Ummm... Don't kill me for such a late update? I had so much other things to
do... Could you have guessed that already? A prequel to StD is up if you
haven't noticed ^^ I got you there, didn't I? It deals with all the
vampires' memories, so if you want to know what happened back then, you
need to read Paths of Blood. It will deal with all those centuries they
spent searching, waiting, suffering... I will not be writing anything
further of the memories here. You really don't need to read the prequel in
order to understand the rest of this, but if you're interested...
Thousand thanks to MaidenoftheMoon (Yep! M/I is perfect! ^^ And yes, they're trying to defeat the Soul Eater Shadi, who is very powerful. They couldn't get him if they just fight him one by one. He'll be seen very soon *evil laughter*), Hotaru the Demon Goddess (...ummm... I don't think this is very soon... I'm terribly sorry...), Cloak*and*Dagger/Aisha Outlaw (Hey, be glad, it only took me three days after I promised to get this up! ^.~ Truth to tell you it probably still wouldn't be finished if I hadn't promised that...), Redrum (Well, Yami's still not at full strength, but he's very near), jampom78 (I e-mailed you about your suggestions... So you should know what I'm intending to do with them ^.~), Jadej.j (*thinks* To let Seto drink from Jou...? An interesting thought, but I don't think it will show up the way things are currently going - not yet at least!), Seventh Sage (^^), darkdragon (I guess this comes a bit late, but congrats on getting an account ^.~), Betrayal (...'Shen'? Okay...), Diamond (*takes a deep breath* Yep. Once again, I will get this finished. I will), overlyobsesedwithyugi (funny? I didn't think there would be something funny in Yami drinking from Ishtar...), The Dark Star Goddess (Yes, I kind of scared myself with writing that...), Renee the Rabid Squirrel (I hope I haven't managed to screw up this chapter majorly...), Siobhan (Oh yes, I already forgot Yami tried to feed on that poor squirrel...), firedraygon97 (Nope, I don't think Seto can read minds... I guess I mentioned it somewhere, that vampires cannot read minds although they can control them. And it's okay, writing all the couples in a chapter gets easier now that they are starting to gather...), Chibizoo (to juggle four fics? I think I fell to that now... I have this and PoB, plus NtNG and a few unposted new ones... I can't believe how stupid I can be sometimes, starting new ones when I barely have time to write the old ones...), Yana (...does that mean that you think my fic is good?), Yume Takato (So I added you to the mailing list... It's not too much trouble! ^^), Jadesaber (Yep, Yami has his memories. If you truly want to know what has happened to him, go read Paths of Blood ^.~ I'm shamelessly advertising, aren't I...), Alana (The Amber series... Was it you that mentioned them earlier? And the fic is supposed to be weird, but in a nice way ^^), Neko-chan (It's amazing how I feel like I'm back home now that I read all these wonderful reviews from all the people I know - no matter how remotely. I already missed all the people who review all the time!), Lady Kaiba (You had some question...? It's been a long time since you reviewed, but feel free to IM me any time. That is, if you happen to be around in the same time I am, which if you are living in USA could be a bit hard...), Labannya (yes, I definitely prefer discovering great fics when they're in the beginning... For one there's the fact that some of them tend to be a bit long...), jeti (yes. Twisted friendship. It's odd, isn't it?), PanDora (*nods head* if you really want to know that, go read the prequel for this...), LOLO95 (good that you think so...), Burning- Yami-Rain (I'll try to get the next chapter out sooner than this one...) and Demon Star (...again I get praised for the detail... And the funniest thing is that I don't think I write so amazingly descriptively... Yeah, it tends to be a bit time consuming, to review every single chapter...) That's a long list, don't you think? Not to mention I now have 399 reviews... Is there any doubt that I wouldn't pass 400 in the next one? I don't think so, even though I haven't updated in such a long time and don't definitely deserve it...
Slaying the Dreamer, chapter 21: Freezing Feelings of Nothingness
---Seto POV---
What now... The young human sitting on the couch absolutely refused to look at me. Not that I was complaining, it made things so much easier for me when I didn't see those eyes of his. They disturbed me for some reason.
I absolutely despised this. To be so affected by one human... It wasn't like me at all. And to top it all, that brat who insisted on calling me his brother was worming his way into my heart too. How much more worse could it become?
"Get up, won't you. I don't have the whole night to spend here in this room. Come along, I need to stop by my office."
Turning around already, I suffered an instance of something like fear when I didn't hear him follow me instantly. But to my relief - and because of that relief, anger - he rose and started to follow me. Really, this thing with the human was going way too far.
As I walked, I tried to suppress all kinds of feelings. As I had noticed many times before, feelings were merely a burden, they failed me in the most crucial moments. I needed to be ice, I needed to be uncaring, so that I would survive this world. That was one of those lessons I had learned the hard way...
"...You really didn't need to be so rude. It's not like it's _my_ fault that I'm stuck here with you!"
No. I refused to answer such a comment. Let him ponder on that for a while, perhaps it would teach him patience. And perhaps he would even understand me?
...I really was growing soft. To crave for a human's understanding so... It was unacceptable. I needed to get rid of it. And what was I doing last night, following him like that? But now I was back to my senses, there would be no odd mistakes. I would be blessedly alone and emotionless again.
---Marik POV---
What could be more shocking than this... My darling vampire allowed someone else to drink from him! How could he...? If anyone should be this intimate with him, it should be me! Not some guy I knew practically nothing about. I was nearly seething with anger.
It didn't help that after a while my precious started pushing the other vampire away, and he wouldn't let go. Greedy, was he? And after my crazy psycho vampire allowed him to drink, no less. How rude.
Okay, ignore the touch of jealousy. You are not jealous because he lets someone drink his blood. _You_ don't want to drink his blood, so how could you demand him not to let anyone else do that. No, I'm not jealous.
Damn. I can't just pretend that I'm not, when all I want to do is throttle that idiot. And take a sweet sip of that blood, just to show that it all belongs to me. Mine!
I walk towards the two, determined to make it stop. Then the other - the Pharaoh? - flinches away from the psycho and seems to be in pain. What got into him? Couldn't take the blood?
...Well, it's not like I know what effects drinking the blood of a vampire would have. Who knows, perhaps it's supposed to be painful. Ishtar looks at me, face impassive. What?
"You're pissed off 'cause I let him drink from me, aren't you? You're cute when you're that angry..."
I blink. Excuse me? He continues holding the other vampire, and stares at me. If I didn't know better, I would say he's horny. Well, see if I care. It's _his_ fault that we're out here when we could be nicely sweaty and panting in my bed.
Okay, scratch that thought. Not good. Don't think on it right now, otherwise you'll pounce him right here and now, and that would probably be a mistake. What with the other vampire here... Would Ishtar protect me if the other one decided to hurt me? ...I had no idea.
The other vampire seemed to gather his dignity - the last shreds of it, by the looks of it - and rose from his crouching position.
"Ishtar..."
"Yes, darling?"
He laughed.
What did he call that spiky-hair?! I was very nearly on the brink of taking my Rod and plunging the blade into his chest. How dare he? If he started something with me, he would very well finish it before acting like that!
The Pharaoh looked surprised. What _were_ those two hiding?
Suddenly Ishtar was no longer beside the Pharaoh, but wrapping his arms around me. Did he think it would make up for his behavior tonight? ...Okay, now that he moved like that, perhaps it did. But I still thought that staying at my house would have been better. Much better.
"...I think I can remember now. I mean everything..."
"No surprise there!"
Why would it be no surprise for him? Sometimes he could be way too secretive for his own good. Not that I minded so very much, trying to make him reveal those secrets was...entertaining.
"...So. Can you help me fight against the Soul Eater, the one named Shadi?"
"That's what I'm here for..."
Even though I couldn't see Ishtar's face, I was sure he was grinning.
---Bakura POV---
It felt so good just to lay here... With the human side of me... My face comfortably buried in his hair... Had I had some plans for tonight? No, it didn't matter on the face of this small beauty so adorably nuzzling me.
How odd. Not so long ago I would have killed anyone who dared to touch me like that. Not that long ago I wouldn't have hugged someone like this, nor would anyone dared to approach me. I was dangerous, I killed everyone who got into my way - unless I could use them. I had gained quite a reputation along the years.
Not the kind of reputation that would make everyone go fanatic and search me out, but the kind of reputation that would make even the toughest opponents hide under their beds when my name was mentioned.
I was exaggerating. So? No harm in little self-confidence.
"...Bakura?"
The weak voice drew me out of that blissful state I was in. Not that it mattered so much when the one who interrupted me was him. His white hair glowed dimly in the dark room. So pretty...
"Un?"
I was too relaxed to actually bother to speak. So what, he'd understand me. It's not like I needed to make long speeches to answer that single word.
"I really don't understand you..."
//I guess that makes us even. Believe me, I have tried to understand what goes on behind that pretty face of yours//
I could feel how his face suddenly grew hot. Now what was there to blush about? It's not like I hadn't said something like that before. Hadn't I? Certainly I had told him something.
I sighed. I probably hadn't. But it was so hard to know what to do in a situation like this. Really, how did humans manage this?
Having no idea what I was going to say, I leaned closer to his ear.
"Blushing are you... I have no idea what I said to get that reaction from you once again. But perhaps being with you will make me learn about this 'relationship' thing."
The precious little human burrowed closer to me. I was already falling back to my blissful state when I felt something.
This presence... It was _him_! How dare he come here?!
After the immediate anger, came a twinge of fear. I couldn't defeat him all by myself. And Ryou was here, I'd need to protect him from the ominous presence that quickly approached the house. Taking a deep breath, I sat up.
---
AN: Sorry for the shortness. I just wanted you to know that I'm still here and writing. The next chapter should be longer... Much longer. I'll try to make it the longest yet to make up for the long wait for this one ^.~ Please review? I probably don't deserve it...
Thousand thanks to MaidenoftheMoon (Yep! M/I is perfect! ^^ And yes, they're trying to defeat the Soul Eater Shadi, who is very powerful. They couldn't get him if they just fight him one by one. He'll be seen very soon *evil laughter*), Hotaru the Demon Goddess (...ummm... I don't think this is very soon... I'm terribly sorry...), Cloak*and*Dagger/Aisha Outlaw (Hey, be glad, it only took me three days after I promised to get this up! ^.~ Truth to tell you it probably still wouldn't be finished if I hadn't promised that...), Redrum (Well, Yami's still not at full strength, but he's very near), jampom78 (I e-mailed you about your suggestions... So you should know what I'm intending to do with them ^.~), Jadej.j (*thinks* To let Seto drink from Jou...? An interesting thought, but I don't think it will show up the way things are currently going - not yet at least!), Seventh Sage (^^), darkdragon (I guess this comes a bit late, but congrats on getting an account ^.~), Betrayal (...'Shen'? Okay...), Diamond (*takes a deep breath* Yep. Once again, I will get this finished. I will), overlyobsesedwithyugi (funny? I didn't think there would be something funny in Yami drinking from Ishtar...), The Dark Star Goddess (Yes, I kind of scared myself with writing that...), Renee the Rabid Squirrel (I hope I haven't managed to screw up this chapter majorly...), Siobhan (Oh yes, I already forgot Yami tried to feed on that poor squirrel...), firedraygon97 (Nope, I don't think Seto can read minds... I guess I mentioned it somewhere, that vampires cannot read minds although they can control them. And it's okay, writing all the couples in a chapter gets easier now that they are starting to gather...), Chibizoo (to juggle four fics? I think I fell to that now... I have this and PoB, plus NtNG and a few unposted new ones... I can't believe how stupid I can be sometimes, starting new ones when I barely have time to write the old ones...), Yana (...does that mean that you think my fic is good?), Yume Takato (So I added you to the mailing list... It's not too much trouble! ^^), Jadesaber (Yep, Yami has his memories. If you truly want to know what has happened to him, go read Paths of Blood ^.~ I'm shamelessly advertising, aren't I...), Alana (The Amber series... Was it you that mentioned them earlier? And the fic is supposed to be weird, but in a nice way ^^), Neko-chan (It's amazing how I feel like I'm back home now that I read all these wonderful reviews from all the people I know - no matter how remotely. I already missed all the people who review all the time!), Lady Kaiba (You had some question...? It's been a long time since you reviewed, but feel free to IM me any time. That is, if you happen to be around in the same time I am, which if you are living in USA could be a bit hard...), Labannya (yes, I definitely prefer discovering great fics when they're in the beginning... For one there's the fact that some of them tend to be a bit long...), jeti (yes. Twisted friendship. It's odd, isn't it?), PanDora (*nods head* if you really want to know that, go read the prequel for this...), LOLO95 (good that you think so...), Burning- Yami-Rain (I'll try to get the next chapter out sooner than this one...) and Demon Star (...again I get praised for the detail... And the funniest thing is that I don't think I write so amazingly descriptively... Yeah, it tends to be a bit time consuming, to review every single chapter...) That's a long list, don't you think? Not to mention I now have 399 reviews... Is there any doubt that I wouldn't pass 400 in the next one? I don't think so, even though I haven't updated in such a long time and don't definitely deserve it...
Slaying the Dreamer, chapter 21: Freezing Feelings of Nothingness
---Seto POV---
What now... The young human sitting on the couch absolutely refused to look at me. Not that I was complaining, it made things so much easier for me when I didn't see those eyes of his. They disturbed me for some reason.
I absolutely despised this. To be so affected by one human... It wasn't like me at all. And to top it all, that brat who insisted on calling me his brother was worming his way into my heart too. How much more worse could it become?
"Get up, won't you. I don't have the whole night to spend here in this room. Come along, I need to stop by my office."
Turning around already, I suffered an instance of something like fear when I didn't hear him follow me instantly. But to my relief - and because of that relief, anger - he rose and started to follow me. Really, this thing with the human was going way too far.
As I walked, I tried to suppress all kinds of feelings. As I had noticed many times before, feelings were merely a burden, they failed me in the most crucial moments. I needed to be ice, I needed to be uncaring, so that I would survive this world. That was one of those lessons I had learned the hard way...
"...You really didn't need to be so rude. It's not like it's _my_ fault that I'm stuck here with you!"
No. I refused to answer such a comment. Let him ponder on that for a while, perhaps it would teach him patience. And perhaps he would even understand me?
...I really was growing soft. To crave for a human's understanding so... It was unacceptable. I needed to get rid of it. And what was I doing last night, following him like that? But now I was back to my senses, there would be no odd mistakes. I would be blessedly alone and emotionless again.
---Marik POV---
What could be more shocking than this... My darling vampire allowed someone else to drink from him! How could he...? If anyone should be this intimate with him, it should be me! Not some guy I knew practically nothing about. I was nearly seething with anger.
It didn't help that after a while my precious started pushing the other vampire away, and he wouldn't let go. Greedy, was he? And after my crazy psycho vampire allowed him to drink, no less. How rude.
Okay, ignore the touch of jealousy. You are not jealous because he lets someone drink his blood. _You_ don't want to drink his blood, so how could you demand him not to let anyone else do that. No, I'm not jealous.
Damn. I can't just pretend that I'm not, when all I want to do is throttle that idiot. And take a sweet sip of that blood, just to show that it all belongs to me. Mine!
I walk towards the two, determined to make it stop. Then the other - the Pharaoh? - flinches away from the psycho and seems to be in pain. What got into him? Couldn't take the blood?
...Well, it's not like I know what effects drinking the blood of a vampire would have. Who knows, perhaps it's supposed to be painful. Ishtar looks at me, face impassive. What?
"You're pissed off 'cause I let him drink from me, aren't you? You're cute when you're that angry..."
I blink. Excuse me? He continues holding the other vampire, and stares at me. If I didn't know better, I would say he's horny. Well, see if I care. It's _his_ fault that we're out here when we could be nicely sweaty and panting in my bed.
Okay, scratch that thought. Not good. Don't think on it right now, otherwise you'll pounce him right here and now, and that would probably be a mistake. What with the other vampire here... Would Ishtar protect me if the other one decided to hurt me? ...I had no idea.
The other vampire seemed to gather his dignity - the last shreds of it, by the looks of it - and rose from his crouching position.
"Ishtar..."
"Yes, darling?"
He laughed.
What did he call that spiky-hair?! I was very nearly on the brink of taking my Rod and plunging the blade into his chest. How dare he? If he started something with me, he would very well finish it before acting like that!
The Pharaoh looked surprised. What _were_ those two hiding?
Suddenly Ishtar was no longer beside the Pharaoh, but wrapping his arms around me. Did he think it would make up for his behavior tonight? ...Okay, now that he moved like that, perhaps it did. But I still thought that staying at my house would have been better. Much better.
"...I think I can remember now. I mean everything..."
"No surprise there!"
Why would it be no surprise for him? Sometimes he could be way too secretive for his own good. Not that I minded so very much, trying to make him reveal those secrets was...entertaining.
"...So. Can you help me fight against the Soul Eater, the one named Shadi?"
"That's what I'm here for..."
Even though I couldn't see Ishtar's face, I was sure he was grinning.
---Bakura POV---
It felt so good just to lay here... With the human side of me... My face comfortably buried in his hair... Had I had some plans for tonight? No, it didn't matter on the face of this small beauty so adorably nuzzling me.
How odd. Not so long ago I would have killed anyone who dared to touch me like that. Not that long ago I wouldn't have hugged someone like this, nor would anyone dared to approach me. I was dangerous, I killed everyone who got into my way - unless I could use them. I had gained quite a reputation along the years.
Not the kind of reputation that would make everyone go fanatic and search me out, but the kind of reputation that would make even the toughest opponents hide under their beds when my name was mentioned.
I was exaggerating. So? No harm in little self-confidence.
"...Bakura?"
The weak voice drew me out of that blissful state I was in. Not that it mattered so much when the one who interrupted me was him. His white hair glowed dimly in the dark room. So pretty...
"Un?"
I was too relaxed to actually bother to speak. So what, he'd understand me. It's not like I needed to make long speeches to answer that single word.
"I really don't understand you..."
//I guess that makes us even. Believe me, I have tried to understand what goes on behind that pretty face of yours//
I could feel how his face suddenly grew hot. Now what was there to blush about? It's not like I hadn't said something like that before. Hadn't I? Certainly I had told him something.
I sighed. I probably hadn't. But it was so hard to know what to do in a situation like this. Really, how did humans manage this?
Having no idea what I was going to say, I leaned closer to his ear.
"Blushing are you... I have no idea what I said to get that reaction from you once again. But perhaps being with you will make me learn about this 'relationship' thing."
The precious little human burrowed closer to me. I was already falling back to my blissful state when I felt something.
This presence... It was _him_! How dare he come here?!
After the immediate anger, came a twinge of fear. I couldn't defeat him all by myself. And Ryou was here, I'd need to protect him from the ominous presence that quickly approached the house. Taking a deep breath, I sat up.
---
AN: Sorry for the shortness. I just wanted you to know that I'm still here and writing. The next chapter should be longer... Much longer. I'll try to make it the longest yet to make up for the long wait for this one ^.~ Please review? I probably don't deserve it...