"I have to get to class," he said, sliding out of Jorele's arms. "I'm gonna be late if I don't get my ass in gear." Jorele gently stroked Kalel's chin.

"No need to rush," he said. "Trust me. Where's your first class?" Kalel blushed, turning his eyes away from Jorele.

"English language," he murmured. Jorele draped his arm around Kalel's shoulders.

"I'll walk you there," he said, "Luminescence."

Chapter 4: Confessions

Ritsuka gaped as Kalel paused to drink from the glass Ritsuka had brought to him earlier.

"You mean," he whispered loudly, "that he knew your name before you told him who you were?"

"Don't interrupt!" Kalel snapped, slamming his drink down beside him. "You are correct. Jorele knew my true name, but for a good reason." He traced the edge of the glass with his finger. "Though a vampire, Jorele was born with a different name than the generic 'Bloodless.' This is true of most vampires that belong to the Empire's royal bloodline." Ritsuka nodded, acknowledging that he understood what Kalel said so that he could continue with the story.

"Jorele and I had matching names," Kalel explained. "We were the destined pair of a Fighter and Sacrifice." Ritsuka tentatively raised his hand. Kalel sighed, and replied, "Yes, Ritsuka?"

"Which one are you?" Ritsuka asked quietly.

"I'm the Sentouki, of course," Kalel snorted. "Anyways, Jorele and I had indeed committed to each other in more ways than one." He gently tugged one of the fake ears off his head. "Jorele promised to keep our affair a secret, so that we wouldn't get in trouble. I mean, he's the prince of an empire, and I'm just a common kid. If word had reached his father that we were sharing a living space, let alone the same bed, he would take Jorele away, and I'd never see him again."

Ritsuka fingered the edge of his shirt. He'd never thought about having Soubi taken from him before. Why would anyone separate a pair that were meant to be?

"Of course," Kalel continued, pulling off the other false ear, "someone leaked to Sensei that we had been sleeping together. He called Jorele to his office, but he didn't let him leave for three days." Kalel's eyes began to tear up. He kept wiping his eyes to stop his emotions from revealing themselves, but he had no luck. Salty water trickled down his cheeks, leaving glistening trail behind each drop. "That bastard raped my dear Jorele!" he cried, throwing himself to the floor. "That man hurt what I loved most, all because of me! I hate it! I hate that Jorele has to pay for my sins! I hate it!!" His shoulders shook violently as he sobbed, crying out loud curses against Ritsu, begging for Jorele to be healed of his painful memories.

Ritsuka turned his eyes away from Kalel, staring at the floor and nervously gripping his sleeve. He couldn't imagine the pain Kalel suffered every time he looked at his partner. He shivered at the thought of even knowing if someone dear to him had been hurt because of him.

Seimei, he thought.

Kalel quieted his sobs and wiped his tears on his sleeve. Jorele had been waiting for him for a long time.

"I… I have to get back to him," he said. "If I leave him for a long time, he gets worried pretty badly." Ritsuka reached for Kalel's hand, but the boy pushed him back. "Stop it, okay?! I told you that I have to go back."

"But, he tried to hurt you!" Ritsuka protested. "If you go back, he'll kill you." Kalel muffled his chuckles as he doubled over in laughter.

"We always argue like that," he grinned. "It's just how we get along so well." Ritsuka raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"You… get along like that?" Kalel ran his fingers through his blond hair.

"Yeah," he replied. "Sometimes I get really scared while he drinks my blood, so I'll hit him a few times and run away. Jorele will back off for a couple hours, and then I'll come back and let him finish. We do that at least once a month." Ritsuka gaped as Kalel went skipping down the hall back to Kio's room.

Idiot, he thought. You shouldn't let him get away with making you angry all the time.

Kalel quietly closed the door behind him, careful to not wake the sleeping Jorele. He crawled beneath the blankets without rustling them, and he curled up at Jorele's side. Kissing his lover's cheek, Kalel softly wished him sweet dreams, and he fell asleep to the sound of Jorele's gentle breathing.