Awwww! Sad! This story is going to be getting off on a bit of a rocky start. I have had several of you send "Death to Heero and Duo" reviews. Sorry but that won't happen, although they WILL get their just rewards. I'm not really happy about how I've done this story, I must confess. Since I'm doing so many at once, I forget some things that I had intended early on to be major points in the plot and that disappoints me. However, much to my surprise and enjoyment, this is one of my most popular stories on the internet so I must be doing something right! Thanks for all of your support. We couldn't have done this without you guys. Without readers authors are nothing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but a small pitiful book section, the plot and three white mice.

Chapter SeventeenMissing You All Along

'I looked for what I lacked and found that in my struggle I was missing you all along.'

Kinau woke up to darkness. Rai was sitting against the wall in a plush chair looking thoroughly bored with whatever he was reading. Something light shimmered on the bedside table.

"That's from your dear Lady, by the way. She made it herself." The vampire answered without waiting for Kinau's inevitable question.

The boy picked up the blade, staring at it in rapt fascination. How could something so delicate and beautiful be handmade? Then again, he realized with a derisive smile to himself, he was talking about the Lady. She could do anything if she pleased. He looked at Rai, suddenly wishing for him at his side. Kinau contemplated on the irony of wanting his formerly hated admirer beside him for the simple comfort of his presence. All of the sudden, there was no more wishing, because Rai was there beside him, just as he had wanted. A small kiss was placed on his forehead.

"You've only to wish it, Kitten, and I will give it." He whispered, curling himself around him on the bed.

Rai's arms folded around him and instead of feeling like shackles, they felt like the protection they should have always been. His Sire helped him into the necklace with gentle hands. The feel of his adoring touch made Kinau tip his head back in quiet bliss. He couldn't speak past the lump of emotion in his chest. He looked up at Rai and his eyes were tired and filled with grief.

"Kiss me…" He whispered, almost inaudibly.

The vampire smiled, more of an upturn of the lips than anything. He captured the quivering lips with his own and Kinau wrapped an arm around his neck to keep him close. Rai marveled at how soft and pliant those sweet lips could be. It was…wonderful. So innocent and compelling. Rai knew that he would do anything to see a smile on Kinau's face again.

They parted hesitantly and Kinau's expressive green eyes watched him. His warm hand rested in the crook of Rai's neck still. He didn't want to break that fragile contact. It was too precious to him.

"Am I a vampire now, then?" His soft voice asked.

Rai touched his head lightly, admiring the soft locks and the length of it all.

" Only half. You're half vampire, half human still. I thought it was best that way."

Even if Rai hadn't seen the smile, however small, arch Kinau's mouth, he felt the appreciation run through his mind. His fledgling was fragile physically, mentally and emotionally. Any good news for him would help. The teen burrowed deeper, making an annoyed noise deep in his throat. Rai chuckled alittle.

"It's alright. It will pass."

Kinau nodded but slammed his eyes shut tightly. Rai knew what he was feeling. All fledglings had a time where they were trying to adjust to sharing such a tight, fierce bond with their creators. They suffered from the frustration of feeling like a part of their sires and yet, their physical forms held them from it. It was a very disconcerting and aggravating feeling. Rai remembered when he had felt that way. He had thrown another vampire out of the window of a top floor building. He didn't think Kinau would do that. Likely he would just kill whoever got in the way.

Kinau tugged on a strand of Rai's hair and used it to pull his face down. He wanted to savor that taste. Blood and wine…just like when they had kissed in the back of that limosine on their date what seemed like ages ago. It was an entire lifetime ago. He didn't know what to think about anything anymore but he knew that Rai would always be by him. He always had been, really, even though he had been a jerk. Kinau opened his eyes, he hadn't even noticed they were closed, and found himself pressed beneath Rai, the mattress at his back. His sire's arms were quivering around him.

"You're robbing me of all my control, Kitten. You are not ready for this, nor is it the time for it." He said, his voice shaking slightly at the end.

Years of pent in lust were raging through him all at once. Rai had been absolutely furious when he had discovered that he could not have Kinau years ago…

Flashback Land. Fasten your seatbelts

Emerald eyes were staring at him in barely veiled curiosity. Poor thing didn't know what was going on. Rai smiled to himself. This child was meant for great things. He was meant for him

"Are you enjoying Japan, Kinau?" He asked from the comfort of the plush chair in front of the fire.

The blaze was really redundant. He couldn't feel the heat, he just knew it was there. Kinau, however, made warmth race through him like nothing else had in two centuries. Could he be his mate? Surely not. Whoever his mate was had either not been born or was long dead. He knew immortals who were a millennia old at least and had waited and waited and waited for their mates. The wait had been so hard for some, that they had chosen the sun instead. He was not weak though. He would bear the wait. But if Kinau really was…He would just have to see. The small boy nodded shyly.

"I like it here a lot. Heero and Duo are really great and the Lady is very kind to let me stay."

Rai nodded. He had expected that response. What he hadn't expected was the timid joy that he saw in the child's eyes.

"How did you get those scars on you?"

Kinau quickly clammed up and a quiet determination leaked through the shyness. He would not speak of his scars to anyone. Rai had known this but he felt the need to try anyways. But he wanted to take it one step further. He wanted to see Kinau's determination at it's peak. If this boy really was his mate, his destined partner for eternity, it would not do for him to continue like he was. He needed to get rid of that shyness. It was cute but it was not practical, nor would it help him in the long run.

"I would like to see them all, I think."

Before the small teenager knew anything, Rai was right in front of him and a pair of iron arms were around his waist. His shirt inched up over his stomach to his ribs. Kinau jerked in his embrace. He didn't like being touched.

"Let go!!" He cried and fear unlike any Rai had ever felt from a single person coursed from the teen.

Something terrified Kinau, really scared him.

"I just want to see them, Kitten. That's all. You shouldn't hide this lovely body anyways."

Finally, Rai got what he really wanted. The fear fuel the rage and suddenly, Kinau released a blaze of fire harsh enough to force the vampire to let him go. He spun around to the amused vampire.

"Back the fuck off!! I am not a whore or a toy for your amusement!! Neither you nor anyone else will EVER see them!! Do you hear me, you jerk?!" Kianu screamed, a full out glare of hatred aimed at Rai.

His yelling brought the Chinese soldier busting through the room, with Trowa at his heels. The Lady was behind him.

"Rai, I see you have been tormenting my newest employee." She said calmly.

Kinau was gathered in her arms. He was still shaking with rage. Rai smirked.

"Not tormenting. I merely wanted one small concession. That is all."

"Kinau is off limits.Do you understand that, Rai? Completely off limits."

Rai did not like that. At all.

End Flashback

Kinau grinned sadly.

"I don't care."