Disclaimer: Something about not owning Suikoden should go here. Oh, and yaoi warning.

He had found the darkest and most solitary corner, and now sat in it with his arms tightly crossed, his mismatched eyes burrowing a hole into the opposite wall. If a person came within even twenty yards, they could feel the anger permeating from his body and quickly scurried off. His glowing eyes promised murder for any who would dare come close. He shook in rage, wanting so badly to kill something.

As it was true whenever he was angry, the cause was Albert Silverberg.

"Working hard again?" He placed a hand on the back of the redhead's chair. Secretly, he was jealous of all the time Albert spent on his work. The strategist was hunched over his papers and barely lifted his head to answer the demon.

"Unlike you, my job requires hours spent at a desk." Yuber slipped an arm around Silverberg's shoulder and pulled him into a kiss. What he hadn't counted on was Albert pushing against him, forcing their lips to part.

"Don't!" snapped the redhead, though looking slightly flushed. "I'm very busy right now." Yuber's face turned grim.

"And I suppose this is more important than us." Albert finally broke his gaze from the papers on his desk to glance at his demonic partner. He had an obstinate look on his face, one that made Yuber want to bash his face in and attack him in a fiery kiss at the same time. But when Albert opened his mouth, the latter feeling was washed away.

"Yes, it is. It could have lasting effects on the course of this war, while our sexual escapades certainly do not. Furthermore, I was under the impression I was only a momentary plaything of yours that you would toss away when you were done with." That set him off into pure rage. His hand shook, begging him to allow it to hit the strategist. But no, he couldn't do it. Silverberg was gazing at him with such an expression of calm that it seemed unbreakable. Damn him. I hate it when he does that.

"How typical of a mortal," he spat viciously. "Well, if you think that, then why do you tolerate me?" The mortal comment blew Silverberg's fuse; it always did. He was up on his feet in moments, knocking over his chair in the process. His eyes bore into the demon's with equal anger, though he had to tilt his head up to meet the taller man's gaze.

"And if I'm just a typical mortal, then why are you wasting your time with me? I obviously don't matter to you anyway, demon!" Yuber's hand lashed out and smacked the smaller man's cheek before he even knew he had done it. Albert stumbled slightly but quickly regained his footing. The strategist's face was flushed again, but this time there was no doubt that it was anything but anger. "How dare you?" he growled darkly. "It's quite clear you are nothing more than a bloodthirsty demon!!"

"Then I'll rid you of my presense, if it so offends you," snarled Yuber in response, stalking out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

Looking back on it, it was all Silverberg's fault. It usually was, damn him.

Stupid mortal. Stupid Silverberg. Why did he have to get set off at the smallest things? Why'd he have to have that look on his face? Why'd he have to be so damned irritating, and so damned sexy all at the same time? Damn him. I hate it when he does that! They had bickered on and off in the past, but he had never actually hit Albert before. He could tell this one was going to drag out at least until the next morning. Silverberg was stubborn, which meant there would be no room for Yuber in their bed that night.

As he sat there in his dark corner, an unexpected memory came. It was early on in their relationship, and Albert was nestled in his arms. He could feel the strategist slowly sinking into slumber and brushed back his hair to kiss him on the forehead. Albert sighed and stirred slightly, rousing at the feel of Yuber's lips.

"Yuber, are you tired?"

"Not really. I could go again, if you want." He flashed a mischievous grin. Albert flushed red in embarrassment.

"That's... not what I meant. I meant, are you sleepy?"

"Not... really."

"Oh." Albert frowned, looking a little disappointed. "I'd hate to fall asleep on you."

"Don't feel like you need to stay awake for me. Go ahead and get some sleep." Albert sighed heavily and closed his eyes, snuggling up close to the demon. Yuber waited, his chin resting on the smaller man's head. There was silence for a long time and he was almost sure that his partner had fallen asleep when--

"Yuber?" He let out a weary groan.

"What is it?"

"Do you sleep at all?"

"I don't need sleep, Silverberg. I'm a demon."

"Oh." Again, the disappointed frown.

"Look, I don't need it, but I'll do it if you feel more comfortable that way. All right?" Albert smiled and nodded his head, curling up to sleep for the third time. Yuber closed his own eyes, trying to remember the last time he had been asleep. It was pretty comfortable, especially when he had Albert's steady breathing to soothe him.

Stupid mortal. Stupid Silverberg.

Yuber wasn't sure how long he had stayed crouched in his dark corner, exuding all his energy into anger and hatred. But as time passed by he felt his strength subsiding slightly. Strange, but he couldn't seem to keep his eyes open. He had never had that problem before, even after getting into the habit of sleeping with Albert. But now he was fighting just to stay awake. At last his eyes won and he slumped to the ground in sleep.

Blackness.

He found himself standing in a valley covered in grass; the place reminded him somewhat of the Grasslands, though he couldn't distinguish an exact place. Standing in front of him was Albert, wearing the most obstinate and nasty look on his face. Yuber had the familiar urge to hit and hug simultaneously, but Albert marched towards him before he could decide on either.

"You sicken me, demon! How dare you show your face to me again?"

"What?! Shut up, Silverberg! If you don't want to see me, then turn your head away!"

"I obviously mean nothing to you except as a passing fancy! I'm nothing to you except a good fuck!" Yuber could feel individual hairs on his braid bristling as he seethed.

"Yeah... that's right!! That is all a mortal's good for, after all, right?!" He snorted and turned his back on his mortal lover, his long braid whipping out behind him. His anger quickly heightened to a new level, mixed in surprise, as he spotted a newcomer. "Pesmerga..." He growled out the knight's name. The dark-haired knight smiled a slow and sinister smile.

"Yuber." A rock suddenly sailed by and knocked Pesmerga on the nose. Yuber twisted around and saw that Albert had thrown it, using his scarf as a makeshift slingshot. He was already loading up another rock. Pesmerga's eyes glowed dangerously as they landed on the strategist.

"Albert, what the hell do you think you're doing! You don't know how to fight!! And this is Pesmerga! He'll tear you apart!" But Yuber's warning came too late. Pesmerga tore after the redhead and slammed his swordhilt into the smaller man's forehead. Yuber screamed out his lover's name but couldn't seem to move his legs to help. Albert toppled to the ground and Pesmerga pounced on him at once, beating the helpless man mercilessly with the flat of his sword.

Albert writhed under the torture and Yuber could only stand there and watch as the man he loved was cut by the man he hated. Pesmerga tore off Albert's coat, shredding it with his sword, and tearing at the strategist's undershirt until it too was destroyed. With each blow that caused Albert pain, Yuber winced and struggled desperately to assist him. But it was all in vain; there was nothing he could do. Pesmerga dragged the tip of his sword over Albert's exposed skin, cutting into the tender flesh and causing it to bleed. Yuber howled in almost animalistic rage and tore desperately at the invisible bonds that held his feet in place. Still nothing. Still he was forced to watch.

He almost felt as if he was in pain himself. He yelled at Pesmerga to stop torturing Albert and to take him instead. I'm just standing here; there's nowhere I can run. Why not attack me instead? He shouted until he was hoarse, but Pesmerga was deaf to his words. Or maybe he wasn't so deaf, for he started cutting Albert deeper. He let his blade sink into Albert's skin and twisted it before drawing it out again. The grass around Albert's tortured and half-naked body was stained dark with blood. Yuber didn't want to watch, didn't want to have to see his beloved harmed, but his eyes also were disobeying him.

Pesmerga turned from his writhing, whimpering victim and grinned eerily at Yuber. The blonde-haired demon made one last attempt at attacking the dark-haired knight, but his feet were stil stuck in place. Pesmerga lifted his bloodstained weapon for Yuber to examine. He turned back and walked around Albert, grabbing the bleeding strategist by his hair and forcing him and Yuber to meet gazes. They gazed helplessly, longingly at each other. Pesmerga grinned at Yuber over the redhead's shoulder, and shoved his sword through Albert's chest cavity.

Yuber woke up screaming Albert's name.