A.N. - Happy (late) Valentines! I'm in a very happy mood - not that I got anything, of course, but because I made myself lots of chocolate and stuffed myself until I was so high that I didn't even care if I had no one who'd give me a bunch of roses. What also made me happy was the fact that I went Karaoke in the city yesterday with my friends (oh yes I sang so much hyde...), and I saw two very good-looking fully grown men walking along, holding hands and whispering to each other. I mean, how sweet! One was blonde, too. And as I'm a Japanese girl, I have a thing with blondes. As in "have a thing" I mean "stalk blondes around all day until they realise I'm stalking them and run away screaming".

Okay. I'll stop rambling now. I think the chocolate's getting to my brain. Please forgive me if this chapter is totally crazy (and probably short) - it's the sugar. Blame it on the sugar.

Taste of Love

IX: Heaven's Drive

I woke up to my own sneeze. Not that I was cold or anything - I was covered in furs, and was lying in a very comfortable hammock. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision, and hand-combed my messy hair. I couldn't remember much about how I got here - I remember that I passed my third trial, and Vanez was warming my body...but after that, I was totally blank.

I stared into air for a few moments, brain still not entirely awake. The furs were warm, the hammock comfortable, and a part of my brain wanted to go back into peaceful sleep. But another part of my brain was trying to tell me something important. I decided to listen to it. And that 'something important' made my brain wake up entirely. I was naked.

I blinked my sleepy eyes in shock, and jumped up from the hammock, careful to keep a piece of fur wrapped around my waist. ...Hammock? Since when did I have a hammock? I looked around - it wasn't my room. It was a simple, small room, but a very comfortable one. A boxing bag in the corner, some mattresses against the wall, a few books on an old wooden table, a locked cupboard, and a chest of drawers with some untidy bits of spare clothes and underwear hanging out of them. Next to the hammock lay a large glazed-wooden coffin with the initials "V.B."

"V.B."

Sounds familiar. V...Vanez! So this is Vanez's room! I gasped and looked around the room quickly again to see if I could find any sexual torture machines he was talking about - maybe they're in that dark-looking cupboard with the padlock... I frowned and glared at the cupboard as if something would suddenly crash out of it and attack me. But it didn't. So I decided not to think about it. There was some string tied to the top of that cupboard, going across the left corner of the room to the desk, with my clothes drying on the line.

I jumped off the hammock (still covering myself with fur), and walked over to the clothes - they were still dripping water, and were freezing cold. I sighed. I didn't want to wear anything so icy and wet! I followed the line to the desk, to find a little note with Vanez's scribbled writing on it.

"Kurda - if your clothes aren't dry on the line, feel free to wear mine, they're in the drawers. I've gone to have a shower, we'll have breakfast afterwards. See you there, Vanez."

...There? Where's "there"? Does he mean the halls so we can have breakfast, or does he mean the shower? I frowned and read the note again - but still couldn't get it. So I decided to get dressed. I walked over to the chest of drawers, still eyeing the cupboard suspiciously, and pulled open one of the drawers.

Underwear. Great. I cringed, picked the first one that touched my hand, prayed to God that it wasn't something shocking like G-strings, or pink briefs with "sexy" printed all over it, slammed the drawer closed, and sighed in relief to find that it was just a pair of plain ash-coloured boxers.

I opened the other drawers, found some worn-out jeans, a non-sleeved white top with a gothic cross on the front, and a plain black cape. Thank god he has normal clothes! I dressed myself quickly, borrowed the bucket of drinking water under the desk to wash my face, glared at the suspicious cupboard one last time, and walked out of the room.

After a moment of hesitation, I decided to go to the showers. It was the closest place, after all.

So there I stood. In front of the males' shower room, digging at the ground with my toes, biting my lip, unable to gather the courage to enter the room. I mean, what if I go inside, and Vanez is naked, and I stare at him, and he gets the wrong idea, and...oh I don't even want to go further describing what may happen. I continued digging at the ground. I hand-combed my hair. I whistled a random tune.

Oh this is pathetic! It's not like I don't know what naked men look like! It's not like I'm standing outside the girls' shower room, trying to take a peek, is it? There's nothing perverted about a man seeing another man naked... Oh god that thought turned out all wrong. Agh! This is frustrating, what am I hesitating so much about?

Just then, someone walked out of the shower room, and I yelped and fell backwards onto the ground. And gaped. It was Vanez. He looked down at me and grinned.

'Hey, Kurda.'

He smiled - I just stared. He looked a little different somehow. He was all...wet. Wet, that's it. His red hair was darker than usual because of the water, and it was dripping water all over his bare chest, where the lion tattoo roared a frozen roar as usual. He was wiping his hair with a towel thoroughly, making his hair look wilder than usual. His sleek black pants hanged at his hip, the belt and zip undone, showing his grey-blue boxers which strangely caught my fuzzled attention. I was startled out of my gaze when I heard him say:

'You look quite nice in my clothes, you know.'

'...Um...Thanks for lending me these.'

'No problem. You can also borrow my coffin any time, so long as we both fit in it. I'll guarantee you a warm, if not hot and wet winter's night.'

He said with his usual flirty grin - I poked my tongue out.

'No thanks.'

I pulled a face - he laughed, and pulled me up with a hand.

'You really do look good in those clothes. You can keep them if you like. You look great in black.'

'I prefer blue, thanks.'

'Shame. Well, blue or black, you look good in anything. But - you looked even better with nothing, last night.'

He smirked - I gasped, remembering how I was naked this morning and how Vanez must have taken my clothes off and put them up to dry. I let out a hiccough like scream, possibilities of what may have happened last night running through my mind. Vanez laughed.

'Don't worry, I did restrain myself from doing anything. It was an awful ordeal for me.'

'I'm sure it was.'

I chuckled - Vanez smiled, kissed me quickly on my right cheek, and took my hand.

'Well, my student, we should go and get some breakfast, then we'll go and draw your next trial.'

After stuffing ourselves full at the Great Hall, Vanez and I walked our happily full stomachs to the Hall of the Princes. As the doors creaked open, my heart started beating faster - what if Mika was there? How would he look at me, how should I react? Vanez squeezed my hand, probably sensing my worry.

I felt much relief when I saw that the Prince waiting for us there was not Mika or Paris, but Vancha March. He sat at the desk idly, picking his nose, and grunting at the documents he had to process. Vanez and I both grinned and greeted him. Vancha raised his head, grinned, flicked some snot in our direction (which we skilfully ducked to avoid), then pulled out the sack in which the stones lay.

'You guys have come for the trial thingy, eh?'

'Yes, sire.'

'Oh stop it! Just call me Vancha. Or ugly. Or whatever. I hate the whole "sire" thing, okay?'

'Yes, your honour.'

Vanez grinned - Vancha snorted and threw us the sack.

'On with it, both of you. I'm busy.'

So I picked a stone out of the sack - Vanez gave it to Vancha, who announced it:

'Trial number 14, Firefly Marshes. Lucky you.'

Vancha said, frowning slightly. Vanez frowned as well. I bit my lip.

'Is it...hard? It sounds nice.'

'It's not...hard, as to say,' Vancha pondered, 'but it's...strange.'

'How?'

'Well, this is one of the few strange trials that no one can practice for.'

'What do you mean you can't practice?'

'You just can't. There's no way of practicing. It's all luck and talent.'

'Oh...'

I stared at the ground, not sure whether I had either of those. Luck - so far, yes, but who knows when I'd lose it, and talent - as far as I know, I don't think I have any. As if to sense my anxious thoughts, Vanez's arms snaked around my waist and he hugged me from behind, glaring at Vancha from behind my head.

'Well, it'll be easy for Kurda, Vancha. He has luck, talent, and beauty. He's tackled every trial so far with skill and confidence, and he's passed them all. I assure you my student won't fail anything. He's good enough to pass as a Prince any day.'

He grinned, kissing my ear softly from behind. I blushed, not because of that contact, but because of what he had said about me and how proud he had sounded. Vancha grinned.

'I bet he can, Vanez. And I wish you best of luck, if you need any, our future Prince.'

Vancha winked at me, his unshaven messy face grinning broadly. I blushed and mumbled:

'Thankyou...'

'Damn.'

Vanez sighed, pushing his shortened cigarette into the wall of the deserted Games Hall, and banging his forehead on the same wall. I leaned against the wall next to him, watching him closely as he swore again and sighed.

'Why did he have to stay? Vancha should have changed with him, not Arrow.'

'...He couldn't help it, Vanez. Maybe Mika had to stay in the Mountain.'

'Of course he "had" to stay! To molest you, of course, that filthy bastard!'

'Oh stop it, Vanez. He was probably drunk or gender-confused or stoned or something yesterday.'

'Yeah right.'

Vanez rolled his eye, and pushed his half-used cigarette into my mouth. I accidentally inhaled a whole lot of smoke, and coughed and spluttered, my eyes watering from the bitter smoke. Vanez laughed, and took the cigarette off me.

'Too early for smoking yet, kid?'

I pouted and opened my mouth to argue - but all that came out was a puff of smoke followed by a coughing fit. Vanez slapped my back to help me out - I glared at him between the coughs, hating how he grinned amusedly when I was so damn worried about my next trial.

Vanez had told me overall what the trial is like - it sounded awfully complicated. Practically what I've got to do is catch fifteen fireflies in swampland. But not just a normal swampland. Sticky wet marshes with bottomless swamps that randomly suck people in like quicksand, and flesh-eating crocodiles that pop up and rip off any piece of limb they can grab. In conclusion, if I move, the crocodiles eat me. If I stay still, I sink and die. On top of all that fuss, I have to catch 15 fireflies. Fun, fun, fun.

Vanez also said that this is the only trial out of the whole set, that the failed participant's remains will never be found. It'll either be in the stomachs of some very happy crocodiles, or sinking into the rotting depths of the marshes.

'Are you sure you can't teach me anything?'

I sighed - Vanez smiled apologetically.

'I'm sorry, but all I can do is tell you about the trial. I can't really 'teach' you.'

'Oh...'

'But perhaps I can teach you how to relax?'

'How?'

I raised my head to find Vanez cornering me into the wall, both his hands on the wall around me so I couldn't escape. I sighed. Not this again. Why did I even ask 'how?' when I knew he was going to do something like this? I glared at him.

'I'll scream if you touch me.'

'Don't worry, I won't undress you or anything.'

'Oh, we'll be fully clothed...'

He smirked - I gasped, realising what he was implying - and tried to scream for help, but Vanez quickly kissed me silent. For a second I was so taken aback by the sudden kiss that all my senses had moved to my lips and my mouth - but a second later Vanez did something to my groin with his crotch that made me scream into his mouth – he pushed me deeper into the wall, sprawling my legs and arms out against the wall, and did it again. I moaned loudly – which strangely enough didn't stop him going on and speeding up with the task. And for the first time I realised that what Seyle said to me was true. Vanez truly was a professional.

A.N. - Yay to Gackt who inspires me so much with his dryhumping guitarists in live concerts. I just had to make Vanez dryhump Kurda. Against the wall. Ooh, and my e-mail's back now - YAY! You can e-mail me love-letters if you want! (or not XD)

Alasse Fefalas

I'm glad you like Seyle. Yeah, he's quite nice, I guess. You like Mika/Kurda? I don't' know why, but I do too! Kind of strange, I know... Maybe I'll write a fic about them two one day. XD

The Freaky Butt Mate

I love Mika's naughtiness! He's just like Snape who's always wanting to molest Harry or Draco or whichever student coupling you go with in HP. Thanks so much for making the forum! Should I advertise it here, so more people come?

SilentlyCrying

Thanks! I'll continue, don't worry. I have to finish this or else I'll feel terrible.

Inyx

(cries) I HATE the picture! Please don't talk about it...(sob) Anyway- you don't like Mika/Kurda? I like Snape. I have that idea of him, too. A long-haired Snape. And Snape molests his students, so it's all okay. Yup. Vanez is also a dirty old bastard, but he gets forgiven because he's good-looking and really sexy. And bi-sexual. That rocks. I'm glad you're happy about Vancha – I love Vancha, too! I'd gladly put myself up for him. Despite how disgusting he seems, he has this certain sexiness to him, you know. Okay. I'll let you keep Seyle forever and he'll never be in the fic again. That will make him go back to normal. Oh, poor Cyrus! Is he naked? Did he get molested by Seyle? Your writing is SO not bad! I LOVED the Valentines' special! It was SO sweet! I HATE Darren and I want to kill him over and over again, but not in that fic. He was so darn cute! I want to molest him! Awwww...Evra didn't have a date on Valentines...What about Mr Tall? Did he give Evra a surprise the next morning? Did he? Did he? Like pop up in ONLY boxers and his tophat. Kya! Blushing spluttering Evra. And yes, I'd like to make Evra pout. I think he'd be cute pouting. So I WILL strangle you if you don't write more VanchaHarkat! No, there's no all boys schools around here. There is one, but it's all secluded and binoculars won't work. And there's no such thing as "pretty boys" in Australia. They're all try-hard teenage bastards. That's why I only like adults! Ohhh. Arrow's the old moody one! I remember now! You still have to send me the Gav/Lar fic, remember? (flutters eyelids)

Silver Sky Magician

I don't think I can write a conan fic...I'm losing my confidence now...All the people there seem so good! Yup, I LOVE fullmetal alchemist! They use the BEST theme songs. LIKE HYDE! KYA!

cold-night09

Yeah. A lot of girls like Mika. SO I get killed a lot for making him a sick bastard. Poor me. I love Gavner though. And Vancha. I'm glad your marks were pretty good – I told you you'd be fine! Yeah, I'll cope. Some how. It sucks, but I'll manage. Thanks anyway.

S-A

Did you get the e-mail from Freaky that she made a forum for us? You have to post something! And we can talk dirty any time! I'm glad you like Seyle. Remember, he's out for rent. He's going a little crazy these days though. He has this manic grin, apparently. I'll check your profile, as well, if you'd added anything – I hope you start writing again soon! And yay for ants!

Fear The Walls Of Jericho

I'm so proud that you liked last chapter. No, I'm actually thinking that Mika DOESN'T have a crush on Kurda, but someone else... Hmmm... Or maybe I should just stick with Mika/Kurda. Thanks for your ever-so-helpful reviews, as always!

phantome101

Thanks for reading! I'm sorry I haven't been updating regularly, but I'm very busy, you see. You loved chapter 7 – I'm so happy! That's the dirty chapter. I loved writing it too... I hope you enjoyed this chapter.