The Ostiary
Kochou-hime
All characters belong to their respective owners.
Forever
There was no way to know for certain how long Serenity had been wallowing within the darkness of her unresponsive mind. But when her body's sensations slowly began returning, the ability to hear had been the first. Beginning as merely soft vibrations tickling her ears, the noises surrounding her grew into an almost deafening echo. Familiarity struck her senses upon perceiving the sound of running water; no, waves crashing into an unyielding rocky shore. The melody of the strange ocean seemed angry almost as if the violent swells were reaching out to her and wishing to drag her down to the very bottom of a dark and forsaken sea.
Blurry vision returned to her when she finally willed her weary lids to reveal their ambient blue treasures to the world. As soon as she distinguished stony stalactites on the ceiling with the dim aid of nearby firelight, the rest of her sensations overwhelmed her like an avalanche where at their forefront was unbearable and excruciating pain.
Sucking in a sharp breath, the Moon's queen let loose a silent scream upon feeling a searing burn sizzling at her wrists. Sitting up rapidly from where she once lay completely unconscious, she barely noticed the dull throb at the back of her head as she looked in horror upon the iron shackles binding her wrists together. The injury the poisonous metal left against her raw skin was so agonizing that she truly didn't know how to react upon it but stare. Her voice failed her, torturously trapped within her lungs but suddenly erupted in a surprised yelp when a dark shadow fell over her.
"Oh, you're finally awake." A foreign voice spoke from the shadowy figure that hovered over her. "Oh my god! Your wrists!" It exclaimed once again as the male hurriedly fell to his knees and took her hands into his own.
Serenity could barely make sense of anything before her eyes or ears. The iron had cut through her skin and was slowly making its way to seeping into her blood. Seeing the stranger as only a flash of blue where her vision was guided by torches lit behind him, the pain had already dulled prior to his quick removal of the cuffs, leaving her somehow comfortably numb to the nothingness that came barreling to claim her senses once again. But before she lost consciousness for the second time, a different, malevolent sounding voice chartered her off to a forced slumber.
"A fairy; just as I suspected."
When consciousness once again returned, Serenity awoke with an unfamiliar jacket draped across her; a supposed reprieve to having been sleeping on the remote cave's cold and hard floor. Looking immediately to her wrists she noticed they had been bandaged, affirming the nightmare from her last waking had been a reality. Running her fingers along one of the bandages she winced, the tender skin having made such close contact with iron would leave scars guaranteed to take days to heal even if she had all of her energy, which had already been hopelessly drained by having just traces of the horrid substance swirling within her blood.
"How are you feeling?" A gentle voice inquired. Weakly sitting up in her rumpled and now ruined red gown, Serenity looked aghast upon spoken. The person standing before her was a very peculiarly dressed and effeminate man smiling warmly down toward her. A body suit made from rings of puffy pale blue fabric covered his thin form, save where it was unzipped revealing his very male chest despite his feminine face. His long locks of similarly colored hair were held back into a low ponytail and not a second after she caught a glimpse of his sapphire colored eyes did she fail to notice his tell-all pointed ears. Releasing a sharp gasp upon her discovery, the elf waved his hands before him nervously.
"No, no don't be afraid! We're not going to hurt you. In fact, we saved you from eminent death a little while earlier!" The man with aqua hair spoke with a proud smile. Serenity shook her dizzied head: we? Eminent death?
"Speak for yourself, Fish," Came a deeper male voice from the right. Shifting her suspicious gaze, Serenity looked upon another elf, also strangely dressed in a toga ensemble with a bra-like upper half that wrapped over one shoulder. He was larger than the girlish-appearing man seated just beyond her with spikey pink hair and cruelly focused red eyes.
"I'd love to get a piece of some fairy-tail if given the go ahead." The man spoke his mind with a sinister grin. The sound of a whip cracking cut through the tension of the room when the weapon's tail wrapped around the fuchsia-haired man's arm and pulled him to the ground from where he perched on a boulder.
"Tiger! What the hell!" The man growled.
"There will be none of that, Hawk's eye," The newcomer commanded as he appeared from a pitch black portion of the enormous cave beside the roaring ocean. "The better condition she's in; the more gold she'll be worth. She's already sustained enough damage from the shackles earlier so you'll do well to keep your hands off, idiot." The one who had been called 'Tiger' spoke as he vaingloriously flipped a few locks of his long golden hair.
From the way the man carried himself, Serenity pegged him to immediately be the dominant member of this small elven group. Possibly dawning the weirdest clothing of all, the man wore tight black bikini style undergarments over striped and bright yellow tights and knee high black boots. His upper half was clothed in a cropped and long-sleeved white shirt with high standing black shoulder pads, revealing the majority of his lower abdominals in all their naked glory. His cat-like golden eyes burrowed into her, regarding her as if she was literally made of the riches he clearly desired above all else.
"What is your name? Fair, beautiful, and incredibly rare little fairy?" Tiger asked with a wide grin. Serenity narrowed her eyes, though it felt like it required a great amount of energy to do so. For the life of her she couldn't get a hold of her bearings, how had she come into these thugs' possession? What had she been doing before this? Everything was a complete and utter blur.
"Does it matter?" She answered testily. The lead elf was silent for a moment, just before releasing a few throaty chuckles in response.
"No," He answered with a smirk. "Forgive me. I was only pretending to care." Serenity felt icy all over, ignoring the sympathetic glance being paid to her from the blue haired man. "You should really be more grateful though, after all, as Fisheye said, we did save your life."
"From what may I ask?" Serenity challenged forcefully, despite her feeling utterly weak in her current state.
"I figured you'd have no idea," Tiger commented with a snort, "What would you say if I told you: you were a hair's length away from becoming a midnight snack to the most feared predator in all the world?" The fairy deadpanned; replaying her last dizzied memories in her recollection when suddenly she recalled the feeling of powerful and passionate lips against her own. Her eyes widened in disbelief upon the other, and an ominous chill spread across her skin when the elf lifted his chin; motioning to her to look behind. Cautiously turning to peer over her shoulder, the sight before Serenity's distraught gaze momentarily forced her heart to stop.
A tormented yelp escaped her throat as her exhausted form fell, crumbling to her hands and knees as she stared upon the impossible. Yami's stiff and unmoving body, lie in an enormous pool of blood showing no visible signs of life much to her ever growing horror. Hot tears began to rain down her cheeks as she failed to find the will to move or speak; her mind still absolutely refusing to believe what her eyes were telling her.
"There, there now." A soft but cruel resounding voice cooed as Tiger came to crouch beside Serenity and place a hand on her bare shoulder. "It happens to the best of us. You probably had no idea he was a vampire; let alone the one told to be the deadliest to ever exist." Serenity refused to acknowledge the elf beside her as the feeling of her insides wrenching was far more painful than the iron had been when it had cut into her tender flesh.
"Fish, Hawk and I, well we're bounty hunters you see. We used to be skilled trackers for King Diamond's great army but, as if you would be surprised by this, there was far more money in defecting for a different sort of trade." He continued to explain as Serenity answered with a shallow sob. Her body began to tremble and overheat. The nerves in her brain were firing rapidly conveying information that was impossible to accept.
The unbeatable had been beaten. The invincible…fallen. And Yami was gone.
Gone.
"We had developed quite a reputation in this expertise for taking down formidable targets, something I personally take great pride in." Tiger continued his speech. "So when this bounty came to my attention, well, let's just say it was easily the biggest fish I had ever been invited to land. And more importantly, the prize that came attached to it is enough for the three of us to live like kings for the rest of our lives," The man explained with a victorious smirk.
"I have no qualm admitting a vampire as old as he could take out all three of us without much effort under normal circumstances. But the greatest notion a bounty hunter must remember is that any man or creature, no matter how mighty, can fall under the right circumstance or opportunity. I knew that even if he sensed our presence he'd pay it no mind. The King of Games is a name feared by all, even his own kind, there was no way he would be threatened by a few elves." Appearing unnerved that Serenity wasn't looking at him, he gently pulled her tear stricken face to gaze into his own with his fingertips.
"If it's any consolation, you were that perfect opportunity my fairy friend," Tiger spoke into her horrified expression. "He was so taken by you; he didn't even see us coming." Feeling as if her heart had finally collapsed with his sickening recount, Serenity tore away from him with the little strength she had left. Scrambling to a stand, she desperately launched herself toward the fallen vampire.
"Yami!" She wailed and gasped when a forceful pair of arms knocked the breath from her lungs as they caught her from behind.
"No, no," Tiger wheezed. "I can't let you do that I'm afraid." Flailing weakly against him, she reached her arms out toward the man who she had awarded her love in its truest form; though she had yet to everadmit it aloud.
"Damn it Tiger, I told you this was a bad idea!" The pink haired Hawk suddenly barked, pacing back in forth under Fish's watchful gaze.
"Hawk, we all agreed that if we were going to do this, the reward alone would guide us to its end." Tiger reminded his companion coolly as Serenity continued to writhe within his arms like a helpless rag doll.
"I'm not about to end up dead for this!" Hawk screeched, grabbing a lit torch and holding it menacingly before him. "Let's kill him now! We can make just as much gold off selling the fairy and keep our fucking heads!"
"No! You swore on your honor, Hawk! We will see this through to its end!" The man with Serenity within his arms roared. Upon the words registering within her brain, the woman dressed in crimson stopped her struggling. Her blue eyes widened on Yami, who despite what Hawk's words had alluded to, hadn't moved in the slightest.
"He's alive?" Serenity whispered, desperately wanting to believe.
"Oh yes," Tiger rumbled toward her ear. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to kill a creature such as he? Which is actually quite fortuitous for us since the one who requested our services wanted him returned still very much alive." Her sparkling orbs, glittering with tears, widened as she took a deep breath, relishing in how this new information reignited a hope in the air that had once been drowned in an ocean of darkness, much like the one that roared upon the outsides of the cave.
"And that's where this all becomes truly complicated. Because you see, when you incapacitate a vampire like this; weaken him to a point of desperation," The golden haired elf continued to whisper. "He'll have no choice but to devour any feast that gets too close and if that should happen, he'll regain his strength and we'll all be dead. We must wait until the right moment when he is the weakest and cannot bite or overpower us should we get too close. Only then can we transport him the long distance to his destination, but the timing must be perfect. This is the game we play, little girl."
Serenity remained silent as she felt her exhausted body carried, and gently set to sit on the ground beside the effeminate man's feet. She kept her eyes religiously focused on the man who was once her lover and she swore to him, praying that the vampire was somehow silently listening to her thoughts, that she wouldn't let these men succeed. He'd obtain the blood he needed to heal and become an indomitable force of nature once again, even if it came from her own veins.
Shortly after the argument between the two larger elven men, they had exited the cave on a venture to explore the area and find food, instructing Fish to look after their two prisoners, and of course, artfully make sure the vampire had no source of blood to heal himself with.
The Moon's queen, who was currently in a very weak state and difficult situation, sat silently on the rocky floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her exhausted and drained body begged for food and possibly more for sleep but she stayed perfectly still. Keeping her eyes firmly affixed on Yami, who still hadn't moved an inch, she was beginning to doubt that he was truly alive.
No, she couldn't give up hope. Yami was alive, and before too long the both of them would be free from this place and hopefully look upon this incident as nothing more than a terrible dream, a tiny blip in time that wouldn't matter at all in another hundred years past.
"Are you feeling any better?" Fish's gentle voice sounded. Though she truly wished to have nothing more to do with her captors, she noticed there was something different about the blue haired elf. He was gentler than the other two, almost as if somewhere within him he was genuinely concerned for her wellbeing. She hadn't quite formulated a plan to how she would get to Yami and ideally force him to accept her blood, but she quickly ascertained that her best opportunity to do so would be somehow persuading this man to let her get near him while the other two were absent.
"Yes, thank you," She mustered out somehow sounding polite though every beat of her heart ached with concern for the vampire who lay deathly still within a puddle of his own blood. When he said nothing else, Serenity cautiously turned her dulled chasms upon him. He hovered just beside her, fumbling a small pink comb between his green-gloved fingers. Catching her miserable gaze, he paid her a small smile.
"Having long hair myself I know how difficult it can be to upkeep," He began shyly, "We've put you through a lot of dishevelment by bringing you here, would you allow me to brush through the tangles for you?" Serenity's tired and distracted mind barely comprehended his words. Though appearances were the last thing on her mind she affirmed his request with a slow nod of her head. Happily he moved to take a seat behind her, and wasted no time in quickly undoing the round buns nestled upon the crown of her head.
"You keep staring at him, are you truly so sad?" Fish asked quietly as he gently pulled the comb through her honey colored locks. "Vampires are known for their deceit. Any promises of devotion he made to you were made for the purpose of robbing you of your blood, so don't feel sorry for him." The elf's efforts to console her were so horribly ironic that Serenity's lips tugged into the beginnings of a wry smile.
"Is your name really Fish?" She asked in an attempt to change the subject; her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," he replied to her with a small laugh. "As Tiger's eye explained, the three of us used to belong to a division within the Elven army. Most specifically, as skilled trackers we were referred to as the legion's 'eyes.' On missions we were always instructed to use our codenames, and for some reason I can't quite recall they had given me the name Fish. Even though we abandoned our unit quite some time ago, old habits stick, I guess."
Though it had little effect on her current distress, the feel of the stiff brush against her scalp was soothingly pleasant. With each and every quiet stroke the wheels within Serenity's head began spinning. Her thoughts settled on her current position with close proximity to the more mildly inclined elf. If there was any creature that truly excelled in obtaining what they desired, that title exclusively belonged to vampires. Though the thought of taking a page from Yami's book to handle a situation downright terrified her, she concluded that she had no other choice if she wished to ensure their survival.
Her insides lurched at the thought of more spilled blood despite having already grown accustomed to its metallic scent from the time spent near the injured Yami within the cave. The subspace satchel neatly attached to a garter around her thigh suddenly felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds as she thought about the powerful stone blade magically stowed away inside. Did she really have the courage to threaten this man with her weapon, or the gall to slice into his flesh if he should object to her demands?
The fairy's hands began to tremble as she looked forlornly upon her bandaged wrists. Fear wasn't the only thing holding her back, she wasn't even sure she had the strength to lift the sword remembering that her supernatural abilities had been cruelly compromised by the shackles' deadly poison.
"I've never beheld hair such as yours. It reminds me perfectly of the golden wheat from my homeland, and of how radiant it was beneath the shining sun." Fish spoke quietly as he relinquished his comb. Pulling off one of his olive green gloves with his teeth he let the perfect silken strands fall through his fingers. Though she stiffened upon his compliment, she dizzily remembered that brute force wasn't the only way a vampire managed to get his way…
"But its scent…it's almost as if you'd gone swimming in the royal palace's gardens; rolling amongst the white jasmines budding in the early spring." Fisheye continued his marvelling. Turning her forlorn gaze away from the vampire, she settled her big blue eyes upon his with a stare that could pierce directly into his soul. Momentarily rendered speechless beneath the eternal beauty's scrutiny, the elf promptly reacted by bringing his naked fingers gently upon her cheek.
"Please, don't be sad." Fish pled. Serenity did her best not to cringe toward his coaxing. His tender touch felt like fire against her. She was truly disgusted with her actions; once again forced to accept a stranger's affections if for nothing more than to gain his trust. While every one of her missions since coming to the Earth had been important, what was at stake had never been this high.
"I've been thinking you know…as I watched you sleep earlier." The elf continued, his words shameless and his attention unwavering. "I'm not going to let Tiger sell you. I'll offer he and Hawk a large sum of my own share of the bounty. There will still be so much left over; truly, you can't fathom how much wealth was offered in exchange for acquiring such a dangerous target." Serenity tried to appear pleased with his words. She ordered the corners of her mouth to greet him with a smile but her true horror would never allow it.
"It would be a crime to allow a disgusting creature to have you and possibly bring you harm. You can stay with me and you'll feel nothing but happiness! We'll build a home just along the edge of the Fae Kingdom, with lots of cooks and servants there'll be nothing for us to ever worry about!" Fish spoke in pure delight. His pupils dilated longingly as he shifted his long fingers into the strands of her flaxen bangs. He leaned in dangerously close to her face sending the fairy's heartbeat into frenzy as she fought all urges to rip away from him.
"I would…always care for you." Fish sighed. Serenity's eyes widened as the closely seated man appeared to give into his desiring ache, and slowly descended his lips upon hers. But before her sickened skin was assaulted, a low groan from beyond them sent both their attentions sailing toward its source.
"I'll make you a deal, elf." The familiar tone of Yami's voice rang within the cave. Still not having shifted from where he lay on his back, he suddenly snapped his eyes open, turning the furiously brewing and bloody storm within them upon Fish who promptly yelped and fell backwards.
"Though there is nothing that will save you from your forthcoming demise," Yami spoke sounding frighteningly calm. "If you remove your putrid touch from her and get out of my sight now," he continued with a darkness that nearly stifled the sounds of the raging sea. "I'll ensure that your death will be quick." Though the threat of a man wallowing in his own blood should have been shallow at best, the terrified elf quickly jumped to his feet and dashed toward the cave's exit in complete panic.
"Yami!" Serenity cried, rushing to him on wobbly legs. She collapsed unceremoniously to her knees at his side feeling far too relieved to hear the sound of his voice to be concerned with the blood soaking into her similarly hued dress. The vampire's gaze was still pregnant with displeasure to what he had managed to stop with a forceful command, but she could also see pain clouding his vibrant eyes though she knew the ancient man would never admit to his discomfort aloud.
"I'm beginning to think there's not a male on this Earth that understands the gravity of failing to keep his hands or more disgustingly, mouth away from you." Yami growled. Wiping stressful tears away from her eyes Serenity grabbed onto his hand with as much force as she could muster forward.
"Yami," she practically sobbed, "all of this is my fault!" She exclaimed but truly didn't know why she felt solely responsible for their current predicament.
"This world is cruel," Yami uttered throatily with the beginnings of a wistful smile. "I cannot enjoy even a moment of your company without another coming to take you away. Perhaps we were wrong in trying to stop Zorc. He'd be doing me a favor in wiping out the rest of the world. Only then could I have you to myself."
"No," Serenity responded, not caring to try and hide the tears streaming down her face. "We don't have much time. I know he'll find the others and the elves will return. I-" Serenity paused lifting up a trembling hand. "I don't have enough energy to heal you so you're going to have to-" Her words halted when the vampire grabbed ahold of her arm; pushing it away from his face with a force that shocked her. It was all so awfully ironic, even being so incapacitated that he couldn't bring himself to stand the ages old vampire still tremendously out powered her in strength.
"Serenity," He spoke simply but in a voice that she had heard only a few times before. The ache rolling within flowing vibrations of sound that told everything he regarded of her in just the statement of her name. His staggering and soul devouring eyes were clouded in delirium; a warring mix of his physical pain and the idolatry he harbored for the woman hovering above.
"It occurred to me earlier this evening while awaiting your return from the masquerade that in this continual vendetta between you and me, I have failed to make something important absolutely clear." He spoke as he gentled the hold on her forearm. "I've never put much opinion toward words. Statements and promises have always seemed so insignificant when compared to much more sincere forms of communication. All that I've done and am still willing to do for you could never be overshadowed by an attempt to summarize it using just words." Serenity trembled beneath his hold and was continually feeling dizzier by the battle of focusing on the honesty in his gaze and the incredible worrying need to get them both to safety.
"I'd do absolutely anything for you Serenity; anything that was within my power to obtain or change I wouldn't hesitate a moment, and if it was beyond my power, then, I'd become more powerful for nothing more than achieve what I've just promised."
"Yami, please listen-" She screeched but lost her words when he merely smiled back at her.
"The first time I saw you, I can see it now as if all this time that has passed had just been moments ago," he continued groggily. "Shimon was stuck by your side as if you were a porcelain doll that could be shattered by a mere touch of the fingers. He clearly distrusted both Bakura and I and for good reason, even before you had spoken a single word you were still the most beautiful being I had ever bared witness to. At first glance one might have described you as weak, but I knew better. Delving into the workings of your mind had been a spectacular privilege. Never had I seen a resolve so enormous, swimming within the most unlikely of places a tiny and quiet fairy, whose loveliness made any other rival appear utterly dull in comparison. "
"And you're a far cry now from the woman I met then," he rambled genuinely from his perfect memory. "I had been determined to protect you, but you've become so much stronger than I at such a young age. You may have needed my protection then and even now you manage to get yourself in amazingly ridiculous situations but I can say with full confidence that I need you more than anything you have ever required from me." The fairy's eyes clouded confoundedly upon him. His assessment was absurd, he was far mightier and intelligent than her in almost every aspect, and yet his words defied this as if they were fact.
"To say I merely love you would be entirely too inadequate. If everything else in this expiring world were to finally perish I would care for nothing more than to forever bask in your heavenly presence. When I say everything and anyone else is insignificant I need you to truly understand, you are the only thing that's important to me." Serenity allowed a small sob to escape, and promptly forgetting the rocky history between them she leaned forward to hysterically assault her needy lips with his, but was stopped by his still ever present supernatural strength. Looking questioningly into his gaze she caught a glimpse of another emotion she had missed before. His constricted pupils were ravenous in their hunger upon her. Forced into starvation from his injuries, the only thing between her and becoming the most delicious meal Yami had ever partaken in was his incredible will power alone.
"Y-yami," Serenity whispered, just prior to pursing her lips into a thin line. "I need you to-"
"Go back to where you were sitting before and stay silent. They won't risk hurting you anymore, the lead one knows perfectly how much wealth he can attain from selling a fairy." Yami ordered dropping his grip from her arms.
"No! I'm not going to let you die! You've always protected me. I'm not going to sit here and do nothing!" She furiously protested. Yami snorted.
"You're joking, right? As if those fools had the power to kill me. I'll admit they had the upper hand when I was understandably distracted before but they'll grow impatient eventually. And the very second they come too close they'll all get what is coming to them." The vampire explained darkly.
"You're…lying to me." Serenity replied in disbelief.
"No, their plan is flawed. It would take years for me to be incapacitated enough to fall unconscious or lose my ability to move."
"There's no way you can know that for sure. Yami, I'm begging you. Take my blood. If you care for me at all-" Yami cut her off with an indignant snarl. He snapped his head to look away from her as if just mentioning the substance was enough to reignite his feverish hunger aflame.
"And all of that I've just told you, you're now begging me to harm you? No, Serenity, do as I say. Trust me." Yami implored, not daring to look upon her. Dangerously close to launching into hysterics, Serenity saw the solution clearly. He wouldn't be able to maintain such willpower if she used his stellar senses as an advantage. Quickly standing up, she immediately hiked her dress and recovered the satchel strapped to her thigh.
"Serenity…" Yami spoke warningly and turned his ferocious eyes upon her when the Holy Blade appeared within her hand. Letting loose a small yelp as she could barely hold up the incredibly heavy sword in her weakened strength, she looked toward Yami with the same resolve he had praised her for.
"You're just going to have to try your best not to kill me." She spoke, falling again to her knees and holding the sword just above her wrist.
"Serenity!" Yami bellowed in protest, but before the weighty blade even came close to cutting her skin, a swift jerk ripped her backwards, sending the blessed weapon clattering to the rocky floor. Looking to the person who held her, now a good distance away from the injured Vampire King, she caught a glimpse of Tiger's terrified amber eyes. Looking back to Yami, his position had changed. He had somehow gathered the strength to prop himself up on his knees, and glowered with undiluted hatred toward the elf who held her body close to his own. He had attempted to take down the enemy when he had come near to snatch her away, but Tiger had managed to dance along the radius of the vampire's deadly reach.
"I knew this would happen!" Hawk's shrill scream echoed within the cave and turned his red eyes venomously upon Serenity. "I don't care how much that fairy is worth, she's a fucking liability! Fish, you almost killed us all!" The elf continued tossing his angry gaze upon the sheepish looking bluenette.
"Calm down Hawk, it's alright now." Tiger spoke slowly in an attempt to cool the other's nerves. Though his voice sounded unconvincing, he too acknowledged they just narrowly escaped death. "It's under lock and key for you from now on, little one." Tiger spoke toward Serenity disapprovingly.
"You might as well just give up," Yami hissed as he kept his incensed gaze focused on the golden haired elf. "You're just prolonging the inevitable. Not that I'm complaining, the more I wait the more I'm going to enjoy tearing out your fucking throat." Yami threatened, sounding sinisterly calm as his eyes bore into Tiger. Though Serenity did believe she had nothing to fear from the vampire, his seething presence made her blood run cold.
"Not if we kill you first!" Hawk shrieked, gripping his brown gloved hands into trembling fists at his sides. The tension surrounding the pink haired elf pulsed precariously, even Fish seemed reluctant to try and calm him.
"Hawk, just be silent. He's powerless as long as we monitor him from afar." Tiger once again tried to assuage his ruffled companion.
"From afar?" Hawk questioned sarcastically, "And what about when we fall asleep? I have a feeling he can move more than you think my dear friend." The toga wearing elf had a crazed look in his eye, one that made Serenity momentarily thankful that Tiger seemed deadest on ensuring she remain in one piece, profit or not. When his eyes focused on the fairy, her skin began to crawl.
A fucking liability, the elf mouthed, but the words were perfectly clear where they reflected in her widened blue orbs. What happened next occurred in a blur, before she could blink the captured Queen was tossed unceremoniously to her bottom the air forcefully flying from her lungs upon contact. Hawk viciously charged into Tiger. Their snarls launched into the air, each seemingly equal in strength as they grappled for dominance.
"Stop it!" She heard Fish wail upon finally catching her senses. Sucking in a ragged breath she forced herself to stand, but the moment she was steady on her feet excruciating pain exploded from her abdomen, just inside her right hip bone. Moving her eyes downward, her jaw fell open upon observing Hawk eye kneeling before her with his fist holding the hilt of a short blade. He ripped his hand back violently. The sight of her own blood stung her disbelieving eyes as the viscous substance ran down and hid itself within the red fabric of her gown.
"No amount of gold is worth being dead!" Hawk's voice roared. Tiger's hand caught his arm, preventing him from stabbing again as the feeling began to drain from Serenity's limbs. The roaring sound of the ocean quieted as if the beats of her ever slowing heart became deafening to her ears. She heard faintly the sounds of howling, angry arguments and threats spewing into the room but they were all distorted, as if she was trapped in an illusion or a false dream. Serenity barely felt anything when her back fell against the rocky ground. Her vision became blurry. Those once sparkling eyes brimming with living luster became dull as she watched the moving ceiling. The only thing on her mind with the pain, and the confusing sounds surrounding her was a haunting realization.
After a thousand years Yami had finally professed his undying love for her, and she never did get the chance to tell him that she truly felt the same.
Suddenly the ground below her felt like it was trembling and a large crashing followed. Serenity felt freezing cold drops of water spray onto her face, coming from the gaping hole that been made at the cave's sea side. A dragon's roar filled the cavern followed quickly by several shadowy figures entering the newly made entrance.
"Serenity!" Jou wailed as he sped toward her body. He paused his steps when a shadow converged over her injured form. Feeling her body roughly brought to stand against another, she gasped desperately for air.
"Come any closer and I'll finish her off!" Hawk's eye roared. Seto alongside his other werewolf companions stalked cautiously into the cave and after a quick survey his eyes fell coldly upon where Yami kneeled on the floor panting heavily in absolute rage. Quickly darting his gaze upon where the smallest blue haired elf cowered away from them he lunged forward and with a swift kick Fish went flying backward, crumbling to the ground to what would be his undoing.
Hawk flinched at the sound of blood curdling screams, the injured vampire had Fish's shoulders clamped to the ground and his fangs buried into his neck.
"You're not going anywhere!" Mai roared venomously just after pushing Tiger's eye to the ground and successfully cutting off his futile escape attempt. Turning his panicked gaze back upon the Fae Prince who was stalking ever closer, Hawk held his blade desperately against her neck.
"Let's make a deal, I'll kill her you don't back down!" He roared. Jou's eyes glowed completely white for a moment and suddenly he lifted his hand.
"Fry, fuckhead!" He bellowed. Electrical beams assaulted Hawk, forcing him to relinquish his grip on Serenity, but before she tumbled to the ground she floated into Jou's receiving arms.
"Serenity!" He cried out in vain, kneeling so that she hovered just above the cave's rocky floor.
"You fool!" The sound of Yami's inconsolable voice screeched. "That attack; if you've injured her more I'll tear you apart!" He threatened, quickly rushing to the fairy siblings' side.
"They share the same blood; Queen Serenity is immune to electrical damage." Rei suddenly spoke as she moved to hover over her quickly fading sovereign. Pushing past her, Hotaru abruptly came between the two men, earning a murderous glare from Yami. Ignoring him, she easily tore at the fabric exposing the wound and quickly hovered her hands above it where they were enveloped in a pale glow.
"You'll have to move out of the way so I can heal her." Hotaru ordered and both men reluctantly took a few steps backward, Jou gently laying her on the ground. The utterly incensed vampire tossed his glare behind him, and upon Mai who obediently held the golden haired elf hostage with a hand around his neck.
"You can begin redeeming yourself from your earlier indiscretion if you take both he and the other to the far end of the cave and wait for me. Do not harm either of them," Yami uttered poisonously, "that is a privilege that belongs solely to me." He said with a tone in his voice that promised unfathomed torture.
"Yami," Serenity muttered breathlessly, only halfway conscious after Hotaru had healed her to the best of her ability. Her body cradled within her brother's arms, the vampire's red eyes softened upon her. Rushing forward he grabbed ahold of one of her limp hands and looked earnestly into her expression. He spoke to her, but the words faded into nothingness as much needed sleep finally claimed her torn and exhausted form.
When Serenity awoke it felt as if she had once again been asleep for an eternity, though this time she was nestled in a sea of soft and billowing blankets. The petite fairy stretched her limbs and whimpered when they ached from the movement. Cracking open her heavy eyelids she was immediately greeted by the light of dimly lit candles and a figure straddling the back of a chair at her bedside.
"Yami," Serenity called out to him once she discerned his trademark crimson eyes, brimming with concern as they obsessively poured over her. He responded silently by immediately standing and retrieving an item from across the room. Taking a seat on the edge of the bed he held a glass in his grip containing a smooth brown colored liquid within.
"You have to consume this. Your body will heal more quickly if you give it more energy." He heavily insisted as he held the beverage out to her. Looking upon it, she childishly scrunched her nose.
"What is it?" She asked softly.
"Milk, I think," Yami grumbled as he lifted his upper lift upon smelling the food item he truly had no interest in. "The human from the town nearby claimed it was necessary for nutritional value, especially for one who is unwell." Serenity sat up from where she lay groggily and rested the back of her hand against her forehead in an effort to combat the dizziness.
"I don't like milk," the royal fairy pouted. The red-eyed man sighed heavily, just before gritting his teeth into a snarl.
"Well he claimed it tasted sweet. How am I supposed to know? I'd be more than happy to hunt him down and drag him in here where he can explain it to you himself!" He growled. Quickly snatching the glass from him, she tossed him an irritated look.
"Why are you so grumpy?" She muttered, wrapping her tiny hands around the glass.
"You're healing from your injuries too slowly. I wanted to feed you my own blood to hasten the process but Ra thought its iron content could possibly worsen your condition." Already having no appetite in the first place, Serenity's expression further soured on the glass upon the thought of drinking blood.
"Thanks a lot Yami, I'm really hungry now." She whined. Breathing out an exasperated puff of air, the vampire's eyes suddenly lit up upon her in amusement.
"You really shouldn't insult it until you've tried it. There are plenty of creatures who would sacrifice a limb to consume blood as powerful as mine." He teased with a flash of his fangs.
"No thanks," Serenity replied with a wrinkle of her nose. Bringing the glass obediently to her lips she was pleasantly surprised when the rich liquid was flavored with luscious chocolate. Quickly downing its contents, she sighed contently and relinquished the glass to the vampire who offered to take it away.
"You should have mentioned it was chocolate milk! That's completely different." She said with a pleased smile. After placing the vessel on the floor, Yami immediately flitted his eyes over her in an intense scrutiny. Taking her hand into his, he ran his fingers over her bandaged wrist to which she immediately flinched.
"Ouch, h-hey give it a chance to work, ok?" Serenity complained. But the determined vampire ignored her plea and began carefully unwrapping the white bandage. She sighed at the appearance of the ugly scar around her wrist and fluttered her lashes when he continued to shrewdly study it. Without warning, the astoundingly handsome man brought the appendage to his mouth. Settling his dazzling gaze firmly with hers, she gasped when she felt a wet and warm heat on her sensitive skin. Moving his languid tongue along the scar, the skin tightened and the rough tissue rapidly disappeared upon the ability of a vampire's saliva being able to quickly heal small superficial wounds, which was incredibly useful for hiding bite marks. A blush spread across Serenity's face upon his maneuver that was equally as sensual as it was useful. Returning her now healed wrist, she gulped when he reached out for the other.
"It'll heal on its own you know." She immediately reminded, and shivered when he flashed her a bemused smirk.
"I'm a rather impatient man," he responded sonorously and immediately paid her other wrist with the same treatment, but much slower this time as he leisurely slid his tongue; clearly relishing in the flavor of her milky skin. Lowering her other hand down to the fluffy comforter, he twisted his torso so that he hovered above her with his hands planted on either side. Banishing any lingering venereal thoughts from her head, she was debating on whether or not to thank him when suddenly he rapidly pulled the covers away from her body and moved his lithe form completely above her. Catching a flash of his wicked grin she promptly remembered her third accrued injury and her eyes opened wide.
"Yami, wait!" She protested but failed her words with a soft whimper when the vampire nuzzled her cotton shirt upwards and expelled his heated breath against her bare midsection. Nipping playfully at the ties at her soft pajama bottoms he easily untied them and pulled the elastic down slightly with his fingers to reveal a thin scar where she had been brutally stabbed the previous night. Quickly moistening lips he paused to toss her a devilish glance just before he lowered his mouth against her. An uncontrolled squeal escaped her lips as he ran his tongue from the base of the injury upwards in a painstakingly slow fashion. The luxurious and velvety heat on her skin left her body begging for more by the time he had finished his absolutely evil method in aiding her wounds.
With a victorious smirk plastered across his face he fell to his elbows and thrust a hand into his wild locks of hair, tilting his head to one side as he regarded her.
"Do you have any more injuries that I can tend to for you?" He inquired huskily hardly able to contain his grin. "Or perhaps there's something else that requires my indulgent and undivided attention?" He spoke, running his tongue suggestively along the fronts of his teeth.
"N-no," Serenity stuttered automatically, a desiring part of her immediately regretting it when the words left her mouth.
"Fine," Yami replied sounding slightly grumpy as he lifted himself away from her and fell to lounge at her side upon the enormous bed. "If you're not interested in receiving boundless pleasure than I'm more than pleased to offer you my otherwise spectacular company." He taunted while gifting to her a playful smile. Wrapping his trim and muscled arms, that were wonderfully displayed by his simple and short-sleeved black shirt, to rest behind his head the stalwart man made it known he wouldn't be going anywhere for awhile. Reclaiming the warmth of the blankets she twisted on her side, wrapping herself within the fleecy material before meeting his studying gaze.
"The elves; they're-" She looked away from him as she paused, not daring to utter the word that made her stomach lurch aloud.
"Do I really need to answer that?" The ages old vampire replied coldly reclaiming her troubled blues with his fiery gaze. "Unless you want further details I can assure you, they are no longer able to harm you again. This will never happen again, Serenity." He stiffly emphasized, "In the few instances I've made a costly mistake I've never once in five thousand years repeated one." Responding with a shallow nod, Serenity gripped unconsciously onto the blankets and felt absolutely wretched picturing their demise.
"But that's not what you're upset about, is it?" Yami continued, his tone showing his irritation. "You continually question yourself as to why I'm such a monster. I lament that I disgust you so."
"You don't disgust me!" Serenity responded impassionedly catching the uncharacteristic emotion settled in his gaze the moment the words left his lips. "It's just difficult for me to accept or understand."
"That I can comprehend," He responded, turning his gaze to watch the ceiling, "You and I see this world through a different pair of eyes, but what I cannot accept is your continued belief that you truly can return to this world and expect that it'll all conform around you; that every creature would immediately abandon who and what they are for the sake of peace." He accused.
"I don't expect anything," Serenity flattened her lips into a thin line, "That's why fairies don't live here, exactly because of what you've explained." Yami's eyes glowed upon her, ruffling the sheets below him as he leaned nearer. His intensely red gaze demanded an explanation.
"Then why are you here?"
His words stunned her, and she was further shocked to realize she couldn't immediately blurt out an explanation. She could have launched into an account of feeling responsible for Zorc's captivity because after all, she was the person who put him there. Or expressed her concern for he being able to someday come to the Moon and terrorize them there, but that would have been false. If it was possible for a being to get to the Earth's satellite through the shadows she knew without any doubt that Yami would have at some point showed up in her bedroom, maybe even to drag her back to the Earth with him. Even still, she could have told him that she truly did want the people of this world, though she disagreed with their take on existence, to be as safe and as happy as they could be.
But she didn't say any of those things, because as it were, they would have all been lies.
"It isn't the same, is it, your beautiful and utopian Kingdom?" Yami questioned the stunned silent woman softly. "Even a perfect artificial replica can never compete with that which is real, even with all its flaws."
"No," she answered honestly, feeling as if they weren't really having a conversation on where she preferred to live as the parallels between her opinion on the Earth and the man she once called a lover were uncanny.
"I realize that you'll never acquire the taste of a vanquished enemy's blood as I have, but still I feel it's important that I emphasize," His baritone voice paused when he wet his lips. "You have no idea how behaved I've been since the moment I first encountered you." Serenity knew what he was referring to. The terrifying vampire hadn't earned the reputation he had by not actually doing the things attributed to his name.
"It's difficult to recall every creature I've destroyed, but what I do remember for certain is how it made me feel. Once upon a time I could describe no greater exhilaration than inflicting agony; the smell and indescribable taste of fresh blood could always bring a satisfied smile to my face." Serenity felt a chill upon his frightening recount, but stayed silent as she listened.
"When you left; that's when I realized the change you evoked in me. Killing things excited me no longer, the flavor of blood lost its previous luster and was nothing more than a dull and bland necessity to maintain and keep growing stronger for no real purpose at all. And so I spent most of my time not doing much of anything but reading the same books over and over, somehow believing that you would return one day." Serenity's chest constricted guiltily on hearing his words. Though he had been cruel in their parting she somehow knew he had missed her as much as she had felt the same toward him.
"After about five hundred years or so of wallowing in solitude I finally gave up and was determined to erase you from my thoughts; forever. Venturing out into the ever changing world I came across possibly the most innocent creature aside from you I had ever seen. She was the most beautiful human girl within the town, a blushing maiden worshipped by all the suitors that came begging for her to become their bride." Yami's expression was stony as he once again looked away from her, gazing into the empty ceiling above as he recanted his memory. "The moment I laid eyes on her I knew I must destroy her; if only to gain back everything I once was: a skilled and prideful man not burdened by the weight of feelings or emotions that only left me feeling empty and miserable. Somehow I saw it as the greatest revenge I could take against you for leaving me here alone after all that had happened. And so I did just that." The fairy's skin grew cool and clammy at his last spoken statement.
"Gaining a human's affectionate attention was as easy as it always is, instantaneous really, she would have followed me anywhere. The very second I sunk my teeth into her was utter ecstasy. Her confused and painful cries only further satiated my urges. I imagined ripping her to pieces and littering them across the town so I could listen to her loved ones' tortured cries when they found her in such a way. I could almost smell the salt in their future tears as they rained to the ground. And for once in those long years I could watch someone else's torment, instead of drowning in my own." Turning his attention once again upon her, Serenity tried her very best to hide her horrified reaction to his terrible story.
"But then I caught a glimpse of her terrified eyes and immediately saw you," He voiced darkly, "It was absurd, they weren't even the proper color, but nevertheless thoughts of you crept into my mind. I remember perfectly the utter dread I felt, of how you would look upon me for committing such a deplorable crime, because to destroy something so sinless for no other reason than for my own amusement was suddenly despicable. Those immaculate blue eyes of yours, when you pause them upon me unfavorably they cut me deep; straight into the soul I no longer possess." Yami rumbled powerfully as he stared longingly into her wide and endless oceanic chasms.
"I could never erase you from my memory, not if I had to face that look you managed to give even in your absence to do so. It was too late to save her. I had greedily taken far too much blood to leave her with any semblance of a proper human life. So I did the only thing I could, the one thing I thought I'd never do…" Serenity batted her eyes curiously, gripping tightly onto the sheets at her fingertips as she awaited his further account. Yami couldn't help but smirk upon her adorable expression. Turning away and closing his eyes briefly, he stretched his stiff arms with a soft groan before propping his jaw against his fist to face her from where he lay on his side.
"But it all turned out for the best, at least as well as it could've." He spoke cryptically. "Mai has become a skilled and mighty force to be reckoned with by anyone's standards. Not that you should expect any different, not with her being a product of my blood and unrivaled instruction." He explained with a grin as Serenity stared on him completely dumbfounded. How had she never considered it before? Yami had actually created Mai himself, even though the endeavor seemed tragically accidental.
"Teaching and keeping her out of trouble gave me a new purpose, so in a way my original malicious intent became somewhat of a blessing. Though I have to admit I find her to be extremely annoying, even to this very day." He grumbled. Of all the ways to respond to his story, Serenity suddenly giggled upon his last statement. She couldn't help but laugh upon imagining Yami as a grumpy mentor to the fiery vampiress. He grinned back at her.
"But despite her faults she had filled a void in me that had been left excruciatingly open for far too long." He spoke again promptly stifling Serenity's mirth. "Never as a lover though." He added, brandishing a wry smile as he watched a blush flit across her cheeks. "No, no. The ability to regard another creature other than you in such a way is something you have permanently altered." Searching her fumbling thoughts she desperately wished for the proper words to respond to that, but she couldn't for the life of her find the right thing to say.
After several moments of silence between the two, not one taking eye contact off of the other, Yami suddenly sat up and rose from the soft bed to stand just beyond it. Thrusting a hand into his trouser's pocket he appeared to fumble with something within it as he stood with his back turned to her. After all that he had said, from last night to now…he was leaving? Exhaustedly propping herself up against the pillows behind her, she stared forlornly toward him. She didn't want him to leave, but dared not utter the words that would make him stay.
Despite all that had happened and been said between them nothing had truly changed. He was still the killer that he was, though she understood him much better now. And she still had all the responsibilities she had before, even though deep down she hated living on the Moon when comparing it to the Earth. Hated it.
Gritting her teeth, she pulled the covers from her soft clothed body and scrambled desperately to the edge of the bed. But to her horror, by the time she had stood wobbly to her feet and took a few steps forward, he had disappeared. Choking back an immediate sob, her sadness was promptly replaced with surprise when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her against a tall and solid body sharing its warmth with her back.
"Serenity," Yami's baritone voice sounded; brimming with amusement as his hot breath teased her ear. Relishing his touch quietly within the safety of his arms, a sparkling flash reflecting against the candlelight caught her eye. Looking down toward where Yami's hands shifted around her, he held a round and shimmering red hued jewel between his fingers. She had never seen anything quite like it, mentally inquiring if it was some sort of fantastic ruby that had been cut to brilliantly shine as if it were a diamond.
"It is a diamond, actually," Yami answered her thoughts with a small laugh. Serenity's eyes lit up and watched wondrously as he rubbed his fingers beneath the bottom of her left palm, giving her shivers just before slipping the Earth-made wonder that was set in shining gold along her slender ring finger. Serenity's breath caught in her throat, catching on to the symbolism of this gesture for the first time. She was stunned speechless by the eye-catching gem that was like no other she had ever seen.
"This had been a gift to my mother from my father, a very, very long time ago." The once Egyptian King spoke nostalgically. The sound of his soft spoken words were just as hypnotizing as the ring that lit up in the dim candlelight, as if a fire roared inside. He gently turned her hand over bringing attention to the gold band at her palm-side where there were two unfamiliar looking symbols. They appeared as two looped crosses meeting at their circular heads to close the golden ring together.
"The symbol is called ankh," Yami traced over one of the crosses with his index finger as he spoke its name in an almost foreign accent. "A very old term meaning eternal life," his hot breath tickled her ear when he whispered the translation. "Though the Pharaoh of Egypt was considered to be an immortal deity trapped in flesh amongst his kingdom, I think my father intended this to carry a different meaning when he gave it to the woman he cherished above all." Serenity choked back a dizzied sigh when the man suddenly pulled her tightly against him. A low purr escaping from his chest sent her into euphoric trembles against his perfectly sculpted form.
"I'd give you eternal life if fate hadn't gifted it to you already." Yami uttered throatily, his lips pulling into a smile. "But I can offer you me, and the promise to protect, love and please you forever." Turning around in his arms she looked wide eyed into his reverent gaze.
"Y-Yami, I-" fumbling with the ring on her finger she stuttered her words "I- ca-" She couldn't complete her decline, not while basking beneath his honest and loving gaze. And if she had any doubts before this, she knew with complete and total certainty that she wanted to say yes more than anything. Say yes with the utmost glee, and beg that he stay by her side just as he had promised: forever. But despite her desires, nothing had changed from her situation. Absolutely nothing at all.
"Keep it for me." He spoke breaking the room's silence. "I know I haven't convinced you yet but I will." The vampire grinned confidently. "Besides, regardless of how you feel in the end, my love will always belong to you." Taking a step toward her, Serenity responded with an immediate step backward.
"Y-yami listen there's a lot of-" but the fairy was cut off when he placed a tan finger against her lips, baring his almost infamous smirk.
"Personally, I think you've forgotten just how pleasant my company can be." His voice rolled as Serenity took another step backwards, the predatory look in his eye instinctively ruffling her feathers. The backs of her knees bumped into the sofa behind her, sending her tumbling down onto the soft cushions. Her blue chasms widened when he silently loomed closer, his red eyes screaming their desires before they blurred in a flash of speed.
Eagerly knocking the petite fairy on her back amongst the pillows of the plush lounge, he attacked her lips with a kiss so voracious that it took her breath away. Her will-power shattering against his passionate attack she pushed her hands up into his gloriously molded chest, admiring their familiar and solid warmth beneath the thin fabric of his shirt. He groaned against her lips and hungrily buried his pleasantly warm mouth into the crook of her neck, eliciting a small and excited cry from the woman below. Rapidly sliding his hand along her side, he paused to tug viciously at the elastic of her cotton pants.
"Please Serenity," The mighty vampire begged with a guttural whisper, "Let me remind you."
"Y-yes!" She replied with enthusiasm but suddenly, as if it had all been a cruel dream, she was lying alone on the rumpled sofa.
"Heya, sis? We heard ya scream are you alright?" A concerned voice sounded from a dark corner of the room. Stepping into the candlelight Serenity's eyes fell exasperatedly upon her younger brother. He looked like hell. She immediately noticed the dark circles around his eyes when she caught the hazel irises.
"Um, yes," Serenity choked as she stood from where she lay. "But knock next time ok?" She requested with a sigh. Jou narrowed his gaze.
"What are you doing out of bed!" He demanded loudly and promptly scooped up his tiny sister with his arms.
"Jou!" Serenity protested, kicking her legs angrily she let out a frustrated puff of air when she went crashing into the bed's pliable surface. She glared at her sibling who dutifully pulled up the covers and tucked them around her.
"I'm not a baby! I'm older than you!" She wailed in dissent.
"Be quiet. You're hurt and it's all my fault so just stay in bed and get better alright?" Jou sighed resentfully. Collapsing into the chair where Yami once sat, he hung his head in defeat. Serenity's eyes glowed apologetically upon him.
"Jou, it's not you're-"
"Yes it is!" He snapped back. "I'm supposed to be here to protect you and I failed to do that."
"Jou, I'm fine now. And you're the one who saved me, right? That has to count for something doesn't it?" She pointed out. His gaze perked up hopefully, if only for just a moment as he responded with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Well," he spoke begrudgingly, "I'm not letting you out of my sight. If I sit here all night there ain't no way in hell an elf is bustin' in here!" Shaking her head, Serenity couldn't help but laugh to herself at how ironic her brother's timing was.
"Well if you're going to stay you might as well sleep in the bed." She sighed as she scooted over to the other side. "You look like hell you know." The Fae's queen teased with a smile. Jou promptly grinned and flopped to his back on the vacant side with renewed glee.
"Hey! This will be like when we had slumber parties when I was a kid! No freakin' ghost stories though." Jou griped. Turning away from him, she rolled onto her side and looked upon the precious artifact with a sad smile. Her brother's timing was probably for the best, there was no sense in entertaining an impossible dream any longer than necessary. Pulling the ring off her left finger felt almost painful and the more she stared at it the more she realized she couldn't bear to stow the beautiful jewel away in her satchel. Slipping the ring upon her right hand finger she smiled, that was its perfect home for now.
"Just don't drool anywhere near me, ok?" Serenity taunted him with a soft smile, and felt her tired body take over as she snuggled the soft sheets more tightly.
"Hey, uh, Bunny?" Jou suddenly voiced aloud.
"What is it, Jou?" Serenity asked in a mumble.
"Last night, I kinda-" when a long pause fell over them, Serenity turned over to look confoundedly upon her brother who lay looking up at the ceiling.
"I think I fucked up."
Firstly, THANK YOU X 1 BILLION to: MichiUsa, Cosmic-lover, AndiB, SailorVmoon1311815, Rose Mutou2010, Fire Dolphin, Serena-hime, Rach, Krissy, Sakura Waldorf, Sesshy's Mistress, Vee, devafiend, lucienne, and Anexya for being amazing and reviewing the last chapter! I swear, your comments and messages are the only thing that keeps me writing in this busy life of mine!
Speaking of busy, I'm extremely sorry I couldn't get this out sooner. I hope you'll forgive me…I honestly had zero time to work on this but if it's any consolation, this chapter is 22 pages long and was probably the longest I've spent writing one to date! I had a difficult time with all the dialogue which usually isn't my norm. But you all seem to enjoy Yami's perspective so I hoped you enjoyed it!
Oh, and shameless plug. If some of you missed it I did write another side story for this, its called "In life, only the monsters win" and you can find it on my page, ^^.
Thank you all again, please let me know what you think!
Kochou-hime