Author's Note: Yes, chapter one, at last. *streamers* This chapter continues in a more serious vein than the previous, but there will still be humor, I promise!  The plot just calls for a little more sobriety.

-I have read DD6.  And while I simply melted at the EAR5 fluff, I found that I was upset with Rae4.  The put it mildly.  So this is what we're going to do: we're going to pretend that everything that happened after evil!Rae changed back to kawaii!Rae in DD5 didn't happen.  Denial is a wonderful place to live. *nods wisely* I will incorporate some things that happened, maybe, but my way.  ^^. Any complaints?  Well, leave them in a review then!

-Thanks to everyone for correcting the 3513th thing, I just saw it ending in 3 and …uh, yeah… ^^;; It's all fixed now.

-Special thanks to Nightengale13 for beta-ing. *gives her a life-size poster of all violet-eyed bishi*  Wow, I wish I had one… Still a favorite person!!!

Warning: Yaoi (male/male), plot-ness, fluff, weirdness…

Disclaimer: This is fanfiction.  Fan (as it written by a fan – ta da, me!) and fiction (as it, it's not real).  So let's just go with the assumption that I don't own DD, okay?

A.C.I.D.

by Ryuuza

Chapter 1

Winter was generally the preferred season of demon lords.  Ice storms were lovely tools of destruction and most the world associated the season with death anyway, what with the lack of, well, life in the nature around them.  And for the few demons that were more partial to summer, their reasons were justified, for summer heralded violent storms that the demon world reveled in.  Krayon, however, had always loved autumn and its slow, inevitable onslaught of death and cool, crisp air that would blow silky black hair into verdant eyes…

So autumn had always been Raenef's favorite season too.  And maybe Krayon was biased.

He closed his eyes and buried himself deeper into his bed, the silk sheets cool against his skin.  The drapes kept out the majority of the morning sunlight, and in the shadows of his canopied bed, Krayon remembered the gentle touches and warm breath that used to accompany his daily awakenings.

A sense of loss so deep it struck him speechless assailed him, and he bit his lip at the pain.  It'd been a year, a year and a half, since his lover had died.  Tears seeped through his lashes as he remembered days when he hadn't been able to imagine a life without his Raenef, without the teasing and scheming and loving… When he thought they'd have a couple of thousands of years together, at the very least, during which he couldn't have pictured himself ever leaving the younger demon lord for other lovers, as Raenef had sometimes worried.

How I miss you Rae…

It was so hard to go about his normal activities lately, his casual death and destruction, when every fiber of him yearned to be where his lover was.  It didn't matter where, watched over by vicious storms or blanketed by blue skies, wherever, he didn't care, as long as there would be slender arms wrapped fiercely around him, and a heart beating in sync with his.

He just wanted Raenef.

But… Krayon turned, bringing his arm over his head and dragging the sheets along, burrowing further into the depths of his bed and hoping fruitlessly that he wouldn't have to face the day.  But, deep down, he knew he couldn't escape another day without his Raenef.

A tear tracked down his cheek.

Mornings were the worst, when his memories and yearnings were especially vivid and the loss nipped at his heart sharpest.  He bit his lip.  It was…improper…this longing, this sentimentality.  Demon lords shouldn't suffer these kinds of thoughts.  The rulebook was absolutely clear on that (though most demons generally accepted sentimentality when it came to devious, torturous subjects).  Still, Krayon couldn't help himself.  Raenef had ingrained himself too deeply within this demon lord's heart.

His breath hitched.

Maybe he would work on the ACID preparations today, he thought.  The work might distract him.  Hopefully.

Krayon shuddered and his longing conjuring up a ghost of a whisper along his neck, trailing along collarbone and coming to a rest over his heart.  And within that heart beat a strong, steady, desperate wish.

Raenef…

-x-

"It's still raining," Meruhesae observed to Eclipse.  She snapped her fan closed and turned from her window to her cozy boudoir, eyeing the two demons nestled on her couch.  "It's a good thing you got here before nightfall."

Eclipse inclined his head in agreement but refrained from speaking.  He had an arm wrapped around his sleeping liege, Raenef tucked close to him, and looked tired.  It had been a long trip from Raenef's realm to Aureleid's (where ACID was being held) for teleporting could only take place within a demon lord's own realm.  Meruhesae regarded them with a considering expression, her thoughts plentiful but private.

"Perhaps it would be best if you and your lord retired for the night," she finally said.   Gliding past Eclipse, she swept aside a sheer drape and glanced at the pair over her shoulder.  "Follow me and I shall show you to your rooms."

Eclipse scooped up the little blonde demon lord in his arms and trailed after the female Seer.  She led him to a room of soft peach and ivory with a large bed dominating the space and heavy velvet curtains hung before the windows.  A circle of shallow steps led up to the bed and Eclipse ascended these to gently place Raenef in the sea of fluffy peach.  Meruhesae observed them from the doorway, shadows playing across her face as her ever-present fan gently stroked the chilly night air.

Turning back toward Meruhesae, Eclipse trained solemn garnet eyes on her.  "Thank you for your hospitality," he intoned coolly.  [Demons do have manners, you know, but only to other demons.  (Who needs mortals, right?)  Remember how Eclipse bowed to Raenef and kissed his hand?  Aww… Eclipse isn't nearly as pleased about having to be nice to Meruhesae though…]

"Shall I receive any reward for all I have done for you?" the demon asked him, her face creasing into an impish smile.  Her eyes twinkled mischievously.  "I never did receive a proper reward for my previous services, Eclipse."

A keen observer may have observed a faint flush on Eclipse's cheeks.  "I shall see that you are compensated fully for your assistance," he said stiffly.

Meruhesae laughed at him.  "I think I know better than to ask for a kiss this time."  Her gaze slid fleetingly to the bundle of golden hair and pale skin and white robes snoring contentedly in the middle of the bed.  "I'll settle for your lyre."

"I wasn't aware I had a lyre," he replied, deadpan.  "Perhaps I should consider purchasing you a new fan."  Her current one fluttered near her collarbone.

She smiled beatifically at him, though the glint in her eyes was slightly more devious.  "I shouldn't think to allow such a high-ranking demon to purchase a gift, nay, a reward.  If you won't give me your lyre, Eclipse, which I know perfectly well you play to lull Raenef V to sleep, I'd be happy to take that cleric boy of yours off your hands."

Eclipse raised an eyebrow as he settled himself on the edge of the bed, lifting his   hands to undo the tie that bound his hair.  "You need a new mannequin, do you?"

Meruhesae looked mildly annoyed.  "Honestly, don't give me that kind of look.  Have you ever tried making Krayon's clothes without a proper model?" [1]

"Isn't the cleric quite a bit smaller than our venerated Demon Lord of Egae?"

"Don't worry," the Seer said dismissively.  "Krayon wears clothes two sizes to small for him anyway."

"I see…"  The skeptical tone was accompanied by a slight smirk that was hid by the waves of silky black locks that spilled across his face.  Only Meruhesae would dare say something as impudent as that.

At the pointed look she was receiving from Eclipse [Every demon should master a look with points.  Arrows were good, spears and lances also.  But needle-point worked best, for all its pinpricks were sharp, clean, and painful.]  Meruhesae sighed and swept her fan closed.  She gently rubbed her shoulder.  "Do let up, Eclipse, I'll leave you to your liege.  Continue on with whatever naughty things you do at home."  Eclipse glared, she smirked.  Then, sobering, she added, "I do request to speak to you tomorrow.  It's…about ACID…your former master…the future."  There was an unfamiliar shadow of worry on her features.

He nodded.  "I will see you at dawn."

She arched a brow.  "Raenef might not appreciate being abandoned so quickly after.  I'll see you after breakfast."  With a wink, she made a quick exit before Eclipse could throw anything at her, as he looked tempted to do.

-x-

"We are so lost," grumbled Chris, picking a twig and a leaf out of his hair.  "This is all your fault."

"Excuse me?"  Erutis stopped, hands on her hips, and glared at the cleric.  "Just because I am tougher than you and don't mind roughing it out through this dark, scary forest because I trust my instincts that we're on a shortcut does not mean you get to complain!"

Chris gaped at her, coming to a standstill in the dark forest as rain drizzled down on them.  Then, in a higher octave than normal, he yelped, with an accompaniment of rapidly waving arms, "Complain?  Complain?  You think that was complaining?  Let me show you complaining.  You lost Eclipse and Raenef while we were following them, you have no idea where we're going, dark, scary forests are never shortcuts, at least never shortcuts you can see the other side of, we are only toughing it out in this stupid forest because you got us lost, and I'm hungry, tired, wet, and you didn't bring an umbrella!  Umbrellas may not yet have been invented!  I am a supergenius and you can't treat me like this and I'm talking in a voice higher than yours!  I think I'm at least entitled to being upset and definitely to complain."

Erutis blinked.  Chris stopped and gasped for breath.  "Are you done?" she asked irritably.

"Uh, yeah," he said hoarsely.

"Good.  Let's continue."  The knight swung her sword briskly and tromped forward into dark and wet shapes that looked the same in all directions.

Chris heaved a sigh and, with shoulders slumped, followed.  Who would've figured he'd be stumbling around in a strange demon lord's realm in the middle of the night behind a clearly insane swordswoman?  Supergeniuses weren't made for this kind of exercise.  Lunatic women.  He glared into the darkness and kicked the ground angrily…and tripped.

Argh.

Picking himself up and wiping the mud off his face, he continued shuffling forward.  That stupid demon ceremony thing had better be worth it.  Otherwise, when he found a dry bush to crawl under, see if he would share with that deranged madwoman!  Hmph.

-x-

"Ow, dammit, Rae, what're you doing?"

"Just checking."  Green eyes blinked innocently at him, offset by a deviously smiling mouth.  "I just wanted to make sure that your hair was attached."

Krayon had a hand protectively placed at the base of his skull, where the victimized lock of hair originated.  He rubbed it gently and gave his lover an annoyed look.  "Why wouldn't my hair be attached?" he grumbled.  "It's not like I wear a wig."

Slender arms wound around his waist and Raenef looked sheepishly at him.  "I had this dream, y'see…" He snuggled closer, drawn to the warmth by the other demon lord in the cool morning air.  Silk sheets were prone to catch the chill in the air and Raenef preferred the heat of his lover.  "I was just checking," he reiterated.

"Liar," Krayon accused sorely.  He lay on his back, gaze drifting over the patterns in the ceiling as Raenef pillowed his head on his shoulder.  "You just wanted to wake me up."

"Well…you did."

"You're such a child, mate."

"Well, that makes you a pedophile."  Raenef arched a brow, a smug look on his face, his fingers tangling themselves in the other demon's hair.

Krayon groaned.  "Don't remind me."  He turned on his side and received an affectionate nip on his jaw for the effort.  Levering himself off the bed, he propped himself up on his elbows as he looked down at his companion.  The fourth Demon Lord Raenef was sprawled lazily under the sheets, his pale skin stark against the crimson silk, ebony black hair spilling like ink against the pillow, long spiky lashes at half mast over sleepily come-hither verdant eyes, and a slight pout that was the result of Krayon's perusal.  Raenef tugged on his lover.

"Come back," he coaxed.

Willingly, Krayon slid back into his embrace.  "Let's go terrorize people's dreams today."

A pause.  "And you think I'm childish."

"Are you mocking me?  I'll have you know I'm due for a lot more respect than you give me, mate."  He nipped an earlobe.  "Insubordinate fool.  I happen to be very adept at creating nightmares, thank you."

"You've had the practice, you old hag, you."

A sharp twist of a nipple in retaliation.  "I'm still prettier than you."

"I have better hair."  A gasp.

"Better skin."

"More energy."  A twist of the hips.

"More experience."

"More endurance."  Wandering fingers.  Labored breathing.

"More creativity."  A lick along exposed skin.

"Stronger magic."

"More magic."  A moan.

"Prettier servant."

Krayon had to pause there.  "Okay," he conceded, thinking of his own demon servant, who was far from ugly, but definitely not as beautiful as the renowned Eclipse.  He dropped a quick kiss on Raenef's lips.  "Best lover."

Raenef smiled at him.  "Mine's better."  He rolled Krayon onto his back and straddled the demon lord of Egae.  "Love you," he whispered.

Krayon didn't get to terrorize dreams until much later that morning.

-x-

Four and a half hours of sleep, Raenef V thought as he yawned behind his hand, was not nearly enough.  The rest of the night had been spent very pleasurably, to be certain, but still, he was tired.  Strenuous exercise did that.  He winced a little as he strode down the unfamiliar corridors toward what he hoped was Meruhesae's breakfast room.  He was a little sore too, because, well, you know.  But it was a very happy kind of sore.  He nodded decisively.  If sores could be happy.

He hoped they weren't sad, in any case…

Raenef rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blinking at the bright morning sunlight.  The clouds that had brought the rain of the previous two days had rolled past in the night and the sun seemed to be gloating at its triumph.  Ha ha, it said (or so Raenef thought), I win!

Still, Raenef was pretty sure it'd be cloudy and miserable for the celebration.  Not even the weather dared to defy the wishes of a couple hundred demon lords and even more demons.  They were scary sometimes.

Although Eclipse could be very hot when he was scary.  Raenef licked his lips.  Mmm… He turned left into another hallway and noticed with interest the portraits hanging on the wall.  A few were demon lords he recognized as important and well-respected (read: old) from his induction ceremony a year and a half ago, but most were unknown to him.  They all seemed properly dark and menacing however, glowering impressively from their post on the walls.  Eclipse should be up there, Raenef thought.  But no, he'd prefer the real Eclipse, and not in Meruhesae's palace, no thank you.  Raenef wanted Eclipse with him, always.  And Eclipse seemed just as willing to fulfill that desire.

Warm, fuzzy feelings sprouted wings in Raenef's chest.

"Ha," Raenef gloated out the window to the sun.  "I win!"  Then he stopped as a portrait caught his attention.  His eyes widened and little fish marched in a row above his head.

"…What is that?!" he exclaimed, agape.

"That," came an amused voice behind him, Meruhesae sweeping into the corridor, dress rustling and fan dangling limply from one hand, "is the Great, Dark, and Scary Third Demon Lord Krayon of Egae…in a dress."

::tbc::

[1] Yes, I know, Seers generally don't have other jobs, like being seamstresses.  However, Meruhesae is a special case, Krayon is her friend, and she likes dressing him up.  So she helps make his (rather questionable) clothes. ^_~.  Don't know about you, but I certainly like his style.  But then, I'm biased.

More notes: Er yes…weird, isn't it?  Don't worry, the rest of the plot is coming along…I think.  Hmm… Any suggestions?  And, someone talk to me about Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, onegai shimasu.  Has anyone heard of it?  New by CLAMP © 2003.  I've read the first one in Chinese!!  Lovely AU crossover. ^^.  And Juvenile Orion is pretty!!! *heart*