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.

12. To Fight

Setsuya had a choice to make. He could either approach the taskmaster of the palace and ask to make an appointment with the Firelord that he will never be granted, or he could scale the walls of the magnificent citadel and force an encounter with the Firelord contrary to their treaty. Considering that it was the dead of night and their contract had already been breached, he opted for the second choice. Sneaking into the palace grounds was by no means difficult; dressed in a black cloak, armed with superb night vision, and commencing with soundless footsteps allowed him to slip past the guards and into the palace unnoticed. Finding his way around was no less easy; the throne room was traditionally in the center of such magnificent structures, as the security was more abundant further in. With his luck, the Firelord's workaholic tendencies would prove to favor him.

Sure enough, the fires surrounding the Firelord's throne projected a harsh flickering light beyond the slit beneath the elaborate door. Setsuya darted from the eastern corridor to the middle of the two guards, knocking them out with the swipe of his arm. 'Pathetic protection', he mused silently, before pushing the great door open with little concern to the noise it made. 'Let them try to stop me', Setsuya vowed, nudging the unconscious men out of the way with his foot and slipping into the great throne room. And there, silhouetted by the rising flames around him, was Firelord Ozai. The dramatic distance between himself and the man in question was utterly ridiculous, but Setsuya decided to humor him. If there was anything he prided himself on, it was being connected to his people. Ozai, predictably, chose to live in his little conspiracy fantasy world.

He stopped a respectable distance away from the flames, which had noticeably increased in amplitude upon his entrance. Bowing before the Firelord was by no means easy, but Setsuya was willing to lick dirt from the floor in order to ensure peace. "Lord Setsuya." The vampire gave a slight start, although his expression did not change. The Firelord's voice was strung with fear, an emotion he'd never heard the man express in their few meetings. And could that have been a tinge of shock? Oh, Setsuya was going to enjoy this.

"Lord Ozai. I approach you on a matter of grave importance, notably in conflict with our agreement. Within the last twenty-four hours, two Fire Nation soldiers were found lurking about our corridors, obviously having been instructed in seeking us out. They were captured rather quickly and executed in accordance to our law when they refused to disclose information concerning the circumstances under which they were sent. I must know if the men were under your command. If not, there may be a circulating threat to us both." Setsuya prepared his assertive vocals in preparation of Ozai's denial, but fate seemed to have diverged in a different direction.

"Of course the men were under my command. There have been a multitude of deaths in the past weeks, three bodies found in the woods and fourteen young men and women unaccounted for. Do you have the slightest idea how difficult it is to commit these incidents to secrecy? I sent them to try to catch your people in the act of such heinous crimes and take them into custody. If you won't discipline your citizens properly, I'll take the matter into my own hands."

The faceless voice caught the vampire lord off-guard; Ozai was so quick to answer, as though he'd been expecting this encounter and prepared his response a while ago. Not the lies Setsuya had been expecting, certainly. 'Nevertheless, it's time to set matters straight.' "Begging your pardon, Lord Ozai, but those deaths are not by the hands of my people. It is a rogue group of vampires that we have been unsuccessfully tracking ever since the mysterious deaths began. They're a small group, quick to escape our grasp and even quicker to lead us astray."

"And you've only notified me of this now?" Ozai hissed, his voice full of poison. Setsuya tapped his foot impatiently against the marble floor, trying not to run forth and shake the man senseless.

"With all due respect, my Lord has never expressed anything but dismissal toward the vampiric population other than when noteworthy deaths occur."

"Are you implying that I do not care for the citizens of the Fire Nation?"

Ah, caught on rather quickly did we? "Of course not, my Lord. The fact of the matter is that the problem is best solved in my hands. I thank you for your concern, but I'm sure you have far too much to deal with here to be bothered with the trivial issues of the underground civilians."

The Firelord's voice turned deathly cold, causing Setsuya to tighten his grip on his cloak in order to keep from stepping back. "And I suppose you'll continue dealing with the situation until it is resolved?"

"As soon as possible."

"Of course, you understand my reasoning for sending my men in to investigate. Perhaps I was wrong in jumping to conclusions."

"Everyone makes mistakes." Setsuya could feel the fury radiating from the man, fostering a certain satisfaction. Except the Firelord, of course. He only colossally screws up.

"If the deaths do not end, Lord Setsuya, I shall be forced to take drastic measures." Strained calm. Very strained.

"I assure you, sir, the matter is safe in my hands." Excusing himself promptly, Setsuya bowed before the man and resumed on his way, noting the fires around the royal throne flaring as he left. As if those silly little embers were supposed to frighten him? Alright, perhaps he was lingering on his pedestal. Still, there was little that was more pleasing to him than seeing an adversary squirm. And the bastard hadn't even asked whether his son was dead or alive! All he had to do was capture Ravindra, and keep Zuko underground until this mess was over and soldiers stop lurking around in the woods. That shouldn't be terribly difficult, now should it?

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Setsuya is going to find out that I'm not underground! He won't be able to smell me, he'll freak out, and then go on a furious rampage to find me!"

"Would you relax? For heaven's sake, I left him a note."

"A note? As if that's going to stop him. What did it say?"

"Something along the lines of,

Dear Setsuya,

My gracious and caring guardian Ryuichi will be accompanying me above ground in order to participate in a few nonsensical activities having almost nothing to do with sword fighting tournaments. Don't come looking for me.

Love,

Zuko

P.S. I lied. Ryuichi and I are eloping. See you in a week!"

"What?!"

"Kidding, kidding." Ryuichi smiled for the first time in days, running his fingers through the teenager's hair in an attempt to relax him. It was odd; he always felt his calmest around the boy, in spite of his recent stresses. Zuko, however, sat before him on a bench within the competitor's tent, looking jitterier than a drugged up wolf-bat. "Setsuya won't come looking for you, I promise. He's preoccupied with this whole 'Ravendro' business, or whatever the hell his name is. Hold still, your part is uneven."

"Agni forbid! My hair is parting unevenly!" Zuko hissed, taking another look around the spacious red tent to observe his competition. To his surprise, most of them were built like himself- young, agile, and with little muscularity to base their strength on. Most of them were being fitted for armor, while others were polishing their weapons to the point of pure vanity. The coaches were the most paranoid of them all, pacing about the tent as though their lives depended on the success of their students. That is, except for Ryuichi. He appeared as though he couldn't give a damn, and was more interested in retouching Zuko's makeup. The vampire had masterfully recreated Zuko's 'disguise' from days before, although the teenager refused to let the man color his lips. That was just too much. "Ryu, are you sure I'm not out of my league? These guys look like they've done this a million times before."

"I'd have entered you in the next age group if there wasn't a law against it. Pipe down; you'll do just fine, Princess." Ryuichi jumped over the bench and examined the boy once more, finally deeming him worthy in appearance. Not that it had anything to do with wielding a sword. After all, they were only competing in a tournament. "Now, if anyone tries to talk trash to you, I want you to 'gloat wittily'. Got that? Gloat wittily, as though all you've got in this world are your good looks and a pretty smile. It'll throw them off when they see you fight. Act like you're the most arrogant man that ever walked the face of the planet."

"Sort of like you?"

"Yeah, like-… You can be such a bitch." The words were playful, although Ryuichi stuck out his tongue at the teen with a hint of bitterness.

"I'm sorry, I'll be good." Zuko twisted his hands in his lap, trying to calm his heartbeat. It was only a few sword fights. What was there to get worked up about? Nothing. Nothing at all.

"The listings should be up by now. I'll go see which circuit you're in. Sit tight and try not to cause any trouble, hmm sweetheart?" Ryuichi winked, tossing the teenager his registration paperwork.

"No promises," Zuko grunted, flipping through the papers with an immediate look of distaste. Out of all of the names Ryuichi could have registered him under, it had to be Lee? How commonplace. He'd wanted to enter the tournament with his fresh skill in broadswords, but he'd chickened out after seeing the competition and surrendered to the vampire's favorite blade, the one that coincidentally complemented his agility the best. Strike fast, not hard. Catch them off guard, slip through their defenses. Vital-

"Hey."

Jolted out of his mental review, Zuko glanced upward to find a man two or three years older than himself staring back down at him. At a single glimpse, it could not have been more obvious that the teenager was competing in the tournament. The sword belted to his hip and his overflowing sense of pride were two profound indicators. Although Zuko's first reaction was to ignore the teenager for fear of starting a fuss, he immediately scolded himself for his stereotypical views. After all, not every raven-haired, sword-fighting 'tough guy 'was looking to start a fight. "Hello," he said as politely as he could, setting his paperwork on his lap and turning attentively toward the other swordsman.

"I don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you new to the district?" The man looked almost sympathetic, which allowed Zuko to unwind just a bit.

He seems nice. "That's right. I'm staying with my… extended family, and I thought perhaps the competition here was worth checking out."

"Ah, so you aren't from around here. Let me break it down for you." Zuko's heart skipped a beat as the teenager leaned down to meet his eyes, and it wasn't because he was handsome. "Pretty boys like you don't last through the first round. Whatever small town you're from, you don't stand a chance in the big leagues. This is adult play, got it kid?" The teenager had turned from an amiable stranger into a menacing viper within merely moments.

Zuko almost felt sick to his stomach. What was wrong with humanity? Couldn't friendly competition be in play without personal conflicts? Instead of snapping back, Zuko gathered his cool and simply smiled, trying to evict the tenseness from his form. "Oh, are you participating in the tournament too? I apologize. I thought you were a towel boy. That would at least explain your slacking posture unbefitting of a swordsman."

"Why you little-"

Zuko jolted as a hand gripped his shoulder, feeling at ease once he recognized the chilly touch. "Three minutes?" The voice whispered in his ear, utterly amused. "You can't stop pissing people off for three whole minutes?"

"You said gloat. I was gloating," Zuko muttered defensively, as Ryuichi turned his attention toward the newcomer.

"And who might you be? A friend of my student, I presume?" The vampire wore no cloak, a risky yet invaluable asset. One look into those fiery scarlet eyes, and the vicious man was ready to dig a hole in the earth and huddle inside of it. Casting one sour look at Zuko, the teenager stalked away, his hand still gripping his sword tightly. "Next time, save the gloating for when your opponent isn't well armed."

"I could have taken him," Zuko growled, snatching away the piece of parchment that Ryuichi held. Damn, he wished he could have caught that boy's name. Spirits, let us be in the same circuit. "What? I don't fight anyone for two rounds? You have to be joking! Who is the person that composed this schedule? I want to meet the person who did this to me!"

"Amazing. You flirt with danger and suddenly your confidence returns."

"Psh. Danger." Zuko waved the matter away with his hand, lifting himself up to stretch his muscles in a more violent manner than usual. "I swear, if I get my hands on that guy, he's toast! Put your cloak back on! People are going to see you and run off before they even get the chance to deal with me!"

Ryuichi rolled his eyes, wondering when it became okay to let a teenager boss him around. Of course, it wasn't difficult to boss him around. Khai did it all the time. You just had to have the right leverage. In Zuko's case, it was his inexplicable charm combined with his ability to corrupt Setsuya. In Khai's case, it was the fact that he was a tattletale.

"You're taking him sword fighting, Ryuichi? You have strange ways of earning one's trust. You have to bring out the worst of Setsuya in Zuko's eyes. You have to make him mad, you know? Really piss him off. Do it, or I'll tell Ravindra you've been slacking."

So Ryuichi had taken orders. He thought of the easiest way to infuriate Setsuya beyond belief. He hadn't really left a note.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"I don't care how long it takes. I want Ravindra's coven cornered, and soon. Take your escorts out to the edges of the city. Station yourselves discreetly around the perimeter and send me daily reports. His followers have a great weakness for human blood. If they need it, they'll have to drag themselves near the residential of which, it was time for a break. A visit to Zuko, at least. area to find it."

"Yes sir." Hayate bowed, feeling the strain of the whole matter weigh upon his shoulders. Of course it was a great compliment being paid to him. Setsuya couldn't be expected to chase ghosts night and day with an entire civilization to care for. His master heaved a sigh, rubbing his forehead with aggravation. Why, why did it have to be now of all times? What was different? Why would Ravindra wait for so long? It's been so many years…

He dismissed Hayate with a wave of the hand, not particularly in the mood for formalities and sympathy. Days had gone by without a sign of Ravindra or his people except for the occasional dead body that never made it to rebirth. His mental clock informed him that he had been stuck in his office for twelve hours, bound by major and minor indiscretions alike. The workload would have been easier if his assistant had been there to help him sort through things, but Ryuichi had picked the least convenient time to take a day off.

Sneaking out of his office as though afraid someone would assault him upon his departure, he slipped back into his room with a weary mind and a heavy heart. Things weren't easy for him lately, but at least he had Zuko there to- Setsuya let out another sigh upon entering his room when he realized that his companion wasn't there. Oh well, he was bound to come back soon. He neared the bed in the corner of his chambers with every intention of collapsing onto it and falling into a meditative state when he realized that there was a certain reptile that had already taken that privilege. After generously supplying his soul mate with his blood, Zuko had begged the man to reconsider letting his new pet occupy their room. That teenager certainly knew when to ask for what he wanted. Setsuya and the snake stared at each other, neither particularly pleased by the other's presence. Setsuya smelled a dirty reptile and the snake smelled a carnivorous predator.

"I don't like you," the vampire lord informed the snake. The glint in its eye seemed to reciprocate the feeling. He'd better not have eaten Zuko. In his mind he understood how difficult and ridiculous he was being. But he was housing the damned thing, so he'd be as difficult and ridiculous as he wanted. "You keep away from Zuko, understand? He may be delicious, but he's not your dinner." The snake slithered a bit to the left and inclined its head, as if to say, 'If I can't eat him, you certainly can't either.'

"Hey, he offered his blood to me! Next time he offers away his flesh, I'll let you know. Oh, forget it. I don't have to explain myself to a snake." Taking a deep breath, his chest tightened when he found that his mate was out of his sensory range. No problem… He's probably down in the lower caverns with Ryuichi. Setsuya closed his eyes and tapped into their bond, trying to calm his nerves and perhaps soak up some positive energy from his mate that he desperately needed. To his misfortune and perhaps exaggerated annoyance, the boy had built a lovely brick wall around his inner self, inaccessible to Setsuya's pleas. Again? And after he'd specifically asked Zuko to cease with his mental barriers! It was true he had neglected the teenager for three or four days (which he understood was in direct violation of the attentive soul mate code). Certainly the boy had never demanded the vampire's attention in the midst of a crisis, yet Setsuya couldn't help but feel guilty- they were never more than a corridor or two apart, so even a short check-up wouldn't have been all that troublesome. Was Zuko angry with him? If not, what could he possibly be doing that he felt he had to hide from the vampire? Setsuya concentrated in an attempt to slip past Zuko's defenses, receiving no answer whatsoever. Alright. He'd tried politely knocking on the door. It was time to kick down the door. Using his superior experience and basic knowledge of psychology, Setsuya centered in on Zuko's shrouded mind and gave him a sharp, stinging mental slap in order to get his attention.

"Ow!" Zuko winced, holding a hand to his head as a fierce headache formed in the back of his mind. How was Setsuya doing that? 'I have to find some way to counter it! I can't let him know where I am!' He hadn't thought up a good excuse to explain his absence yet. As a second wave of irritating pain threatened his foremost skull, he centered himself using his meditation practice, anticipating the blow and ordering his body to instigate its pain-blocking reflexes.

"Ow!" Setsuya growled in annoyance, shaking his head clear of the sudden pain. Alright. So maybe Zuko was more in tune with his central mentality than he'd first thought. He felt a slight anger and instinctive warning slip out from underneath the other's barriers before sturdily closing his mind again. And for a moment, just a single moment, Zuko's physical symptoms were his to analyze. Pounding heart, sweaty palms, fast respiration, twisted gut… The boy was nervous for some reason. The vampire lord's anxiety crept to a new height and he began to pace about the room. Perhaps Zuko was up to no good, frolicking about aboveground and didn't want Setsuya to find out. Perhaps Zuko was off with some other vampire, letting him drink his blood! Perhaps Zuko was being held captive and was forced to ignore Setsuya's attempts to contact him for fear of his very life!

The vampire let out a deep breath calming his racing thoughts and sitting on the bed beside the snake. Or perhaps Zuko just needed some damn privacy. "I can't help it," he murmured into the air, then addressing the snake beside him who seemed to gaze at him with inquisitive eyes. "He's such a free spirit. It worries me. He can never truly understand how much I fear losing him." Silence. "Well, I can't share that emotion with him. He'll think I'm a paranoid fool. I've loved and lost so many people. I feel as though he may be my last…" Setsuya fell silent, hesitantly patting the reptile on the back and snatching his hand away. "You're a good listener, I'll give you that." Struck with a slight case of heavy heart, the vampire slunk back to his office in order to sign off a proposed law requesting that animals designated to be sacrificed for worship ceremonies be protected from harm from vampires seeking to consume them. Twenty minutes later he would be faced with a law proposing that absurd worship groups stop bringing animals underground only to have them sit on an altar for three days before finally killing them.

Sometimes, he envied the Firelord's absolute monarchy. Sure people were unhappy, but at least they were unhappy and quiet.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Zuko, are you alright?" Ryuichi glanced down at the teenager in worry, who seemed to be clutching his head in some sort of pain.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Zuko shook off the abnormal sensation and felt his hand creep to the sword at his belt as his alias name was called from the arena. Let's do this. Of course he felt bad for shaking Setsuya off once again, but there was nothing he could do without impeding his performance. Not that sword fighting was more important than his soul mate, of course. But Ryuichi had pulled quite a few strings and slipped through just as many loopholes to get Zuko aboveground and enter him into the tournament under a false identity, and he wasn't about to let those efforts go to waste.

His teacher's expression regained its seriousness, as he escorted the teenager to the designated arena. "Don't be nervous. There aren't too many people watching. They're all caught up in stadium three, watching the deadlock. Just pursue your strategy. Get him cornered within two minutes, and don't waste your strength when you have your speed and flexibility."

Zuko nodded, suddenly feeling aware of the twenty or so eyes from the sidelines watching him approach his side of the field. The arena was small, to his advantage, but his opponent seemed to have a much more demanding coach, who was currently shouting at the young man to "chop the wimp's head off". Zuko wasn't sure which he disliked more- the prospect of being headless, or being called a wimp. The gong sounded, signaling for the combatants to get ready. Ryuichi slouched against the edge of the low barrier surrounding the field, his eyes trained on his student. Both teenagers drew their swords as the mediator raised his hand in the air, though Zuko felt his grip tighten unnecessarily courtesy of his pounding heart.

Three… Two… One. The gong rung for a second time, and the combatants lunged for each other, although Zuko didn't quite put so much effort into it. Why come to your opponent when he'll come to you? Upon feeling the first blow of the other's sword against his own, he almost laughed. The boy's stance was twisted at the knees and his arms were extended far beyond his center of gravity. You're going to chop off my head, are you? Of course that was the purpose of the preliminary rounds. Weeding out the under-practiced and the slothful. Zuko swiped his blade around and caught his opponent on the shoulder, barely missing his collar on the first try. Five points. Leaping away to center himself, Zuko regained his balance and instigated his strategy to its fullest potential.

He swung his blade left, right, and left again, watching his opponents eyes grow shocked from his exhibition of speed so soon into the match. Dodging, diving, swerving, and blocking, Zuko forced the other into a purely defensive status. Again and again he struck from all directions, feeling a freedom that wasn't to be felt deep underground. Fresh air, open skies, and fighting an opponent who could be seen so easily through. Finally, Zuko caught an opening in the boy's footwork and sidestepped his lazy frontal attack to sweep his legs from underneath him. His opponent fell to one knee with a grunt, and Zuko whirled around to press the dull edge of his sword conclusively against the boy's throat. The gong sounded, signifying his victory. He sheathed his sword and jogged back to his own end of the field, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment despite his languid opponent who was now being verbally disciplined by his coach.

"How long did it take?" Zuko asked Ryuichi, feeling his heart leap as the vampire openly smiled at him.

"One minute and fifty-nine seconds. Catch your breath and stretch out for a while. Your next match is in ten minutes." They walked back to the competitor's tent together, although Ryuichi took the time to lecture the young man. "Good form, but you'll have to be a little quicker on the uptake. You had quite a few openings before that one to take him down. I know you like to feel vibrations of the sword and hear the clash of the metal as every swordsman does, but there will be plenty of time for that later."

Zuko nodded, still high from his excursion on the battlefield. He shed his torso armor for a time, stretching out his muscles. "This feels great, Ryu. I never thought I could miss the sunlight so much." The waves of the sun warmed his firebending instincts for the first time in a while, making him feel strong- unbeatable.

"Just remember that your mind is creating that sensation more so than your body. Keep attuned to your physical being, or you could end up with a serious injury that you don't recognize until you cool down." Ryuichi prodded him to sit and shoved a canteen in the teenager's lap, encouraging him to drink just a bit as slowly as he could. "Good warm-up, hmm? From the looks of the chart, you're going to be battling one of the deadlock competitors, which means…?"

"It's probably someone who's trained exclusively in either high-scale defense or offense. If he's defensive, I focus on strategies that will earn me an automatic win or accumulate enough points as a safeguard. If he's offensive, I…" Zuko frowned, suddenly self-conscious of his own weaknesses. "Ideally I would let him tire himself out until he slips, but defense isn't exactly my cup of tea."

Ryuichi nodded, taking the time to massage Zuko's neck muscles to which the teenager responded with gratitude. "Alright, good analysis. Supposing he's as strong in his offense as me. Of course he's not," he smirked, "but let us assume that he is. What is your normal strategy against me?"

"I battle with equal offense and wait to pursue an opening, but that usually takes a good while. I only have five minutes." Zuko relaxed into his comrade's touch, relishing how the cool touch gently contrasted the warmth of his skin.

"That's the wonderful thing about battling in this age group- some specialize in offense, some in defense, and well-balanced students with twice the skills but only half the depth. No student has had the time to master all elements of the art. So, you improvise and trip him up. Convince him you're a defensive fighter for three-fourths of the match, and then give him a little jolting surprise. I wouldn't aim to take him down by the neck. Try to accumulate points at the end by striking at high point areas. Even if he gains the advantage over you at first, don't let up until a good few minutes. I'll leave it up to your judgment."

Zuko knew that the plan was a bit risky. If his opponent struck him to the point when he couldn't catch up, he'd be out of the tournament without the chance to test his strength over a diverse range. "Thanks, Ryu. You know, I never realized how much you'd taught me just by battling with me."

The vampire smiled, settling down on the bench beside the teenager and throwing the hood of his cloak back, as there were fewer than half the number of people in the tent after so many rounds, and hardly anyone could be bothered to pay attention to them. "You taught yourself for the most part. I was just a tool in the process." Another task, another tool.

"Don't be modest!" Zuko leaned his head affectionately against the vampire's shoulder. "I never would have progressed if you hadn't trained me. You've had so many years of practice, and you have such a vast amount of faith in me by allowing me to use your weapons. I don't think any entrant in this tournament was as lucky as I was." Even said with the lighthearted tone of the teenager's voice, the words held a powerful meaning for Ryuichi, who felt something clench tightly in his chest. Only Zuko could revere him as something more than a wayside implement to be tossed into the gutter once he had served his purpose. Whether is was childlike naivety or a mature display of uncommon humanity, it made the vampire's chest warm as it had when he'd seen Zuko's portraits of him.

Minutes passed and his student was on his feet once more, strapping his armor back onto his chest and stretching out his leg muscles. A bit nervous for his next fight, he jumped slightly when he heard his name being called to the same arena, and Ryuichi tousled his hair fondly. "Let's go. You'll be just fine."

They made their way back to the field, although there were quite a few more onlookers than before. You'll forget about them once the match starts, Zuko assured himself, eyeing his opponent from across the way. The boy seemed to be a tad bit less muscular than even himself, apt for delivering blows rather than receiving them. It looked like their improvised strategy would have to come into play after all. The gong rung and Zuko reverted into a completely defensive stance, waiting for his opponent to reach him before he readied his weapon. The moment the strike hit his blade, a stinging vibration strung through his arms, complemented by another and another and another… Zuko parried the blows as best be could, but he could feel the man sweep his sword beneath his defenses within only a few seconds, hearing a sharp pang as the metal clashed with his leg armor. Two points to him.

Zuko gulped nervously, feeling an overwhelming ache to drive back with the same intensity. Still, he kept up his façade, allowing his opponent to manipulate his movements and trick him into thinking he had the complete advantage. Zuko was fast, but the strength of the other's blows was damaging his ability to react… Parry, parry, dodge, duck, parry, parry. After three minutes had passed with the other attaining nine points, he decided it was time to surprise his opponent. The next blow the other made he countered with an equally forceful blow, obviously tired of being pushed around. Again and again he increased the strength of his attack, channeling the energy from the warmth of the sun and knowledge that Ryuichi was watching him. He smiled when he heard the clash of his sword against a more hallow surface than the metal of another weapon. Five points… Two points… Five points… Obviously struck with horror that he'd miscalculated Zuko's strategy, he rashly attempted to counter the blows, only to find himself leaving openings that weren't there before. Flustered, he was down by six points by the time the five minutes had passed.

Zuko found himself contented, but alarmingly weary once the battle was over. He staggered back to Ryuichi, trying to catch his breath. The vampire congratulated him before noticing the fatigue of the teen's expression with the same alarm. "You put on an amazing performance, but damn, that really put a hole in our overall strategy. It's fine, just sit down. Don't you dare close your eyes, or you'll get drowsy."

Zuko nodded, trying not to lean against anything should he find himself drifting off to sleep. "How much longer until my next fight?"

"Looks like you have a twenty minute break," Ryuichi murmured, glancing over the fresh schedule and seating himself on the grass across from the teenager. "Just enough time to rest well."

Zuko frowned, realizing that he'd allowed his mental barriers to slip open while he wasn't attending to them. How long had they been down? He hadn't felt Setsuya, but that doesn't mean for sure he was safe from the man's prying eye. Ah, forget it. It's a waste of energy. Let him try to come and get me. He's probably too busy with his work anyway. Zuko was ashamed to admit that he was feeling neglected by how much time Setsuya had been spending with his work, particularly after they shared an intimacy beyond what he thought to be possible. Of course, Setsuya had an obligation to a hundred people before he had an obligation to a single one. In a way, he was working for humanity as well, protecting them from…

"Who is Ravindra?"

Ryuichi glanced up from the grass, his expression grim. "Ravindra… All I know about him is what I learned from the rest of the council. He had come and gone before I was even made a vampire. Only the vampires under the former leader's reign would know anything of him."

"Former as in…?"

"Setsuya's keeper." Ryuichi shivered, wrapping his arms around his waist as he sat up. "Nobody knew his name- they called him Master. Twenty years after Setsuya was born into vampirism, there were already forty vampires in the population. It was for the most part unintentional. One uncontrollable bloodlust led to another, which led to another. Proper control and animal feeding weren't established until Setsuya took over. No one knew that the blood of animals was sufficient. So, they basically starved themselves until they could go no longer, and then were forced to take a life."

"How long can a vampire go without sustenance?" Zuko whispered, entranced by Ryuichi's voice in its story-telling mode. Setsuya's, as much as he hated to compare, was much more indifferent.

"It ranges on factors such as willpower and age. Setsuya could probably go about a month without animal blood, and my own limit is around two weeks. Human blood is more nourishing. It can quench our thirst for months, perhaps years on end depending on how much we drink. The problem is, once you start drinking, it's hard not to stop until you've drained a human to their death. That's why you don't see us sneaking into human's houses at night and taking their blood in their sleep."

Zuko felt his hand trail to his thigh, where Setsuya had taken his blood only days before. He must have been so attentive to the amount of blood drawn. He blushed remembering the experience, before tuning back in to Ryuichi's words.

"Nobody was really sure who killed Ravindra. They found his body drained completely of blood and discarded in a creek. Nobody ever admitted to killing him. He adapted surprisingly quickly to his new life. Too quickly. Within months he was one of the fastest and strongest vampires, with senses that rivaled Master's. He took pleasure in feeding, no, in killing. Watching the victim's eyes turn dull as he slowly leeched their source of life from them. It wasn't long before Ravindra developed a superiority complex, not only amongst his fellow vampires, but to the human nation. He concluded that our nature was a gift not from the demons of hell, but from the Spirits, and that we should use it to our utmost advantage." Ryuichi's eyes averted to the ground as though ashamed as he murmured, "He thought that vampires should be the dominant species."

The teenager suddenly felt sick to his stomach, bringing a trembling hand to his mouth. "He thought that vampires should control humans?"

"Worse. He wanted to eliminate humans. Sure, keep a few thousand around for breeding blood, but they would be treated just as animals might. Ravindra's plan consisted of picking out the strongest, most intelligent of Fire Nation humans that could withstand transformation and offering them a position of power. He had a sense of racial superiority as well, determining that the rest of the nations be treated like breeding cattle. Those who accepted would be transformed into 'superhumans'. Those who wouldn't pledge their allegiance could be burned alive. He approached Master with his plan, which he completely condoned. Setsuya insists to this day that the leader was crazed and poisoned by Ravindra's words, and that Master wasn't a bad man. He had just gone insane from his years as a vampire after murdering the one he loved."

"After what he did to Setsuya, I'm pretty damn sure he was the evilest of men," Zuko supplied decisively, shuddering at the thought of Setsuya's memories that had taken refuge in his own mind. "And yet, this Ravindra seems to be rivaling him for the position."

Ryuichi nodded, continuing in a soft voice. "They were going to carry out the plan at once, but there were a lot of vampires who couldn't agree to, ironically, the inhumanity of it. Setsuya… He did something rather brave. I'm not sure if I'm the one to tell you this, but after years of submitting to rape and abuse, Setsuya fought back on behalf of all people, vampire and human. He accidentally discovered the weakness of all vampires after burning himself with a candle one night. He used this knowledge to murder Master before he could carry out the plan."

Zuko's heart pounded in his chest, although the other said nothing if he noticed. Setsuya killed his master? Certainly the punishment was due, but to murder his master was beyond heroic. It was almost bizarrely courageous. Even if Setsuya began beating Zuko, raping him, he could never bring himself to kill the man. Setsuya and his master shared a love-hate relationship from what Zuko understood, and it was a twisted, fabricated version of what he currently shared with his mate. As sickeningly unhealthy as it was, it was love.

"There was no one to be scared of after that. In comparison to Master, Ravindra was nobody to fear. Setsuya showed him the power of the fire and demanded that he dismiss his ridiculous notion of world domination. But Ravindra couldn't give up. He asked the surrounding vampires to follow him, but nobody would budge. Their faith was in Setsuya now. To our misfortune, Ravindra escaped leaving a note behind him as a warning to Setsuya. I'm not sure what it said, but it was enough to frighten the most powerful vampire of the civilization. He's bided his time for so many years, and now we fear that his plans may already be in action. We weren't certain at first, but it's getting easier to piece together." Ryuichi noted the terrified expression on the teenager's face before calmly adding, "He's a maniac, Zuko. He can't win. If he gains the power to face the Fire Nation, they will be wiped out easily. The question is, how many people have to die before they reach that point? And the Firelord will undoubtedly blame all vampires and seek to make sure we are destroyed as well. That's why we have to track Ravindra and his followers down before they grow too powerful. It will take-"

He was silenced abruptly by the sound of Zuko's false name being called once again to the arena. "Do you feel ready to compete?"

"I'm much more awake," the teenager admitted, trying to stop his legs from trembling upon his new discoveries. He stood and quickly readied himself for the next battle, trying to calm his racing mind. No wonder Setsuya looks so worried lately. I didn't realize we were dealing with a fanatic.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Khai tried not to shudder as he felt his hair being stroked by the man seated beside him. He couldn't stand prolonged physical contact, particularly when it was someone who made him feel even colder than he already was. The hands traveled down his form, taunting him, as though the other vampire knew he hated it. Reaching into the boy's pocket, Ravindra pulled out his watch and dangled it experimentally in thin air, feeling Khai tense beside him. The older vampire chuckled smoothly, allowing the watch to hang by the very end of its chain. "To lose is to strengthen, Khai," the cool voice whispered delicately in his ear, as though the words were meant to be soothing. "To fear loss is weakness, one that will not be tolerated."

I've lost whatever humanity I had left. Isn't that enough? Khai knew the only fleeting hope he had of saving his watch was looking away, pretending that it didn't bother him. But what if Ravindra dropped it? Would he dare catch it? As much as it tore at his conscience, he turned himself away from the watch and glanced into Ravindra's glistening black eyes. He remain composed, like a dog waiting for its treat, his face emotionless, though somewhat pleading.

"Good boy." The vampire smiled, kissing him on the forehead and returning the pocket watch safely into the younger's robes. Nobody received a kiss on the lips, nobody except Ryuichi. He'd earned his privileges long ago. Khai let out a strained breath, his hand dashing to his watch and clasping it tightly. They sat in the center of their temporary headquarters, an underground fortress beneath the city of the Fire Nation offered to them by the Firelord himself. Of course, when Ozai offered the gift to Ravindra he'd done so convinced that only Ravindra and his 'associates' would be staying there. Little did he know that the said associates were members of the Fire Nation, one's whose names still resided in the obituaries or 'missing' section of the newspaper. Humans were easy to fool, especially when they shared a common enemy with those doing the fooling. But when all was said and done, no vampire should have to value a pledge with a human.

"Ryuichi tells me you've been acting rashly as of late," Ravindra cooed, his voice full of shallow affection, under which was a layer of threats. "Those without the patience to wait-"

"Rush headlong into an ambiguous future," Khai finished, knowing he shouldn't have. Ravindra was annoyed, he could feel it.

"That's right," the voice came, less affectionate this time. "There are bigger issues at hand than you're desire for prominence. Truth be told, you've always been one of my favorites for your enthusiasm toward our cause, not to mention your extraordinary beauty. Don't lose my favor, or it will be hard to earn back."

Khai didn't reply, but he leaned submissively into Ravindra's touch despite his hatred of the sensation. So many would gash out their eyes with a knife to be in his position, and he wasn't about to threaten his chances of being seen as trustworthy and obedient. A knock at the door caught Ravindra's attention, much to the younger's relief, and he called for the newcomer to enter. A vampire truly of Ravindra's high standards entered the room, his figure slim and well built, with dark hair and gorgeous golden eyes that reflected the elegant pride that all vampires ought to posses. "My Lord, we've found one you may be interested in."

"Bring them forward!" Ravindra called out in delight, causing Khai to glare at the tiled floor with jealousy. Their Master was always ecstatic to greet potential newcomers, and was even more pleased when they came willing rather than in chains. The vampire left the room, and within moments a human stood in his place, a female nearing her thirtieth year. She looked no less beautiful than one of the Firelord's concubines, and twice as self-assured. "Welcome my friend," Ravindra said with a smile, standing and spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture. The vampire had a way of making even the most insignificant feel as though they were worth something, earning him allies quickly and effortlessly. "Please, take a seat." He gestured to the additional mats before him. Khai shot the woman a glare when Ravindra wasn't looking.

The woman nodded, kneeling down without even the slightest emotion crossing her face. "I understand you have a proposition to make me, vampire."

Khai winced at the ignorant address, though Ravindra simply laughed it off. "Yes, we're in the recruiting stage about now. Tell me, what is your occupation?"

"I am a military officer, specializing in protecting the royal family." Her words were swift, clear, and concise, proving her to be one of military values as well.

"Certainly not someone as lovely as yourself? " Ravindra teased lightheartedly, while motioning for Khai to braid his hair. The boy finally graced the older vampire with a rare smile. He loved the feeling of Ravindra's silky hair beneath his fingers. "Excellent, excellent. You must have a vast knowledge of the palace grounds, then?"

"Every nook and crevice, sir," she affirmed, showing no fear as though she'd known vampires existed all her life.

"You can take orders well?"

"I give them better than I receive them, but I am capable of learning."

Oh, I like this one. Ravindra frowned, suddenly doubtful of the woman's ability to undergo a transformation. She seems to be lacking the ability to emotionally attach herself to anyone. Does she have the spiritual bonds necessary? Her emotionless aptitude was idealistic, but only after the transformation. "Tell me, do you have a lover?"

"No."

"Parents?"

"No."

"Siblings?"

"No."

"Any close relations?"

"My cousin, sir. I joined the royal guard to pay for her schooling."

Sounds like she's taking a risk. "Would you die for her?"

"Immediately." The woman's eyes averted to the ground before rising up to fearlessly meet Ravindra's.

"And what do you hope to accomplish by joining our cause?" The major question, the one of utmost importance.

"I wish to secure my future, and perhaps my cousin's as well. I have no doubt in my mind that vampires have the potential to overtake mankind."

Good enough. If not, she'll make a nice snack. Ravindra allowed Khai to wrap up his hair before he stood, offering his hand out to the woman with a gleeful smile. "You're willing to take this risk?" The hand grasping his own was the only answer he needed.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Two more battles passed for Zuko, both much easier on his stamina than the last. Even so, the teenager found it increasingly difficult to catch his breath between fights, while simultaneously trying to listen to Ryuichi's notes on his performance. His hair was matted with sweat and his adrenaline rushes were become less and less frequent, but he kept true with their ultimate plan as though his life depended on it. He had yet to hear from Setsuya even with his mental barricades down, which he wasn't sure whether to feel joyful or anxious about. As the tournament came closer and closer to its end, he couldn't help but wonder if Setsuya would be terribly upset with him if he found out where he'd been. I really hate fighting with Setsuya. I can't stand it when he's angry.

"…And make sure that- You're listening, right? Please tell me that you're listening." Ryuichi glared down at the boy, clearly not amused by his daydreaming antics. "If you don't pay attention, I'm going to push you onto the field without your armor on and take away my sword while I'm at it."

"I'm sorry." Zuko shrugged somewhat noncommittally, his thoughts still drifting left and right. "How many more fights do we have left?"

"Each of the four circuits has only two competitors left. If you win the next round you can consider yourself a semifinalist." The vampire grew increasingly serious as the rounds went by, noting Zuko's evident weariness. His stamina training had done wonders for the teenager, but Ryuichi silently believed that an inevitable quarrel with Setsuya had taken a toll on the young one's mind. "I'll take the heat for this one, Zuko," he'd told the boy, although now he wasn't sure how he was going to conduct the situation without being hated by either Setsuya or Zuko… or both. The gong startled them both out of their thoughts. Ryuichi made sure the younger drank enough water before hoisting him up to his feet with a sigh. "I know you're tired, but so are the other competitors. You can surrender any time you want, alright?"

"That'll never happen," the teenager assured him, wincing as his legs pounded with the sudden weight distributed upon them. "I'll be bleeding every which way before I give up now."

Ryuichi escorted his student to the field once more, trying not to worry as his student limped for the first few steps. Zuko practiced his breathing and focused on his remaining strength, missing the pinnacle of the sun's warmth as it slowly began to descend along the sky. A sudden pain wrenched through his stomach, causing him to stiffen and wrap his arms tightly around his abdomen with a groan. "Ryu? I-I don't feel well." Nearly at the gate, the vampire froze, trying to coax the boy to look him in the eye.

"What do you mean? Are you alright? Do you want to stop?" Questions poured out of Ryuichi as he examined the boy, whose dulling eyes made the vampire nearly faint with anxiety. "We can stop! I have no problem telling the referee we're leaving. It's just a contest, Zuko. Just a silly little-"

"Nerves, just nerves," Zuko remedied, clutching at his stomach with a grimace. "I just have a bad feeling about this one."

"Well, I wonder why," Ryuichi murmured as they reached their end of the field, gazing at his student's opponent warily. The younger followed his gaze, falling to rest upon his competitor- the same boy who'd approached him before the tournament began and made a rather uncouth attempt to intimidate him.

"Nevermind. I feel fine now." The teenager dismissed his uneasiness and strode toward his gate, trying to summon forth his strength as he reminded himself that the other was probably just as tired as he was. The moment their eyes made contact, his opponent's face adopted a satisfactory smirk that overtook his weariness. He seemed surprised 'pretty boy' had made it this far, but he was all the more willing to show Zuko just how out of his league he was. Their hands itched toward their blades as the crowd around them assembled, each nourishing a deep desire to prove themselves.

Zuko gripped the hilt of his sword and assessed his opponent's stance. They both seemed to be trained using the same philosophy- the best defense is a good offense. However, Zuko knew just by the glint in the other's eye that he was more aggressive than himself. Whether this influenced his overall performance had yet to be determined. Upon the sound of the gong, Zuko's heart leapt as they lunged toward one another. Their blades locked at the center of the field, accompanied by harsh vibrations running down their arms. "Didn't think you'd make it this far," the boy hissed in Zuko's ear.

"Just lucky, I guess," he lied. His arms shook as each struggled to break the tie. He could feel the sweat run down his neck and his heart clenched at the thought of losing to this unpleasant young man.

"Luck won't win you the tournament," came the harsh reply.

"It brought me closer by letting me fight you." Zuko finally swept his blade away and leapt back, wincing as the other's sword barely nicked his leg. Two points to him. The engaged in a furious battle, each pursuing an offensive strategy that pitted their strengths directly against one another- Zuko's speed, and the other's pure strength. Dodge, parry, lunge, parry, strike, duck… Zuko knew he'd met his strongest opponent when even his signature barrage of strikes from every direction was met each time with the familiar clash of steel. His competition struck fiercely, each time recovering to make sure that there were no visible openings for attack. Zuko resorted to watching the man's footwork, which was almost just as flawless. After two minutes had passed, he finally caught his chance when the other's wrist, weakened from continuous assaults, forced him to drop his arm to his side and allow for Zuko to sweep his feet from underneath him and make contact with his chest.

The other boy leapt to his feet, his face flushed with indignity; to have proceeded so far into the tournament only to be knocked down was considered to be quite embarrassing. Zuko dashed behind his opponent with the intent of ending the match, only to be blocked at the very last second by the furious young man. Their swords locked again, although this time another strategy was employed to break the tie- a swift kick to Zuko's chest. Unable to defend himself against the blow, he sputtered and coughed as his armor collapsed in and cut off his breath. The referee jumped in, calling his opponent out on illegal and unnecessary physical contact before prodding Zuko to go and see his coach. Ryuichi met him at the gate in an instant, helping the young man out of the constraining armor and observing the bruises afflicted to his chest.

"He knew just where to make an impact so the armor would cave in!" Ryuichi hissed, putting a chilly hand to his student's chest as the boy tried to calm down and catch his breath. "That bastard meant for it to happen."

"I'm okay!" Zuko gasped, nodding at the referee who signaled that it was time to continue the match if he so chose. "It was slowing me down anyway." He stripped off the rest of his armor as Ryuichi intertwined his fingers with worry.

"Zuko, you can't fight without your armor! That's what he wants. That kid has it out for you."

"I won't let him get the better of me!" the teenager insisted, brushing his hair out of his eyes and clasping Ryuichi's hand in his own. "I can do this."

The man's scarlet eyes stared anxiously at him from within his hooded form, cursing the stubbornness of the young one. Nevertheless, he nodded and wrapped his arms nervously around his own waist as he watched Zuko trudge back to the center of the field where his smirking opponent was waiting for him. "One more stunt like that, and he's out of here," the referee assured him, while Zuko waved the matter aside as though it was nothing.

I'll have to be more careful now. I'm ahead by five points, and I just have to maintain my score. They began to battling again, the crowd much more attentive to their movements now. One well aimed strike could cause Zuko to bleed all over the dirt beneath his feet. At least he'd gathered quite a few major characteristics of the other fighter- he was impulsive, aggressive, easily flustered, and a cheater. Zuko's arms began to shake as the repeated blows came faster and harder to block, unconsciously slipping into a defensive status.

He's not getting enough oxygen. His lungs may be damaged. Ryuichi ran a worried hand through his hair, watching his pupil grow weaker and weaker out on the field. Why was it that modern day teenagers felt the need to cheat? A fistfight was a fistfight and a sword tournament was a sword tournament! And Zuko certainly didn't belong in any fistfight with his stature. He had half a mind to corner Zuko's opponent after the match and explain to him why he was in the wrong… via his teeth.

Zuko struggled for breath, the ache in his chest only growing more unbearable. Never had it hurt like this, not even when he was on the brink of fainting after battling with Ryuichi. Two minutes left. He couldn't keep defending himself for long… A sharp pain in his torso confirmed this, as his opponent pulled away a sword tainted with his crimson blood. Five points to him. The crowd around them gasped and whispered, although Zuko didn't need to look down at his chest it to know the cut was shallow. Even so, blood began to soak through his clothing, causing his legs to quiver. His opponent looked almost proud of his red blade, continuing his assault while Zuko leapt back and defended himself with increasing weariness. This can't go on. The teenager's eye caught sight of a minor misstep in the other's footwork that caused his lips to curl into a smile. The other was become sloppy, prideful. Despite the ache of his chest and his struggle for breath, he launched a final frontal attack on his opponent and at the last moment, ducked beneath his sword, whirled behind the other, and shoved his blade against the flesh of the other's neck.

"Still think I'm lucky?" The sound of the gong gave the teenager the opportunity to remove his blade and ever-so-politely kick the other in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground with a curse. Zuko was over being nice for now. Staggering back to Ryuichi, the vampire panicked when the first words he heard out of the boy's mouth were, "Get me to the washroom." Leading him by the hand, Ryuichi brought Zuko to the closest facility and knelt next to the boy as the teenager proceeded to throw up in the foremost basin. Thankfully the room was empty, so the boy could continue vomiting up his guts in peace. Ryuichi combed back his hair with his fingers, using the other hand to soothe him, rubbing his shoulders tenderly. Between trying to catch his breath and throwing up what was left of his breakfast, the vampire had to feel sorry for the young man.

This is far too familiar… Kichirou.

"It's alright, it's alright." Ryuichi continued to pet the teenager's hair until he had calmed. The vampire took this time to examine cut on his chest. The blood flow had slowed, but it would need attention once they returned underground. He brought Zuko into his arms, allowing the younger to rest his head on his shoulder as he tried to ease his harsh breathing. "You know, I entered my first tournament two years after I started working with swords," he whispered to the boy, rubbing his back gently. "It's not easy teaching yourself, but I'm sure you already appreciate that. I learned how to make swords in my mortal life- I was an apprentice to a blacksmith since I was ten. I spent eight years making swords, but I didn't start using them until I was well into my second life as a vampire." He smiled as Zuko's breathing evened out. "Most of the vampires think I only attended one tournament, because it was the only one Setsuya found out about and disciplined me for. I've actually been to eighty-three and I've participated in around sixty."

"Sixty?" came a weary voice, as Zuko's eyes fluttered shut in exhaustion.

"I've been training with swords for fifty years. Not to mention that I can sneak around much better than any other vampires in the population. I'll give you my secrets later on." Ryuichi chuckled. His voice was gentle, soothing, understanding. "My first tournament was a complete disaster. I hadn't realized how much else was involved other than swinging a sword. I lucked out during my first match and was utterly destroyed in my second. I was humiliated, but I didn't give up. I just had to spend more time watching others and understanding the importance of strategy. For a long time I thought that no single vampire, let alone a human, could amount up to my ability to adapt, to fight, to assess another person based on the way they walked or held their sword. Today, you proved me wrong."

Zuko sat silently in Ryuichi's arms for a few minutes, absorbing the strength that the other lent him. Finally, he pulled himself up and trudged to the sink, washing away the sweat of his face and rinsing out his mouth. Turning back to Ryuichi, he whispered, "I'm ready to go home."

The vampire nodded, wrapping an arm around the teenager's shoulders and guiding him back to the main field. After signaling the referee that they forfeited their place in the tournament, he gathered up the rest of their belongings and led a silent Zuko back to the underground entrance. It was strange- the teenager didn't seem proud of his accomplishment or even relieved that the tournament was over. He simply walked in silence, more empty than meditative.Ryuichi kept him close by, directing him to his room while taking the route that would avoid the most speculators. Setsuya would be knocking at his door soon, following the scent of Zuko's blood, but the vampire lord was less important than administering aid to the young human.

Stripping him of his shirt and gently pushing him back onto the bed, Ryuichi began by cleaning Zuko's chest of blood, trying to ignore the annoying buzz in his head telling him to sample the blood himself. He was relieved to find that the wound was shallow, but it had slashed the boy's chest from his left pectoral to his right hip. The teenager shuddered as Ryuichi's cold hands administered an alcoholic cleanser (Ryuichi kept these things close by now that Zuko hung around), his eyes focused on the vampire's scarlet irises to ignore the sting. "There… That's not so bad." Ryuichi's nose twitched and Zuko inclined his head slightly; they could each sense Setsuya, already lingering outside of Ryuichi's door.

Sensing the other's immediate concern, he attended to his soul mate's nerves by assuring him, I'm alright. Give me a moment and I'll come speak with you. He was almost certain that Setsuya had taken a peek into his visual range, although he wasn't sure what the vampire lord must have gathered from seeing Ryuichi rub his hands across his chest in such a manner. "It's stopped bleeding, Ryu. Let me go see Setsuya before you bandage it up. He's a nervous wreck."

"No. I'm going to speak to him alone," Ryuichi said firmly, pushing the shaking teen back onto the bed. "Just relax. You've been through enough already without him giving you any stress." He left the teenager in the room alone as he went outside to speak to Setsuya, while Zuko strained to hear what was transpiring between the two. He knew he shouldn't but… He closed his eyes and tuned into Setsuya's mind, which didn't seem to notice his intrusion. The words, blurry at first, became clear to him in a manner of moments.

"…not that big of a deal, Setsuya. I told him you said it was okay because I knew how much he wanted to compete."

Ryuichi was lying for him?

"He's in there bleeding and you're asking me not to be upset? I haven't seen him for four days, and then when I try to find him, I can't! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"It was time to test his strength. He's been battling me for ages, and he wanted to stretch his wings. It's not fair for you to try and stifle him like you've been doing."

Zuko felt like a child, being talked about like this.

"Stifle him? I'm protecting him!"

"You've been through this with him, Setsuya. If there's anything Zuko hates, it's being treated like he can't handle himself. You need to respect him and start being a proper lover, not his father."

"What do you know about being a lover? Besides, look at his father. It's no wonder he feels the need for attention."

Zuko's heart clenched in his chest, and his body began to quiver.

"Attention? Are you serious?"

"I love him, Ryuichi. You want him to like you; I want him to be alive by the end of the day."

"I care about him just as much as you do!"

"Then stop undermining me for once and start respecting my judgment."

"That's all you can do, isn't it? Judge? Maybe if you'd taken the time to ask him what swordsmanship means to him you'd understand! It's more than just a stupid sport we practice to pass the time!"

"You're overlooking the point. There is a madman out there who would love to get his hands on Zuko and blackmail me into doing whatever he wanted. And I would do anything, you know I would! If you would just stop thinking about yourself-"

"I'm thinking of Zuko and I'm the only one who is! He's safe with me, and I never left his side for a moment. This is about earning his favor, isn't it? You're afraid he likes me more than he likes you!"

"That's ridiculous! Earning Zuko's love has never been a contest."

"I wouldn't blame him if he did favor me. You can't seem to let the reigns go for just a moment. He was content today. Sure he was hurt, but he needed that! He needed to feel that blood, to remind himself that he's still a human being. All around him are people who try to shut him up in a closet and prevent him from feeling alive. Haven't you learned about love yet? Let him be himself! Protection can only be your excuse for so long, Setsuya. You're obsessed!"

Silence followed this, but Zuko couldn't bear to stick around and hear if Setsuya responded. He returned into his own mind and huddled next to the wall lining Ryuichi's bed. He began to cry, tears turning into sobs as he held his chest protectively. He heard the door open and he tried to calm his composure, sitting up and taking a deep breath. The chilly touch of not Setsuya, but Ryuichi cupped his face and tilted his chin gently.

"Zuko? Zuko, please don't cry." He must have listened in on us. "I'm sorry to have spoken to him like that. He needs to understand once and for all his limits on controlling you. He's gone back to his study, so you can go back to your room in peace. He won't bother you, not until you're ready to see him." The teenager caught his breath as the vampire brushed away his tears with his thumb. "Silly boy. You're smearing your makeup." Zuko smiled weakly as Ryuichi washed away the remnants of his cosmetic experimentation on the boy.

"Ryu… Do you think he really loves me?"

The question caught the vampire off guard, as he stared into the deep golden eyes that threatened to shed tears once again. "Zuko, I-" They were soul mates. Shouldn't Zuko already know the answer to that question? Ryuichi soon realized that his conversation with Setsuya had enforced his forgotten goal of instilling doubt in Zuko's heart. Just like a good little puppet. "I don't know, Zuko. No one has ever loved me in such a way. I wouldn't understand it, let alone recognize it." Watching tears stream down the other's face a second time was too much. He'd brought this strong, confident boy to pieces. Unable to bear the guilt of his crimes, Ryuichi reached forward and cupped his face tenderly. "It's alright, Zuko. Setsuya treats you well, more so than many other men could. It's hard to find a committed partner when you're like… like us." The teenager nodded, sighing as Ryuichi combed his fingers affectionately through his hair. The vampire's heart clenched as an idea came to him, one that truly proved he was an apprentice of Ravindra. Zuko doesn't know that I've figured out they're soul mates. "Zuko, have you ever been with a man other than Setsuya?"

"N-No, I suppose I haven't," the teenager admitted after a moment's hesitation. I just sort of feel like we… belong together." A bit of an understatement, to be sure.

Hallow laughter erupted from Ryuichi as he said, "That's what everyone thinks about their first love, Zuko. Naturally, I think you two are a good couple. But one of the first pieces of advice an older man gives to another is to explore. Push past your boundaries, assess your options. Think of it this way; you may never truly appreciate Setsuya until you've been with someone you don't feel that same connection with." His comforting hand trailed down Zuko's back as he spoke, coming to rest at the teenager's thigh.

Zuko was silent for a while, reflecting on the words. There was no doubt that Setsuya was his soul mate, if such a thing existed. All of the strange events that bonded them had confirmed this. Still... "I've never had a relationship before, Ryu. I have no idea how this is supposed to work. It just seems like the circumstances are suffocating us, you know? If things weren't as hectic and constraining as they are-" He sighed, leaning into Ryuichi's body as he relished the welcoming cool embrace.

"It's no wonder he feels the need for attention."

"You want him to like you; I want him to be alive by the end of the day."

"There is a madman out there who would love to get his hands on Zuko and blackmail me into doing whatever he wanted."

"Just take some time alone to think over what it is that you really want out of all of this. Don't be afraid to talk to Setsuya, okay? He's an excellent listener. And you can always come to me, Zuko. No matter what." Ryuichi tilted the teenager's chin and tenderly pressed his lips against the younger's. It was an innocent gesture, and Zuko made nothing of it as the vampire continued wrapping up his student's wound. Ryuichi, however, was left shaking as he continued to bandage up the other. Kissing… Ryuichi tried not to kiss. He could have sex on a whim, but kissing was far too intimate for him. Should his heart have been functioning, it would have pounded in his chest. What did this mean for him? It took a lot more from other vampires to instill such a reaction in him. And yet, a single kiss from this teenager made him tremble like a love-stricken schoolgirl.

Meanwhile, Zuko was caught up in his own dilemma. How was he going to smooth things over with Setsuya? How was he going to explain himself? Perhaps he just needed a little time to think. Thanking Ryuichi for everything, he rose and trudged mindlessly back to his own room. Before Zuko knew it, he was poised in front of his canvas with a surprisingly steady hand, holding a paintbrush. He cursed his body for putting him in such a position. The last thing he needed was to dwell on Setsuya. Slowly he found therapy in painting and his mind drifted not to the troubles haunting his mind, but to the beauty of his art, not to mention his model. Although he missed Setsuya's stories while he worked, he managed to complete the rest of the background in two hours without a sound escaping his lips.

When his brush hovered over Setsuya's unfinished form however, his hand shook and his heart clenched in his chest. Setsuya. It was a sword tournament. A stupid sword tournament. He'd take it back if it meant never putting additional strain on their relationship. His weariness finally got the better of him, and he rounded his canvas to retreat to his bed. The sight that met his eyes only forced him to drop his paintbrush and exhale sharply. Seated before him was his soul mate, lingering on the bedding that had been empty only a moment ago. He was patiently waiting for acknowledgement. "Setsuya! I-I didn't hear you come in."

The vampire tilted his head in confusion for a moment, and then let out a soft sigh of understanding. "You called out to me. Unconsciously, perhaps?" The teenager nodded, following Setsuya's fixed gaze to his half-open tunic, sporting the bloody bandages from his wound.

Damn. Must've opened up while I was painting.

"Have you eaten today?" Setsuya asked calmly, although there was a strange edge to his voice. "I'll call for supper."

"I'm not hungry." Zuko winced at the very thought of food and the mild indifference in his own voice. He inched forward as though afraid to be scolded, and Setsuya offered his hand out to the boy without the slight smile that normally graced his lips. The teenager allowed himself to be pulled onto the bed, and Setsuya barely grazed his hand over the other's chest. Zuko closed his eyes and opened them reluctantly, realizing that, judging by the look on Setsuya's face, this was about more than just dismissing the vampire lord's will.

"I had a lot of time to consider all of this, Zuko, and… You could have talked to me," Setsuya whispered, sounding almost betrayed. "If you told me how much this tournament meant to you, if you'd have helped me understand, I wouldn't have had any trouble with you going. I could have stationed a few guards around area, although I'm sure Ryuichi is competent enough to look after you. I just wish that you'd come to me before you left. Am I truly so unreasonable that you feel you can't approach me?"

Zuko's heart almost broke at these words. When you say it like that, I feel like an idiot. "You'd already told Ryuichi that I couldn't go. I thought maybe I could leave and be back before you noticed."

"You thought I wouldn't miss your presence?" Setsuya sighed, his eyes fixed on the blood tainting his mate's chest. However, his eyes were saddened rather than lustful. "Zuko, I don't want to be a parent to you. I'm sorry if I'm protective, but Ravindra is dangerous. Why are you putting yourself at risk so readily? Is it my fault? Am I suppressing you so much that you have to pull stunts like this?"

Zuko blinked back the tears in his eyes, although he was certain Setsuya could feel his emotions pouring through, as he surely did not have the strength to stop them. "I'm sorry. I was given an opportunity that I've always wanted. One to hone my skills and empower myself with the strength many people were convinced I didn't have." He sighed, and turned away from his soul mate. "When I was born, my family thought I was going to die. I had a weak internal organ system, and my lungs didn't function properly. I survived, but I grew up with a body unfit for the royal art of firebending. I was thin, deep breathing was nearly impossible for me, and I lacked the muscular capacity and willpower to control fire. I thought myself to be practically worthless until I was introduced to an art that didn't require a particularly well-built frame, and counted on speed and strategy rather than tossing around a few fireballs at timely intervals. Swordsmanship meant self-respect for me, and it still does. And now… other people respect me too, even though I'm not exactly the cream of the crop. I've failed at a lot of things but this, this is different."

Setsuya wrapped his arms around his soul mate and embraced him gently, whispering, "That's all I needed to hear. You can go to a million tournaments. Just warn me first, okay?"

"I'm not doing this just to hurt you." Zuko shuddered, leaning into the other's caress.

"I know." I should really listen to Ryuichi more. Setsuya spoke only after a minute had passed, a minute that tore apart Zuko from the inside out. "Zuko, do you love me because you feel as though you have to?"

It was an interesting question. Sure, the protectiveness was borderline insanity and his coldness was sometimes overbearing. But underneath all of that was a gentle, affectionate soul. A natural born leader, and a rationalist with a heart of great capacity. Setsuya had a lifetime's worth of experience, and it enhanced his maturity to a high degree, unbefitting of a teenager's lover. Zuko had never truly been attached to his age group anyway. They were all just starting to realize how to manipulate each other. Setsuya tried to control, but not manipulate. It may feel that way at times, but it was simply his protective instincts. "I love you, Setsuya. When I look at you, I see someone who is willing to lay down his life to protect the virtues that should be adopted by all of humanity, first and foremost acceptance. You're the only man I've ever met who devoted his life to creating a world without prejudice, without reason to rage war. By the looks of it, you've done good job." Before Zuko could blink, he found Setsuya's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, allowing to relax into his counterpart's body as he was held.

"You have an interesting way with words," the vampire lord whispered, his heart warmed as he felt their bond strengthen through their communication. "You don't tell me very much about yourself so openly."

"You know that I like listening to you much better than hearing myself talk." Zuko received a gentle kiss before pulling away. Ryuichi was wrong, he must have been wrong. He was certain that he belonged with Setsuya. He just needed to feel their bond strengthen once again, to remember everything it was he loved about Setsuya. He didn't need any more reassurance that this was what he wanted. "You've been locked in your office for how long… Four days? I deserve an explanation, don't you agree?" He smiled at the weary man, stripping him of his shirt and prodding him to lie down so that his exposed back was prepared for a massage. The vampire let out a deep moan as affectionate fingers kneaded and warmed his skin.

"Been busy. Have new information." Setsuya inclined his head, trying to suppress his satisfaction as Zuko straddled his hips in a rather enthusiastic way.

"Information? About what?' Zuko let out a swoosh of breath as he rubbed the older man's back, frowning in concentration at the knots embedded in his cold muscles.

"Ravindra's not only hunting people. He's recruiting them. We were informed by a woman Ravindra left for dead after taking her blood. He left her body in the woods to taunt us, thinking she wouldn't become a vampire. She's confused, and she's giving us information by the lungful because she thinks I'm under Ravindra's command. That makes four he's abandoned and an unknown amount that have joined him."

The teenager's hands and heart froze, as his mind flipped through what he'd learned from Ryuichi that day. So it's true. He's building an army.

Setsuya noted his unease and touched his mind, not at all shocked to find that Zuko knew the story of Ravindra's birth into the civilization and his downfall. "Ah, Ryuichi must have told you. He's a collector of information, unfortunately. Working as my assistant is like being in the center of the gossip circle." Zuko chuckled, continuing his massage only after 'stretching', leaning intentionally forward to brush their bodies together. "Don't be scared by what you hear. Wary, but not scared. You've nothing to fear while you're surrounded by us."

Me? What about you? The vampires? The human race? My family…? "How long do you think it's going to take to pinpoint his location?"

"The problem won't be identifying his location; it will be reaching him." Setsuya let out a sigh, his fingers tightening around the sheets as Zuko eased his physical stress. He nudged the teenager gently, urging him to the side as he sat up and reached under the bed only to emerge with fresh bandages and an antibiotic salve. Carefully stripping the other's stained dressings aside, he used his fingers to run the moderately thick salve across the wound on the boy's chest. There was silence for a while, and Zuko could sense that the vampire was curious about the injury. Testing his ability to share his memories, he proded his mate's mind to share the events of the tournament with him as concisely as he could. He tried to leave out the vomiting bit, but it slipped through as well. Setsuya continued cleaning Zuko's chest as the memories flashed through his mind within a mere few minutes, his expression never clearly changing to express his thoughts. "You could have competed in the semifinals, but you came back." Setsuya's voice was soft and inquisitive, as he snuck a kiss on the other's cheek. Still, Setsuya eyed the bandages once more in distaste before pulling Zuko's tunic back over his shoulders.

"As difficult as it is to imagine, I know when I reach my limits." Zuko smiled, noting how relieved Setsuya was when he mentioned this. "I met a lot of people passionate about the art, and I was glad for the opportunity to-"

"Zuko? Zuko?" The teenager was frozen, his eyes wide with shock as he jerked out of the vampire's grasp and edged away from the man toward the center of the room. Setsuya frowned, confused by this sudden rejection but remaining in his position as not to frighten the younger. "What's the matter?"

"N-Nothing." Zuko looked incredibly uncomfortable, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he tried to contain his anxiety. The vampire studied his expression for a moment, before realizing what must have happened: there had been an exchange of memories between the two, and Zuko saw something that troubled him.Well, that could be any memory of his. He had thousands. He's frightened, he thought as he read his soul mate's emotions carefully. The process is becoming too supernatural for him. "What did you see?" he asked quietly, feeling his heart sink into his stomach as Zuko shook his head, pressing a hand against his mouth and shutting his eyes. Reaching forward, Setsuya clasped his hand in his soul mate's and pulled him back onto the bed. "I'm sorry, Zuko," he said, wrapping an arm around the waist of his companion. "As long as we share our passions, we share our burdens. Please, don't shut me out now."

Zuko took a shaky breath, drawing his arms around his waist. "I know, I know, I know," he mumbled vacantly, trying to suppress the vision in his mind. "I saw you and M- … you- you're keeper." The silence that followed confirmed Setsuya's suspicions, and he tried with difficulty to meet the younger's eyes. There was a certain amount of humiliation that came from his soul mate witnessing his rape.

"How long have you been seeing visions like these?" the vampire asked with fear. If he's been witnessing memories ever since I began sharing my past with him-

"A month or so. Mostly during my sleep and meditation."

Setsuya's heart dropped like a stone in his chest. "What else have you seen?" He kept his voice calm only out of practice. He could have seen anything, anything.

"Mostly one's dealing with your keeper. A few with Kuzon, ones of him drawing." Sensing Setsuya's unrivaled embarrassment, Zuko surrendered to his inner instincts, urging him to take control of his emotions and be a stronghold for the other. He stepped forward and embraced the man. "I'm sorry, Setsuya. They appeared in my dreams and I wasn't sure how to stop them."

"Don't be ridiculous," Setsuya whispered faintly, warmed by his soul mate's touch running up and down his arm. "You've done nothing wrong. I'm just… Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why didn't you ask me about it?"

"I didn't want to bother you with it." Noting the slight expectancy in the other's gaze, he sighed and explained, "In the end, they're just memories. They weren't all bad! I really came to understand how you and Kuzon came to be what you were. There was a certain magnetism that drew the both of you together, and it exists between you and me now. It's not fair for you to have carried these burdens by yourself for so long. I wasn't here for you, not for over one hundred years. The least I can do is hold up my end of the bond."

The vampire kissed his young companion gently, stroking his hair and whispering, "I wish that I could tell you that you could stop this any time you wanted to. I wish that I could say that there are no strings attached."

"I'm not like that. I wouldn't leave on a whim."

Hearing these words sent warm waves throughout Setsuya's body. I just want you to be safe. I don't mean to control you.

I know.

Setsuya's lips parted in amazement, as he pondered Zuko's adaptation to their bond. The teenager's gold eyes glistened as the vampire cupped his face and kissed the younger. Zuko moaned unintentionally as a tongue darted into his mouth, playfully engaging the other. Pulling away, Setsuya stifled an amused laugh as he rested his hands on the boy's thighs. Zuko flushed red as the vampire's thumbs ran along his clothed flesh, and was suddenly aware of how unpleasantly sweaty he was. "I should bathe," Zuko murmured, feeling the body chuckle against his own. He tried to push the vampire away from him, but Setsuya's entrapped his hands in his own and planted another kiss on his mate's lips.

"Come now, I just changed your bandages. Stay with me." Their fingers intertwined, but Zuko slipped away and slid behind his abandoned canvas with a mischievous smile.

"We were interrupted last time. Do you have time for me?"

"Time is never a question when it comes to you." Setsuya stripped his robes away, leaving his traditional black slacks and silk violet shirt. As he reclined into his pose, the vampire fluttered his eyelashes a bit at the teenager, whose cheeks turned red. He cursed Setsuya's ability to send shivers up his spine with a mere wink. Minutes passed as Zuko painted away, his eyes continually scanning Setsuya and returning back to his canvas.

After a few silent minutes without any intention of becoming any livelier, Zuko spoke. "Haven't you any stories left, Setsuya? I don't like to work in silence." The words behind the words spoke, 'Don't let the nightmares put a halt to our connection.'

Setsuya nodded reluctantly, and his eyes flickered upward. "Let's see... Art school. We made the summer last as long as we could, but it all came to an end once Kuzon had to move to the university. I'd taken a summer seminar with my philosophy mentor, a class that focused on the notions of death, impermanence, and reincarnation. It was offered outside of the curriculum because the administrators considered the material too controversial. Naturally, it was all I ever loved talking about."

"And what is your stance on death?" Zuko asked absently, immediately throwing his hand over his mouth apologetically.

"It's alright," Setsuya assured him, although the topic was obviously touchy with him. "Before I met Kuzon, I believed that life ended completely at death; I believed that everything had an end, and that everything that reached death was converted into the energy surrounding our world, making up the spiritual power that others utilize in their bending. As my relationship with Kuzon developed over the summer, I came to understand the parallel between us and the theory of soul mates introduced to me by my mentor. Kuzon and I both knew that something about us wasn't… normal. We were more in tune with each other's thoughts and emotions than most couples, and we often dreamt of the same things even when we were miles apart.

"The night before he left for college, I resolved to tell Kuzon what I thought of our relationship. He thought philosophy was a bunch of nonsense, but he tried to respect it when I brought it up for consideration. It wouldn't change the way we felt about each other, but it would clear up a few things that couldn't be ignored."

"Kuzon?" Setsuya asked nervously, his stomach twisting into knots upon knots. He held a small pile of scrolls and books to his chest, standing in the doorway of his lover's elaborate study as he heaved a sigh. This was it. All or nothing.

"Setsuya! I thought you had class tonight." Kuzon set down his pen, delighted as he rose from his seat to greet the other.

"I do."

Immediately Kuzon's face fell as he stared into the somber eyes of the other. Setsuya never missed a class, never. "What's the matter, love?" The younger teenager forced a smile onto his face, and urged Kuzon over to the sofa beneath a dully lit chandelier. Kuzon immediately sensed the fear in his counterpart and wrapped an arm around the anxious man.

"Kuzon… I have a theory. About all of the strange things that have been happening to us." Ordinarily, the older teenager would have objected that there was anything 'strange' going on, but it would have been incredibly foolish of him to continue claiming that their coinciding dreams had to do with a combination of sex and midnight snacking. Kuzon nodded, struggling to maintain an open mind as Setsuya drew forth a book of eastern philosophy from his collection. "I talked it over with my mentor, and he encouraged me to do my own research." He flipped through the book and tapped his finger on a particular page. "You and I aren't just a good match for each other, Kuzon. We are the match. According to this author, each man and woman of this world has a soul mate. Not necessarily someone they are meant to be with, but someone whom they can share their spiritual energy and develop a unique bond with. Read it, you'll see."

Kuzon was wordless as he scanned the document in his lap, staring at the book for an abnormally long time. Setsuya, meanwhile, was silently shaking.

"Okay," Kuzon murmured, as he finished the section with a frown etched across his face. "I get the gist of it. We share our emotions, our thoughts overlap, we share dreams, and our arguing often brings us closer together. These things are all very, very true." Setsuya looked up hopefully at his lover, only to be crushed by his next words. "And you should know that I couldn't care less about all of this." The teenager looked shocked, almost angry before Kuzon interrupted him. "I already know what we have is special, Setsuya. I don't need this book to tell me that there is no one better for me in this entire world than you. This isn't just a little summer fling. Our friendship is never seasonal, and neither is our love. Having an explanation for all of this, however, can help me rest a little easier at night."

Setsuya sighed, nestling into his lover's neck with newfound relief. His mind was put to rest as the other brought him in for a deep kiss. Soul mates or not, being in Kuzon's arms was the epitome of perfection.

Setsuya smiled when he saw that Zuko had unintentionally stopped painting, staring at the vampire with his lips slightly agape wearing the oddest expression on his face. "What? Didn't you know Kuzon was a romantic?"

"I…" Zuko blushed, picking up the paintbrush that had slipped from his hand. "I guess I'm just considering how much reincarnation had an effect on me, on us. I may not be Kuzon himself, but our personalities correlate well. We're both smug, stubborn, and autonomous."

"And you wonder why we get along so well!" Setsuya teased, his heart warmed by the other's mere acknowledgement of this. "It's important you understand this. But there's one quality that you do not share, and that is jealousy." Zuko glanced up from the canvas, the smile faded from his face. "Kuzon came to be abnormally jealous after our time apart," Setsuya explained, letting out an empathetic sigh. "He was perhaps as protective of me then as I am of you now."

"You mentioned that before. But who did he have to be jealous of? Certainly you weren't hanging all over other men in his absence." Zuko winked, reaching behind him for the blue paint and carefully edging it across his palette to meet red. With the background and foremost setting complete, the teenager was able to focus solely on Setsuya's figure. It was nerve-wracking, painting his soul mate. Surely he'd done more than enough sketches to prepare…

"He was going through an 'I'm-not-good-enough-for-Setsuya' phase. Agni knows what put that notion into his head… I think it was our separation. Kuzon and I had only three months to solidify our relationship by means of intimacy and devotion. Our bond was put under strain by restrictions of time and togetherness. When Kuzon left for college, he promised to visit me every weekend. Every weekend turned into every other weekend, and every other weekend turned into once a month. Soon enough, he barely had time to write me letters. His parents would only pay for his education as long as his marks were satisfactory, and Kuzon struggled terribly with economics to begin with. If his parents stopped supporting him, he would have to come home and he would be unable to complete his undisclosed art education as well."

"So he was caught between his parents, his art, and the person he loved." Zuko inclined his head, his fingers slipping down to the near end of the brush as he came to edge of Setsuya's shirt and his slacks.

"That's right. Three years, that's all it would take for him to get his degree. Meanwhile, we were both going completely mad. We were split up too fast, and for too long. Our bond was lacking in structure for an elongated separation, and I couldn't even keep up with my coursework anymore. I was so immersed in what was going on between us, so worried about Kuzon's parents somehow finding out… The things and people that I loved around me were slipping away."

"… and the core elements supporting Daisuke's most recent writings make up the fundamental theory of the impermeable spirit. So, his philosophy takes Horoshi's a step further. As neither you nor I can recall our past lives, it is a notion heavily under criticism. However, those who are enlightened through meditation and transcendence gain not the memories of their past lives, but the wisdom and strength. Upon death, these virtues can be reawakened in one's reincarnated form. Now, connect it to our society today. Would you, Setsuya?"

The teenager jumped in his seat, a bright red flush tainting his cheeks. He glanced quickly down at his notes, consisting of a few miscellaneous scribbles and multiple copies of Kuzon's name in elegant cursive. It wasn't often he was caught off-guard in class, and the staring of his peers was driving him to the edge of his nerves. "Um… May I use the washroom, sir?" he asked meekly, rescued as the school gong rung in the distance. The students all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, all except Setsuya.

"Alright. Please re-read Daisuke's 'Edge of Humanity'. Keep in mind the concept of evil as you reach the last few chapters, and we'll review it the next time we meet. Setsuya, I'd like you to stay after class for a moment."

Setsuya's eyes turned downcast as he nodded and slunk back into his seat. The classroom gradually emptied, and the teenager was left sitting quietly across from his philosophy teacher. The chocolate-haired instructor leaned against his desk, inclining his head in hopes of catching a glance into his student's eyes. "I don't mean to intrude, Setsuya, but I'm concerned for you." His normally lively voice had taken a softer tone, as the teenager refused to look up at him. "We've been discussing your favorite topic for a few weeks now, but you've hardly glanced up from your notebook. You know that you can tell me anything. I've agreed to be your mentor, and I'll always be here for you."

Setsuya finally met the man's gaze, twisting his fingers in his lap. "I-It's Kuzon, sir." His mentor's eyes widened and he stepped forward, kneeling next to the young man. Other than Setsuya's parents, he was the only one who knew about their relationship. "Ever since Kuzon left, I can't seem to focus on anything. My thoughts, my dreams, my meditation… It all dwells on him."

"I understand. He probably feels the same way." The man smiled, resting a hand on the younger's shoulder. "Your bonding process was cut short, and you're experiencing… relapses."

Setsuya chuckled dully, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Sounds more like a drug than a relationship. So this is normal?"

His teacher nodded. "Has Kuzon been visiting you regularly?" Setsuya's silence was enough for him to interpret his answer. "I would recommend going to visit him yourself. Maybe your parents wouldn't mind an extended stay? You need to spend more time with him and reinforce your affection and trust." He embraced the teenager, who practically melted in his arms with a deep sigh. "I promise you, Setsuya. You're not alone."

"But I didn't listen to him," the vampire lord said, his eyes glazed and unfocused on the wall behind Zuko. "I was so afraid that Kuzon would be too immersed in work; I was afraid that he would be angered by my need for attention. Little did I know that he needed the communication even more than I did… My teacher was my confidant. As secure in my love for Kuzon as I was, I was still human. I needed companionship, someone who was compassionate. My mentor and I met after class almost everyday. When Kuzon finally came down to the mainland and heard rumors that I was spending late nights with my philosophy teacher and often came out of the classroom looking more at ease, he suspected that I was letting my philosophy teacher compensate for his absence."

"He thought you were…?"

"Cheating," Setsuya affirmed, as Zuko's expression turned to pure horror. "He was under too much pressure in the university, and he even was taking prescribed herbal medication to keep him calm and help him sleep. Our bond was susceptible to insecurity, and this lit the fuse."

"But you two settled it, right? I mean, Kuzon got his sense knocked back into him?" His expression was terrified. Setsuya, cheating with a teacher? Even with someone who was 'tall, dark, handsome, and fresh out of the university'… Still, the thought of it was strangely exciting. Now, that was drama.

"By the end of the fight, several vases were broken alongside a fresh hole in the wall. I was left sobbing on my bed, begging for Kuzon leave me alone. He was nursing a bloody nose, if I do remember correctly. I believe my mother took him aside and yelled at him for a bit, while my father tried to calm me down." Setsuya sighed, taking a timeout to rub the bridge of his nose. "All of the strained emotions we felt took a toll on us. It wasn't something that could have been avoided, I suppose."

"That must have been the worst feeling for you, being accused of something like that."

"By the time dawn passed us by, everything had been more-or-less straightened out. I pleaded with Kuzon to forget about the university his parents had enrolled him in. My own parents even offered to support his art school tuition and let him move in with us! But understandably, Kuzon felt a loyalty to his family that couldn't be easily disregarded." Setsuya looked away, his violet eyes dulled with sadness. "Things went downhill from there."

Zuko felt his heart tear upon seeing the look in Setsuya's eyes; the vampire didn't often have trouble speaking of his past. "I've bothered you enough for today," he said abruptly, setting down his paintbrush. "I'm a bit tired myself."

Setsuya nodded, lifting the covers of the bed up and slipping beneath them. Zuko smiled as the vampire gestured toward the spot next to him invitingly. The teenager stripped off his shirt and edged beside the man, grateful that the vampire was taking vital time off simply to be with him. Frosty arms wrapped around his figure and Zuko nestled into the man's embrace. Everything is going to be okay, they assured themselves. Nevertheless, they shared the nagging feeling that the worst was yet to come.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"You're positively wonderful!" Ravindra cried, lifting Ryuichi by the waist and twirling him around in the air. Ryuichi tried not to shudder. Ravindra was the sort of vampire that you wish would grace you with physical contact, and then you end up regretting your wish because it felt dirty and superficial. The two conversed alone Ravindra's central office, although Ryuichi could think of a thousand places he would rather be. Perhaps a thousand and two. "Khai told me everything. He said that the argument could have been heard five corridors away! Oh, you're magnificent. Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Ravindra winked, and Ryuichi didn't respond, noting the affectionate hands running up and down his form. Love? This was love? He'd hate to know slavery. "How did Zuko respond, my dear?"

"I could see it in his eyes… He's beginning to doubt. He knows that I'll be there for him in ways that Setsuya can't. Next time he needs someone to turn to, I have a feeling he'll come straight to me."

"Excellent, excellent. I want you to make a more decisive move after their next quarrel. Instigate it yourself, if you must."

"I don't understand. As confident in our plan as we are, Zuko and Setsuya are still soul mates."

"Leave it to destiny, Ryuichi. Leave it to destiny."