Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this fanfic unless I created it myself. Anything that I did create was inspired by something owned by someone else. This is done for fun and entertainment, not for profit.
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh GX
Title: Scenes From a Reversal: Bloodpaths: 36-50: Lessontime
Character: Marufuji Ryou
Word Count: 705
Genre: Drama, Supernatural||Rated: PG-13
Challenge: : Marufuji Ryou: voice
Summary: Fifty scenes from a story unwritten, with one fact reversed: what happens when the Gentle Darkness is not gentle? Ryou has his own dark tale to live in this world.

Camula traced her fingers down his arm, a wicked smile on her lips as she gestured for him to look at the town that spread out before them. He could scent their life on the wind, an indefinable aroma that told new, dark senses that prey was out there.

"They lock themselves into their homes and conceal themselves behind their talismans of protection. None of those work." Camula turned to gaze at the town. "My people spread rumors about what could repel us for centuries. Humans have no idea of the truth anymore."

Ryou twitched, his fingers clenching into fists. He wanted to pound all of that out of her, but there was nothing he could do. Her commands held him tight. He could no more attack her than he could walk into the sunlight and survive.

"What can?" He should at least know this much. He was one of her kind, no matter what. He needed to know his limitations.

She smiled again, and it wasn't even close to being a kind, sweet smile. This was the smile of a predator. "Nothing. We are immortal."

"No, we're not. Sunlight can kill us." Ryou pointed out. Anger flashed through her eyes for a moment and he pressed onward. "Wood isn't good for us either." He'd learned that the hard way.

Camula's hand closed on his wrist, sending pain shooting up his arm. "Be quiet." Her nails dug into him, a few drops of stolen blood leaking out. She turned his arm up and licked it off, ignoring the nauseated look in Ryou's eyes as she did.

Once she dropped his arm, he pulled it back and looked toward the town. "What did you want to do here?" Not that he could bring himself to care, especially since he already knew. This was to be yet another of his lessons in how to be a 'proper vampire'.

"Come with me." Unable to deny her command, he followed her down through the rocky hillside until they stood just outside of the village. "Contrary to legend, we don't need to be invited inside. But it can be easier to find someone who is outside to feed on." She glanced over the assembled houses as if choosing from rare wines or fine clothes. He'd seen that look before, the same look when she chose which prisoner would become their dinner. It didn't get any better for having seen it more often.

She moved closer to one of the better-built homes, which Ryou presumed belonged someone wealthy in town. He watched as she lifted up one hand and a red-eyed bat fluttered down to perch on her fingers. She petted it with her other hand and purred, "Go. Watch. Show me who is there and who is worth taking."

The bat flew away, all but invisible in the evening gloom, at least to human eyes. Ryou saw it as well as Camula did.

"You won't be able to do that, Ryou." Camula told him, a hint of smugness in her tone. "You're only a created vampire, not a true member of my race."

"As if I'd want to be." Ryou paid more attention to the other homes than to the one Camula's bat now circled. He thought he could hear someone else coming closer, crunching through the autumn leaves. They don't know we're here. Anyone who knew of two vampires standing there would be wise to go in the opposite direction instead of coming toward them.

He didn't say anything to her about the oncoming footsteps, however. Her commands to him were to obey her and never attempt to harm her. Telling her when someone was coming wasn't in the list.

At any rate, he was hungry more than he wanted to see her harmed. For now.

He moved silently away from her once he saw that her attention was on her bat instead of him. It only took him a few paces to be in position to see who came along. No one he recognized, which relaxed him just a trifle. He slipped up behind them, ready to feed.

He had to listen to Camula's voice in many things. This time, he was going to do things his way.

The End