Mentor Demented

A/N: Sorry it took so long! School's back in session, meaning the chapters will be slowly leaking onto the keyboard. You can look at that Bio-Thingy and see when I plan on updating, just to give you guys a peace of mind. See? I am considerate! Ha!

Oh, Princess of Mirrors, Yuki is just ... the kind who's fond of blood, though there is a little big bad wolf hidden amidst the fun. Oh, what fun, what fun! (little big...isn't that considered an oxymoron? Oh well...)

Thank you all, who like this story so far. And I have more people reviewing! YAYS! I love you guys so much!! huggles

Bold-The Voice

Bold/Italics-Shuichi's Thoughts

Disclaimer: I do not own diddly of this, except for the plot-lessness going on here. Gravitation belongs to that one chick in japan, so therefore I have nothing except a peace of mind.


3rd Night-Patience, my Pet, Patience


A freezing yet gentle touch made him shiver in suppressed delight.

Soft, deceptive fingers were moving under his shirt, leaving little trails of splintering ice from where they patterned his lean chest and stomach. They always moved slowly, languidly, as if having all the time in the world for him and them to get to know each other. The tips were what had made him regain slight conscience in the first place; their frostiness contrasting cruelly to the warmth he had settled himself into.

The nails barely scraped his skin, not wanting to leave permanent marks of any kind as they slid to his narrow shoulders, dedicating each little difference in muscular elevation to memory it seemed. But no matter how much Shuichi tried to ignore it, though he grudgingly admitted to himself that he enjoyed this silent torment, it felt like a monsoon of frigid waters stormed inside him, his gut clenching every time those oh-so-cold fingers slithered suggestively lower.

A slight whimper escaped his tightly together-pressed lips, and a blood-freezing scream resounded from somewhere outside as if to confirm his suspicions about his situation not being a too-favorable one to be in.

Oh yeah; the scream. Right. Regaining more consciousness, Shuichi attempted an effort to be free of those winter-spirited hands. Only they held him steadfast as his breathing quickened. Trying to speak, a croaking whisper escaped his lungs, followed by a cough. Unconsciously, he leaned back into the caressing and coaxing touch of those hands that freely roamed across him, spreading ice over every centimeter of his being. A frigid breath tickled his neck, his eyes springing wide open, the purple irises magnified as fear crept into his mind, making his heartbeat increase a tenfold and his blood flowing unnaturally fast.

She heard it all, temptation rising into her eyes as she craved the taste of him on her tongue, the muscle slightly pointed at the tip. "Let me in," she quietly pleaded, her nails digging into his skin.

Shuichi's eyes could barely see in the dark, but he was positive that whoever it is, it was a blonde girl. He could see his own shadowed silhouette in the mirror opposite the bed, but no one was behind him. Golden eyes were the only thing that reflected in the glass. "Please let me in. I can fulfill your every fantasy."

Shuichi, though caught up in the moment still, couldn't help but ponder his confusion. 'My fantasies? What the heck?!' He could hardly picture a seductive voice make him rock the world. At least, not until he thought about the statement longer did he begin to understand the actual meaning. 'Oh, THOSE fantasies. Okay. Wait, no, NOT okay!'

The sudden added pressure of pointed nails made him inhale deeply, though before he could properly voice his own heart-shattering shriek of terror, as quickly as it had come, the cold disappeared. The only reminiscence of a winter's kiss ever truly having existed was the chill where it had sat on his bed as he touched the spot. A hiss had also been evident before it left.

'Well, I'm glad that's over now', he sighed in relief. He leaned a little closer to where it had been seated, catching a whiff of something along the lines of cotton candy.

This reminded Shuichi that he was hungry and that he'd gone to bed without dinner.

'Who would be able to eat after such a display as yesterday anyway?'

Well, I wouldn't mind a small bite.

Who the-oh yeah. Damn, you're still here?

Where else would you suggest I should go?

Don't get cocky. He really didn't want to deal with any bodiless voices in his head this morning. Looking out the window, he saw the faint aurora begin to slowly eat away the nighttime shadows to spread in full glory. Pushing himself off his bed, Shuichi stepped closer to the sill, looking down and saw that his window oversaw one of the many gardens. But this garden was so different in...every way from what little light was offered through the many trees.

It looked as if many things were jutting out from the ground in various odd angles, almost like long-dead and mutilated hands reaching up to snatch his soul away and make him one of them.

Stop it, you're scaring me, the voice whined, almost child-like.

Why should you care? But it was true. Speculating such a possibility did give Shuichi the heebie-jeebies, and he wasn't proud enough to be ashamed about admitting this very fact. He would tell anyone who asked him honestly what that little concealed speck of land reminded him of; dead-man walking.

Forgive past sins create blood's bond...

The same feeling as if a sacred presence were nearby crept up his neck and Shuichi turned around to find. . .nothing. He was about to ask the voice if he'd heard, thinking better of it. Shuichi was sure it would have prophesized some kind of lunatics' future if it had noticed.

The room was only lighting by the dawn-tinted sky, making it very hard for Shuichi to truly even see his hand in front of him. He would have to ask this guardian-dude where the electricity was. But first, he would have to find downstairs to get his clothes.

Stepping towards the direction Shuichi guessed was the door, he tripped on something heavy and his face landed in something reeking purely of garlic.

"My coat!" he exclaimed in amazement, then quickly clapped his hands over his mouth, looking around for any kind of little niche the sound could have escaped out of and disrupt his mentor yet again. But said-mentor was nowhere nearby, lucky for him.

Shuichi never recalled him having mentioned what his name was as well, but shrugged off that little oddity. After all, he wasn't to reveal himself either, now was he?

Actually, Hiro never said that you couldn't say who you were, the voice interrupted yet again.

Excuse you, but who's memory am I using? Mine or mine?

You suck at making sense.

And you suck at giving advice, now shut up! This was getting highly frustrating, always arguing with himself when he didn't even know for sure if it really was himself he was arguing with. He shut out the voice, reaching his hand out slowly and gingerly touching what he hoped was the corner of his suitcase, which, gratefully, it was.

The sun was rising higher, and it immensely helped Shuichi to try and find some clothes for the day that would help keep him warm. He found what he had been searching for; some fitting jeans, a long-sleeved shirt that clung to his torso and a sweatshirt to top it off. After last night, or this morning, he wasn't going to be caught in an undershirt and nearly freeze through someone's explorations of him again.


It was at least mid-morning before Shuichi dared himself to open the door.

Last night had just been too dark; he honestly wondered how he had made it anywhere without tripping over his own two feet. He only had so many skills and keeping his footing was not one of them.

Maybe luck is starting to favor me.

Highly doubt it.

Didn't I tell you to shut it?

Did you, now? Mock curiosity was very evident in his voice.

Shuichi refused to answer, instead trying to find some kind of recognition-spot so he could make out where he was. Too bad for him, the voice had been right; no such luck. He sighed in resignation, choosing to go left and hope that he would maybe find the stairs. Lost in thought, he almost tripped yet again as he stumbled into stairs that led upwards.

Had they descended last night? He couldn't remember. Shrugging, he decided he might as well explore a little. Positive that Eiri guy wouldn't mind, he shrugged off any doubts about wandering about the place. He had two years to get used to the place; why not have some fun?

Shuichi made slow progress up the stairs, always halting and looking over his shoulder, the feeling of continuously being followed never leaving him. Five more minutes passed before he finally made it to the next floor, where the carpet had changed from a modest brown to an ebony color. Definitely not familiar, but why not see what's up here?

Stepping onto the carpet and hesitantly removed his hand from the oak railing, he looked around at the walls, noting that they were all a deep crimson color, making him shiver as he thought about how that could perfectly hide a bloodstain, just like the carpet. He shook his head in disgust, trying to make his sudden fascination with dead and gory things vanish, instead giving his full attention back to the corridor ahead of him. Everything up here seemed so old, but that could have been from the dim flickering of candles. Wait, this calls for a celebration; there's actually light in a part of the house! Amazing!

But his mental comments couldn't truly abate the strangeness of this hall where it seemed anything and everything was reaching for him. Even the pictures were giving him the creeps. All the blondes and brunettes staring down at him reproachfully had that aristocratic air about them, practically shouting the very fact that they were superior, even though deceased, and that Shuichi was just another annoying subordinate. Their eyes were painted, but the painter must have been able to read expressions, for all held that strange gleam in their eye, making them seem very much alive instead of hollow and empty.

At the very end before the corridor turned a sharp right, a picture that seemed truly out of place made Shuichi step back to have a better look. A lady sat in a well-cushioned chair and was the only face smiling pleasurably, which captured his attention immediately. Instead of her look being full of contempt as the rest, she reflected pure bliss. Her flaxen hair was pinned up in an elegant bun, the loose ends cascading down her left shoulder like a golden waterfall. Her white dress seemed to make her pale features glow more, her face showing no trace of ever having used make-up or been scarred. Shuichi thought if joy had a face that would be it. She was the hope from Pandora's box.

Shuichi had been stunned by her beauty, that he hadn't noticed the little child standing next to her at first. Although the boy resembled her in almost all of her physical aspects, his expression held pure sorrow. An attempted smile was on his face, but was captured as a half-hearted frown. But he had those same sparkling eyes as she, a blue so dark it appeared to be obsidian.

Stepping closer to the painting, he noticed something else strangely familiar, yet so foreign about the boy's eyes. Though they were the strangest blues he had ever seen, a gold ring encircled the pupil, contrasting with the dark color. Yet as Shuichi stepped back, it looked like that little golden circle had never existed, instantly being swallowed into the darkness around it. He shook his head, distracting himself instead with the year it was painted. Shivers started running down his spine through his sweatshirt.

Wow, she's cute!

Shuichi really wanted to hurt that voice; it was so hard not to want to reach into his mind and strangle it green and purple.

You freak.

Look who's talking; might I add that I'm not the one talking to myself?

But I thought you were I.

Only in the sense of speaking. I am you, but then I am myself, leading to the very fact that we are completely separate people who are in every way the same.

My mind is suffering a meltdown. Shuichi really was developing a headache and it didn't feel like it would subside anytime soon. He tried shaking the dizziness away, only to have it increase and a throbbing sensation was starting to become more persistent.

Vengeful hunger...taint pure light...

Not again, he silently pleaded. Did you hear that?

Hear what?

I didn't think so.

No, seriously, what did I not hear. The voice for once did seem to be somewhat concerned without the faintest trace of humor.

Shuichi sighed, wondering if he should tell it. Might as well, he concluded. Back at home, before-um-we left, I heard this strange voice talking about a rose. I heard it earlier and just now as well.

Hmph.

Is that all you have to say?

Am I the only occupant up here at the moment?

The only one not paying rent.

Then yep, you're the only one who heard it, the voice replied, but it didn't hold that mocking tone usually present. Just don't listen to everything you hear, alright?

You're one to ta-

The candles flickered as a sudden cold-spell swept past, almost freezing the flames in place.

Shuichi?! Hey, Shuichi!

Shuichi couldn't respond as glacial ether suddenly filled him, making his world swim into the darkness. There truly was a door to his left this time, but he couldn't reach it before he fell to the shadows yet again.

Shuichi!


Yuki really didn't want to get out of bed.

At first he couldn't remember why he was in bed, let alone in this bed, his old room. Why wasn't he downstairs, where the smell of fresh earth surrounded him? Why was he in this damp-rock smelling chamber yet again? Why this room where lovely light could penetrate the permanent darkness he so loved?

But he refused to shift, just allowing his brain cells to come to life and re-activate themselves to search through his mind and point out the most reasonable explanation for this strange locating at the present moment. And then it regretfully hit him fast and hard; he was a guardian. He had become mentor of a child that he knew nothing about, even if his conscience did tweak him sometimes with a sense of familiarity. No, he wasn't living alone anymore where he could just up and sleep where he pleased and bring home who he wanted to, for an annoying brat had come and stomped into his life in less than twenty-four hours ago. The world had lost its sense of justice, but then again, who was he to judge?

As unfair as Yuki had been through his life, this might have seemed reasonable punishment if only the day weren't so... day-like.

He could smell the sweet damp scent of sunlight, differing from what the evening aromas held, besides temptation, feeding and seduction, of course. It was too early and he was feeling absolutely content, but he had to get rid of the temporary dweller in his bed before the brat came along. He didn't want to deal with his continuous screeching and rambling about on this bright and sunny morning. Oh, how he detested the start of a beautiful day.

To make matters worse, the birds just had to settle into the branches next to his window and start their morning songs towards their mates, or those poor singles that were still in search of one. Funny, he'd been thinking about things with 'mate' in them a lot lately. Roommate, housemate, a mate.

Yuki shuddered involuntarily at the last one, not really wanting to face the prospects his high-and-mighty in society family would present to him later this year. He's lived to see famine, the plague and two wars pass without so much as ghosting across him, he wasn't about to give it all up for some dame he knew nothing about. Even if she were living, all she would be was just a quick meal ticket for the next century or so. He wasn't about to make her his permanent blood-bond. None of them ever held any true meaning for him, and none were about to start either.

How about guys? his annoying little inner voice asked.

What the-don't even mention guys. Though the possibilities that new vision offered weren't quite as bad as with the usual mates. Yuki actually wasn't objecting as vehemently as he meant to.

Especially the one that includes a young pink-haired punk living right underneath his roof...

Oh no. No, I'm not going to think that way. Nope, not even going down that road, he mentally argued with himself. He was to watch the brat for two years, watch him grow into whatever manhood he had and then kick him out of his house and his life.

You sure that's ALL you want to do?

What's that supposed to mean?

Meaning when it's time, will you be able to let him go?

You mean you want me to OWN him?

Oh, I wouldn't put it that way; just that I don't really mind his company...so far. But I'll ask that question again when it's time, don't worry.

But come to think of it, he had felt something when being in the presence of the adolescent. Besides the momentary frustration, anger and annoyance, a sense of wanting to protect him had settled within him, but it was only a small sense and he could shatter it with some well-brewed booze later.

What the hell; got any suggestions? He asked himself, really not wanting to think about it any further, but curious as to what his devious mind could scheme up.

Well, you could always...


"Okay, that's just not right."

Shuichi looked around, doing his best to try and remember how long he had been out as he stood at the bottom of the staircase they had ascended last night. He finally had remembered that they had gone up, because he had that skill of falling up and the temperature down here dropped somewhat. How he could tell through his layers, he had no idea.

"What just happened to me?" he asked aloud, wondering if the voice had been conscious as he supposedly 'walked' back to here.

Said voice held no response.

"Hey! Hello, anyone up there?" Shuichi turned about himself once, looking up as if to roll his eyes into the back of his head and see it. "Hey! ...Great, just when I really need to talk to him, he vanishes. Oh, phooey."

He stuffed his fists into his pockets and started making his way down the lengthy corridor, fewer pictures present down here than where he had been momentarily, which to think of it, where had that hallway been? He stopped and looked over his shoulder once, not sure of what to expect. Should he maybe...? Nah, best not think about it. It would just add to his worries, and he had enough as it was.

Shuichi saw one of the windows with a little creature flitting along the windowsill, seeming highly confused, lost, or irritated. Stepping closer, it was a little pink-footed mouse with blackened ears and chestnut colored fur, rapidly scurrying back and forth. It was very amusing to watch it flit from one side to the other, and bent a little lower to pick it up. Only as his hand hovered above its dashing form, the mouse immediately stopped, its coal eyes turning on him and instantly flashing a very, very angry red.

He gasped and pulled his hand back as the creature opened its mouth, supposed spittle flying from its jaws at an attempted hiss. It sounded more like a strangled squeak as Shuichi stared at it some more. But as he blinked, it had vanished, leaving no trace behind. Shaking his head, choosing denial to be the best mental path in times like these, he continued his wanderings until he made it back to the main room, which was a quarter hour later, of course. He thought himself incredibly lucky to have only gotten lost three times, considering all things impossible. Grinning with pride, Shuichi skipped into the sunshine filled kitchen, stopping short of screaming and retracing his steps the way he came.

A blonde lady within her late twenties, dressed in little more than a gray wool overcoat that reached her ankles and what looked like a plain gown underneath. Her eyes were a hollow chocolate color, creamy but faded. Her skin was pale and her hair hung limp, awkwardly framing her face. But he couldn't mistake it.

She was the woman from his dreams. (A/N: FROM his dreams, not OF his dreams! There's still a chance for us!)


Why did it have to be another beautiful autumn morning?

Fine, rainy days, foggy days, even slightly cloudy days Yuki could handle; but did it have to be sunny today? Yes, Yuki was still complaining about the start of a wonderful day.

He had sent her ahead and into the kitchen, prodding her mind to go the right way and hoping that she would just make a cup of coffee and LEAVE. But most of all, he hoped that the brat wouldn't find her or she him. He really didn't want to make up any explanations.

Too bad for him, it was not to be so.

Nope, the world had definitely lost its sense of justice as he heard the shriek rupture the blessed silence that he had managed to build around him. The bloody birds had left, leaving the sweet sunshine to fill in through the half-moon arched color stained windows. But because it seemed the universe was to be against him yet again, of course his peace of mind was to be disturbed, forcing him to rise and face the day. Luckily he didn't have to seize it. 'Carpe Noctem ¹', that was his motto.

Curses, he grumbled in his mind, sending out a clear message to anyone who thought to challenge him today to just back off. Yuki was seriously irked, mostly because he really didn't want to get out of bed. Not because he was tired, though that reason did hold a minority for his objections. He just didn't want to face a violet bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, pink-haired kid whose name couldn't be more appropriate if he named him something happy along the lines of Sparky, or Fluffy. No, even Skipper would describe him perfectly.

These thoughts of renaming him reminded Yuki that he had yet to find out his name. Yet again.

"Curses", he growled into the pillow, wanting to suffocate himself and fall back to sleep. Or maybe just cry tears of self-pity, suffocate himself and THEN fall asleep.

Yes, the values of being pure Nosferatu did have its good sides. Like suicide, because since you were already dead, all you would do is fall asleep again. Maybe he should suff-

"I am going to strangle that brat!" Yuki growled out loud as he threw the covers off of him and shed his clothes while re-threading new ones for the day as he flew to the source of the sound of glass suddenly shattering.

Too bad for him that he noticed too late he had forgotten boxers. Not that he normally needed nor used them.


A/N: Though it is a very entertaining thought, I refuse to imagine Yuki without boxers as he storms towards the kitchen. But maybe he should have forgotten pants as well...? Nah, let's not be too cruel to him, his patience is already wearing thin as we have seen.

¹Carpe Noctem: Simply 'Seize the night'. It seemed appropriate, just because my friend was wearing a shirt with that in the middle of broad daylight and I had to laugh at her. She then of course pursued me with her hammer and daggers in hand, I having to run and hide among the trees until the bus came and we had to go. She then settled for glaring daggers at me instead, much to my relief.

VOTING TIME!!

Anywho, I think it will give me a peace of mind for myself if you guys just 'hint' at what you want, mostly because this thing has no true plot, but anyways.

1) Who is this mysterious woman? Not the one in bed with Shuichi, she's already had her fate foretold. Give me a name! That's not a vote...but anyways. Can't be Maiko, either. Sorry!

2) Should there be a brief ...humiliating moment...for the both of them? OR should there be a brief 'Oh jeez, now what does Shuichi want?', which would include him going to school, unexplainable jealousy tantrums, possible snogging...you guys get the picture.

Now, push that little violet button and review, review, review! Well, vote as well if you don't mind.