A.N. – Yaaaay! 9 reviews all on one chapter!! This is my personal record! Thankyou guys!! To show my gratitude, I did a really long chapter with lots of perverted lemonny scenes in it, so be happy!! But after this one I'm going away overseas so don't expect anything for a long time! Sorry!!


Taste of Love

II : Starting Up

Vanez Blane. Seriously, I am going to run away from this mountain if I don't get a new tutor. I groaned loudly as I pushed up the lid of the coffin. I can hear every single bone in my body crack mercilessly, and I winced in extreme agony.

I stayed with Vanez for the rest of the day yesterday, trying every game, all the while enduring his suggestive remarks and avoiding the attempted unwanted bodily contact. I had never felt as scared in my entire life. And what's worse is the fact that he made me promise him to go and see him again this morning, before my trials start tomorrow.

I dragged myself out of the coffin, washed myself, got dressed, brushed my teeth and shaved, all the while wondering why I'm bothering about looking good when all I'm doing is seeing a perverted teacher who I hate so much.

I pulled my sore, tired legs along the early morning corridors, yawning non-stop. I reached the Hall of Games (or Corza Jarn) at length, and looked inside. No one there. Good. Maybe I'll do some weights or something while I wait for Va...

'Good morning, my lovely.'

Vanez whispered coarsely into my right ear form behind, slipping his hands into my shirt at the same time and sliding them up, feeling my chest. It took me less than one tenth of a second to yelp, rip his hands out of my shirt, and take a safe 5m distance. I glared at him, speechless, breathing fast and blushing – he smirked evilly, brought his hand (which was on my chest a mere second ago) up to his mouth and licked it slowly. He frowned lightly and commented:

'Soapy. Washed already, eh?'

'............'

'And shaved, I see. Your breath is minty so you've already brushed your teeth, but haven't eaten breakfast yet. All this beautifying just for me – I'm honoured, Kurda.'

'It wasn't for you!!!'

I argued, cheeks burning. Vanez raised an eyebrow.

'Who else were you planning on seeing today?'

He asked – I was lost for words. I only knew Gavner, and I knew he was at a meeting all morning. Vanez grinned triumphantly.

'Well, well, well. You're not a very good liar, are you? Come on, We'll get some breakfast together, and talk about your trials.'

He smiled charmingly, then put an arm around my shoulders – and before I could do anything – kissed my cheek lightly. I stood there, speechless – Vanez pulled me along, cheerfully whistling out loud as if nothing had happened, and guided me to the main hall to take breakfast.

'..........and then the last one I did is called......heck, I forgot what it's called......anyway, practically what you've got to do is get through this maze before the rising water drowns you. Simple, huh? So I aced that one as well, and so I got through my third set of trials. See, it's gonna be easy!'

He grinned, popping into his mouth another slab of bacon. I poked around the bat eyeball in my soup with a spoon, and sighed.

'How could you say all that is easy!?'

'Because it is. Hey, don't look so glum – there's nothing to worry 'bout when you've got a charismatic tutor like me.'

He grinned and flicked some egg in my face with his fork. I wiped it off and glared at him. Vanez pretended not to notice the glare, looked over at other tables and waved at some female vampires who giggled and waved back. I took that chance to grab the batt eyeball from my soup, and flick it into his face. It hit his cheek where it splattered and slid down his face. The female vampires looked disgusted and walked off. I laughed as Vanez wiped off the bat eyeball remnants. To my surprise, he grinned.

'No need to get so jealous, kid. I'm all yours.'

He said, then took out a cigarette from his cigarette box.

'Want a smoke?'

'......No thanks.'

'Sure?'

He said, lighting the cigarette with a lighter. I nodded, and continued eating my soup. Vanez drew a long breath from the cigarette, and blew out smoke from his nose. I watched the rising smoke for a while, then said:

'Vanez.........'

'.............Hmm?'

He raised an eyebrow, while taking another breath of smoke. I continued:

'Why did you become a tutor?'

'So I can molest cute blonde students such as you, of course.'

'..................'

'Don't glare like that! I prefer it when you smile. It's a waste of good blue eyes if you don't use them to smile or flirt.'

'..........Tell me the truth, then.'

'You really wanna know?'

'......Tell me.'

'Alright then. If you insist.'

He took a deep breath of smoke, and slowly blew it out.

'I had a mate, once.'

'.............And?'

'She died taking the trials, 'cause her tutor was a fucking piece of crap.'

His voice seemed croaky, but I didn't know whether it was tears making it so, or the smoke. There was a long silence.

'.......I killed him.'

He said, and chuckled bitterly, as if someone had just said some sort of sick joke.

'With my own hands. The Princes were easy on the punishment, though. I lost my job as a General, and was given the job of gamesmaster instead – along with the fate of staying here in the Mountain forever for that duty. I also trained to become a tutor, so I can help stop things like that happening. I wanted to be a tutor – and a damn good one. I made an oath to the gods that if any of my students die in a trial, I kill myself also.'

He looked at me and smiled wryly.

'So you'd better not die, kid. You die, I die. Romantic, eh? It's called Liebestod.'

'......Lie...be...st...?'

'Liebestod. "Love Death". German Opera.'

He grinned, hummed an off-tune melody that I didn't know, and pushed the shortened cigarette into his empty soup plate.

'Kurda,'

'......Yes?'

'You're the worst fighter I've ever seen.'

He said matter-of-factly. I opened my mouth to argue, but couldn't think of anything to say, so I ended up just glaring angrily. Vanez laughed.

'You're as good a fighter as a dried up asparagus. But there's one thing I saw in you yesterday – you're good with the spears. It's best to learn at least one way of fighting before the trials, so let's use today to perfect your spear-fighting skills.'

.......Perfect? I only touched a spear for the first time yesterday, and today – perfect?? Vanez got up and pushed his chair in.

'Finished with your food?'

'......Yes.'

'What are you waiting for, then? Let's get started!!'

'Ouch!!'

'Sorry! Didn't mean to!!'

Vanez said hurriedly. I looked down at my ripped shirt, and the bleeding cut down my rib. Vanez had nearly speared through me. He put his spear down and walked over.

'You alright?'

'.....I'm fine.'

I said, leaning on the wall to check if the wound was deep. Vanez walked over, and started unbuttoning my shirt.

'Wha...!'

'Your sweaty shirt's just going to stick to and hurt your wound more, you know. That plus you'd look better without it anyway.'

He grinned, finished taking my shirt off, and looked me up and down. Wasn't he supposed to be looking at my wound?? Suddenly I realised the danger I was in – We were in a dark corner of the Hall, me standing against a wall, shirtless and bleeding. I had no time to react to the dangerous situation, though – next thing I knew, Vanez was on his knees, sucking on the cut,

his rasping, wet, warm tongue sliding up and down my chest – my throat let out a low groan against my will, which made him take his tongue off my chest and chuckle amusedly.

'Like that, huh?'

His eyes twinkled mischievously – he returned to the licking, this time more slowly but forcefully than before. My wound had healed, but he kept going, sliding higher and higher, his hands pushed against the wall so I can't escape. I gulped and tried to hold back any noise my body tried to make – but failed. When Vanez had reached my ear, I let out a deep, loud groan – Vanez stopped.

'Found it.'

He breathed, a smile in his rough voice – and bit my ear lightly, tracing behind it with the tip of his tongue. I gasped loudly, and tried to break away from his grip –

'....No you don't.'

He grinned and blew a long, hot breath into my right ear. Both my legs lost all senses, gave way, and I collapsed helplessly to the ground. But before I hit the ground, Vanez caught me in his arms, consequently falling into a position where he was sitting astride and on top of me. He bent forward and touched my cheek.

'You're the most beautiful student I've ever had, Kurda........And the most sensually enticing.........'

I tried to yell out for help, but I had lost my voice as well as al senses in my lower body. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek.

'Don't be so scared.....'

Vanez smirked, brought his hand behind my head, and lowered his lips down, just millimetres from mine.

'VANEZ BLANE!!!! What the HELL do you think you're doing!!!!!'

Gavner ran up to us, tearing Vanez away from me – then wiped tears off my face. Vanez chuckled, and stood up.

'I was just healing his wound, Gavner.'

'Oh really!? Then why is he half naked, shivering, and crying!? Why is he so scared!?'

'...I dunno.'

He shrugged. I glared at him, then looked pleadingly at Gavner. I opened my mouth, and croaked out at last:

'Please! Gavner, let me get another tutor......'

'Oh Kurda....I'm so sorry but....'

'......but?'

I asked – Gavner sighed.

'When you get a tutor, and he or she agrees to teach you, that's a contract made. You can't break the contract unless the tutor agrees to stop teaching you.'

He said, then looked at Vanez who was grinning and humming happily. He noticed the two of us glaring at him, and walked over to us.

'If you're talking about breaking contracts with me, I'm fine with that.'

'You mean....!?'

I said, surprised that he was actually willing about it. He smiled and pointed a finger at my face.

'BUT. Only if you show me that you've actually learnt something.'

'What do you mean....?'

'Fight me with the spears.'

'What!?'

'Of course, you'll have an advantage – I'll blindfold myself. Normal rules apply otherwise. Bleed me 3 times, or checkmate me and you win.'

He grinned. I thought about it. A blindfolded opponent seems easy enough to beat. Vanez continued;

'If you win, I'll quit being your tutor.'

'.....and If I lose?'

'Hmm.......If I win, I'll keep being your tutor, and.....'

'..........and?'

'I get to kiss you. Once.'

'What!?'

'You heard me. One kiss. That's all I'm asking.'

Oh my god. But I can't chicken out now.

'.........Alright.'

'Deal?'

'Deal.'

Gavner blew the whistle – the match began. Vanez was blindfolded twice – once by me and once by Gavner, making sure he couldn't see at all. He walked a little dizzily, and nearly fell over a few times. He spread his free arm out, looking for me. Oh this is going to be so easy!

I swung the spear around, cutting his cheek.

'One to Kurda!'

Gavner yelled. I speared his feet lightly –

'Two to Kurda!!'

Sorry Vanez, but you're not going to kiss me! I made my last aim to his shoulder, and thrusted forward – suddenly my spear was snatched out of my hand and thrown out of the ring. I froze. I felt blood trickle down my throat. I gulped. Vanez grinned.

'Don't ever underestimate me, Kurda. Who did you think I was?'

His spear was pointed right at my throat. He was just pretending to be helpless!! He was waiting for a chance all along!!'

'Checkmate to Kurda – Winner is Vanez.'

Gavner said bitterly. I dropped to my knees, and stared at the ground. I......I lost...!

Two fingers slipped under my chin, tilting my head upwards. Vanez bent down, grinning triumphantly.

'Deal, right?'

'...............'

I closed my eyes, and waited. I had never imagined that my first kiss would be taken like this. By a guy.

I felt a pair of warm lips touch mine. Soft, dry and warm – and then something even warmer, but wet and rough pried open my lips, entering my mouth.

My first ever kiss – tasted of bitter defeat, tobacco, and the sweetest affection.

A.N. (continued) – Yaaaay! First kiss!! If I get any complaints saying that kissing in the second chapter is too early, blame Freaky Angel of Fire because SHE said I can!! (points at her and runs off)

Kirin the Vampiress

Yay! You like it! I never knew you were into slash. I'm so glad you like slash! Wow. I'm so sorry I didn't review for a few days – I was sleeping over at my friends' for a while, and now I have to go back to Japan. So busy…(cries)

clam theif

I'm so sorry about not replying! I haven't been able to log into any hotmail or mailblocks accounts, for some strange reason. I mean, I can do MSN, but not e-mail. Weird, eh? Thanks for reading this! I'm so glad you like slash! Yay! Horny Vanez!! Thanks for reviewing!

Showjumper916

Thankyou! It seems a long while since I've talked to you – is it? I have a bad memory… Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!

The Freaky Angel of Fire

Awww! No! Please do come back! I'm fine with ghosts haunting me! I mean, I'm so used to it. Anyway, sorry for dropping out on you today on MSN – the computer crashed… So sorry! Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Lots of perverted stuff… Yay! slashykurdaboysexyay!! Thanks for reviewing!!

Inyx

Yaaay! You found it! I'm so happy! And I'm glad you forgive me about not doing Darius. I put Gavner in because you said you liked him, but wasn't sure how to write him… I'll do my best, though! YES!! Innocent Kurda and Carrots. I didn't go to far about his sire, because I knew you hated Ocs. Go kinky Vannie!!! Anyway, about the tattoo – nope. I'm not going to tell you yet. It will be in the fic at some point. Maybe I'll make Kurda spread his cream on it. NOOOOO!!! Please, don't force poor little Harkat to put wax lips on!! I'm going overseas anyway, you can't catch me!! (pulls face) Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!

KradsWingedAngel

Beautiful?? Wow…. That is one comment I never thought I'd get for this fic! Lol. Thanks anyway! I hope you do start a slash fic! Which coupling are you planning on?? Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!

Freaky Butt Mate (XD)

Vanez – Go to your room? Gladly. (puts arm around Elias and walks off) Delico – sticks?? Nah. I prefer carrots and cucumbers. Adds more colour and originality, don't you think? Wow. Love your penname. Do you write in ffnet? Kurda – Er… Thanks Miggie, Elias and Adrian for reviewing! Uh…Have fun with my tutor, Elias.

Alasse Fefalas

Kyuuu! Slashiness! yay!! Oooops. I mean, um…. That's okay. Vanez's hair's still red, it's just dark red. It probably turned Ginger with age when Darren came. This is YEARS ago. It was dark red then…. (cries) is this a good enough excuse?? Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!

S-A

Yaaaay! S-A!! Hello! I never knew you liked slash… Or pervy Vanezzes. But I'm so glad you found this!! Thanks!! I'll make sure to love ants. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!!