He Among Us Without Sin

He Among Us Without Sin

Mally-chan & hatochiisai

YAOI WARNING

Disclaimer: We do not own Yugioh. Hato does own Mikado and Ahmose, though.

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Chapter 28

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Bakura grinned and pulled Mikado closer nibbling at his neck. "oh well look here...breakfast in bed!" He said eagerly, biting down on Mikado's neck before the boy could escape his arms.

Mikado yipped and jumped awake. "Eep!! Bakura!!!"

Bakura chuckled and ran his hands over Mikado's body, taking a swallow of Mikado's blood. ~Mmm...so delicious too...I'll compliment the Vatican on their service now...leaving me a nice breakfast like this.~

Mikado rolled his eyes. "Dork."

Bakura chuckled his fingers coiling around Mikado's length. ~Dork's fledgling.~

Mikado gasped and squirmed. "Sex fiend!!!"

Bakura chuckled and began pumping ~Sex fiend’s lover.~

Mikado whined. "No faaaaair..."

Bakura licked the wound closed and kissed Mikado firmly. ~Oh you like being my little prisoner.~ He thrust his tongue into Mikado's mouth, exploring. ~And you enjoy every second of me ravaging you.~

Mikado sighed, but then suddenly bit Bakura's tongue.

Bakura yipped slightly. ~Now be nice!~

Mikado began to struggle and bit him again.

Bakura snorted and pulled away pouting. "Spoiled breakfast." He grumbled.

"You jerk! I have to go find out about Ahmose!!!" Mikado cried, struggling out of the bed. "Where are my clothes?!"

"Oh, I hid them." Bakura chuckled.

"What?! GIVE THEM BACK!!!" Mikado shouted.

"Find em yourself spoiled brat." Bakura said laying back down and stretching.

Mikado growled and began to tear the room apart.

Bakura calmly laid in the bed, allowing Mikado to do that. He'd never find those clothes anywhere near the bedroom.

Mikado glared at his sire, then snatched BAKURA'S clothes and ran.

Bakura blinked but laughed. If Mikado wanted to wear HIS clothes (which were not only too big, but would look ridiculous on the youth) then he could. It's not like he had anywhere to be. In fact, it'd been a LONG time since he'd laid around and relaxed, thanks to the ever-hungry fledgling.

Bakura then blinked and cocked his head... That ever-hungry fledgling hadn't been... hungry recently. He tried to think of when Mikado last fed... it had been days ago. And that was FAR from healthy for a fledgling as young as Mikado... at his age, he should be feeding every day or he'd collapse from weakness... In fact... Mikado hadn't fed since before they had found Ahmose raped and bloody in the galley of the ship...

Bakura frowned and sighed. ~Mikado, you need to eat.~

~... I'm not hungry! Quit trying to stop me! He's my BROTHER!!!~ Mikado snapped back, obviously still irritated with Bakura stopping him the night before (as pleasing as his tactics were). Mikado headed up to the Council chambers.

On his way to the chambers however, Mikado met a rather handsome looking buck in the hall. A pure white buck, with wings...and a ...human shadow?

The buck blinked and pranced forward. 'MIKADO!' Ryou said pleased and licked him. 'Oh Mikado guess what! Ahmose is alive!' He made pleased noises and pranced more, wings flapping. 'Oh he's alive! He was here!'

Mikado gasped and leapt back, hand flying to where his sword would be, but there was nothing there. “Shit!” Mikado spat, backing away from the peryton.

Ryou blinked and tilted his head to the side. 'I'm not gonna eat you...' He HAD however stood outside Marik and Malik's door ALL day long, and within was an elf and a werewolf, who were very hungry, and DESPERATLY needed to pee.
"Mikado?!" Marik called from inside the room. "Help!" Mikado blinked. "Ryou won't let us out!!!"

"... RYOU?!"

Ryou snorted and turned back to the door. 'Darn right I wont! Make fun of me will you! I'll give you a bite like no other!' He turned back to the door and rammed it, causing both youths within to yelp.

Mikado's eyes widened. "That's RYOU?!"

"Yes! Look what your brother did to him!!!" Marik howled. Mikado stared.

"Oh God..." And he ran down the hall, leaving poor Marik and Malik trapped in the room. He made his way to the Council Chamber and burst in, just in time to trip on the much-too-large clothes and fall flat on his face with a yelp.

The entire council stared before Pegasus chuckled. "Mikado you should be ashamed... fooling around in the VATICAN." He snorted amused.

Mikado blinked and stood. "Um... Excuse me, sir?" He asked, adjusting the clothes and approaching the table.

Pegasus chuckled. "I see no other reason for you to be running around in your sire's clothing." He said motioning to Mikado's outfit. "It's far too big for you."

Mikado scowled. "HE'S the one fooling around! He hid my clothes, the bastard!!! And I couldn't find them!!! So it was either run around in HIS clothes or a bathrobe!!!"

"And I see you're still cursing too." Pegasus said calmly. "What is it you want?"

Mikado blinked. "My brother. I want to know what happened." He said. "He turned Ryou into a peryton?! And tried to kill Aiden?! What happened?!"

"He's working for Seto." Pegasus explained. "Seto has Yami hostage under his power, and Ahmose is working for him so he can keep that demon safe."

Mikado blinked, then sighed in releif. "So... He isn't doing this stuff... willingly..."

Pegasus shrugged. "He may. I'm not sure that he's under any control...but the point is your brother's protecting him."

"But don’t you get it?! If SETO has Yami, then SETO probably MADE Yami hurt Ahmose! And the idea that Ahmose is protecting him only supports that!" Mikado cried. "We have to DO something!!!"

"For now we can’t." Pegasus sighed. "Aiden is too weak to go after Seto again, and with Ryou no longer half elf, all we can do is wait until the person knowing how to break his spell steps forward, or until Aiden recovers."

Mikado frowned. "Who says that what we do has to be going after Seto?! What about my brother?! We have to get HIM back so Seto can't use him!!! And Yami, too!!!"

"Mikado do you think for one SECOND that Seto would let his only bargaining tool, Yami, away from his side for even a moment? He probably KNOWS Ahmose is only working for him because of that demon. "

"All the more reason to get them back!" Mikado insisted.

"We're not moving until one of the two half-elves can help. Without them we're merely sending moths to the flame." Pegasus said firmly. "End of discussion."

Mikado growled at that, and the whole council sighed and got ready for a loud argument... but to their surprise, Mikado turned and headed for the door.

Pegasus sighed. "Make sure someone guards that horse of his..."

Out in the hall, Ryou was back to ramming Malik's door.

Marik whined. "Ryouuuuu!!! Come on!!! We've been in here all day! We're hungry and tired of pissing off of the balcony!!!"

'There's a chamber pot under the bed.' Ryou snorted

"We're HUNGY!!!"

Ryou snorted and laid down outside the door. 'Then apologize!'

"I HAVE!!! I've been apologizing all day!!!" Marik wailed.

'Actually mean it.' Ryou pouted. 'Don’t just say it cause you want out, or because I'm going to maim you with my horns.'

"I'm sorryyyyyyy!!!" Marik cried.

Ryou sighed. 'Fine..'

And a moment later, the door slowly creaked open. Marik and Malik peered out, apprehensively.

Ryou sighed and laid his head down, his feathers puffing up. It didn't take more than a second for Malik to hop him and run off down the hall.

Marik on the other hand crept over to him in his halfway form, and began licking his face apologetically, nuzzling him.

Ryou's ears perked a bit and he lifted his head, nuzzling Marik. 'I love you...' He cooed licking his ears. 'lets go...I'm hungry too. Standing out here staring at your door all day isn't any more fun than being stuck inside.'

Marik snorted. "Yeah... but YOU had a freakin choice!!!"

Ryou licked him again. 'Hush you. It's my duty as a priest to teach you some manners' Ryou made noises akin to laughter. 'It wont kill you to be polite sometimes.'

Marik rolled his eyes. "I never meant to be rude!!"

'Are you hungry or not?' Ryou said standing and stretching.

Marik nodded, also standing and trotting down the hall. As they got to the stairs, they blinked. Mikado was heading out the front doors in his uniform. "Where's he goin?" Marik asked.

Ryou blinked and loped/tumbled down the stairs after Mikado. When he caught up, he bit down on the cape of Mikado's uniform and tugged back. 'Don’t go! You can’t just leave us here!' He whimpered, ears back. 'Where are you going!?'

Mikado blinked and looked back at Ryou. "Hey... let go, please." He said.

Ryou shook his head ears back still. He made whimpering noises. His shadow was tugging Mikado's shadow. 'Don’t leave us behind! Where's Bakura? Why isn't he going with you?'

"Ryou! Let go!" Mikado cried, tugging. Marik walked over, still in his halfway form.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Out!" Mikado cried. "Ryou! Let go!!!"

Ryou held tight. 'Marik... he can’t go out... I don’t think he's eaten with Bakura in a while, and look at the circles under his eyes... he could get hurt! Plus it's not safe going out in winter alone!'

Marik frowned. "Ryou says you can't go. You don’t look well. And it's winter."

Mikado blinked. "I've always gone out in winter. I'm fine! Now let GO!!!"

Ryou held tight and snarled slightly, which was a bizarre sound from a stag. 'No.'

Mikado glared, growling and baring his little fangs. "LET. GO."

Ryou's ears tilted back and he gave Mikado a frightened look. 'But Mikado...'

"I said let go!" Mikado shouted. "Now let go, or I'll MAKE you!!"

Ryou yipped and let go giving Mikado a wide-eyed betrayed look. He backed away.

"I couldn't save my brother from what happened to him on the ship..." Mikado said softly. "I couldn't help him then, but I'm gonna help him now." And he turned and ran for the stable.

However Mikado didn't make it even into the stable before he was hit with the most terrible wave of dizziness and weakness he'd ever felt.

Mikado gasped and stumbled into the side of the stable, leaning against it and closing his eyes, gasping as he waited for it to pass.

~Mikado. You need to eat something.~ Bakura called once more. ~You're too weak to be going days without. Fledglings at your stage are supposed to be little gluttons... you're going to kill yourself if you don’t eat something.~

Mikado slowly stood upright again. ~I'll be fine.~ He insisted, stubbornly, and headed into the stable.

Though once more he was hit with weakness, and this time the wave nearly knocked him to the floor, his legs getting unsteady. ~Don’t lie to me.~

Mikado groaned. ~I'll be FINE!!!~ He insisted, though he didn't sound very convincing. The Rangers and Scouts on duty in the stable blinked at him.

~Mikado... are you always going to turn me away when I want to help you?~ Bakura asked after a moment. ~Are you always going to take words of experience, and shrug them off, as if they don’t apply to you?~

But to Bakura's horror, Mikado didn't answer. All that he could sense from his fledgling was hunger... a burning hunger consuming him... He had gone too long without feeding.

The Rangers and Scouts watched the Journeyman leaning against the wall force himself to stand on his own. He was shaking. But a moment later the shaking stopped. Slowly he turned and fixed burning eyes on the three Elite Agents, glowing bright red. His face was blank. He was panting harshly, staring at them. Then, he took a few staggering steps towards them, before lunging with an unearthly scream, going for the throat of the nearest Ranger.

"Oh fuck!" The Ranger yelped as he toppled to the floor under the young vampire. "Get him off!!! Get the Slayers!!! Its the Blood Lust! Get him off!!!" He screamed as he fought to keep Mikado's claws and teeth from his throat.

Ryou yelped and gave Marik a look. ‘M-Marik...we gotta help them!’ He said shaking his head. ‘Get Bakura and Malik!’ Ryou pranced in place a moment before charging into the stables and ramming Mikado, knocking him off of the Ranger as the two scouts hurried to help him up and scramble out.

Ryou glared at Mikado and bared his own sharp teeth wings spread to make him look bigger. 'Leave the people alone!'

Mikado stared, eyes glowing, then lunged for Ryou's throat. Marik charged up the stairs, howling. "BAKURAAAAA!!!"

Bakura met Marik at the top of the stairs, dressed in his usuals. "I know." He growled rushing down the stairs as if he'd flew.

Ryou backed off bowed his head charging at Mikado warningly 'Don’t bite ME either!' He snarled and backed off once more, horns down daring Mikado to get too close.

Mikado growled and lunged again as Slayers ran out of the Vatican.

"Do NOT kill him, CONTAIN him! Remember how we handled it when Nikolas succumbed to the Blood Lust! Remember and learn from the mistakes!!!" The Slayer Councilman was calling to the other Slayers.

Ryou backed out of the stable slowly, leading Mikado out to the Slayers. 'Mariiiiikkkkk!' He wailed yelping and dodging to the side when Mikado charged at him once more.

Mikado lunged again, digging his claws into Ryou's shoulders, trying to get to his neck.

Ryou craned his head back and brought his antlers crashing down on Mikado's head as harshly as he could. 'MARIK! HELP!' He let out a terrified sound and stood up on his hind legs, kicking at Mikado trying to get him off.

Mikado let out an angry shout as he crashed to the ground, lifting his head and glaring at Ryou, breathing harshly. But then he whirled and leapt at the Slayers.

"AAACK!!!" Screamed one of them as Mikado tackled him, lunging at his throat. But then he let out a horrible shriek and leapt back, clutching his own throat. When he moved his hand, there was a cross burned into the skin of his neck, courtesy of the cross that the Slayer was wearing.

The other Slayers advanced on Mikado, some tossing ropes that had been soaked in garlic oil over the vampire and pulling tight, hoping the horrid scent would subdue him enough. Others stood at the ready with garlic, holy water, and silver chains.

Mikado screamed in a furious rage, thrashing and gagging at the overpowering stench of the garlic. He got one arm loose and snatched the Slayer's ankle, trying to drag him closer.

The Slayer quickly took off his crucifix and pressed it onto Mikado's hand burning him as more ropes were tossed onto the vampire and others quickly rushed forward with silver chains, binding Mikado.

Mikado screamed and howled, thrashing desperately, the burned flesh on his hand smoking a bit. The Councilman sat down on Mikado's back and flung one of the garlic soaked ropes around the vampire's head and through his jaws, gagging him and pulling back harshly, jerking his head back at an awkward angle.

The entire group backed away slowly, and watched... waiting. Ryou whimpered, ears back hoping Mikado would calm down and come to his senses.

The front doors burst open as Bakura ran out, now feeling his fledgling's nausea and distress.

Bakura hurried forward to the council member and made a face. "Ugh... I'm sorry. He refused to feed these last few days..." He said bowing slightly. "If you could..." He motioned to the garlic. "I can feed him."

The Slayer blinked. "We were just about to get a cow for him..." He said. "And since when does a fledgling not feed?!"

"Since he's a stubborn jackass who thinks that the rules don’t apply to him, and refuses to accept help even to the point of threatening his own friends." Bakura snorted.

The Councilman slowly relaxed his hold and let the rope fall from Mikado's mouth. The young vampire gagged and heaved.

Bakura growled slightly, knowing he hadn't fed in a few days, save from Mikado that last night to FORCE the fledgling to sleep. He bit his wrist harshly and offered it to Mikado

Mikado froze, quivering, and as soon as Bakura's wrist was within sight, he began thrashing to get to it.

"Release him!" The Councilman shouted, leaping off of Mikado, and everyone let go of the ropes and chains. Mikado leapt at Bakura, seizing his wrist in his teeth, tearing the puncture wounds open even more with his baby fangs, and he began sucking fiercely; Bakura knew his blood would hardly do anything...

He growled and slowly began walking away from the Vatican, tugging Mikado with him. "If I were you... I would have your men go inside." He warned carefully. "Just in case. I can handle my fledgling." He added leading Mikado from the group.

Ryou whimpered and backed away and back into the Vatican. 'Marik! Marik!'

"Shhh..." Marik said, hugging Ryou. "He'll take care of Mikado."

Ryou whimpered and nuzzled Marik. 'Don’t you EVER let me be a hero again...I was so scared...' Ryou sniffled and looked about to cry, except that deer can’t really cry. 'I want a tomato....'

Marik chuckled. "Okay... Come on." He said. "Let's go find the kitchens."

Outside, Bakura lead Mikado to the Gates, but not out of the Holy city. "Mikado...I want you to pay attention...ok?" He said in a stern demanding tone. "I know you're hungry...and you want more. But I can’t take you hunting unless you can calm down."

Mikado stared at Bakura, shaking, eyes still glowing. He had taken all he could from Bakura, but it was hardly anything... and now he was staring at Bakura's throat, his teeth chattering in his intense hunger.

Bakura hugged Mikado and held him still. "Shhh calm down...I'll get you all the blood you can drink...but I need you to focus ok?" He cooed soothingly. "Mikado...I want you to tell me that you are hungry, and that you understand that you need to calm down."

But instead, Mikado began gnawing on Bakura's throat, claws digging into his shoulders.

Bakura sighed and held him tightly, allowing him. ~Mikado!~

Mikado only snarled, reaching up and dragging his claws across Bakura's throat and trying to drink from the slashes, growling angrily when he hardly got anything.

Bakura sighed and continued holding Mikado tightly. ~Mikado I'm not taking you hunting until you get control of yourself. You'll kill innocent people if you can’t calm down. What would Ahmose say if he found out you went into blood lust and killed people?~

Mikado just snarled, and jerked away from Bakura, turning and looking around, then charging towards Pegasus and Dartz, who were coming to investigate.

"OH SHIT!!!" Dartz yelped, as Mikado lunged and tackled both men to the ground.

Bakura however growled and ran forward, pulling Mikado off of them by his hips and slamming him against the wall. ~God help me if you don’t get a hold of yourself then I'll put you into a forced sleep!~

Mikado yelped, thrashing and struggling to escape and get to the sources of blood... he could smell it...

Bakura however held him firmly nearly painfully against that wall. "NO!" He roared eyes glowing. ~MIKADO SNAP THE HELL OUT OF IT!~ He slammed Mikado back harshly.

Mikado roared and lunged at Bakura, swiping his claws across Bakura's face, completely feral, not recognizing anyone or anything but his need to feed.

Bakura held him there and stared deep in Mikado's eyes forcing his will on the youth. ~Calm... calm yourself.~

Mikado stared at Bakura, eyes still flaming red, and teeth bared, breathing harshly. He struggled and growled, trying to fight.

"Oh no... you're not getting away Mikado..." Bakura growled, eyes glowing as well. "I am your sire, and there's no way in this world or any other that you're going to beat me."

Mikado snarled, thrashing and lunging at him.

Bakura growled and hit Mikado suddenly, striking him across the jaw. "NO."

Mikado roared and whirled, sinking his teeth into Bakura's arm and clawing at his face.

This only recieved Mikado another punch. "NO!" Bakura roared fiercely biting down on Mikado's arm and holding it there.

Dartz and Pegasus glanced at each other, blinking as the two vampires scuffled.

Pegasus frowned. "maybe we should take his advice..." He said slowly. "and get inside..."

Dartz nodded and had leapt up and taken off running within seconds of Pegasus's words.

Pegasus followed not far behind, leaving Bakura to deal with Mikado.

Mikado was getting more vicious by the second, struggling to escape Bakura and get loose to hunt.

Bakura however was unyeilding, and the more vicious Mikado got, the more vicious his beating was getting. Bakura wouldn't let up until either Mikado weakened and calmed, or was unable to continue.

Mikado howled as he was pinned against the wall, but within seconds he had placed his feet on Bakura's chest and HURLED him yards away. The Agents watching out of the windows of the Vatican gasped. Mikado landed lightly and sprang towards his sire, pulling his knife.

Bakura got up in a flash and caught Mikado's wrist, wrenching the knife from it and twisting it painfully. "Oh I don’t think so..." He snarled and brought Mikado down, snapping his arm on his knee and then tossing the youth to the snow and pinning him by his throat. "You do NOT come at ME with a knife, whelp, I'll knock your head clear off your shoulders before I'll let you stab ME."

Mikado let out a shriek of pain and fury, then slammed his claws into Bakura's chest. The younger Agents, Apprentices and Recruits, squealed in shock and fright as Mikado's hand went straight through Bakura's chest and out his back.

Bakura snarled and brought his other arm down on the arm through his chest and broke it as well. "Don’t make me break every bone in your body..." He hissed. "Because I will if I have to."

The fledgling let out an animalistic shriek again, thrashing and trying to throw Bakura off as his arms slowly tried to heal, but with his lack of blood and strength, it was slow going.

Bakura snarled and slammed his fist down on Mikado's throat. "Now you LISTEN to me you little shit. If you don’t get control of yourself then you're going to be in more pain than you can ever imagine, and you won’t get a drop of blood until I decide!" He put both hands on the side of Mikado's face and slammed his head back. "UNDERSTAND?!"

Mikado gasped and choked, falling still. A moment later he gagged and coughed, blood flying from his lips. The red glow in his eyes began to fade.

Bakura calmed slightly, his motion ceasing. "Mikado... Mikado I need you to talk to me." He said slowly.

The glow vanished and Mikado stared at his sire in pain, fear and exhaustion, struggling to breathe through his crushed throat.

Bakura sighed and shook his head, slowly letting Mikado up and cradling him. "This is why I told you to feed Mikado..." He said apologetically biting his own wrist once more, hoping the extra bit of blood would help Mikado heal. "You went into Blood Lust…"

Mikado choked again, struggling weakly to get to the small trickle of blood creeping down Bakura's wrist. But no sooner had the blood wet his lips then he finally passed out, hanging limply in Bakura's arms.

Bakura sighed and picked Mikado up nuzzling him and carefully carrying him back to the Vatican, inside and to their room. Lilith was shocked at the bloody mess between the two, and once she'd cleaned Mikado and tucked him to bed, Bakura explained.

"Oh poor Master Mikado..." She breathed brushing some bangs from his eyes, his throat finally having healed enough for him to breathe evenly.

"Once he heals enough to move, I'll wake him and take him on a hunt..." Bakura said wincing. "God knows we can both use one..."

Lillith nodded in agreement, and now that Mikado was sleeping quietly she focused on her master, herding him down into the baths, stripping him and nearly tossing him into the water before the vampire even knew what had happened. Then she was scrubbing his hair and scolding him for allowing Mikado to starve to the point of the Blood Lust, oh how could he, he's his SIRE for God's sake, you would think that at HIS age he would know better, but NOOOOOOOO...

Bakura groaned. "Woman silence yourself!" He howled. "I can’t feed the unwilling! You know as well as I do he was in mourning over Ahmose! He wouldn't feed! It's not like I didn't offer it to him!"

"But he's always hungry!" She insisted, sniffling slightly. "And of course you could feed him! He would have fed from you in his sleep, master!!!"

"Lilith, I can’t feed the unwilling...he had no apetite. How could he? He lost his only living family after just getting it back." He said shaking his head and sighing. "I doubt I'd eat after something like that either, and I know you would be the same. He's still a fledgling. Too human to understand just how things truly progress."

"But he KNOWS his brother is alive now! Master, you should dress and go hunt so you can feed him upon your return." She said, dumping a bucket of water over Bakura's head.

"I'm taking him with me." Bakura insisted. "He's not had an ounce of training because of his brother, and if I don’t teach him now, he'll never learn!"

"But he's weak, master!" Lillith gasped. "He needs his rest!"

"Oh he'll be fine. I'll do the work but he needs to come along to learn. He can’t even hypnotize humans." He said giving her a look. "I can’t POSSIBLY keep my word of backing off when he gets his adult fangs, if he's not smarter nor stronger than he is now."

She giggled and grinned. "He DID throw you across the courtyard..."

"A primal rage like blood lust could make RYOU violent." Bakura snorted.

She giggled. "That was STILL quite a feat..."

Bakura smiled lovingly. "Yeah... he's a beautiful fledgling... he may yet outshine me... and I hope I'll be there to see it."

Lillith blinked, then smiled. "Awwww..." she said, sighing dreamily, all sparkly eyed.

Bakura snorted. "Oh get me a towel you giggling little gremlin. I've got to check on Mikado."

She giggled again and scurried off, bringing him a robe. "Here, Master." She said.

He stood and wrapped it around himself quickly. "Thank you." He got out of the tub and wrang out his hair. "Have hot cocoa ready for us when we return." He added walking back to his room to check on Mikado. He gently shook the youth. "Mikado... wake up."

Mikado didn't move a muscle... he barely breathed.

Bakura sighed. "C'mon it's time to eat." He said shaking Mikado more. ~Aren't you hungry NOW?~

There was no response.

Bakura groaned and shook his head. ~Mikado, wake up. It's time to get up.~ He said calmly, stooping to kiss his forehead and gently shake him once more. ~You're well enough to move by now, now get up and come hunt with me.~

Still nothing.

"Pardon me, sir..." Lillith called softly. "But... I read that... ummm... I mean, not that I would know, but... I read that a fledgling who comes out of a Blood Lust unsatisfied will... hibernate until they are fed... Isn't that... one of the leading causes of death for fledglings?"

Bakura nodded. "It's why I'm attempting to wake him." He snorted. "I'm hoping he'll be able to get up and come along." He sighed. "Because it's difficult to feed a hibernating fledgling..."

"With all due respect, master..." Lillith whispered. "I beleive he's already deep within the hibernation..."

Bakura snorted and turned raising an eyebrow. "Oh really now... it sounds to ME like certain mortals know more than they should by any right..." He said warningly.

Lillith's eyes widened and she squeaked. "I... I'm sorry, master!" She gasped, backing towards the door. "I did not mean to speak out of place..."

Bakura snorted. "Speak out of place... I'm sure you've done more than that." He added calmly. "And you know you have. Don’t you?"

She flushed and looked down, fidgeting. "Yessir... I'm sure I have..."

"By all rights I should kill you." He growled, looking very put out. "You've been nosing about in my things again."

She blinked and gulped. "I... I was just curious, Master... I... well... after you Sired him I started reading because... well..." She smiled. "We were going to have a baby vampire in the house! We all wanted to know what to expect... I'm not the only one who read your old books, master... We... We were just... excited..."

Bakura growled. "Is it not the ONLY rule in my home that you not nose into my things?" He said warningly.

She blinked eyes wide. "They were in the library, Master! I didn't think that was NOSING!!!"

"Oh really? Did it say 'Lilith's Diary'?" Bakura barked growling and eyes flashing furiously.

"N-No sir!!!" She cried, backing into the wall, eyes wide and filling with tears.

He snarled. "If I ever catch you having nosed through my things you and your family will be seeking shelter in some other home." He growled. "Tend to my fledgling. I'm going out." He hissed storming out.

She stared at the door and winced as it slammed. Shaking, she quickly moved to the bed side to take care of Mikado, but after a few minutes, she burst into tears.

"You get your jollies by making little girls cry?" Otogi asked, leaning against the wall and glaring at Bakura.

Bakura snorted. "I make one rule in my home. If she is too nosey to obey it, then she invites her own tears." He growled as he walked. "You're welcome to her if you think my ONE rule is too harsh considering I house, feed, clothe, and RAISED her on my money. The costs of being human are quite immense, for one rule to be too much to obey."

Otogi frowned. "You're threatening to kick her out over reading some books?!" He asked. "When I heard that my best friend was a vampire, hell, I started to read up on them just like her!!! It sounds to me that she just wanted to learn about him to serve him and you in the best was she could."

"It's one thing to read a book..." Bakura growled. "and it is another, to read one's journal." He growled at Otogi. "One's personal feelings, thoughts and accounts. I make one rule, regardless of what YOU think, if I catch her doing it again I'll throw her naked into the snow myself." He thundered.

Otogi blinked. "She read your journal?" He asked.

Bakura growled. "Where do you think a vampire KEEPS information on vampires? Half the books you mortals write are so full of utter bullshit that the only DECENT information one can get when abandoned by a sire, is from personal experience!"

"... Oh." Otogi said. "So she read personal stuff. Okay... I guess you have reason to get upset over that, but... it sounds like she just wanted to help..."

"I don’t care if she was trying to cure the black plague! You don’t break my one rule." He hissed. "Now if you don’t mind... I have to go find some mortals to 'borrow' blood from to wake up my idiot fledgling, and then I'd like to sleep."

Otogi sighed. "He... He's safe with you... right?"

Bakura sighed after a moment. "He's safe... he may get a spanking for being a smartass... or a beating to calm him from bloodlust without killing masses of innocent people... but I protect him with my life." He said softly. "I love him."

Otogi followed Bakura quietly. "He's my best friend..." He said softly. "He has been since he came to the Vatican a couple of months after I did..."

Bakura nodded. "I'd never let harm come his way." Bakura said as he walked down the stairs. "I'll protect him until the day I am vanquished." He added softly. "Even after he gets his adult fangs, I will always be behind him to make sure he isn't doing something stupid and careless."

Otogi blinked, then burst out laughing. "And therein lies the problem!!! He's ALWAYS doing something stupid and careless! Good luck!!!"

Bakura nodded and smiled slightly. "I know... it's an excuse to follow him." He opened the door and shook his head. "He's safe. I'd never let something happen to my only fledgling."

Otogi stopped and blinked. "Your... ONLY fledgling?!"

Bakura nodded. "my ONLY fledgling."

"But... you're almost a millennia old..." Otogi gasped, trotting after Bakura.

"Yes...and?"

"Have you sired and... lost fledglings?" Otogi asked.

"No. Mikado is my first." Bakura replied calmly.

"... Why?" Otogi asked.

"Because I don’t sire unwilling." Bakura said softly. "What you do with your life...is your choice. Not mine."

"But... Why HIM?"

"Because he said yes...because he loves me too." Bakura smiled. "He's my betrothed. I love him more than anything in this world or any other."

"No, I mean... why him... in the first place? Why didn't you just kill him the first time you came across him. He told me about it... you saved him from a bunch of younger vampires... they were gonna kill him! But... you saved him. Why?"

Bakura shrugged. "Because I respect life. I had my life taken from me, with no choice, no questions...no chance." He shook his head. "And I don’t think it was fair."

"He was... what, thirteen?" He mumbled. "What happened when you saved him? I mean, I think he said that you fed off of him..."

"Yes...I fed from him as payment for saving him. Even vampires get hungry and like to taste a new human." He chuckled.

"But he was just a kid..." Otogi said softly.

"Well you eat veal don’t you? It was just a baby calf." He snorted. "And he was all too grateful. I think it was a fair request, considering what had to be done to save him."

"And... what had to be done to save him?" Otogi asked, hesitantly.

"Some fledglings had to be vanquished." Bakura snorted. "They were bastard fledglings. None accepted them..."

"And... what happened when he tracked you down as a journeyman. He said that he had found you, but... He never told me what happened..."

Bakura blinked and sighed, his eyes glazing over for a few moments as he remembered that night a little bit over three years ago...

~*~

The night the boy had come was dark and silent... it was cool outside, and a spring storm was on its way. A black pony moved swiftly through the woods, a small rider on its back, a boy not yet fifteen. He wore a black and gold uniform with silver and yellow shoulder knots; he was a young Vatican Agent, only just promoted to Third Class Journeyman... this was the farthest he had traveled from the Vatican on his own...

As the pony rounded a bend in the road, the boy looked up at the dark manor, and his eyes widened. He turned his gaze to the stable and paddock where many black and white horses stood dozing. They were large creatures, Gypsy Cob horses... This was the right place. He dismounted and pulled his pony back into the woods and tied it to a tree, then crept towards the house...

As a light rain began to fall, he climbed up a tree to a window, leaping to the ledge and opening it, slipping inside, the water droplets sparkling in his long braided hair... Silently, he crept across the dark bedroom and opened the door a crack, peering into the candle lit hall. After neither seeing nor hearing anything, he slipped out of the room and crept down the hall...

Down the stairs, soft firelight lead Mikado to the study, where the one he was seeking was calmly sitting, looking preoccupied with his writings. The vampire never looked up.

"You must tell me... is it customary for youths to enter a home from windows instead of using the door?" He asked after a moment. "Because the door seems to be the obvious point of entry... or was it you meant to sneak about in attempt to rob me?"

The young Agent gasped and jumped, slowly backing away, then turning and running in a panic, only to crash into the very creature that had been sitting across the room only seconds ago.

Bakura chuckled and picked Mikado up by his cloak. "My my my, and such a young little bandit aren't you?" He said snickering. "And a Vatican Agent no less. Off to prove yourself on a dare?"

The boy looked absolutely terrified and Bakura was starting to wonder if the boy would wet himself. "N-N-N-No..." The boy stammered, shaking.

Bakura laughed. "Oh stop your quivering. Why is it you were sneaking about in my home?"

The boy squeezed his eyes shut, whimpering, and shook his head. That made Bakura think back... he had seen this boy before... the only thing different was the slight height difference and the shoulder knot... He remember one of bronze and blue... that of a First Class Apprentice...

Bakura smirked and put the boy down. "Don’t be a baby. You came here for a man's reasons, now act like a man and out with it." He snorted.

The boy quickly scrambled back and out of reach against the wall. His mind was blank with terror... why did he come here again?

Bakura stretched. "I shall not have some child pissing about on my floor. If you've nothing to say then stop wasting my time, and leave." He said pointing to the door and walking back to the study. "I've no time to waste on whimpering children."

The boy blinked then scowled. "Don't call me a child!" He growled, just as he often had to his master, Pegasus.

Bakura paused and looked over his shoulder. "Then don’t behave like a child."

The boy blinked and flushed, but then puffed up and scowled, GLARING at Bakura, making the vampire raise an amused eyebrow.

Bakura laughed and snorted. "Stop wasting my time." He said continuing his walk to the study.

The boy took a deep breath and followed, standing before the desk and glaring at the vampire, crossing his arms, trying to look tough and authoritative. "I want to know who you are."

Bakura blinked and laughed, smirking. His fangs glinting in the firelight. "Oh? What business is it of yours who I am or am not?"

"I know your name is Bakura." The boy said, in a voice that had not yet been changed by puberty, coming from a body that had yet to begin puberty as well...

"That it is." Bakura said placing his quill in the inkwell. "What is it you want with me?"

Mikado blinked, suddenly feeling very stupid... He had spent so much time wondering how he would find this Bakura, that he never thought about what he would SAY to the vampire!!! Oh, if his superiors knew he was here he would be in SO much trouble...

"... I want to know why you didn't kill me... I guess..."

Bakura chuckled. "Because you're just a child. Now, if you don’t mind, I've much work to do, and little time for a small little child to fill."

Mikado snorted. "You're a vampire. All you HAVE is time."

Bakura burst into laughter. "Ahh... yes that is true, but I have no time for you."

The boy made a face, wrinkling his nose. "You sound just like the old masters at the Vatican..." He grumbled, pouting.

"And you sound like a sniveling baby." Bakura snickered. "I don’t associate with children, so you can see yourself out."

Mikado blinked, then glared, growling. "I am NOT a child!!!" He shouted, and a servant peered into the room, curious.

"You sure look like one. What proof do you have you're no child?" Bakura said leaning onto his desk and looking Mikado in the eye.

"I'm a Vatican Agent!" The boy blurted, glaring. Several more servants were peering in by now, amused. "I came here for information and I'm gonna get it!!!"

"He's a spunky one, isn't he?" Bakura heard one of the servants giggling.

Bakura laughed. "Yes, he's got spirit, I'll give him that." He said wiping a bloodied amused tear from his eye. "I don’t have any information for the Vatican." He said chuckling. "I do not provide information for a holy war, and I do not take part in it."

"No, about YOU!!!" Mikado said, stomping a little foot. It was then that Bakura realized that this poor kid had NO idea what he was doing and was just... making it up as he went along...

Bakura laughed. "You're cute kid, but you really should go back where you came from. A vampire's home is no place for you."

Mikado blushed, but scowled and GLARED at being called 'cute', NOT happy with that at all. "I am NOT cute!!!"

"No, you're adorable!!!" Came a giggled from just outside of the room. Mikado blushed even more and turned, glaring at the door, growling.

Bakura laughed more and shook his head at the servants. "Ahh… Off with you, I'll take care of the tyke."

"TYKE?!" Mikado shrieked, turning and glaring. He looked ready to snap. The servants scattered, laughing and giggling. "Your slaves?" Mikado asked scathingly.

"I keep no slaves." Bakura said calmly. "Those people are servants. I house them, feed them, clothe them and in return they do menial chores for me. I don’t even ask that of them." He said chuckling. "There is only one rule in my home. Stay out of my things."

Mikado blinked and looked around at said things. "Hmph... I don’t beleive you. Everyone knows that old guys like you keep a bunch of human slaves."

"If you don’t believe me, ask them yourself." Bakura chuckled.

Mikado snorted again. "Stupid arrogant vampires..." He grumbled under his breath, not meaning for Bakura to hear, but he did.

"Coming from a child arrogant enough to mumble thinking a vampire would not hear him?" Bakura said smirking. "You're hardly fit to be out on your own. Go home."

Mikado's face flushed in anger and shame. "You still haven't told me anything about you." He said, sounding much less... authoritive...

"I have no reason to." Bakura replied, picking up his quill and returning to his work.

Mikado blinked, looking quite bewildered, not sure what to do about being... brushed off like that. So, very unwisely, he decided to try something that he had seen Pegasus do. He knocked the ink well to the floor and snatched the quill, breaking it in his fist. "Do I have to give you one?" He hissed, trying to sound intimidating. "Because that will not be a pleasant experience..."

Bakura blinked at Mikado before bursting into laughter. "You're quite the little trouble maker aren't you? How about I give YOU an unpleasant experience." He hissed leaning forward and plucking Mikado up by his collar. "How about THAT hmm?"

Mikado squeaked and his eyes widened when he felt his feet leave the floor. But that spunky little Agent didn't just sit there... to Bakura's shock, he snatched his cross necklace and pressed it into the vampire's face.

Bakura growled and snatched the thing away from Mikado, tossing it across the room. His face was red, but being as old as he was, the burn wasn't bad, and quickly healed before Mikado's eyes. "I tire of you." He growled warningly.

Mikado gasped, and his eyes grew wider. He began to struggle, pulling a knife and slicing Bakura's wrist, trying to get the vampire to drop him.

Bakura however wrenched the knife from Mikado's hand and looked it over. He tossed the thing into the fire and snorted throwing the boy down. "Stop wasting MY time, and go home before I carry you to the Vatican myself to tell your elders just where you've been." He hissed.

Mikado's eyes widened even MORE at that, and to Bakura's amusement, that seemed to frighten the boy more than anything else he had scared him with that night. He scrambled to his feet and RAN.

Bakura's laughter followed him out. "And use the DOOR this time, squirt!"

And a moment later, the door slammed. Bakura laughed himself silly, before finally sitting down and doing his work. But a few hours later he was standing at the window of his study when who should come riding into view again but the little Agent. Bakura watched with raised eyebrows as the boy blinked at the house, frowned, confused, and looked around... then, he looked slightly panicked and upset. Bakura chuckled... it was very easy to get turned around on the roads surrounding his home. And obviously the boy had gotten turned around... and judging by the hoof prints in the mud... this wasn't the FIRST time over the past couple of hours...

Bakura laughed more and whistled for a servant. "Have Strigoi readied." He said as one of the servants entered. "Apparently our little Agent is lost in the woods."

The woman laughed. "Of course master. Lillith has been watching him come and go from the library."

Bakura chuckled. "Have that child go back to her studies; she doesn't have time to play about. That is for the day."

"She thinks the Agent is cute. A girlish crush." She said, bowing. "I'll have Strigoi readied immediately." And she left the room. Bakura watched Mikado ride off into the woods again, but within half an hour, he was back, and beginning to look ready to cry.

Finally he stood and shook his head. He walked to the kitchens and picked up small cloth, wrapping hot cookies and muffins within, and taking a small mug, filling it with the piping cocoa the servants had prepared for their children.

He walked to the stable and smirked. "Thank you." He had the servant hold said items as he mounted Strigoi. Once he had them in hand he urged Strigoi forward. "Lets go help our little lost Agent find his way home." He said shaking his head.

The yearling colt whinnied, prancing out of the stable. Mikado blinked and his eyes widened when he saw the vampire emerging from the stable on his mount that made the Agent's pony look like a pet dog!!! He squeaked, then whirled his pony around and kicked it. "GO GO GO!!!" He cried, frantic. The pony squealed and bolted.

Bakura chuckled and shook his head he turned Strigoi and rode in the opposite direction. Within moments he'd met Mikado in the middle and had caught his pony by the reigns.

"How long do you intend to ride about lost before you are man enough to ask for help?"

Mikado let out a startled (and girly) shriek.

Bakura and blinked, before bursting into laughter once more. "Child, that was the girliest scream I've ever heard. You put the little servant girls to shame."

Mikado blinked, but the scowled and flushed, glaring. Until Bakura reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden chain with a cross dangling from it. And then the boy's eyes widened in delight, as opposed to fear, and a smile crossed his young face as the vampire held it out to him. "... Thank you." He said softly, taking his necklace and putting it on.

Bakura snorted and handed Mikado the mug and folded cloth full of cookies. "Come on then." He said letting go of the pony. "I'll lead you back to the Vatican."

Mikado blinked and looked up at the vampire, surprised at both the goodies, and the vampire's offer to lead him home. "... you... you will?"

"The wolves will get you if I don’t." Bakura said calmly, urging Strigoi into a trot. "Come along then."

Mikado blinked, turning his pony to follow. "Wolves? I haven't heard any wolves..."

"Wolves and all manner of night nasties live in these woods... whether you hear them or not." Bakura said darkly. "This is no place for children."

Mikado scowled. "I'm not a child!!!" He whined, nibbling a cookie and sipping the cocoa.

"Well, you are not a man yet. You can deny childhood all you wish, but until you can think like a man, you are a child." Bakura said as they rode. "Men do not cry when they are lost."

"I didn't cry!!!" Mikado howled.

"You looked ready to cry." Bakura laughed. "And men do NOT scream like little girls."

"You startled meeeee..." Mikado whined, pouting.

Bakura rolled his eyes as they neared the edge of the forest. "You can keep the mug." He said as they reached the clearing. "From here, you just ride that way down that road." He said pointing. "You'll reach the Vatican by morning." He turned Strigoi. "Try to stay out of trouble."

He began going back into the woods.

Mikado blinked and looked after him. "Um... M-Mister... Bakura, sir?"

Bakura looked over his shoulder. "What?"

The boy gave him a hesitant smile. "Thank you. And... I never got to thank you for saving me last year... so... thank you for that, too... and... I'm sorry..."

"For what?" Bakura said pausing Strigoi.

"For, well... being so... rude to you, sir." The boy said, looking down, ashamed. "And for sneaking into your house..."

Bakura chuckled. "Next time, use the door." He said calmly

Mikado blinked, then gave Bakura a sheepish grin. "Yes sir... and... I'll knock, too." He said, giggling slightly.

Bakura smirked. "Fine then. Now hurry home before dawn, or you'll get caught." and he kicked Strigoi into a canter.

Mikado stared down the road long after Bakura had disappeared from sight and his horse's hooves had faded... He sighed and smiled slightly, blushing as he turned his pony towards home, the stirrings of a crush forming in his heart... He would go back to see that vampire again... He knew he would...

~*~

Otogi blinked at Bakura, waiting for an answer. "Well? What happened that night he found you?"

"He got lost in the woods." Bakura said smiling.

Otogi blinked, then burst out laughing. "He got LOST?!"

"Yes." he said chuckling. "He was only fourteen or so."

Otogi giggled. "So... you found him? He said he found you."

"Oh he found me." Bakura laughed. "He just had no clue how to talk to me, so when I said I'd tell the elders where he was, he scuttled away."

Otogi laughed. "That sounds like Mikado. Jumping in without thinking ahead... so... how did he end up lost? Trying to get away and go home?"

"Indeed... he must have circled past my home five times before I noticed."

Otogi laughed. "I never could make sense of that..." The young Agent said, following Bakura into Rome. "He could always find his way ANY where... it was always finding his was HOME again that was the problem..."

Bakura chuckled. "He came back more than once to visit me... it didn't take me long to discover his schoolboy's crush..." He said smiling. "His behavior was amusing."

Otogi smiled. "Yeah... He's somethin' else... always driving the elders up the wall..." He sighed. "He isn't hurt TOO bad, is he?"

"He's already healed." Bakura said looking around. "Vampires heal quickly. Even broken bones can be healed within the same day. He's in hibernation, so his body was FOCUSING on healing those wounds so they healed much faster than normal."

"Hibernation?" Otogi asked, cocking his head and thinking. "Vampires... hibernate every few hundred years, right? For ten to fifty years? And when they're starving?" Bakura rolled his eyes... more people writing bullshit...

"Otogi. I want you to pretend you've never read a single thing on vampires."

The boy blinked. "... Um... I guess that the information was wrong..." He laughed, grinning sheepishly.

"There you go. The less you read on vampires, the more intelligent you look." Bakura snorted. "He's in hibernation because he came out of bloodlust unsatisfied. He'll stay that way until I feed him. Not because he's starving, but because he doesn't have the energy to continue on in a second bloodlust attack."

"Oh..." Otogi said softly. "And... the Blood Lust comes when a vampire is starving?"

"Blood lust comes for many reasons." Bakura said after a moment. "Because a vampire is starving... because a vampire has eaten far too much, because a vampire hasn't eaten enough to suit the body from means of choice or hibernation by election. Blood lust is just a carnal wild craving that cannot be fulfilled quickly enough." Bakura said sighing. "Blood lust can come even if you've eaten enough blood… simply due to the fact that the body craves the hunt."

"... Wow..." Otogi breathed, softly. "So... you're... hunting now, aren't you?"

"I would be, if you weren't talking so much." Bakura said raising an eyebrow.

Otogi blinked. "Um... sorry..." He muttered. "I, uh... I'll just... go back now... can I stay with Mikado while you're out?"

"Sure." Bakura snorted, continuing into the city.

"Thanks." Otogi said with a smile, turning and running back to the Vatican.

Bakura returned to the Vatican nearly two hours later and came into the room biting his wrist harshly and offering it to Mikado. "ugh... you'd better be very hungry." He groaned. "Because I ate more than enough."

Otogi blinked. "You're very... pink." He said, and Lillith blinked, too. "And... bloated..."

Bakura snorted. "I know." he said glaring as Mikado began to feed. "I had to eat more than I should, so that I'd have enough to bring Mikado out of his hibernation. I'm surprised I'm not vomiting."

Both Otogi and Lillith grimaced. But Mikado was indeed feeding, suckling softly from Bakura, sighing. After a few minutes, he stirred a bit and turned into Bakura's wrist, beginning to suck harder, actually feeding as opposed to suckling and sipping.

Bakura sighed and laid his head on the bed closing his eyes. It felt relieving to get rid of some of that extra blood. He'd never felt so bloated in all his life!

Mikado soon snuggled closer, and Lillith sighed, watching. Bakura was looking quite content right now.

"... Master...?" She whispered, hesitantly.

He opened an eye and glared at her. "I'm still very sore with you, little miss."

She winced. "I... I know, Master. I... I am sorry for overstepping my boundaries... I did not mean to... I just... I'm sorry... Please Master... I beg your forgiveness..."

Bakura snorted. "You'd better hope I never catch you doing it again or I'll throw you out so quickly your head will spin."

She winced again, looking down. "Y-Yes Master... I just thought that... if it was in the library it was... fair game..."

Bakura snorted. "Well now you know." He growled. "And you should thank your stars that I didn't throw you out just now...but despite that very intrusive invasion of my personal belongings...the Agent did have a point. You were only hoping to better serve my fledgling." He said glaring. "so I'll let it pass and forgive you...but NEVER again...understand?

She nodded quickly, eyes wide. "I am sorry Master... if there is anything I am not sure about, I will be sure to ask you before I make a foolish assumption..."

Bakura sighed. "It's fine. Just be sure to tell the OTHER prying little servants that they must remember my rule and ask before they read." He grumbled. "They are forbidden for a reason."

She nodded. "Yes Master. I will... Is... Is there anything I can get for you?"

"I'm fine Lilith. Get some rest and calm down...it's over. I'm no longer mad, just irritated." Bakura said calmly. "You know I have a hot temper when I feel I've been wronged."

"Yes, Master, I do. I never meant to wrong you..." She said. "I... if you need anything, just call..." And she curtseyed and hurried from the room.

Bakura sighed and shook his head watching Mikado. He was still eating quickly, and Bakura had already lost his bloated pink look. "Piglet..." He chuckled.

Mikado just kept feeding, and Otogi snickered. "I um... I'll go now..." He said.

Bakura chuckled. "Thank you." he said after a moment. "I needed that conversation to calm me."

Otogi smiled. "I, um... I'll see you tomorrow evening, then..."

"Of course." Bakura looked back to Mikado and kissed his forehead.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*