Chapter Three- Lifestyle

Kurama willed the seed to bloom and burst through Yusuke's body, thus killing him. A hint of stem appeared from where the seed had been inserted and Yusuke watched happily. I'm going to die! Ha, take that Toguro! His grin faded when the seed emerged and fell to the ground.

"What the hell!?" he exclaimed. "Why didn't it work?"

"I told you," came Toguro's voice as he came up behind the human and demons. "We are impossible to kill. Our bodies will resist every attempt to destroy or injure it. We cannot be killed- ever. You and I will live forever." The tall vampire walked away, chuckling darkly.

Yusuke fell to his knees. His body would thwart any attempts to damage or destroy it. My body's become a prison for my soul. I'll never die. He bowed his head to digest this latest piece of information.

"We are sorry this condition was inflicted on you," Kurama said softly.

"You gonna be okay, Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked.

"I don't know," Yusuke choked. "I'm a vampire who can't die and has no weaknesses."

"None!?" Kuwabara gasped.

"Hn, some would consider that to be positive. Invulnerable to practically everything," Hiei commented. "Though not the eternal servitude part."

"You guys did your best. I'll try to manage." Yusuke stayed where he was and heard his friends walk away. His thoughts strayed to Hiei's last words. Eternal servitude. What kind of things will Toguro ask of me? Bring his victims to him? Order me to kill? Be Elder Toguro's punching bag? There's no limit to what he could have me do and I would have to obey.

"Yusuke, preceded me off the boat and bow when I pass you," Toguro ordered.

The teen vampire nodded in response. They waited until everyone else had left before disembarking. Yusuke went first and once on solid ground, he positioned himself on one side of the gangplank. Toguro appeared, straight and tall and strolled casually down the plan, his brother behind him. Yusuke bowed as Toguro reached him. He really didn't want to bow, but there had been such iron in the order that he felt like his will was bending to Toguro's desires. Yusuke straightened and followed the brothers. He had no idea where they were going to stay, but was aware that they were in his home city. There were definitely plenty of people here; Yusuke reluctantly acknowledged that he alone could feed forever as he wouldn't kill anyone.

"Sakyo has quickly secured a grand place for us to live," Toguro said as they walked. "We will have access to plenty of humans without even leaving the building." The glee in his voice was faint, but still evident. The trek led to a tall apartment building that had a penthouse at the top. Toguro pointed to it. "That is our home."

Yusuke gaped as he followed the pair inside. We're going to live in a penthouse? Well, I guess that would be grand and with access to blood. Wait…we live on human blood but do we have to attack humans? If not, there is a blood bank we could raid. The trio rode the elevator to the top. The doors open to reveal a fancy door with a potted plant beside it. Toguro reached into the dirt to extract a set of key and passed a key to the others before unlocking the front door and going in. Elder Toguro went next and Yusuke entered, closing the door and gaping at the setup.

It was enormous with lots of comfortable couches, sofas, and chairs. A modest kitchen sat off to one side of the plush living room that opened up to a balcony. Doors lined the walls of the living room. Toguro opened one to reveal a grand bathroom. A marble counter housed a sink with a toilet next to it. A shower stall and a bathtub were available and two small closets looked like they held towels. "Yusuke, freshen up and then we'll talk.' The other brother placed a pile of clothes on the counter and both left, closing the door behind them.

Yusuke emerged a short time later dressed in all black that enhanced his pale skin. He took an armchair in the living room that faced a couch where the brothers sat. There was a large wall unit that housed a large flat screen TV with a VCR and a DVD player. Video tapes and DVD's sat on shelves on either side. A cabinet of liquor bottles separated the living room from the kitchen.

"Now, then," Toguro also in black, began. "I will re-state what I said on the island and the ship. We are immortal now, can't die, and won't age. Our bodies thwart any attempt to destroy or injure it. We are immune to the so-called weaknesses one ready in books or sees in movies. Our eyes are sensitive to light but very briefly. We must drink only human blood."

"Yeah, about that. Do we have to attack?"

"Oh, yes. Blood banks will not suffice." He grinned at Yusuke's disappointed look. "I'm sure you noticed earlier that our fangs retract enough for us to drink and can heal the bite marks."

"Yeah, I noticed." Yusuke then noticed that Toguro's body was still lean and powerful-looking. And he'll look like that for eternity. I will, too, he thought, subtly looking at his body.

Toguro caught the subtle look as he said, "Yes, as we can't age or die, our bodies will remain as they were when we changed. My brother is why there's a kitchen as we can only have blood."

"I'm guessing the committee picked the best traits for your wish," Yusuke said.

"They did and I further requested that blood be the only substance I require as well as enslaving any I turn. That brings me to your role." Toguro stood and loomed over Yusuke. "Henceforth, you will address me as Master and you will do anything I say instantly. Furthermore, you will sleep in a coffin in my bedroom. Is that clear?"

Once again the firm tone in his voice bent Yusuke's will. "Yes, Master," he replied immediately.

"Now any comments or questions about vampires?"

"We don't have to breathe, right? I noticed that on the ship."

"Correct. Breathing is not necessary but it is an involuntary reflex. We must consciously think about not breathing."

"Do we have any super senses?"

"Ah, I'm glad you asked. Yes, our hearing, eyesight, noses, and strength are better than before. We can also run faster and of course heal instantly as you already know." He glanced out the glass wall leading to the balcony to see the sun almost gone. "Even though, we have already had blood today, we will do so again once it is dark. Starting tonight, we will hunt at night only. Though we do not require sleep, it would be best to rest and we will do so during the day. Yusuke, once it is dark, you will go out and feed."

"Yes, Master." Yusuke felt disgusted at calling Toguro his master, but he had been ordered and he had no choice but to obey. He watched the sky and once it was dark, he rose and left the penthouse.

"Brother, do you think it…wise to let Yusuke roam alone this time?" Elder Toguro asked cautiously. "What if he chooses to run and hide after feeding?"

"If he does, I will hunt him down and make him regret it."

"Yes, of course." Elder Toguro was choosing his words with care as his brother could decide to drink his blood, a thing that could kill him. Neither knew if demon blood would satisfy him and Elder Toguro had no desire to find out as he suspected his brother wouldn't drink just a little. My brother and I discarded our humanity fifty years ago and we no longer care if humans live or die. That is what prevents Yusuke from killing: His lingering humanity.

Yusuke healed the bit, laid the unconscious man gently on the ground, licked his fangs, and said regretfully, "I'm sorry, but I was ordered." He turned from his victim, hating what he became, hating Toguro for doing this to him. I need to get away from him. He told me to feed, but he didn't order me to come back. Yusuke grinned at the realization. I can find a place to hide and drink during the day as Toguro plans to drink at night. Yes and between drinks, I will find a way to die. Yusuke swiftly left the scene of his attack to seek a hiding place and begin to contemplate how to die.