Disclaimer: I don't own Suzaku or YYH, I'm just a humble fan!

AN: The original contents of this chapter were combine with ch. 2. Just thought I'd let you all know. This chapter has been revised again. Thanks Suzaku's misunderstood fangirl for the input

Chapter Three: Revival

"Damn it!" Another venomous curse spilled from his lips. His fingers finally releasing their death-grip on the metal handle of a door. Suzaku, in the revived flesh of a child, stood in one of the many narrow corridors of the castle with little to speak of to cover his form. It had been what was left of the dirty rags that had been torn off the boy before its demise, which to say the lest wasn't much. His skin was prickled to goose flesh by the chill that had yet to abandon the former corpse. He glared at the steel door before him, his purple eyes dark in his vexation. This body was cold, sore, and to his displeasure too weak to open the door to the innards of the castle. This was the most direct route to his desired destination.

It wasn't that he had a lot of choice of bodies, but this one was thin and undeniably damaged. Ghost wounds plagued his mind, the nerves had yet to figure out the injuries had healed. It was an inevitable side effect of reviving in a dead body, but this ache in his neck had spread into a full migraine before he had even descended the tower steps to reach the main castle complex. This was one of the skills he had never had the opportunity or misfortune to have to use. Normally he would allow the energy to build up and breath life back into his own body; that option was certainly not available to him. He had been to say the least unsure on relying on what ever stores of energy he had to lay in wait for a body to present itself. How long had he been there clinging to what was left of his body and blood?

The scent of lower demons in his castle made his ire rise with a vengeance. Fore most were the filthy creatures that roamed the castle that had damaged his current body. On one had they had presented him with a body without a spirit, having to purge the body before entering it would have taken a great deal more energy than he had, but the vile taste of their fluids still coated the back of his throat. His body ached in places he would have rather no had to deal with and his lips still burned with the phantom cuts granted from their fangs. Once this body was fully healed and his energy was restored he would hunt these vermin and throw their smoldering carcasses out of his keep. Clutching his now tiny fists he stormed down the hall way so look for another way in.

"Oi, I'm glad you are all right." A hand came to rest on his shoulder. Suzaku whirled around, his eyes narrow and lips pulled back in a snarl, to face a boy a little older than his current body. He was in his mid teens or so; its was hard to tell from his thin form. The taller demon stepped back putting his hands up as though in defeat. "Whoa there. I'm sorry I thought you were someone else." He rubbed the back of his head. The still quiet Suzaku studied this youth, his head tilting to the side. The boy was under weight, as were most of his status, with a mop of rusty colored hair, darkened by dirt. His face was narrow, cheek bones clearly visible just below the black circles which outlined his gray eyes. He had large pointed ears resembling an animal's which seemed to naturally fold down against his head. His tail was long but the fur was matted and thin is some places. 'A low level cat demon,' he surmised. Perhaps he was a companion of the unfortunate soul that had this body before him. Young or weak demons tended to band together, safety in numbers.

Voices from beyond the darkness brought on by the length of the hall way broke the awkward moment. The older boy was in motion even before Suzaku could pin point where the voices were coming from. He had grabbed the younger boys hand and had broke into a sprint, pulling the other boy along with him. Was this how little demons survived? Seeking bolt holes at every sound?

"Wait," Suzaku uttered, loud enough to catch the older boy's attention. They slowed, allowing for the former lord to scan the wall. This was about the right place...

"Come on, we'll get caught!" The other whispered, tugging on his hand. His tail twitch nervously, his ears rotating to keep tabs on who ever was down the hall. The smaller boy ran his free hand over the wall of the inner corridor. He reached up as high as he could to depressed one the stones. "What are you..." The sound of rusty gears ground away behind the wall before a door way to their immediate left opened. The older boy peered into the opening the wall that had just opened up. The opening was six or so feet tall and wide enough for them to easily walk side by side.

"This way," Suzaku strode into newly revealed entrance. This was his castle after all, of course he'd know alternative routes. The redhead stumbled after him, still in awe of the passageway. The gears within the walls cranked in the opposite direction. The stone work snapped together, leaving the pair in complete darkness. The former leader of the Saint Beasts knew his castle well.

"Nice trick," The taller body whispered. The smaller boy simply smirked. "I'm Gale by the way." The feline was still emanating nervous energy, staying very close to his diminutive guide. His grip tightening every time the passage branched in different directions. If he lost the boy now he would be lost and may never get out.

"Suzaku," Came the simple response. There was a long pause before the cat burst into laugher. Was he really supposed to believe that this little kid was the great Saint Beast? Wasn't he dead anyway?

"That's pretty funny. Ok then, lord, where are we going?" The word lord was emphasized to the point of dripping sarcasm. The shorter boy let it pass, letting the conversation die. He was too tired to beat some respect into the other boy for the time being, although he made note of it for later retribution. They came to a dead end, Suzaku disengaging his hand from the other boy's. It took a few moments to locate the switch to open the wall. Things were in a seemingly different place. His small body made it hard to judge where it would be relative to his searching hands. "Hey." Gale shifted anxiously having lost physical contact with his guide.

There were no gears turning, only a click that popped the wall panel two or three inches open. There was no light from the other side, but a change in the the darkness marked the opening. The panel had to manually be pushed further open for them to enter. They stepped into a moderatly sized chamber, but the soft plush of rugs and barely visible drapes marked this to be Suzaku's personal abode. There were no windows or visible doors, making the master of the castle confident that looters had not entered here. The familiar smells of his sanctuary eased the pains of the revived lord. He feet carried him to the plush nest of pillows and blankets that was his bed in the far corner of the room.

"Oi, who are you really?" The soft voice was Gale's. He was still admiring the exquisite room when the wall panel closed of its own accord. A full length mirror with a fine braided gold border decorated the innder side of the pannel. Thin gold molded to resemble grape leaves finished the elegant piece. Even in the dark this room had a warm glow of from the deep reds and gold that decorated it. The main rug had a great phoenix emblazoned on a scarlet field and trimed with twining lines of gold thead to resemble flames. Pressed up against the wall there was a charming chest of drawers in a dark wood. The sweeping curves of the front and the fine inlay upon its surface was finished out by the stainless gold hardware.

"I already told you," came the reply as the other boy as he set himself down to sleep. He rolled, partially burrying himself in the mound until he faced the wall of the chamber. Maybe it was his arrogance that allowed him to sleep in the company of a stranger or perhaps it was the body recognizing a friend and in someway influencing him subconsciously. He didn't know enough about reviving other's bodies to come to a conclusive answer and he was too tired to really scrutanize it anyway.

The cat crept over the bed or rather the nest lowering himself down on his haunches. In the dark he studied the supposed Saint Beast's back. If he wasn't who he said he was how the hell did he know his way to this place? His brows knit together, if he was then why hadn't he killed him yet?

There was still the matter that he hadn't see his close friend for more than two days now. He let his breath out in a deep sigh. In fact this new kid looked and smelled like his friend. His eyes were all wrong and the way he carried himself was different but his nose told him other wise. Gale lay down with his back barely touching the other boy's. It was common to sleep like this so neither would have their backs exposed. The plush pillows were infinitely more comfortable than the little alcoves he stuffed himself in to sleep. Nothing more would get accomplished if he stayed up all night thinking. In this place he felt safe. It was as though he needn't worry about getting discovered sleeping. Though strange it was a welcome feeling. He owed the boy, who ever he was, his gratitude for that.

To Be Continued...

AN: Wow, made it through a chapter without killing anyone! Ah well we can't have something like that, can we? A little plot fluff and a new character? What is this fic coming to? I'm hoping it wasn't too OOC. Which leads me to the fact I need reviews! I would really appriciate some input on this fic.