Hey everyone. It's been a little over two years since I wrote this and for some reason it came to mind the other day and I decided to read it. Quite frankly I am a bit embarrassed. It is a good story idea and I kinda messed it up. So this is the re-write. Hopefully it's better. Thanks for giving me the time it takes you to read it.

~Stickdonkeys

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters and make no claim to.

What Does It Take

Chapter 1

The moonlit grounds of the castle Raenef were beautiful that evening. The wind a warm caress on the skin. The colors somber yet at the same time brilliant in the subtlety of their shading. The soft chirping of the night insects providing a symphony for the ready ear. Which was probably the reason that the two resident demons, a demon lord and his teacher, were outside. The older of the two, the teacher, was leaning against a tree and enjoying the way the soft, pale light of the moon and stars played on his master's hair bringing out the almost white highlights in his already light blonde hair. Gods he's beautiful, Eclipse thought. Usually the moon saps all color from people's skin, but his cheeks seem flushed somehow. And his green eyes glitter so beautifully in the moon light that I am having difficulty keeping my distance.

Well you had better keep it because he is you master, added the nasty part of his personality that liked to interject and keep him a "proper demon."

So what? Eclipse found himself asking himself. I wouldn't be the first minion to sleep with his or her master.

It wouldn't be right, countered the snide part. People would talk. Your reputation would suffer. How would the demon world react to you, the great warrior, sleeping with the most pathetic demon lord in the history of demon lords?

Who dares accuses him of being that? Eclipse demanded of his other side.

Everyone, the cruel side said, even part of yourself: the sensible part.

Sensible? Eclipse thought with a mental snort. He is not pathetic. He is sweet and kind and special and somehow has managed to stay that way in this world. So shut up, leave him alone and let me enjoy our time together before something destroys him.

The thing that destroys him would be you if he knew what you are thinking you pervert. Eclipse chose to ignore the other side of his personality—that had a grain of truth to it—and went back to watching his master and pupil read whatever it was that he was reading.

Raenef was stretched out in the grass on his stomach pretending to read some boring book on demon ethics—which Eclipse always reminded was an area he was sorely lacking in—while secretly watching Eclipse out of the corner of his eye. He was enjoying the slight glare that was caused by the moonlight reflecting off the alabaster skin visible where Eclipse's robe gapped across his chest. Raenef blushed as that thought crossed his mind and moved on to the safer examination of the slight void caused by Eclipse's eyes and wondered how their piercing gaze could come from such beautiful amethyst depths. Noticing that the same gaze, that had stopped gods in their tracks, was fixed on him, Raenef turned a page and to keep up the impression that he was actually doing something productive.

Oh how I wish he would come over here and kiss me, Raenef thought.

You know he won't said the pessimistic side of Raenef—which barely counted as pessimistic when compared to the rest of the world. You could always order him to do it if you really want him to.

No, Rae thought with passion that would make me feel worse. I want him to love me because he does not because I tell him to. It wouldn't be real love that way.

Whatever why don't you go to bed and dream about him again,the other Raenef said.

I will not I will stay here and look at the real thing, Raenef mentally snapped and blushed again at the thought. Why can't I just feel about him like I should?

~*~.

Ten or so men had been standing in the woods near where the two demons were musing. And the men were lucky that the demons were, otherwise Eclipse, with the practice of many years would have already detected and killed them. They had been there for a while and had come to the conclusion that the blonde would be the least of their difficulties: minions were to be ignored until the lord had been annihilated. At an unspoken signal from their leader they leapt out of the bushes and concentrated their attack on the "demon lord." Even taken by surprise Eclipse was a force to be reckoned with. Acting on instinct alone, he destroyed over half of the swordsman in his first attack. Then laid waste to two of the three men left in the second. This left only one man alive in the clearing. There was also one more man alive who was only in such a state because Eclipse hadn't seen him. Raenef had though, and, seeing him raise a sword to kill Eclipse, immediately death drilled him. Eclipse turned as he felt the spell pass by him and took his attention off his other attacker just long enough for the man to land a single sword stroke before his death barreled down on him.

For a moment Raenef stood there in shock. Oh dear, I actually killed someone. How did I do that? He though.

Well you are a DEMON, the dark side replied. Traditional demon lords kill things all the time. It's kinda their job.

Yeah but still, Raenef thought It doesn't feel right. I didn't even think about it. Why didn't I think?

As much as I dislike your affection for Eclipse did it ever occur to you that you did it to protect him? Doesn't look like you did a very good job though, the dark side commented just as Eclipse fell to his knees looking at his hand with a confused expression contorting his beautiful face. Raenef too looked at Eclipse's hand and was as surprised to see the crimson blood standing out in such sharp contrast to the pale skin of his hand as Eclipse was. He ran to his tutor's side and gently eased Eclipse into a sitting position leaning against himself. Feeling as he did how heavy his friend's breathing was. After a few mute attempts, he got Eclipse to move his hands and saw all the blood that was sluicing out of the gaping wound across Eclipse's stomach.

Oh gods what am I going to do? Raenef thought frantically. He's going to bleed to death and I can't heal him. Demons can only heal themselves and he is too weak from the battle. . .

"Master," Eclipse whispered, his words thick with pain.

"What Eclipse." Raenef replied, too worried to tell Eclipse to drop the damn title.

"This is going to be the end of me. I'm sorry I have to break my promise to you, but will you stay with me until the end. Please. I don't want to die alone."

There was such a worried note in Eclipse's voice that is actually made Raenef shake slightly before he answered that he would and went back to his thoughts of saving Eclipse. Let's see . . . Eclipse once told me that demon's can heal themselves . . . people in general have no magic to heal anyone . . . but who can heal others? Gods who is it?

It's clerics you retard, the snide part commented. Gods you can't even remember things when it is to save the life of someone you love. What good are you to the world? You can't kill, you can't save. You're worthless

Fat lot of good that does me, Raenef thought ignoring the last part of his other side's rant.. How am I going to get a cleric to help a demon? Even with the peace treaty it would take too long to convince one to help a demon. Especially Eclipse after all the harm he has caused in the past.

You haveone living in your castle, the other side cut in. In case it slipped that worthless mind of yours, Chris is a cleric.

That's right! Raenef thought, mentally bouncing like a puppy. I'll go get Chris he'll heal Eclipse and everything will be alright.

If he will that is.

Of course he will, Raenef argued unable to see why Chris could possibly refuse. How could two people who were both friends of his not be willing to help one another survive..

Are you sure? the dark part asked. Chris has not made his hatred of Eclipse a secret. What makes you think that he will be willing to save Eclipse's life?

He will, Raenef thought the steel in his thought something that would have made Eclipse proud and hopeful of his demon lord potential if he had heard it.

"Eclipse, just listen. I'm going to go get Chris to help you. I will be right back and everything will be alright. Okay?"

Eclipse looked up at him with his beautiful eyes clouded with pain. The sight of which made Raenef's heart tear in two, "Please hurry, Raenef, I don't want to die alone."

"I will and you won't. I swear I will be right back."

With that Raenef laid Eclipse on the ground, kissed his forehead, stood and transported away. Finding himself at Chris's door doubt once again plagued him. Are you sure?

Yes he has to.