Keywords/Pairings: Youken!
Dedicated to: Tschubi-chan
Whee!
Whee! I'm churning this out faster than I expected ^-^ See! See! I just
posted the other one last Monday and here's another part. Schuldichsama,
here's Schuldich ne? Brad and the others should be appearing like mushrooms
next time ^-^
Its
still not going like I really expected it whips ficcie>Bad bad ficcie!
But I hope its ok ne?
You
will make this author happy by commenting? beams>
Legend:
:: :: - Schuschu's mind-thought
/ /- Thoughts
Ruby Red Cacophony
Part 3
Youji swirled the ruby liquid
inside his crystal goblet, staring at it broodingly as he leaned back against
his silk-covered armchair. All of a sudden, jade eyes flashed red and the
tinkling of shattering crystal and the crackling popping sounds of alcohol
thrown into a fire filled the room.
/Where had I gone wrong?/
He thought viciously, replaying
the events of the night before over and over again in his mind, sifting
through each action, each word, for the culprit that had cost him his prize.
He had been so sure of victory.
So sure that he would have tasted the sweet intoxicating blood of his Velvet
Eyes before yesterday night had passed. But he had not…something had gone
wrong even before he had a chance to fully entice the little one into his
spell.
/And/ Youji glared at
the fire. /I. Do. Not. Know. What./
Youji smoldered at the thought.
He did not take kindly to failure. He never failed at all.
"My, my," A voice chuckled
in the darkness of Youji's den. "I do believe someone is incensed."
"Do not toy with me, Schuldich."
Youji warned, not even looking at the figure silhouetted by the crackling
fire. Only one person could ever come into Youji's presence unnoticed by
keen eyesight and hearing. "I am not in the mood."
Still chuckling, the Kindred
blessed with flame hair stepped out into the light of the fire, helping
himself to the red wine left on the table beside Youji's chair.
He leaned on the fireplace,
tipping the wine down his throat in sensual abandon. Youji noted absently
that the scene before him would make a good subject for a painting. The
fire complimented the garish brilliance of Schuldich's hair, echoed the
color found therein and accentuated the alabaster whiteness of the Kindred's
perfect skin.
Of course, any of the Kindred
would be a perfect painting. Youji thought sourly. They were perfect.
/I am perfect./ It
wasn't conceit that made him say it but truth.
"What brings one of Schwarz
out of Bradley's august presence and into Youji's den? Should I be honored
that I have caught the interest of the estimable leader of Schwarz?"
Biting sarcasm tinged Youji's
tone as he asked the question, challenge clearly in his tone. Challenge
and sarcasm that were not lost on Schuldich who threw back his head and
laughed.
Sarcasm was like water on
Schuldich's back. He enjoyed verbal repartee, it did not anger him and
in truth, he preferred biting sarcasm to the cringing subservience some
of the Kindred showed him. Especially those who had Turned because of Schuldich.
Somehow, being the conduit to a person's Turning made the person slightly
subservient to his Benefactor.
Not so with Youji. That was
why Youji was one of his favorite of those he had Turned because he neither
sought to curry favor from Schuldich, nor did he treat him with deference.
Just the way Schuldich liked his friends. And friend this golden one was…and
bitter rival in some cases although Schuldich would never admit it.
"I do so love the way you
welcome me, Youji, love. But no, His Stiffness did not send me this time.
I am just, how shall I say it…visiting. Yes, I am visiting and catching
up. After all, it has been nigh 20 years since we have last seen you in
our midst."
Youji arched a brow up in
disdain. "And I suppose I should be honored by the thought. Mayhap I should
trot out the red carpet and throw some festivities for the honor."
"Most definitely in a sour
mood." Schuldich grinned at him. He scanned the sprawled figure, noting
that nothing had changed much from the Kindred in front of him. Still the
Golden Beauty that had caught his eye centuries past. Although a frown
marred his features. "What is bothering you?"
"Nothing." Youji replied
irritably.
Schuldich arched his brow
delicately and reached.
::Something.::
/Cease your meddling Schuldich.
It is none of your business./
;;You know as well as I,
Youji love, that that doesn't stop me from doing so.:: The thought was
tinged with mischievous intent as the telepathic Kindred sifted through
the surface memories, ripping through the thin barrier that served as Youji's
defense. The golden blond's back arched in response to the invasion, his
mouth open in a silent scream of surprise.
It was moments after that
the panting blond turned dagger eyes on the smirking Schuldich.
"The devil damn you, Schuldich.
I *told* you never to meddle with my mind." He growled. "Do it again and
I will break your neck for you."
Schuldich just waved his
threat away. A broken neck would only serve as a minor discomfort, he would
not be killed by it. Besides, Youji could never catch Schuldich. Among
the Kindred, Schuldich was the quickest, his movements a blur that rivaled
the speed of light. It had been a talent he had even as a mortal, as was
his telepathic abilities. That was what had made Bradley choose him as
second-in-command of Schwarz.
Schuldich chuckled at the
memory he had pulled, the one that caused jade eyes to darken in worried
concentration. "You've been playing with your food again, Youji love. And
you didn't get to dessert did you now?"
Youji glared silently.
"You could always find easier
prey rather than occupy your mind with this problem. Who knows what these
mortals are thinking about at these times?"
"No." The negative was perfunctory
and stubborn, signifying the unwillingness of the speaker to turn from
his chosen path.
Schuldich's lips stretched
in an amused smile. He didn't blame Youji. Like him, Schuldich enjoyed
the complicated dance that precluded a kill, enjoyed manipulating the situation
and the victim into submission. The prize all the more sweet for the eventual
surrender.
He stared silently at the
figure in the fluctuating firelight, noting the preoccupied light in the
cat eyes. He knew that Youji was already thinking of his prey, his next
step.
Without any warning, Youji's
head snapped back and he quickly got to his feet with a smile on his features.
A different light gleamed in his eyes, one infused by focused purpose and
mischief and they were trained on Schuldich.
Schuldich took a step back
as Youji advanced. It was akin to his own eyes, he realized. But in another's
face, it was eerie, like looking into a mirror and finding a different
reflection with his eyes. He didn't like it.
"What *are* you thinking
about, Youji?"
"Why don't you find out?"
Youji fairly purred as he opened up his mind to Schuldich in a controlled
flow, sharing his thoughts, his next step. And he was asking Schuldich
to help him.
Piece by piece, Youji's plan
fell into place in Schuldich's mind. And with each new development, Schuldich's
grin widened until he burst out into a rich laugh of pure pleasure.
"My, my, Youji love, you
*do* have such delicious plans for the poor boy." And he arched his brows.
"But if I do aid you, what do *I* get out of this little endeavor? I must
admit that seeing this plan would be amusing in itself but you know how
it is."
Youji lifted one corner of
his mouth up in an elegant sneer. Of course, he had been prepared for the
question from the flame-haired Kindred. Blood for blood, Payment for a
favor. Much like mortal mercenaries. "I know of a certain mortal you would
like, Schuldich. I could be persuaded to divulge the information and invite
you into my hunting ground for this favor."
Youji threw the image of
the obnoxious redhead who was with his Velvet Eyes into Schuldich's mind,
certain that the Schwarz member would not refuse. He knew of Schuldich's
penchant for such garish brilliance, although for the life of Youji, he
could never understand why.
/It would serve Purple
Eyes to be hunted by one such as Schuldich, he who dares to own what should
be mine./
Youji did not need Schuldich's
telepathic abilities to know the exact moment that he decided. The gleam
of interest in the flame-haired Kindred's brilliant eyes was enough of
a sign for Youji.
"I accept your terms then."
Exultant fire poured into
Youji, intoxicating him as he tasted his eventual victory.
/Oh, you will be mine,
Velvet Eyes./
TBC ^_~ Comments, comments,
onegai? Wai Tschubi-chan! I hope you still like this part!
Now what exactly did Kenken
do?
Kenken: confused look>
I did something?
Swyth-chan: glomps Ken>
Yes, you did, Ken-kun!
And what's Youji's nefarious
plan?
Yotan: Mwahahaha! Ken is
mine, mine, mine! sticks like glue to Ken>
Ran: pops out of nowhere>
What do you mean yours? Shiiiiiiine! He's mine! chases Yotan>
Ken: blinks owlishly,
still stuck in oblivious la-la land>
Brad: Now's my chance! swipes
Ken from under Ran and Youji's noses and runs off with a confused Kenken>
Ran and Youji: Hey! chases
running Brad>
Ahohoho! I can just see a
chibi drawing of this too! waves Bradken, Youken, Ranken flag and runs
away>
