reason to doubt us? Have we not come thgouth as your friends at every opportunity? Have I not saved life, fought for you, many times?"

"You have all been wonderful friends to me. I trust you more than I trust anyone else save for one person," Fai replied truthfully. The only person he might have trusted more was Chii. Chii had always been there for him in every way.

"Bull shit!" Kurogane said, "You don't trust us at all! Why won't you trust me!"

The change in Kurogane's wording from "us" to "me" did not escape Fai.

When Fai spoke again his eyes and expression had turned into a faraway look of despair, "I don't trust you because the last time I totally trusted someone, I was betrayed terribly."

Well, that wasn't the only reason Fai kept his distance from them. It wasn't even the main reason, but that was all Fai was willing to tell Kurogane for now.

He wouldn't have told the kids anything. He supposed that he must trust Kurogane more than he trusted the others.

Kurogane brought his face close to Fai's as he spoke his next wordswith conviction, "I am not your betrayer. We are completely different people. I have not betrayed anyone in my life, and I'm not about to start by betraying you."

Fai did think about what Kurogane said as he lie in bed awake that night. Maybe Kurogane was right. Maybe…he could trust Kurogane a little. He didn't think he could stand being hurt again. Still if he didn't take any risks he would probably never get any happier.

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"What are you going to do when we get to the palace, Syaoran-kun?" Fai asked with a smile.

"First I'll check to see if there's a library o-" Syaoran's words were cut off as they rounded the corner of the road.

There had been a fight, and there was blood all over the street. Two or three unconscious people were still on the ground. One man was limping away with a hand over the wound on his leg.

Fai froze and stared. The red of the blood was so brilliant that it was hypnotizing. Hunger rose from Fai's stomach seeping through his body and consuming him. The metallic scent of the blood filled his nostrils and made them flare wide.

He could hear what he guessed to be the men's heartbeats. He could also hear heartbeats behind him, the heartbeats of his companions. One set of heartbeats from behind him was especially large, resounding powerfully in his head.

The ex-magician quickly turned away from the scene only to find himself staring directly at Kurogane. The fire of his hunger burned hotter. Fai took an involuntary step towards Kurogane, as if his feet had a mind of their own.

"Kurogane," Fai moaned hoarsely. He leaned forward resting his head against the ninja's shoulder. With Kurogane so close it took all of Fai's control to not just bite down into him.

Sakura turned from the bloody scene at the sound of Fai's voice. What was wrong with him? She gasped when he noticed the claws now on the hands resting at Fai's sides. Mokona turned to bury his head against Sakura's. Syaoran stepped slightly in front of Sakura, so he could protect her... in case something bad was to happen.

Kurogane reached up to guide the back of Fai's head until Fai's mouth was resting against his neck. Maybe now the idiot would take what he needed.

At this Fai's control snapped. His mouth opened wide, and be bit down into the vein in the side of Kurogane's neck.

Kurogane felt hot, as if he were being burned from the inside as his blood was sucked out of him. It had hurt when Fai bit into him. Somehow Kurogane hadn't anticipated the prospect of pain.

Slowly both those pains faded leaving him hyper aware of his closeness to Fai.

Kurogane could feel a light brushing of Fai's body along the length of his own. Fai's warm mouth was moving over his neck.

The feel of his soft lips, the warm wet inside of his mouth, the pressure of his teeth, the suction, and the slight tickling of his tounge were almost sensual.

Fai's hair was soft in Kurogane's hand, and he began to massage the back of the wizard's head gently.

Kurogane felt his life and warmth pouring into Fai, felt their lives connecting. He felt sorrow, fear, confusion, content, and satisfaction all at once. He was not certain the emotions were all his own. Kurogane was so close to Fai that the blonde's emotions could have been connected to his.

After a minute Kurogane began to feel tired and the edges of his vision began to blur. He knew he had lost too much blood. He pulled Fai's head away from his neck then stepped back several paces. He didn't know how Fai would react to the separation. He knew that the wizard could get out of control in his thirst for blood.

Fai locked eyes with Kurogane. There was such sorrow reflected in the blonde's eyes. Kurogane felt an inexplicable wave of loss. He felt so alone without his connection to Fai. He wanted to go back to Fai. He longed for the closeness, the completion.

Kurogane's rationality soon reasserted itself, and he smashed down his urge.

Fai felt the physical exhaustion of the past few days disappear with the life force of Kurogane now flowing through his veins.

Instead he felt emotionally and mentally exhausted. His connection with Kurogane followed by the feeling of loss coupled with the horror he felt at his actions, his drinking of blood, took the energy out of him.

Fai felt ashamed and apprehensive of the future knowing Sakura and Syaoran had seen the whole thing. What must they think of him now? No smile was to be found on Fai's face as he said, "Let's skip the palace and go home, or at least let me go home alone. I don't feel well."

Sakura was terrified as she saw the blood on his teeth when he spoke.

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"Fai, it's time to go home," Ashura said as he moved forward.