Whew! Got this updated ^^ Don't worry, I am working on the other stuff trust me, but I had this long, long... really LONG chapter... whew!

Enjoy!

The sound of approaching footsteps had the dark hair turning towards the stairs, an extremely tired-looking Lavi stepped up the stairs, his hand rubbing his tired green eye.

"Hey," the redhead muttered, his head gesturing to the frying pan, "what are you making?"

"Dinner," Kanda murmured, "teppanyaki; you want some?"

"I'm not hungry," Lavi shook his head, his eyes catching sight of the figure resting on the couch, his shoulders sinking slightly.

Allen's most recent transformation had taken its toll on everyone; Kanda had managed to carry the younger back to their flat where Lavi had thrown himself into his work, the Japanese left to take care of the now dead-looking vampire. The creature had hardly moved and inch since he had calmed down, his body reaming curled upon the couch with a blanket covering his mouth and nose and a blank look on his features.

"Hey Allen," Lavi murmured kindly, "h-how're you doing?"

"Fine," the vampire mumbled dully, his head hardly moving an inch as he lay on the couch, his eyes dull and listless.

"Can I get you anything?" the redhead tried again, "water maybe? A snack?"

"No thanks," Allen sighed, Lavi nodding as he stood up, an encouraging smile on his features.

"It's going to get better," the other promised, "I'm going to make this work."

The vampire chose to say nothing at the comment, his body still as he let the fingers brush trough his strands, Lavi shooting him one last smile before slipping almost soundlessly to his room, a soft nod given to the Japanese before his bedroom door shut behind him, Kanda watching with soften cobalt eyes as he moved towards the exhausted creature.

"Here," Kanda murmured as he handed a plate to the younger, the silver eyes finally moving as they roamed over the purple plant that lay on the white dish.

"What's this?" Allen mumbled, his body shuffling slightly under the blankets.

"Eggplant," the Japanese murmured, "you asked for it, remember?"

"'M not hungry," the younger shook his head, his body trying to shrink into the covers.

"I've heard your stomach play a symphony before now," Kanda informed him, "eat."

The younger looked up towards the hunter, his silver eyes searching for any trace of hatred or scorn, his shoulders sagging slightly when he found nothing save for a glimmer that he could have easily mistaken for compassion.

Pulling his weary body up from the couch, the covers surrounding him were adjusted, his hands extending to take the plate with the purple plant, his legs curled up to allow the Japanese to sit on the end of the couch.

"I-It's good," Allen mumbled through his mouthful, his toes curling as he chewed, a small smile on his lips, "it's really good."

"Glad you like it," the Japanese nodded, his own chopsticks digging into the flesh of the vegetable, his cobalt eye noticing the other balance his fork between his fingers, "you should keep eating."

"I'm not very hungry," the younger told him, "I meant that…"

"You should still try," Kanda encouraged softly, "after… after today-"

"I know I need my energy," Allen interrupted quietly, his dish placed on the coffee table, "but… I just can't…"

"Sure," the Japanese murmured, his hand taking the plates away from the vampire, "I'll leave you alone then-"

"No wait!"

Kanda nearly fell with the strength of the hand tugging him down, the silver eyes looking up at him worriedly

"P-Please don't go…"

The Japanese looked down at the creature in curiosity, the head of white bowed and his body shivering in fear, his hands gripping at the strong arm.

"I-I feel safe with you," Allen admitted weakly, his arms surrounding the strong arm, his nose snuggling into the cotton shirt, "wh-when you're with me… i-it's like I can forget about him," the body curled in on itself, the vampire sniffing, "please don't leave me…"

The younger felt fear clutch his heart at the sound of the sigh, the arm he clutched adjusting as something was placed on the table once more, a jabbing in his side surprising him.

"Well," Kanda told him, "budge over if you want me to stay."

Allen swallowed thickly as he nodded, his slim form moving aside as best he could while the other lay his back flat on the couch, his movements stopped by arms around his chest.

"Oi-"

"This is the second time you've granted this request," the vampire hummed softly, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you cared about me…"

"Good thing you know better," the Japanese grumbled, "so you understand that I just don't want this thing out."

"At least we agree on that," Allen smiled as he snuggled against the chest, his lungs inhaling a deep breath, "and… I meant it, what I said about… you…"

"You always do," Kanda murmured as he pulled the blankets over the slim form, his hand resting on the middle of the vampire's back, the two of them ignorant of the second vampire slipping through the red head's window.

"Hey."

Lavi turned to look at the open window, the tall vampire settling on the edge looking as disheveled and as worn out as he. Great grey rings under his eyes were the least of his appearance issues; the shirt was torn in places and dirt streaked his black pants, the usually wavy black locks were now disheveled and held back by a ponytail, lose strands breaking free from the confines.

"You're late," Lavi murmured, his body still lying on his mattress, his green eyes watching as the tall man stepped into the room, his body striding over to the bed.

"And you look like hell," Tyki commented, his shoes kicked off and the shreds of his shirt ripped off his chest, the blanket the other had settled under pulled up only for the other form to join him.

"I could say the same," the redhead grinned weakly, "you look like someone shoved you through a meat grinder."

"Funny, that's exactly how I feel," the vampire chuckled softly, his long fingers reaching to run through the copper strands, the two of them remaining in a peaceful silence for a moment longer.

"We don't have much time left," Lavi whispered after their stillness, "Allen's nearly gone… and with the full set-"

"Then you need to hurry up," Tyki interrupted, his golden eyes searching the emerald.

"Sorry…"

"And stop apologizing," the vampire chastised, his hands running over the pale face while his own softened, "if anything… it is I who should apologize… for today-"

"That wasn't your fault," the other informed his lover, "so… I can't and won't blame you for it. I-I just…"

"Just what?"

"I want this to stop," the young man murmured sniffling, his head pressed to the dark chest, "I just… I just want this."

"Didn't when we first met," Tyki commented, Lavi chuckling despite his sorrow.

"Yeah…" Lavi sighed, as he thought back to their fateful encounter, "but I do now."

Blank green eyes stared up at the black ceiling, the colour akin to the walls and floor, the bed he lay on appearing to float in the empty space. His pale and muscled body was sprawled on the mattress, any sense of decency stripped from him with his clothes. Bruises and marred flesh caused each breath to fill with pain, the his expanding ribcage surely broken in places with the abuse he suffered at the hands of the sadistic vampires, the only comfort he sought was the ever-allusive death.

His imprisonment seemed endless, the days and hours had quickly become to feel like a millennia, the only person he could blame for his stupid blunder himself. The vampire had come from the shadows as so many do, the speed unheard of as it had slammed into the hunter, the body rendered comatose in a matter of seconds, his fate determined within that time.

"Well well," a voice suddenly crooned, the tone equally as sadistic as the others' and jarring Lavi from his thoughts, "my brothers mentioned we had a guest, but they never mentioned how adorable you are."

Lavi was long since passed flinching at the words, his body only bracing itself for yet another round of pain and suffering. The mattress groaned with the weight slipping onto it, the man leaning over to look into the green eyes, his own gold flickering over the dull face with interest, Lavi studying his newest assailant.

The man was easily older than him, his skin equally as dark as his brother's, the eyes equally as gold. His hair was curly and reached to just graze his shoulders, the wisps that weren't tied back into the half-ponytail fell around his smirking long face, the mole beneath his left eye drawing Lavi's green eyes to the deep gold, the colour both dangerous and yet calming to him. Long fingers reached to brushed the red bangs from Lavi's right eye, an eyebrow raising in interest at the sight of the cat-like pupil.

His gold eyes turned to look down the beaten and broken body, the orbs taking in the coloured flesh and the scabbed cuts, the swift journey ending at the sight of the twin vampire's most recent handiwork.

"Well… what's this?"

Long fingers reached to touch at the wrappings covering Lavi's member, the younger inadvertently twitched at the contact.

"This could cause you some serious damage," the man muttered under his breath, his fingers surprising gentle as the bandages were removed from the restrained member, Lavi unable to stop the sigh slipping from his lips, "there, that feels better, doesn't it?"

The younger did nothing as feeling slowly returned to his most sensitive organ, the pain returning with it. His face scrunched as he tried to will his body back to the calm state he had reverted to, his mind trying desperately to subside the throbbing.

"Ahh…. AH!"

Lavi felt his voice increase an octave at the feeling of fingers surrounding his member, the hand much gentler than what his abused body was used too. His chest began to heave as he started to pant, his face flushing as he felt his body grow warm, the hand surrounding him stroking his hardening erection, the tips of the fingers trailing sensually over the sensitive flesh.

"Ahh… hah… ahh…"

The battered body twitched at the touch, the green eyes closing as they rolled back into his skull, his head thrown back as he gasped for air. Somewhere in his brain, Lavi knew this was wrong, that he should be trying to throw off his attacker, fight him to the end like he was trained to do. The past few days, however, had since worn him down, nothing but endless nightmares and pain awaited him when he next woke, making the pleasure he was receiving the first good thing to happen to him in an eternity.

Shivers raced down Lavi's body as he felt himself near the end, the shame of how easily he could be toyed with forgotten as he reveled in the fire that had ignited under his skin, his hands gripping the sheets tightly as moans tumbled from his lips.

"Hahh… hng… ah-AH!"

"Tyki…"

Hazy green eyes opened to look at the smirking gold, confusion on Lavi's face while the other brought him closer to his peak.

"If you're going to moan my name when you come, you should moan the right one; it's Tyki."

"Ah… hahh… nng… T-T-Tyki!"

The vampire smirked at the sound of his name, the young man he was playing with arching his back as he released, his seed coating the dark-skinned hand.

Lavi's back hit the mattress as he gasped for air, his chest heaving while his skin was flushed a light pink, a few drops of sweat slipping down his forehead and neck, his cheek turning to touch the pillow while his green eyes glanced at the man above him.

"That was quick," the vampire teased as he raised his hand to the light for Lavi to see, "and all this from my hand too…"

The flush deepened on the redhead's cheeks at the words, his body to weary to make a protest, even when Tyki lowered his lips to his hand, his tongue flicking over Lavi's essence.

"I stand corrected," Tyki murmured, his golden eyes flickering up to meet the green, "not only are you twice as adorable with that face, you are also quite… delicious."

Lavi continued to pant, his throat still sore and hoarse from the screaming the past several days. A clean hand reached to stroke through the red strands that covered the young man's face.

"You should sleep, pet," the vampire whispered softly, "you'll need your strength for what I have planned for you."

Again, the young man felt he should fight the vampire, struggle and thrash; not lie on the bed limply like a rag doll. His green eyes slowly fluttered shut, his thoughts of resistance faded as he felt the desire to sleep overwhelm him.

A loudbanging woke the young hunter, his body stiff and sore when he tried to move it, his torso barely lifting up off the soft pillows before he collapsed back onto them with a soft groan.

… Pillows?

Lavi gently turned to look at the bed he was lying on, the rough sheets replaced with what appeared to be red silk, the moth-eaten mattress now soft and deep, his body almost sinking into it. The pillows his head rested on appeared to be stuffed with down, their covering the same wine-red the sheets were, the room painted an equally deep colour while the four poster bed was a rich mahogany wood, easily large enough to fit four people comfortably and have enough room for at least three more.

His weak legs tried to shift under the red blanket the was neatly spread over the sheets, his vision becoming aware of movement from the opposite end of the room, a man stepping from the bathroom, his body clad in a white button-up and back pants, his skin a dark contrast to the shirt and the white towel that ran through the wavy black locks. The young man lay still as the other moved to the second door, his hand wrenching it open to reveal a young girl standing with her hands on her hips, her skirt flared and her boots barely making an impact on her height when it came to the man towering over her.

"Tyki!" she immediately started chastising, "I know you've got him in there! Let me in so I can play with him too!"

"Fraid not," Tyki shrugged his shoulders, "you all had a week with him, it's my turn now."

"But I barely got any time with him," her foot stamped on the ground, "they all insisted on going first!"

"Sorry Road, but I'd like his brain to be intact when I have him," the elder shrugged, "besides, you already did a number on him, I saw the result myself when I got back."

"I wanna play-"

"You all had your turn," Tyki repeated, "now I'd like a little peace and quiet when it comes to mine."

"But-"

The door slammed in her face loudly, Lavi flinching slightly at the sound.

"You're awake."

The redhead noticed the eyes now turned to him, his throat forcing down a lump as the gold eyes now turned to him, Lavi noting that the shirt was only half done, the top buttons revealing the dark-skinned chest. Tyki moved swiftly over to the dresser, his back now to the thoroughly confused redhead.

"Ha… Ah…"

"Your throat is still quite raw," the elder commented, a trail of steam emanating from the pouring kettle, a teaspoon rattling in the china, "here, drink up."

Lavi looked at the green liquid floating in the cup, caution still written on his face, a soft chuckle on the vampire's lips causing his confusion to deepen.

"Still have some caution in you. Good," Tyki murmured as he raised the glass to his lips, his throat swallowing two mouthfuls of the tea before handing it back to Lavi, "that make it better?"

"V… V… Vampire."

Golden eyes widened slightly at the raspy voice, Lavi refusing to meet his eyes as the younger spoke.

"Wouldn't… kill you…" Lavi rasped out, "poison… wouldn't… kill you."

"No… but it might cause me agonizing pain," Tyki pointed out, his golden eyes teasing the younger before they widened as the cup was raised to Lavi's cracked and dry lips, "wait… what are you-"

"If… poisoned… I die," the hunter whispered, "death… actually sounds… good."

"That's no attitude to have-"

"If… I die… I'm free…"

The black eyebrow rose in skepticism as the other drank deeply, the gold eyes watching the bruised body react.

"You're quite an odd one, aren't you pet," the vampire commented after a moment, his body leaning back in his chair, "saying one second you want to live but then saying a second later death is a warm welcome."

"… tired… of this…" Lavi rasped, "…don't… want pain… b-but-"

"You wish to keep on living," Tyki finished as he stood up, "well… that sounds… human…"

The redhead nodded as the cup was taken from his hands, his body still propped up on the pillows while he watched the vampire flit around with his back to the younger, the sound of a bowl and spoon clattering causing him confusion.

"How… How long…"

"It's been a little over a week since you went missing," Tyki explained, "ten days to be exact; you spent a week with my family and you've been sleeping for two."

"A-A w-week…" Lavi mumbled, his eyes wide and seemingly far away, his mind so lost in thought that the tray placed in front of him came as complete surprise.

"Bon appetite!" the vampire smiled as he bowed low to the other, Lavi both started by the sight of the steaming bowl of chicken soup and the exuberance Tyki seemed to ooze.

"Wh… wha…"

"It's a simple chicken broth with pieces of chicken and some noodles," the vampire murmured as he sat down, his long fingers reaching to grab the spoon, the silver utensil dipping into the broth, "not poisoned."

Lavi watched with a slacked jaw as the creature blew on the liquid before swallowing it, the spoon returning to the soup before slipping towards the wounded hunter, the redhead closing his lips as he glanced towards the vampire.

"W… Why?"

"Why what now?"

"Why… do… th-this…"

"Because-"

"Don't…" Lavi shook his head slowly, "… don't toy… with me… don't…"

"Now now," Tyki cut him off, "if you think for a second that I'm only fattening you up to eat you, it's quite an insult to my character, so," the long body managed to move the tray away from the other and back to the bedside table, his body slipping to hovering over the redhead's, "allow me to introduce myself," the vampire announced, a glint hardening in the gold eyes, "my name is Tyki Mikk, I am the Vampire of Pleasure," his lips lowering to brush at the crook of Lavi's neck, "and I intend to drown you in it."

Lavi braced for the bite that never came, the surprise evident when all that he felt was a gentle kiss touch his flesh, the first followed by others that began moving up his throat and towards the jaw, the other pulling back to smirk.

"What? Thought I was going to bite you?" he teased lightly, enjoying the flushed and shocked face, "fear not my pet, there's more than one way to eat someone."

Lips met the other's, the green eyes widening in surprise for a moment before the lids gently fluttered shut. Whether it was some sort of vampire's spell or Lavi's mind finally breaking from the week of torture the redhead didn't care as a thick tongue slowly filled his mouth, Tyki's muscle sliding against his, touching and tasting everything Lavi was.

Fingers slid to touch Lavi's sides, the silk robe Lavi was clad in all but thrown to the floor, the hands now roaming lower to touch the hips and thighs, Tyki smirking as he invaded the other's mouth, the body beneath him twitching when his fingertips found the hardening member.

"Only a few kisses and you're like this," Tyki purred, his hands running along the erection Lavi now sported, his eyes noting the glimmer of fear in the emerald orbs. "It would appear that my brothers did… unusually cruel things to you," the vampire murmured, "did they, perhaps… bite down here?"

Lavi swallowed thickly as he shamefully nodded, his head turning to bury the cheek in the soft pillow his eyes widening at the gentle caresses touching his body.

"Seems they bit at all your sensitive areas," the elder pressed on, the redhead gasping as a finger traced his hole, "and even here…"

The hunter swallowed thickly as he nodded weakly, the gold eyes staring at the nervous body.

"My brothers didn't even bother preparing you, did they?" Tyki crooned as his finger circled the younger's entrance, Lavi shuddering at the touch, "don't worry pet, I will."

Lavi all but screamed as he felt something hot and slick enter him slowly, realization dawning on him after a few moments that it was Tyki's tongue that was stretching and loosening him.

"Ah…. Ung….. hnngg," the younger panted as his fingers gripped the bed sheets, his body becoming hard almost immediately after he had released.

"You sound good," the vampire smirked as he pulled away from Lavi, his fingers slowly easing into the younger, "scream more for me, pet."

The younger couldn't help but comply as the skilled appendages found his prostate repeatedly, his voice increasing in octave as a third finger slid in him, the stretching ceasing only after a few moments. It was when something much different touched his entrance did Lavi revert to his cautious nature, his breath hitching as he recalled the painful thrusts Tyki's brothers had taken him with.

"Easy now," Tyki murmured as he slid himself inside the other, "we'll take this nice and slow… just relax…"

Lavi panted as he repeated the mantra that it would be over quickly if he relaxed himself.

"Feels good," the elder breathed as he was finally encased in the hunter, "you're so hot inside…"

"P-Pervert," Lavi panted as he remained as still as he could.

"I suppose so," Tyki smirked as Lavi adjusted to him, the chest heaving while golden eyes trailed over the flushed body, Lavi's hands on his shoulders while his were on the expanding sides, "regardless, you look very sexy like this."

"A-A-Aren't… Aren't y-you going t-to-"

"You're not ready pet," the vampire murmured, his body leaning to kiss the temples, his hands running along the pale lines, "only when you're ready…"

Lavi felt shock in his body as the elder smiled almost kindly to him, the golden eyes not lost to the vampire's madness, the orbs holding both lust and an almost tenderness.

"T-Tyki," the hunter whispered, his arms reaching to encircle the dark-skinned back, "I-I'm ready…"

"No, you're not," the creature seemed to tease, his body easing as far out as he could of the other before he was only just inside the hunter, "but you will want this."

Lavi's response ended before it could begin as the hips snapped forward, the red hair touching the pillow as the body arched in a silent scream, his fingers gripping at the strong back.

"There," the vampire breathed, his own voice restrained, "that's the reaction that thrills me…"

"Ah… Ah… AH!"

Strangled sounds slipped from the bruised and cracked lips, their bodies moving in unison as the vampire repeatedly ignited euphoria under Lavi's skin, the younger losing any sense of his dignity as he felt alive for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

"Tyk-Tyk-Tyki!" Lavi panted as the other filled him repeatedly, his blunt nails digging into the strong shoulder blades as the hands on his hips guided him, "… ugn… hah… ah… s-sof-full… s-so… good!"

"Good pet," Tyki murmured, his head tiled upwards as his eyes were closed in bliss, "that's it, let everything out."

"Ah… HAH…"

Golden eyes opened to the sight of the flushed face and heaving chest, his creamy neck exposed as his head tilted back in ecstasy, his emerald eyes rolled back into his skull as he reveled in the pleasure and life that had eluded him since his capture.

"Hah-AH!"

Lavi nearly screamed as lips attacked his neck, his body all but lifted off the mattress into strong arms, his own hands running over the shoulders and down the tops of the strong arms, his own nose inhaling the musky scent of the vampire.

"Ty… Tyki," the younger panted, "g… gonna… un!"

"With me," the elder practically ordered, "with me, pet."

"Ty-Tyki!" Lavi called as he came, his body arching closer to the dark-skinned one, his panting body flush against the stronger while he felt the elder follow him, his muscles tightening on the vampire's member.

The redhead fell back onto the pillows panting, his body weary and his eyes hazy, the words whispered to him as though he was under water, a long-fingered hand running over the sweat-covered body, the tips touching the cheek and throat before slipped over the chest and across the arm, their fingers touching before Tyki parted entirely, the elder slipping out of the young man with care.

Lavi gasped quietly as he surprised even himself by reaching for the elder, his heart panicking as he worried that the one person that had given him any sort of compassion, be it real or imaginary, was going to vanish and leave him to his vicious brothers.

"Now now pet, I'm not about to leave you."

Lavi felt his heart still as he turned his head to the other side, though when the vampire had managed to move so swiftly was beyond him.

"Calm down," Tyki shushed as he produced a warm and damp white towel, the weak legs lifted with care, "the first time I saw you, you were covered in… substances… it would simply ruin your skin."

The redhead shuddered and gasped softly as the warm cloth ran over his backside, his creamy thighs cleaned of any remnants of the vampire, the creature doing the same on his own body, Lavi watching with exhausted eyes, his lungs panting heavily as Tyki pulled the covers over their bodies, the weary redhead pulled onto the elder's chest.

"Hah… ah… w-warm…"

"Hm?" Tyki asked, his eyes opening to look at the young man in his arms, "what was that?"

"Y-You're w-warm," Lavi panted sleepily, his nose snuggling further into the chest, "y-you're supposed to… to be dead… but… you're warm…"

"Well thank you," the vampire murmured, his fingers reaching to stroke through the locks of red hair, the green eyes turning up to look at the elder in sleepy confusion, "you should be going to sleep now."

"Hm…" the younger hummed, his hand slowly extending to rest by his head, "… wh… why?"

"Why what?"

"Why… are you doing… this?" Lavi mumbled, "being nice… to me… doing that… to me…"

"I just-"

"If you wanna kill me, just do it-" the hunter started, his words cut off as the other rolled over him, his golden eyes boring into the younger.

"I have no intention of killing you or harm you," Tyki informed him, his hands still brushing the red locks off the pale face, "and I have no intention of giving you back to my brothers."

"Wh-Why…"

"Because I'm a selfish creature," the elder murmured, "once I have something I want, it's never leaving my sights."

"… why me though," Lavi whispered softly, "I'm a hunter… and a freak…"

"He said to the vampire," the other teased, his finger touching the hunter's nose, "but how are you a freak? Is it because of this?"

The younger tried to turn away as the finger touched his right eye, fingers capturing his chin and turning his face to meet the vampire's.

"That is striking," Tyki smiled at the blush across Lavi's cheeks, "coupled with your hair that looks as though it was fashioned from copper itself and your fiery personality that matches seamlessly makes you a rarity," he smirked, "I enjoy rarities."

"B-But…"

"It could also be perhaps because I feel attracted to you," the vampire pressed, "and I've never felt attracted to another… human or vampire," his lips smirked as he turned to look at the now flushing redhead, "and I am dying to know why…"

"Y… You want to… find out?"

"And I will spend an eternity until I find out," Tyki promised, his fingers running over the copper strands, "now… sleep, Lavi."

The red head smiled weakly as he felt his eyes flutter shut, his body succumbing to the first peaceful sleep he was to have in two weeks.

The next fourteen days were spent mainly in the king-sized bed, Lavi rolling around in the vampire's arms under the white sheets, Tyki retraining the once battered and abused body to unfurl at his very touch. Every sensitive area Lavi had had mercilessly damaged now desiring the touch of the long fingertips, his body twitching and writhing underneath the elder. Lavi's personality had since returned to him, the two engaging in teasing banter and almost as many conversations as there were physical interactions.

"Hey… Tyki?"

Golden eyes turned towards the redhead, the younger currently immersed in his prime rib dinner, the medium-rare meat covered in gravy and garnished with parsley and accompanied with green beans and roasted potatoes.

"What is it, pet?" the vampire asked as he replaced the newspaper on the table, his tall form moving over to stand by the younger, the topic Lavi wished to discuss hardly a difficult one to decipher.

"Why are you disappearing all the time?"

"What do you mean?" Tyki feigned innocence, as he lowered his body to hover over his new lover.

"Don't play dumb," Lavi grumbled, "I know you don't want to drink my blood… but I'm talking about when you run out suddenly… why is that?"

The vampire froze at the words, his tongue flicking over his lips as he swallowed thickly, the emerald eye that was often covered by the patch holding the ability to make the truth fall from his mouth.

"What… do you know about the Noah…"

"I know your souls are immortal," Lavi murmured, "I know that when this body dies, the creature in you won't."

"Very good," Tyki purred, "I see all that reading you do pays off."

"But… there's something I'm missing I take it," the redhead interjected softly, the creature nodding solemnly.

"The number," the vampire explained, "you see, somehow, we truly don't know ourselves, we are all connected, and when each new brother… or sister… is added, the human we once were becomes more and more lost to the soul."

"So… I take it… since you're still… you, for the most part… you're not complete…"

"Right again my intelligent little pet," Tyki smirked, his fingers touching the nose, "no; there's one more brother… and I'm afraid he's on his way."

"So…"

"So when he arrives, this Tyki shall disappear, and the creature that replaces me will be beyond your wildest nightmares…"

Lavi sat in stunned silence as he focused his gaze on the now solemn vampire, his knife and fork replaced on the plate while his hand reached to stroke the dark-skinned cheek.

"What is it now? Getting sentimental are we?"

"Don't go."

Golden eyes widened at the sincerity of the voice, his lips pulling into a soft smile after a moment.

"I don't want you to go," Lavi whispered softly, "you're… you're the first one who's ever seen my eye and called it anything but disgusting…"

"Isn't this what they call Stockholm syndrome?" Tyki teased, his body crawling on the mattress towards the younger.

"Maybe," the younger murmured, "but… I really don't care…"

"Good," the vampire smirked as he pressed his lips against the younger's, the emerald eyes fluttering closed at the contact.

"Mmm… Tyki," Lavi hummed, "l-let me go…"

The vampire pulled gently away from the other, his eyes confused while Lavi flushed, his own face one of determination.

"I… beg your pardon?"

"L… Let me go," the younger whispered, "let me go back… and find the cure…"

Golden eyes widened once more before his body began to shake with laughter, the redhead's eyes narrowing.

"I'm serious," Lavi defended, "let me do this! I will, I promise!"

Tyki managed to calm himself enough to meet the green eyes, his own face relaxing into a calm one.

"I know you'd do this," the vampire murmured softly, his fingers brushing the pale cheek, "and I know you'd succeed one day… but what if I'm not around to see it?"

"You will be," the younger promised, "I won't take that long."

"So," Tyki started, "what you're saying is, that you are going to magically find my cure before the vampire wins and then you and I will live happily ever after?"

"That's the plan," Lavi smirked, "so… what do you think?"

"I think," the vampire murmured as his lips brushed over the crook of the pale neck, "if you want to go home, I can arrange for it…"

Lavi gasped as fangs plunged into his neck, his body seizing up while he gripped the vampire, his mind quickly becoming thick and fog-filled, his limbs becoming weak and heavy as his eyelids drooped dangerously.

"Ty… Tyki…" the younger slurred, "n… no… n… not… like… th… this…"

"Goodnight, pet," Tyki murmured softly, his arms around the weak form, "trust me… this is not the last we will see of each other, I will watch you from the shadows where I belong…"

"T… Tyki…" Lavi breathed as his body fell under sleep's warm embrace, his head resting against the pillow as he fell asleep, "l… love… you…"

"I know," the vampire murmured as his fingers trailed over the pale skin and lips, "I feel the same about you."

Alright... off to bed now... goodnight!

Reviews if you would be so kind ^^