AN: I learned something new! It does not count as an update when you replace chapters. So in a sense, you're getting two new chapters, since you guys probably haven't read the seventh chapter.


Chapter 8: Hunting Danger

(Zexion's POV)

The room was dark, but it was a comfortable dark. Like when you burrow into a pile of blankets. It's dark, warm, and comfy. The sheets were a dark blue, and everything was all slightly messy. I was semi-curled up in the sheets, my wings out. The bed dipped as someone else climbed on. Lips brushed against my cheek and arms wrapped around me, pulling me against a warm body. A voice whispered in my ear, calling my name. Opening my eyes, I was met with an adoring aquamarine gaze. Lips pressed against mine, making me close my eyes again as a blush spread over my face. The person kissing me smirked when he broke the contact, rolling onto his back with me on top of him. One of his hand slipped down to brush against my stomach, making me squirm and throw my head back to keep from moaning. Lips met the skin of my neck, tongue and fangs joining the play. It was getting warmer and warmer…

I awoke with a gasp, my face turning scarlet with embarrassment. I can't believe I just had a dream like that!

AND IT WAS ABOUT DEMYX!!!

I don't like him like that! He's my friend! I can't like him like that! I-I mean, how could I like him like that? Those eyes of his so trusting, so friendly, so alluring… No! I didn't just think that! But he's so cute!! ARGHHH!!

Just then, guess who decided to come through my bedroom door, to wake me up? My stunning, blonde, vampire friend who I might just have feelings for. Wait, that wasn't what I meant. Don't look at me that way; I swear I don't have feelings for him. I-I mean…

"Good morning Zexy!" he chirped, jumping on the bed and glomping me. No, I did not know what glomping was until Demyx and Larxene sat me down and explained it to me. Those two can work together as perfectly as twins. It's terrifying. I believe I was traumatized. Axel and Roxas won't stop laughing about it.

"Zexy?" Demyx asked, waving his hand in front of my face. Oh crap, did I space out again? I've been doing that a lot lately. I only used to do that around my mother. "Yes, Demyx?" I asked, blinking as jerking back to get away from his hand. He grinned, popping up in front of me. I feel like it was a definite invasion of personal space, seeing as his face was only about four inches away from mine. A bright blush rose on my cheeks, and I vividly remembered my dream. Oh God, somebody please shoot me! "Zexy, are you okay?" he asked, tilting his head. The expression on his face made my face even redder. "Zexy!" Demyx squeaked, seeing how red my face was, his eyebrows shooting up. I think I was going to die of embarrassment.

Just then, my door slammed open again. "GODDAMMIT DEMYX! WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?" Looking towards the door, there was Xigbar huffing and puffing. I think I was about to die from embarrassment or something. Xigbar stood there, before strutting over, grabbing Demyx by the collar of his vest, and dragging him out of my room. Before he closed the door, he glanced over his shoulder. "I suggest you get dressed already, Zex. We're taking you hunting today."

I sat in silence for a few minutes before some of the words clicked, bringing a few unpleasant memories as well. Ansem attacked me last time, before I could go hunting. I had heard that the clan hunted animals. Though I wasn't aware of what animals we could hunt in the area.

As I pondered the idea of what wildlife was in the area, I got dressed. Today I chose to wear a pair of black jeans and a leaf green turtleneck with black converse. Hey, it was nearing winter. I don't care if I was immortal, I don't like the cold. I ended up meeting our hunting group out in the main room. The group consisted of Xigbar, Demyx, Axel, and Roxas. Me too, but that should be obvious. We headed out, Demyx bugging Xigbar, but something seemed forced about his smile. Xigbar looked kind of uncomfortable as well. Axel and Roxas were holding a quiet conversation while they would glance at the vampire hunter and blond in front them. I wonder what happened between Xigbar and Demyx. Did the fight after waking me up? Or was it about me being turned or how things have happened since? I could ask Demyx but he might become depressed or try to deny it. I don't think asking Xigbar would have been the smartest thing to do. Axel and Roxas don't always have all the facts either. Right before I could get completely lost in my thoughts, Xigbar signaled the group to stop.

Axel sniffed the air and grinned, looking somewhat feral. Roxas merely became silent, his eyes slowly scanning the nearby plant life. Demyx too fell silent. He looked a lot more alert. Xigbar turned to look me in the eye. "Now what do you know about when a vampire hunts for blood?" he asked me. "Nothing." I told him, my gaze turning from his when Axel shifted off to my right, looking like he wanted to take off. Xigbar called my attention back when he began to talk once more. "When a vampire hunts, they tend to act more like their instincts tell them to. Another example is that they act more like animals. A vampire's main weapons are their claws, fangs, speed, and strength. When an animal catches the attention of a vampire, they stop thinking like people and let start thinking like animals. A hunting vampire is about as dangerous as a starving one. You can watch one of the others to get an idea. I'll be going off on my own, away from you guys. When you hear my gun, it's time to head back." he explained, before walking off into the trees. His footsteps faded away after a while.

I turned to look at Demyx, since most often, I understand the things he says better than anyone else. He motioned me over to him, and whispered. "We can watch Axel and Roxas first, since they both hunt on the ground. Let's get up into the tree." He then pointed to a reasonable spot where we could watch. Once we were in the trees, Axel began to slink along the group, acting like a panther. A bright red panther. He stalked through a few bushes and around a few trees, before he went ridged. A few meters away was a deer. The only reason it hadn't fled was that Axel was downwind and the red head was completely silent. Slowly, he began to creep up towards the unsuspecting mammal, and once he was a few feet away, he flitted, pouncing unto the deer, using it's shock to snap it's neck. We turned to find Roxas while Axel fed.

The blond had moved a few feet away from Axel, and had been stalking his prey as well. Since Roxas was smaller and had just recently been hunting, he had chosen to go after a rabbit. When Axel had brought down the deer, the sudden movement had startled the rabbit, sending it running. The blond took off after it, flitting and quickly catching up, knocking it into a tree, where I heard it's spine snap, killing it instantly. I flinched at the sound. To kill something so easily and without regret kept reminding me of my father. Of course, these were animals and nature worked like that... Still I couldn't help but make the connection. Though this was just about the only thing we could do so we wouldn't have to hunt humans. If I had to hunt humans, I don't think I would have been so accepting of the whole vampire deal.

Demyx smiled in understanding. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. I'm going to hunt near the river, since I like the fish there. Try not to take on one of the bears, okay?" he grinned, pointing in the direction I guess the river was in, before he jumped out of the tree and left. I took a deep breath before I moved into the higher branches. I had no idea what I was going to hunt. This would be a great place to let my wings out, except I didn't have any holes in my shirt for them to go through, and I happen to like this shirt a lot. So in they stay. Xigbar said vampires let their instincts take over when they hunt. I rolled my shoulders before closing my eyes. Instincts, natural acts.... it felt like I was falling under water in my mind. Opening my eyes once more, it was like everything was clearer. I could also feel the thirst better. It was like a prickling in the back of my throat. Shifting, I moved to begin hunting.


(Roxas' POV)

After I finished my meal and came back to myself, I noticed Axel was still eating, but he looked almost finished. I turned to where I heard movement. It was Zexion, up in the tree. He had shifted into a slight four-legged stance, and just opened his eyes. Of course, I could only see one, considering his other eye was covered by his hair. His eyes were cat-like, like everyone in the clan's were when we let ourselves go. He leapt out of the tree, landing swiftly before he began to stalk off, obviously catching the scent of something he liked.

I glanced back at Axel. The pyro was still eating. I could wait for him to finish, or I could trail Zexion. Decisions decisions... You know what, I think I'll go follow Zexion. Though I might regret it. All well. Since meeting Axel, I really just don't care for consequences as much as I should. It was easy to follow Zexion, but then again, this was his first time hunting. To humans, he would have appeared extremely experienced. To hunters or other vampires, though, it was as clear as day that he was new at this. I continued to follow him until he came across a rocky landmark. I almost didn't see that his prey was there. It was a young bobcat that had been causing nothing but trouble, attacking people and their pets. It was staring at a moving mouse, but when it finally saw Zexion, it snarled at him. He snarled back, before crouching. Somehow, if I looked close enough, it almost looked like Zexion was completely aware of what he was doing, and was controlling his actions with his mind, not his instincts. But Zexion was just a fledgling, so that couldn't be right.

The fight only lasted a few seconds, both beings slashing and snarling at each other. Then the bobcat made a fatal mistake and tried to leap at Zexion, who attack his unguarded belly, practically knocking the cat into the rocks, before he was on it, drinking its blood. The cat couldn't even yowl. So I guess it's easy to say what Zexion's preference was. Axel liked big prey that he could scare easily and then chase. I liked small prey that I could also chase. Saix liked stalking anything large with Xemnas. Though Xemnas was a lot more strategic, always using plans. Demyx liked fish. For reasons I have yet to really figure out. I probably could if I listened to his energetic squealing when he spoke about them, but it was habit to tune him out. And Zexion apparently liked anything that could kill him if he made the wrong move. I could hear Axel now. 'The little emo likes to be a daredevil!'

I wonder if Axel finished yet.


(Zexion's POV)

After I finished and came back to myself, I wiped the remaining blood on my mouth and chin off. Right after I did that and sat back on the balls of my feet, my hands reaching down to touch my toes, though I was wearing sneakers. I sighed and then there was a loud squeal, coming from something that knocked me backwards. It turns out the blur that ran into me was Demyx, who had also let out the squeal, as mortifying as that can be. I ended up landing on the very solid earth, with Demyx on top of me, hugging me and saying something really fast, like a girl does. Fast enough that all you really hear is the tone, which is very high pitched. I didn't understand a word he said. Though his... close proximity... reminded me of this morning. Which reminded me of my dream. My very embarrassing dream. Of my very hot friend.

I didn't just think that.

It was then that I heard, since I couldn't really see anything with Demyx on top of me, Roxas trying, and failing, to keep his snickering silent. If I could see around Demyx's chest, I would glare. But I couldn't so I pretended in my head that I could see him and glare and that he dropped to the ground in shock. Which helped me cool down a little bit. Sadly, I think the universe hates me right now, cause Axel showed up and started to laugh. Very loudly. He didn't even try to keep quiet. I was gonna sick Larxene on him once we got back. Maybe lock him in the basement with her. He was going to SUFFER! Thank the Gods that Xigbar's rifle went off. Demyx was off me in a flash. "Time to go!" he chirped. With a sigh, I got up and followed after the others, who had started to flit over to the meeting place. Xigbar was already there, and from there, we all headed back home. I quickly went to my room, to try and distract myself from the morning with a good book, maybe get ahead in class work.

But before I did that, I kicked Axel down the stairs into the basement Larxene was hanging around in, with all her favorite torture toys.


AN:Finally. I tried working on this chapter earlier, but my dad's laptop died again. Sadly, it stayed dead. I mourn my dad's laptop. It was an old Gateway. He got it like a decade ago. So he got a new computer. The only difference is it's a Windows Vista. But I have internet and word so I'm good. And Windows Media Player so I can listen to cds while I type. So it's all good. Nothing really happened in this chapter except maybe some foreshadowing. And Zexion's plotting against Axel. Though if you think about it, Axel deserved it. And it's hard to believe that Axel and Larxene are actually close friends with the way they act. But instead of my mindless chatter, let's see what reviews I can answer.

Sky Blue Baby- I updated! Gosh I feel proud...

6cloakedschemer- Ha Ha! *points at you* You have failed to poison me! And I put out a chapter. Again. I keep looking at the Cirqu du Freak series when I go to the bookstore. Is it actually good?

I'll get out the next chapter as soon as it flows from my unconscious mind into my conscious mind. I just can't seem to remember what it was going to be about. This is what happens when I don't plan these things out. Then again, if I planned it out, I probably wouldn't be writing it, cause I'd loose interest. Or I could just type a bunch of chapters and hold out on you until I feel I can start posting them. But some of you would probably threaten to maim me, so I won't do that. But the story won't die, mainly because the reviewers would somehow hunt me down and tie me to a chair until I did write. Or maybe something worse.... Anyways, hope you guys all like the chapter!