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.

14. To Give

"Khai…" The boy's mother sighed, glaring down at her teenage son with nothing less than hopelessness in her eyes. "You can't keep acting out like this. I know you miss your father, but-"

"This has nothing to do with Dad," Khai said with bitterness, his arms crossed at his chest as he sat on the couch with his eyes fixated on the ceiling. It was her fault his father left, her fault. She couldn't do anything right. Yelling, screaming, bitching. That's all she could do, and now Dad was gone. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk about it."

"I won't walk away from this, Khai. Starting arguments-"

"It's only because they act so damn superior! You wouldn't understand, you don't hear the way they talk to us!"

"They are your teachers! Although I can't imagine that you treat them with any less respect than you do me."

"You're just like them! You think you know what's best for me, but you don't! You have no idea!" He leapt to the floor and dashed out of the house, cursing his mother and the tears running down his face. It wasn't fair. He deserved a father just like all of the other children. He was sick of living in that shit hole of a house. He was sick of being treated condescendingly. He was sick of not being given a chance to prove his worth.

Khai made it the river where he felt almost at peace and sat against the rugged bark of the forest trees. He tried to wish away his tears, he tried to be strong. He was the man of his household now. Even so, it didn't stop that terrible void in his heart from consuming him. He drew his silver pocket watch from the tunic and held it close to his cheek- the last thing he had to remind him of his father. He let out a soft sob, brushing away his tears with trembling hands.

"It wasn't your fault, Khai." The teenager jumped, shocked as a pair of hands pinned his body to the tree with one on either side of his torso. Brown eyes met black, and Khai felt his heart calm. There was a certain presence about this man, one that was comforting and reassuring. Like a father ought to be. Freezing hands rose, cupping the boy's face with a whisper, "I've been watching you for a while. You're not like the other children, are you? You understand that there's something wrong, something disgusting about humanity. Maybe you can't describe it, maybe you're not even sure what it is." Khai was entranced, hanging onto every word that the man said in that smooth, sultry voice. "What if I told you that you didn't have to be a part of it anymore? What if I told you that I could give you the chance for the power and prosperity you deserve?"

"How?" Khai demanded, his lips parting in surprise as the man bore his incisors with a tempting smile.

"Trust me."

Khai tucked his legs against his chest as someone approached his enclosed cell, sitting up against the back wall and keeping his gaze fixed on the rough stone floor beneath him. It was the only area of the underground society that was paved in stone, in order to prevent prisoners from tunneling out. He tugged at the chains clasped around his wrists, though (amazingly) they didn't become any looser. A click came from the barred door as the guard unlocked it and whispered words of warning to his visitor. Khai inhaled deeply, as his lust was denied the blood he was so used to consuming at will, making his normal mentality almost impossible to attain. He could smell Zuko's blood in the corridors above, and it was driving him crazy.

The door opened and Ryuichi stepped into the room, his expression stern and expectant. Though upon beholding the young vampire's expression of fear, his face softened into one of sympathy. "I'm sorry, Khai. I hadn't realized…" He walked forward and knelt across from the young man, tilting his chin upward so he could look into his eyes. "I talked to Ravindra. He blames himself for discarding the woman's body so carelessly. His desire to taunt Setsuya backfired."

"So… he isn't angry with me?" Khai asked carefully, trying not to sound too concerned. No one wanted to deal with an angry Ravindra.

"No, of course not. Presuming you don't let any information slip." Ryuichi reached into his pocket and pulled out Khai's watch, noting the teenager eyes turn desperate. "I stole this back from the inventory. I know how much you rely on it." He offered it to the younger man, who snatched it out of his hand with a gasp.

"Th-thank you," Khai whispered, kissing the smooth silver surface with a sigh of relief. Ravindra would have taunted him before relinquishing the item; he wasn't used to this kindness. Nevertheless, his hands began to shake and his eyes grew fearful. "Ryuichi? Are they going to set fire to me?"

Ryuichi was startled by the younger's blatant display of fright, but he often forgot that as demanding and snobbish as Khai acted, he was only a child. He was thirteen years old, barely old enough to handle himself. Damn you, Ravindra, for poisoning him. "No, Khai. Just… give Setsuya something to work with." He let out a frustrated groan, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he struggled to come up with an adequate plan. "Alright. You are a peon, understand? The story you told when you first arrived here was true. Ravindra left you for dead, but found the perfect opportunity to use you as a spy when you reawakened among us. You were sworn to helping Ravindra because he promised to kill your remaining family if you didn't listen to him. You know only what you've been told by Ravindra's lackey that you met with in the middle of the night once every seven days. You provided them with information of the population's organization. Nothing about Zuko, understand? You never said a word about him."

"But Setsuya must know… He must know that I tried to take Zuko's blood!" Khai panicked, shaking his head and mumbling, "I'm so stupid, stupid!"

Ryuichi shook his head, taking the boy's hands and clasping them in his. "Yes, Setsuya does know. But you only tried to take Zuko's blood because you got hooked on humans and no other reason. You did everything you could to seduce him into letting you drain him dry." Ryuichi's voice was determined, drilling lies into the other's mind as though their lives depended on it… Quite frankly, their lives could have very well depended on it.

"I don't know if I can keep him fooled."

"Don't be afraid now. You can do this, Khai. If you make Setsuya believe that you're just a stupid kid, he'll let you out under a supervised eye. Work his compassion against him. If you can't, Ravindra will break you out. I can't risk helping you, but-" The man winced as a knock at the door sounded.

"You alright in there, Ryuichi?"

"Just screwin' around with the kid!" the vampire called, turning his attention back toward his associate. "You can do this, Khai. Ravindra won't let them hurt you. I'll talk to him again tonight and we'll see what we can do." With these words, he rose and bolted out of the door casting an apologetic look behind him. Everything is going to be okay, he silently promised the boy.

One way, or another.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Zuko sighed, filing the last of the paperwork in the corner cabinet of the vampire lord's office. Setsuya didn't dare let the teenager out of his sight, so Zuko had taken to helping the man with his work. Someone should have told him that assisting a vampire with his 'work' wasn't as fun as it sounded. Ryuichi couldn't complain, however, as it gave him a pleasant break from the bustling office life. "Setsuya? I'm bored."

"You're also safe," the man shot back, scribbling away at his desk with an annoyed expression. "Entertain yourself, but don't leave this room." Zuko glanced downward, wrapping his arms around his waist dejectedly. Setsuya had been acting distant from him all day, ignoring him and snapping at him when he spoke. After they had such an intimate night together, it was hard not to be put down by Setsuya's stern bitterness. He could understand the vampire's motives, however. There could be any number of vampires out there looking to use Zuko to get to Setsuya, and now it was becoming evident that they couldn't trust anyone. And with Zuko's history of defying the other, it was important to keep tabs on the teenager at all times. Still, Setsuya didn't have to be so damn sulky about it.

Zuko took out his sketchpad and began to draw, sitting against the wall with his legs crossed and a frown on his face. How desperately he wanted his lover's troubles to end…The lines on the parchment began to take shape, and he prodded Setsuya's mind after a few silent minutes.

Is there anything else I can do to help you?

No. I'm just finishing a few things up. If I can get the right information from Khai, I may be leaving for a few days.

What? Zuko hand trembled slightly. The vampire was departing again?

I have a feeling Khai is intimately associated with Ravindra. We may be able to find their hideout.

Do you plan to negotiate with him?

The time for negotiation has passed. If there are any vampires of his coven who are able to adapt to our ways, we will welcome them with open arms. As for Ravindra… He must die if we are to extinguish their cause.

Zuko was quiet for a long while, pressing his sketching pencil into his notepad with increasing force until the tip of it broke. He stood up and threw the drawings aside, striding forward to slam his hand onto the vampire's desk. Setsuya gave a start as Zuko leaned forward to meet his eyes, whispering, "Take me with you."

"What?" Setsuya asked rather foolishly, though not at all startled by the fierce determination of his lover.

"I want to come with you." Zuko nodded, crossing his arms and glaring down at the vampire as though he had ended the discussion then and there.

"No." Setsuya said with utter conviction, although the look he received was deadly.

"Where else are you going to find a firebender on your side? They can't touch me." Zuko's speech concluded as a hand wrapped tight around his throat, Setsuya no longer in sight. The man now stood behind him, easily in range to strangle the frustrated teenager.

"You underestimate us." Setsuya replaced his hand with his lips on Zuko's throat. Even so, he attempted to end the argument. "The answer is no."

"Don't be stupid!" Zuko muttered, slapping away the hand that dared to rest on his hip. He whipped around and raised an eyebrow at the man, who imitated the expression with a daring incline of his head. "This is my time to protect you, and I say you're not leaving without me!"

"Oh, do you?" Setsuya asked, trying to calm his frustration. No, it wouldn't do to have a fight. Not before he left. "Zuko, I… I love you," he said gently, cupping the teenager's face with a sigh. "If I do end up having to leave, I promise that you can come with me when I scout Ravindra's hideout. You can assist me, but you must wait from afar until I call for you. I give you my word."

Zuko's irritation subsided, open to this compromise. "Oh. A-Alright. Thank you for understanding." Pleased with his progress, he brought Setsuya down for a kiss and then returned contently to his drawing.

I'm getting better at this. Setsuya smirked, calling one of his civilians to him. "Would you kindly pick up my lover's lunch from the kitchen?" he asked the man, oblivious to Zuko's deep flush at being called 'lover' in front of another. The food arrived within minutes, prepared and waiting for him. Zuko murmured his thanks upon receiving the bowl of soup from his soul mate, but only after the vampire had checked it thoroughly for poisons. The teenager ate in silence for a while beside the other, contemplating the man who sat reviewing facts and figures at his desk. Ryuichi's words from the previous night tugged at his mind, questions lingering on the tip of his tongue.

"You can become one of us, and live your life with Setsuya."

"You deserve the ultimate happiness. Right now, I have a feeling you're as close to it as you'll ever come."

"What is it like knowing that you may never die?" Zuko wondered aloud, causing the vampire to take a very pause and asses the teenager with far-away eyes.

"It's difficult at times not being able to picture an end to your time on earth," Setsuya admitted, brushing a hand through his hair absently. "The worst part is watching the world change from what you once perceived to be wonderful and true into… well, a period of mixed values and war. Places that I once visited have burned to the ground, and the people that I loved are now dead. And I must live with every scar as I watch the world change around me, and I can't even change with it." His hand brushed over his face, young and preserved over time. "It's not a life I would wish on my worst enemy. Although I suppose Ravindra is already cursed in such a way," Setsuya muttered under his breath. "He's already embraced his gift."

Zuko felt his heart sink at this, having difficulty even comprehending such a life. "I see. It must drive vampires mad."

Setsuya nodded, returning to his work with somewhat of a heavy heart. "A few have committed suicide by jumping into lava pits and such. I have a feeling most will eventually turn to death… No one was meant to live forever." He laughed, eying the teenager with skepticism. "You have another question on your mind, one which you must think to be unspeakable. It's been nagging at you all morning, I can tell. Go on, you can ask me anything."

"Would you…" Zuko gulped, setting down his soup and kneeling to meet the man's eyes. "Would you ever consider turning me into vampire? Not to be presumptuous, but I can imagine watching the one you love die must be painful, to say the least."

Setsuya held out his hand and stroked his soul mate's cheek, looking deeply troubled by this question. "I would never make you into a vampire for such selfish reasons. I would endure any amount of pain to have you in my life for even a limited time. This shouldn't be something you're worrying about now, unless you plan on dying soon." Zuko shared his relief with his soul mate, not because of his words but his refreshing willingness to talk about touchy issues.

"I suppose I'm just considering my options," the teenager said with a noncommittal shrug. For some reason, he found himself in Setsuya's lap after only a few moments. Perhaps it was the fact that his lover was being so agreeable all of the sudden. He wrapped his arms around the man's neck and sat sidesaddle whilst resting his head on the other's shoulder. The vampire smirked at his good luck, wrapping his arms around Zuko's torso and nestling his cheek into the boy's neck.

"I love you," Zuko murmured as comforting, cool hands eased him into submission. The vampire let out a sigh when his fingers brushed through his lover's hair, still aggravated over the fact that the younger had allowed it to be cut short by Ryuichi.

"As I love you." Setsuya kissed the other's cheek with a whisper, "I'm going to visit Khai for a while. I'd like for you to go and find Ryuichi, or perhaps Akane and Rohan."

"Can't I have a little time alone? Maybe to bathe?" Zuko's pleading eyes and embrace made him very difficult to refuse.

"Very well, my beloved. Keep our bond open, alright?"

"Alright." Zuko relieved Setsuya of his weight and was led by the hand to the vampire's private bathing quarters. The two parted with another sweet kiss, Setsuya's affection shining through. "Don't be too hard on the kid!" the teenager called as the man walked away, though the reply consisted of a mere shrug. Zuko's stomach sank, as the other's overprotective tendencies may very well surface and treat Khai… with spite, to put it lightly. He didn't really care for Khai, but he didn't want Setsuya to lose his temper. Entering the bathing room, the teenager smiled as the sensation of warm steam washed over him. He stripped off his clothing and slid into the hot water, his tense muscles unwinding. Sometimes being around chilly vampires could become rather, well, chilly.

He centered his mind and kept it open for the most part, saving a small private segment for himself. He'd almost caught up with Setsuya's mental capabilities to shield, share, and focus his thoughts even outside of meditation. To his misfortune, he also became more aware when his partner was hiding something from him or thinking about something he didn't want Zuko to have a part in. It wasn't often, but Setsuya would always particular symptoms when doing so- Trembling fingers, a dry mouth, and heartache. This led Zuko to believe it was the same vital secret every time, which was a bit disheartening.

He closed his eyes as he massaged soap through his hair, suppressing a yawn. He took the much needed time alone to reflect on Rohan's predi- tealeaf reading. Which he was confident was merely hocus-pocus, smoke-and-mirrors, and magic tricks to be sure. Even so, he was taught by his uncle that it was always important to take any guidance he received into consideration.

"Someone you love dearly is going to die."

Alright. Fairly self-explanatory. A member of his family, his friends, his lo- … Perhaps death meant a type of rebirth. Yes, that must be it. His family was royalty, and perfectly healthy at that. His friends were either young and happy humans or immortal vampires. Setsuya couldn't- No. No possibility.

"An opportunity will present itself for a relationship with another man outside of your present one. It'll be a simultaneous temptation for power as well."

Didn't apply to him. He had a soul mate. He had everything he could dream of and more.

"Beware of an imbalance, an excess of dark energy."

Imbalance? Dark energy? Well, that was a bit vague. Vampires themselves were the epitome of dark spiritual energy. He'd have to be on the lookout.

"A problem in your life is very, very close to erupting and that you should address any issues you've been ignoring before they backfire and deal you serious damage."

Ignoring? He wasn't ignoring anything. That would imply that he was afraid. Which he wasn't. His eyes shifted downward. Of course, he might be a little concerned to ask his lover about the circumstances under which he arrived underground in the first place, and perhaps if he was ever going to see his family again. Zuko shivered, running soap over his arms as he passed over the subject (which he then realized would essentially lead to said explosion.)

"I'd say this one is an apple, representing flourishing creativity and fulfilling living conditions."

Nothing could better describe his present happiness.

"You'll need to enhance your spiritual strength."

Alright. He could see where that fit in. In order to build his bond with Setsuya, he would have to learn to accept his dual identity as Kuzon, himself, and any more of his past lives that chose to manifest themselves within his lifetime. He would have to reflect on it for a while.

"Someone that you trust who seems prone to overprotecting you will end up putting your life in danger."

"Overprotecting?" Zuko murmured, washing away the soapy residue from his arms with a frown. Well, at first glance that would be Setsuya. But… Setsuya wouldn't put him in danger! Not on purpose anyway. What was that little side note Rohan had given him? Perhaps not someone with overprotective tendencies, but with strange eyes. Alright. That was also Setsuya. Perhaps it pertained to the times he allowed Setsuya to take his blood? His life was, to some degree, in danger every time this happened. He wouldn't- couldn't believe Setsuya would put him into serious danger in anyway.

The oyster? Well, he didn't have to explain the oyster to himself.

"You're involved in a three-way relationship... it has or will put strain on your life."

Zuko sighed, shaking his head and allowing his shoulders to further sink into the water. He wouldn't deny he understood what that meant. Setsuya and Ryuichi… He loved Setsuya, Setsuya struggled with Ryuichi, and Ryuichi was his best friend. There wasn't much he could do about it, really. The two vampires had tried to repair their relationship, they really had. But it seemed that something was always standing in their way. It seemed that I was always standing in their way.

Well, that was his job. Complicating things for everyone around him. Zuko sighed, his chest heavy as he rested his head back on the pool's ledge. Sure, nobody had told him life would be fair, but- He jolted forward, a sharp anger breaking through the barriers of his emotions, or rather, Setsuya's emotions. Nevertheless, the man was constraining it beneath a thin layer of calm that seemed only to stretch as far as a piece of latex over a mountaintop. On instinct, Zuko calmed his own mind and fortified the vampire's patience, for whatever reason he required it. If he was dealing with Khai, there might be more frustration to come.

He washed the residual soap from his body, a smile creeping onto his face. Well, if Setsuya was preoccupied, it couldn't hurt to get a little exercise. Instead of grabbing his casual evening clothing, suspiciously thin and form-fitting for Setsuya's enjoyment, he snatched up his training clothes on the other side of the bath. After all, what harm could come from spending time with Ryuichi?

xXxBloodlustxXx

"I'm not here to play games with you." Setsuya's voice was soft, but there was an underlying lethality to it that would bring most to their knees. Khai merely sat motionless on the floor, forcing his eyes upward to meet the vampire lord's. Making eye contact would secure his innocence, somehow.

"I don't understand… I was told your people were evil! He told me that I would die if I disobeyed you! I was scared! And he was right, wasn't he? You're going to kill me!"

"No doubt he fed you lies," Setsuya spat, leaning down and grabbing the teenager's neck with a hiss. "But not the ones you speak of. Tell me what you know, and I may let you live." He knew he was being harsh with someone so young, but the boy was obviously dangerous. He was either a natural liar, or Ravindra had taught him well.

"Know of what?" he cried, trying to shirk away from the man only to be grasped in a stranglehold. "I've never even met him, only his servants! They offered me freedom, told me I was a prisoner of this civilization unless I joined them! They threatened to kill my mother!" Khai choked out, his eyes filling with tears that begged his release. Sympathy was an attribute of the past. Setsuya's anger flared as he grabbed him by the throat and thrust him head-first into the ground. He dug a knee into the boy's lower back, forcing him flat against the rocky ground while pinning him down using his hands.

"Tell one more lie, and I swear to you that I'll leave you in this cell to rot for the rest of eternity!" Setsuya growled, determined to exhibit the seriousness of the situation. Lives were at stake, and he wasn't going to get outsmarted by some kid. "I know you've been killing humans when you go out, and I know what you tried to do to Zuko. Tell me about Ravindra, and you shall be granted amnesty. Don't, and you'll soon know of a vampire's afterlife in hell!" The silence in the atmosphere turned into pressure, pressure that weighed down on Khai's head like an anvil to a piece of glass.

It's not going to work, he realized, this point reinforced by the fact that he would soon face death. He knows I'm not the innocent kid I fooled them into thinking I was. "Why should you trust what I say, Lord Setsuya?" he muttered, his words muffled by the rocks cutting into his jaw. His change in tone was obvious- innocent and naïve, to harsh and alluring.

"I have enough information to know when you're lying," he promised, running a finger across Khai's throat threateningly. "That woman we hold in our custody gave us copious amounts of information, valuable information. I need to know details, and you're going to give them to me. Where is the Firelord hiding Ravindra's people? How many vampires has he created thus far? What treaty does he have with the Fire Nation? And why were you so interested in taking the blood of my lover?"

Khai was quiet for a long minute, weighing his options. He had never truly considered the prospect of Ravindra's failure, but suddenly it seemed almost reasonable that the man might lose if he stabbed the Firelord in the back and provoked war with the Fire Nation. Or the possibility that he may be unable to carry out his plans for a struggle-free domination over Setsuya's people. Perhaps… the truth would serve him. If he told Setsuya the truth, he would be somewhat freed. But even then, Ravindra would seek him out in fury, something that was more fearful than being set ablaze then and there. So, he settled for telling pieces of the truth, pieces Setsuya probably would have figured out on his own. Master is going to kill me. "Ravindra is being housed in the underground fortress directly beneath palace grounds. There are many vampires in his population, and they are all the best of their league. Pretty dangerous. I know of no treaty, only a mutual agreement that may be broken at any time. In exchange for shelter, Ravindra promised to keep anymore humans from getting killed. Ozai still thinks your population is the one causing the outbreak of deaths. Even more laughable, he thinks Ravindra can keep to his word. As for your lover, I only wished to take his blood because I thirsted. I could not escape to feed, and my mind was fogged."

Setsuya sighed, finally relieving the young man of his uncomfortable position. "Very well. I doubt you tell me the whole truth, but you've told me enough that I cannot persecute you. Ravindra poisons minds, especially those of the young and vulnerable. Once this entire situation is resolved, you will be freed. Until then, you will remain under supervision. Now, a final question." Setsuya inclined his head, catching the other's mysterious eyes. "Are there any other spies I should know about?" It was worth a shot.

"I…" The words died on Khai's tongue as he tried to speak. He began to deny it completely, but something made him swallow his words and consider it. If he gave away Ryuichi's name, the man would be out of his way. Ravindra would free Khai, the boy would tell a few lies, and he would be Lord Ravindra's favorite! Unfortunately, that would undo everything they had worked so hard to achieve. "I don't know of any others," he lied through his teeth, while Setsuya rolled his eyes. Oh, well. The census ought to determine that information. Hayate was pretty good at his job.

"Spend some time in here thinking about what you want, Khai," Setsuya said over his shoulder, his hand resting on the steel door to his cell. "No one will think less of you for being seduced by Ravindra's words. We all know how persuasive he can be. There is no freedom in being a vampire Khai, but there is absolution. Either way, the deaths you've caused will eventually come back to haunt you. You are only confused, and I can help you. I was in your position quite a few times. Ravindra, on the other hand, has probably never had a drop of remorse in his entire life. We all know what it's like to feel alone, to feel as though you have no options left. It's true, no one can understand yourself better than you can. However, you have to take the time to come to understand the world around you and the consequences of the choices you make." Khai cast his eyes away, perhaps ashamed of taking advantage of Setsuya's hospitality.

Though more likely ashamed that he was caught. Setsuya opened the cell door, nodding at the guard down the hall who had politely given them a bit of space out of respect for the criminal's rights. "Keep an eye on him," Setsuya muttered under his breath to the man, nodding toward Khai's direction. "He's a manipulator, to be sure. Don't let him sweet-talk you." The guard looked less at ease, but determined to prove himself capable of making sure the door remained bolted… with Khai behind it.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"Ryuichi?" Zuko knocked on the vampire's door and opened it nevertheless, although he was surprised to find that his friend was not alone in the room. Even more surprising, this newcomer was not positioned beneath his swordsmanship teacher, but harmlessly sitting on the opposite side of the bed. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company." Zuko winced on his own behalf, trying to edge subtly out of the room until the cheerful voice of Ryuichi met his ears.

"Zuko! I'm glad you stopped by. Come in, come in!" Ryuichi was at his side in an instant, urging him into the room with a welcoming smile. "I want you to meet someone." Worried that he might be interrupting an intimate encounter, Zuko tried to tug his wrist out of the man's grasp and dart toward the hallway.

"I don't want to barge in wh-" Zuko's whispered words were cut short as Ryuichi pushed him forward to face the stranger, who greeted him with a smile that could make any human's heart melt.

"Zuko, this is Takuya. Takuya, Zuko." Now, the teenager classified most vampires he'd met as beautiful. Setsuya in an aristocratic way, Ryuichi in an enchanting way, Akane in an elegant way, and Rohan in a more ruggedly handsome way. This man by the name of Takuya was not beautiful. He was sexy. Outright, everyday, effortlessly sexy. His skin tone was not so much white, but the color of frosty smoke. His body frame was slender around the middle, lacking both body fat and muscle as reinforcements. His lips were a slate blue and his two eyes were like emerald jewels reflecting a deep pool of water. Perhaps his hair would draw the most eyes in a crowd, as it was a fiery red that almost begged to shimmer in the sunlight rather than the bleak artificial candlelight it was exposed to. His clothing was no less provocative, and greatly differed from that of the rest of the population. While most wore silks and finery woven to last great lengths of time, he adorned black leather pants and a red midriff that exposed his naval and abdomen ever so flawlessly.

Zuko tried to look away to prove that he wasn't staring, but his eyes were magnetically drawn to the man. How could Takuya walk around in public, let alone Ryuichi's room and not get jumped? The vampire didn't seem to understand the other's confusion, holding out a friendly hand as he said in a light, playful voice, "Hello, Zuko. You are the talk of the eastern corridors. It's nice to finally meet you."

His eyes ran up and down the boy's form with a twinkle of satisfaction, causing the teenager to stutter, "I-It's nice to m-meet you too." He reached out to shake the man's hand, but the flesh contact caused the vampire to yelp and withdraw.

"You weren't kidding," he called to Ryuichi with a laugh, shaking his hand cool as Zuko cast him an apologetic look. Lounging about on another's bed, he appeared as though he was a bit of a slacker- a laidback kind of guy, if you will, perhaps the physical age of twenty or so.

"Takuya is an old friend of mine," Ryuichi explained, although the other vampire looked somewhat indignant at the word 'old'. "He and I transformed into vampires around the same time, so Setsuya often trained us together."

"Never did find out who my maker was," Takuya intervened somewhat bitterly, uncrossing his legs and leaning back against the headboard of the bed with a sigh. His eyes remained fixated on the teenager as he spoke, "The day I meet him or her, I'll have a few things to say." Zuko couldn't help but note that the man did not mention what kind of 'things'.

"He hasn't stopped by as much nowadays," Ryuichi whispered under his breath, nodding toward the Takuya. "He's got himself a boyfriend."

"A roommate," the other automatically corrected him, as though he did it ten times a day. "Kyo's afraid of commitment."

"Not an open relationship?" Ryuichi said with a gasp, his expression evidently troubled. Zuko stared wondrously back and forth between the men, almost unable to process what he was seeing. Ryuichi cared about Takuya, more than just a lover to be discarded at night's end.

"No. Just not an official relationship." Takuya rolled his eyes, creating quotation marks in the air. "It's been three years since we've been exclusive. I don't know what he's afraid of. I just wish he'd get over it soon." Exclusive? So he really wasn't in Ryuichi's room for sex. "So," he addressed the flustered teenager with a wink, folding his hands behind his head and giving the others a lovely view of his body. "How does it feel to be the human boy who charmed the great Lord Setsuya?"

"I think I was the charmed one," Zuko admitted, intrigued by this acquaintance of Ryuichi's. Out of all of the times he'd visited the man, this was the first fully clothed visitor he'd walked in on.

"Yes, Setsuya can do that." Takuya leaned forward and whispered, "But between you and me, you're quite the catch. Make him work for it, sweetheart." Zuko felt his face flush, half embarrassed and half flattered. This exotic man did know how to charm, didn't he?

"Easy now, Takuya. You wouldn't want the poor boy to blush himself silly," Ryuichi teased, ruffling the teenager's hair. "Or worse, you could make him angry. You've never seen a swordsman like this."

"Better than you?"

"Maybe if he was a vampire, he'd rival me." Nevertheless, Ryuichi looked on his student with pride. Takuya was clearly impressed, crossing his arms and observing the young man with interest. Zuko, meanwhile, was suffering from the copious amounts of attention he was receiving.

"I never really got into the sword fighting scene much," Takuya proclaimed, flipping onto his stomach and stretching out on Ryuichi's bed with a soft sigh. Folding his arms beneath his chin he said, "Music is my passion. I'm a composer, you see."

Zuko inclined his head with doubt, eying the man up and down. Most 'composers' he'd heard of dressed in ruffles and high collars while spending their time in seclusion, jotting down musical notes in an upright posture. This man didn't quite fit the profile. "Really? I'd love to listen to your music."

"Are you truly intrigued, or is this one of those 'polite conversation' things?" The man seemed a bit suspicious, but Ryuichi shook his head over the teenager's shoulder mouthing the words, 'He's not like that.'

"No, really! I'd love to hear it. I haven't heard good music in ages. Is there a piano around here?"

Takuya's eyes sparkled as he leapt off of the bed, no longer lethargic as he motioned with a jerk of his head toward the door. "Of course! Just follow me, hmm?" When the musician's back was turned, Ryuichi gave the boy a smile of adoration. Takuya lived to share his music with others. It was just like Zuko to walk into a room and make everyone in it feel appreciated and worthwhile. "Funny story about that piano," Takuya spoke as he led them further down the west corridor. Zuko tried to focus solely on the man's words, though his backside in those tight pants was a sight to behold. "Setsuya had one hell of a time finding that thing and sneaking it underground. Grumbled and swore the whole way, but he managed it. He really knows how to look after his people."

"He really does, doesn't he?" Zuko said with an affectionate sigh, barely noticing how Ryuichi's arm snaked around his shoulder. Takuya noted their physical familiarity, but chose to remain silent. Faced with any other circumstances, he would have teased the man to no end. However, this was untouchable territory; he saw a look in Ryuichi's eyes that was peculiar, one that he had never witnessed adorn his friend. Affection was a sensitive subject for Ryuichi, and Zuko was lover to Lord Setsuya. An all-around dangerous situation, if you asked him. The boy turned to whisper to Ryuichi, who contentedly pulled the teenager closer to him. "Why haven't I met this guy before? Did you two used to…?" Zuko raised an eyebrow, causing the vampire to chuckle.

"I took him as my lover once or twice in the past. Most of the time we found our pillow talk more interesting that the actual sex, so we decided to be friends rather than…. otherwise. He takes a pretty long while between his visits, though. He's oblivious to time and space; he only knows of music."

"How fascinating," Zuko murmured, turning his attention to the one who treaded before them. "There certainly are some characters down here."

"Here we are!" After a bit of a walk, Takuya waved them over to a door that he seemed to differentiate as his own, among the many identical doors. "Now, don't mind Kyo. He can be a little intimidating, but he's no one to be frightened of."

Zuko gulped, his mind's eye imagining a man of Rohan's stature with crueler features and a threatening smirk. The door swung open, revealing said man seated at a desk upon which was scattered a number of papers and a lone candle that barely did justice to the room. Upon the man's rising, Zuko flinched, although quite unnecessarily. Takuya lit a few more candles at the doorway for the human's convenience, and a figure was revealed that was unlike anything the teenager and Ryuichi were expecting. Instead of a burly, muscular figure, before them stood a man that was tall, lanky, and gawky. His clean-cut sandy hair, his friendly gray eyes, and his modest clothing all seemed to be direct contrast to his lover. Perhaps only sixteen, this young man seemed to have been converted into a vampire at the height of his discomfited adolescence.

"Kyo!" Takuya cried joyously, running up to the man and leaping into his arms. Wrapping his legs around Kyo's waist, he planted a sweet and sloppy kiss right on his lover's lips. Even Ryuichi couldn't help but stare alongside Zuko, their thoughts no doubt dwelling on the same fact- these men seemed to be complete opposites of each other. One was sexy the other stern. One was outgoing, the other restrained. One was provocative, the other modest. And yet, Takuya's slacker-like demeanor reverted to enthusiasm and passion.

"Kyo, this is Ryuichi and Zuko." He gestured to the two amazed onlookers, who could only nod at the stranger.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Kyo said softly, his head inclining with what would have been a blush as Takuya unwrapped himself from the other. He turned back to his roommate and asked, "Are you going to practice?" There was something cold about his voice, as though he was restraining some sort of anger. Even so, his soft smile never faded.

"Yes, I'm going to play a little something for them." Takuya spoke as though he didn't notice the resentment in the other's eyes. Then again, maybe it was just Zuko's imagination. "But it's a work-in-progress, your birthday present. Can I kick you out of the apartment for a little while?" Takuya's voice was as sweet as sugar, as he toyed playfully with the taller man's hair. "Unless you're working on something important?" He eyed the paperwork spread across the wooden desk in the corner.

"I think a break would be me good. Just another comparative essay on the circulatory and lymphatic systems. I'll see you in a little while." Kyo kissed the other on the lips, even his discreet movements contrasting those of his lover. He smiled politely at the newcomers, not even sparring Zuko an unusual glance out of courtesy.

"He's just a love, isn't he?" Takuya mused, his emerald eyes fluttering shut as he traced his lips. "It's a pity he hasn't asked me to marry him yet. I'd do so in a heartbeat."

"Entirely his loss," Ryuichi muttered, causing Zuko to stifle a laugh.

Having caught on to the gist of the whisper, Takuya frowned and crossed his arms. "And what is that supposed to mean? You think he's not good enough for me?! Well I'll tell you something Ryuichi. That man is intelligent, trusting, affectionate, complaint, and he's gentle with me in bed! I wouldn't trade him for anyone in this entire world, so put that in your pipe and smoke it!" With a huff of air, the man strode over to the dark grand piano on the opposite side of the room and began to stiffly shuffle through the papers scattered across its lid. It seemed that he was almost too defensive of the other's nature, too upset by the offending remark.

Zuko winced, worried that they'd upset his new acquaintance, but Ryuichi was quick to correct him under his breath. "He's a drama queen. It's our way of playing around with each other." He led the teenager to the bed on the other side of the wall, but not before sniffing it to be sure of its cleanliness. They sat together on the mattress, waiting for Takuya to sort through his messy workspace and pull out the song he was searching for.

"Alright, now I'll need your honest opinions by the end of this," Takuya began, stretching out his fingers with a satisfied smile. "I need this to impress Kyo, and his birthday is only a week away. If he doesn't propose to me by then, I'm going to do it myself in the most romantic way that I can. He likes the slower pieces." He shrugged his shoulders and positioned his hands with a deep breath. His appearance, while seemingly antithetical to musical genius, soon proved irrelevant to the quality with which he composed and played.

Adagio, legato.

The song began slowly, though each finger fluently struck its next key without clumsiness. The melody was flowing, never pausing with hesitance or uncertainty. It was of a mournful tune with deep, rich tones that seemed as though they'd been sculpted together in the most meaningful way.

Andante, dolce.

The melody sweetened, a diverse variety of notes incorporated as the man's eyes became half lidded and lost in his passion. The smooth music reminded the speculators of a similar phenomenon- making love. It was gentle, with strong tone and gradually increasing in tempo, the waves of music never wholly repetitive.

Ostinato, forte.

Again, only more decisively. The notes were held with lessened reluctance to release them, producing a strident melody. It was inviting, begging listeners to immerse themselves in thoughts and dreams they'd suppressed out of fear.

Crescendo, espressione.

Stronger, faster, more passionate. The complexity attained a whole new level, dimensions weaving in and out of each other in a seamless arrangement. The composer's lips were parted and his head inclined in reminiscence… His emotions spoke though the movement of his fingers.

Allegro, sforzando.

The song reached its height, its pinnacle of magnificence. Beauty, fervor, love… The gravitation of his melody overwhelmed all else.

Ostinato, diminuendo.

The dynamics of the music shifted- softer, gradually easing into its dénouement. Like a heartbeat returning to normality, it washed over the room with a calm pulsation. His music had the ability to control atmospheres.

Fine, pianissimo.

The melody came to a gentle close, fading into the air. It could be equated to a waterfall- Smooth, streaming, ambitious, rushing, calming, balanced…

"And that's the rough draft!" Takuya's voice jolted his audience back to life, neither quite sure if what they'd heard was real. The musician spun around on his bench and folded his hands in his lap with a smile. "What do you think?" He seemed ready for criticism, his form braced and his eyes expectant. "My mentor wouldn't even look me in the eye after I played it for him, but I won't let him influence my decision. I'm certain Kyo will love the finished product."

Ryuichi broke the next wave of silence in a soft voice, as Zuko seemed rather disinclined to speak with his mouth forming shapeless configurations at Takuya. "If your mentor didn't look you in the eye, it was surely because he knew you'd surpassed him. That was beautiful Takuya. No less or more beautiful than the rest of your pieces, but particularly unique in its formation. Well done."

"Thanks, Ryuichi." Takuya glowed as the human teenager could only nod in agreement. "I've spent a long time working on it. Take me out to a bar? We can celebrate!"

"We don't drink, Takuya," Ryuichi pointed out, waving a hand in front of Zuko's eyes to assure himself the boy was still alive. "Not alcohol, anyway." The teenager woke from his daze, mindlessly resting his head on his companion's shoulder (much to the vampire's delight).

"Come on, Ryuichi. Just for a while! I miss the party scene. It's been a week since I've been out on the town."

"A whole week, huh? Go get Setsuya's permission. If he says yes, we'll go for a 'drink'."

"He's still angry with me me. I stole from the vendors and he took away my privileges for three whole months," Takuya whined, kneeling at the edge of the bed and tugging on Ryuichi's sleeve.

"Because you nearly led half of the Fire Nation army underground, you idiot. You could have just asked Setsuya for the money to buy the damn gloves."

"They were platypus-bear hide, very expensive. But that's beyond the point. Please, Ryuichi? I miss the city lights, the smell of smoke in the air! Kyo doesn't like to go above ground with me very much."

"I wonder why."

"Please-"

"Fine." Ryuichi sighed, standing up and nodding toward Zuko. "I'll see you later, Princess. I'm going to take hotshot here to go flirt with some drunken mortals." The teenager nodded, his mind still spinning from the beautiful piece of music his ears had been graced with. He made his way toward the door, but a chilly hand grasped his wrist and spun him around.

"Where do you think you're going, beautiful? You're coming with us." Takuya winked as Ryuichi shook his head, aghast.

"Are you kidding? Takuya, we can't take him out with us."

"Name one good reason!" the man exclaimed, wrapping his arms around the bewildered teen's shoulders with a pout. "I defy you to name a good reason!"

"I'll name three. He's too young, it's dangerous out there, and Setsuya will kill us both." Ryuichi sighed, tapping his foot impatiently. If there was one thing he resented about his old friend, it was his lack of common sense combined with his impulsive nature that made him… well, the way he was.

"No worries. I can charm the bartender into letting him hang out with us. He's almost of legal age anyway. What are you, seventeen?"

"Fourteen," Zuko corrected him, although Ryuichi shot him a look that clearly said, 'It will do no good.'

"Same thing," Takuya proclaimed, ruffling the boy's hair with a smirk. "As for the danger… well, the traitor was found inside of the population, right? This leads me to believe that the level of danger above ground is lower than the level of danger below it. Therefore, Setsuya will inevitably have to thank us for leading his lover to safety. And we get the company of one cute human. It's a win-win situation!" He slapped Zuko's backside with playfulness, causing the teenager to yelp and nearly dart across the room were it not for the arms wrapped around him.

Ryuichi considered the situation before finally responding with a shrug, "It's up to Zuko. We can protect him well enough, but I don't want him to have to lie to Setsuya."

"I really don't think I should," Zuko affirmed, trying to squirm his way out of Takuya's grip and make a dash for the door.

"Ah, ah, ah, sweetheart! Remember, what Setsuya doesn't know won't hurt him." A discreet wink punctuated the statement.

Keeping a secret from Setsuya? That was almost laughable. They were so in-tune with each other that they could easily slip a peek into the other's line of vision or memories. Then again… it wasn't often they did so, for fear of provoking mistrust. And besides, Takuya made a valid point. If there were any traitors out in the open, they weren't going to get far undetected. Zuko was safer on the surface with them than underground alone. "I guess it couldn't hurt." But I'm not going to go without telling him. No need to worry him sick.

Setsuya?

The response was immediate. Yes, beloved?

I'm going above ground with Ryuichi for a little while. A long pause. Setsuya?

Contact me if anything goes wrong, was the agreeable response he received.

I will. Zuko made sure that his soul mate felt the overwhelming gratitude in his heart before bringing himself back to earth.

"Fantastic!" Takuya was exclaiming, punching his fist up into the air. "We'll head over to the bar across from the harbor!"

"You mean the bar across from the brothel," Ryuichi muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he wrapped a comforting arm around the petrified teen. It could very well be a long night.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Setsuya had finally acquired a much deserved respect for the snake coiled up on his bedside as he straightened up the disorderly room. 'Shu', as Zuko had taken to calling him, had killed two mice and a hedge-gopher only two hours into the evening. Setsuya sympathized with predators- they too, knew that they were taking lives when they fed. They wrapped their will around a living, breathing being and squeezed it until its heart stopped dead. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, being the one to have to kill your own food and look into the animal's eye as you sucked the life right out of it. Shu empathized with an aspect of vampirism that Zuko couldn't not, though the boy had considerately tried his best to empathize. But Zuko… Zuko had never killed a human being, nor an animal. He'd probably never even killed an insect with the intent of doing so.

The thirst had conquered Setsuya once again. His indulgence in Zuko's body, while the epitome of pleasure and fulfillment, instilled in him a longing of the blood. He yearned to hunt, but did not leave the confines of his quarters. Self-control, he must reassure himself of his control. After having taken Zuko's blood twice, there was a danger that he might become addicted with satisfaction, constant satisfaction as Ryuichi was in terms of sex. Therefore, he would wait until the wave of hunger intensified before he would hunt. This desire made him feel thin, weak, frustrated. "Nobody said being a leader would be easy," he muttered to Shu, who sat curled up on the pillow next to him. Of course, Setsuya had never asked to be a leader. The role had been thrust upon him, like many things in his life. He had been tired before Zuko came into his life. There wasn't a day when he didn't think about giving up. Days themselves melded into each other when you couldn't sleep and never took the time to meditate. The soul grew weary and the mind ached, understanding too much, too fast, and too deeply. Only the thought of his population kept him going, kept him signing papers and organizing treaties. Only the thought of the bloodlusty newborns and the oblivious human race kept him from giving up. And then, there was Zuko.

Speaking of which…

Setsuya? His mate's voice sounded in his mind, causing a smile to come to his face as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

Yes, beloved?

I'm going to the surface with Ryuichi for a little while. Well that hadn't been what he was expecting. He said nothing for a long while, which seemed to cause Zuko anxiety of some sort. Setsuya?

What could he say? Traitors above ground, traitors below the ground… Nowhere was safe anymore. If Zuko was with Ryuichi, he was undoubtedly in good hands. The teenager was probably the only person the vampire cared more about than his swords. Intuition, that was what made him want to say no. But his intuition had been damaged by years and years of violence, rape, and beatings; he didn't trust it anymore. He'd healed most of the emotional wounds and had even sought out to forgive his keeper, but his psyche would forever be scarred. He wouldn't do the same thing to Zuko. He wouldn't restrict him, he wouldn't demand of him, he wouldn't seek out his own happiness before the other's.

Contact me if anything goes wrong.

I will.

He felt Zuko's gratitude and covered up his uneasiness simultaneously. He trusted Zuko. He trusted Ryuichi, even if they were on… tense terms at the moment. I'll make it up to him, somehow. We were so close to becoming friends again. "What can I do for him?" he asked Shu absently, smiling as the snake began to slither up his leg and around his chest. Although he couldn't let Zuko have his satisfaction in knowing the vampire and the snake were getting cuddly. They would keep this little affair to themselves. Well… he did have extraneous savings from the budget this lunar cycle. Perhaps a trip to the market would serve him well.

xXxBloodlustxXx

"So Setsuya is furious, right? He starts off about public indecency and how people lack respect for boundaries. And Ryuichi's just standing there, trying to consider the situation objectively. He's got this look on his face like, 'Hmm… I wonder how I'm going to get to work when there's some guy and his gal rutting in the hallway. Can I just step over them? Will they notice me?' Honestly, they had less common courtesy than two lion-bears going at it in the springtime."

Zuko couldn't help but laugh, as Ryuichi nodded his head in solemn agreement. Takuya had managed to charm the manager into not only letting Zuko stay in the bar, but had earned them a free round of drinks as well. The boy did not desire the alcohol and the vampires could not consume it, but it's the thought that counts. It was a higher-class establishment, one built to cater to the naval officers who stopped to resupply at the port. It was devoid of smoke, particularly drunk citizens, and prostitutes. High-class indeed. Meanwhile, Takuya entertained the teenager by telling him stories of their adventures as young vampires.

"And then there was one time when Ryuichi picked a fight with Xa-"

"Oh, please don't!" Ryuichi groaned, letting his head fall onto his folded arms. "Agni, you're never gonna let me live that down."

"It's a good one," he whispered, leaning in to address Zuko. "Well, there's this huge vampire that we call Xavier, after Xavier Xiao."

"The greatest warrior of the early civil rebellions!" the teenager exclaimed, fascinated by the prospect. "He could crush a man's skull with one hand."

"That's right, but Ryuichi hadn't been enlightened to that fact. So he finds Xavier rummaging through his forging material one day and he politely asks the man to stop going through his belongings. Well, Xavier doesn't take his tone lightly at all. He turns around and gives him a glare that would make any intelligent person run for the hills. Instead, Ryuichi demands that he didn't cooperate, he would have to fight for his honor. So he heroically draws his sword and points in at the man's neck, proclaiming a duel for the entire courtyard to hear. Then, Xavier reaches over the blade, lifts him by the scruff of his neck, and tosses him across the room and into the wall."

Zuko snorted with laughter as Ryuichi hid in embarrassment, trying not to show his shame. "So what happened to Xavier?"

"Turns out he'd only wanted to learn about forging swords," Ryuichi mumbled, shaking his head. "He came to me and asked me to train him, rather kindly I might add. I dared not refuse him- getting thrown into a wall hurts." His eyes narrowed and he raised his head with a snarl. "Well as long as we're telling embarrassing stories, let me tell one about Takuya!" The other vampire immediately stopped laughing, horror adorning his face. "Only a week after Takuya became a vampire, he and I roomed with each other on the lower floors, where all the newly born vampires live. That's when we started exploring our sexuality. I was still an innocent virgin and he was a passionate soul, you see."

"Ryuichi! Shut-"

"We'd make out with each other whenever one of us blew out the candles. He'd crawl into my bed and gently kiss me, like a sweet lover." Ryuichi made exaggerated kissing motions in the air, earning a growl from the other. "So, one night Takuya comes back and the lights are out. He assumes I'm in my bed waiting for him, wishing to be swept away by his tempting tongue and gentle caresses. He was feeling a little more zealous that night, and he thought it would be a good time to get into my pants."

"I'm warning you-"

"He strolls on in, confident and determined. His vampiric eyes haven't quite formed to their greatest potential, so all he can see are darkened blotches. He leaps onto the bed and starts thrusting his tongue into my mouth and fondling my body in my most intimate regions. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that he walked into the wrong door." Zuko could barely contain his laughter at the expense of Takuya, who couldn't help but nod and smile pathetically.

"I was making out with some guy I'd never met before," Takuya said with a sigh. "It was traumatizing. He wakes up from his resting state and screams, 'Get the hell off of me, you pervert!' And suddenly, I'm the civilization's notorious molester! After that day, Ryuichi painted our door a bright red so I couldn't miss it."

Zuko shifted in his seat, though his discomfort didn't quite show on his face as he chuckled. Not only had the story entertained him, it had aroused him. In his mind sparked a fantasy of the two beautiful creatures that sat on either side of him kissing, touching, groaning, thrusting up against his each other. His mind, being as dirty as it was at the time, took the liberty of inserting his own body into the daydream. Takuya kissing and biting at his neck, Ryuichi rubbing a hardened length into his backside with moans of longing… Damn it! This was what he got for spending the evening with two sex-driven vampires. It turned him utterly naughty.

He could hear Ryuichi's voice taunt him: 'I'd like to see you acting naughty.'

No, no, no! It was a side effect, just a side effect of his raging teenage hormones. He'd just undergone his first sexual experience the night before. It was natural for something like this to come up! Or at least that's what he'd read in a scroll his uncle once slipped him labeled Sex and Teenagers: Why Your Body Does What It Does.

'Act naughty for me, Zuko. Act very naughty,' Fantasy-Ryuichi whispered, undoing the sash of his pants. Fantasy-Takuya had disappeared for the moment, leaving only the two lying on a bed of satin with the epitome of pleasure at their fingertips…

No! "Is it cold in here to anyone else, or is it just me?" Zuko asked in a calm voice, pulling his cloak discreetly over his body. He would have to will his little problem away before the vampires noticed it.

"I'm always cold," volunteered Takuya, now smelling the alcoholic drink before him with interest. "You know, I wish I could drink one of these. I miss getting buzzed."

"You always act like you're buzzed," Ryuichi replied with a scoff, offering his own drink to Zuko who shook his head in response. "I don't think there would be anything more dangerous than a drunken vampire on the loose." But the other man was no longer listening. Instead his solemn eyes were enthralled by an older gentleman at the bar, who'd caught his gaze and sent him a sultry look. Ryuichi glared at the stranger before muttering under his breath, "You're exclusive, Takuya. Remember Kyo."

"Kyo isn't the man he used to be." The laughter in Takuya's face was gone, and Zuko suddenly felt as though he was intruding on a private conversation. "Or at least, he's not the man I thought he was. Two weeks ago I was cleaning up our desk and I found a love letter to a woman that lives a few corridors away from us. I think he's been cheating on me with her… I told him I wanted a closed relationship, I told him I wanted to be his and his alone. But the only time he pays attention to me anymore is when he tells me to stop playing the piano while he's working. Did you know it's been three months since we made love?" He wrapped his arms around his chest with a shudder. "He was always such a gentleman, always so good to me. I don't know what I did wrong." Takuya looked as though he was about to break down, so Ryuichi reached over and brought the other's head to his shoulder with a sigh.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Takuya. And Kyo isn't a horrible man either, just afraid of standing still for too long. I know you two have had a good time, but you're not meant to be with a man who can't settle down. Least of all someone you met in a bar." He nodded his head toward the one who had flirted with Takuya.

"You know a lot for never having gone steady with anyone," Takuya murmured, neither condescendingly nor cruelly. He sounded curious, twirling a finger about his shimmering red hair. He turned to Zuko and asked, "And what about you? Any advice from a guy in a stable relationship?"

Zuko's first instinct was to deny his usefulness, proclaiming that he was in no position to give advice to anyone. However, he couldn't help but add his two cents in when he saw the desperation in the other's face. "I agree with Ryuichi. You're so talented, Takuya. If he can't appreciate you, he doesn't deserve to kiss the ground you walk on. Setsuya has never once made me feel underappreciated. We respect each other, and if you aren't feeling that with Kyo…" He left his sentence hanging meaningfully, receiving a sad smile in return.

"I suppose you two are right. I just… I love him. Maybe I've been projecting this idealistic view of him since the beginning." He groaned, letting his back rest against Ryuichi's side. "Damn, damn, damn. Curse him for being so intelligent and beautiful."

"Now, now," Zuko berated the other, shaking his head. "We intelligent, beautiful people just can't help ourselves." He fluffed his hair as an example, while his companion vampires chuckled.

"Come on," Ryuichi called, standing up and nodding toward the door. "Let's go somewhere fun. The smell of unwashed sailors is clogging my nose."

Not surprisingly, the swordsman's idea of fun was visiting a weaponry shop. Takuya, rather than forcing interest, ran down the block to do a little window-shopping at the music store. "I haven't been around the city for a while," Ryuichi proclaimed with wonder, tugging Zuko by the hand. "This'll be fun!" The teenager couldn't help but laugh as the man walked into the store with the wide eyes of a child in a toy store. "I've visited this one a few times. They always have something interesting."

Zuko frowned and mumbled an incoherent agreement, suddenly caught up in a nagging sensation at the base of his stomach; it felt like someone was watching him. The store was empty save for one man on the other side of the store, observing a collection of more expensive forging materials. The teenager shook the strange sensation aside, stepping forward to join Ryuichi in examining a sword hanging on the wall. "Do you know how to tell a valued sword from an overpriced one?" Ryuichi asked softly, and Zuko shook his head with peaking curiosity. The vampire took the sword off of the wall and held it reverently in his hands. "Checking the balance of the sword not only assesses its weight and merit, it can tell you how it ought to be priced." With these words, he flipped the sword into the air and caught it perfectly by the hilt. Zuko swore he could hear the manager of the store gasp sharply. "See? Any sword with this balance and weight ought to be priced somewhere over eight hundred gold pieces. And…" He held it up toward the chandelier in the center of the room. "The more it gleams, the longer it will last. Admirable, isn't it?" He smiled when he caught onto Zuko's genuine interest. Perhaps he would show the younger a few things about forging when they returned.

Zuko wandered about the store, raising his eyebrow at a few medieval ball-and-chain torture devices. Did anyone really use those anymore? He jumped as he felt the brush of a cloak against the back of his legs and a gentle caress of a hand against his thigh. He whipped around, shivering to find that there was no one in range. Ryuichi was still caught up with the swords out on display while the manager's eyes were fixed on him from behind the counter, determined to apprehend the potential criminal should he steal or misuse one of the weapons. His mind seemed determined to play tricks on him that night. He tugged his cloak tighter around him and treaded over to Ryuichi, who was smiling at one particular sword behind a glass case that seemed to be the highest priced weapon of all.

"You forged that one, didn't you?" Zuko whispered, recognizing the blade as one he'd polished for Ryuichi. "Agni, Ryu. You could make a living doing a blacksmith's work!"

"It'd be interesting to see who buys it," the vampire said, tiling his head at the display. "I just hope it's not an antique collector or a curator. Putting a sword on a shelf is not way to celebrate its beauty." He smiled and wrapped a casual arm around Zuko, pulling him closer with a murmur, "Takuya is waiting for us outside. He gets bored fairly quickly." The teenager nodded, allowing himself to be led out of the shop and into the street where the other vampire was indeed waiting for them. Ryuichi's nose wrinkled as he stepped out into the cold air, a familiar scent lingering in the air. Could it be…?

"There you guys are!" Takuya rolled his eyes as though the men had been in the store for hours. "I was thinking we could-"

"I think we're being spied on," Ryuichi interrupted, taking another deep breath and quickly releasing it. "We should go back underground."

"Spied on?" Zuko asked with bewilderment, his eyes flickering from left to right nervously. "By who?"

"Can't recognize the scent." It was a lie. He knew full and well who the scent belonged to. "Let's get you back to Setsuya before he realizes you're missing."

"Oh, I told-" Zuko swallowed his sentence abruptly, shaking his head at his own stupidity. 'Oh, I told him I'd be gone… You know, with my mind.' "I told him I'd meet him in his office to do a little filing for him."

"That's my job!" Ryuichi grabbed the younger playfully by the arm and hissed into his ear, "Trying to replace me, eh Princess?" Zuko laughed as the vampire barely nipped his ear, at which Takuya raised an eyebrow. Ryuichi never got too physically familiar with someone aside from casual sex. This attachment was gossiped about in the corridors of course… The human boy, lover to Lord Setsuya, sneaking out every day to the training rooms where he would emerge sweaty and content, Ryuichi not far behind. A lusty affair, perhaps? But then again, there was also a rumor that Setsuya chained up Zuko in his office and preformed unspeakable acts of sadomasochism on him in order to break his spirit and earn his undivided attention. Still, Takuya observed the two and knew that this level of familiarity was not common with Ryuichi and another man. Although, it really wasn't any of his business in the first place… "I didn't always work as hard as I do," Ryuichi said with a sigh, running a hand through his hair with frustration. "I guess it was when Takuya found his own place. Couldn't find anything better to do, so I worked for Setsuya. Hey, Takuya!" Ryuichi called ahead to the man as they began walking toward the edge of town. "Remember that game we use to play when Setsuya confined us to our room because we were being a headache?"

"Ah, yes! The 'List Three Things…' game." The vampire's voice was full of nostalgia. "I remember it. Our favorite was 'List Three Things You'd Never Do'."

"Or there was Takuya's personal favorite, 'List Three People You'd Never Do'," Ryuichi teased, earning himself a chuckle from the young teenager whom he'd slung his arm around.

"Hmph."

Zuko shuddered and glanced behind him, the sensation of being watched tugging at his intuition again. Perhaps Ryuichi was right, concerning the whole spy bit. He pressed himself flush against his friend, who looked no less pleased by this. The teenager couldn't deny that he felt safe in Ryuichi's arms, perhaps as safe as he did in Setsuya's. Even so, he couldn't shake the feeling of being spied upon as Ryuichi had earlier suggested. He couldn't have been more relieved when they returned to the underground entrance and walked Takuya to his room.

"I'm going to do it," he whispered to Ryuichi, straightening out his tight-fitting clothing with a determined glare. "I'm breaking up with Kyo."

"You deserve better than him," the other vampire promised, combing a gentle hand through Takuya's hair. "Don't let him talk you into believing his lousy excuses, you hear? And I expect to see you a lot more from now on." The man nodded, waving at Zuko with a remorseful smile.

"I enjoyed our time together, sweetheart. Remember, make him work for it." The teenager nodded, sparing the man a sympathetic smile as he disappeared behind the door. For a moment Ryuichi looked as though he wished to stay, but he tugged on Zuko's arm and they proceeded back to the vampire's room.

"I knew that Kyo wasn't good for him," he explained to Zuko, rubbing his neck in a troubled manner. "Takuya is flirtatious to say the least, but he never means any harm by it. He's amiable, flashy, and pays little mind to the way other's talk about him. Kyo is simply too… mature." Ryuichi shook his head, his fingers rubbing the edge of his sleeve somewhat nervously. "I'm certain they were in love once, but…" He sighed, before nearly tripping over a box lying at the base of the door to his apartment. "Hello, what's this? It's been a few years since I've gotten a package. You have a dagger on you?" Zuko nodded, pulling the knife from his thigh holster. He watched with wide eyes as his teacher ripped the cardboard apart like a child with a birthday present. "There," Ryuichi began with satisfaction, extracting the object from the box. At first glance, Zuko perceived it to be a metal block of some sort of. But after the way Ryuichi gasped, he would have assumed it was a deathtrap.

"What is it?" the teenager asked, staring in fascination as Ryuichi's hands shook with… fear? Excitement? Strain?

"Metal… Flexible... Steel… Alloy… Expensive…" The vampire seemed at a loss for complete sentences and all things coherent. Zuko reached around the man and observed the note that accompanied it, reading it aloud to the other.

Ryuichi-

I thought perhaps you might find a use for this. Don't work too hard.

Love,

Setsuya

Love? Zuko frowned at the word one more time, perhaps out of spontaneous jealousy? No, because it didn't seem that Setsuya would sign a letter in such a way. Was it really from him?

You know, I can demonstrate kindness once in an odd while too, Setsuya said playfully, his voice resonating throughout Zuko's mind.

That's not what I meant! Zuko scolded, a blush coming to his cheeks. Damn Setsuya, butting in at all the wrong times. He really seems to like your gift. He can't even glance up from it. Where did you get it?

Who do you think you saw in the weaponry shop? I'm shocked that you didn't recognize me.

That was you?! Zuko flushed, remembering the stranger who'd gotten a little too close to him.

Of course. He could almost see the vampire smirking. I didn't care to be accused of spying on you, so I blocked our connection.

The teenager winced with guilt. Yes, he probably would have made a scene about Setsuya's presence. Well, it was a really sweet thing for you to do. Although did you have to sign it 'love'?

Jealous?

…You've never written me a letter and signed it that way.

I've never had a reason to write you a letter.

Write me one.

Do you want a gift too?

No. Just a letter.

Hm. Talk about a low-maintenance lover. Setsuya withdrew with a promise to write such a letter, as Zuko turned back to the stunned Ryuichi.

"Ryu? You alright?"

"How would you like to learn how to forge?" Ryuichi asked, his eyes hidden and his voice barely louder than the sound of a heartbeat. His tone was odd, as though he'd experienced some sort of epiphany. Zuko looked at Ryuichi, then to the metal, and back to Ryuichi.

"Y-You mean that, Ryu?"

"Your help would be appreciated. Can you help me get the fires started?" The vampire seemed struck with amazement as he tucked the metal under his arm.

"Of course!" Zuko's heart leapt in his throat. He'd always wanted to ask Ryuichi to teach him the art of craftsmanship, but he feared burdening the man. He followed the vampire down a new corridor, one of darker earthen walls with spider webs clinging to their unkempt surface. Their hands intertwined as they proceeded down one of the few hallways without dim lanterns mounted on the walls. Zuko shuddered, thrilled by this sudden damp darkness. Being pulled by a vampire down an abandoned hallway- the teenager would have sworn that it was some sort of scene out of a horror novel.

"Down here," Ryuichi murmured as he stopped abruptly, his hand clasping around a cool door handle. Zuko did a strange side-step to avoid running into the man, gasping as Ryuichi swept him up into his arms and carried him down the stairwell to the forge. The lightweight metal found its way into the hands of a blushing Zuko, who couldn't help but feel that strange 'Ryuichi-is-carrying-me-down-the-stairs' sensation in the pit of his stomach. "So if you're a Princess, I guess this makes me your knight in shining armor," Ryuichi joked, his voice now lighter and more playful.

"That or my servant!" he teased, yelping as Ryuichi's arms trembled and threatened to drop him.

"Servant?! After everything I've done for you…"

"Sorry, Ryu. I think you and Setsuya would have to have a duel if you wanted to be my knight in shining armor." Silence followed his words, comfortable for Zuko but tense for Ryuichi.

Anything for you, Zuko.

They reached the lower chamber, pitch black and chilly. Ryuichi let the teenager down and positioned him in front of the furnace, whispering, "Straight ahead. Can you light it?" The healthy light and warmth that illuminated the room was his answer. The flickering fires constrained by heavy steel seemed to embody the sprites of the devil, swirling temptingly like tongues of a serpent. They entranced Zuko, so much so that it took him a few good moments to realize Ryuichi was calling his name. "Zuko? Can you feed the fire a little, please? The coal is to your left, and the shovel- Yes, there."

Zuko obeyed the man, finally observing the forging room. It was a bit small, with metals and scraps cluttering the benches and floor. Even so, it must have been to him a treasure trove. It seemed Ryuichi liked to make this room his home when there was a sword in progress, as there was a tattered couch and a bookshelf lining the opposite wall. Zuko guessed that the vampire wasn't the type of man to abandon his work, even after hours and hours of feeding fires and watching metal melt. "Where does the smoke go?" the teenager wondered, waving away the sparks that leapt toward him as he fed the fire until it held a steady glow.

"Into the chamber beneath us," Ryuichi admitted, guilt tingeing his voice. "Not exactly the best thing for the surrounding soil, but it'd look a little suspicious if there was a pipe in the middle of the beach or forest huffing out smoke." He weighed the metal in his hand, tossing it into the air a few times. "It won't take very long to melt this down. Maybe a few hours. I'll show you how to begin, and I'll call you back when it's finished."

"No way," Zuko said, raising an eyebrow at the vampire. "I'm not missing out on any of the fun. I'm staying down here for as long as you do. I'm no lazy bum. We'll take shifts feeding the fire."

Ryuichi smiled at the stubborn boy. "I'll be grateful to have your company." His hand slipped over his mouth and he turned away from the other. A month ago he would have kept such a comment to himself. Since when had he become so expressive? "Are you sure you don't want to tell Setsuya? He'll think I kidnapped you."

"He already knows," Zuko said with a cryptic smile, not expecting Ryuichi to understand the mysteries of their bond. "Just wake me if I fall asleep. I don't want to miss this." He watched over the vampire's shoulder as he placed the metal into a heat-resistant container.

"This is a very heat-sensitive metal, as I've said. With most metals you'd have to wait perhaps ten to twelve hours at this heat. We shouldn't be waiting for more than four or five hours. It's always important to keep the fire…" He frowned, referencing an open scroll on his work bench. "For this alloy… Shouldn't need preheating…Ah, over twelve hundred Celsius. Better open the ventilation for this one." Zuko's eyes widened in surprise, assessing the vampire silently. Ryuichi was willing to be around such dangerous temperatures as a vampire? "I don't have a thermometer of any sort, thus I've learned to 'play it by ear' so to speak. A good mile marker is adding coal every forty-five minutes once you've heated it up well. It'll get pretty hot in here, even when I shut the furnace doors and open the ventilation. Can you channel your body temperature to prevent yourself from getting dehydrated?"

Zuko nodded, thoroughly impressed by the professional glint in Ryuichi's eyes. The vampire showed him how to work the fan and the furnace doors, instructing him on when and how to utilize the furnace heat. Tossing the younger a pair of gloves, he verbally guided him on how to use the tongs to ease the metal into the fire without burning himself. "That's it, easy now. Lean back and edge it into the middle of the platform… Perfect." Zuko fastened the furnace doors in accordance to the other's instructions, wiping the sweat already forming at his brow. The heat even seemed to be getting to Ryuichi, as beads of perspiration lingered on the back of his neck. "Right then. Now, we wait." They slouched onto opposite sides of the couch, the heat making them languid. The cotton clung to their slick skin like wet paint on a wall, causing Zuko to strip off his shirt and toss it beside him. Ryuichi imitated the action, though his eyes were mostly fixed on the other's perfectly sculpted chest. It made him feel a bit inadequate- his own muscles had not been nearly as defined when he'd died, causing him to appear weak in spite of his strength.

Ryuichi followed Zuko's gaze to the crescent scar carved across his naval. "You want to know about this?" he asked after a pause as he traced the former wound, causing Zuko to blush and avert his eyes with shame.

"N-No! I'm sorry, I was just-"

"I know. It's unusual for a vampire to have a scar. I really don't mind talking about it." Ryuichi sat up, resting his head on his elbow. "It was given to me as I died." Zuko's ears perked up and he edged toward the man with intrigue. "That night I went to pick up my brother from his firebending lessons…"

"Did you see me, Ryuichi? Did you see how I bended that fire arc?" The eleven-year-old bounced excitedly, pleased by his advancement within his intermediate level classes.

"You were amazing, Kichirou," Ryuichi assured him, ruffling the boy's hair lovingly. "I couldn't believe it." It was true. The older man was amazed by his brother's progress, especially considering the decline in his health as of late. His pale, gaunt figure and his constant hemorrhaging… He'd have forced the young boy to withdraw from his classes if the new medicine hadn't helped as much as it did.

"Do you think they'll let me into the advanced class soon, Ryu?"

Based on the boy's skill, absolutely. Based on his health, not so much. "I wouldn't be surprised, little bro. I wouldn't be surprised." The curved moon hung like an altar in the sky by which all stars paid worship. Their path down the beaten stony road was dark, but discernible. It was a long walk between the town where Kichirou had his lessons and the slums where they lived. Every night, five pieces of gold per class. But that's okay. Ryuichi would make the commute because he loved his brother. He could work two jobs during the day, he didn't mind as long as it was for his brother and not drinking money for their stepmother. Ryuichi frowned, leaning forward and thrusting an arm in front of his sibling. "Kichirou… Run behind that apartment complex, understand? And don't look back."

"Wh-What's the matter?" The young one peered over the arm to see a stumbling figure before them, blocking their way across the paved path to the next town.

"A drunk," Ryuichi muttered with disdain, nudging his little brother. He hated, absolutely hated people with no respect for sobriety. He'd seen alcohol at its most poisonous work. He'd seen it when his stepmother beat Kichirou, he saw it on his own bandaged forearms every morning where the woman had clawed at him when he tried to push her away. "Hurry, 'Rou. I'll take care of it."

The little boy wanted to stay, to beg his brother not to try and play the hero. But they had to get home, and Ryuichi was very peculiar about this sort of thing. He followed the man's direction, running to hide behind the building as the eldest stepped forward. The man stumbled closer to him, a tall figure with eyes of a vivid violet color. "Hey you! Why don't you drag your drunk ass back home and stop staggering about like an idiot!" He froze when the eyes focused on him, and he seemed paralyzed for a moment. He backed away, suddenly regretful that he might have provoked a dangerous man. But now, now the man was stalking toward him, with predator-like grace and sharpened teeth shining in the insipid light. This guy wasn't normal.

The eyes were hard and cold as two hands wrapped around his throat. Ryuichi thought he could hear himself gasp, but he couldn't be sure over the beating of his heart. There was nobody outside, nobody who could help them. The hands descended to the sash of his tunic, stripping it from his body in an instant. "W-Wait! Stop it!" Ryuichi cried, as cold hands shoved him into an alleyway, out of sight for any prying eyes, particularly the sibling's. Within an instant the teen was pinned to the wall, with cold lips biting and sucking at his neck. Ryuichi shuddered, trying to squirm away from the sweet sensations rocking through his body, causing his nerves to tingle. He'd always imagined this, doing such things with a man. Unthinkable thoughts ran through his head at night, ones he dismissed and willed away to prevent being tainted by unholy forces. Ryuichi moaned as the kisses descended, his resistance melting as the vampire dipped a tongue into his naval. "St-Stop, please don't…" the teenager groaned, though his submissive stance and his twitching arousal contradicted him. This man was enchanting! Would this stranger take him as a lover in the middle of this alleyway, rutting out their passions on dirty cobblestone with gentle caresses and forbidden kisses? Chilled fingers released his wrists and ascended to cup Ryuichi's face, though he didn't see the man's eyes turn soft and regretful.

"You taste of sweet moonlight… I'm sorry, my beautiful. I promise I won't hurt your sibling."

Cold hands muffled the scream that emerged from Ryuichi's mouth, as Setsuya's teeth tore a perfect sideways crescent shape into the man's stomach. Sweet blood split from the wound, a longing tongue darting out to capture the fluid. Blood, blood and so much of it! The assaulter's tears intermingled with the crimson drug. More, more, he couldn't stop the madness. Screams turned into moans, into whimpers, into sighs. The dry corpse tumbled into his arms, a pulse never to beat again. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He gently took the body into his hands and ran. He couldn't let the little boy see his brother this way.

"Setsuya tells me that the scar remained because it was created in the epitome of our infatuation, the key element that leads two souls to touch." Ryuichi shrugged, tracing the mark across his abdomen. "Rav-" He swallowed his words, his stomach twisting at his mistake. "Many see it as an imperfection, but I think… Well, I think it's beautiful."

Zuko nodded, gazing at the man in a new light. "Your brother…Your eyes change when you talk about him. He must have meant a lot to you."

"I was more than just his brother," Ryuichi said, his eyes… hardening? Perhaps his coldness was a coping mechanism. "I was his guardian. He was the one who bound me to this earth. My desire to protect him tied my down to the physical realm. Our mother died when we were both just children, and our father remarried to a horrible woman when I was fifteen. She would beat Kichirou and I until we were black and blue, and Father would turn a blind eye. She drank away our money for food and my little brother's medication. He was sick, you see. Very sick. He suffered from terrible hemorrhages and fainting spells. He bruised easily, and his blood didn't clot well to close up wounds. It was lethal, and we were lucky he survived to be ten. He was given experimental medication, which seemed to tone down the symptoms and allow him to lead a normal life. It was pretty expensive, though. I had to take up jobs during the day and hide the money to support the cost for his medication and firebending lessons. He felt as though the entire weight of the world was on his shoulders." Ryuichi swallowed, pain etched onto his face. "He wanted to join the army so that his family could live off of the salary and benefits. We'd never have to worry about money again. Kichirou, he was a good firebender. Very good. He would have done it, too. He would have excelled and done great things. The medicine, if I could only have…"

Zuko remained silent, his eyes downcast. It was safe to presume that, under the circumstances, Kichirou would not have been able to survive to see his goal accomplished. "I'm so sorry, Ryuichi." He crept closer to the man and brought him into a warm embrace, stroking his hair in an attempt to comfort him. The vampire sighed, leaning into the other with gratitude. This teenager possessed a beautiful soul. "Such a fantastic brother you must have been."

The two sat in the arrangement for quite awhile, until Ryuichi had relaxed and decided it was time for Zuko to feed the fire. "Honestly, I'm going to sweat off twenty pounds by the time I'm done here!" he groaned, shoveling coal into the furnace.

Ryuichi smiled, watching the young man with longing for his reassuring touch. No, hopefully Zuko wouldn't lose any more weight. He was the perfect size for hugging. The teenager returned to the sofa and plopped down onto it, allowing Ryuichi to rest his head on his shoulder. This was more than the vampire deserved… He was greedy to touch Zuko, to cherish him, each good memory replacing that of a disturbing one. He couldn't imagine life without the boy. This should have made him nervous, like a blind man hanging onto one cane for his entire life. But he did not worry, as his fear was replaced by the idealistic perspective inflicted upon him by Ravindra. Zuko would become a vampire, he would help them enslave the human race, and they would be lovers for the rest of eternity. Truth be told, Ryuichi only cared about that last part.

Zuko shifted, the feeling of contact of their slick flesh somewhat uncomfortable yet comforting. He traced patterns on the couch, his mind wandering from idea to idea when suddenly he whispered, "I always wanted a brother." Ryuichi glanced up, jolted back to reality. "Never really had one. There was my cousin, Lu Ten, but he was deployed to war quite a bit. My uncle was kind and cared for me, but I couldn't ask him all of the things I thought of talking about with an older brother. School, sports, girls… That sort of thing. Never got along well with girls either. I had a bit of a fucked up relationship with my sister." Ryuichi's eyebrows arched at the profanity, but he accredited it to the boy being tired and a bit dazed. "I wished for someone whom I could go to in the middle of the night if I had a question that needed answering, or someone I could look up to and admire. You've been that for me, Ryuichi. So… you know, thanks and whatever." Zuko fell asleep right then and there, causing Ryuichi to chuckle. He gently laid the young man down so that his head was resting in the vampire's lap. He didn't know if he'd have the heart to wake up the boy the next time the fire needed feeding. He was quite a deep sleeper, and waking him up was as painful as forcing the eyes of a newborn puppy open. You just didn't do it unless you didn't have a heart.

Two hours passed, and Ryuichi was quite pleased with the progress of the melting. Every once in a while he ran his cool hands over Zuko's body and checked his pulse to make sure he wasn't overheating. Ryuichi himself was just about ready to doze off into a restful state when he heard a soft moan being emitted from the other side of the couch. The vampire smiled, stroking the boy's hair. Such a beautiful boy, lost in his dreams where the line between reality and fantasy was smudged. Ah, but what kind of fantasies? Ryuichi wondered, now noting the growing bulge that was forming at the teenager's crotch. "The beauties of puberty," Ryuichi mused aloud, watching Zuko's lips part with soft moans and his body twitch with desire.

What to do, what to do? Devilish thoughts consumed the vampire as he stared down at the younger's predicament. He couldn't allow for the teenager to awake in such a condition later on. He would be so terribly embarrassed, and there would be little to no focus on their lessons. So, for entirely selfless reasons to be sure, Ryuichi concluded that he would assist Zuko in solving his problem. He slid out from underneath the teenager and rested his head on the arm of the sofa. He began by pressing a kiss against those trembling lips, allowing himself only a single swipe of his tongue along the younger man's mouth. His hands ghosted over the muscular chest, tracing each abdominal muscle and gently rolling the sensitive nipples. Zuko's hips jerked slightly, his tongue licking his lips with longing. "Is that a sweet spot for you?" Ryuichi asked him softly, leaning over to tease the boy with his tongue. Zuko let out a gasp, his hand fumbling to reach his erection, aching for the touch of a lover. "Let me take care of that."

What did it matter if Ryuichi could only have Zuko in his sleep? It was consensual, after all. The teenager wanted this even more badly than he did, therefore why shouldn't he do it? A thousand reasons tugged at the vampire's mind, but he chose to dismiss each one. He caressed the boy's throat as he undid the sash of his pants, easing the erection out of its constraints. He couldn't spend too much time taunting him, should the boy wake up in the midst of their passion. Keeping an ear out for the boy's increasing pulse, he gently stroked the sensitive length before him, taking in every sight and smell with joy. This part of Zuko was no longer solely Setsuya's. He would no longer be the only man to give Zuko the gift of orgasm. And to Ryuichi, this was a sweet thought. He groaned, wishing his own release could be met as a white pearl of seed pooled at the tip of the erect member in his grasp. The younger let out a deep moan as his secret lover flicked his tongue against him, trying to understand how the boy's body reacted to him.

"You're so beautiful," he informed the teenager, whispering the words as he inhaled the masculine smell of arousal. "So, so beautiful." He'd done this to many vampires before without blinking an eye, but this was different. This teenager's body was blazing hot, arcing pleadingly and unknowingly into his grasp, silently begging Ryuichi to give him satisfaction and affection. He didn't see a slut in Ryuichi; he didn't see a whore who could be ordered around once in a state of desire. The vampire smiled with fondness in his eyes, leaning forward and taking the member into his mouth and using the moist cavern to bring the boy closer to completion. After all, there could be no evidence of his sinful act. Zuko let out his loudest moan as of yet, thrusting unreservedly into the depths of the other's throat with faint smiles and cries of ecstasy. Ryuichi didn't mind. The teenager didn't know he was being pleasured by a real man, and there was no reason why the boy shouldn't take complete satisfaction in him. He would do anything to make Zuko happy.

"Take me!" the words were muffled and lacking inflection, but they were there. Ryuichi shook his head in disappointment. He certainly couldn't do that without waking the young man up! He wished he could give in to the other's desire to be filled, to be completed in flesh and seed. He redoubled his efforts, sucking on the erection and sending fierce vibrations throughout the submissive body. Lacking self-restraint and overindulging in pleasure, Zuko arched his back and came without warning. Ryuichi pulled back instinctively, swishing the seed in his mouth and spitting it out onto the ground. Not as sweet as blood, but sweeter than that of a vampire's, he decided, pleased that his vampiric senses allowed that which is bitter and vital to a human become all too nectarous to him. Zuko's breathing was rapid and his pulse fierce, and for a moment the vampire feared he might awaken. However the physiological side effects began to calm, giving Ryuichi time to redo the sash of the younger's pants and press a much deeper kiss into the human's mouth.

"Dream of me," he whispered to Zuko, who turned onto his side with his body still flushed red from his release. What he wouldn't give to be able to take credit for the satisfaction he'd brought the young man...

Three hours passed until Zuko awoke, the metal nearly ready. The teenager stretched with a groan, letting out a sigh of relief as his eyes fluttered open in a daze. Those dreams... Those dreams! He blushed, his mind's eye reviewing the sultry, seductive movements of Setsuya as he crept beside him and engulfed the teenager affectionately into his mouth, his whispered words of love and lust, his sweet kisses… "How long have I been sleeping?" he called once he regained his voice, still drowsy as he watched Ryuichi open the doors to the furnace for a last time.

"Five, maybe six hours," the vampire replied nonchalantly, eying the progress from beyond the flames.

"Ryuichi! You were supposed to wake me up!" Zuko cried, stumbling to his feet with a groan. "You were going to let me sleep through all of the good stuff!"

"I was not," Ryuichi lied, hiding a smile at the other's frustration. How could he wake that lovely boy from his slumber? "Come over here." Ryuichi rounded the furnace and pulled out a series of molds: large, small, thin, fat, curved, straight in all combinations. "Lighter metals like this function most appropriately as a standard blade. Heavier metals are stretched onto larger molds, and the absolute lightest into daggers and other assassination weapons. This would be a fantastic blade for your style. It improves your speed and strategic flexibility." He pulled out a mold that best imitated the length Zuko was used to dealing with and set it out on his workbench. He prepared a hilt with a suitable grasp, and motioned across the room. "There's a barrel of cold water on the other side of the room. Bring it to me, please." The teenager obeyed, as Ryuichi used care it withdrawing the liquefied metal from the furnace and pouring it into the waiting mold. "There we are. Just wait a few moments, and we'll get started. After we hammer the mold into place, we'll need to cool it off quickly."

Ryuichi reached toward the tools hanging on the wall and twirled a mallet about in thought. "Alright, hold this steady and take a firm stance." Zuko did as he was told, almost dropping the hammer that was tossed into his hands. It was a lot heavier than Ryuichi made it look! Standing behind the younger, the vampire demonstrated the proper technique and strength by guiding the boy's hand by the wrist. Ryuichi's hands were soft, too soft to be those of a swordsman. "Good, good. Try it by yourself for a while." He would have been impressed by how quickly Zuko caught on if he hadn't been the one to train the teenager. Ryuichi also didn't mind watching the warm, slick-with-sweat muscles move in fluent motions, tempting him to grab hold of the other from behind and kiss him senseless. After a while the vampire grabbed the sword by the hilt and thrust it into the water, completing the foundation of their task. "You did well," he said in a soft voice, proud not of the sword but of his student's accomplishment. "It's beautiful. I'll create a sheath for it tonight and you can practice with it tomorrow."

"Me? Practice with that? No, no, no, no, no!" Zuko shook his head, draping his tunic over his torso.

"Don't be silly. You made it."

"No, I just helped. It's yours. If it's such expensive material-"

"It doesn't matter. I want you to have it."

"Have it? Ryuichi, I can't!"

"You can and you will!" Ryuichi ended the conversation there, pressing a finger against the boy's lips. "I mean it, Zuko. It's yours."

The other sighed in acceptance, recognizing that arguing with Ryuichi was as pointless as trying to convince Setsuya that mathematics was a worthwhile study... which it was, damn it. "Thank you, Ryu. Next time, I'll stay awake with you." He left the man with his usual embrace, although the vampire was much less willing to let him go.

You don't know what we shared. I wish I could tell you.

Ryuichi carried him up the stairs once more and led him into a lighted hallway, where he could find his way back to his room. Zuko trudged somewhat languidly, his back and arms aching from his cramped nap on the couch, not to mention the weighty mallet he'd wielded. When he entered his quarters, he smiled to find a sealed piece of parchment on his pillow accompanied by a beautiful red rose in full bloom. Shu the snake was guarding the items faithfully, coiled beside them as he greeted Zuko with a nod. The teen chuckled, picking up the flower and stroking the petals affectionately. Setsuya had kindly snipped away the thorns, as any considerate lover would. He wondered how it would feel to lie on a bed of rose petals, pinned down by an enthusiastic vampire. Zuko opened the letter, reading it word-for-word.

My beloved,

I tried writing you a sappy letter full of metaphors explaining how much I love you, but I had to throw it away. The sugary language and sickeningly sweet words could not even begin to demonstrate such. Instead, they proved what a terrible poet I am.

I'm sorry I won't be here when you return, but I've gone to assess suspicious activity within the city limits. I would have taken you with me, but I didn't want to accidentally draw attention to you. I have someth- (blotched ink). I'll scout out the area and confer with the council to plan the invasion. Next time, we go together.

I will miss you terribly in my absence. When I complete my day's work, I shall return to our quarters and spend the quality time with you that we deserve after our night of passion. Rest and wait for me, my beautiful.

Love,

Setsuya

Zuko smiled, laying back on the bedding and allowing his pet snake to burrow against his chest. "Don't be jealous now, Shu. I just have a soft spot for predators."

xXxBloodlustxXx

Zuko awoke from his deep slumber to a pair of cool hands massaging his back. "Mmmm…" The human moaned, his eyes fluttering open to find his lover straddling his form and rubbing his back in sensual circles. "Welcome back," he whispered, rotating his shoulders and indulging in the other's touch. The vampire must have known how sore he was feeling.

"Hello, beloved." Setsuya smiled at the sight of the gorgeous golden eyes of his soul mate. "I've been longing to see you."

"Thank you for the letter." Zuko sighed with relief as his muscles were eased into relaxation. "Mmm, a little harder?" The hands acquiesced, and the boy blew an appreciative kiss. "May I paint you, Setsuya?"

"After you get a little food into your system. Someone is bringing you supper as we speak." He leaned back and allowed for his lover to sit up, crossing his legs and bringing Shu around his neck. Setsuya gave the snake a mysterious wink when Zuko glanced away. "So, how did your forging lesson with Ryuichi go?"

"He's an incredible teacher. By his words alone I practically ran through the majority of the process myself. That gift you gave him… Well, I think he's going to be working overtime for you now."

"I'm glad he liked it." Setsuya leaned forward to kiss his mate, when a convenient knock at the door interrupted them. He bolted to the door, retrieved the tray held out to him with gratitude, and pressing it toward the other. "Go on. You must be hungry. You haven't eaten since this morning."

Zuko nodded in thanks, sipping the warm soup cautiously. Perfectly seasoned. He drank it swiftly, asking in-between sips, "And your investigation? Did you find Ravindra's hideout? When do we invade?"

"Easy, easy. I'm fairly sure where they are, but we need a combat strategy and a bit more… information. I may send Ryuichi. He'll admit to anyone that he's the best at sneaking around." Setsuya rolled his eyes, making a mental note to ask Hayate to call a council meeting in a few hours, once the night's hunting group returned. Zuko finished his dinner and slipped behind his canvas, preparing his paints as Setsuya stripped off his outer cloak. The teenager drew a sharp breath, nothing how close he was to completing the portrait. Reaching into his tunic and pulling out his notebook, he withdrew several yellowing pieces of parchment to reference before setting to work on the vampire's skin tone and facial characteristics. He silently prodded Setsuya with his mind, urging him to resume his story where he'd left off.

"Ah, yes. Well, things didn't run so smoothly about halfway into the year. Kuzon didn't return home from spring vacation because he had to complete an essay for his civics class. So, his parents decided to visit him. Terrible luck, I suppose. They wanted to meet Kuzon's fabled girlfriend, that'd he'd created for the sole purpose of messing around with his parents and averting suspicion from me until he attained his degree. That's when everything fell apart... The receptionist at the university let them into his unattended dormitory. That's where they found all of his artwork, his supplies, and the assignment books he'd gotten from his art classes. This wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't unearthed a few… indecent drawings of me." Setsuya's eyes fluttered downward in shame, as though he had been the cause of this. "They knew then. His father demanded an explanation and Kuzon told them everything, screamed at the top of his lungs that he didn't care about college or the tuition they were paying to keep him there. He challenged them to stop loving him, to disown him because he was a…" Setsuya swallowed before continuing, "A fag. And that's just what they did. His father burned his life's work, beat him, and sent him packing. He arrived on my doorstep seventeen hours later in tears."

"Agni…" Zuko whispered, shaking his head. "Did his parents even care for him?"

"His mother wasn't so bad. She'd send money to my household and even write letters asking him how he was. Never mentioned me. But even then, Kuzon was free. He transferred his credits for art college over to the mainland and my parents enrolled him full time into a prestigious arts university, on a scholarship even. It was probably our happiest time as a couple. We could love each other freely and we didn't worry a damn thing about what people heard or said about us." Setsuya shuddered, trying his best to lie still. "For the final two months, I felt a presence watching me. A stranger who eyed me enviously as I went about my daily life. I didn't dare mention it to Kuzon… He'd probably beat up every guy who looked at me funny if I had. Neither of us had supernatural connections with the Spirit World as I have now, so our bond wasn't nearly as strong as the one you and I share. He didn't know, and I never told him. Yet, I could never have imagined what was following me."

At seventeen years of age, soon to be eighteen, Setsuya walked home at a swift pace with his wind-flushed cheeks glowing. It was late, but he had a good reason to be out. It was a night for nicely aged wine, as demonstrated by the bag he carried in his left hand. He had gotten into his choice university with a combined degree of philosophy and eastern theology. Tonight Kuzon promised they would share a night of congratulatory passion he'd never forget. His happiness was swallowed whole when he realized it… it was the Presence. He glanced behind him, noting the twitching shadows. He tried to stay calm, reminding himself that it wasn't a physical being and it could not hurt him. How very wrong he was.

Upon taking two steps, a sharp blow to the head made him groan and whimper in only one painstaking moment of fear. The bottle of wine dropped, shattering and spilling around his fallen body like blood. Dizzy and cold, he felt two icy hands drag him by the collar and hoist him into a pair of waiting arms. No… No… He had to get home to Kuzon, he had to, no…

xXxBloodlustxXx

Setsuya woke up in what best could be defined as an underground cell, fostering only a bed. His head throbbed and he swore there was dirt in his eyes. Upon trying to move, he found that his arms were shackled and chained to the headboard, causing him to let out a nervous call, "H-Hello? Can anyone hear me? H-Help me! Please…" The door opened and his heart leapt, only to sink to further depths. It was the Presence. He'd found him, kidnapped him, and desired to suck the very life out of him. "What do you want from me?" he hissed at the cloaked figure, perhaps trying to frighten the spirit back into its grave. However, the hood was pulled back and Setsuya gasped at the sight that met his eyes. It was a monster. A monster in the form of a beautiful man.

"I want to make you mine."

"He'd been watching me for quite some time. I should've told someone, but I didn't see reason to. I thought I was just encountering spirits as a part of my meditation. I didn't know I was being stalked. He watched me, constantly. When I ate, when I bathed, when I spoke, when I made love to my dearest… He was enthralled by me, and I hated my body for it. He took pleasure in me, in how I appeared to him. I once tried to maim my face with a piece of glass, thinking he wouldn't love me if I was scarred. He caught me of course, and I was punished. Agni, he screwed me up…" Setsuya shivered again, noting that his mate had gone completely silent, only the soft scratch of his brush to be heard.

Zuko wanted to apologize, but he pursed his lips shut. Setsuya didn't want his pity, to be sure. His eyes wandered over the vampire a last time, before flickering back to his portrait. Setsuya glanced at him inquisitively, as he cleaned up the paints and art supplies. "I'm finished," he added softly, though he drew the sheet over his work as he always did.

"Am I not allowed to see it?!" Setsuya questioned with protest, squinting at the canvas as though utilizing X-ray vision.

"Later. When I'm not around." Zuko's blush gave him away, and Setsuya knew it was a piece to be proud of. If Kuzon had finished such a piece, he would have demanded that his lover stare at it for ten minutes straight and tell him what he thought… And then scold him when he complimented it. Artists are complicated. "Setsuya, I-" The teenager froze as a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and a forehead nestled into his neck. Zuko flushed as Setsuya began nibbling on his ear.

"I love you, my dear."

"Are you trying to seduce me?" Zuko's voice was soft, not at all accusing. Gentle hands ran up and down his sides, brushing the insides of his thighs. He shuddered as a pair of cold lips sucked on his collarbone. "Don't watch, Shu!" he warned the snake in the corner, motioning for him to avert his reptilian eyes.

"Only if you want to be seduced." He distracted the teenager with sweet kisses as he reached around the younger to perhaps lift the sheet and sneak a glance at his portrait…

"When I'm not around!" Zuko insisted, slapping the vampire's hand away crossly. However, he dragged Setsuya back to the bed and pulled the man over his smaller body. "Although, I know something we can do now. You fed earlier, I felt it. Only after you made yourself suffer for five hours straight, you masochist."

"Maybe," the vampire agreed, baring his incisors playfully as Zuko loved to see him do. The teenager growled in return, and clothing was tossed in every direction. The younger insisted that Setsuya's absolute gentleness be discarded for a time, engaging the man in a passionate and demanding encounter. The vampire sought out a more sufficient lubricant, however, making the movements more fluent and vigorous. They made love five times in the span of their time together, as Zuko was determined to prove his resilience now that he was accustomed to his lover's pace. To his embarrassment, however, Setsuya was still willing to pleasure him when the teenager was breathless and ready to call it quits.

"How long can you circulate blood like that?" Zuko asked, burying his head in the pillow with exhaustion. A thin film of sweat covered his body once again, and he desperately wanted to drag himself out of bed and bathe. But the bedding was so comfortable, and Setsuya's arms were so tight around him. The vampire played with the other's stringy hair, nestling into his neck affectionately.

"Perhaps a few hours at a time," the vampire lord murmured, in-between kisses applied to the other's spine. "For as long as you need me, to be sure." Zuko stared at him with obvious jealousy- the man's hair was let down, but lacking tangles. His body shone with their exertions, but he didn't seem at all tired. Worst of all, his breathing was steady and unhindered while Zuko's was frantic as his pulse gradually calmed. "Don't worry," he murmured, kissing the other's forehead with affection when he felt his insecurities. "I've never felt as satisfied with a lover. Not that it would matter otherwise, of course." He flipped onto his side and flung a leg around the younger's waist, using his fingers to comb his lover's damp hair free of knots.

Zuko flushed at being treated so well, finding his last iota of strength to straddle his lover and hover over his pleading member. Setsuya let out a sharp breath as the cavern of warmth radiated over him, just out of his reach. "Satisfied isn't enough, Setsuya. I want you to be dead tired."

"Vampires don't get tired," he whispered, shutting up after he realized the words weren't exactly beneficial to his situation. He groaned as his lover descended just so their flesh touched.

"Not as of yet. But that's the goal, isn't it?" Zuko smiled seductively, watching Setsuya bite his lip in self control. This time, he was calling the shots. He felt the vampire's cool hands brace his hips in support as he rested his own on the other's chest. The teenager slid down onto the waiting member, tossing his head back in a moan. The self-proclaimed masochist breathed a sigh of joy, tugging at his hair yet not making a single move. Tight warmth slowly encompassed him, maddening yet pleasuring all the same. "Ah!" Zuko groaned, shifting his hips as his heart pounded and his body trembled with desire. He accompanied Setsuya fully, smiling down at his starry-eyed mate. "What do you want?" he whispered, brushing his hands over the other's abdomen.

"I want you!" Setsuya acquiesced, sinking his hip to feel the other slide around him. "Any way you'll have me." Seven seconds found Zuko, supported by the other's hands, moving up and down to a swift rhythm that drove the man beneath him to sweet cries of ecstasy. "Agni, I love you!" He rocked upward to meet his lover, taking pleasure in the boy's deep groans as the impressive length massaged his sensitive inner walls. Their hips rolled together in a breathtaking rhythm, and Zuko chuckled when he began to notice Setsuya's lips part in a daze. They moved together, each only to pleasure the other as they relished their bonding ceremony and their unity.

Their tempo elevated and the teenager's eyes fluttered shut. Deep thrusts caused unbearable friction around the older's erection, and the man writhed in satisfaction. One hand slid from the boy's hips and began to caress his member, smirking as Zuko began to shiver with excitement in their passion. Setsuya wouldn't deny that it felt good to be dominated- perhaps his years with Master had screwed with his head, but this was right. Zuko seemed to notice his appreciation and took his command a step further by snatching the man's arms and pining above his head. He missed his lover's hands traveling his body, but it was well worth it to see Setsuya thrash and groan beneath him.

Setsuya slyly thrust upward at Zuko's peak, causing the young man to cry out in bliss. The younger let out a final moan, arching his back and ejaculating upon their chests. The final aftereffects of his multiple orgasms washed over him in sweet waves. His lower body clenched, and Setsuya cried out as he reached his climax for the sixth time that evening. The vampire almost hated to admit it, but the other had sufficiently worn him out. He was not tired, yet he was certainly not energetic.

Zuko, on the other hand, slumped onto his lover's body, easing himself out of their flesh-to-flesh contact and onto the bed with a sigh of completion. Nestling himself into his lover's form, he gave the man a weak kiss before falling asleep where he lay. Setsuya smiled, wrapping his arms around his warm lover and closing his eyes. He could pretend to sleep for now, just for a little while. And for a moment, he felt himself waver between reality and the sacred recluse of slumber.

xXxBloodlustxXx

Ravindra was a puppet master. For every motion he made, there was an expected reaction. If Ravindra stroked him, he was to sigh. If Ravindra gripped his shoulders and bit his collarbone, he was to scream. If Ravindra kissed him, he was to submit. If Ravindra thrust into him, he was to moan and beg. If Ravindra smiled, he was to purr and enjoy his reward. If Ravindra glared, he was to cower and wait for his punishment.

"You want him, don't you?"

The words were whispered into his ear, though this time not by his own mind. Ravindra was running gentle hands through his hair, both bare and beneath a thin silken sheet clinging to their perspiring bodies. "I taste him on your lips," his Lord continued, kissing the other's neck gently. His raven hair, once braided, was loose and unkempt. He allowed only Ryuichi to see him in this state of disarray. "You desire him."

"I love him." The words escaped his lips before he could restrain them. He wondered if Ravindra would hit him. Instead, hands traveled his form lovingly.

"And you shall have him on these very sheets. We'll rule the world, the three of us." Ravindra hummed, inhaling deeply into the other's neck. "Setsuya has been snooping around town, coming closer to our hideaway every time. I fear Khai may have let more truth escape his lips than we expected. It's time we ran the final stretch. Bring him to me within forty-eight hours, Ryuichi."

"As you wish, Master."

xXxBloodlustxXx

Setsuya awakened from his restful state with a peaceful transition, although he hadn't expected his arms to be empty when he did. How did his lover sneak away without him noticing? It would have been impossible! And yet it happened, the man reminded himself. Zuko must have manipulated his mind into ignoring the changes in his environment. Such a difficult practice to master… It would be a dangerous technique if Zuko chose to misuse it, but he trusted his lover to utilize the privilege only under certain occasions. For instance, when he wanted to sneak out of bed after having sex. The vampire frowned, suddenly realizing the implications behind this. Why would his lover want to sneak out?! Worry infused his aura, and he was about to contact his soul mate when his eyes were drawn to the envelope lying on the sheets where the other's warm body once lay. He tore it open with a nervous stomach. Several pieces of parchment fell out with the letter, but he snatched the handwritten note first.

Setsuya-

I'm sorry for taking these from the beach house. I know I shouldn't have, but they gave me such a clear picture on how I wanted to portray you, I couldn't bear to part with them. Please forgive me? And I'm also sorry for manipulating your mind while you were resting. It won't happen again… Unless you give me reason to do it, of course. Or I want to sneak up on you. Whichever comes first. I'm going to visit Akane and Rohan, so don't wait up for me. Don't overwork yourself, okay? You spend too much time in that office of yours. It's not good for your mental health.

Love,

Zuko

P.S. You can peek at the portrait while I'm gone, but make sure you cover it back up. I don't like looking at it for too long.

It really was a day for letters, wasn't it? Setsuya picked up the pieces of parchment that had fallen, shocked by what he saw. They were drawings of him by Kuzon, ones that Zuko had found when they'd visited his past life's beach house. A large part of Setsuya felt flattered, but a slice of him was a bit angry. It wasn't Zuko's place to take Kuzon's things! …Or was it? Shrugging, he pocketed the pictures to return them to their home later on. Taking a deep breath, he stood and headed over to the canvas in the middle of the room. His lips pursed with excitement. He'd posed for this portrait for a few long weeks now, and he was dying to know what it looked like. Upon pulling back the sheet and revealing the portrait, the vampire felt his cold, stationary heart melt in his chest.

It was him alright. The representation was uncanny, with a slight change that made all of the difference. Zuko chose to paint him in his mortal liveliness. Sure his skin was as pale as it always was, but his eyes were less narrow and his expression was less cold. His posture was flexible and inviting, not stiff and unappealing. Everything about this Setsuya was kinder, gentler, more loving. This painting-representation looked as though he was ready to breathe and leap off of the canvas at any time. It took Setsuya a good five minutes of staring to realize that Zuko hadn't tried to portray him differently than what he really was. This was how Zuko saw him. This was life, not death. This was joy, not suffering. This was love, not indifference. And the more Setsuya stared at the painting, the more he wished he could see himself in this way.