Disclaimer: I don't own or make money off the anime show Beyblade or its characters… I'm simply borrowing them in an attempt to amuse myself… John, Garnet and Mira belong to me though! As well as any other extras that may turn up…

Warnings: Swearing, yaoi (boyxboy love), blood, OOCness…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 4

Lupinex is warm and far too comfortable to even contemplate the idea of opening his eyes and moving. He breathes in deeply, immediately overwhelmed by Johnny's scent; he's spent too long stalking the boy to not know his scent. And all the hair on his body feel as though they are standing on end because of it. It isn't… unpleasant, but he doesn't love it either. It is strong and reminds him of the cologne he's seen and smelt Sanguinex wear. Lupinex can't help but nuzzle into what ever he's being held against to draw in even more of that smell, it is instinct, he thinks.

Sometime later after drifting back out of sleep, he notices with some surprise that it's Johnny's chest he's got his face buried in (and that his chest is bare of any shirt), but he doesn't rush to move away; he doesn't want to wake him and have the Brat whine and rant so close to him; his ears are far too sensitive for that. He takes his time, drawing his head up with a horrid symphony of cracks as his vertebrae move into they're proper positions. His entire body hurts, he realizes with little surprise. It's still aching from his transformation, and seemingly all of his muscles are feeling completely restricted, as though they do not want to stretch and allow him to move, but he knows better than to yield to their protests.

Lupinex drops his head onto the pillow beside the one Johnny's is on with a sigh, a low growl making its way past his lips. All his limbs feel as though they're made of lead. He groans at the sight of the bandages, though he can't help but be thankful that McGregor didn't leave him for dead. He rather likes being alive, no matter how hard it is sometimes. He huffs to himself, out of amusement or cynicism he can't tell, he can't remember ever being so sore.

He can't be bothered moving and simply lays there for a while. Too sore to even tug the blankets from his where they are, bunched around his waist, to his shoulders were they're supposed to be. From beside him, Johnny is still clutching tightly onto the fabric, and is curled into himself slightly, almost feigning innocence with his peaceful expression. Lupinex knows better than to admire that face, and simply glares at its fraudulent expression. Soon Lupinex can't help himself, no matter how much he prefers Johnny quiet, and slowly he grins, turning over onto his side sloppily.

Slowly, smirking through the pain, he reaches over to the blankets stretched over Johnny's jutted shoulder, little by little he drags slightly clawed fingers over the red head's bared neck, delighted to see a shudder rack his smaller body. Lupinex grins twistedly as he slowly tugs the blanket loose, before ripping it off the rest of the way. Johnny's reaction is more than exceptional.

Johnny shoots up, his hands clutched beneath his armpits. The air is chilly and unpleasant and he had been having the nicest dream besides knowing he isn't in his room, or in his own bed. The situation quickly comes to him as he turns to the howling Lupinex, his mouth quickly twisting into a frown.

"Hey!" The werewolf ignores him, making his already red face, flush a few shades darker, "What the hell was that for? I save your life and this is how you repay me?" He's on his hands and knees now, shaking with barely concealed rage as the werewolf's laughter slowly peters out into rasping chuckles and a smug smirk.

"I would have lived without your help McGregor." He says, barely moving his lips as his voice comes out it a grated rasp. His throat is still sore and achy from his screaming during his transformation and his laughing hadn't helped any.

Johnny's fists are balls clutching at the sheet covering the mattress, "Like hell!"

Lupinex slowly raises a hand to his head, rubbing his temples slowly, "Will you shut up, Brat, my head is pounding." His statement gets his wanted reaction: Johnny growls with frustration and is shaking and -

Johnny's eyes widen dramatically, "You idiot!" Lupinex almost pushes him away with a yell as Johnny tugs his arms so he's sitting up. Almost as quickly, Johnny's tugging at the bandages around his chest off with surprising efficiency causing Lupinex watches with great surprise as the Scot continues to tell him off as he does so.

"You've moved around too much. Look at this blood!" He waves the blood soaked bandages in front of Lupinex's nose before rushing from the bed, dumping the now red linen into the bin before grabbing some more. He grabs a towel on his way back and perches himself on the side of the bed, leaning over Lupinex's lap as he mentally tallies away and notes what damage has been done.

"Idiot. You could have really hurt yourself..." He continues to mumble, as he dabs gingerly at a reopened wound, now oozing with blood. Lupinex can't seem to find the energy to push him away, and he almost doesn't want to; it has been a long time since he'd been cared for so tenderly. Cenotaph wasn't ever known for being gentle, despite his knowledge and experience with medicine.

His eyelids are now feeling heavy as Lupinex realizes he is as tired as he'd felt last night; the excitement of the morning having worn him out. Almost as if on cue, Lupinex yawns, baring his sharp teeth to Johnny's view and the teen can only stare with wonder and an inkling of fear as he closes his jaws again. Lupinex doesn't notice Johnny's staring; He is already asleep.

o0o0o

His eyes flare red as he watches the Majestic tend to his little brother's wounds with the care of a friend, or perhaps lover. Sanguinex doesn't like what he sees; McGregor seems far too comfortable touching Lupinex the way he is.

Sanguinex is standing on the balcony outside Lupinex's room's window, hidden behind the wall to the left of the clean, clear glass doors. He's dressed in civilian clothes, nothing like the gothic style robes he used to wear. He still has his cloak though, and the hood effectively hides his pale face from the sun.

He hears yelling, coming from the window above him and doesn't hesitate to sink into the shadows and appear on the ledge outside of it. He is surprised to find an older version of Johnny arguing with a graceful looking woman.

She seems to be trying to reason with him. "You can't do that! Johnny won't ever agree! He's a romantic at heart, you know that!"

"He will! For this family, he will." The man states firmly, sitting in a large seat with his back to Sanguinex. The woman slowly walks to him, and Sanguinex can't help the smirk that makes his lips quirk at their corners.

She sits on the man's lap, slowly winding her arms around his neck before bestowing a quick kiss to his still frowning mouth. "You weren't too happy when you were forced to marry me." If it weren't for Sanguinex's acute hearing he was sure he wouldn't have heard her. "You argued right up until the time you said 'I do'."

The man's voice is soft, also, "He will do the same."

"But why force him? You know how it feels."

"It's," Sanguinex can barely hear him now, "Essential, that he marry soon. He hasn't put any effort into finding a bride."

"He's 18 and still a baby. We married at 20."

"I don't care." Sanguinex watches with a twisted smirk as the woman smiles kindly before she captures his lips, drawing the taller, broader man to her. The woman is manipulative, Sanguinex decides as he turns away from the window, again sinking into the shadows to appear in the trees on the castle's grounds.

He smirks as he settles himself on an aging, stone seat. He decides with a feeling of sadistic glee that Lupinex would love to hear of this predicament.

o0o0o

After his nap, Lupinex finds the energy to get up and move about the castle. He's restless and needs to move around - his skin feels tingly and his muscles ache from his transformation and keeping still - but he regrets doing so within the Brat's line of sight.

"You're going to end up killing yourself." He hears Johnny mutter for the seventeenth or eighteenth time since he'd left the warmth of his bed. He has mostly ignored the teenager though he can't resist teasing the boy, every now and then.

He lets out a rumbling chuckle that sounds like thunder, "One might think you care McGregor." He states with another chuckle and another smug smirk.

"I do not!"

"Oh?" Lupinex turns to look at the boy, heading down the last flight of stairs to the garden, "Then why have you been nagging me all morning? You're worse than a woman."

Johnny's fists are clenched and held stiffly at his sides, and he clenches his teeth in the effort to not lose his temper, "I just don't want you making a mess all over the castle's floors. Your blood smells putrid." He growls with rage as Lupinex simply chuckles, before seating himself at the base of a tall oak tree. He leans against its trunk tiredly panting because of the walk. Johnny huffs indignantly, turning his nose up at Lupinex's state, "You're tired after that small walk? That's pretty pathetic."

Lupinex enjoys seeing Johnny fume, and smirks again, "As hard as it is to believe, Brat, I heal quicker when I am able to move around. It's the werewolf genes in me, they kick in and heal me quicker." His eyes shine cheekily up at Johnny and Johnny finds himself staring; they remind him of that wolf's bright, but dangerous, eyes and they're daring him to comment.

The red head notices the challenge after a short while, but stubbornly refuses to utter a sound, sticking his nose in the air like a spoilt child. Johnny stubbornly stares off into a shrub and counts the berries he can see. It stopped raining the night before and the ground is moist, some parts of McGregor castle's lawns are like a mud hole more than anything else. Johnny glances down at Lupinex.

It seems as though the werewolf doesn't seem to mind getting wet. Johnny spies the water starting to soak the fabric of Lupinex's clothes, making them stick to him. He huffs quickly, turning to stare at the shrub again, "Don't get your bandages wet; I won't change them until later tonight." Lupinex doesn't acknowledge him.

All is quiet in the garden, and the peacefulness almost reminds Johnny of a fairytale he remembers his mother reading to him. It had been about a secret garden, and had sounded heavenly once the three children tending to it had all the flora growing and flowering. He leant against the trunk of Lupinex's tree lazily, sighing as he did so.

Both Lupinex and Johnny jump when the peacefulness is shattered abruptly. "Oh, Lawrence!" Garnet is practically skipping towards them, her dress waving and fluttering with her every step around her shins. Johnny notices with some surprise that Lupinex has stood up (rather slowly and jerkily, and Johnny can't help the callous glee that wells up in him at the sight) to greet her and is dusting the grass off his now wet backside and legs.

Garnet smiles brightly as she comes to a stop in front of them, "How was your trip? When did you return? No one informed me that you had."

Lupinex smiles in return, "Fine, the family are all right and the weather seemed to ease up a bit. And I didn't want anyone to wake you. I returned late last night." Johnny is almost glowering at Lupinex and his sickeningly sweet tone and his polite words. He is being far too friendly with his mother, far too friendly. Doesn't he realise that his mother is a married woman? Johnny vows to remind him later.

"Oh," Garnet says, Johnny guesses she's noticed Lupinex's paleness as she reaches for him, "Are you tired?" She places a hand on Lupinex's arm with concern.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You look as though you could collapse-"

"Mother!" Both people turn to Johnny, one looking innocently confused, while the other is trying to stop himself from smirking, "He doesn't need you to pine over him." He says huffily, quietly.

Garnet releases Lupinex's arm and plants both hands on her slim hips, glaring at her slightly taller son, "Now Johnny, I know you're supposed to be concerned over Lawrence's safety and health, but really, that rude tone isn't necessary."

"Quite right," Lupinex pipes up quickly, sending a quick smirk Johnny's way as he takes Garnet's hand in his own dramatically, "Why, my mother would have given me a knock to the head for such a tone. He's very lucky to have such a kind woman as a mother."

Garnet turns pink and giggles, waving a hand at him as she covers her mouth in exaggerated embarrassment. Johnny fumes openly and uncaringly, so much so he is surprised there isn't steam rushing from his ears. Lupinex shouldn't be acting so… So… Again he can't find the right words to describe the Beast.

Finally, Garnet calms down, "Now, now, teasing aside, I promised to take you shopping so we can get you some clothes." She says to Lupinex, again patting his arm. Lupinex looks as though he is about to argue, "No, I promised. And besides," Her violet eyes scan Lupinex's form, "We have a small party coming up; you can't attend looking like that." She gestures to Lupinex's lower half. Johnny has to blink and resist the urge to rub his eyes as he swears Lupinex turns pink.

Garnet pivots, motioning for them to follow her, "Come on, get changed - you too Johnny - and we'll leave right away!" Johnny hears Lupinex grumble something and looks him over, before he realises his mother will have Lupinex walking around a busy mall with his wounds.

Lupinex seems to notice, "Like I said, I heal faster when I'm active." Johnny doesn't have time to argue as Lupinex sinks into the ground, disappearing before Johnny's eyes.

o0o0o

"Can't you tell your mother I don't need so much stuff?" Lupinex mumbles to the teenager by his side. He's leaning against a wall tiredly; watching as Garnet practically glides and bounces around the shop, selecting shirts and trousers and what ever else she believes Lupinex will need. The trolley in front of them is already over flowing with clothing.

Johnny snorts, smirking at the disbelieving tone in the Beast's voice, "You tell her. She obviously prefers you to me."

The werewolf pins Johnny with a level stare, "Anyone would think your jealous, Brat." Lupinex remarks with a frown. His eyes narrow into a glare as Johnny continues to smirk smugly. His expression quickly changes to one of polite interest as Garnet again bounds over to them.

"I need you to try on a suit, Lawrence." She says affectionately, quickly taking his hand and tugging him towards the men's changing stalls. Johnny smirks with delight at the expression of pain on the werewolf's face as he staggers behind her, holding his stomach; After all, it served him right.

"Stubborn jackass," He mumbles as he moves to examine a tennis racket in the store next door. He sighs exasperatedly as he hears his mother's giggling from inside the store. "She's crazy." He tells himself exasperatedly.

His mother had always been a little eccentric, but as she paid for Lupinex's stuff and asked the maids and kitchen hands she'd asked along to take the stuff back to the castle, he couldn't help but wonder if she was really related to him. His family had adopted before. And after all, no one would ever see him skipping around as if there was no bad in the world. No one would ever see him skipping at all.

Lupinex came to a stop beside him as stares down at Johnny, a slight frown marring his face as he takes in Johnny's thoughtful look. As he stands beside him, waiting for the Brat to acknowledge him he watches the happy - crazy, they both think spontaneously - mother gliding around on the little cloud of happiness she was usually on. What had happened to the serious and respectable woman he'd met on his first night at the castle? Lupinex wondered, yet he didn't know, but he was finding it hard to hate her. Sanguinex wouldn't be happy.

The werewolf notices that Johnny is still lost in thought and he can't help but taunt him. "You can tell she's your mother." He says in a low gravely voice, "Completely insane." He pauses for a minute, soaking up the angered vibes radiating off Johnny's stiff form, "Bossy too." Johnny had now turned to him and was glaring up at him with what seemed to be eyes that were as blazing as hot as the sun. Lupinex smirks slightly, "She almost as bad as you with her nagging."

Johnny growls quietly, "I do not nag."

Lupinex casts him a suspicious look, as if he doesn't believe him and it only angers Johnny further, "Are you sure?"

"Listen here you absolute piece of shi-!"

"Johnny, you better not be, being rude to our guest." Garnet walked up to them, placing herself between the two men, a disapproving stare shot her son's way. "He's been nothing but polite." Lupinex had to resist the urge to preen. He was rather proud of his manners thus far; perhaps the lectures Sanguinex had given him were useful. Perhaps he ought to thank him some time. Later.

The werewolf stares down at the woman in surprise as she loops an arm around his own, and gently tugs him in another direction. He can't help but blink in confusion at her friendliness, "Are you hungry?" Lawrence nods, his stomach giving off a monstrous growl that is followed by another that isn't caused by him. Johnny has turned red.

Garnet laughs, hiding it behind a dainty hand, "Seems we all are." Johnny glares at her babying of him as she pants his cheek affectionately. "Well, come along, the food court's this way."

o0o0o

Lupinex stared at the menu, feeling as though his head were about to explode at the names of the dishes. What the hell? What happened to simple dishes like 'Beef Stew' or 'Spagetti'.

"You're acting as though you've never been to a restaurant before." Johnny said, his voice strained. It was obvious he was attempting to be polite in front of his mother, though he hasn't been very successful.

Lupinex notices Garnet's staring as well. He cleared his throat nervously, "I haven't." He mumbles quickly, as he buries his nose in the menu again, ashamed of his lack of experience of dining out. Garnet's disbelieving look does nothing to settle the nervous feathers tickling his stomach.

Johnny snorts, but remains quiet. Garnet seems to have been shocked still. It takes a minute for the situation and Lupinex's actions to grate on Johnny's nerves and he quickly snatches the menu from Lupinex's hands.

"Oi! We'll have two servings of the Par- whatever it's called. What would you like mother?"

Lupinex could have sworn he'd heard his name muttered paired with an uncertain amount of unpleasant adjective afterwards.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Woffy: The stupid computer's still stuffed… Evil thing it is…

Anyway… Review please and don't worry about the debt it will be brought up shortly… Just don't expect the update to be coming soon… -sweatdrops- Sorry…