Yays! Do the dance! Do the dance! Everybody, look at your pants! I finally got my first drafts, now I can write my old stories again!

Blood Love by Boogermeister

Chapter 22

"I can't believe you left that monster alive, Raphael," smiled Valon; he and the two hunters were on the rooftop of a building, eyeing the sky for vampires. "Wonder what makes you do that?"

"Just waiting for a challenge like that to happen," replied Raphael.

"What do you mean by that, Raphael?" questioned Alister, glancing at him.

"If he's foolish enough to retaliate against us," answered Raphael, "it would gives us an excuse to kill them all."

"Including the girl and the half-breed?"

"Maybe."

"Hey, I got a neat idea, Raphael," said Valon. "Instead of killing the vampires all at once, why don't we just 'bother' the leader himself?" Raphael's eyes showed a glint of amusement at what his comrade had meant.

"We'll see."

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Atem groaned painfully as he woke up from an uncomfortable slumber. not only he was feeling intense pain in his injured leg, he was also having strong cravings for blood fo nearly two nights. "Damn . . . ." he growled softly as he glanced around the darkened room. He knew no one was here since the laboratory was far too quiet. Obviously, after threatening Mahad for making a foolish suggestion of taking Anzu's blood, Atem had been left alone for a while.

"I can't believe he would say something like that to me," he muttered bitterly. "Such a foolish thing." Just then, he heard the metal doors opening and closing in the distant. "Are you feeling all right to walk around?" said a female voice; Atem instantly knew it was Anzu.

"Yeah, I was just a little sick," said a voice that was obviously Jonouchi. Seconds later, the door opened and they walked in. "Hey, how you doing, bud?" smiled the blonde vampire as they walked up to him.

"The same, as usual," sighed Atem. "How are you feeling? I didn't mean to drink so much."

"Eh, I've been in worse things," Jonouch shrugged, rubbing the side of his neck. "My wing's better, too."

"Have you heard anything from the human side?" Atem asked.

"The newspaper lied about what happened a few nights ago," Anzu replied quietly, handing him newspaper of yesterday's and today's date. Atem stared at the yesterday's newspaper and his eyes narrowed in displeasure.

'Vampire Leader Attacks Hunter'

"Must I read this?" he muttered in clenched teeth.

"Uh, no, you don't have to," Anzu said quietly, but Atem looked inside anyway and scoffed.

"Last night, one of the three hunters who was present during the human/vampire equality negotiation was ambushed by the vampire leader and one of his followers. The hunter, goes by the name of Raphael, was attack by the two vampires and was able to escape after injuring the two vampires . . . ."

Atem furiously tore up the newspaper and was breathing heavily. "It's always the same thing," he said, brushing the scattered pieces away. "The same thing these humans believe . . . ." He suddenly groaned as he clutched his stomach.

"Atem, you haven't drink yet?" questioned Jonouchi, sounding alarmed. "Should I get Mahad?"

"No, I don't need Mahad now," Atem replied quickly, remembering the mistake Mahad had made.

"Well, you're not drinking me dry again," Jonouchi huffed as he turned to leave. "I'm getting him, anyway." He left as Anzu sat next to Atem, placing her hand onto the side of his face.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked concernedly. "Your leg's not healing any faster. Are you drinking enough . . . . blood to have it healed?" Atem glanced away from her.

"I need . . . . a certain kind of blood for my leg to heal, Anzu," he muttered, clenching his teeth.

"Like . . . . human blood?"

Atem didn't answer. He knew in his condition, he can't prey on humans easily. But Anzu was the only human within his reach. He can't, he just can't even though his hunger was slowly taking over reasonable thoughts. I can't, I couldn't, he thought. Why would I take her blood just fo me to live? I love her far too much to do it. Atem glanced at Anzu and sighed softly. "I can't, Anzu," he whispered. "I wouldn't do it."

"You mean . . . . drinking my blood?" Anzu questioned quietly. "Well . . . . if there's no choice . . . . you can do it."

"No, Anzu," groaned Atem. "You shouldn't offer me your blood."

"But Jonouchi did it."

"That's different!" Atem retaliated. "You'll die if I drink too much! I won't do it, Anzu!"

"I want you to do it, Atem," Anzu pleaded. "I cared about you and I want you alive. Please, just do it. I love you enough to offer my blood to you."

"But . . . . I . . . ." Atem breathed heavily and his fangs began to lengthen. "No . . . . I'm sorry . . . ." He suddenly grabbed grabbed Anzu by the shoulders and leaned closer to her neck, breathing in the sweet scent. He can't hold it in much longer. He finally sank his sharp fangs into the soft, delicate skin.

Anzu gasped sharply at the sharp pain, as Atem drank greedily on her sweet blood. She noticed how fast she was weakening and her vision started to blur. "Atem! Stop!" she cried as she tried to push him off in vain. "No! Stop, Atem!" Atem won't listen as he continueed draining her.

"Atem . . . . please . . . ." whimpered Anzu as her body began to feel limp. "Stop . . . . please . . . ."

"Atem! Stop!" Jonouchi and Mahad rushed in, immediately prying Atem's head from Anzu. "Atem, let go of her!" Jonouchi cried as he forcibly moved Atem's arms away. Atem glared at him and snarled as he tried to slash at him but Jonouchi pinned him down. "Atem, snap out of it!" he cried. "You realized what you've done?!"

Blood drooled from Atem's mouth as he tried to fight off against him. "Atem, listen to me!" snarled Jonouchi as he glared at his bloodlust-filled eyes. "Look at what you've done to Anzu! You drank her blood!" Atem suddenly came back to his senses and blinked in confusion.

"Jonouchi?" he questioned.

"What have you done to Anzu?!" he growled lowly. Atem turned his head and and saw in horror at Anzu's limp body in Mahad's arms.

"No . . . . Anzu . . . ." he gasped, he realized there's blood on his lips and quickly wiped it away.

"Atem, she's still alive," Mahad quickly replied. "She hasn't lost a lot of blood. She'll be okay."

"Why, Atem?" Jonouchi asked quietly. "Why did you do it?" Don't you love her?" Atem simply shut his eyes in shame, making the other vampire growled angrily. "She gave you a kid, and this is what you do to her?!"

"I didn't want to do it," muttered Atem. "She asked me to drink, but I didn't want to." Mahad gasped softly and glanced away shamfully.

Jonouchi sighed both in anger and sadness as he let go of Atem. "I can't believe it . . . ." he muttered as he clanched his fists. "I just can't . . . ."

"Jonouchi, we must go quickly," said Mahad. "We have to help Anzu now." Jonouchi shot a glance at Atem before leaving the room, as Mahad turned to leave.

"Are you happy now, Mahad?" Atem muttered bitterly. "Are you happy that I took your advice?" Mahad shivered in fear and shame but continued to walk out of the room.

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"Anzu. Hey, Anzu," Shizuka said softly, kneeling beside Anzu, who was lying in the couch and was slightly paled with sickness. Her neck was bandaged, but the scent of her blood was wafting around the room, making the other vampires feel uncomfortable. Jonouchi glanced over her and exhaled heavily.

"She's still out of it," he muttered, biting his bottom lip. "Damn . . . . why would she offer Atem her blood . . . . how fucking stupid . . . ."

"Katsuya," Shizuka sobbed quietly as she looked up, "is Anzu gonna be okay? She looks terribly ill."

"Of course she gonna be okay," he replied quietly. "Still, I believe this situation had damaged both her and Atem."

"Do you think . . . . the hunters wanted this to happen?" Shizuka asked. Jonouchi narrowed his eyes at that question. If that hunter injured Atem intentionally for him to drink Anzu's blood, then the other hunters would have a reason to retaliate since Anzu was the reason that there were less vampire attacks. If Anzu was to be attacked within the vampires' territory, then the othe humans in Domino City are doomed.

"That damn bastard," growled Jonouchi. "I shoulda tore his head off."

"These past few nights have been so horrible," Shizuka said quietly. "I wish those hunters were gone."

"Me too," said Jonouchi. Just then, Anzu moaned weakly as she barely opened her eyes. "Anzu!" gasped Shizuka.

"Anzu! You okay?" Jonouchi questioned as he placed his hand on her forehead, it was very hot and sweaty.

"Atem . . . ." Anzu groaned. "Is he okay . . . . .?"

"Nevermind him," he replied quickly. "You're very lucky you're alive. A couple more minutes . . . . forget it now. Shizuka, get Mahad." Shizuka quickly left, while Jonouchi slowly paced back and forth. "Anzu."

". . . . yeah, Jonouchi?" groaned Anzu, feeling something is wrong.

"What you did . . . . was bold . . . . but downright stupid," he said quietly. "What were you thinking? I can't believe you would do that could hurt everyone deeply, especially Atem."

"But, I was only trying to help . . . . like you did," Anzu said weakly.

"That's different; I'm a vampire," he replied as he stared at her. "I can recover quickly. It's just that I was already injured and weak when I offered my blood, but I recovered just the same. With you . . . . humans like you couldn't live without some medical attention if we drink your blood. It's a good thing haven't lost a lotta blood; Mahad thinks you only lost about nearly two pints." Anzu weakly smiled as she closed her eyes.

"She doesn't know how lucky she really is," muttered Jonouchi. "We should've warned her earlier about Atem's feeding behaviors."

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Mokuba glanced out of his bedroom window and sighed out of boredom. The glistening lights of Domino City doesn't seem to take his mind off of today's newspaper scattered on his bed; he couldn't believe those three hunters are staying for a few months, which could ruin his brother's reputation. There was a knock at the slightly opened door before the brunet's head stuck out.

"Something's troubling you, Mokuba?" questioned Seto as he walked inside. Mokuba glanced at his older brother concernedly.

"These hunters . . . . I think they want to ruin your reputation," he replied quietly. "What if they ruin your chances against the vampire leader?"

"There's nothing I can do for now," sighed Seto. "But remember the promise I gave to you and to our parents. I will end his life for the sake of our family."

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Atem slowly unwrapped the bandage with slight hesitation. Shamefully, he still had the sweet coppery taste of Anzu's blood. As the early morning sun starting to peek through the windows, he stared at his injured leg; the bones and most of the tissues had already healed. "Just for this?" he muttered somberly. "I risked Anzu's life just for me to live?" He then rewrapped the leg and laid down, falling into a deep sleep.

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Damn, I didn't realize how long that chapter would be.

Read, review, and no flames.

I'll update ASAP!!

P.S.- I'll also update my yaoi fic 'Howling for Mate' ASAP!!