"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice whispered in Setsuya's ear, as the young teenager leaned back into the accommodating body that held him. The younger teen sighed in return, his pale hand sweeping over the fine grains of sand beneath them affectionately. Classes had finally ended for Kuzon's concluding year of formal, lower level education and he had insisted on celebrating by renting a house on the coastline while courteous enough to invite Setsuya. Truth be told, the older teen would not have made the effort to travel without his best friend.
Even as Setsuya lay on the beach, propped up against the firebender's body, he couldn't help but wonder if this was normal behavior to indulge in. Certainly most senior graduates would be dragging their girlfriends to the bonfire festivities a mile or so down the shore, getting drunk and perhaps naked in order to enjoy a night of passion that wouldn't matter in the morning. It simply didn't fit the criteria to take your male best friend to the coast, curling up with him on the slippery sands that just avoided the oncoming tide of the peaceful waters. Setsuya had never been uncomfortable with the time he spent with Kuzon, but he would have thought that perhaps the older man might enjoy having a bit of fun.
"The tide's coming in," the violet-eyed teenager whispered, as the waves barely grazed his feet. He tucked his legs beneath him and found himself relying completely on the other for support, a single arm wrapped loosely around his waist. In a matter of seconds, Kuzon's hands went to Setsuya's tunic and untied the knot that held in together. Setsuya shivered as the shirt was pulled off of his shoulders and abandoned in the sand. "Kuzon?" A pair of cream-colored hands traveled down the bare, pale back of the young man. This. Whatever 'this' was, was it normal? Was it acceptable?
"It's our last night here," Kuzon whispered in his ear, his unfastened chocolate hair just barely brushing against the other's cheek. "Come into the water with me." The warm touch of the older teen made Setsuya's back arch involuntarily, driving his head backward against the other's throat.
"Ye-Yeah." Setsuya was pulled to his feet by the eager man, who shed his shirt in an instant and tossed it over to the pile of clothing that had fallen from their bodies throughout the evening. Dropping to his knees, Kuzon's golden eyes surveyed the other's form as he began to unfasten the teen's pants. "Kuzon, you... I-I can..." The older man took no heed of his weak stuttering and pulled the article of clothing gently down over his gaunt hips, leaving him blushing in his underclothing.
Kuzon finished undressing himself to the bare minimum of garments, before grabbing the other's hand and proceeded into the chilly waters of the ocean. Setsuya gasped sharply as the icy water washed over his bare skin, his reflexes forcing him to clutch tightly to his friend's hand. They waded waist-deep before releasing each other and Setsuya allowed a small smile to grace his lips. He slid in front of his friend and propelled himself lazily against the current, letting his body float where he couldn't touch the rocky foundation. Kuzon was unusually solemn, watching his younger friend adapt to the ocean's movement. He felt his stomach tighten and his blood warm watching the tide thrust back and forth against the teenager's body, much like a lover's caress.
The older teen tried to steady his breath, wading a tad bit closer to the other so that he could stand comfortably with his shoulders above water. The starry night sky seemed to reflect its glory in Setsuya's gorgeous violet eyes as he let the water carry him closer to Kuzon's body, seeming to pull the two teenagers together unavoidably. The smaller of the two put a pair of gentle hands on the other's chest to keep from bumping into him. Kuzon's breath was stolen from him, watching those passionate eyes stare deeply into his soul. The familiar scent of salt and fresh rain invaded his senses, causing all tension to slowly drift away.
He pulled Setsuya's slender body against his muscular chest and did the only thing that made sense to him at the time: He cupped his pale face delicately and brought those droplet-dashed lips into a tender kiss, lasting all of seven long seconds accompanied by a shockingly fluttery stomach. The young man's soft lips were just like he had imagined, although he hadn't been completely aware that he had been imagining said lips until just then. Kuzon wasn't quite sure what to expect after that. Perhaps Setsuya would curse him, push him away, reject him, or simply pretend that it never happened. What he certainly didn't expect was for Setsuya to wrap his legs around his waist beneath the water's surface, pressing their near-bare bodies sensually together and deepen the kiss with all of his might.
They kissed that night as though they had been kissing for years, as their bodies melted together and embraces became far less than innocent. There was nothing uncomfortable or awkward about their contact with each other. Not when Setsuya's hands traveled where they dared never travel before. Not when Kuzon carried him to the shoreline and laid him in the soft sand, covering the lean body with his own. Not when the remainder of their clothing was shed, and their bodies rocked together in a sweet euphoria. Not even when Kuzon thrust into his young lover's form, drawing deep moans and strained cries of bliss from Setsuya. Not when their spent bodies lay joined on the shore, feeling the ocean waters wash over their breathless figures. It was as though they were meant to be together, body and soul. It was the absolute and utter completion of two beings. After years of silently being in love, it was only natural for them to convey it.
"You're going to leave for the university in a month," Setsuya whispered softly, caressing Kuzon's hair as the older teenager caught his breath. "I don't think I'll be able to survive the year without you."
"I'll visit you," Kuzon assured him, his voice husky and full of affection. "It's only a few hours' trip between the islands." His finger traced the outline of those beautiful violet eyes with tender warmth. "Besides, after only a year you can join me there. We'll move in together and everything, you'll see." Hearts immersed in pleasure and hope, they slowly dressed and returned to the beach house hand in hand.
xXxBloodlustxXx
Setsuya shook his head, jerking his hand away from Zuko's tight grasp. "Absolutely not."
"Please-"
"No. It is out of the question."
Zuko sighed, seating himself on Setsuya's sofa and crossing his arms in thought. This arguing was getting him absolutely nowhere. You'd think after a half an hour of attempted persuasion, one might be open to some sort of compromise. "Please, Setsuya. I need fresh air; I can't feel my breath anymore!"
"Just because you don't feel something, does not mean it isn't there." The vampire lord nodded, shedding his outer cloak stiffly. "You should feel lucky you still have need for breathing. I don't." He began shuffling through his collection of scrolls that lay open on his desk, much to Zuko's irritation.
"I'm not meant to sit still for this long," the young teenager admitted, crossing his numb legs with a groan. "I promise I'm not going to run off. Five minutes?" He flipped his hair over his left eye, then over his right eye, trying to get comfortable with wearing it down. Zuko was absolutely desperate to spend time above ground, for a few key reasons including preserving his sanity and surveying the area in which he was kept. He was being continually locked in his room unless he agreed to spend time with Setsuya, which he consented to much of the time, to the vampire's delight.
"You wouldn't understand," the violet-eyed man said firmly, leaning against his desk and reading the chosen scroll with swift eyes. "There are some things I simply can not do. Letting you above ground is one of them."
"I don't 'understand' a lot of things right now! All I want is to spend a few minutes in the open air. Is there no way?" Zuko's eyes pleaded with him, causing Setsuya to look away with suppressed anxiety. He had such a difficult time facing those beautiful, familiar eyes.
"Perhaps," he murmured softly, tossing the scroll aside and seating himself in the desk chair. "Perhaps you can accompany me tonight. I desperately need to feed. If you don't mind the sight of animal blood, I don't see the harm in-"
His words were stopped short by a deep embrace and a soft kiss to the cheek. "Thank you, Setsuya," the young man whispered, bringing his hands to the other's shoulders. He began to slowly massage the tense muscles beneath the bare skin he found there, causing Setsuya to sit up in his seat with a stifled gasp. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Zuko withdrew his hands immediately, clutching them close to his chest as though he'd been bitten.
"I-I'm not-" The man took a quick moment to regain his composure and turned towards the teenager. "My muscles aren't used to that sort of handling. Over a century of abandonment has left them feeling rather tense, a-and your touch is so warm…" Zuko's eyes went wide, before he smiled and grabbed Setsuya's chilled hand, pulling him towards the door.
"Come on," he urged playfully, as Setsuya's lips parted in surprise. The younger man pulled the vampire into his own room and pressed him towards the bed. "Lie down," he instructed, pulling his outer cloak off to allow himself effortless movement. Feeling slightly nervous, though never for an instant allowing himself to show it, he laid back on the mattress with a sigh, unused to such comfortable support. Zuko slid over to the bed and, to Setsuya's utter shock, straddled him across the waist.
He's so light. The vampire's hands went to the boy's hips automatically, as the prince untied the man's tunic and removed it after prodding the other to arch his back a bit. Setsuya's superfluous breaths became slightly uneven, as Zuko's warm hands began to wander his bare, snow-white chest. The blazing touch traced the barely visible cluster of blue veins that lined the left side of his upper torso. As quickly as it came, the feeling was withdrawn much to Setsuya's disappointment.
Zuko leaned back, removing his weight from the man for only a moment. "Flip over onto your stomach," he whispered, amused by the reactions he was receiving. How he loved having control over this usually stoic man. Setsuya conceded immediately, folding his arms beneath his chin with a sigh. He tried to remain at ease as Zuko's hands lightly touched the nape of his neck, rubbing in slow circles that trailed down the sides of his neck and throat. Setsuya shivered as his unnaturally tense tissues were carefully warmed and relaxed for the first time in ages. This touch was painful, yet bordering ultimate pleasure.
He let out a soft, inescapable moan when Zuko's hands traveled down to his shoulders and massaged them in sensual waves and affectionate brushes. Setsuya could hardly control the delicious noises forming in the back of his throat, as each muscle was carefully targeted and each pressure point was dipped into fondly. With every movement the young teenager made, his body rocked back and forth across Setsuya's hips. Despite his heart having stopped long ago, the vampire could still feel that awakened flutter that made his chest constrict and his mind spin. As the hands gently stroked his tension and pain away, he slowly allowed his conscious mind to drift, immersing himself in a disconnected reality.
After a good half an hour, Zuko sighed in satisfaction, sitting back to admire his work. The knots of the other's back had been carefully worked out, and Setsuya seemed more relaxed than he had ever seen him. He leaned forward and observed the vampire's peaceful face, eyes shut and lips parted slightly. After a few moments, he came to the conclusion that the older man was asleep. Do vampires sleep?
"Setsuya?" he asked softly, and the beautiful eyes shot straight open as the vampire lord let out a pleasant sigh. "I thought maybe you'd gone to sleep," Zuko explained, stroking the silky raven hair beneath his fingertips.
"Vampires don't exactly sleep," he whispered, amazed by how relaxed he felt. "We can pull ourselves into a state of mental unconsciousness to rest our minds. Many outsiders go insane without learning this technique."
"Outsiders?" Zuko asked curiously, watching the man beneath him shift and groan with leisure.
"Those stragglers who were unfortunate enough to be born away from the society. We help as many vampires as we possibly can, but there are clusters who slip through our fingers and proceed though the world uneducated and uncivilized. They account for many of the unexplained disappearances and bloody deaths that occur in this world."
Zuko bit his lip, trying to treat the situation carefully. Setsuya was handing out free information, and he wasn't about to let this opportunity pass him by. "So do all of these vampire 'clusters' keep humans for pets? Or is that just you?"
Setsuya chuckled, flipping over onto his back to face the teenager. "However amusing the notion, I do not consider you to be my pet."
"Others seem to think differently," Zuko murmured, reflecting on Ryuichi's earlier comments. "If I'm not your pet, what am I to you?" The teenager scolded himself for sounding so weak. What did he want to hear the man to say? That he was his boyfriend? His lover? After only a mere kiss or two?
Setsuya's smile faded, as his hand just barely grazed the teenager's cheek. "My real life ended over one hundred years ago. I've lived to witness the time follow the deaths of those whom I kept close to my heart. Do you believe in the concept of soul mates?" His eyes glistened with an intensity that made Zuko's heart jump to his throat.
"I-I can't say that I do," he murmured with a shrug, pondering the significance of this question. "Although I've never given it much thought. My marriage was arranged when I was three years old."
"I used to study that sort of thing," Setsuya muttered, uncharacteristically casual with his words. His arms wrapped around Zuko's delicate torso as he spoke, "As a philosophy major. I developed a theory about the concept of soul mates, and it was proved correct when I found my own. It revolved around the idea of two spirits who completed each other in every respected. As though they originated as a single soul and are split up into two different bodies. It is a great accomplishment to find such a person, considering the unlikely odds. My partner's name was Kuzon, and we were almost complete opposites. It was a balanced relationship, and a happy one. But the intervention of unnatural powers was quick to tear it apart." His voice turned terribly bitter. "When I was abducted, I was forcibly parted from my mate and resided underground with my keeper. I suppose the only reasoning behind this was his isolation and loneliness. He kept me as a slave to his wishes, and my heart was broken from the separation from my soul mate."
"I can imagine," Zuko whispered, flipping onto his side and wrapping a warm arm around the man. "If the theory of soul mates is true, it must have been difficult for you to live without him."
Setsuya nodded solemnly. "A vampire hardly ever comes into contact with his or her soul mate. Two mates are normally born within three years of each other, and.... Well, with the whole immortal situation, you can imagine the difficulty of engaging yourself with a human, knowing that your love will die and leave you brokenhearted, perhaps for the rest of eternity."
"Wouldn't a vampire… transform his lover if he or she knew they were their soul mate?" Zuko asked quietly, hoping he didn't sound too ignorant.
Setsuya's eyes flickered downward. "It's forbidden by our law to transform a human at all, let alone out of sheer desire. Perhaps if they found their soul mate, I might make something of an exception. However, there's only one vampire among us who died knowing her soul mate. She and I have shared quite a bit of research on the matter. I think she's too afraid to try and transform her lover, however. The riskiness of it, along with the sheer unknowingness of what happens to a vampire's spirit beyond death is enough to make one think twice." Zuko nodded, urging the man to continue. "Despite however long one lives on without the other, you and your soul mate will always be reincarnated within three years of each other. In some lifetimes you may meet, in others you will not. To be a vampire is to interrupt this spiritual cycle for your significant other, and the spirits that surround us are tricked into thinking that this person has no mate, for their mate's souls are lost in the realm between life and death. I haven't yet developed a thesis on the pattern that these individuals follow in the cycle of life, yet... you are my very first clue."
"Me?" Zuko's mouth went very dry, as his heart fluttered at Setsuya's descending touch. "How?"
The vampire's tone deepened, even more solemn than Zuko thought possible. "Without a doubt, you are the reincarnation of my soul mate."
xXxBloodlustxXx
Iroh sighed, stirring his cold cup of tea mindlessly as he stared into the courtyard littered with autumn leaves of every shape and color that accompanied the season. The investigation following the disappearance of the young crowned prince was slowly coming to an end. The docks had been opened, all search parties had been recalled, and the Firelord had expressed his deepest sorrows before pronouncing the boy dead. No hostile notes or ransom demands had been left in the boy's wake, leaving all to believe that he had simply run away. However, Iroh saw that glint in his brother's eyes that meant only one thing: his plan was working perfectly. Whatever plan this was, Iroh wasn't sure. But he would find out at any cost, even at the price of his own life for the chance to make sure Zuko was safe.
Nearby, Azula began counting the days to which Ozai would swear the throne and all of its power to her.
xXxBloodlustxXx
"You told him of your suspicions?" Akane whispered, kneeling before Setsuya's limp, dejected form. They were hunched together in his room in complete and utter darkness, communicating in small whispers as though they were conspiring against someone. "My Lord, how did he respond?"
Setsuya's crestfallen voice spoke softly, making Akane's throat constrict with unease. It was not often she saw her master so utterly lost. "He asked me how I was sure. I didn't know what to tell him! Of course it's him, I can feel it in every fiber of my being! Why can't he?! H-he should be able to understand, to experience what I'm feeling. Why can't he, Akane?"
He's heartbroken. She put a gentle hand on Setsuya's knee, glad to find that he accepted her touch. "Master, it must concern the bonding process. Have you touched basis with him yet?"
"No," he admitted, bringing a frustrated hand up to tread through his hair. "I can't. It would require so many things I'm not prepared for! That he's not prepared for. I couldn't ask it of him."
"No harm can come to either of you as long as he consents.." Setsuya wished he could feel as confident as she sounded.
"We'll see."
xXxBloodlustxXx
Zuko paced around Setsuya's room in a frenzy, unable to stomach the information he had just received. He was apparently, without a doubt, undeniably soul mate to Setsuya the vampire lord. The man had left without another word, despite his frantic pleas for elaboration. How can he just say something like that and walk away?! Damn him to the depths of hell! The door opened and Setsuya slipped in, head bowed low toward the ground and a single arm wrapped around his own waist while the other crossed his chest protectively.
"So that's it then?!" Zuko snapped at him, tearing at his hair in aggravation. "That's the reason you kidnapped me? You knew I was your soul mate and you decided that you had grounds to keep me here?! Even after everything you said about a vampire and a mortal being unsuited for each other, you still-"
"No!" Setsuya interrupted, his voice uneven and broken by winded breathing. "Th-That's not it! I had no idea you were my mate when you were brought to me. If I had, I would never have permitted your presence here."
"Permitted my presence?" Zuko hissed throwing his arms into the air. "I suppose that accounts for why I woke up half-drugged in an underground prison cell! What, you think I fucking volunteered for this? So you could screw around with my mind, with my heart?!"
"That's not what I wanted," the vampire growled, taking a step forward to confront the young man. Realizing that he was beginning to lose control of his emotions, he took a deep breath and clenched his hands at his sides, ignoring the tension in his chest. "Please, try to understand what I am subjected to. For over a hundred years I survived being parted from my soul mate, the most painful experience a human can endure. Just when those wounds have finally scarred, you are brought before me and cause them to bleed again. How can I overlook your presence now? When I look at you... I see him." Setsuya's voice lowered dangerously, as he dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulders. Zuko, paralyzed with mystification, stood still and allowed Setsuya's hands to wander his form. "His entire aura rests within you. Your warming touch, your impatience, your determination. Your body frame is just like his and your eyes..." The vampire sighed, bringing his head to Zuko's chest and gripping his back tightly. "I want you to understand, Zuko. I want you to become a part of me."
"How?" The word tasted dry in the teenager's mouth.
Setsuya lifted his head to face Zuko, his eyes filled with an emotion Zuko had never seen in the vampire lord's eyes before. "There is a three part bonding process for the complete union of two soul mates. Remember the woman I told you about, the one with a soul mate above ground? Three years ago, she wrote out the process specifically designed for a vampire and a mortal." He grabbed a scroll from inside of his robes and pressed it desperately into Zuko's hand. "This scroll explains the steps that are to be taken during the first stage of bonding. I must warn you... This process can work in a very twisted, deviant way. There's no guarantee that you won't be hurt later on, and you will come to experience your life in a way that may disturb you. As humans put it, it works like 'magic' in some aspects. You will understand more of this as we progress, if you choose to accept me as your soul mate. Read through that scroll and decide what you wish to do. If you decide to take part in this ritual, you will come to understand me and the reasoning behind your presence here." Setsuya almost seem to choke on these words, although Zuko's eyes lit up like the single candle that graced the vampire's desk.
"I'll let you know," he said softly, the scroll clutched tightly in his hand. Setsuya smiled with utmost relief, standing up and putting a gentle hand on Zuko's neck while pulling him into a kiss. The young teenager's eyes fluttered shut, as adrenaline pulsed through his arms that itched to wrap around the vampire's form. Before he could do so, Setsuya had slipped away from his grasp and out the door, leaving Zuko to stare vacantly into thin air. "I guess I'll be staying in your room today," he informed the air with a sigh, backing away and curled up on Setsuya's sofa. Barely able to read in the dim candlelight, he squinted at the characters that encompassed the border of the scroll. With a deep sigh, he unfastened the parchment without a thought as to what he might be getting himself into. His eyes scanned the words vacantly, every word sounding more foreign to his tongue than the next.
Stage One: Revelation
The first stage of bonding between a mortal and a member of the Kyuuketsuki is one of emotional union between the two soul mates. When this stage is completed, the two partners will be able to gain insight into each other's emotional state effortlessly.
Zuko frowned, his fingers tapping against the sofa in thought. He would be able... to sense Setsuya's emotions? That seemed rather appealing, seeing as how the man was so reclusive. His eyes skipped down to another segment of the parchment.
This stage of the relationship relies on three key notions to function: Honesty, confidence, and complete exposure to your partner. Secrets must become a thing of the past, and you should be able to express your every desire and sentiment without fault. This experience is much like becoming a person's closest friend.
Zuko stifled back a laugh, finding the prospect of Setsuya being that harshly honest with him utterly ridiculous. The vampire lord would have more difficulty with this than he would!
Although this stage is often completed very quickly, it is something many couples may find difficult to accomplish. Remember these key points when interacting with your soul mate:
1). To be afraid to share your emotions with your partner is to show a lack of trust for him/her
2). Express yourself to your partner in a variety of ways, including verbal and physical methods
3). Learn as much as you can about your soul mate; the past is a good place to start
All in all, remember that you are an equal with your soul mate. Even if you are the more submissive of the two partners, you are just as important to the relationship's success. Finding this balance may be difficult if the vampire's partner is a Fire Nation citizen, as these two cultures were created in utter opposition.
In the beginning, your mate's emotions will tend to affect your own. This may lead to spontaneous, expressive outbursts and bipolar tendencies. You will know that the Revelation stage is complete when you can feel your partner's emotional status on command, separate from your own.
Lastly, you may want to take an additional step in order to prepare for future stages. As a final step in absolute exposure, reveal yourself physically to your partner if you have not done so already. A relationship between two soul mates has nothing to conceal. The sooner you are comfortable with this concept of complete exposure, the better off you will be.
Zuko discarded the scroll with a blush, wrapping his arms around his chest tightly. So, nothing to hide, huh? This bonding process didn't sound too horribly vicious so far. If it helped him understand Setsuya's motives for keeping him underground, it couldn't do anything but help him at this point. He tried to put himself in Setsuya's shoes, if only for a moment. How difficult was it for him to feel deeply connected to someone who couldn't return the feelings directly?
"Are you ready?" a voice asked softly from behind him, causing him to jump out of his skin with a yelp.
"Se-Setsuya!" Zuko cried, clutching at his rampaging heart. "I didn't hear you come in."
The vampire smiled apologetically, before rounding the sofa and approaching the teenager. "Put your cloak back on. It's a few hours after nightfall and it's rather cold out."
Zuko's eyes lit up when he remembered Setsuya's promise, and he snagged his cloak from his room eagerly. His fascination only multiplied when he saw Setsuya's gentle smile, housing the sharp incisors that made Zuko's legs tremble. The vampire retrieved a dark strip of fabric from the pocket of his robes and held it out for the other to see, causing the younger man to raise an eyebrow. "I'm going to blindfold you before we leave," he explained in a low voice, wrapping one end of the cloth around his finger. "If you try to do something drastic and attempt to reach the upper ground, you're only going to get lost and possibly killed. I don't want you to get any ideas."
Zuko glared sullenly at the vampire, before uttering under his breath, "I thought trust was the whole point of Revelation."
The forgotten cloth lie abandoned on the floor as Setsuya grabbed Zuko's face and knelt down so they were eyelevel. The urgency in his voice was imprinted into the young teenager's mind like a footprint on the sand. "You're willing to commence with the bonding?"
"If I am truly your soul mate, I have an obligation to you, do I not? I want to understand the nature of our relationship." Without warning, he pressed his lips gently against the other's and pulled away just as quickly. "You'll have to teach me what I must to do."
"We've already begun," Setsuya said with a smile, clasping his hands in Zuko's. He pulled him forward into the plaza that he traveled across so often. However, instead of traveling the eastern corridors, he was pulled down the western hall that he had been repeatedly warned never to enter. The musky smell of damp earth made the young man's nose wrinkle, and he tried to stifle a deep cough. "We aren't far from the exit," Setsuya whispered, pulling the boy close to him. Despite the vampire's words, they seemed to travel the corridors of the labyrinth for a good ten minutes, the twists and turns quite enough to make Zuko rather dizzy.
Zuko kept to his word, never attempting to keep track of where they were in the maze of earth walls. They passed many vampires throughout the hallways, all who seemed to eye Zuko with a deep envy, though with some level of amiability. Setsuya nodded solemnly at all they passed, but kept a harsh hold on the younger's hand, as though to mark his possession. Zuko couldn't help but notice Setsuya's kindness didn't stretch much farther than Akane and Zuko himself. And even now, he was far less playful than he was the first time they'd met. Could the realization of his soul mate possibly have to do with these abrupt changes? "Here." The vampire indicated a small set of stone stairs at the end of the final hallway, seeming to lead up to nothing but the damp, earthen ceiling. Setsuya knelt down next to the stairs and pressed the first brick in, causing the dirt to crumble away, revealing a small passageway through which moonlight streamed in.
Zuko moaned softly, feeling a wave of fresh air wash over him for the first time in days. Setsuya smiled, clutching his robes tightly to his form as he whispered, "You shouldn't make noises like that. It's never a good idea to excite me when I'm hungry." He walked up the stairs with more grace than Zuko could ever dream of possessing, though he followed right behind the vampire nevertheless. The young teenager closed his eyes, relishing the cool breeze brush gently against his form, trying to stifle the noises emerging from the back of his throat. He glanced around, noting they were in walking distance of the small area of forestland the Fire Nation failed to industrialize.
Setsuya hissed, watching the raven-haired teenager bask in the beautiful moonlight, leaning his head back with his lips parted just slightly and his eyes half-lidded with a near lustful quality. He turned away, trying to ignore the freshly aroused emotions running through his mind. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, tasting the air with his tongue. "There are no humans within a good few miles of us, so we won't be interrupted. Give me a moment to stake out a specimen for feeding. Perhaps a koala-bunny."
Zuko went slightly sick to his stomach, trying not to imagine Setsuya's pearly white teeth drenched in bunny blood. "How will you catch it without scaring it off?"
The vampire let out a soft chuckle, amused by this question. "Watch. If you really want to." He led Zuko into the depths of the forest, never straying too far from the underground entrance. The younger teen was amazed by the way the vampire's body moved, similar to a snake-like predator ready to strike. He slid between trees and ducked beneath branches with such ease that it was difficult to even keep up with him. Suddenly, Setsuya's pale arm stretched out and stopped Zuko in his tracks. He put a finger to his lips and gestured to the left, where behind a meager curtain of vines, a nocturnal armadillo-gazelle stood grazing leisurely.
Setsuya's eyes narrowed and his tongue ran quickly across his lips. He inched ahead for a moment, then within less than a millisecond he snapped forward like a blur of lightening. Zuko winced when he heard a sickening crunch, opening his eyes to see Setsuya standing over the slumped animal with ravenous eyes. It suffered a painless death, Zuko realized, tilting his head slightly in perplexity as he surveyed the contorted figure of the animal's neck.
"You may want to look away," the vampire growled, kneeling next to the departed animal. "On another note, I don't mind if you watch." He began to stroke the skin that lined the gazelle's major artery within the throat. He craned his neck slightly with a hiss, and shot down to tear the skin apart. Setsuya moaned as the warm, succulent blood came jutting out of the throat and came into contact with his chilled lips. Zuko couldn't avert his eyes as he watched in amazement, heart pounding in his ears. The vampire lapped up the blood with ease, tainting his sharp teeth a beautiful crimson color. He knew just the right pressure points to strike so that the blood would flow without hindrance, and he wouldn't have to suck the fluid or slurp it like an uncivilized brute might. The warmth of the animal's metallic blood surged down his throat and seemed to course throughout his body, causing him to grip the ground around him tightly.
Zuko trembled as he watched the scene before him unfold, his breath steadily deepening. Setsuya was so gorgeous, even hunched over the frail body of a dead animal, drinking of its body's fluids. In fact, he couldn't help but feel aroused by the events taking place that night. Small crimson streaks trickled slowly down his soul mate's pale chin and throat. Zuko was utterly frightened when he found himself craving to be the one beneath Setsuya's teeth and tongue, and he had to lean against the tree beside him trying to banish the sensation away. It only grew devastatingly stronger as Zuko watched Setsuya stagger upward and straighten himself up, taking a scarlet cloth out of his robes and patting the blood away from his face.
The vampire glanced back at the young teenager, obviously shocked by his mate's stimulated state. Zuko leant against the nearest tree, panting softly with a single arm wrapped around his waist. Setsuya took a few slow steps forward, putting a gentle hand to the boy's cheek. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern, looking the boy straight in the eye.
"That was..." Zuko couldn't seem to finish the sentence, struggling with the words in his mind. Unable to verbally express his thoughts and deciding he had nothing to be self-conscious of, Zuko stepped forward and wrapped his leg around Setsuya's waist, allowing him to feel the rigid erection that lay beneath his cloak. The vampire's eyes went rather wide, as he placed his hands on the boy's hips. Backing the teenager back into the tree, he ground their bodies together in wonder and moaned softly at the pleasing reaction he received. Zuko's head was thrown back in bliss as he automatically wrapped his other leg around the man's waist. "Touch me," he begged softly, grasping the vampire's raven hair with desire. Setsuya felt his own arousal stir within his gut, as his hands slowly traveled down Zuko's clothed chest and down to the joint between his legs. He grazed over the bulge in the younger's robes, earning a soft hiss of longing. Cautiously he began to rub the aching length of the mortal through the clothing, watching the boy's face flush and his lips part in soft moans. The teenager's hips rocked with desire, excitement and desire jolting through his body. Never, ever had someone touched him in such ways.
"Oi! Is someone there?" a gruff voice called out from the distance, followed by the obnoxious light of a torch, causing the two to break apart immediately.
"I thought you said nobody was around!" Zuko growled, utterly irritated by the interlude. Setsuya motioned for him to be silent, taking his hand before they ran back unimpeded to the entrance of the underground city. Pausing to catch his breath, Zuko glared at the ground as Setsuya pushed forward a small boulder and caused the dirt before them to once again melt away. The younger man was dragged down the stairs and embraced tightly, Setsuya's chilly breath brushing against his ear.
"I'm sorry. I must have been too focused on your scent to bother with anyone else's." The vampire's apologetic gaze made Zuko sigh when he realized he simply couldn't be angry with the man. The earthen ceiling repaired itself and he leaned sullenly against the damp wall with a grunt.
"So, how did your dinner taste?" he asked tenderly, causing Setsuya to smirk. The pale vampire prowled forward and ran his hands lovingly up the boy's sides. Leaning forward, his quick tongue invaded Zuko's lips and ran across his mouth in delicate strokes. The teen's heart beat wildly as the steely taste of blood ran against his own sensitive tongue. Zuko pulled away with a gasp, eying Setsuya's pale lips with approval.
The vampire bent forward to whisper, "Much better than a platypus-bear, yet not quite as tasty as a hyena-giraffe."