A/N: Okay, so a character in this chapter is going to be doing two things she normally wouldn't do or wear in the series. But I have a reason for that. Personally, I think Liz as the organization's leader, I wanted to picture her in something different. I think it might only be for this chapter..Anyways, please enjoy.


A clearly exasperated Liz said, "What are you doing here all by yourself? It's almost sundown." Without lifting his head off the desk, Kid raised his golden eyes and looked up at her drearily. "Because it's almost sundown."

"What a waste." Her bounteous curls of hair swayed as she leaned over and blew a ring of smoke at his. Kid waved it away and straightened his chair and looked at the blonde. Today she was sporting a black low cut dress with dark purple lacing, along with a gold and pearl necklace that jangled against her breast with each step. She wore black stiletto shoes with dark purple flowers on the side. She wore a dark make up style consisting of dark eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner and dark red glossy lips. Aside from the utilitarian headset, she looked like a model for a gothic fashion magazine taking a smoking break during a photo shoot. The look suited her well.

"What's up with the new style?"

"I thought I'd try a different style today, looks nice, doesn't it." He shrugged. "It looks nice...smoking's bad for you, Liz." She tilted her head sideways. "I know. I just need to get something off my head, that's all." "Is smoking even prohibited here?" "Except for me." Always an exception for the princess. Kid drew a deep breath and let it out.

Liz grounded out her just lit cigarette, sat down, and crossed her legs. Kid glanced at the crumpled remains of the long, slender cigarette. A luxury brand compared to the "coffin nails" he's seen others smoke on occasions. His kvetching notwithstanding, it seemed like a waster. Ah, to live the life of the rich. Kid groused to himself. Liz ignored his private angst as she flipped through the pages on her clipboard with her equally elegant fingers.

"Put a smile on that face of yours. You've been putting up good numbers recently. Productivity is up. You're digging up new crypts left and right." She glanced at Kid-who was slumped lifelessly in his chair and said, "You getting Intel off that boy?"

"Huh?"

"The vampire. You know the one who's got a thing for you. Albino, a direct descendent, ring a bell?"

"Yeah. Soul."

"You sure caught yourself in a big one."

"Less the catcher than the catchee. He threatened to stalk me if I didn't let him tag along."

"As stalkers go...he's an awfully cute one."

"There's nothing cute about it. I like girls, you know? Having him hand around all the time is no thrill for me. And he's a vampire on top of that-"

"Ohhh~What did I hear? On top of that?"

"Nothing. Never mind." Kid looked away and sunk back into silence. Like he was going to tell her how Soul's nightly "remuneration" consisted of make out sessions. His reputation as a hunter was on the line. But Liz had a bloodhound's nose for potentially comic material, and in a flash she was out of her feet and peering into Kid's face. "Come on think about it, you haven't made any request for petty cash. How exactly are you rewarding him? And don't tell me he's volunteering his services."

"Because, uh...I was going to submit all my receipts all at once."

"The rule is, informants are paid on a per diem basis. Money or goods. you're not taking advantage of the poor boy's good intention, are you? That wouldn't be true to the principles of the group." "Yeah, and just who is taking advance of who? He's bringing compensated."

"Compensated how? Can't money be money." A vein throbbed in Kid's forehead. "A bit of tact when stating the painfully obvious wouldn't hurt."

"Them no, you didn't- you're making private blood donations?" Liz grabbed Kid's head and before he could object, checked the left and right of his cheeks. His vertebrae cracked loudly. "Hey, watch it! I'll send you the bill to my chiropractor." "You gave me a fright there. a hunter becoming a minion would be no laughing matter. Turnabout is definitely not fair pay in this job."

"Enough with third degree. I not laughing either."

"So what currency are you using?" Kid winced and didn't answer. Liz focused a eagle-eyed gaze on him. And then...smiled and shrugged. "Well, I won make you answer. Just don't get it in over your head."

"Nobody's getting in over his head! I'll tell you okay? The kid came onto me, I didn't have a choice." Liz said in a come hither voice, moving her hips in a steady manor. "

You mean, make me your sidekick or I'll stalk you crazy? That sort of thing?"

"Give me a break."

"Naw, this is way to detectable of a conversation."

"To you, maybe. Not to me."

"You'd better treat him right. A cooperative vampire without ulterior motives is as rare as hen's teeth." Even if bloodsucking wasn't the goal, the fact Soul came on like gangbusters. More recently he was grinding his hips into his and feeling him up top to bottom. Worse, Kid felt himself caught getting caught up in the moment when they kissed. Even thinking about it now, the blood rushed to his head making him feel dizzy.

"Arrgh! Vampires are the enemy of all mankind!"

"What's this all of a sudden?" said the surprised Liz, jumping back away from him. "They're natural foes of my family." "Oh please," Liz whacked Kid on the back of his skull, bobbing his head forward. "I hate vampires," he growled. Liz sighed deeply.

"Yeah, I know. But don't forget that second generation and below are themselves no better than cannon generals directing the battle-the elder sires- are the cause. Our ultimate mission is to root out the virus's original vector and eradicate it. The group themselves in granting vampires who share our goal the respect due them. As a group hunter, you need to remember that. We're different from the freelancers, who only think terms of money."

"Yeah, I know." Kid took a tired breath, let it out, and got to his feet. "I guess I'll be going then."

"Oh, wait a sec," Liz picked up a different file. "This is the data on recent infections. There's something in here that concerns us."

"What's that?"

"The nature of the virus involved. Each of the seven elders is different in his own way. But historically, the distribution of their minions and slaves has remained fairly consistent. Those tome, enough, one pedigree in particular stands out."

"In other words, the descendants of one elder sire are multiplying faster."

"That's what it looks like. Run it past your sidekick-if there's something new going on in the vampire community." Kid shrugged. "I'll ask. But he doesn't hang out with other vampires."

"Not surprising for a vampire who hangs out with hunters. A real heretic. They pop up now and then-a strong bloodline and yet a repulsing towards vampires and willingness to stand alone. Can't expect them to have a direct line to the inner circles, but it own hurt to ask." Kid nodded. "Will do."

Outside, like a nocturnal beast stirring from sleep, the night was blinking its eyes and coming back to life.


Soul's warm tongue swirled in his mouth. Kid drew his eyebrows together and half opened his eyes. Soul's white cheeks were tinged with red, and his closed eyelashes trembled slightly. The intoxicating aroma enveloped Kid. He roughly pushed Soul away. "That's enough," he spat out. Soul stared back at him with a surprised expression on his face. His swimming eyes brimmed with tears, threating to spill out at any moment. Any onlooker would've sworn Kid was the instigator and the one at fault. He blinked slowly. His parted lips looked like half open flower buds in a light rain. A languid smile rose to those lips. Like a cat, he slipped back into Kid's arms.

He wrapped his arms around his neck and whispered, "Seeing as tonight's hunt was over and above the call of duty, don't you think it calls for a little more generosity?" "Now's not the time to go upping the ante," said the cheerless Kid. Soul grasped Kid's chin and gazed at him. His red eyes sparkled like smooth red wine pouring into a wine glass, filling to the top, sparkling. Kid felt his magnetic appeal and tried to look away. "I wanted to ask you something." Kid mumbled.

"What? If I answer, can I kiss you again" Soul perched on his toes and teasingly closed his lips around Kid's earlobe. Kid roughly pushed hi away. "Can't you focus your attention on something else for two seconds? Are all vampires a bunch of nymphos likes you?"

"When your stomach is empty, can you think of anything else besides food?"

"So you want to eat me?" "That's one way of putting it." Soul licked his lips. "Another way is, it's the ultimate meal."

"My blood type is AB, Rh-positive. Nothing unusual about it in the slightest."

"Ha, what a nice surprise. Me too,"

"I f you're that hungry, I'll buy you some. Not a problem for somebody with a hunter license. There's a blood bank not too far from here-"

"No need." Soul cuddled closer. "A fresh kiss is much so better."

"Fresh? Look-"

"Don't you know? It isn't blood itself that vampires consume. But the metaphysical essence contained within the bodily fluids of living things-call it the human ode. Blood has the highest concentrations, and some vampires do develop a particular fondness for the taste."

"If you know where to look, these days you can buy blood from a group-specific dehydrated plasma capsules."

"When it comes to ode, freshness is life. What you're talking about is about the same as nicotine gum is to a smoker."

"Second grade, underground goods maybe. I can get you medical grade."

"Pfft. I can get it myself. A kiss is better. I'd really prefer doing that. But I guess you don't-"

"I told you, never again."

"Never say never. Once more, just to see for sure? Ill pull out all the stops this time."

"And I say, no way!..Quit touching me!" Soul pursed his lips and pouted. "Saliva doesn't have a lot of ode in it. Blood has the most. After that, semen-"

"No!"

"And so I soldier through on saliva alone. Man, what a mister you are."

"Mister? I'm the one making out with you every night till my mouth hurts." Kid thrust him away and turned on his heel, fuming. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going home."

"You said there was something you wanted to ask me." Kid stopped and turned around. Soul was leaning against the wall, smiling at him with that laid back manner that just pissed him off. Grinding his teeth, Kid hesitated, and then retraced his steps. "Recently, there's been an outbreak of a particular strain of virus. Liz wanted me to sound you out for any possible theories." Soul mused for a moment, crossing his arms. "The first theory I can think of is that particular sire is multiplying his number of minions with a specific goal in mind. I'm sure you know this, but getting repeatedly bit by vampires in the same linage accelerates an outbreak."

"And then getting bitten by a vampire from a different cause mutation, resulting in a werewolf or ghoul."

"Yes. That's why a vampire usually wont touch a victims who's already been bitten. The wound becomes a stigma."

"The wound disappears pretty quick, doesn't it?"

"Not to our eyes. So vampires check for stigma first, before taking blood. The intelligence of werewolves and ghouls often degrades and they become difficult to handle. Vampires don't want to see their numbers increasing either." Kid sniffed. "No need for anything but obedient minions, eh? But what do you do when the scales suddenly tip in one direction? Clan warfare?" "The wounds on the those infected persons?"

"For the most part, no trace of them. Like they were infected a while ago, but suddenly started presenting with symptoms now. Even when symptoms don't show up, they're recorded as carriers and are placed in the care of he public health bureau. Through that responsibility is currently being subcontracted to the group."

"In that case, there must be a different cause. As far as I know, none of the broods is trying to increase their numbers of minions. Winning humans over and pulling the strings from the shadows is safer and more effective. I don't anticipate vampires becoming the majority."

"Then what? Pure coincidence"

"There is another possibility."

"Such as?"

"What strain of virus is this?"

"That, I don't know."

"Let's find out," Soul said in an unexpectedly serious tone. Kid got out his cell phone. "Liz? Sorry about the hour, but there's something I needed to ask you about this recent outbreak. Do you know what strain this virus is?"

She yawned before saying stubbornly, "Why such a late hour? Sheesh."

"I said I was sorry."

"Type J. If anything, it was on the decline lately." Kid covered the phone mic and relayed the information to Soul. It didn't seem possible, but he paled a bit. "Anything you wanted to ask?" Soul shook his head and Kid said goodbye to Liz, hanging up his phone and putting it away. "Somebody you know?"

"Maka." Soul said under his breath "Maka?"

"One of the vampire elders. And my sire." Kid stared dumbly back at him. "The one who made you a vampire?"

"Yes." "And the result is that the virus is active and on the loose?"

"Probably. That being the case, the spiel on Maka's descendants would be a temporary phenomenon. It would return to normal after a predictable period of time. It serves as a harbinger of an elder's awakening."

"Meaning that, for the time being, all the elders are in hibernation? Shit. That would really put a dent in their influences. An ideal opportunity to fight back."

"There's still time left on that clock," Soul said, biting his knuckle. "Maka won't be able to fight at full strength. The two of us might even be able to take her out."

"The two of us?"

"I'll help. Stands to reason, doesn't it? With a direct descendent by your side, it comes down to formulating the right strategy and tactics." Kid objected at once. "Just a sec. Maka's your sire? That means if Maka dies, then you-"

"Then I die..at last." Kid couldn't help staring at Soul. Soul smiled serenely. A relieved expression, not fearful at all. In sharp contrast, the flustered Kid said forcefully, "Don't be an idiot! You'll die! Don't you get that?!"

"Of course I do. It's what I've wanted all along. Death is better than living forever sucking human blood." He spoke so plainly with a sign of doubt in his eyes-that Kid had nothing to say in reply. Soul's features relaxed a but. "But I don't want to die alone. If I die and Maka lives, there will only be more victims. That's is not an outcome I can tolerate." However controlled his emotions, a severe tone crept into his voice. "I can't tell you how many times I have plotted her death. I hate to say it, but it's not something I can do alone. She can kill me anytime she wants. I can't kill her. Rebelling against one's superiors is taboo. All my good intentions count for nothing."

Kid stood there, at a total loss for words. Soul slowly walked up to him. "I've been looking for someone who could kill her; Somebody who would destroy him and end me; Somebody who fit the job like a glove; like you."

"Me?"

"You. You can do it."

"Don't spout any nonsense. She's a fucking elder. Years and years of training to reach such position. I hate to say it, but I 've only been a hunter for a year. I'm only good for taking out minions and assorted riff-raff. That's about it."

"I'll help. Together, the both of us can make it happen,"

"You make it sound like a pop song." Kid sniffed.

Soul rejoined. "I'm pretty strong if I do say so myself. My looks can be deceiving." When it came to vampires, looks can be very deceiving. A school girl vampire with large almond eyes and height at about 4'8 had once been seen knocking a heavyweight wrestler out of the ring with barely a flick of her dainty waist. She looked with a delicate piece of fine china when she was, in fact, a direct descendent. Who was he to say that Soul-with a similar blood line wasn't capable of doing the same? He'd gather as much, having reluctantly accepted Soul's assistance these past two weeks. But accompanying a supernatural strength that belied his willowy frame was a keen intelligence well beyond his apparent years. And yet Kid suspected he hadn't seen even a tenth of his true abilities.

To get up close and personal with a direct descendent was a step into an unimaginable world removed from the "reality" of common sense. All the more so when contemplating the challenges presented by an actual elder. "You can do it, Kid." Kid winced a but under Soul's gaze. "I appreciate that but-"

"Why the second guessing? Eliminate Maka and we will save countless lives. It'll wipe out her whole family line, including the minions and direct descendants. But all those with dormant infections will be released from their dreadful fate."

"I'm not arguing with that. But you'll die too!"

"Like I said, I'm cool with that. Plus, why are you so concerned about my death? Better off dead, wouldn't you say?" Kid waved his hand back and forth as trying to defend himself from the cutting edge remark. "Yeah, I hate vampires. Just because they're victims of the virus too gives me no reason to sympathize. The principles of the Group aside, enemies of me and mine. They're responsible for the death of my mother!" Soul rested his hand on Kid's shoulder and looked at him with soft, hazy crimson eyes.

"And that's why I picked you."

The matter of fact reply left Kid a bit flustered. "Hunters who became hunters to avenge their family's or loved ones death is hardly rare." "That is true too." Soul gazed deeper in Kid's yellow orbs, a teasing smile rose to his lips. "Honestly speaking, you're my type. I was hoping for one last rapturous fling before I died."

"What the hell!" Kid fumed. Soul practically glided up beside him, so close as to feel his breath. "In other words, when I die, there'll be no more of this-" Not giving him time to react, Soul pressed his lips tightly against Kid's. He tried to jump backwards, but Soul's arms around his back and neck were unrelenting. After much struggling, Kid tore himself free. Following a brief pause to catch his breath, he yelled, "I told you to knock it the hell off!"

"I wont," Soul stubbornly insisted. "If you don't promise to help me destroy Maka, I'll stick myself to you like glue. I'll follow you to Shibusen. Kiss you in front of the girls-" "Son of a bitch!" Before he knew what he was doing, Kid made a fist and was cocking back his arm to take a swing at him. A voice barked behind him, "Hey, what's going on here?" He turned around.

An uniformed cop shone a flashlight in his eyes. The stinging bright "natural light" flashlight made Kid reflexively raised his hand to shield his eyes. "Whoa! You a vampire?" the cop shouted with a mixture of fear and bravado.

That riled Kid up all the more. "I'm a hunter!" he shot back. "Let's see your ID." Kid took out his ID and tossed it in the direction of the flashlight. The cop's partner caught it. "Hey, get that thing out my eyes." The light didn't budge. A small, circular object landed at his feet. "Right eye," he was ordered. A cell phone sized retina scanner. Kid placed it over his right eye. A minuet later, the cop heaved a sigh in relief. "Confirmed." The flashing dipped away from his face. Kid blinded and tossed the scanner back to the cop.

"Where's that guy you were with?" Kid glanced over his shoulder. At some point, Soul had disappeared. Kid grabbed the cop's collar "Shit! You let him get away?"

"What-he a vampire?"

"Naw. Snitch. Slippery little squirt at that." Kid grumbled to himself and let go of the cop. "I see. Sorry for the interruption. A lot of commerce has been going in these parts, if you know what I mean. The neighborhood watch has been complaining about public morals and whatnot."

"Yeah, pain in the ass, all right." Kid nodded in sympathy and took off. He'd resolved to keep on going, but upon reaching the main thoroughfare he still hadn't shaken the feeling. He shook his head and turned around. It was the end of the week. The street was thronged with people. Long lines snaked out in front of the popular clubs. He scanned the crowds, but he didn't see Soul anywhere. He looked down alleyways and ducked into shops, but came up empty-handed.

Running around like this only pissed him off. He supposed he should he relieved. It was more convenient this way, but he hated leaving things up in the air. So much so that this point, he'd be fine with him if he never came back. And yet-he felt like he was wearing a pair of concrete galoshes. He stopped and scratched his head in annoyance.

"Shit!" Just dump him, said the devil on one shoulder. Just take one more look around, argued the angel on his other. Kid started walking. All at once, the image of a particular establishment popped into his head. Rosebud. The nightclub where he first met Soul. He was probably regular there. It'd be a good place to check. But he'd really have to steal his nerves to walk back into that gay watering spot.


A/N: Oh my gosh, thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites! I swear, I checked the stats on Saturday and I nearly fainted! Thanks for the awesome birthday present! Anyways, aside from the awsomeness! I wanted to explain some about my fanfiction. I chose Soul instead of Kid as the somewhat flamboyant, teasing, fun, sexy vampire only because it's not a way we view Soul in ANY way. I didn't know a side of him like that existed until I created it. At first I wanted Kid as the vampire with golden eyes but them I wanted to try and write Soul in that view.

It's something different. Another thing I wanted to talk about was Soul against Maka. We all know Soul would take any injury and look out for her. But instead of this cute, fluffy, lovey-dovey couple you see in the anime series, read in fanfictions or in the manga (love the manga, if you haven't read it..go do it now! I think when chapter 113 is done, they'll start on season 2...Maybe, I don't know, that's just what I think.) and I wanted to turn Soul against her in someway.

The reason I chose her as the elder (elder not meaning she's old, she's just been around for over a thousand years) is because she's his meister so if she dies, he dies. Guys, I love SoMa. I ship that couple so hard! So I wanted to write something different and interesting about the two.

Till next time, as I said before, Thank You All So Much For The Reviews, Follows, And Favorites! :3