Nearly done, thanks for reading & reviewing!

Just so you guys know, the uncensored version of this fic can be found on my livejournal.

jubileerain . livejournal .com , just close the spaces in between the dots, or you can click on "homepage" on my profile.

Katra's skin flustered as she spotted the amusement in Acheron's upturned mouth as he spied on her. Although he came by to visit her nearly everyday, even if it was for a measly hour, he knew she found it irksome whenever he popped in unannounced. Especially when she was dancing to disco, about to bathe.

"Quit laughing!" She fumed, lowering the volume and then essentially stomping her foot like a child.

"I never liked disco until now." He said in between the amused laughs resonating in his throat. The corners of his swirling steel eyes crinkled as he gazed at Katra's glare and slightly pouted pink mouth.

She tried to push away to no avail, embarrassed he caught her doing "the hustle."

"I hate it when you sneak up on me like that."

Her indignant complaint barely registered in Acheron's head. His silvery eyes glittered, fascinated by the green sparks in her eyes as she glowered, the coloring of humiliation staining her skin, and most of all, the luscious shape of her rosy plump lips.

He angled his head down a bit.

Katra always fell into a trance whenever he gazed at her with heated intensity. Her body didn't function properly under his blatant scrutiny. She gulped in air, and clutched the open folds of his collar on his black button down shirt to maintain some semblance of equilibrium.

Time either passed by excruciatingly slow or thrillingly fast.

A hairbreadth apart, his warm breath mingled with hers.

She brushed her lips lightly against his, kissing him with care. Her soft, warm lips heated his body, and the velvet strokes of her tongue tickled his nerves. He levitated a few inches off the ground, the stirrings of euphoria streaming through him. They floated around the room for a short while, then landed.

She wrapped her arms around his torso, then made a small cry of dismay at the raw welts on his back. Her heart constricted as she touched the fresh red marks with gentle fingers.

"Another Dark Hunter wanted their soul back?"

Acheron noticed during emotional situations, Katra had the tendency to logically assess it as if it were an obstacle she had to get over, while her true feelings were clearly readable on her facial features, especially her expressive eyes.

She spoke with mild curiosity in her tone, yet when her vivid green eyes looked up at him, it conveyed how much his wounds hurt her, how angry she was Artemis dared to lay her catty hands on him, and how helpless Katra felt. She didn't have the power to protect him, or bear his pain for him. All she could do was comfort him.

"No, one of the younger Dark Hunters accidentally got caught on someone's cell phone video clip in a Daimon fight, and Artemis demanded severe punishment for breaking the rules."

"Let me guess, she wanted death and you had to barter with her."

"You know Artie, results first, consequences be damned."

Although bitterness echoed in his tone, it worried Katra he was able to utter those words with such casualty. Several millennia of deceit made him somewhat numb and hopeless against Artemis' abuse. Their twisted relationship was too sad and warped to contemplate.

It made Katra see red. She wished she could erase the pain he had to suffer, but she couldn't. It was not meant to be. They both had imperative tasks to complete.

Alone.

Touched at the anger on his behalf written on her face, Acheron's hands ran soothing, assuring strokes along the bow of her spine.

Katra had her arms around him again, hugging him protectively.

"We should get ready to take Simi to the movies."

At the mention of his bonded demon, Acheron caressed the dragon tattoo on his arm.

"Yeah, the movie starts soon."