Disclaimer: Seriously, I'm not sure why I put these in every chapter, since no one really reads them, but it's more for my own OCD I guess.

Note: This chapter starts in a flashback.

Kaname awoke in the morning to find Mizu gone. Sighing with disappointment at the missed morning love making, Kaname was faced with even more disappointment as he awoke to find that Mizu hadn't delivered his breakfast as he usually did.

'Slacking today, Mizu?' Kaname thought

Sliding out of bed, glancing around the room, to find no sign that Mizu had been there, he closed his eyes. 'Mizu?' He called out to his servant 'Mizu?'

There was silence.

"Is he sleeping?" Kaname murmured

The door opened.

"Lord Kaname oh!"

Kaname's head whipped toward the door, where he spotted a blushing young servant woman.

"Yes?

"You--."

Kaname glanced down, realizing that he was naked.

"Ah…"

'I'm used to Mizu being here…'

Making no effort to get dressed, Kaname asked:

"Who are you?"

"Oh! I'm--."

"I mean, what are you doing in my bedroom?"

"Uh…. Uh… the Demon Lord sent me to--."

Kaname narrowed his eyes, she spoke faster.

"Help you this morning!"

"Where's Mizu?"

"I'm afraid, I don't know where Mizu-san is."

Kaname froze.

'He wouldn't…' He thought 'Harm Mizu… Father wouldn't…'

"So, Lord Kaname… how can I assist you?"

Kaname sighed with annoyance.

'Mizu never has to ask.'

"I need clothes. Get me some." He said, moving towards the bathroom "I'm taking a shower."

"Oh… yes Lord Kaname."

"And when you've picked something out, come join me."

"Yes Lo--."

"Naked."

The woman blushed. The bathroom door closed.

Kaname dressed, ran his fingers through his short choppy hair and headed down the corridors to the kitchen.

"L-Lord Kaname." A male cook that Kaname was certain he'd met on many occasions but couldn't recall his name if his life depended on it said 'What a pleasant surprise… what--"

"Eggs."

"Excuse me?"

"I want eggs. Lots of them. I didn't get breakfast this morning."

"Oh!" The man exclaimed, rushing about the kitchen, grabbing a skillet, eggs ad starting the gas stove. Kaname hopped up on the counter, watching the man work.

"So-- um--." Kaname began "You… did you happen to see Mizu in here today?"

Resisting the urge to tell Kaname his name, as he was sure he would forget it as soon as the next sentence was spoken, he paused, thinking.

"No…" He said, scrambling Kaname's eggs "I haven't actually."

Kaname sighed.

"He normally comes by here every morning to gather your breakfast… but… not today."

Kaname made a face. Then smiled as the cook began to plate his mountain high pile of eggs. Kaname grabbed a fork, sat Indian-style on the counter, and began to eat.

'Father wouldn't have… would he? To punish me?' Kaname chuckled softly 'Punish me? Heh."

'K-Kaname?'

Kaname froze. It was Mizu's voice.

'Mizu?'

Silence.

'Mizu?!'

Silence again.

Abandoning his few remaining eggs, Kaname jumped up, running from the kitchen through the halls, determined to find Mizu.

'Mizu.'

Kaname paused, frustrated, realizing that he was running in circles.

"Where could he be? He sounded… hurt..."

Worry flashed across Kaname's face.

"If only I could…" He began

'Use the Chaos…'

He slumped in defeat. Then suddenly, getting a burst of intuition, Kaname took off running.

'The dungeon.'

And there, on the steps, broken and bleeding, was Mizu.

Kaname hefted Mizu into his arms, glancing over the man's wounds. Bruises all over his body, torn and tattered clothes, and lashes whip marks, all over his back.

"Mizu!" Kaname shouted "Did-- Did my father do this to you?!"

Mizu shook his head.

"Did my father's soldiers?"

Mizu fell silent.

"Son of a bitch!" He exclaimed, jumping up

"No!" Mizu said weakly "No…" He sighed, his body trembling "My Lord Kaname… it'll just make things worse…"

"But-- Mizu! Some--."

Mizu went limp in Kaname's arms, having slipped into unconsciousness.

'I hear… water…'

Mizu flickered in and out of consciousness like a broken fluorescent light, trying to stay on. To stay bright and shining. To stay awake and alert.

'I feel… pain…'

It was unceasing. As soon as he would regain consciousness, as soon as the light would flicker on, the pain would sweep over him, sending him back into darkness.

'It'll pass.' Mizu thought 'Everything passes. Everything fades away. Pain. Love. Kaname...'

"Mizu."

'Heh. Even now I can hear him.' Mizu continued. 'Even here. In the dark and painful place. He hasn't faded yet.'

'Mizu." The voice repeated. A light shone in Mizu's eyes blinding him. He couldn't escape it. That bright, white… sunlight?

"Mizu."

Mizu opened his eyes. He was in his room. Everything looked the same as it always did. Stone walls. Small window with a thin white curtain. Book shelf against the far wall. Globe and chair next to it. Scattered, half finished paintings of Kaname's on the walls. Kaname…

Kaname?

He sat there, looking completely out of place. His demeanor, stature, even his clothes were far too regal for the sparse, Spartan like room.

"Mizu…" Kaname spoke softly.

Mizu forced his dry lips apart, and swallowed, attempting to speak.

"…y… ord… ame…"

Kaname smiled softly.

"Rest Mizu." Kaname murmured. "Don't try to talk."

Mizu couldn't, he tried to sit up, but the pain it brought him forced him to abandon the movement. Instead, he just reached for Kaname's hand.

"K-- Kaname…" He spoke softly "My Demon Lord Kaname."

Kaname tensed, not used to Mizu being so formal.

'Addressing me as Demon Lord?'

"P-- Please." He began. "Don't--."

"Don't worry… Mizu." Kaname murmured, wiping the sweat gently off of Mizu's forehead. "I won't do anything… rash... to my father."

Mizu sighed in relief.

"I'll do…" Kaname's eyes fell "What I'm told."

The Demon Lord's eyes widened.

"I'll listen to you… and I'll find a wife." Kaname continued, on his knees, head held low "To carry on the Yuki line…" He let out a sigh. "And when the tragic day comes that you die, my beloved Father--." He stopped, unable to say the rest.

'Perhaps...' Demon Lord Yuki thought 'He cares more for him than I previously thought.'

"Very well them." The Demon Lord spoke "I'm glad to hear of your decision Kaname. You may go now."

Kaname stood, bowed and turned and left. As the doors of the throne room closed behind him, a devilish smile crept on his face.

'And I have just the perfect person in mind.'

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!

A.N. It took me a while to get this up because I was on Fall Break, and with the lack of Internet at home, I was sorrowfully unable to update for a week. So I stayed up to midnight writing this chapter so I could get it up soon. Anyways, thanks for reviewing so much, it really does make me happier than you guys really know.