Chapter 3: Darkness to Dawn





Finally, I have the third chapter up. I had a rare case of writer's block with this and it took a lot of struggling for me to get it the way that I wanted it. Anyway, the same warnings apply and hopefully I'll get more reviews for this chapter. Thanks and enjoy!



Ah, and one extra note before you read. I had added a little more to Heero and Rai's conversation in chapter that'll clear up some more issues. It would help if readers that have already read that chapter before to reread the last part so that you can obtain all the info.





Chapter 3: Darkness to Dawn

Rai nearly choked as he stepped into the smoke-thick air that hovered over the distinct smell of sweat, sex, and human bodies. It was easily the seediest pub in the city and therefore the best place to find vampires late into the night.

Settling at the bar, the brunette quickly placed an order and then checked his watch. /Two o'clock already. Just one more hour to go then I can get home for some sleep./ Rai had already been out hunting since midnight and the few vampires that he had slayed had put up quite a chase. /You'd think that those damned things would stay still for once!/ He paid the bar tender as the brusque man handed him the chilled drink. The necromancer sipped at the beverage as his calculating gaze swept icily through the crowd, searching for his next target.

Unknown to Rai, he had also been sighted.

"He's hot."

"You really don't expect to get him do you Kevin?"

Kevin smirked evilly. "And why not? Why wouldn't someone want a guy like me?" He flexed his arm muscles dangerously and his friend grinned. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some convincing to do." The burly man smirked lecherously, shoving his way through the crowd and came to a stop in front of Rai.

On Rai's part, he was slightly startled and annoyed to find that his view of the bar had been abruptly blocked. Sighing, the brunette murmured an elvish curse under his breath as his gaze swept up to the man in front of him. "Would you kindly move out of my way?"

"Now why would I do that beautiful?"

Rolling his eyes, Rai set down his drink and stood. "Fine then. You stay here and I'll go over there."

"I don't think so." Kevin grasped Rai's arm hard as the necromancer tried to push past him.

"I would suggest that you remove your hand now." Rai warned in a hushed tone. His eyes locked with the brown ones that were studying him and suddenly he felt it. A strong power was pulling at him and the American knew that he was a facing a vampire. /Well, this changes everything doesn't it?/ Pretending to fall under the trance, the brunette relaxed and gave a charming smile. "Oh, I didn't catch your name."

"It's Kevin. Now I believe that we are overdue at my place." He released Rai's arm, thinking that the other was completely under his spell.

Rai held the blank look in his eyes until he and Kevin were well away from the bar. He followed the vampire into a dimly lit alleyway and immediately halted when the other did.

Kevin smirked as he rounded on Rai, his fangs bared. He studied the other's handsome features and his grin only widened. "We're gonna have some fun before I finish with you."

"Really? And what type of fun would that be?" The American's eyes flashed as anger lit its fire in the icy gems.

The vampire backed up but it was already too late. He barely registered the silver dagger before his head was rolling across the alley and into the darkness between several trash bins. Rai snorted in disgust before bringing his blade back down and puncturing the body's chest and deeply into the demon's heart. "One down, Elbereth knows how many is left."

After wiping the blood covering his dagger on the dead vampire's clothes, Rai resheathed it and stood. /Might as well get home. This is more than I want to deal with in one night./ He had not even taken one step when he heard a shuffling above him and suddenly his daggers were out of their scabbards and he was parrying a fast moving sword. Right. Right. Left. Rai brought his dagger swirling around the single sword and swung the other dagger in with a graceful arch. He initiated a cross-down parry, locking the weapon between his own, and forced the blade down. The two opponents traded a fleeting glance before Rai grinned and kicked his leg up between his two blades causing the other to stumble back and grasp at his now broken nose.

"Had enough?" The brunette growled

"Not even." Rai's foe leapt forward but the necromancer was faster and the other slammed directly into an invisible shield.

Rai's eyes widened for a fraction of a second and the shield reacted, flashing dim silver before the two ends raced together to form a circle and then a dome, encasing the shadowy figure. Taking several deep breaths, Rai finally managed to return his breathing to normal. However, a feral snarl reminded him of his current predicament and Rai turned his eyes up to fully study his attacker. "Well this is a big surprise." He muttered sarcastically. "A vampire. What do you guys want from me this time?"

"To kill you of course." Answered the monster.

"Wow, an honest vamp. You've just marked a place in my book. First one to ever tell me the truth outright." Rai said as he leaned against the brick wall, and played with his sheathed dagger.

The vampire raised an amused eyebrow, a dark look in his eyes. "I would think that it would be Master Derek."

"So did I." Grumbled Rai before speaking louder. "However that is not the discussion. We are here. . ."

"No. That is the discussion because we are looking to kill you because of him."

Rai tilted his head in interest. "Care to elaborate?"

"Not really. This is the only message I was to deliver to you if I did not kill you." He sneered and punched against the shield again.

"Too bad." The necromancer pushed away from the wall and sighed. "You know, if you had not tried to attack me earlier, I would have given you a less painful death." Rai flicked his daggers up into the air and the second that they disappeared was when the vampire began to scream painfully. Sighing, the brunette cast another muting spell and smiled when the annoying sounds ceased.

Strolling out of the alleyway, Rai barely registered the his third assaulter until he had been grabbed by the arm and dragged into a nearby café.[1] /Well, my night just gets more eventful by the minute./ Releasing a weary sigh, the brunette looked up and gaped in shock when he saw who had taken a hold of his arm. "Derek. . ."

Derek didn't answer but merely dragged Rai to a booth. Too numb to respond at first, the necromancer finally managed to regain some of his senses when the waiter asked them for their orders. Rai only shook his head and he saw the man across from him do the same before the waiter left them to their privacy. "I am sorry Rai but you must listen to me. I. . ."

Reality hit Rai, hard, once the vampire began to speak and the elf scowled darkly, trying to block out the pain and the subtle feeling of joy in his heart. "Why should I listen to you Asgaroth? You have nothing to say that would interest me." He made to leave but was blocked as the handsome blonde man laid hands on both of his shoulders. "Leave me be Derek. I have enough problems at the moment and I think that you've already hurt me enough to last a life time. I don't need to suffer anymore damage at your hands."

"Please Rai, please. Hear me out. I beg of you." Derek's chocolate- colored eyes were laced with concern, fear, regret, and love as he gazed down at the shorter man. "I-I saw the fight and I have to speak to you."

"Why? Guilt's finally caught up with you Asgaroth? I can deal with this problem on my own." The American shook off the warm hands and stepped back. "Just leave me alone."

Derek winced. "Was it true Rai? What you said about that vampire being the first one that had ever been honest with you?"

Rai froze and considered the words before slowly nodded. "Like I said, I had thought you were honest when you said you loved me but obviously you don't love me enough to trust that I would be able to defend myself." He rounded on his heels and began to walk away without waiting for an answer but the one that he did hear, almost caused his heart to stop.

"No. . .I love you too much." Eyes shut tightly and fists clenched, the master vampire turned, not able to watch Rai leave him. /I've lost him. I've lost him forever./

However, the words had pierced Rai's soul deeper than anything the vampire had ever said to him. Closing his wintry gems for a brief moment to compose himself, Rai slowly twisted back around.

Derek listened to Rai's footsteps and with each one his heart shattered more but imagine his surprise when a loving hand gingerly cupped his cheek. Gasping, his brown eyes locked with silver-blue. "Rai?"

"Is that truly why you protected me?"

"I-" The blonde reached up to lace his fingers through Rai's. "I have never lied to you before and I will not start now."

The brunette spent a long, long moment just studying Derek's face. He seemed to sense something in the brown orbs that met his and Rai smiled gently as he retrieved his hand.

"Rai?"

The necromancer shook his head and backed up a step. "I understand why you did this now and I forgive you but as much as I miss you I don't want to get you caught up in this more than you already are. You know as well as I do that if you remain with me the Council will see you as a traitor now and they would hunt you as well. If that happens, it will only give them one more vulnerability to use against me."

"Then I'll come with you. I'll remain at your home. You can put up wards or whatever. Please. . .I just can't stay parted from you any longer. It hurts Rai." Derek had moved fast and now held Rai securely in his arms, pressed against his body.

Rai laughed desolately and shook his head. "I know it hurts but we cannot and honestly and I do not know if I am ready to risk my heart again."

His words had obviously pained Derek and the vampire winced as he unconsciously held Rai tightly against him. "Please let me stay with you." A thought suddenly occurred to Derek. "Besides, you said so yourself. I am a weakness to you already, whether we are together or not. What safer place is there to be than with you?"

Considering the words, Rai barely consented. "You are very hard to refuse Derek Asgaroth. Fine, remain with me but we shall have to discuss this with Wufei and I do not believe that he is very happy with you at the moment."

"Erm. . .can't we just go back to our home?" Derek, questioned, fidgeting slightly.

Despite the ache in his heart, Rai grinned, and shook his head. "No, that would be the first place that they would search for us. It would be safer if we remained at Wufei's apartment."

"Alright but you can scrape me off the walls once he's done with me."

Doubled over in laughter, Rai shook his head as he pulled his companion out of the café and back to his car. It was good to be with Derek again even if it wasn't in the way that they both wanted it but there were just too many risks and consequences.

* * * * *

"Chang?" Rai called out as he pushed open the door.

Wufei eyebrow arched at the rare use of his first name as his raised his head from his book. "Hello Rai. Hunting again?"

"Yup. What are you doing up?" Rai asked as he opened the door a little further.

"Reports."

The brunette wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Sorry about that. Umm. . .would you mind if someone stayed here with us for a while?"

"Who is it?" The Chinese man was intrigued when his friend grimaced and watched with curiosity as Rai fully entered the apartment, Derek right behind him. "You?! What are you doing here?"

Rai held up a hand to stop his partner from leaping out of his chair and tearing Derek apart, limb by limb. "Before you kill anyone Wu, we've solved our problems and he's here because we can't risk the Vampire Council catching him and using him against me."

Wufei scowled and tossed a warning glance in Derek's direction before reaching out and pulling Rai to the far end of the room so he could speak with his partner without the blonde overhearing. "Are you positive about this? What if he hurts you again?"

"I already told him Wufei." His eyes locked with the Asian's as he spoke, albeit painfully. "We are not together right now. There is just too much that's happening and we agreed that a relationship would not be the best to thing to engage in considering our positions in this. . .situation."

"Then all the more reason why he shouldn't be here with you." Wufei's dark eyes showed his worry and he shook his head when he saw the resolve in Rai's own wintry gems.

Rai sighed. "I still care for him deeply Wufei and you know as well as I do what can happen to a person if they leave their loved ones unprotected during a battle."

"It leaves you open and vulnerable. I know that Rai but. . ."

"Wufei. . ." It was obvious that Rai was pleading with his partner now and inside, the American smirked when he saw the defeated look spread across the Chinese man's handsome features. "Please. . ."

"Fine." Wufei breathed with a sigh. "You just be careful."

Rai chuckled. "With you looking after me I don't think I'm going to need to try."

Rolling his eyes, Wufei nudged Rai back into the general direction of Derek. "You, Maxwell, are starting to act too much like your brother."

"I know. Fun isn't it?" Rai teased, receiving an exasperated look before he turned back to his blonde friend. "Now we just have to figure out where you're gonna sleep."

"I can just take the couch."

Immediately Derek was countered with an argument. "No way. I'm not letting you sleep on the couch while you're staying here. You can take my bed."

Derek crossed his arms. "I'm not gonna kick you out of your own bed Rai."

"You're not. I don't mind."

"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch on my account."

Rai sighed. This was getting no where. "Wufei, do you still have my old hammock?"

"Yeah, it's in the closet. Where are you going to set that thing up?"

"Outside on my patio." Rai answered nonchalantly and went to dig through the closet.

Wufei raised an eyebrow as he watched Rai produce the hammock and lug it into his room. There came a few sounds of movement and the brunette reappeared a few minutes later. "There all set."

Neither men questioned Rai and they only parted with silence as Derek was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the death glare that Wufei was giving him. The vampire hurriedly shuffled into Rai's bedroom and breathed in relief when the door shut behind him. "Are you really going to sleep outside?"

"Why not? If anything I prefer the outdoors. I should like to be among trees but you can't get everything you want can you?" Answered the brunette, casually handing over a set of his pajamas to Derek. "You can borrow these for now and tomorrow we can get your other clothes."

"Alright. Where's the bathroom?"

"Through that door." Rai waited until Derek had gone before heading out onto the porch and scaling his way up onto the roof. As per custom since he had returned to his shared apartment with Wufei, the brunette shifted into his natural form and laid back, playing with one of his daggers. /This is definitely going to get interesting./

Closing his eyes, Rai was asleep in no more than five minutes.





T.B.C.







1. I don't know why a café would be open at that time of the night but hey, it goes with the plot and this is my story so the café is open. ^_^ V







So, what'd you think of the plot developments so far? I had originally not planned for Rai and Derek to meet again so soon but oh well. Hmm. . .other than that I guess I would just kindly ask for some reviews and I'll get to hammering away at the next chapter.