Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown.

In this chapter, Blaise reveals the Vermillion bracelet, but knows not what it is. Chase is taken over by his feelings.

Mousetrap

Blaise sighed. "I thought you would ask." Surprisingly enough, she raised her left arm and removed something invisible. Chase moved closer to see. She held the invisible chain in front of his face. Using her right hand, she touched something and the bracelet became visible. There, in her hand was a thick silver chain. There were red curly designs on the chain, and little glass charms hung on it. The designs seemed to glow red when it shook slightly. Vermillion designs. One charm was a metallic blue and it sparkled in the light.

Chase knew that it was the Vermillion bracelet. He was no fool. He had lost it once and had never forgotten what it had looked like.

"See this?" Blaise began, "This is a very rare family air loom of mine. For over thirty generations it has been in my family. It's… really the only thing I have left to remember them by." She paused for a second and looked down. "I think that it brings me luck… so that's why I didn't show it to you… really. I know you hate all that superstitious crap."

Chase was very taken aback. What did she take him for, a complete idiot? He wanted to punch her. No one could lie to him like that.

Then again, he thought, perhaps she doesn't even know what it is.

"On the contrary," sticking to his plan, he played long with her, "I do think there is some truth to superstition. In this case it could just be mind over matter." They exchanged an understanding smile. It's coming together.

Blaise put the bracelet back on and made it invisible again. Chase made sure not to look at it, to avoid the idea that he knew what it was.

"Oh, I have been meaning to ask you. Do you still have that book… eh The Merging World I think it's called?"

"Why do you need it?" The Merging World was a book of old age art, mostly pointed at space and fantasy pictures. Chase wondered why she would need it.

"Inspiration." Blaise replied.

"Yes, it's up in…" Chase had a sudden idea, "my bedroom."

He inclined her to follow him. He had a very wicked smile on his face. There was a way to tie in what he wanted into his plan while still gaining Blaise's trust.

They walked together up to the largest tower in the palace. They went up the marble steps, discussing their favourite art in the book. Blaise tripped slightly, but Chase grabbed her arm and held her upright. She smiled in gratitude as they continued to walk to the top. He kept giving her sideward glances, looking at the way her body moved when she walked, her legs unfortunately hidden underneath the wad of cotton and linen. No matter, he thought, I'll see them soon enough.

They finally got to the top and Chase opened the door. His room was semi-circular and had a warm brown rug with a huge green dragon on it. The walls and the ceiling were white with a chandelier covered with green silk. His bed, at the back, was made with deep brown wood with a thick green duvet covering it. There was a large fireplace at the peak of the curve of the semi-circle, and bookcases all over the walls. Chase walked over to the fourth bookcase from the right of the bed and looked at the shelves.

"Oh I love you bed!" Blaise sighed happily and jumped onto his bed, cuddling the duvet.

Chase smiled. It was almost too easy.

He picked out a fat grey book, gently brushed off the dust and handed it to Blaise, still wrapped in the covers. She removed herself from the blanket and took the book, opening it carefully so as not to ruin the centuries old pages. Chase sat on the bed and watched her gaze at the pages, her eyes shining with awe. She had that far away look, the look that said her mind was already painting a picture for her, and she just needed to pick up the paintbrush. That look was stunning. The dreamy, glassy-eyed look with her round lips slightly parted into a slight smile. She snapped back to reality for a second.

"Do you mind if I borrow this?" She pointed to the book.

"Go ahead." He lay back on the bed. He forgot how comfy it was, as he had not slept in it for a few days now. He yawned and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. Blaise noticed.

"Something wrong?"

Chase had had it all planned out. He knew what to say; he knew what to do and how Blaise would react. It took him barely five minutes to figure it out, and now was the perfect time to act…

"No… not really…"

Blaise moved closer to him, she lay flat on her stomach and looked at him with that sympathetic little smile on her face.

"You can tell me, I know there's something on your mind."

He sat up and looked at her. Just looking as if her wondered what to say, or at least he wanted to give that impression away. He thought dimly to himself that what he was about to say did have some truth, but nonetheless would pass off as his real feelings.

"I want you to answer me honestly now…" he began, "Even after so many years, of all the changes and the people and the incidents… even after me turning away from good why do you… why did you stick with me all this time?"

Blaise hummed for a second, scratching her chin. She looked far away, searching her thoughts for the right answer. She gave him a big sincere smile and said: "Well, that's what friends do. Despite what you might think, and don't take this the wrong way, I love you, Chase. I always have." She hugged him close. "You have done horrible things and you have become something that I have spent my life fighting, but I love you soooooo much," she let him go and looked into his eyes, the soft ocean blue calmed his lizard yellow ones, "and I always will… no matter what you do."

Yes, his head hissed at him, it's true, there's no way she can back out now. But something at the back of his mind nagged at him. He felt… happy? Yes, happy because it's coming together! No… that's not it…

Blaise hugged him again. The soft skin on her face was against his neck. He felt a great rush of contentment. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment of peace that he felt. He returned the embrace, holding her waist with his hands and tracing the supple edges around her belly button with his thumbs. She wriggled and laughed.

"That tickles!" she cried, and lay back on the bed.

Chase lay beside her.

"… … Thank you…" he didn't so much say this to Blaise, he just said it to the world. It was hard to explain to himself why, it just felt right to.

"It's nothing." She said.

They lay there for a long time, just staring at the ceiling. Their silence was understanding, not uncomfortable. Chase could have fallen asleep if Blaise had not asked:

"What about you? Why did you stick with me when you decided to turn evil, knowing that I would never change?"

Chase stood up and reached out for a book in one of the bookcases. It was a leather bound book, just small and very, very old. He sat back on the bed; Blaise sat up beside him to see as he flipped the yellow pages. Some of them fell out, others just fell apart.

He stopped at a page near to the end and showed her a faded text written in pencil. It said: I will never forget everything you have done, as long as you never forget who I am. I have your back, I hope you have mine. Love Blaise XXX

Blaise gasped.

"You still have that? Wow, you really do still have my back!"

Chase nodded. "I made a promise. I won't forget it."

"Awwww!" Blaise hugged him again and kissed his cheek. His cheek went very hot but he ignored it. He kissed her cheek back. She let go of him, but he still held onto her so her hands were on his shoulders.

"You've never given me a kiss before!" she exclaimed.

Chase thought she was just joking, but when he saw the confused expression on her face, he knew she was right. Part of him couldn't really believe it. Out of two thousand four hundred and six years of knowing her, he never once kissed her, not even her cheek.

He smiled. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

"No… just…"

Being a few inches taller, Chase looked down at Blaise. She looked up at him, their eyes met and for once, Chase could look at someone and feel right.

He bent his head lower to meet hers. "Two thousand four hundred and six years… I think I have waited enough…" He gently kissed her lips, savouring how supple they were before kissing her again, a little stronger this time. His hands tightened around her waist and she put her arms around his neck. They kissed each other; he loved how warm her mouth was, and how good her tongue tasted. She was like apples just picked off the tree, sweet and soft.

He picked her up under the knees with his left arm, his right still holding her waist almost afraid to let go in case they broke apart. Laying her gently down on his bed, without breaking apart, he lay on top of her, his tongue still buried in her mouth.

His hands traced the soft edges of her waist and ribs, moving upwards towards her breasts. He moved his left hand to her back and with one swipe he ripped the back of her top and pulled it off to reveal her silky black brassiere. Gently stroking the soft material, Chase reached his hand around her back to un-hook it. But Blaise stopped him.

"Chase… I…"

He hushed her. "Don't say a word, just… savour it."

He went back to kissing her. Even the smell, fruits and earth, everything about her was so beautiful, so perfect. He could feel her soft hands on the back of his neck, slightly caught in his hair. He un-hooked her bra and flung it away. Her breasts were even more supple and softer then he thought. He gently massaged them with his hands while kissing her neck and then held her with his hands around her back. He stopped kissing her lips and moved slowly down her neck and chest, gently kissing her soft flesh. He kissed the top of her left breast and made his way down, barring his fangs and biting down hard just where it cupped.

I think you know where it leads…

They lay there in each other's arms, panting for air. Both of them worn out and hot from what had just happened. Chase was on top of Blaise, holding the back of her sweat-tangled hair. Blaise's hand was on the side of his face, her thumb tracing the sharp apple of his cheekbone.

Should this be any other day, Chase would have checked off another part of the plan that he had succeeded in his head, but now he was just drained of energy and all he could do was stare into Blaise's beautiful face. The last of their energy had left them.

They fell asleep in each other's arms.

Chase woke up. His arms were wrapped around Blaise's stomach that was turned away from him. He could feel the heat from her body, the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Her naked body covered from the waist down with the green blanket. There were goose pimples on her arms and she was shivering slightly, but still asleep. Chase pulled the covers up higher over them and held her closer to him.

I could not have wished for anything more, than the best night of my life.

Chase Young thought nothing more that night and fell asleep.