Disclaimer: I still don't own them… man, what a nice present that would make.

Warnings: Mmm, shounen-ai? More so than usual? ^^;

Author Notes: I am so sorry for taking so long to update this. ;_; College is evil, I tell ya. Have had no time what so ever, but summer's here so I might actually be able to complete this pretty soon. ^^ It hasn't been abandoned, nor will it be. Trust~ me on this one. Shanks a bunch to everyone that's stayed with me this long. ^^;

A Dream's End

By: Andariel

Chapter VII

Well, so far, so good. Ken was still in one piece yet Aya had yet to open his mouth to either reprimand or say anything else what so ever. The redhead certainly did not look pleased, but made no move to punish Ken or in anyway show coldness toward him. In silence was how they traveled back home, after that is, Ken had been sated from his hunger first by Aya's own vitae, and then that of a wandering drunk on his way home. There had been no harm done and the drunken fool was allowed to continue on his way. Aya certainly did not think that Ken was ready to kill just yet, despite his nature. The need to hang onto that human essence of his previous life was still too great. Aya knew all about that. Perhaps a little too well, and thus he allowed Ken a few sips before the man could collapse. It was enough to sustain him for now. And so they had embarked on their way home. Still without a word from the older man. Even when offering his wrist and the neck of the barely conscious meal on two legs. No words, just obscure looks that threw Ken's head on a whirl trying to figure out.

He had not. And still did not know what to expect. Whether good or evil was coming his way, he could not prepare for either in any way shape or form. And since questioning had not worked the first time around, Ken chose to remain silent until finally, they arrived home. Home... funny way to put it.

Aya had opened the door, but had not gone in at first, which to Ken was fairly puzzling, but after a few seconds figured it out that he was supposed to go in first. Chuckling sheepishly, he ascended the steps and went within. Aya followed and shut the door behind him. Still silent as a mime, he moved past Ken and further inside, further into the warmth that contrasted so very nicely with the coolness that the night had brought. Amethyst eyes swept over the surroundings; there was no one in sight, but he knew that both his faithful servant was present. And there was someone else, possibly Schuldich. Not possibly, it was definitely Schuldich, however he seemed to either be trying to filter his presence or in someway busying himself with the minds of others for entertainment. You'd think he would have something better to do. But no, such was not the case. Manipulation was his game and a game he was damn good at. Perhaps too good.

Leaving Ken in the front hall, looking puzzled and feeling even more so confused, Aya moved forward, down the warm halls and toward the room Schuldich had been given for he few nights he would be spending here. Nights that, Aya hoped, would not become numerous. But no one could tell, not even he that had lived with the older man for centuries before breaking away. Not even he could figure out that almost eccentric personality. Perhaps he was impossible to figure out, perhaps that's what made him so appealing.

Appealing, he had just thought Schuldich was appealing. This was the sort of thing that had led him to his sire's bed in the first place. This was the sort of thing that had put him on this earth for this long. To thank or to hate him? Perhaps neither. He chose for silence and pushed his way into the spacious bedroom.

It was much like his own, large, well furnished, with a couple of couches on the opposite side of the huge canopy bed. It was on one of the couches that Schuldich rested on, sprawled out quite comfortably in the lack of clothes that would have anyone looking at least twice. And so did Aya; allowing those glassy amethysts to sweep over the extent of skin that was displayed before him. True, it ended at the bridge of his pants so that only his chest was bare under the parted button down shirt he wore. But those pants themselves were enough of a reason to take a second and third look: the smooth, tight leather hugging and outlining every line...

Aya swallowed, urgently pulling back up his mask of utter coldness.

"Was there something you wanted?" It was Schuldich that broke the silence, opening one jade eye and then the other to look at Aya who still remained at the doorway, but immediately caught himself and stepped further inside.

The calmness and nonchalant attitude of the other was enough to infuriate Aya. More so than what he had already been. Amethyst eyes narrowed, the words hissed from between gritted teeth. "What do you think you are doing? Coming in here and going against my very word!" He snarled. "You cannot just waltz in here and think you own me--"

"Do I not?"

Silence. "Do you not, what?"

"Own you." Schuldich purred and stood up, slowly crossing toward his childe. A hand ascended, brushing at that porcelain colored cheek, brushing back bright strands of crimson from his face. "Because I sure did, and something tells me that you don't mind that fact as much as you portray."

Silence once again. Amethyst eyes narrowed but Aya did not pull away, perhaps the message never reached his brain, or maybe it was the other way around. A little traffic light prohibited the message from ever getting out of his brain. It was possible too, but in either case he remained silent and still, glaring down Schuldich, which appeared unfazed by the frosty glares being sent his way.

"Nothing to say?" The German purred quietly, leaning in to brush his lips to that of Aya's now scowling ones. "Am I not right?" He took Aya's bottom lip between sharpened teeth, taking a little nip but not applying enough pressure to puncture the sensitive flesh. Although the opportunity was there...perhaps he'd get his chance - a much better chance - later on. And by the way things were going, it seemed that indeed he would get it. But no need to push things; no need to hurry along what he already knew he could accomplish without much problem.

Aya was still throughout this little display, not speaking a word, not moving an inch until that is, Schuldich had decided that he wanted more than just a few playful kisses and tried to get just that. That is where the line was divided. That is where those little lost messages finally sunk in and got his body responding to his sharp commands. Hands came up to touch the other's chest and push him away, even if that did not really work too well at first. Thus shoving followed. With a snarl, he pushed the older man away and stepped back, glaring fiercely but yet there was something deep within that was presently calling him an idiot for having done just that. Perhaps, after all these years not all that much had changed between them. True, he had been the little rebellious childe and fled when he could, but that did not invalidate the fact that some feelings never did cease to exist despite what happened in the past or how many years went by. Or in this case decades.

A low, honestly amused laugh echoed in the otherwise silent room as Schuldich was pushed back roughly. He did, however, manage to stay on his feet and assume his usual pose-like stance. It was a natural born ability made even better through practice, one could say. Shimmering jade orbs sparkled in delight. "I see you have some fight in you still." He commented through his quiet chuckling, obviously finding the situation all too amusing to ignore. "Ne, Ran-…"

"Don--"

"Call you that? Yes, right. How could I have forgotten." A chilling grin touched his lips as fiery strands of red were pushed from his gaze. He tilted his head, approaching once again and before he knew, Aya felt the door shut behind him with the impact of his own body being slammed roughly against it. The collar of his shirt had been grasped almost violently, pale fingers twisting into the dark material as Schuldich leaned over him. The impact had brought but a slight flinch of surprise and dull pain to his back, nothing more and nothing less. The long strands of crimson hair flew forward, cascading down his shoulders; the short ones falling into his gaze and not pushed away. Amethysts looked on passively, giving no hint as to his displeasure of the situation. In fact, he almost looked willing; leaning so sternly against the door like that, gazing from underneath crimson bangs at his master that had returned after all these years for…what? A little round before heading off once again? It was something he did not underestimate of Schuldich. Nothing surprised him anymore, not even this.

What did however, bring a little surprise was the fact that this closeness, this almost intoxicating closeness brought on by a moment of mindless roughness stirred something within him. Nostalgia? This was indeed the way things used to work between them, so it was natural that it would cause a bit of longing to be under the same treatment once again. Maybe not only longing but also…want? Dare he even think that after all this he actually –wanted- this? The damn body always did betray the mind so maybe that was the problem here.

"Back off." He managed to hiss quietly, barely containing any of the appropriate spite and venom the phrase should have had. Schuldich had noticed this and that was a problem. Of course his sire would know. He was, after all, the one that in this world knew him the best. Too many years spent together, but even before then Schuldich had watched him for years before making him his own. He should be grateful perhaps, but at the moment he could not muster up either feeling. The worse part of it all was that he could not even muster up the resentment to fight.

"What if I don't..? What will you do?" Schuldich purred seductively by his ear, lips brushing his earlobe, teeth scraping the sensitive skin of the side of his neck. It wasn't a threat of any kind; merely an old way of seduction that he knew worked like a charm.

Especially on this little pet of his.

But there was a difference between those times and these. Certain immunities, of sort, had been built up, causing certain things not to work anymore. This would have been the case if Aya had just a bit more of will to fight what every nerve in his body was telling him. But after those light brushes, those taunting nips, those wandering fingers that had made their way past the hem of his shirt and beneath to touch the cool flesh of his abdomen, his mind was at a loss. And a loss it was.

* * *

Something felt odd. Something felt completely out of place as Ken took it upon himself to wander through the chilled hallways. Chilled… yes, that was the word for it as he felt chilled to the very core. The night had gone unexpectedly well, given the consideration that he discovered a slight side effect to this newly acquired 'identity' of sorts and began imagining his best - or should he say ex-best - friend as a highly nutritious source of food. Yet he had found absolutely no comfort in the fact that Aya had done absolutely nothing to reprimand him about what had happened. It was almost as if it didn't matter, as if he didn't matter. Just the previous night…that heat, that passion, that mind blowing sex that had left him craving for more, for more of that angelic touch, for more of those kisses and brushes of that expert tongue, for the warm gentle brush of his angel's fingers through his body.

The thoughts were enough to bring the images of the previous night back to flood his mind at a high impact that he was left momentarily stunned mid-hallway. In his dream-like state, he was able to mildly overhear the whispers coming from Schuldich's room. This, naturally was enough of a reason to pause and hold his ground for just a moment longer. The words were much too hushed for him to be able to make out completely but the distinctive sound of a body hitting the wall as enough to make him start, jumping slightly in place and taking a step back as if they were going to come right out of the wall and point fingers for whatever paranoid cause was going through his mind.

No one jumped out, however. After that there was silence. No, not silence but hushed whispers. Ken found himself involuntarily taking a step forward toward the room, his enhanced senses allowed him to do just that… and few words were clear, others not. But it wasn't the words that captivated his interest anymore…it was the thundering tension that was flowing out of that room. And then it came, a hushed choked moan that he recognized as belonging to Aya, as escaping his angel's throat.

He hugged himself as a sudden shiver coursed down his spine, forcing a shaky breath from parted lips as he stared with glazed, unbelieving eyes at the wall that had suddenly become as if it were invisible, transparent, allowing him to see everything without being seen. Allowing him to see Aya there backed up against that invisible barrier that did little to separate them. Allowing him to see those hidden amethysts behind fluttering lids, like crimson splotches against the purest marble. Allowing him to see those parted lips as he gasped for breath, moaning out in pleasure that was being brought to him by expert hands and expert lips that roamed that expanse of pale body, so tempting, so luscious, so absolutely godly. For a moment there Ken felt like the absolute voyeur, feeling himself become aroused by the very image of his master, vulnerable and beautiful. The perfect Adonis.

The vision frightened him, but over all it shook something within him. Betrayal. That's how he saw this, as a senseless act of betrayal misplayed by overhearing something he shouldn't have had. This wasn't right… all those feelings of anger toward Schuldich that Aya had demonstrated earlier… had that been but a show? All but a front to get his trust and sympathy?

Ken grit his teeth and looked away, looked down the hall and hurriedly made it away from the room, doing nothing to hide his presence, his hurried step that echoed lightly in the otherwise deserted house. Doing nothing to hide the sinking feeling of betrayal and despair.

Lies. All of them!

* * *

A chuckle escaped him.

Aya shuddered softly, looking to his sire through half lidded glazed amethysts. "What's so funny..?"

Schuldich flashed him a genuine smile before bowing his head, returning the attention of his smirking lips to the side of Aya's neck. "Absolutely nothing…" he purred against the sensitive flesh.

Nothing at all… go ahead and run, dear Ken. Run until you can run no more.

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::Promptly runs away from any glaring fans.:: ^^;; Do review, pleeeease? I promise to get the next few chapters out quicker!