Bloodlust

by OnexLostxSoul

In order to keep the vampire civlization at bay, Ozai hands over one thing he won't miss: His own son. However, a strange relationship develops when the enchanting Lord Setsuya entraps Zuko in his circle of twisted pleasure and seduction. Explicit Yaoi.

7. To Hurt

Setsuya sat silently on the floor, his head resting on the comfortable bedding above him in a rather lethargic manner. His skin pale from lack of sun and his body weak with malnutrition, the boy's eyes fluttered shut and would have been tempted by sleep if not for the nightmares that accompanied such a luxury. Having lost track of time, date, and dignity, the brokenhearted teenager was not the same man he had once been, but a mere shadow of said character. The sparkle in his uniquely shaded eyes had been forever lost, right along with his will to continue the life he led. No longer did he have the will to preserve the painful memories of the promising existence he'd once enjoyed, and so they slipped through his mind taking with them any traces of that selfish virtue regarded to as 'hope'. One by one, those that he loved had become mere silhouettes against an inescapable future of slavery. 'Why remember when it only causes pain?' he would tell himself, as even the fond memories of his soul mate slowly began to deteriorate.

The door opened with an all-too-familiar creak and Setsuya raised his head to welcome Master. Hands folded delicately in his lap, the violet-eyed teenager awaited his keeper's next orders, meeting the dark gaze of the man without so much as a flinch. He felt a small nudge of surprise when Master lingered in the doorway, his eyes glazed over with a faint, unfocused stare. Emotions began to trickle through Setsuya's mental barrier, foremost being absolute fear as he recognized the lust in the vampire's eyes, a lust that was neither for sex nor attention.

"Master?" Setsuya asked hesitantly, his hand instinctively clenching the fabric that lay atop his chest within which his heart suddenly pounded. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, but gave him strength to do little more than inch backward against the bed's framework.

"Setsuya," the man addressed him softly, his voice full of raw pain and sorrow. "Setsuya... You know that I love you, don't you?" Master took a deep breath before stepping slowly towards his cowering servant, regret written across his normally spiteful features. Unsure of how to respond, the teenager's throat clenched around forgotten words as the man knelt before him and took the other's hands into his own. Setsuya inadvertently shivered at the contact, watching Master's vampiric incisors glisten against the faint candlelight. "I've always loved you," the man assured him, and his hands rose only to harshly grip the younger man's shoulders.

Setsuya's breath quickened when he felt a sharp fingernail deftly trace its way across his throat. He understood what was to come, yet feared it all the same. Having wished for his death for endless days, he'd have thought that standing face to face with his objective wouldn't be so unnerving. "Master? Master, please-"

"I know you could never love a monster such as I," the vampire pursued, resting his head against the boy's chest. "But if only for a moment, could you pretend as though you do?" Master raised his head and his hands trailed upward to caress Setsuya's face tenderly. "Just for a moment." Closing his eyes, he pressed a gentle kiss unlike any other he'd ever bestowed on the young one's lips. During that moment, Setsuya caught insight as to who this man was before his affliction, his curse; This man, whose unquenchable spell of bloodlust had cost him everything he'd ever treasured in life, driving him to near insanity. For that mere moment, Setsuya couldn't blame the desperate, wounded man for pursuing him even for the sake of a one-sided affection. His arms wrapped unconsciously around the vampire as he tenderly returned the kiss, blinking back the threatening tears that tormented his vision. The contact grew in passion, before Setsuya realized that Master had undoubtedly drawn him into this sick, twisted version of love.

Pulling away, the man whispered softly against his cheek, "Thank you, Setsuya. I-I'm so sorry." Fingernails slashed into the skin of his throat and lips pressed soothingly against the bare flesh. The teenager fought back tears of his own as droplets of water splashed against his chest and slid sluggishly down his body, intermingling with the trails of blood that trickled down from his shoulders. Pain coursed through his neck and his heart throbbed against his chest, whilst Setsuya braced himself for the inevitable.

The teenager spoke through trembling lips, in an attempt to allow the man to hear the only thing he'd ever wished. "I love you," Setsuya breathed, wondering if perhaps this time, the words had some sort of meaning, however warped.

Zuko rolled onto his side with a sigh, his fit of insomnia taking a toll on his weary body. The dark circles beneath his eyes reflected the troubles he'd had sleeping during the span of the previous four days. Finding that no matter how many times he rotated his silk throw pillow around, there seemed to be no comfortable position that could be accomplished at the instant. Sitting up against the wall, he allowed a yawn to pass through his lips and rubbed a hand against his forehead in irritation. Restlessness coursed through him, despite his utter exhaustion. The teenager curled his legs up against his form and rested his head on his knees, trying to ignore the light pressure on his chest. With nothing to distract his attention, his thoughts tended to slip back to his home, particularly to his father; the man he'd always aspired to be like. How would the Firelord react if he knew Zuko was engaged in a prematurely intimate relationship with a male, a vampire nonetheless? Disown him, most likely. The pressure against his heart suddenly increased, causing his breath to quicken and his eyes to squeeze shut.

Setsuya hadn't left his office for the past few days, and Zuko could sincerely say that he had no desire to see the vampire lord at the time. His hours spent with the older man had become confusing, to say the least. The more comfortable Setsuya became with the teenager, the more wary Zuko became of the situation in which he'd placed himself. He hardly knew anything about the man, but he was far too shy and anxious to prompt such a conversation with Setsuya for fear of instigating a bad memory, or perhaps upsetting him. Having grown up under nobility, questions were never looked upon with great fondness. The rules of the royal household were clear: Be silent and do as you're told. He would have chuckled at the irony, had his mood been a little more upbeat. Even in captivity he had more freedom than in the palace. Could his current situation even be labeled as captivity? If he was determined, could he escape Setsuya's hold? Did he want-?

With a frustrated groan he tossed his pillow across the room and slammed his head back against the wall. Thinking only seemed to upset him now. Zuko slid out from beneath the sheets and snagged a change of clothes from under his bed, ones that were fit for training. He would have begun sketching to distract himself, but he'd accidentally caught his last charcoal pencil on fire under the influence of deep thought. To his distress, Setsuya had managed to tease him for a good seven minutes afterward as well. Even so, the vampire's playfulness, however rare lately, was always treasured. Zuko shook his head, sweeping his mind free of any stray thoughts concerning his infatuation. I have to keep a clear head; there's so much I still don't know about him. If he allowed himself to submit unquestioningly to the vampire lord, there was no telling where he could wind up. I could very well end up in a high-security prison, stuffed into a coffin and buried alive, or perhaps sprawled out in a ditch with my jugular vein severed.

Suddenly, Zuko felt rather sick to his stomach. He began extinguishing the candles that were spread about the room only for his convenience, allowing one to remain lit for the sake of finding his way around when he returned. Tucking his hands into his pocket, he made his way for Ryuichi's room with a lethargic pace. Upon reaching the man's door, he craned his neck forward and listened carefully for a few moments, making sure that he wouldn't interrupt anything that ought not to be interrupted. When silence met his ears, he tapped on the door only twice before it swung open to reveal a rather confused looking Ryuichi. "You look terrible," he stated bluntly, his scarlet eyes running up and down the teenager's figure. His heart rate is strange today.

"I've missed out on some sleep lately," Zuko explained, his sight shifting downward, as though embarrassed. He would fail to mention the reasoning behind his seemingly spontaneous insomnia for the moment, as there was no need to bother Ryuichi with his foolish frame of mind.

The vampire's eyes narrowed, a bitter smile passing over his expression. "Setsuya's been keeping you busy, I presume?"

Zuko raised an eyebrow, pursing his lips with puzzlement before the meaning of the statement was reflected in Ryuichi's face. He drew a sharp breath, his entire face flushing bright red as he stuttered, "Wh-What? No, no! Th-That's-" Unable to express how incredibly incorrect Ryuichi's notion was, despite the thousands of reasons, he managed to choke out the excuse, "I've hardly seen him for the past few days. Don't be ridiculous, w-we aren't-" His words came to a sudden halt by a pale, chilled finger against his lips.

Ryuichi looked rather amused, shaking his head as he spoke, "I was joking, Princess." Ignoring the teen's livid protests, he continued in a softer voice, "You miss him, then?" Stepping aside, the man prodded him into the room with a nod. Zuko detested the strange dash of pity that lingered in those enchanting eyes, a spark of anger igniting in his chest.

The teenager let out a growl before accepting the invitation. "I don't seem to recall that being any of your business," Zuko informed him sharply, his resentment reflecting in his stiff stride. An impulsive wave of fury washed over him, causing him to bark, "I'll have you know that I don't miss that misleading, lying, spiteful, son of a bitch one damn bit!" The words spilled from his lips, causing the teenager to jerk a hand to his mouth with widened eyes. Even Ryuichi seemed startled by this outburst, poking the teen playfully in the forehead.

"Well, there's no reason to get pissy about it." The vampire laughed, turning towards the wall to observe his collection of swords that adorned the earthen surface. "I'll admit Setsuya is an enigma, but he doesn't normally lie." Ryuichi punctuated his sentence by swiftly unsheathing a katana no longer than the length of his arm. He weighed it in his hand for a moment, before shaking his head and returning it to its place. "Did he do something to trouble you?" The vampire turned his attention to a particular double-edged sword with a burgundy stain on the hilt.

"I don't know," Zuko confessed, tracing his bottom lip in near-wonder. "I'm sorry, Ryu. I'm not sure what came over me." The fury he'd felt in his chest disintegrated as quickly as it had overtaken him, leaving his cheeks flushed with shame. He silently berated himself for his rudeness, while Ryuichi waved the matter aside with a flick of his unoccupied wrist. With the opposite wrist, he flipped the sword in midair and caught it by its hilt, pleased by its balance.

"Believe it or not, I still remember how much sleep means to a human," the man assured the boy, sheathing the weapon decisively and slinging it over his shoulder. "Moreover, I remember how bratty my little brother used to act if he didn't get his seven hours. I'll sympathize, but you still have to spar with me. Do well and I'll teach you how to use dual broadswords." Zuko's eyes lit up considerably, the irritated drowsiness no longer present in his features. "Choose your weapon."

The teenager's eyes flickered back to Ryuichi's chosen sword, running a tongue over his lips thoughtfully. He browsed through the weaponry, finally settling on a thin, curved blade. "Are you sure about that?" the vampire asked smugly, comparing the boy's style with the weapon, finding that the factors didn't quite match up. "I'm not going easy on you, Princess."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Zuko tilted his head in a challenge, attaching the sword at his waist. "And for Agni's sake, stop calling me Princess."

xXxBloodlustxXx

Setsuya drew in deep breaths, using the form of meditation he'd often seen Kuzon use when his temper threatened his clarity of mind. Unfortunately, he had no raging heart to calm and no loss of breath to report, deeming the method useless. Nevertheless, he continued to breathe in hopes that he would somehow quench the fury that burned in his gut and tormented his mental capacity. Breathe in... Hold... Breathe out... Breathe in...

"Sir?" Hayate inquired hesitantly, as they exited his lord's office in a hushed tension.

"The evidence is cumulative," Setsuya managed to speak calmly in spite of their recent discoveries. His stride unnoticeably quickened as he stated, "I want scouts rotating shifts, patrolling the underground entrances at all hours. Our civilization could very well be in critical peril. Any word of treachery shall be reported to me at once and without hesitation. The council members will meet at the end of the week to pass along the news."

"Sir? Are you sure it's wise to stir such unrest?" the burly man asked with reluctant, trying not to upset his lord to a further extent. "It may be just a coincidence."

Setsuya let out a shaky breath, unused to being questioned about his supervisory. He reminded himself quickly that it was the very reason he kept Hayate close by, yet he still couldn't suppress the annoyance he felt due to his bitter mood. "Coincidence or not, the public deserves to know." He gripped by the man by the elbow and whispered in his ear, "The Firelord has had little qualms about destroying entire nations before. Is it so unreasonable to believe we're next?" Setsuya's gaze averted to the floor, his thoughts returning to a young airbender he once knew long ago. Hayate bowed his head in sorrow, coming to a halt as Setsuya reached his quarters. "Humans don't understand the value of a life until their own is taken away," the vampire lord whispered, his eyes narrow with disdain. "We've already had such a pleasure."

"With all due respect sir," Hayate said softly, "I don't think we could ever understand the value of a life. Life is only meaningful because it has an end, which in turn makes it dear. We do not have the luxury of death, nor the understanding of what comes after it." The vampire looked away, fearful of the reaction his words would instigate. Hayate knew that Setsuya's philosophical center before his transformation had always been the concept of 'life-after-death', and the vampire lord was rather sensitive about the subject.

The silence that followed the man's words was terse, yet thoughtful. Setsuya's expression became unreadable for a moment, before simply smiling and putting a hand on his comrade's shoulder. "Thank you for your help today, Hayate." With a final nod he turned and entered the sanctuary of his quarters, his companion's gaze of worry gone unnoticed.

Setsuya immediately frowned upon entering the room, his nose wrinkling. He glanced to the side, where he saw two meal trays with cold food still inhabiting them. Concern seeped into his heart, overwhelming the anger that had presided there. Zuko hasn't been eating? Setsuya immediately crossed the room and knelt beside the bed, closing his eyes for a moment to seek out his soul mate's scent. He swallowed nervously, finding that the teen's scent was far too light on the sheets of the bed to reflect decent sleeping habits. Such symptoms were all-too-familiar in the vampire's book. The man stood, ready to search out the teenager, when a particular sight caught his attention.

Upon casting the sheets aside, the beige notepad that had turned into Zuko's personal sketchbook lay innocently staring up at him. His pale hand traced a careful path to reach for the drawings, but he quickly snatched it back. It's not my place to look through his things, he berated himself silently. He stood with intent to find his mate, yet his gaze met the sketchbook once again. Whenever he entered the room, Zuko was always so eager to conceal the drawings with a rather conspicuous blush. Then again, that is my notepad that he's using. It couldn't hurt just to take a loo- No! Refrain from your childish instincts, self-indulgent fool. The vampire sighed, taking a step back only to lunge forward and sit peacefully on the bed, the book resting in his lap. Just this once.

Setsuya flipped open the cover of the entity, leaning in to observe the work with wondrous eyes. The first illustration took up the majority of the page, the setting portraying a courtyard of sorts. To the left stood a magnificent branched tree drawn with exceptional detail, rising beyond the page's edge. Below it was fine-lined shading that represented short-bladed grass that fell to the rim of a small pond, although it held no reflection of the tree that towered above it. Setsuya could recall with great specifications Kuzon once explaining to him that reflections in an amateur charcoaled picture could make a scene look cluttered and indistinguishable. Satisfied that he could still remember a vast majority of his conversations with his past lover, he flipped to the next page which depicted the same scenery, only with a significantly enlarged view and an obvious addition. Before the pool of water knelt a young Fire Nation woman no older than her mid-twenties, adorned with robes of extraordinary nobility. Even beneath the rough medium, her soft and gentle features were made an obvious characteristic. Her hands folded with grace upon her lap, she looked tender and rather motherly at a glance. Yet, there was a sadness in her expression too evident to ignore, as her eyes did not seem to have a focal point other than the very rim of the parchment.

Feeling his chest tighten, he slid the portrait aside only to come face to face with a drawing that caused his heart to drop down to his stomach. After a few seconds of recovery, the vampire let out a low hiss as his hand constricted around the paper, crinkling its borders. Out of all of the things Zuko could have drawn, he had not expected this... this treachery! The rage he thought had long passed suddenly enflamed within him once again. Feeling sick to his stomach, he turned to the final drawing, only to feel the passion overwhelm him by a hundred fold. All thoughts had turned to ashes in his mind, with the exception of one.

His soul mate was going to have a hell of a time explaining himself now.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Ryuichi swung his sword quickly to the side, the teenager's blade only missing him by an inch. Even as he parried the blow, he could feel Zuko's shift in balance to find his next attack point. Chewing thoughtfully on his bottom lip, the vampire may have finally come to terms with the fact that he had completely underestimated the young one's ability to handle a slim, curved katana-style sword. The human seemed to have speed that he'd kept a rather convenient secret, an ace up the sleeve if you will. Moving far more agilely than ever before, Zuko managed to use the lightweight sword to his advantage by keeping Ryuichi on the defense for the entire fight. Finding an open spot in the boy's pattern was difficult, leaving him to endlessly block streams of blows from every different direction. Even as he focused on the battle, his mind left room for observations of the teenager's skill and style for the simple sake of helping him improve. Blind spot could use a little work; almost nicked him there. His feet are twisting opposite his stance; that can't be good for his knees. He just leapt over me using the recoil of my sword! He's much lighter on his feet than I thought.

The teenager panted, his rapid offense beginning to take a toll on his stamina. No matter how many strikes he threw, he couldn't seem to catch the vampire off balance. He shook off the regret of choosing this particular strategy, knowing it was too late to modify his approach. Zuko decided to finish off with a final burst of strength, and surrender when he decided he'd reached his limit. Dashing towards the man, he could see the glimmer of surprise in his opponent's eyes as he unleashed his final string of blows, each using the previous' momentum to increase the power of the attack. Slowly, his methods of drawing energy were altered within his body. The natural energy that usually fueled his swordsmanship was replaced an anger, a burning desire to harm another; this was far more similar to the power extracted for firebending.

Ryuichi winced as his arms shuddered from blocking a rather forceful hit, knowing it was just a matter of time before Zuko wormed his way past the vampire's defense. The boy's strength only heightened as moments passed, leaving the older man in a rather difficult situation. It's time to finish this. Ryuichi darted back, using his rather unfair vampiric advantages to amplify his speed, round over to the boy's side, and throw a nicely aimed hit just below his shoulder. The teenager's eyes flickered vulnerably, leading the vampire to believe he'd prevailed. However, in the half-second that Zuko shifted his weight to lift his sword, he caught a glimpse of an outlandish anger in the young boy's eyes that surpassed any such emotion he'd ever seen the teenager express. Zuko managed to dodge-roll just out of the blade's reach, taking advantage of Ryuichi's slow recovery time and digging his heel into the earth to stop his momentum. He swung his blade around his torso fiercely, driven by his erratic pulse hammering through his bodt. By the end of the strike, he was shocked to find that his blade had not met the familiar clatter of steel, but the yielding texture of human, or rather, vampire flesh.

Zuko struggled for breath as the passionate, hateful emotions faded away just as quickly as they had overwhelmed him. Dropping his sword, he lunged forward and knelt at Ryuichi's side, stammering horrified apologies. "Ryu?! I-I hit you! I'm so sorry, I swear... I di-didn't mean to-" His hands were pressed on either side of the gash in the vampire's robes, only to find that the skin had already healed itself. Still, Zuko could not stop his arms from shaking, nor could he stop whispering apologies. The vampire merely stared down at him, shocked but nevertheless pleased.

"Zuko, you don't have to apologize. You know I can't be wounded like you can. Striking your opponent is the whole point of combat." Ryuichi glanced down at the decently sized gash in his robes that fell just above his waistline. If I weren't a vampire, that could've very well killed me given the time.

"Combat, but not sparring," Zuko mumbled, raising a trembling hand to his forehead with self-loathing. His voice was low and frightened, as though scared that he could possibly lash out again. "I-I was fighting you, not sparring you. I'm not sure what happened. All of the sudden I just... felt this terrible rage and I-I couldn't control what I-"

"You're rambling," Ryuichi interrupted softly, kneeling down to face the boy who suddenly looked very, very drained once again. He brought a gentle hand the teenager's cheek and insisted, "I'm fine Zuko. You on the other hand are tense and high-strung. I think you should go see Setsuya. He's good at calming people down, at least when he's at peace." The vampire stood, offering a hand out to the other, who looked reluctant to accept it. Rolling his eyes, Ryuichi simply grasped both of the teen's arms and hoisted him to his feet before lifting him into his arms, ignoring the surprised yelp that resulted from this. Ryuichi carried the boy across the sparring hall and up the darkened stairwell, walking a fair bit slower than usual.

Zuko's hands unconsciously gripped the collar of his comrade's robes as he remembered in very fine detail that dangerous anger that had urged him, possessed him with the desire to harm another. Even considering the vampire's advantage, the objective of a spar was to proclaim the other's loss with a hypothetical blow that resembled death, with no attempt to draw blood. Had this emotional outburst overtaken him at another place, another time... There was virtually no reason for his outburst, nor his behavior. What had driven him to-?

"Setsuya," he whispered suddenly, a hand passing over his heart. Could they be starting to share their emotions unconsciously? The first time Setsuya had shared his emotions with Zuko, it had been wonderful. His heart had pounded ecstasy into every drop of blood he possessed, his mind submerged in bliss, and he'd never felt closer to his mate. Never since then had Zuko considered the exchange of negative emotions, nor realized how greatly they would affect his own mood. If this was truly the case, Zuko prayed that he quickly learned how to control this power, for fear of another such eruption.

"What about Setsuya?" Ryuichi teased him gently, still feeling his tension and strained heartbeat as they came to the end of the staircase.

"Erm... I just hope he's back in our room so I can discuss a few things with him," Zuko covered up bleakly, feeling reluctant to return back to his quarters. If Setsuya was in fact there and was in fact in a furious mood, perhaps it would be best to steer clear of the other for a little while. No. I want to know what's happening to me. He refused to acknowledge the fact that he was starting to miss the company of the vampire after what had been four, perhaps five lonely days.

"Of course," Ryuichi replied smugly, setting the boy down on his feet. "We'll start your broadsword lessons next time. I'm a pretty decent teacher, but I tend to get a little impatient so just bring your brains to class." The vampire winked down at the jittery-looking teenager, suddenly pondering if it was a good decision to leave him alone. With a deep breath he sought out Setsuya's scent, finding that it was considerably closer than it had been for a while. He's back from his office. Ryuichi was very much aware of the hushed suspicions and rumors spreading around the population, despite having ignored Setsuya as of late. Although being a management assistant to the vampire lord was his equivalent of an 'occupation', Setsuya never pressured him with work or demanded his presence other than in an emergency. This implied that since he hadn't yet called on the younger vampire, there was nothing to fear. "He's back in his quarters," Ryuichi finally informed the boy after a thoughtful silence. "He's been having some rough past days, so go easy on him."

"I will," Zuko promised, thumbing the fabric of his tunic anxiously. "And Ryu? I am sorry." He nodded towards Ryuichi's should-have-been wound, whereas the vampire just scoffed and punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"Shut up, Princess. You're just lucky you got the best of me. I'd offer to slice you up a bit in retribution, but Setsuya would starve me for the rest of eternity."

Zuko gave the man grace by ignoring the pet name as his hair was lightheartedly ruffled. He offered his sparring partner a mock salute, before turning to meet up with his keeper. With an excessively brusque walk, he managed to reach Setsuya's room in record time; although he seemed to linger at the doorway for a record time as well. Debating on whether or not to knock first, he settled on easing the door open carefully. That way, if Setsuya was really pissed, he could escape in a minimum of three pieces. Tapping the door open lightly, he whispered, "Setsuya?" When no response met his ears, he edged open the door and slipped inside. His stomach positively dropped at the way his mate's cold violet eyes were glaring at him from where the man was seated on his bed.

"Zuko." The tone with which his name was said ended up being sharp enough to spark the envy of one of Ryuichi's finest crafted swords. "Come here." Setsuya left no room for disobedience or escape, and the teenager found himself growing more nervous by the moment.

Great. Here I am worried about his temper when the one he's angry with is me. Figures. He walked forward slowly and came to rest within an arm's reach of his counterpart, kneeling down on the floor in front of the man. He sat still, trying to compete with the harsh glare being sent his way, though failing quite miserably. It seemed like ages before his soul mate spoke, and the manner with which he conducted his words was not at all pleasant.

"Zuko, what is this?" Setsuya asked tersely, trying to contain his fury so that they might have a reasonable conversation. From behind his back he produced-

"A sketchpad," the boy whispered, his heart skipping a beat. Oh no.

"And this?" With a quick hand he plucked out a particular drawing from the stack and held it up for observation, its characteristics blurry in the scattered candlelight. Upon it was clearly rendered a portrait of-

"Ryuichi," Zuko's voice grew feebler, his mind quickly processing every last word of the conversation. "It's a drawing of Ryuichi." Indeed, the off-white parchment depicted his sparring partner from the neck up, the focal point of the picture being the man's gorgeous eyes, heavily defined and staring directly at the observant of the drawing. Even colorless, his eyes are so enchanting. He took a quick moment to congratulate himself on the resemblance.

"And this drawing Zuko? Explain this drawing to me." Setsuya allowed the first paper to fall, revealing a single sketch behind it that made Zuko breathe through his clenched teeth, trying his best not to suffer under his partner's ceaseless glare. This particular piece of paper also happened to illustrate Ryuichi, yet in an entirely different light.

"That is... also a picture of Ryuichi."

"And what is the difference in this picture?"

"It's a full-body view-"

"And?"

"And Ryuichi is shirtless?"

"As a matter of fact, you are correct."

Zuko released a hasty breath, feeling waves of anger pulsating throughout the room. This image was of Ryuichi leaning at a very slight angle against a doorframe, one arm supporting his weight while the other crossed his body and wrapped loosely across his torso. His head was tilted downward and to the left, his eyes focused on whatever was before him. Ryuichi's expression with narrowed eyes and slightly parted lips was sensual, yet betrayed. The teenager winced, taking a good few seconds to appreciate his work before meeting Setsuya's hard stare once again. He'd kept those drawings hidden on instinct, but he hadn't exactly pinpointed why. Here was his answer.

"Setsuya, were you angry when you found these?" Zuko asked in a quiet, tilting his head with inquiry.

The man let out a frustrated breath, emotions running through his eyes life a wildfire. And Zuko could name them all. Rage... Envy... Betrayal... "Yes, Zuko. I-"

"How angry?" the teenager demanded, leaping to his feet and lunging forward. He leant down, gripping the vampire's neck with one hand while the other fell to the bed in-between the other's waist and arm. "How angry, Setsuya?" He was eye-level with his mate, his gaze searching the other's. The vampire's fury gave way to surprise and Zuko continued, stressing his words forcefully. "Did a raging fire burn in your chest, eliminating the need for any other motive other than aggression? Were you desperately fueled by your passion, giving you the strength to overcome all else? Were you struck with the deep desire to harm someone or something, whatever happened to be closest, even if it meant hurting someone you care for?"

Setsuya's anger seemed to have subsided completely, his lips parted in wonder and trembling. This very intensity had been a developing monster in his own soul, causing him to wonder exactly how his counterpart knew, and what he was playing at. "Zuko, I-I don't-"

"Answer the question," the teenager commanded in a whisper, staring the man down with a fresh passion. The vampire wordlessly nodded, causing Zuko to slowly smile, then break into a fit of joyous laughter. Every doubt that had enveloped the young one's mind earlier in the day took temporary leave, allowing no memories to trouble him and no suspicions of his vampire to hinder him. Setsuya let out a stifled cry as his soul mate pushed him into mattress and pried his mouth open with his amateur tongue. The vampire lord did his best to find his anger once again, for he'd still not settled the matter with the teenager. However, as his gorgeous mate demanded his affections, he could not seem to refuse him. Their tongues caressed each other, as Setsuya wrapped gentle arms around the young man above him. Zuko's movements, however, were far more bold and insistent, as though trying to renew something that had faded.

Finally the vampire gently pushed the blushing boy away, absorbed by the warm breath pulsating against his neck. "That's a very interesting way to change the subject, my beloved. However, I'd still like you to explain why you've taken the liberty of drawing Ryuichi in such a manner." The words had lost their power and his eyes were no longer intimidating, but the man pursued nevertheless.

Zuko shook his head, smiling as he enlaced his hands within his mate's. "Setsuya, haven't you realized it? I can feel spontaneous intervals of your emotions, even when I'm away from you. The bond is working, it's strengthening! Forgive me for doubting you." Zuko's lips pressed tenderly against the forehead of his counterpart, who could simply blink in return.

"Zuko," he murmured, previous struggle forgotten as he caressed the other's face with a single hand. "You felt it? Truly?" Setsuya smiled, an arm wrapped around the younger's waist.

"It'd have been nicer to have felt an ecstatic joy or perhaps a blissful passion," Zuko teased softly, falling to rest at his soul mate's side. "But yes. I felt it."

"To encounter those feelings without you by my side would be an utmost rarity," Setsuya whispered, shifting onto his side to rest a hand on the other's abdomen whilst interlacing his opposite hand in the teen's own. "You have no idea the happiness that this brings me, Beloved."

Zuko licked his lips with a smile, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Setsuya's. Closing his eyes, he breathed, "Then give me an idea."

Setsuya shut his eyes as well, in an attempt to remember exactly how it had felt to share emotions with Kuzon. Naturally their bond had been deep, yet being humans they could only vaguely sense each other's emotions when they were of powerful stature. The revelation of their sentiments was usually strongest with the assistance of physical contact, such as a kiss, an embrace, or their love-making. The sensation of willingly disclosing his emotions fresh in his mind, Setsuya fell into meditation as he attempted to openly express himself using their bond alone. After a few moments of silence, he could just barely sense their budding union deep within his psyche and spirit. Clutching at the firebender's hands tightly, he found that tapping into his own emotions proved to be more difficult than he'd thought. Struggling to convey himself, Setsuya found his hesitance towards exposure an unconquerable obstacle. "I-I'm sorry," he whispered, pulling away from the other and clutching at his forehead with grit teeth. "I'm sorry, I just can't."

"It's fine," Zuko consoled gently, trying to cover up his disappointment. His hands massaged his mate's shoulders as he spoke, "I understand, Setsuya. It must hurt for you. I-I know I can't be the man Kuzon was, but... I'd still like to be yours." He pressed a kiss against the man's cheek before falling back into the mattress, taking the other with him. Setsuya sighed, feeling a deep self-loathing for rejecting his soul mate. Nevertheless, Zuko laid his head on the other's chest and whispered, "You know, those drawings don't indicate the way I feel about him. What entices me about Ryuichi are his eyes. Even colorless, they have such a depth and intensity that tend to reveal his emotions when he isn't careful. It was a challenge, to see if I could duplicate them well."

"You did a good job," Setsuya admitted, his finger wrapped in the other's hair. "But the second picture-"

"There's no implication behind it," Zuko said quickly, lifting his head to meet the vampire's eyes. "I didn't ask him to pose for me, I swear."

"Oh, I knew that," Setsuya growled, rolling his eyes a bit. "His figure is nowhere near as well-built as you make it out to be, and the true Ryuichi has a rather unattractive scar shaped like a crescent moon across his naval. Not to mention-"

"Setsuya?" the younger man interrupted softly, taking the other's face into his hands. "You're not jealous, are you?" Surely he knew the vampire sported jealousy, yet it would ease him greatly to know that if Setsuya couldn't consciously share his emotions through their bond, he could at least share them willingly through words.

Zuko's words struck him like a dagger to the heart, as he pondered the question critically. "I..." He desperately wished to lie, but for the sake of their bond he chose to speak the truth to his significant other. "I suppose I was when I first saw the illustrations. You represented him in such a fantastic, beautiful way that I-I wondered why-"

"Why I hadn't drawn you?" the teenager asked in a calm voice, causing the man to avert his eyes and tilt his head in what would have been a blush.

"N-No," Setsuya insisted, shaking his head. "I'd never expect you to try and draw me. That'd be silly." The vampire's gaze met the other's, shocked to find the boy distraught.

"I did try," Zuko whispered, reaching to the back of the sketchbook to pull out a few shredded pieces of a previously intact image. The boy's golden eyes saddened as he stuffed the paper back into their place of disregard. "It didn't bring you justice at all. I can't draw everything." He gave the man a quick kiss on the cheek before murmuring, "That's why I'd hoped you'd model for me and allow me to paint you."

The vampire lord's eyes widened, his superfluous breath caught in his throat. He tilted his head suspiciously, knowing exceedingly well that Kuzon had always taken his art very seriously and that Zuko would probably be the same way. He could remember one particular incident when Setsuya had been nearly brought to tears by Kuzon's insistence that he pose completely naked for the older teen's 'erotic sensations' homework. "Model how?" he asked carefully, excitement igniting in his chest at the thought of his soul mate desiring to paint him.

Zuko frowned thoughtfully for a moment, jumping off of the bed and observing the man for several silent moments. His lips moved slightly as though he speaking with himself, while Setsuya squirmed with nervousness under his examination. The teenager finally stepped forward and used his hands to guide the man into a reclined pose along the bed, glaring in irritation as the vampire stiffened under his touch. "Relax," Zuko insisted firmly, massaging the man's shoulders and arms. The vampire calmed, allowing the younger to adjust the position of his body as he saw fit.

"Tilt your body against the headboard."

"Wrap your arm- No the other one, yes, bring it to your opposite hip."

"Bend this one at the elbow and support your head with it."

"Bring this leg back, like you're trying to seduce me."

"Don't scowl at m-... On second thought, good expression. Just don't furrow your brow."

Zuko finished the pose by brushing the man's hair behind his ear and pressing a gentle kiss into his lips in order to part them very slightly. "Don't move a muscle," he commanded stepping back and scrutinizing the man. Setsuya lay back, still as a rock, for his body did not become restless without movement. However, he became edgy as his soul mate's eyes ran up and down his figure with agonizing slowness. "Memorize that position," Zuko said finally, nodding with pride at the finished product. "If you can get me the materials I need, we'll start as soon as possible."

Setsuya smiled at the amount of passion he saw in the boy's eyes and heard in his words. Kuzon used to be the same way. "Write out what you need. I can't guarantee I can get everything, but I'm used to shopping for art supplies." He relaxed and opened his arms, welcoming Zuko into his embrace. The teenager crawled onto the bed and pressed flush against his mate, the authority once present in his aura gone.

"Where do you get the money for such excursions?" Zuko asked suspiciously, sleep tempting to overwhelm him. He swung a leg over Setsuya's waist, ignoring the man's soft protests of their further entanglement.

If he falls asleep, I'm going to be stuck. "Actually, the majority of our funds needed to purchase such supplies comes from our artists and blacksmiths who are willing to donate some of their works. Ryuichi's swords, for example, are classified as fine weaponry in most stores. If I sell them at a decent price, I can usually obtain close to a thousand gold pieces for each article."

"A thousand gold pieces?" Zuko hissed with surprise, his voice muffled by his exhaustion. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but to think I've handled such swords! And you sell them yourself?" The teenager stifled a yawn, suddenly very appreciative of Setsuya's fresh, soothing scent.

"A decent cloak can pass me off for a very pale, strange human," the vampire said with a smile, watching his soul mate struggle to stay awake. "There's no level of danger I wouldn't face, if it were for my people. Most of all, you."

"You're sweet," Zuko whispered with dazed eyes, bringing his lips to the other's for a final kiss before drifting off into a relaxed sleep for the first time in days. Setsuya sighed, rolling his eyes when he found that he'd allowed himself to be intertwined within his mate's grasp with no intention of waking the boy up, as his heart was far too soft at the moment for his own good.

"Rest well, my Beloved." Reaching around the teen's body with his free hand, he brought the illustration of Ryuichi within his line of sight, observing the drawing for the hundredth time that day.

So I wasn't imagining it. There was no mistaking the emotions that lay behind the vampire's eyes in that image, the most prominent being hurt, betrayal, and hatred. Setsuya could only stare into such eyes for so long before shoving the paper aside and curling up into the comforting warmth offered by his beloved bedmate. His chest ached to think back to the time when he'd caused that very expression on his former lover's- No. His one-night stand's face. No doubt Zuko must have seen that look adorning Ryuichi's features upon hearing the past that the two vampires once shared. Don't do that, he scolded himself inwardly, stroking his partner's cheek carefully as not to rouse him. You can't pretend it never happened. You still share a past with that man, despite your stupid mistakes that tore his heart to shreds.

At moments like this, it took every ounce of Setsuya's willpower to keep from absolutely hating himself.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Zuko, wake up. For heaven's sake I told you to rest, not sleep for a fortnight!" The teenager groaned, trying to ignore his soul mate's failed attempts at rousing him out of bed. Wrought with irritation, he seized the vampire's robes and buried himself into them only to be pushed firmly away by the other. "No! I've let you con me into cuddling for too long. If I'm late for Akane and Rohan's wedding, there won't be any wedding to speak of."

"Huh?" The teenager stopped struggling, his eyes fluttering with drowsiness. "Akane's... wedding? Is that today?"

"Today?" Setsuya shook his head, tapping the boy on the nose while still entangled in his grasp. "It's in an hour." The vampire took advantage of the other's lethargy to pry himself from his clutches and straighten out. "You've slept for nearly half a day, young one. I must ready myself and depart before I'm missed. If you are still too tired to accompany us, it's best if you stay behind to rest. Akane will understand, I assure you."

"No," Zuko insisted, sitting up on the edge of the bed to massage his forehead wearily. Regardless of the fact that he was still a bit fatigued, he felt a thousand times better than before. "No, it's fine. I'd like to come. I just need a minute to clean up a bit."

Setsuya nodded approvingly, gesturing over to a neatly stacked pile of clothing at the edge of the bed. "I ordered some nicer robes for you earlier in the week, should you choose to join us. Of course, the servant who delivered them got quite the laugh out of the position I'd found myself in. You were so intertwined with my body, I thought I'd never escape your grasp." His expression softened when he saw the teen's heavy blush and heard his mumbled apology. He sighed, bringing his lips to his cheek with care. "You're so endearing, Beloved. No one else could possibly entice me as you do." With these words, Setsuya started for the door and said over his shoulder, "The ceremony will be held in my office. It's customary as a guest to arrive fifteen minutes early to offer your congratulations."

I... I entice him? Zuko smiled, running his hand through his hair only to wince when he found that it was messy and slightly greasy from sleep. I ought to bathe with the time I have. The teenager stretched out his back with a yawn and then slothfully gathered the clothes at the edge of his bed to examine them. The robes were a magnificent crimson hue, made of finer linen than the clothing he already possessed. They were of a simple style, not at all flashy, frilly, fancy, or any other adjective that followed such a pattern. Setsuya understands me so well, he thought with glee, making way for their private bathing room with a rather silly looking smile on his face. Unfortunately, his smile faded upon opening the door to the underground spring when his eyes set upon a rather unexpected sight: His soul mate stood only a few feet away from the waters, half-undressed and in the process of completing the mission.

Zuko flushed, willing his feet to back away, shut the door, and run like hell, but Setsuya glanced over his shoulder as he pulled the robe from his torso. The vampire lord looked mildly surprised, ceasing his movements as he spoke, "Did you want to bathe too?"

"I-I'll wait for you to finish," the teenager said quickly, starting to retreat before halting at the sound of Setsuya's protest.

"No, no. You can stay. I don't mind company while I bathe. After all, we don't have time to clean up separately." His voice was casual, not seeming to notice the other's discomfort with the situation, nor acknowledging any reason why bathing with his mate wouldn't be such a great idea.

Zuko gasped when the man continued to shamelessly strip in front of him, causing him to cover his eyes with his hands and yelp, "Really, I don't think I'm quite that dirty." The teen cursed his choice of words before continuing to babble, "I'll just throw some perfume on or something!" His hand shuffled blindly for the door, his heart jumping when he heard the brief rustling of water and a soft moan of reprieve. That water is crystal-clear, the perverted corner of Zuko's mind whispered, as he tried to ignore the nag of his curiosity.

"Don't be silly, Zuko," he heard the voice call, sounding somewhat amused by his protests. "I don't mind. Open your eyes and shut the door, would you?" The teenager forced his eyes open and closed the entry to the small room, suddenly realizing he ought to have been on the other side of it. "Come over here," Setsuya said with a laugh, his voice playful and content. The young man knew he couldn't resist such a rare encouragement from his mate, and turned cautiously to see the man pressed up against the side of the spring, his head resting on his folded arms. The teenager considered the notion that perhaps cuddling for twelve hours straight was enough to put the vampire in a fantastic mood.

Zuko edged towards the man, thankful for the steam that emerged from the pool. He's a guy. I'm a guy. It's a hot spring. Zuko continued to make blunt observations in his mind, before untying the sash that held his tunic together under Setsuya's watchful gaze. "Avert your eyes like a gentleman," Zuko scolded, finding it completely in his right to preserve his dignity even if it meant attaining a delicate attitude. The vampire lord made no complaint, wading to the opposite side of the pool and turning his back to the undressing teen.

Zuko finished, sliding out of his clothes and into the water as quickly and as silently as possible, semi-grateful for the steam around them acting as a canopy for his bare body. He sunk further down into the water before dunking his head lazily with a sigh of relief, giving Setsuya permission to turn around. The vampire lord almost laughed at the way the teenager's soaked hair hung listlessly in front of his eyes, while the teenager wrapped his arms around his torso with a nervous sigh. He knew he was being ridiculous, as Setsuya had seen him shirtless before and even proceeded to press kisses against his revealed chest once or twice, yet something about the situation that included Setsuya being exposed as well caused him to be a bit more wary.

"Pass the shampoo, would you?" the vampire said after a moment, his eyes focused on Zuko's face for the sake of the younger man's privacy. It was just becoming apparent to him that his mate might not be as comfortable with the situation as he was. Setsuya himself had been unfortunate enough to have bathed many times in the presence of another man, only half of which were consensual.

"Which one?" Zuko asked, frowning at the multiple bottles and vials that adorned the ledge of the bath. He'd often explored many of them during his trips to the spring, two of which he found were of a fruity flavor and seven of which smelt of sweet spices. Not that he was keep track, of course.

"Strawberry," Setsuya admitted, immediately breaking the ice with the human, who chuckled and tossed him the container with a teasing smile. The vampire ignored him, lathering the gel in his hands swiftly. "And don't look so tense, hmm? I'm not going to steal your virtue simply because the timing would be perfect." The vampire lord raised a suggestive eyebrow, proceeding to soap up his hair in a manner that looked suspiciously seductive.

"And what makes you think I'm virtuous?" Zuko demanded seriously, taking his share in a cinnamon-scented soap. He hid a smile behind his hands at the incredulous look he received from the man.

"You're very young," Setsuya insisted, although there was a hint of misgiving written on his face. "A teenager as young as yourself is in no place to lose their innocence so quickly. You blush every time I even look at you. I daresay you've withheld your virtue." He rinsed quickly, trying to catch a glimpse of the emotion portrayed in the other's eyes.

"Concubines are not sparse within palace walls," the teenager reminded him smugly, beginning to run the soap down his arms and shoulders, earning an interested stare from his mate. "Dozens and dozens of beautiful women. I could very well have had my way with any of them, all of them."

"But you haven't. Have you?" the vampire asked hurriedly, wading closer to the teen, who was visibly unshaken by his movement.

"No," Zuko confessed with a smile, noting the other's shoulders slump with relief. "Hell, I didn't get proper sex education until I snuck a book out of the library at age twelve. They're very secretive about that sort of thing nowadays. So, even in the face of temptation I remain pure." He let out a mock forlorn sigh.

"That says something about you," Setsuya decided, casually brushing his way forward until he was half an arm's length away from the teenager.

"That I'm an honest, upright, moral youth?" Zuko guessed with a witty smile, washing the excess soap from his arms as he spoke. Their closeness had him slightly on edge, though he urged himself to trust in his soul mate, for the man seemed to already have difficulties opening up to the younger one. He certainly didn't need the teenager to doubt him as well.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a self-righteous fool," Setsuya corrected him, letting out a chuckle as his mate splashed him with good humor. The vampire reached out and held the boy's chin before leaning forward and planting an affectionate kiss on his lips. Zuko pulled away with a blush, staring into the water at his clear reflection as the other exited the pool just to the side of him. Keeping his eyes set firmly on his likeness, he frowned realizing that he'd gone rather pale for his near three weeks of sun-deprived existence. Perhaps Setsuya would be kind enough to allow him- No, the vampire was too protective. "You'd best hurry along if you don't wish to be late," the man reminded him in a smooth voice, obviously in an excellent mood. "Rohan was thrilled to hear that a human would be attending his wedding. You're becoming quite popular amongst our people. He'll want to talk your ears off as well, so just prepare yourself."

"I will," Zuko assured the man, finding himself thrilled to have another person to socialize with. Upon hearing the door to the small washroom shut, he sighed and put a hand over his heart, wondering why it was beating in such a strange, fluttering way from such a simple kiss. He swore that he'd nearly caught a glimpse of his mate's emotion through that connection. Could it be that Setsuya was almost calm enough to open up to him? The thought made the teen feel absolutely giddy, as he cleansed the rest of his body and rose to dress in a hurry. Pulling the crimson robes on over his underclothes, he was pleased to find that they fitted him perfectly and that they were absent of any frivolous patterns as well. Tying the finishing black sash over the garments, he smoothed them for a final time and folded his old clothes in a neat pile for washing later.

Making way for Setsuya's office, he considered pulling his hair up, yet realized that the hair tie once wrapped around his wrist had mysteriously vanished. Damn, that vampire is determined to keep my hair down. Zuko rounded the corner to the objective room, stopped dead in his tracks by the sight that met his eyes. Lingering outside of the doorway to the vampire lord's office was Akane, her motherly features drenched with anxiety as her hands fiddled at her waistline. She was dressed in an absolutely stunning silvery celebratory kimono, adorned with a flowing wave-like pattern that pressed against her curves in the most enhancing way. Her once-flowing hair was tamed in a firm bun and embellished in a butterfly-style ornament with sparkling silver crystal charms that hung down nearly to her shoulder. Despite the obvious tension and nervousness that held her, she was more beautiful than any mortal woman that Zuko had ever laid eyes on. To her credit, she even rivaled Setsuya's natural charm at that moment.

She glanced toward the teenager and appeared surprised, although she should have been able to sense his arrival. Then again, to be wed to someone must be a rather distracting prospect. "Zuko! You're here! I'm so very glad." Akane smiled at him, and he realized how silly he must have looked staring at the stunning vampire.

"My Lady," the Prince began, walking forward determinedly and taking her hands into his. "May I say that there is no other beauty in this world that could rival your own loveliness at this very moment?" he asked calmly, laying a gentle kiss on the back of her left hand.

Her mouth opened in surprise and her head tilted downward in a modest, shy sort of way. She pursed her lips and stifled a giggle. "Prince Zuko, I don't think I've ever been spoken to in such a manner. You are without a doubt the most charismatic youth I've ever met. You are too much."

"I'll say he is," a voice interrupted with a chuckle. They turned to see Ryuichi standing in the doorway of the vampire lord's workplace with a softened smirk on his face. He turned to the teen and shook his head playfully. "Shame on you for attempting to womanize an affianced vampire. Now my delicate flower, it is best that you come inside quickly lest your groom has a chance to see you before the ceremony is ready to begin. I must ensure that no bad luck falls upon you, or Rohan may very well pummel me into the ground." He grimaced, causing Akane to laugh heartily and Zuko to smile. It was amazing that only days ago he had sensed such tension between the two, yet now in the face of celebration, Akane was able to talk to the man without strain and Ryuichi was able to speak without scoffing at anyone.

"Now Ryuichi, I know my fiancé may appear as somewhat of a strongly built man, but he would never hurt a fly," Akane insisted as they were ushered into the room by the vampire lord's assistant. Setsuya glanced at them with a welcoming smile, rising from his chair to greet the vampire maiden.

"Welcome my friend," the vampire lord said with a bow, a smiling gracing his lips that made all three of the other hearts in the room, unbeating or not, jump. Akane beamed at the title, though her hands still fiddled nervously about her lap. "Ryuichi, open the door for any further guests and lay out the seating cushions. Is the recordkeeping for the week completed?"

"Nearly my Lord," the scarlet-eyes vampire responded, latching the double-doors in place and turning towards a low cabinet that held several seating mats which were withdrawn and organized on the right side of the room by a distracted Ryuichi. "I'm still waiting on the final hunting report of this last week. How many are we expecting at this affair?" He halted for a moment in his cushion arranging, casting an inquisitive look at Setsuya.

The vampire lord frowned thoughtfully before responding, "Twenty-five?" He glanced back at Akane, who smiled and shook her head.

"Make it thirty, Ryuichi. Rohan invited his poker buddies just a night ago." Akane once again began her graceful pacing which was soon interrupted by a cluster of women of varying ages whom Zuko assumed to be the bride's friends. They fawned over her exquisite beauty for quite sometime whilst Setsuya flipped through a particular folder of paperwork, Ryuichi finished preparing for the ceremony, and Zuko attempted to blend into the wall despite the curious glances he got from the vampires across the room. He found it very fascinating, watching the people around him act as though they were humans. Heaven knows his soul mate never acted with such normality.

"That is all that will be required of you for today, Ryuichi," Setsuya pointed out, as he stood to welcome the additional people the room had acquired. The teenager winced at the fact that the vampire lord's stiff tone with the swordsman had not eased, even on such a day. "You are dismissed."

"Thank you my Lord," Ryuichi called, sighing as he prepared to brush his way through the crowd of women at the doorway, which Zuko noted seemed to have multiplied twice over in the span of ten seconds.

"Nonsense," Akane interrupted gleefully, taking his arm with a delicate grasp. "You'll stay for the ceremony won't you?" Zuko noticed the man stiffen, before glancing back at the Setsuya, whose expression obviously said, 'It's your choice'. The tension between the two was evident, although the encouraging look on Akane's face could not easily be denied, nor could the consistent flirtatious glances Ryuichi was receiving from the bride's companions. Zuko found himself glaring at the women, no doubt considering how many of them the vampire had perhaps already taken to his bed.

Look at those silly bimbos, hanging all over him like dogs fighting over a bone.

"I'm not really dressed for the event," the man explained with a look of discomfort, his eyes flickering back to the stony face of the vampire lord. "I-"

"It would mean a lot if you stayed," she insisted, trying not to sound too serious although her soft voice seemed to give her away. "Come now, where's your spirit? Certainly you don't wish to leave my young human escort here alone with all of these women, do you?" Akane threw Zuko a smile, who simply stared back as though trying to say, 'Why are you bringing me into this?' Nevertheless, the teenager nodded his head at the vampire swordsman who smiled, bowing his head towards Akane.

"I would be honored to stay for the festivities, my Lady," Ryuichi assured her, slipping a sly wink towards the surrounding females, and slinking away to where Zuko stood against the wall. "So you got swindled into this too, huh?" he asked the teenager, who raised an offended eyebrow and playfully punched the vampire in the arm.

"Akane is my friend," Zuko defended, his voice nearly overwhelmed by a group of boisterous men who had just made their way through the door, expressing their good intentions and compliments towards the affianced maiden. "And she seems to be very popular," were his follow-up words as the guests began to file in after paying their respects to Akane and seating themselves in the area that had been prescribed.

"Indeed," Ryuichi mused, sparing a glance at Setsuya, whose violet eyes were narrowed and observing him very intently. This is invigorating, he realized as his scarlet eyes fell upon the innocent teenager. The most powerful, dangerous vampire in the world, and I have the ability to make him jealous. I have the ability to hurt him. He forced out a laugh, leaning in to whisper, "You know, I'm surprised Setsuya hasn't stepped in and helped that poor girl out. She looks like she's about to get trampled." His lips just barely grazed the teen's ear enough for it to be made an accident of. Zuko chuckled and Ryuichi found he was being glared daggers at by the older vampire. The man found a frightening power in this potential, as Zuko was at such ease with their friendship. Perhaps-

"Are there any customs I ought to be aware of," Zuko hissed at the vampire urgently, realizing that the time for the ceremony to begin was near approaching. He looked around nervously, aware that he was in what he might as well consider a foreign country in which he could offend all present if he was misguided.

"No," Ryuichi murmured, taking the boy's hand in his to savor the warmth of the human's touch. He guided him around two seating mats in the back so that Zuko could blend in without trying, although each and every vampire in the room could no doubt discern his presence. "This is nothing more than a simple civil ceremony for the sake of preserving an ounce of tradition, certainly nothing as fancy as you must have endured in the past. Setsuya will say the rite, the couple will exchange their vows, we all go into the courtyard to congratulate their newly found love, the band starts up, and everybody dances with everybody." Ryuichi let out a soft snicker at Zuko's doubtful stare. "Vampires can throw quite the party, if I may say so. It makes me rather glad that we cannot consume alcohol." This earned him a laugh from the younger teen, making him feel warmer from the inside out, whereas the icy stare of Setsuya made his throat constrict and his chest feel empty, cold. I could get used to this.

Setsuya's soft voice was raised to address the assembly, gathering a book in his arm with the smallest of smiles. "Community, please rise for the approach of the groom." He waved the anxious Akane forward with an encouraging nod, as she obviously was not used to being the center of attention. The two situated themselves opposite the guests, as Setsuya whispered a word or two of encouragement in his friend's ear. A hushed quiet fell over the room as the final member of the congregation entered the room, leaving Zuko to gaze upon him in wonder. This man was surely not like the other vampires he'd seen, as his darkened skin tone was a testament to. The Water tribesman stood nearly two feet taller than his bride, with a brawny build and a slightly brown-ashen tone to his skin. His physical features were strong and able-bodied, leaving no doubts in Zuko's mind that the very reason the Northern Water Tribe had evaded the grasp of the Fire Nation was due to the this man's genetic relatives. Rohan hosted a rather silly, out-of-place smile on his expression, as he greeted Setsuya with a firm handshake and Akane with a kiss on the cheek, which he had to bend down considerably to do. Glancing to the back of the room, Rohan caught sight of the amused teenager and gave him an excited wave, which Zuko returned weakly as the majority of the room turned their glance toward him. Setsuya tilted his head to hide a smile as he opened the book in his hand and laid it to rest on his arm.

"Let's begin, shall we?"

The ceremony was nothing short of what Ryuichi said it to be, yet it seemed to mean so much more to Akane and Rohan. Their secret glances, their hidden caresses, and the shared glimmer in their eyes said all it needed to. If nothing else, Zuko could enjoy the soothing purr of Setsuya's voice for a good half an hour as the rite proceeded. "They're so perfect together," the teen murmured to his sparring companion, observing the contrasting couple beginning to exchange their joining vows, which were slightly altered in the respect that usually the bride and groom made some sort of promise to join until the end of their days.

"Other than the fact that they're complete opposites?" Ryuichi whispered playfully, eying the objective couple with a smile. "Yeah, it seems as though they're made for each other, doesn't it? But they'll split up eventually, as every vampire couple does." He let out a soft sigh, staring at the two with what seemed to be pity.

"Just because you can't consider holding down a serious relationship, doesn't mean others cannot," Zuko snapped, the words emerging from his lips far colder than he'd meant for them to. He felt the man stiffen next to him, his eyes flashing with something akin to hostile dejection. The teenager instantly regretted the words and longed to retrieve them and shove them down his throat once he saw the pain flicker across the man's face. The young human sat with shame flushing his face, a terrible feeling burrowed deep in his chest. He sat in silence as the ceremony ensued, all of the happiness in the room never lightening that miserable sinking feeling.

Setsuya finally pronounced the two as wed, provoking Akane's joyous tears, which Rohan was so kind as to kiss, causing her to giggle. "Oh Rohan!" The two engaged in a rather passionate kiss, just barely edging the line of decency. As the vampires applauded the union and filed for the door in order to congratulate the pair in a more sociable area, Akane stayed behind and waited for the crowd to die down. Zuko wore an expression of guilt as Ryuichi swiftly left his side without sparing him a glance. After personally thanking Setsuya and pressing a kiss against her husband's cheek, the woman's eyes fell on the teenager who still had not risen, looking distraught and a bit discomfited. She glided over to the boy and knelt beside him with the obvious intent of engaging him in a personal conversation, earning them a decent few moments of privacy. "Thank you for attending, my Prince," Akane said softly, laying a hand on his shoulder much to his comfort.

He smiled faintly at her, nodding in affirmation. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Apart from that... Begging your pardon, my Lady, but I am not your prince." His eyes flickered downward with a sigh, as he brought a hand to his chest to ease the aching pain he felt there. Agni, I miss home.

The woman seemed to understand his plight, embracing him with gentle arms. She fought to change the subject, "I'm sorry for compelling Ryuichi's company on you, but he's been spending far too much time by himself lately." Her eyes saddened as she spoke, while Zuko felt guilty at the mere voicing of the man's name.

"It's alright Akane," he assured her, shifting slightly to relieve his uneasiness. "I'm fond of his company. Rest assured it was no trouble at all."

"Is it true that you have taken him as a sparring partner?" His head snapped up to meet her gaze, eyes full of surprise. Slowly he nodded, as she pursed her lips and kept a comforting hand on the teen's shoulder. "You should know by now that Ryuichi is a dangerous man." She lifted a hand to stop his protests before they began, continuing in a quiet voice, "I know he may seem harmless, but he's been through too much not to be damaged by it. He has a very dishonest way of dealing with his internal conflicts, and I would sell my soul to the depths of the eternal fires to prevent you from becoming a part of his warped recovery method."

"I know," Zuko whispered softly, wrapping an arm unconsciously around his waist. He responded to her inquisitive glance, "It doesn't bother me. Ryuichi is pretentious and withdrawn sometimes, but he opened up to me in a way that I know was very difficult for him. I admire him, and he has always treated me with respect. I know there's a lot of friction between Setsuya and Ryuichi, but it's really only a past mistake. You haven't been the first person to warn me about getting close to him, yet... is Setsuya not the one whom I should fear becoming close to? I assume you know that he is my soul mate. Is he not the one who could hurt me the most given the chance? I stay by his side because I know he would never hurt me intentionally, just as I befriend Ryuichi for the same reasons." He bowed his head with a whisper, "I just wish I wouldn't hurt them."

"Oh Zuko," Akane whispered, pulling him into a fierce hug. "Setsuya cares so much for you, and he's been through a lot in his lifetime. You are the first person to give him hope of reconciliation, of peace. And Ryuichi tends to react to circumstances strangely, and you are his first true relationship in a while, friend or otherwise. He needs someone like you to call him from the darkness that plagues his heart. Both of them know that you would never say or do anything with the intention of causing them more pain. Their hearts may be scarred, but it's what made them strong, a characteristic they hold in common." She stood and offered her hand to him, which he took gratefully in his state of doubt.

Zuko nodded slowly, feeling a smile grace his lips again. "Thank you, Akane. I'll try my best to clear my mind of such thoughts before the day is out." Her eyes twinkled approvingly and motioned for him to follow her into the adjoining courtyard. However, before making his way out of the door, he slid over to Setsuya who was still shelving his books properly. Shyly, he tapped the man on the shoulder and waited patiently for a response. When the vampire lord finally turned around, Zuko leapt forward and wrapped his arms around the taller man's neck, planting a deep, passionate kiss on the unsuspecting victim. Before the man even had time to relax into the movement, Zuko and the sensation had both disappeared, leaving behind only the spicy tingling lingering on his lips. Setsuya smiled as he proceeded to finish putting all of the correct books in their rightful places.

Zuko was absolutely thrilled to hear that the bride and groom would be sharing their first dance in only moments, as the Fire Nation had nearly lost every aspect of the dancing arts with the exceptions of some forms of stiff ballroom dancing for the more formal of occasions. First and foremost, however, he needed to seek out Ryuichi and apologize for the words that had slipped from his mouth. Praying that the man hadn't departed already, his heart slowed with relief when he saw the man leaning sullenly against the furthermost wall, eyes downcast and unimpressed. Slipping his way through the crowd, he approached the man with soft, hesitant footsteps.

"Ryuichi?" he questioned, willing to respect the man's wishes if he did not desire to talk with the teenager. Thankfully, the vampire was kind enough to acknowledge his presence with a crude nod. "Ryu, I'm really sorry about what I said. It's not my place to make such a remark, knowing the misgivings you've endured." He touched a hand to the man's arm, hurt to see him cringe slightly. "Foremost, I want you to understand that what I said reflects absolutely nothing about the way I think of you, my friend. I am very sensitive about my relationship with Setsuya, and I realize now that I took your words as a literal blow directed toward him and myself. I can twist even the most irrelevant comments in my mind so selfishly. I plead your forgiveness, or at least to ensure you understand that my words were unintentional."

The scarlet-eyed man sighed, his gaze finally meeting that of the teenager's, reflecting that he held no such grudge. "You take everything so seriously, Princess. They ought to invite you to weddings more often; get you to loosen up a little." Zuko was about to reply with fervency, yet Ryuichi shook his head. "Your words matter little. I know you don't fully understand my predicament, yet..." His voice grew pained as he whispered, "I just hope you never have to." Zuko nodded, pulling the man into a quick embrace before standing at his side and catching a glimpse of the band, consisting of mostly wind instruments, that had just begun to play. At first, it was a bit humorous watching the newlyweds dance, for Rohan looked as though he had the capability to uproot a century old tree, whilst Akane's delicate and petite form did not amount to much in the weight-lifting world. Yet, they moved together smoothly as only two vampires might.

Eventually more couples joined them in the courtyard, as laughter and teasing spread contagiously throughout the congregation. Several times the men and women would break into a chant that would force Akane and Rohan to kiss with passion that ought not to be shown in any place but a bedroom. Ryuichi, being the handsome man that he was, was being passed along the dance floor by several lovely ladies and even more attractive men. Zuko caught sight of Setsuya being asked to dance once or twice, yet politely refusing each time. The teenager had a feeling that they were braced for refusal, but insisted on asking for good manners' sake. I'd bet he would dance with me if I pleaded with him. Enjoying this display of tasteful music and eloquent grace, he was pleasantly surprised when Akane managed to lead her husband away from the dancing and introduce the two of them. Zuko could not deny that his hand had turned slightly purple from the gripping, appreciative handshake he received from the man.

"So you're the fine human boy I've heard so much about!" he exclaimed in a deep, friendly voice that was rather loud. "It's not everyday you hear about someone Setsuya actually likes, let alone tolerates for an extended period of time. There's something special about you kid, no doubts there. Tell me, is it true that you rival Ryuichi in the art of combat?"

"He is a master, much better than I shall ever hope to be," Zuko assured the man modestly, ignoring Akane's knowing smile. "I have much to learn from him."

"Well, that man is the finest swordsman around for sure," Rohan assured him, eyes glowing with an animated passion. "I heard a rumor once that he even slipped out of the underground city to compete in a human tournament. Earned himself quite a scolding from Setsuya if I do remember correctly."

"Is that right?" Zuko mused, glancing back in the direction of Ryuichi who seemed to have no cares in the world as a young man no older than the vampire himself danced in his arms. "Tell me Rohan, you grew up in the Northern Water Tribe?" As innocent as the question was, the teenager was not prepared for the intense monologue that followed, during which Zuko offered two or three words every few minutes. He tried not to lean into the wall a half an hour into the conversation, while Akane stood by and smiled sympathetically at him.

"And then they would gut the koalaotters and use their innards as rope!"

"That's horrendous."

"That's exactly what I thought! So I rounded up my friends and we played this trick on the official, you see. We broke into his house in the middle of the night and stole his undergarments, each and every pair! Then, we tore them up a bit a made a trail to the water and feinted koalaotter footprints all along the way!"

"How clever."

"Precisely! And the next night we did the same thing except with his precious collection of waterbending scrolls. Except those were too valuable to tear up, so we returned them after the whole scheme was over."

"I understand your reasoning."

"Finally, he saw reason and put a ban on hunting the koalaotters! We saved the entire species from extinction."

"That's incredible!" Zuko exclaimed with as much enthusiasm as he possibly could, jumping in surprise when he felt a chilled hand on his shoulder. Glancing back, he found Ryuichi lingering over him, his eyes shining bright with amusement.

"I don't mean to interrupt," the vampire spoke coolly, his finger tracing the teen's collarbone. "But I was hoping young Zuko would join me for a short dance." The boy's eyes widened at the suggestion, his face flushing a slight red. In the midst of being cast a doubtful look, Ryuichi assured him, "No one will think any less of you. The only rule is that you allow the taller of the two people lead the dance, which would be myself." He leant down to whispering the boy's ear, "I'll guide you. You don't have to worry about a thing." Needing no more encouragement, Zuko allowed himself to be led out on the dance floor, much to the excitement and whispers of the surrounding women.

"Thanks for that," the teen spoke softly under his breath, laying his left hand to rest on the man's shoulder. "He could have continued speaking for the rest of eternity."

"You're a good sport," Ryuichi complimented him, timing the quickened music in his mind. He settled a hand on the boy's waist while intertwining the other with Zuko's. "Just follow my footing. You needn't worry about hurting me; I've been stepped on enough by the others to have become immune to it." Zuko let out a laugh as Ryuichi twirled him around in a playful way. The vampire took the steps slowly so that the boy could find match his rhythm, before adapting to the music and allowing himself to lead a more complex pattern. How Ryuichi managed to keep an eye on the surrounding partners enough not to bump into them was beyond Zuko. He was pleased with himself for having yet to trample on his friend's feet, finding that seven years of forced ballroom dancing lessons had finally served him some purpose. While he could never match the grace that the vampire treaded with, he found himself simply content to follow the other's silent directions. Zuko found it utterly amusing how far apart they were in height, yet Ryuichi could still manage to meet his gaze and flash him a charming smile, whilst leaning forward to whisper in his ear, "You know, you're a lot more fun to dance with than the others. You're not trying to distract me with your seductive words, and you're not throwing my footing off by ever-so-casually brushing our intimate regions together." The vampire rolled his eyes, causing Zuko to chuckle with a heavy blush on his face. "Don't be fooled by their innocent faces. If they've fed in the last twenty-four hours, they'll be in your bed in less than thirty seconds. Some of these vampires are the horniest bastards I've ever had the displeasure to flirt with."

"How vulgar, Ryu. Yet I must admit, dancing with you has given me a pleasant break from Rohan's chatter," Zuko whispered softly. "He is such a kind man, but he just talks so much. Akane must be a very patient woman to handle that sort of person on an everyday basis." He gasped as Ryuichi turned them sharply and spun him out, forcing the teenager to spin back into the vampire's waiting arms by himself. He was thrilled to find that he did so without tripping over anyone, but did manage to land his last step on his partner's left foot.

"Whoops! Sorry, you weren't expecting that. No, I don't think anyone knows exactly what goes on in that woman's head. Alas, we must support her decision should it make her happy." Ryuichi somehow found it amusing to place his hands on Zuko's waist and twirl him in the air in the middle of the final eight-count, causing the teen to let out a startled yelp much to the vampire's laughter.

"You jerk! You've scarred me for life," Zuko hissed, releasing his grip on the other's forearms as he was lowered down onto the ground. "I'll have you remember that I'm not a woman, and do not appreciate being treated as such."

"Really? I'd never have guessed it, seeing as how I caught you sucking the tongue out of another guy's mouth." Ryuichi punctuated his sentence by brushing his lips against the younger man's cheek, causing the teen to blush and push him away with a laugh.

"You are so-" Zuko's words fell dead in his mouth, his gaze lingering on a violet-eyed vampire who was offering him the coldest glare he'd ever witnessed from a single being. He felt his heart constrict in his chest, until the point of near-crushing, as he stared wordlessly back at the man who had murder written all across his expression. Ryuichi noticed his predicament, stepping in front of Zuko to block their visual contact and placing his hands on the teen's shoulders.

"It's not your fault," he muttered under his breath to the guilt-ridden teen, who looked as though he would like nothing more than to be sent to his grave. "He's overreacting, he's in a terrible mood. Just ignore him." Zuko could very well disagree that Setsuya had been in a completely perfect mood earlier, yet he could not seem to find his voice.

"I really should go talk to him," the teen decided, pushing Ryuichi out of the way to see that the vampire lord was gone.

"He's in his quarters," the other said hesitantly, his eyes flickering nervously about the room. "Why don't you give him some time to cool off? Come on, Akane wants to dance with you for a bit." His voice became desperate as he wondered what would become of the teen if he chose to confront a furious Setsuya. This is all my fault.

"I don't think I should," Zuko insisted, his coarse voice reflecting his despair. Even through their fragmentary bond, the teenager could feel pulses of anger flooding over the boundaries of Setsuya's control. Putting a hand to his heart, he said, "I'm going after him. Thank you for our dance, Ryu." He gave the man's hand a squeeze before departing him and worming his way off the dance floor, leaving the scarlet-eyed man to shake his head. Setsuya was a calm and well-tempered man, while relationships were the only entities that could truly upset him. No person had ever had to endure the wrath that was apparently a side-effect of this new emotion the vampire lord was experiencing called, 'jealousy'. Hopefully, Zuko would be able to tame Setsuya's rage before it got out of hand.

Hopefully.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Setsuya?" Zuko knocked politely on the frame of the adjacent door, prepared to stride right on in whether he was welcomed or not. The young man was surprised when the vampire called out a strained invitation to enter, causing his stomach to constrict. Closing the door behind him, Zuko saw that the man appeared oddly calm, standing in the center of the room and staring straight at him with cool stillness. "You bolted out of the courtyard. I was worried," he explained, keeping his voice strong and sincere. "Aren't you feeling well?"

Setsuya bowed his head for a moment, stepping forward and interlacing their hands carefully. "I could be feeling better," he murmured, shaking his head and pressing a kiss against the boy's forehead. "I hadn't meant to upset you, beloved." Zuko parted his lips in surprise, pleased by the man's affectionate demeanor. He sighed, resting his head on the other's chest with gratitude.

This is a pleasant surprise.

"Zuko, I want you to stay away from Ryuichi."

The teen's heart dropped to his stomach, as he pulled away from the man instantly. Setsuya's eyes widened when he felt neither surprise nor distress radiate from his mate, but a brutal fury- an emotion that the human freely shared. "Stay... away from Ryuichi?" Zuko growled, his fists clenching at his sides with tension. "That man is my sparring partner and my friend, nothing more. He has made no move to hurt me in any way. How many times must I endure your doubt?"

"It has nothing to do with you!" Setsuya insisted, stepping forward to set a hand on the other's shoulder which was instantly shrugged away. "It's him that I don't trust."

"Stop holding your past grudges against me," the firebender demanded, struggling to keep his temper moderately in check. "What do you think he's going to do to me, huh? You're the one who broke his heart! If there's anyone to blame for the way he is, it's you!" Zuko drew in a shaky breath through his teeth, watching Setsuya's face turn stony.

"Zuko, I forbid you to see or speak to that man again!"

The violet-eyed man visibly shuddered as a cold, stunned silence fell over the two of them. His soul mate was starring at him, mouth open in shocked horror, as though he had just proclaimed himself slayer of a thousand innocent men. "What did you just say to me?" Zuko asked slowly, as though trying to reason with himself that the words were misheard. Before Setsuya had time to realize his mistake and respond, he felt his mate's glaring fury in overbearing proportions. "You forbid me?" the teen hissed with venom, feeling his palms sweat with the desire to relieve his rage. "How dare you! You have no right to forbid me to do anything, you blood-sucking bastard! I am not one of your subjects! What do you want me to do next? Fetch an animal for your feeding?! Get down on my knees and pleasure you?! Do you expect me to mindlessly obey you like I'm your fucking servant?!"

"No!" Setsuya shouted with irritation, snatching out his hand and clutching the other's wrist tightly enough to bruise, not noticing his counterpart wince. "You will obey me because you are my soul mate. You will respect my wishes as I have deemed them, and you will have the same respect for me!" The man gasped with surprise as he felt an unbearable heat against his hand and withdrew it swiftly, finding severe scorch marks across his palm. He took a step back, as the dangers of being around the firebender intensified.

"I will not stand by while you insult me like this!" Zuko exclaimed fervently, all self-restraint nearly lost as his voice became desperate. "I am your mate Setsuya and I do respect you, but you forget that being mated is to be equals, to make each other whole! I want you to be happy, but I will not sacrifice my other relationships just to satisfy your unreasonable jealousy. If you dare to treat me as though you own me, you will not witness our bonding process seen through. I'm sorry if your life as another's whore has made you distrustful, but I'm not like you!" The venomous words that had slipped from Zuko's mouth were perhaps the ones he would most regret for the rest of his life. The pain and sorrow that flashed momentarily on the expression of the other would imprint itself in his mind for days and haunt his nights.

Setsuya wasn't exactly sure what happened next, other than the fact that he was fully confident that it was his entire fault. In a blur it seemed, he raised his hand and was nearly astonished when it met the teenager's warmed flesh, striking him across the face. The world seemed to slow down, if only for a moment, before he felt an incredible driving force against his chest, throwing him across with room and into the wall with a cry of pain. When the world stopped spinning, the vampire was able to open his eyes and meet his partner's gaze, who was glaring at him with an icy rage that only existed to cover up the guilt of the words he had spoken against his mate.

"I am not a defenseless maiden, Setsuya," Zuko stated quietly, returning his extended arm to his side. "If you hit me, I'm going to hit back." With these words he strode silently out of the room, leaving the man to clasp his torso with a trembling hand. The pain from the blow had receded, yet his chest ached with a terrible hurt.

"Oh, Agni..." Setsuya moaned, feeling cold tears haze his vision. "I've become just like him."

xXxBloodlustxXx

Zuko ran as quickly as he could, trying to calm the aching pain in his heart. Finding that he couldn't outrun the feeling, he dashed past the congregation in the quad, who had no doubt heard bits and pieces of their argument. He thought he heard Akane calling for him, but her voice was distorted and meaningless. His eyes quickly flickered across the courtyard, groaning with despair when the object of his search was not found. Darting down the western corridor in a near-daze with endless adrenaline pounding through him, he did not stop until he reached the vampire's door and pounded fiercely, trying to calm his breathing enough to prepare to speak. After a strange groan of irritation and a bit of rustling, Ryuichi answered the door half-dressed and his hair tousled, looking like he was ready to kill the next mortal he could get his hands on. The expression however, immediately faded upon looking down at the distraught human, who was obviously struggling with tears. Zuko choked softly, trying to coax the words from his mouth, yet it ended up swallowed in a deep sob.

Ryuichi gasped sharply upon seeing the red discoloration on the teen's face, turning around to reveal a pretty younger man settled in Ryuichi's bed who was glaring at them. The scarlet-eyed vampire put a protective arm around the human's shoulders and jerked his head towards the door. "Get out," he said coldly. Zuko vaguely remembered seeing the man present during the wedding, sitting quite near them.

"But Ryuichi-"

"Out!" the man commanded, pressing his sparring partner against his bare chest. The man in his bed sighed, fishing out the remainder of his clothing from within the sheets and redressing quickly. He stumbled out of the room with a final frown at the teenager, while Ryuichi merely slammed the door after him. The vampire immediately knelt down before Zuko and pressed a cool hand against the evidence of Setsuya's ill-treatment, his touch meeting a trail of damp, tear-stricken skin. "He harmed you?" Ryuichi asked in a whisper, caressing his face with a gentle touch.

"I don't want to talk about it," Zuko managed to murmur, shaking his head. "Oh, Ryu... It shouldn't hurt this badly!" he cried, lifting a hand to his chest and gripping the clothing that covered it. "I've never felt pain like this, not ever! I-I th-thought... I didn't mean what I s-said! I just don't want to be controlled!" He fell silent, uncaring of whether or not Ryuichi understood his ramblings. The vampire shushed him soothingly, stroking the boy's hair until he calmed. He wasn't sure what had occurred, but he was certain that Setsuya did not deserve to be forgiven quickly, if at all.

"Ryuichi?" the teen said with a pained breath, trying to shake away the headache he knew was forming. "Please, will you show me a way out of this place?"

"I stay by his side because I know he would never hurt me intentionally."