"So, she's here, huh? Well then, I suppose I should go and greet my dear princess then." pale eyelids shut slowly over crimson pools, long lashes of ebony black, matching the bangs that swept his pale face, fluttered closed. A content smile appeared upon his lips as he held the glass of sweet, metallic red liquid to his awaiting mouth.

"Brother, don't hurt her! She's a good person, a powerful vampire! Once Kish has claimed her as his own, then there is nothing you can do to her from there on." folding her arms and narrowing her eyes, Serenity took up a barricade stance in front of the door he was about to exit, leading from the study.

"Which is why I want to feed on her earlier than that! Now, just move, so I can get through! I'll only drink a LITTLE of her blood." as he went to walk around his sister, who moved to block him with each step he took, he found that it was utterly useless. So, deciding that he was an idiot for not using plan B in the first place, he lunged to one side, as did she, but just as quickly, he pulled back and tossed her, having lost her stance, into the room.

From there, he quickly slammed and locked the door, grinning as he heard her loud thumps on the door.

"I wouldn't waist your energy on something so futile, my dear sister. You're not going to escape until I come back with the only set of keys. Don't worry though, because I'll bring what's left of dear Ichigo back for you." jangling the keys in his palm, he chuckled darkly and began walking away, in the direction Ichigo's sent was omitting.

'It's pretty hard NOT to smell her beauty...Such beauty deserves to be touched and fondled. After I claim her as a servant, I can do just that. No Kish, no sister, no council, can stop me from claiming her.' it was true. It was basically anarchy when it came to vampiric mating. It was survival of the fittest. Those who 'Claimed' their mate before the other could claim the same mate, would always get her in the end.

Though, he was only claiming her as a servant, for his workforce. That there was a totally different thing. If you claimed another vampire by biting them and leaving your mark, without exchanging blood, then you would end up turning them into servants, who couldn't be claimed as mates or servants to anyone else.

'Is that the only reason I'm stealing her?...ARGH! Stop being stupid! Why would I actually think I'm in love with her?!' thinking angrily to himself as he trudged, swiftly, down the corridor, he was not prepared, in any way, for what was about to happen.

There, walking down the hallway, in almost a floating gaze, (at least to him) was the one woman who had succeeded in cluttering his narrow, vampiric mind with nothing but herself.

"My Lady..." bowing swiftly, mockingly, to her as she passed him, he wasn't prepared for her to stop, dead in her tracks, and stare him down. "Oh, and what is it that is bothering my queen this fine morning?" grinning, he watched her face shift from a blank state of confusion, to a dark look of contentment.

"Tell me why it is that you hate your cousin. Then, tell me why you've decided to pick on me." tapping her foot in expectation, she crossed her arms in a waiting manner and raised a single brow to him.

"Why, My Lady! Whyever would you accuse me of such a thing?! I don't hate him, I loath him with a passion and wish him death, rotting in hell! He abandoned the vampire world and he left me to bare the brunt of it all!" he hadn't really raised his voice to a yell, yet it was clearly visible that he wasn't, nor had he ever, held back the anger within his heart, concerning his cousin.

"I see...So, is threatening to drink MY blood your way of getting revenge? Or, are you actually falling for me?" watching as his cheeks grew bright red, compared to their usual pale, as well as watching his eyes avert to the floor, Ichigo could only guess part of her answer.

"Y-yeah...It was..." he had been in a perfect position to feed, but had waved it off, basking in her beauty. Wait! Beauty?! What was getting into him?! As his heart began to pound against his ribs, he could find only one other way to react to his feelings. He yelled.

Well, argued, maybe. When your head feels light, your knees are too shaky to move, and you can barely make audible words, it's pretty funny to watch.

"I'm just feeling gracious today! So-so I won't d-drink your b-blood!" during the span of his pathetic excuse, his voice had cracked many a time. The great Kei had shone a flaw, a weakness.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen...Well, just make sure you don't fall for me! Now, I'm off to find the seventh door to the right in the back hallway of the second wing." upon glancing around, her face fell, and she looked totally lost. She had no clue where her room was, and was on the totally opposite side of the castle from where she needed to be.

"Well, I could show you. I mean, if you wanted me to, that is." rubbing the back of his head nervously, his stomach knotted beyond belief, he wasn't sure if she would accept his help. After all, he HAD tried to kill her.

"Oh, I'm fine. I just need some directions is all." waving her hands desperately before her, she still didn't trust him, even if he hadn't tried anything yet.

"Ok, well...It's down this hall, up those stairs, go left, then make a sharp right first thing. You then go another right, and take a left when you first get there. Oh, and, by the way, I had waited for you to notice me at the dance, and had wanted you to dance with me. You probably didn't notice, being beside Kish and all." he muttered his cousin's name with an air of hatred and disgust. Pure despise dripped like lethal venom from his lips, his fangs, his heart.

"Ichigo, I heard you got lost, and so I came looking for you! Are you alright?! You're not hurt, are you?! He didn't bite you, did he?!" taking her wrists, her neck, her everywhere almost, into his hands, he inspected her carefully before glaring at his cousin. "Don't even think about Claiming her! She and I already have a promise made!"

"...What ever. It wasn't worth actually trying to be nice for once anyways. I'm going to the kitchen for blood. Don't bug me while I'm down there!" growling as he spun quickly and began to walk down the hall, towards the kitchen, he turned back and added, "Oh, by the way, go unlock Serenity from the study. She tried to intervene, so I locked her there and sealed it." tossing the keys over his shoulder, Kei disappeared mysteriously, into the darkness.

"Kei...I know he's trying to behave towards you, and I know it was hard for him while I'd been gone. I know he had a lot to deal with as well. I think that you could possibly be the only way I could reach him, Ichigo. But, for now, let's find your room. It's mine as well, so it's easy for me." wrapping his arms around her, they made their way silently down the hall.

On the way, they unlocked Serenity from the study, and allowed her to follow them, close by Ichigo's side.

"You know, my big brother isn't that evil. Actually, he really is lonely. Ichigo Onee-Sama, can you make him your servant?! That way, he won't be lonely anymore. Besides that, he wouldn't be able to harm you, nor Kish. You would have more people protecting you!" tugging on her sleeve as they made their way down the hall, Serenity actually giggled in happiness.

Though, when Kish glanced down at her, she quickly shut her mouth and went silent. Though, as Ichigo said something about the weather, she began to laugh again.

'Am I really THAT scary?! Honestly! All I did was look at her! Oh well, I guess it's good that Ichigo can make her laugh like this.' a content grin spread its way onto his lips as he though, "Hmm, a mother, a father, and one daughter. Yes! This feels like a family!'

Ok, sorry if it really didn't fit in with everything else, but this is simply a connector chapter, easing myself back into my writing. God Bless all of my lovely reviewers!

CYBERCOOKIES TO ALL WHO REVIEW! No, you don't need an account to review!