A/N: I actually updated. Hehehe, anyway thanks to all the reviewers. Hopefully you will like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Black Blood Brothers.

Cerise Requiem

Chapter 2 Slow Burn

By Cerise Lupin

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Sei could hear the anger in Jirou's voice and he did not blame the vampire. His feelings for the human woman had been known for a while, but the dark haired vampire had been hesitant about acting on them. Remorse and his ties to the past prevented him from accepting the woman's affections and now it had cost him.

"Jirou, you have to understand, you cannot just go against our laws," he pointed out in that calm voice of his. He wasn't here to pass judgement on anyone. Right now he could only point out the truth. However Cain on the other hand had no qualms about letting Jirou know what he thought.

"You were the one to screw up, silver blade. You should have claimed her when you had the chance." The blue wolf was always blunt and unlike Sei, he found Jirou to beyond foolish. Mimiko might not be the most beautiful woman in the world, but her spirit and her understanding of their kind was enough to make her worthy in his eyes and certainly appealing in Ashura's son's eyes. Zelman was complicated to understand at times, but he could understand why the redhead would have done what he had.

Mimiko was unique and it was that uniqueness that made her appealing.

"Stay out of it , Cain. You have no right saying these things to me," Jirou snapped back, fangs bared. Cain growled back, not quite ready to back down. In was clear to all that the blue wolf and the silver blade didn't get along that well and right now was the perfect example.

"Both of you stop it." Sei finally cut in and both vampires seemed to reluctantly back down.

"Jirou, is Mimiko untouched?" The question was unexpected, making Jirou pause. "I haven't touched her...I've kissed her a few times though, but nothing beyond that." He wished that he had claimed her, if only to have been able to keep her away from Zelman.

"There's still hope...just as long as he hasn't made her his." Cain's head snapped up as he heard what Sei said, his brows furrowing slightly. What was the dragon king suggesting?

"Zelman might have made her a black blood, but that doesn't mean that she belongs completely to him. There might still be a way to get her back...but she has to be willing." Sei was tentative about this. He knew how strong the bond between a master and a fledgling could be. Mimiko might not be willing to come back. Cain seemed to catch unto to what the dragon king was saying.

"Than allow me to talk to Mimiko," Jirou urged. He needed to speak to her...he needed to see her.

"No, we know very well what will happen if you and Zelman meet. Either you kill him or he kills you and neither prospects are appealing or will help Mimiko. The first one will leave her in a state of confusion, you know very well that each fledgling needs her master at first, if not they will become mad and the second option will most likely damage her beyond repair. She cares for you and if Zelman succeeds in killing you, I'm certain that she won't trust him anymore and she needs him right now." Sei might have sounded harsh at the moment, but just like Jirou, he wanted what was best for Mimiko at the moment. He considered her someone dear and he would not have either Jirou or Zelman hurting her in any way.

"Than what do you suggest?" Cain asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I suggest, you go speak to Zelman and explain to him the situation." Surprise crossed the blue wolf's face. Him, speak to that arrogant hothead? He was tempted to say no, but he wasn't one to go against Sei's order.

"Very well, I'll try to," he grumbled straightening up.

"What about me?" Jirou asked, not ready to just sit back and wait.

"I suggest you go home and rest for now. There's nothing you can do at the moment." Firm, without room for argument, Sei wasn't about to beat around the bush. He could feel the hurt and anger radiating off Jirou, but this was the best way.

And still he couldn't stop himself from laying his hand on Jirou's.

"We'll get her back...I promise."

Even when the words left his lips, the dragon king could only hope that it was the true.

Zelman was after all a very stubborn vampire.

---

Heat.

She could feel it running along her flushed skin like lava, burning, teasing, and arousing her. The feelings that were being awakened in her were unknown to her and she was slowly drowning in that pit of scolding heat that promised things that she didn't even want to imagine. Unable to bear what was happening to her, she tried to move away of that fire, scared of the feelings that were slowly being invoked in her, but strong arms kept her where she was.

Tiny embers seemed to burst over her skin everywhere those hands touched. She bit her lip, silencing the wanton sound that almost left her lips. She didn't want to give in...not yet. However the scrape of teeth against her flat stomach made her gasp. Eyes rolling in the back of her head, she arched her back as a teasing tongue came out to lick the curve of her hip. She shuddered, her body not knowing how to respond to these hellish touches. She was being set aflame and there was nothing she could do.

Her closed eyes seem unable to open and she found herself not caring. Just as long as whoever was touching her kept doing what he was doing. Another heated whisper against her skin, the words dark and seductive even if she didn't understand them. She shuddered as she felt a tickle of hair brush against her sensitive chest and a tongue slowly trace that valley between her breasts. The smell of fire seemed to increase as well, but she wasn't scared. She could feel hot breath against her neck as lips traced that sensitive part. She shivered again, her fingers digging into the softness below her as she tried hard to stop herself from reacting to the unknown touch.

"Will you burn for me?"

Brown eyes snapped open and Mimiko quickly sat up. It was a dream. Wasn't it? So many thoughts suddenly swirled in her mind and she unconsciously found herself doubling over as she tried to take hold of herself. Like a typhoon memories seemed to slam into her, almost physically knocking the breath out of her. There were just so many pieces missing. She could recall the fight, she could recall everything...she paused...Zelman.

"You look tired, my little phoenix," a sultry voice cut through her thoughts causing her too almost jump.

Head snapping up, she found herself looking for him, only to find him there. He sat there calmly in the corner of the room. Unlike other times, the black hat was off and so was his shirt. His skin so pale seemed almost like alabaster perfection. She couldn't help but allow herself to briefly take in his lean form.

Red eyes watched her closely and she realized only too late that she was staring and that she was wearing nothing but her bra and panties. Quickly snatching the sheet from the bed, she covered herself. Embarrassment making her avert her gaze to the bed.

He chuckled amusedly. "There's no need to be modest, Mimiko." He gracefully stood up and moved toward her. His gait was slow, but there was this hint of predatory grace to it that left no doubt to how dangerous he could be. She instinctively moved back, her back connecting with the headboard of the bed as she tried to move away from him. Yet she still held tightly to the sheet, almost if it was a lifeline or something.

A lazy grin spread across his lips when he took a seat on the bed. "You're afraid of me," he muttered closing the distance between them as he placed his arms on both sides of her head, trapping her. He could taste her fear in the air. It was delicious, but he did not want her to be afraid of him. No, he wanted something else from her.

"No, I'm not," she quickly shot back even when in reality she was petrified of what the redheaded vampire could do to her. She knew what he was capable of and she didn't doubt that he could hurt her if he wanted to.

Her eyes widened in shock though when she felt his lips against her neck, fangs gently grazing her flesh. The sheet that she had been holding fell away. "I won't hurt you, little phoenix." Hot breath danced along her skin, making her shudder and almost instantly she felt something come alive in her. His touch, his scent, everything about him, seemed to suddenly call out to her.

She was burning up for him. One of his hands lowered to her stomach, tracing the soft flesh and Mimiko found herself closing her eyes in order to stop herself from reacting to those sinful caresses, but Zelman was not about to give up. A warm hand grasped her chin, making her open her eyes. Red eyes stared into her brown ones. She was shocked to see the hunger in those red pools. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't allow her.

Surprise and shock flitted on her face as the red eyed murderer neared his face to hers, their lips only inches apart. He was going to kiss her. The thought seemed to appear in her mind. She should be pulling away, but a part of her wanted this. Something flashed in his eyes, just before his lips met hers.

Soft, extremely soft, his lips moved slowly against her. Testing, tasting...getting accustomed to her. She couldn't help but melt at the gentle exploring. His tongue ran along her lower-lip, causing her to shudder and her fingers to dig into his waist. Like an eager student, she experimentally nipped his lower-lip, wanting more of what he was offering, even when a part of her pointed out that this was wrong.

She got her wish when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and she was pulled into his lap, straddling his leather covered waist while he deepened the kiss. Hot, burning...that was the way she felt when he became bolder, taking so much, but giving just as much back to her. His hot sinful tongue brushed against hers, causing a soft mewling sound to leave her lips. Under other circumstances she would have been embarrassed to make such a sound, but he didn't allow her to think at that moment. Every little thought, feeling, was centered on him and the way he touched and controlled her. A small gasp tore from her lips, when she felt his hand run along her back, before that same hand moved in the front tracing the delicate curve of her breast, teasing, mapping...making her almost come undone in his arms.

Yearning.

She wanted this...but it was wrong.

So wrong.

And yet even as his hand made quick work of the bra's clasp, she was the one aiding him in getting the garment off, if only for her to feel his naked skin against hers.

Her hiss of pleasure was swallowed by him when she was pulled closer to him, her skin kissing his and getting to know the touch of the vampire's flesh against hers.

Sinful...and strong. That was the only description that she could give it. Like velvet steel, she could feel that power rushing under that human-like skin. Like magma hidden under the earth's strong crust, she knew that his power lay dormant under that flesh, but with one brief command it could come rushing out and destroying everything in his path. She felt suddenly so frail in his arms, so breakable.

Fingers glided expertly along her lower-back, teasingly toying with the band of her underwear. She could practically taste his impatience now. Releasing her lips, he nudged her throat up with his nose so that he could rain soft butterfly kisses along that exposed flesh. She could feel his warm breath against her skin, his tongue tasting each bit of it. Needing to steady herself she found her fingers digging into his shoulders.

"Zelman-sama." She found herself freezing as the door was thrown open, her world coming crashing down with that one interruption, but at the same time the hazy pleasurable mist that had wrapped around her seemed to vanish. A small voice in her growled, angry at being interrupted, the other part though wanted to hide, feeling embarrassed at being caught in such a position.

"Sayuka, what is the meaning of this?" His voice held the anger that he was feeling and she instinctively buried her face in Zelman's neck.

Sayuka paused a moment, clearly not expecting her master's temper, before quickly composing herself. "Zelman-sama, Cain-sama wishes to speak with you." At the mention of Cain, Mimiko's head snapped up and she dared to look over at the human woman who shot her a cold glare.

"What does the blue wolf want?" Mimiko tensed when she felt Zelman's hand lazily trace her bare back, coming to rest on her lower-back.

The woman named Sayuka seemed to pause slightly, before meeting the red eyed vampire's gaze. "He's here to discuss your fledgling." With that he motioned to Mimiko and said young woman felt something settle in the pit of her stomach. Could it be, Jirou? Was he here too? It was the first time since she had woken up that she thought about the dark haired vampire.

Jirou was bound to know what had happened. Was that why Cain was here, would the blue wolf take her away?

Her thoughts were pushed away though when she felt Zelman lay a soft kiss on her cheek. "I have to take care of this," he murmured in her ear, nuzzling her neck in a way that was far too affectionate for someone like him.

"Tell Cain, that I'll be there shortly." He didn't even bother to look at the human woman as he said this, something that made Sayuka quite upset. As she turned and walked out of the room, she swore that this was just one more of her master's plaything. It didn't mean anything...and yet she knew that unlike the rest, Zelman had chosen to change this one. The bond between a vampire and fledgling was after all very strong.

Mimiko would have let out a relieved sigh if she could when the woman left. She knew that the woman did not like her, but she did not know why. "She's jealous." Zelman's voice cut through her thoughts, seeming to read her thoughts.

"Jealous?" Curiosity gleamed in her brown eyes as she looked at him. "Mm...yes, I'm afraid she's infatuated with me." A lazy grin touched his lips. She nodded her head, understanding what he meant. Funny enough, it was at that moment that she realized that she was bare-chested and sitting in Zelman's lap. Color invaded her cheeks as she brought her hand to cover her chest, only to earn herself a chuckle from the redheaded vampire.

"There's no need to hide yourself from me," he told her calmly, leaning in toward her intent to kiss her again, but to his annoyance she turned her face away from him.

"Why are you doing this?" Confusion...hurt, now that she could think straight once again, she found herself wondering why she had allowed herself to give into him. Silence settled between them and she was almost certain that she could feel his anger, racing along her skin like small sparks of electricity.

When he finally spoke, his voice was even, but with a certain edge that was not hard too miss. He was more than angry and for a moment she feared what he might do to her. So it was a surprise when he chose to ignore her for the most part. "We'll speak later." With that he was pushing her away from him, so that he can stand up.

She scooted back, grasping the sheet to cover her body, while her eyes observed him closely. He didn't look at her and something in her tightened. He saved her life and this was the way she repaid him...still she could not give him what he wanted either, could she? "There are clean clothes in my closet, feel free to take a shower if you want to." Once again his voice was carefully controlled, but she still visibly flinched this time. That small movement on her part caused his eyes to flicker briefly toward her, but just as quickly as he looked at her, his gaze moved away while he made his way to the door.

"If you need anything, just pick up the phone and press one." With that he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Finally left alone, she fell backwards on the bed, curling her body in a ball. Slowly her current situation seemed to sink in and she couldn't help but feel helpless, confused and scared.

Vampire...

A small hand came up, lips parting and her index finger tracing her fangs. She was a vampire. Her memories were still a bit fuzzy, but she could recall very well how she had willingly accepted Zelman's offer. She hadn't wanted to die...but was this really what she wanted?

She felt different...it was like a part of her was missing or replaced with something darker...something that seemed to embrace Zelman's touches and caresses.

She felt lost...confused.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she closed her eyes, trying to sort through her feelings.

She just didn't know what to do.

She wished that Jirou was here, but at the same time she feared what he might say or do. She was after all, Zelman's now.

TBC...

A/N: Reviews and comments are all appreciated.