Disclaimer: Suikoden 3 is not owned by me, but by the marvelous people at Konami. Yaoi warning. Do not read onward if you don�t like guy/guy pairings.

Dedicated to Athena and Amy

The sun winked innocently overhead. Its life-giving rays beamed down on the earth below. A dark blot stood out against the blue sky, and the air around this figure seemed to pulsate with evil energy. Even the sunlight shrunk away, pulling back its warm fingers as it sensed that this figure did not wish to be touched by the light. The figure looked like a male, but it could not have possibly been human.

Quick as a shadow, the figure darted forward. In each hand was a deadly sword. The dark figure mercilessly cut through the farmers that had been tending their fields. Some were tortured before at last their bodies gave out, and the last thing they saw was their murderer: a man wearing black, with one eye red as the blood escaping their bodies and the other a striking blue color. The man's long hair was pulled into a braid, and as he slaughtered it wildly danced in the air.

Blood was his one true pleasure. He didn't care who he was fighting, or what side he was on, as long as there was plenty of blood involved. However, there were times when there was no battle for him, and he would have to satisfy his lust for blood another way. Tearing apart these farmers had been a good start, but he wanted more. More blood, more cries of pain, more torture... He smiled wickedly at the very thought.

He paused, rubbing his temples wearily. Even when they were not in the midst of battle, there was work to be done. The others might rest, but here is where he excelled. He had been busy planning out their next move, hardly allowing himself time to eat or sleep. Feeling he had worked enough, he pushed back his chair and rose to take a short walk. As he passed by one of the rooms, he noticed that the door was open. He glanced inside but did not see anyone. Frowning slightly, he moved on to another room.

"Master Luc?"

"Yes, what is it?" came the response.

"Yuber seems to be missing."

"I know where he is," said Luc. "He said he would return soon." The mage had been staring at his hand, but glanced up and scrutinized the other man. "You're not worried, are you?" He could only hope Luc wouldn't take notice of the flush of color on his cheeks.

"Just concerned that he might give away our position."

"He knows to be careful, Silverberg." The strategist sighed and ran a hand through his dark red hair.

"If you say so..." Not entirely reassured, he continued down the stairs. The demon always made him a little uneasy with his delight in bloodshed. Albert sat down with a heavy sigh. He had sensed that Yuber was growing restless from the lull in battle they had experienced recently. The redhead could only hope that the blonde-haired demon didn't cause too much mayhem.

More than that, he was afraid that Yuber would get himself in trouble. He knew that Yuber was more than capable of taking care of himself and getting out of any nasty situation he would put himself in, but there was still a little part of Albert's mind that worried about the demon. He was sure Yuber didn't know of it, but his eyes were always on the bloodthirsty demon. He loved watching the man's long braided hair as it swayed in time to the tall man's strides. The mismatched eyes fascinated him. He loved the quiet way they rested on him... He blinked, and forced those thoughts out of his mind.

Suddenly the door banged open, scaring some of the patrons badly. The sudden force of the door slamming against the wall nearly tore it off its hinges. Standing there in the frame was Yuber. Albert subconsciously ran his fingers through his hair, but it was pointless: the demon's head was bowed slightly and wasn't looking at him. The redhead frowned at the hat that was shading those mismatched eyes from his view. His eyes traveled down the demon's body, and recoiled in horror when he saw it.

Usually Yuber wore black gloves to match his morbid outfit, but now his hands were bare. Fresh blood dripped from the demon's fingers, and a fine trail of blood leading out behind him. A satisfied smile was playing on the demon's mouth, and his shoulders were shaking-- almost as if he were quietly laughing to himself. Albert stared at him in horror; he couldn't seem to take his eyes off the small pool of blood that was steadily growing at the demon's feet. It felt like icy fingers were trailing his spine from the back of his neck down to his waist. His legs seemed frozen to the spot, and he was too stunned to even breathe.

Bile was building up in his throat. The smell of death clung fresh to Yuber's clothes. Albert had seen many battles and had even been witness to a death, but smelling death was something quite different. Especially when the smell was lingering on someone he cared for... And the worst part was that Yuber was laughing about it. He enjoyed this carnage, this bloodshed, this reek of death that clung to him. Albert couldn't hold back the shutter of revulsion that coursed through his body. He closed his eyes, but he could still smell. He had to get out of there, away from the smell, and the dripping of the blood that had become so loud.

His eyes snapped open. Forcing his legs to remember how they were supposed to function, he quickly strode out of the room. He avoided touching Yuber, though a part of him longed to. Free in the open air, he kept on walking. He knew he should've said something to Yuber, but he didn't trust himself to open his mouth without vomiting. Why was this affecting him so much? But before he even asked, he knew the answer: because it was Yuber. He knew that the demon had bloodlust, but he had been naive enough to believe that Yuber would never soil any part of his body with the stench of death and blood. To see Yuber like that... he had almost looked like a monster to Albert's eyes, and that frightened him.

When Yuber finished with his business, his first thought was to get as far away from that place of death as possible. He loved blood, but he also knew his limits. He was in such a hurry to return that he was careless and nearly broke down the door when he pushed it open. He had scared some of the patrons, but he hardly paid attention to that. He focused on the cloaked man standing before him. He heard dripping and realized that his hands were covered in fresh blood. His mind had been so clouded during his slaughter that he had hardly paid attention. Now he was afraid to look at Albert, afraid to see the expression on his face. He stared at the floor.

He stood there shaking, ready for whatever reaction Albert might give. An unfamiliar feeling pressed on his heart. He blinked in confusion, wondering what was wrong with him. He yearned to reach out and touch the strategist, but a quick glimpse at his bloodstained hands made him change his mind. He simply couldn't bring himself to stain Albert with blood. He wished Albert would say something to break this horrible silence. He couldn't seem to stop shaking, and he couldn't figure out why. He wasn't cold, and he wasn't remorseful about what he had done. Then it hit him: he was afraid of what Albert would think.

The silence was becoming unbearable. Yell at me, damn you, he thought angrily. Say something! He felt Albert's eyes on him and still the strategist said nothing. At last he heard Albert move towards him. His arms ached to reach out and take the redhead in their embrace, but the fear of soiling this man's skin kept him at bay. He dared not lift his head, but he watched out of the corner of his eye as the shorter man drew closer. The pace of his heart quickened with each step. His mind whirled, wondering what the strategist was about to do. But Albert walked right past him without even looking at him, avoiding Yuber's touch.

The look on Albert's face made his insides twist in a knot. The strategist looked disgusted and his lips were pressed tightly together, as if he were holding in angry words. Mixed in with that look of revulsion was fear. He's afraid of me, Yuber thought in horror. He stared at his hands. And who would blame him? He curled his hands into fists but that did nothing to make the horrible feeling inside him go away. He had seen a trace of sadness and disappointment as well in those emerald orbs. Yuber wanted to call out to him, wanted to try and explain, but he couldn't form the words.

Feeling hopeless for the first time in his long life, he stood there in the doorway and allowed the man he loved to walk away.

Time ticked painfully by. The blood on his fingers dripped down in time with the clock. He yearned to go after Albert, but a part of him realized that the redhead might not want to see him. Had he lost Albert forever? Had this act separated the two of them? Silverberg had known about his bloodlust, but to actually see the demon's hands soaking in blood must have shocked him. Yuber lifted his shaking hands up to his eyes. Will he ever let me touch him again? Will he even look at me again? He closed his eyes, but the smell of blood and death clung to his nostrils, and for the first time he did not relish in it.

Now he stood at a crossroad. Should he go after Albert, or leave him be? If he let the redhead slip away now, would he come back? If he went after him, would Albert accept him? But the look on Albert's face... He didn't think he could ever forget that. He hung his head, ashamed at what he was. He had been so fortunate to have Albert's affections. I had to go screw everything up, he thought angrily. And for what? Bloodlust... Damn, I'm such a fool. He glared at the ground, angry with himself for what he had done. Would Albert ever love him again?

The fear of losing Albert struck him hard. He never thought anyone would care for a demon before Albert came into his life. He couldn't lose that, no matter what. He now knew what he had to do: he had to go out and find Albert. But first, he had to get rid of the blood on his hands. He could only hope Albert would accept him back...

Now that he was moving, he couldn't seem to stop. He had no idea where he was intending to go. All he knew was that he had to put distance between himself and Yuber. He was frustrated with himself for being so blind. He had known that Yuber had bloodlust and yet he had still fooled himself into believing that it was harmless. Now he saw Yuber for what he had always been, yet his mind refused to believe it: a demon. A part of him wanted to erase that image of Yuber with his hands covered in blood, laughing at the death he had caused, but Albert knew he couldn't pretend that part of Yuber didn't exist forever.

His legs finally halted their pace. Running did him no good; he would have to face Yuber sooner or later. He would take this time to breathe and figure out what he was going to say. At the moment he couldn't bear facing the demon. He wasn't sure how long it would be before he could comfortably be near Yuber again without thinking of what he had seen. Those same hands that had gently held him, dripping in blood... he shuttered at the thought. He had been a little disappointed Yuber hadn't said anything, but perhaps the demon could sense his unease.

Knowing Yuber, he'll probably come for me, realized Albert. I wonder... should I wait for him? He knew Yuber well enough to know that the demon could track him down easily, no matter where he was. But what Albert would do when Yuber did show up was the real question. He couldn't bear to be touched by the demon, that much was for certain. He wanted to, naturally, but shaking that terrifying image would be no easy task.

More than once since their relationship started, Albert worried that Yuber didn't really love him, or simply couldn't love. Was it possible a demon could feel such an emotion? It didn't seem likely to him now that he had seen Yuber at his worst. Perhaps the demon's interest in him was purely physical, a plaything of sorts that he would get tired of eventually. He could almost see it in his mind's eye: Yuber holding him tight one minute, then pushing him away the next and never coming to him again. Tears formed in his eyes. Dammit. I knew I shouldn't have fallen for him... What's wrong with me? When did the logical Albert Silverberg throw away common sense in the name of love? Damn, I'm such a fool.

He could hear someone approaching him from behind. It had to be Yuber, but his gait was much slower than what Albert expected. In fact, the steps sounded hesitant, as if the demon feared Albert would dart away like a deer if startled. Albert stayed where he was; he wasn't going to run, but neither would he turn and greet the taller man as if nothing were wrong. He wiped away evidence of his tears and waited for Yuber to make the first move.

Yuber could almost feel the chill from the cold shoulder Albert was giving him. Of course he had expected nothing less, and deserved far worse treatment. He held out his hands in front of his face, now cleansed of blood, and wondered if he should reach out and touch Albert. Everything in Albert's body language, from his crossed arms to the way he stubbornly kept his back to his demonic lover, read that he was not in the mood for physical contact. But Yuber's ache to touch him was on the verge of becoming painful. Slowly, he stretched out a hand and placed it on the strategist's shoulder. The redhead tensed up and wrenched away from him. Meekly, Yuber withdrew his hand again.

"Albert, you don't have to look at me, but will you at least hear what I have to say?"

"You lust after blood more than after me," spat Albert. "There's absolutely nothing you can say to me." That was a low blow to strike, and Yuber winced as if it had actually caused him pain. That explained why Albert left without speaking to him, and why he had looked sad and disappointed.

"But I have to say something, Silverberg. I-- I don't want to lose you." The strategist gave no sign that he had even heard. Desperate to take him back before he lost him forever, Yuber went on: "I'm sorry you had to see me that way. I confess I didn't think you would be there when I came through the door."

"You were enjoying it," accused Albert. "I could see you shaking with laughter."

"No, Albert. I didn't enjoy it at all." He could think of nothing more to say, and a heavy silence hung over them.

"I see you now for what you are, demon," said Albert quietly, "and I'm not sure if I like it." So that was it. He had lost Albert. He hung his head, wishing the earth would swallow him whole. He knew it had been too good to last forever, that it was impossible for a demon to be loved, but he had been foolish enough to hope.

"Oh, what have I done?" he moaned. "I was given the most precious gift in the form of a man that loved me, even though I was a demon. And what did I do with it? I tossed it all aside, I ruined it, all for the sake of momentary pleasure!" He paused, a lump forming in his throat. What was this? And why was water coming out of his eyes? He sank down to the ground, his mismatched eyes misty with his first tears.

Albert stood there, stunned beyond words. He had never heard Yuber speak that way to him before. It sounded like the demon was wounded and helpless. I don't want to lose you, the demon had said. He felt his heart softening. He didn't want to lose Yuber, either. He wanted to turn and forgive the demon but he didn't move. Why was he still hesitating? He listened as Yuber moaned out his loss, and could take it no more. He turned and saw the demon crouching on the ground with tears streaming down his cheeks. All doubts of Yuber's feelings for him were washed away by those tears. Albert knelt down so he was face-to-face with the demon.

"Yuber..." He tried to put as much love and compassion in that name as he could muster. His lover didn't respond. Albert reached out and cupped the demon's face in his hands. This time it was Yuber that squirmed away from his touch, but Albert refused to let go. He pressed his forehead to Yuber's and gazed into those mismatched eyes he so loved.

"Don't, Albert. You saw me... I'm a demon. You could do so much better." Albert kept one hand on Yuber's cheek while the other played with his long braid.

"But I don't want anyone else." Yuber opened his mouth to protest but Albert silenced him with a kiss. He half expected to feel Yuber's tongue exploring his mouth, but felt no response from the demon. Disappointed but not deterred, Albert tried to encourage him by ticking the roof of Yuber's mouth with his tongue. Yuber pulled away, breathing heavily. His eyes were wide in surprise and confusion.

"I don't get it," stammered the demon. "You still want me, after what you saw today?"

"I love you, Yuber, and everything about you. I can deal with your bloodlust, because that's part of who you are. I'm sorry I wasn't prepared for today, but I still love you, regardless." He smiled and weaved his fingers through the braid. "I'm just relieved to know that you love me enough to care what I think."

"Of course I do! More than anyone in the world..."Yuber dropped his eyes away. "I don't deserve you, Albert."

"But we belong together." Yuber shook his head, still refusing to look at Albert. The strategist smiled, and took off his heavy coat so he could feel Yuber's body when he put his arms around the demon. He gently pushed Yuber to the grass.

"Albert! You forgive me so easily! I saw the expression on your face... You were disgusted with me. You must've seen me as a monster." Albert had been busy taking off Yuber's shirt, but paused and gazed at the demon lovingly.

"I'm afraid that's true. And I'm sorry about that." His fingers continued to stroke Yuber's long braid. "You really scared me, you know. I thought I had lost you for a moment there." Yuber flushed but still refused to look him in the eye.

"Maybe it would be better if you did." Albert took Yuber's face in his hands and forced the demon to look at him. Yuber's voice sounded so weak, not at all like the demon Albert knew and loved so well.

"Don't say that!" He kissed the demon's lips, pressing his body hard against the demon's. "I'm not losing you, Yuber!" The demon's eyes widened at the desperation in Silverberg's voice. He felt warm kisses on his now bare chest and couldn't suppress a groan of pleasure. Albert felt a desperate need to prove to Yuber, and to himself, that he still loved the demon just as he was. Certainly he had been disgusted earlier, and frightened of what Yuber was, but even at his worst Albert still loved him.

"Albert.... you damned fool. What's the point? You are mortal... you'll die, and I'll live on." Albert smiled and cradled the demon's face in his hands.

"I would rather die tomorrow loving you than living all the days of my life without you." Yuber remained silent, but Albert was determined to prove it to the demon.

His warm mouth continued to caress Yuber's bare chest as his nimble fingers unfastened the clasp on Yuber's pants. In his peripheral vision he saw the demon's hands inch towards him, as if they longed to comb through his dark red hair but didn't dare. Albert smiled a little against the demon's skin and gently slid down Yuber's pants. He teasingly ran a finger up and down the length, and this time he got an outright cry from his lover. He turned Yuber over, none too gently, and stripped himself of his pants. He bent down and rested his chin on Yuber's shoulder. The demon moaned in pleasure at the feeling of their naked bodies so close together.

"I love you, Yuber," whispered the strategist. "Never doubt it for a second." He felt something wet touch his cheek, and saw that Yuber was shedding tears again. He felt an almost overwhelming feeling of love for this demon that cared enough about him to show weakness. He gave the demon's shoulder blades kisses and caressed his spine soothingly. The demon shuttered under his touch, emitting a groan of pleasure.

"Damn you... Silverberg," panted the demon. "Damn you for loving a demon like me!"

"Do you love me, Yuber?" His knees were locked onto Yuber's hips and his fingers continued their journey along the demon's spine.

"Yes, Albert. As much as a demon can love a mortal... maybe even more." Albert kissed the small of his back.

"Let's never forget that again." He entered Yuber's body for emphasis. Yuber cried out, begging Albert not to stop. They continued on long into the night, sealing their promise under the stars.