Pairings: 2x1/1x2, 4x3, 6x13

Warnings: biting, blood, gore, vampires, dead body parts, monsters, citrus, AU

Comments: Just a bit of musing turned story

Author's comments: I hate this new format! I hate it with a passion. ::tries to get used to doing things differently but with no success:: Growl. Anyways, yeah it's finally updated. I'm gonna start making things interesting now and…hopefully not confusing.

Helpful Notes: "talking and crap" intercom thingy

Jajajunkcrapstuff mind speech stuff (doesn't feel like finding the technical word )

::muhahahaha:: what someone's thinking

Crimson Targets Bloodred Nights 7

There are three basic ways in which a master and a pet can lose the connection. The most common way is that the master or the pet is killed. This way the connection is cut and the individual is free to do as they choose. The second way is for the pet to run away. If they are capable of mustering up the speed and the determination, they might succeed. Though it sounds easy, this is the rarest of ways and so few pets ever escape. Many don't attempt it, afraid of what their masters will do to them. Running sounds the best option but it is the obstacles that cause pets to be caught. The sun in itself is a major threat to their lives…as well as the vampire hunters. Those that are caught by their masters are either killed or locked away and punished severely left only to wish for death.

The third way is the most complicated of ways. It is rare but it does happen…like a once in a million shot. The pet becomes stronger than the master. It will therefore either continue to serve the master out of want, kill him, or turn the tables and force the master to be the slave. Some of considerate and just live their own dark lives, some live as equals with their masters. It all depends on the individual pet and how they were taught and raised. If taught well, they wouldn't even run away at all.

That…was what had Duo upset. His pet…was not trained. Though sensing it now, he knew the other was alive. But…not moving for the moment. This meant that he must have found a means to hide. With a shine to his eyes, Duo clenched his hands into fist. He was upset, he was angry, he wasn't sure what he was. He just knew that he had to find Heero as soon as he could and solve this for himself. He was angrier at himself than at Heero. Had he taught the other better he wouldn't have run away. Maybe he should become more like Quatre. Thought right now he was trying to tune the other out.

"…and this is how you repay me for taking you in as my own?! You are nothing but a sorry excuse for a pet!" Quatre yelled as once more, which had to have been the 20th time now, he kicked Trowa in the stomach. He was ignoring the pained sounds of the other boy, the blood he coughed up, or the way he was hunched over trying to hold in the pain and try to block it. That would cause only more anger.

"Forgive me, master…." Trowa said bowing his head, taking all of this. His body was tense and it made Duo regret ever thinking of going to Quatre's way of training. He loved Heero too much to cause him pain like that…that and he detested Quatre. He couldn't even remember when that had started happening, maybe it was around when Quatre first started trying to sleep with Heero. If Duo weren't there, Quatre took his chances, trying to touch, to grope him. He knew Heero was capable of destroying the man…but still he did have that kind human heart. He wasn't capable…for some reason that Duo wished he could understand.

"Did I tell you to speak?!" Quatre yelled again, once more kicking him in the stomach again. The cracking sound Duo heard was enough to make even him flinch. He knew that the punishments could go worse, this was Quatre's lightest compared to other moments. Trowa always healed though, just needing blood and rest. It never took more than a day but still…Duo tried to imagine himself in Trowa's situation. It wasn't coming to his mind. Again his eyes shifted wistfully towards the door to the shabby building. It wasn't the best accommodations but considering that all the windows had been barred off with wood, no sunlight actually got inside. The only light that was scene was the shine under the door. Even that little bit was hurting his eyes, but he stared anyway . He should be resting, regaining energy for tonight but he kept thinking about Heero. He was hoping the other wouldn't move too far from where he was, so he could capture him, ask him why he was doing this.

Suddenly his thoughts shifted again, back to the castle. Zechs, he'd seen him walking around and had been told about The Order coming to live there. He had agreed to allow them to stay, so long as they did not interfere with him and his pet. Duo was wondering why they had come back, why now? What was about to happen that he didn't know about? He wanted to know, but it still came second to his thoughts of Heero. Why was the other running? Did he know something Duo did not? This brought about another thought…most along the fact that he felt like he was being distanced from Heero, being pushed away. He didn't know why, but he felt like something was coming between them, and whatever it was wasn't a good thing. Even when Heero had been close, it felt like the connection was weakening. That was something he'd never known to happen before so it confused him. It caused his thoughts to be focused more on it than what Heero would say or tell him. And because of that, the resulting end was Heero running away.

::Heero, you better be alive when I come to find you::


This was perfect. Everything was going exactly as he wanted it to. Zechs chuckled slightly to himself standing in the dark room. There were no lights just the familiar glows of the floating candle lights. Though they seemed to have a red hue. It was actually a very empty room aside from the lights and the strange red glowing symbol that took over most of the room. This he had brought with himself. Yes, he'd been plotting this for the past two years, ever since he left, ever since the voice had started talking in his head. He was doing this…if only to be rid of it…that had been how it had started. But now, he was seeing the light, he was seeing what this foul being was speaking of.

"Master, they have brought more," Treize said, stepping through the door behind him. Ah, his most favorite pet. His first true pet. It had been easy to change him over, the other being willed to by his lust. However, with Zechs's change in personality, Treize had changed too. Their connection played weird games with each other. Though Zechs didn't complain, this meant they were meant to be together. The other served him well. And soon he would have another to serve him…. And then…destruction would follow.

The Time has come, send them, a dark voice spoke, deep inside Zechs's mind. He knew who it was, the dark master. He had vowed to serve this dark being with the promise of eternal darkness. Once there was eternal darkness, vampires would be free to walk as they chose…and the humans would stand little chance against them.

Yes, my master, was Zechs's response to the spoken. He felt something stop beside him and nudge as his fingers and he smiled petting the gargoyle behind the ears. "Your master has deserted you hasn't he? Ever since he received his pet he has forgotten you." A dark smile passed over Zechs's lips as his hand stilled on top of the creature's head. "Go to him. Show him how much you miss now that you have a new master…."

The beast growled low then licked at his hand before turning to walk off. It didn't even acknowledge Treize's appearance there and so exited from the room without a glance back. Zechs closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them turning around to face Treize. "Are the bodies ready then?" He smiled watching the glow of red that kept lightly touching on Treize's cheeks, the glow of the floor pulsing even as they spoke.

"Yes, master. They have been prepared. The blood is ready to flow." Treize kneeled down in front of him, resting a fist against the floor to support his weight.

"Very well." Zechs turned his back to him again, lifting his arms up into the air as if beckoning all the demons of the world to come to him. "The symbol will not be completed until we have the blood of 20 virgins. How many is this now?"

"Four have been brought in, sir." Treize smirked slightly at that though it was missed by his master. "It's hard to find virgins these days."

"Figures…very well…we need three more before this can be completed. Come to me then, when you have them, and I will reward you." It was true, he loved rewarding his pet. The others of the order might question what he was doing, but he didn't care. This was his castle, and his idea, his madness. He was going to follow the dark master's wish in order to bring around the darkness of the world and the unlimited amount of blood that was to be found. He already had a good deal of power under his belt, power the dark master had given him. Though he never saw this master, he continued to serve him as no other. "Very soon now…we will see this dark age."


Wufei closed the door to his car and turned around shoving his hands in his pockets. His ponytail flew in the wind behind him but he did his best to ignore it, the sweatshirt capable of covering up his bite marks. Someone else like him? He needed to hurry before it awoke and did who knows what kind of damage. He started inside the hospital, gun inside his coat at the ready. He never was without one, never allowed it even to go to the super market. Who? Who was it that could walk in the sun with him?

It was a clean hospital, what else was there to suspect? The walls were a greenish color that sort of made Wufei feel sick just looking at them. The ground was like a bluish black marble color with speckles of other colors as well. Upon entry there was a front desk straight in front of him. The female there smiled at him, familiar with his presence if nothing else. Either left or right showed more hallways leading to clinics and waiting areas. He took the left heading for the elevator which he knew to be around the first corner. The hospital was pretty busy today. A small child in the midst of play laughing as it brushed past him obliviously. As he continued walking he saw Sally Po moving briskly and followed her, catching up to her just as the elevator arrived.

As she stepped in, Wufei followed behind her. "Where is he?" He saw Sally jump, apparently startled before she turned around putting a smile on her face. She was tired, Wufei knew that. He could see the dark lines and the puffiness under her eyes. Her hair was actually in a bit of disarray, which she obviously didn't have time to prepare. Even her clothes were wrinkled and smudge here and there with…well things he was sure he didn't want to know.

"Always sneaking up on me huh?" she said as she reached up a hand brushing a lose piece of hair out of her face. She held a clipboard in her hand, obviously information about her current patient. "We found him early this morning just laying in the middle of the street. Apparently he must have passed out. A truck driver happened to notice him, coming close to hitting him but he found him. There are no particular marks on him, aside from a few bite marks on his neck and arms. In fact it's has though he has no skin conditions whatsoever. It's completely flawless, no scratches, no bruises, nothing. The skin is perfectly healthy and even his hair seems to be rich." She tapped her fingers against the clipboard as she wiggled her nose in thought. "He seems to be a more than perfect kind...with sharp fangs. In fact when we did a blood test…well…it's all confusing really. We didn't come out any with major results. Each time we did it, we either got nothing or we got an assortment of types."

Wufei frowned slightly. That…was not normal. But Sally would not have called him had it been…normal. So what was he up against this time? "Where is he now?"

"Fourth Floor. I'm on my way there now. They just told me he's showing signs of awakening. I don't want to startle him. I guess it's a good thing you happened along. He might not be in his best of mind." A frowned slid to her face as the ding of the elevator singled that they were on the fourth floor. "Just be careful. Noin is already suspicious of you, but it's worse now that this kid is here."

"I'm always careful," Wufei said just as the doors opened.

"I know you are." Sally rested a hand on his shoulder before she walked out heading down the hallway. There was nothing to do but follow her so he sighed moving along after her. Perfect skin like that…could it be a vampire? But no, vampires couldn't stand the sun. So what was this then? "We're here. Just remember not to act out and frighten him. We don't know what he's capable of yet." She gave him a look before she turned the handle on the door and pushed it open.

"Sure, it's not as though he's trying to kill us or anything," was his sarcastic mark. True, they didn't know his intentions, but the fact that he had fangs didn't help it. Wufei might have just dropped it had it been only the fangs, considering that people did tend to make their own in a way. But…the perfect skin…the confusing blood tests. Something really just didn't feel right about this. That sort of thought stopped of course, when he saw the figure that was laying there on the bed. It caused his eyes to shoot up in shock, expecting to see anyone, anyone but that person.

::Heero?::


Strange, this feeling. White lights…this wasn't his dream. So then what was this? Heero had never seen so much light before…shouldn't he be dead? Maybe he was dead. Maybe this was how death really was. Floating in the white light. He felt as though he was on his back, in a sort of weightlessness. Everything moved sluggishly, but it also seemed so unimportant.

::Where am I?::

That's a good question, a voice seemed to answer out to him. Strange…it was his voice. Heh, he was going crazy then. He was hearing things. Why did this tone of voice sound familiar? You should awaken soon, everyone is waiting on you.

"I'm not asleep…I'm dead, right?" Heero kept his eyes closed, not willing to open them, not wanting to. Who was this that thought they had the right to tell him what to do?

You're not dead, Heero Yuy, now get up. If you don't wake up, the world will be destroyed. Do you want that guilt on your shoulders? This voice…is pesky.

"Go away." He clenched his eyes shut, trying to shut out the voice, not wanting to hear this. "I don't care about the world, just go away."

Go away or what? You'll kill me? Kick me out? Since I am a part of you, you won't be able too. Maybe I should just take over then.

Heero's eyes shot open then but clenched shut quickly with a grunt at the intensity of the light. He wasn't ready for that. "You're not taking over my body, whatever you are."

Then get your lazy ass up and go save the world! You haven't sacrificed yourself for nothing!

Sacrificed? Heero frowned slightly before he slowly opened up one eye, then the other. The most he was capable of was slits, small slits. "What do you mean I've sacrificed myself?" He didn't receive an answer to that and frowned a bit, finally starting to relax again. "If I'm alive, then I've not sacrificed anything."

That's just the point…you're alive.

Those words must have set something off because before Heero could reply, he started to see things. Objects appearing before his eyes, melting away into a scene. It looked like a hospital. In fact…it was. The white walls were signals in themselves as well as the bed he was laying on. Lifting an arm up tiredly, he looked at it, seeing a white slip of paper around his wrist. There was no name, just the word patient. Aside from a slight buzz in his head, he felt fine though.

Revelation sent a shock through him, his eyes staring towards the window, out into the well lit world. What the hell was going on?! He sat up quickly patting himself down, eyes wide in shock and confusion. Why wasn't he dead, he should have been dead! He moved his tongue around in his mouth slightly wincing when it ran across sharp teeth. His fangs were still there, but they seemed to have shrunk down in size by a lot.
Suddenly he looked over at a sound, hearing the door to the room starting to open. His body tensed up, ready to attack.

Take it easy before you make a fool of yourself. That voice again…. Heero frowned slightly but relaxed. It was that voice's fault. If he hadn't interfered with Heero's life…. Heero, you know someone's talking to you, right?

"No, I hadn't noticed," Heero said dryly, rolling his eyes slightly. Fucking voice…

"Hadn't noticed?" Wufei growled slightly, grabbing Heero by the shirt and lifting him from all the bed, shaking him slightly. "What do you mean you hadn't noticed?! How long has this been going on, huh?! Tell me!"

Heero just smacked the hands away, falling back onto the bed before he looked up. Wufei was here? Why was he here? "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing here?!" It was apparent that Wufei was starting to get pissed off. Apparently he wasn't very happy about what was happening either. "This isn't about me, now answer my question! How long have you been able to walk in the sun?! What are you a super breed?!"

You should answer him, he's your only comrade right now.

"Just shut up!" Heero growled out before clenching at his head. "Get the fuck out of my head before I kill you!"

Wufei seemed to pause, confusion plastered to his face. He wasn't sure what was going on. Maybe the sun baked Heero's head but forgot to take the body with it. But that doesn't explain his being alive at all though.

"I'll just leave you two here to talk, since you know each other," some woman with funny pigtails said. Heero didn't know her, and to be honest, he didn't care. He saw her give Wufei a type of look before walking off. Wufei just ignored it though, his attention on Heero. Why…was he looking so intently at him?

"You have some explaining to do, Heero Yuy." As he spoke, he walked over, sitting on a chair beside his bed. He seemed far too confident in whatever he was doing, but Wufei didn't question it. "So start from the beginning. Tell me what the hell is happening to you?"

Heero just stared at him, weighing his situation. What was he supposed to do, tell him that he had been destined to destroy all vampires? That he was almost like some kind of god or guardian angel? Before he knew what he was doing he was retelling the story. Telling it from the beginning starting with the dreams and their meanings. How he ran out into the sunlight against his master's wishes. It made him feel vulnerable, weak. He had no control over his life, he was being told he had to kill the one he loved. He was told he'd have to kill one of his friends. How was that supposed to make him feel good?!

You make it seem worse than it really is. Would you really let the world be destroyed just because of a couple of vampires?

Heero growled at the voice, wishing he could just kill it. "Didn't I tell you to shut up?"

Wufei frowned, scratching slightly at his chin before he glanced out the window. "So, this other you is talking to you now." He looked back at Heero again, no real emotion expressed on his face. "If it weren't for the fact that you're actually sitting here in front of me in broad daylight, I wouldn't have believed any of this…. So what are you going to do now?" He crossed his arms waiting on an answer.

This…Heero had never thought of. Wait…maybe there was a certain threat he was supposed to kill…meaning he didn't have to kill Duo right? "…He said the world is unbalanced. That means I'm supposed to destroy something. I can only guess it's something in the city, right? But someone has to be behind this…who?"

Wufei snorted at that. "For all you know, it could be Zechs." Heero gave him a look, one that Wufei returned full force. "Don't count it out. Remember, he did just move into the castle unexpectedly on you, right? No one's home now, so guess who's taking over? Besides…I sense such an extreme amount of evil from him."

Heero lifted a brow a bit, reaching down and tugging the blanket around him at the chill his body was feeling. "You seem to hate him a lot. What did he do to make you hate him so much?"

Wufei sent a glare Heero's way, but after seeing that it was having no effect on the other, he sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck before standing. "Remember…well you probably don't considering. But it was some time back, before we had all went our separate ways. While…you and Duo were becoming better acquainted with each other, the same with Trowa and Quatre, I laid witness to Treize's transformation." He stopped talking for a moment, his hands shaking at his sides before he clenched them into fist. "I couldn't save them…instead Zechs bit me. It wasn't enough to turn me…but it did change me." He looked up at Heero. "I have more strength than a normal human…I get blood cravings…but I can't die from it, and the sunlight won't hurt me. 'You're not exactly a vampire, nor are you even half a vampire. And of course, you are no longer truly human anymore.' That was his words to me." He let himself fall down to sit on the floor. "To be honest…I don't know what I am. I'm not a mixed breed…. I still have the bite marks, they haven't faded. He's still after me." He looked up at Heero. "I have to kill him. Maybe I can rest then if I do."

Heero frowned again. He never knew his friend to be so tormented. Was this what had been bothering him? Having to deal with this? With Zechs's crazed needs? There was no excuse for what Zechs had done. Heero opened his mouth, preparing to speak before something crashed through the window. He closed his eyes as glass shot everywhere, then opened them again, his eyes now fastened on the creature. He couldn't even explain what it was! It was like a dog…but it was not in the least bit cute like one. With a growl, the beast looked at one of them to the other. You couldn't tell, not with the five eyeballs it had. There was one in the middle, and two on either side of the long muzzle that stuck out like a pig snout. He didn't sound like a pig though, causing Heero to wince as it sounded like nails on a board, metal nails.

The beast had long nails that appeared to be sharp enough to cut through the bone. That didn't even come close to the teeth that looked like they could do worse. The thing that made it even worse…it was all black, like it was a shadow. Its appearance into the room had caused a weird darkness. It reminded Heero of the castle and the hovering candles. About the same concept except the lights were starting to die out now.

::What the hell is that thing?!::

A dark demon. They call them shadow dogs. The name fits them considering that wherever they walk, a darkness is cast over it. I've never known them to come out in sunlight though.

::How the hell do you know so much?:: Before Heero could get an answer from his inner self, the creature turned, growling as it jumped for him, sharp nails extended to penetrate him. Heero rolled out of the bed in time, eyes wide as he saw the nails sinking right into the place he had just been sitting. A gun went off, and Heero glanced over at Wufei seeing him with his guns out, firing like there was no tomorrow. It didn't look like it was doing any good to the demon, the bullets just being absorbed right into the skin. Another screeching roar was let loose, causing Heero to wince. The shadow dog turned around, looking towards Wufei, the man that was shooting at it. Wufei didn't seem to want to give up though, still shooting even as he was walking a circle, moving to stop beside Heero. "Unless you have a plan, we need to get moving!"

Heero stood to his feet just as the shadow dog jumped off the bed, stalking slowly in their direction. His footsteps leaving acid like imprints on the marble floor. They had no defenses against this beast, they barely even knew what it was! Heero was about to speak, when the door behind him opened.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Sally's voice was clamped shut before a scream slipped free as she turned to flee. However, she didn't even make it two steps before the beast was onto her. He was behind her, his mouth opening, extraordinarily wide as he swallowed her up, the scream quickly dying off.

"Sally!" Wufei yelled out, about to run after the beast before Heero grabbed his hand pulling him out of the door, easily slipping past the distracted beast.

"We don't have time, keep moving!" Reluctantly, Wufei moved, running after Heero. The voices had stopped in Heero's head. It was bad timing considering that the help would have been appreciated.

"What the hell is that thing!" Wufei said. He'd already put up his gun as they ran.

"Shadow dogs. They pretty much place a darkness wherever they are." Heero didn't stop running, instead glancing back to see that the beast was just now noticing them and starting to take chase. Shit.

"Well if you know what these things are, why don't you destroy them!" Wufei was angry, probably more so at the fact that Sally Po had been eaten. It made Heero wonder how long they had been friends…or if there was something deeper.

"If I had known I would have. I just learned myself what it is…from the voice."

Wufei growled at that. "Then why don't you ask him how to kill it?!"

"Cause he's not answering, so shut up!" Heero was frustrated too. And curious…how many of these beast were out? Was it beginning? He was pushing past people in the hallway, most screaming and running. It was starting chaos. Some of the people weren't getting out of the way in time, and ended up being trampled by the beast as it ran, chasing them. It wanted them for some reason…or was it him it wanted? Heero looked up seeing a sign, it was showing an exit, a staircase at his guess. Quickly grabbing Wufei's hand, he pushed the door open, waiting until the other was fully in before shoving it closed.

Wufei was panting, tired. If he was afraid, he wasn't showing it. To be honest, Heero was doing a pretty good job of hiding his own fear as well. He didn't even want to fathom what that beast could do. He was still remembering when he had fought against Dermail, and the hand he received into his back.

Shaking his head he turned around starting down the steps. "We need to get out of here."

"Yeah, and where should we go?" Wufei just narrowed his eyes following after him. "How can you be sure that…that thing won't follow us?"

" Remember, it's daytime." Heero glanced back at Wufei before looking ahead again. "Just imagine what tonight could be like if it gets loose through the city. Whatever is happening, we have to stop it."

"We don't even know where to begin, Heero. Think about it. Guns don't work on it. And who knows if anything else will." Wufei just shook his head.

Heero stopped walking turning around as he tilted his head back looking at the other. "Lights kill shadows."

"Yeah? Well they also cause them too." He shouldered past Heero roughly, apparently considering that the end of the discussion. Heero just clenched his hands, angry at himself, at the voice, and at Wufei too. The other wasn't even trying to find a way. And Heero would have told him that too, had he not seen the shadow forming on the door they had just exited. Staring a bit, he saw an eye, then another, a muzzle coming through, materializing through the door. Fuck!

"Better get moving, it's coming through the door," he said rushing past Wufei down the steps. He heard the other swear softly under his breath before he started running again. The chase was on. They ran then, moving quickly, panting softly as the panic was rushing through. Already the beast was through, bounding down the steps after them. At times it would jump from wall to wall, sometimes melting into them before coming back out again. Either way, Heero didn't want to think about it, he just kept running.

He felt sweat appearing on his forehead, but he didn't stop to wipe it away, feeling they were getting closer to the exit. Already they had passed the third floor and the second floor. He was reward then with the first floor door appearing in front of them. It was already open, not normal but an advantage anyway as he ran out into the hallway. The hallway was empty, not a very good sign considering. As he ran by a door, he took a glance into a room and was sure his heart had skipped a beat. There was another one! It seemed to be feeding off one of the doctors there, mauls tearing into the skin of the man's neck, pulling loose the meat there. If lucky, the man was dead already, but Heero wasn't going to go back and check. It made him feel sick though and pushed even more fear into him at the thought that it could do that to him too.

Glancing back, he found another shock. There wasn't only one monster, but three now. All of them were chasing after Wufei and him. One had his tongue sticking out, panting, dark drool dripping onto the ground. Heero looked away quickly, finding the front doors before him. He pushed through the door, Wufei hot on his trail as they started down the streets. There was a problem though…the streets were silent. There was no one out there, but a few littered dead bodies and six more creatures in front of them now heading towards them. Heero felt himself slowing down then, after glancing to his left and to his right. They were surrounded now.

He heard Wufei stop beside him, panting to catch his breath as he pulled out his gun again. "They've surrounded us." He stood up straight, pulling out a round of bullets which he reloaded into his gun before looking over at Heero. "It may not be of any use, but I won't go down without trying."

Heero frowned but nodded his head. It wasn't as though he were any help, not now anyway. He wasn't a vampire now…the connection with Duo faint now, so close to breaking. It sort of gave him a sick feeling and he closed his eyes.

It is time I stepped in…lend me your body, and I will destroy them.

Heero frowned a bit, glancing around for a moment before he looked up towards the sky, whatever Wufei was saying to him being lost in the moment. ::As long as you return my body to me…. But I'll let you…just save Wufei and destroy these things.::

Sure. Just open yourself up to me, and I will come aide you.

And Heero did, the sky seeming to be brighter now, blinding him as he felt himself being pulled away from his body and surrounded in a sort of warmth. It was comforting.

TBC…

I finally updated! I felt…well…I should do something interesting. And I hadn't done monsters in a while so…I put some monsters. So fun! Just that gave more rise to ideas. Wee….more to come. I'll be posting an Alternate ending to Vampire Conspiracy soon, for those that had requested wanting to know what it would be like if Wufei had changed over too. Um…I'll be posting for Spellcaster soon too now that I know where I want it to go. And…I'll be posting for FFBT soon once I figure that out. Plus, a KH fic soon to come. Don't take it seriously though, it's nothing be well…you'll see.