Ryo sighed in defeat allowing the ladder to fall back into place.
"Lucivar keep going... try to find a place to hide until I come to
find you." he began to climb down loking into the boys eyes. the
young
vampire frowned in dissaproval as if it were an obvious ruse. he
shook
his head and walked away into the darkness. at the bottom of the
ladder
ryo turned to shanna. "Take me to him..."

Shanna went back down the stairs to where Shadow was slumped over by
the wall. She shook his gently. "Shadow...I'm going to carry you on
my back, we'll go to the hospital ok?"  No responce from him.
She untied the leather straps from her bondage pants and after
taking off her coat, secured Shadow on her back. She stood up and
waited for Ryo to lead the way out.
Stired by the movment, Shadow groaned, ::"Shanna....those boys...::
"Quiet you." She lightly tapped his head resting on her shoulder.
"Your the one who got us into this.. so shush up." Her voice was
amused, almost gentle.

Ryo smiled at her. "YOu love him don't you." Shana glared at him.
"None of youre business."

"I'm just, repaying the kindness he showed to me." She said.
Though Shadow was hovering in out of conuiosness, he heard this
comment. He could only hope this was true, he was smitten by her
when he first met her. But he'd kept to himself, not knowing what
she'd think if she knew what he was.
He squessed his eyes shut. he send Ryo a privet Message ::"Please
Don't tell her what I am....I promise to leave you and Luciver
alone...just please don't tell her." :: 


Ro smiled. "YOu know miss... A vampire hunters life isn't really
something to bring children into..... maybe you should concider
settling down. raising a family, going tinto a job thats less
hazardous to you and whoever you chose to fall for." He smiled at
her, "I \'m sure if he was awake he'd agree after the day you two
have been having, i mean do you really see this as a job that goes
anywhere? running through sewers that smells like ass chasing after
vampires? Really it can't be good for your health and you'll never
kill All the vampires. it just seems a little pointless to me." He
shrugged.

"humph! Like you know anything," Shanna said. "I hate vampires, I
won't stop untill I every single one of them is nothing but ash."
:: "Saint-child,":: Dante again, not letting Shanna hear this. ::
"Her brother was taken by a vampire, There had been word that
Belmont was the cuase of her brother's dissapearnce. She won't stop
unless she finds him." :: 

Ryo wrinkled his nose. "Not all vampires are bad. I mean i've
married one and I couldn't be happier. Of course I also married
Sabyien...." He blushed. "So i can't help but see that theres no
problem. I Suppose i haven't been through what you have but.... I
had my parents killed by a demon. I don't hate them. cause Saby used
to be one kinda." He shrugged.
"Thats not the same thing." she turned to the boy intent on really
letting him have it. "MY brother was my only living relative. He cared for mw when i was sick, he proteceted me form others. I was

almost killed when he dissapeared so cork it before i make you."
After a few minutes ryo asked. "What... was your brothers name?"
"Draven." her voice was tender. Ryo's eyes went wide.

"Misha, this is not dignified." Hexen protested as Seth zipped up
the body bag around him, the vampire lord sat up.
"Look, it's the only way to get you out of here without actually
having you getting touched by sunlight."  Seth pushed him back down
and zipped up heavay matrial of the bag over Hexen's head. Hexen
sighed and lay still.
Seth pushed the strecher down to the entrence where Saby had the car
waiting. They got a few odd glances but the hall was basicly empty.
At the edge of the parking lot. Sabyien helped Seth lift the bag
into the back seat of the car. Several ppl outside truned and stared.
"Quickly..." Seth hissed, Saby jumped into the diver's seat. Sth
slid into the back with Hexen. 

I... Knew Draven," Ryo said quietly. "They.... were quite strong
"S-He protected me from succubi."
" doubt it was the same person."
"How many people named Draven shoot lightning from their hands?"
"...."

"Do you know what happend to him? " Shanna asked a moment later.
Shanna had climbed the ladder with Shadow still on her back. After
kicking down a door, they where now walking thorught a long hall, it
looked to be the basment of a building.

Ryo looked down. "....She died... Protecting the grail..." he looked 
up at the woman. "Its my fault. She was used... in a summoning ritual...
I... I let it happen..." 
"Do you know what happend to him? " Shanna asked a moment later.
Shanna had climbed the ladder with Shadow still on her back. After
kicking down a door, they where now walking thorught a long hall, it
looked to be the basment of a building.

Ryo looked down. "....She died... Protecting the grail..." he looked up
 at the woman. "Its my fault. She was used... in a summoning ritual... I...
 I let it happen..."

Shanna stoped where she was. " 'She' ?  Draven's a guy."

"SEth told me... they had used the grail to save his life... but it had
some side effects... it made it from an outie to an innie." 

The woman frowned.  "The grail transformed him into a girl?"
Ryo shifted from one foot to the other. "Yes."
Luciver took a step behind Ryo, sure that she'd explode.
Shanna just turned, kept walking...suddenly she started luaghing.
"Haa Ha,  I wish I could have seen that, a girl..."

"Well..." ryo described her. 
She was snickering when they made thier way up a set of metal stairs
that lead them to what appeared to be a factory. The factory looked
emtpy, none of the machines where on.

Ryo looked around. "Well Uhhh,,, Shana... its been a slice... but
Lucivar and I better uh.... head off. Dante looks fine, you know
what happened to your broth-Sis-Sibling. and hoiw seth saved them.
sooo uh we'll get going then.... take care of him... he cares about
you."
Shana grabed the front of Ryo's shirt. "Just one more
question...Where is Draven now?"

Ryo stammered. "T-t-theres a burial mount in the belmont shrine in
their honour. That's all i know its on the outskirts of the paris
underground."

"......." Shanna let him go.  She truned her head away, with out a
wrod, starting walking away. 
Ryo Took lucivars hand. "Come on..... lets find a phone to call the
others..." he watched the woman walk away with the halfling. he
sighed. "Good luck Dante..."

In the sheltered parkade, Seth helped Hexen out of the bag. A little
while later Sabyien came back, he had gone to get a hotel key. The
Lanzender hotel was attached to the parkade. Hexen  was insistant
that they start looking for Luciver.
In the car, the phone rang. Seth picked it up. "Hello?  Ryo? Thank
God! Where are you?......ok...I'll come and get you right away."  He
gave Sabyien a brief glance and gunned the engine.
The guardian stodd stifly watching the car speed away.
"Sabyien," Hexen put a hand on the man's shoulder. "He won't stay
angery forever, he'll forgiver you in time."

"I hope so." Sabyien frowned.
Ryo waited outside the building, lucivar stood inside in the
darkness, seth pulled up he headed towards ryo hugging him tightly
"Oh gods i was so worried about you."
Ryo smiled up at him. "I'm alright... and i think we put an end to
your hunter problems." he hugged the boy tighter.
"Come on help me load lucivar into the body bag and get him back
home." Seth let the boy go.

Once they walked intot he hotel room, Luciver ran and threw himself
in Hexen's arms. Ryo smiled.
Sabyien stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards Ryo.
"Ryo, I glad your sa-"  A  sharp slap from Seth stuned him to
silence.
"He wouldn't have been in danger if you where doing your job
properly, Guardian." Seth said. "Not sleeping with some woman."
The room was quiet, the three others held thire breathes wondering.
"......" Sabyien didn't even raise his hand acknologe the faint pink
mark on his cheek, he jut truned his head away and walked out the
door.
"Saby?" Ryo's voice,
Sabyien's pace quickened, he entered an elevator and pushed the down
botton. the doors slid closed.

"Smooth Misha." Hexen frowned.
Ryo turned to seth with tears in his eyes. "It wasn't his fault... I
went with him willingly..." He looked up at the vampire. "It wasn't
his fault..." The tears stung Ryo turned to follow the guardian. to
try to catch up with him and smooth things over.

Sabyien sat in the car the engine wasn't on. he just sat thinking to
himself trying to clear his mind. he didn't even notice as the door
was opened and ryo sat next to him. the boy staredahead at the car
parked infront of them. "Sabyien.... Can we go for a little drive?"
He asked quietly.

Sabyien put his hands on the wheel, they clenched. "No Ryo."  he
said, "Get out...." he siad this a littel more harshly then he
intended. "Get out."

The boy stayed where he was. he looked at sabyien seeing the man was 
on the edge of tears he Reached out. "Sabyien.... none of this was your
 fault. I went with him willingly. I wanted to protect lucivar..."
"Its not that. I let you down ryo I spent the night in bed with a woman.
 I may have..." he looked away.
Ryo touched the mans cheeck. "Sabyien... its alright..." Eyo tried his 
best to ease the mans tears.
"I should have been looking after you..."
"Saby... if I hadn't been kidnapped we would have never gotten lucivar
 back..."
"Ryo....But, I failed you...How can I call myslef a Guardian
after..." he trailed off. Ryo waitied for him to continue.
"....I need to be alone, I need to think...." Saby truned on the
engine. "Please Ryo...I want to be alone."

The boy sat quietly. finally he piped up. "With this ring I bind
myself to you my love no matter what trials come. I promise to love,
cherish, and honour you until the day i die. as this unending band i
wear signifys I shall love the for eternity." He looked at sabyien.
"Its the vow you, seth and I said on the day the three of us wed.
there was nothing the about protecting. You said that day signified
our rebirths, that as we preformed the ceremony we cast off who we
used to be. That means I gave up on being this worlds saint, and for
you your guardianship. we became equals, YOu didn't fail me
Sabyien.... but if you leave now.... you will my husband. You will."

"I cannot change, You may have changed something by summouning me
from the nether-world...but I....I'm sorry Ryo..." Sabyien slid his
gold ring from his finger. "Even that vow can be broken."  He
remebered with guilt, the warm feeling he had for Shanna when he met
her.  a part of him was saying: Logicly, with Seth and Ryo's
blood-bond, Saby was a third wheel. The vampire could forfill the
Ryo's needs much better then he.
If Ryo didn't need a Guardian, then why was he here?
Sabyen put the gold ring in Ryo's hands. "I'm leaving you."

Ryo was frozen in shock. the ring tumbled from his stricken hands.
He stared at the man. his heart breaking. he Sobbed a bit.
"You....You... BASTARD!" He Made a fist And punched the man in his
face. "HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE! YOU!" He cried sobbing hard. "YOu
take my heart.... and THIS its what you do with it?!" He hit him
again then got out of the car slamming the door hard enough to shake
it. He was walking away the lights in the parking lot exploding
Sabyien watched him stalk off. then tried the engine. it wouldn't
start.

"Drink it, you'll need your strengh for tonight." Donovan said,
pushing his bleeding hand over Shadow's mouth. The Dhampir grunted,
he didn't want to drink, but the blood Don offered would restore his
strength and abitilities.  Shanna had told him what Ryo said, He was
married to both Belmont and Sabyien.The tattoed man had sent Shanna
to check at the Lazen hotel, since he figured, that offered the best
hidding place...right in the Knight's santuary.
Shadow sat up, panting, his blood-lust barely contained. He glared
at Donovan with hate-filled eyes.
Donovan snorted. "Be fortunete that I allowed you to live longer
half-breed, We'll make an attack on Lazen in the hour before sunrise
tonight."

Shanna muttering curses under her breath, speeding through traffic.
Stopping at the front doors, she got out and asked the desk clerk if
Sabyien Lazender has checked in. He said no. But Shanna wasn't so
sure, this hotel was offten a hiding place for Temphor Knights.
She'd have to cheack throughly to be sure.
Driving around the hotel, she saw him.

Sabyien had started walking, he didn't know where he was going but
it felt important to be moving.
he was startled out of his depression by a honk of a car.
"Sabyien? Is that you? what happened? you looked like you've been in
a fight."
Saby looked up, that woman Shanna was looking up at him with some
consern. he looked into the relfection of the window, a bruise
discolored his face.

Around the other side of the hotel ryo stood a taxi pulled up.
"Paris international airport." He said. If sabyien didn't want him
around anymore. he was going to leave. He had called a friend back
in Japan they would take him in. he had nothing but the clothes on his back. but he didn'yt care. his heart was broken and he couldn't
stay. He got into the cab and headed off.

Seth sat on the bed looking at Hexen. He felt ashamed of himself.
"Hexen... I... I just don't knopw what to do anymore..."
The elder vampire sat down next to him pulling the ascened vampire
to him. "This is what happenes when lines are crossed. You took
others within you. but those two peirced your heart."

Shanna reached in through the open window and handed Sabyien a ice
cold slurppie. He took it. She leaned against the car. "So are you
gonna tell me what happened?" she took a sip of her own. It was a
warm day it would have been a perfect day to hang out at the park or
take a walk. Sabyien frowned, he wished that it was raining instead
and that this woman would stopp asking questions. He held the cold
drink up to his face, the ice cooling the pain. But it did nothing
to ease his inner angush. 

Ryo sat in the airport. he didn't have his passport so he couldn't
get on the plane. so now he just sat in a coffe shop silently
fuming.
"Hey what's a matter kiddo?" A familliar voice asked ryo looked
there stood one of the angels. he looked up at the youthful face.
"I can't get on a plane." He made it sound like that was the major
problem. "And Sabyien told me he wanted to leave me."
The man sat down he could tell the boy needed comfort. "Realy? Why
did that happen?"
"He said I ddin't need him anymore..." he felt tears welling up in
his eyes. "But I do..."

"...was it worth it?" Shanna asked.
Sabyien didn't answer, he had just finished telling her about his
break up.
She put down her drink and asked again "Was letting him go worth
it?"
Sabyien truned away.
"Sorry for asking but. This is something that I need to know..."
Shanna truned her back and watched the trafic. "...I don't know
myself if letting go of one you love is worth it. I'll never let go
of my brother...not unless thier was some hope of seeing him again."

The angel smiled at the boy comfortingly. "Here... come with me.
I'll bring you with me. Maybe Michael can help you abit. He's
actually been asking to see you."
Ryo nodded. "Ok..." It would be good to head off for a bit. Michael
was wise... he could help him get over sabyien. he tried to remind
himself that he would love the man enough to let im go... even if he
hated him for leaving.

Her pager vibrated, Shanna frowned. "Be right back." she told
Sabyien and then went to the nearst payphone. "Donovan?  Yes, they
are there.....Yes....Uhmm..." She looked back to her car. "I have
him in my car.....what?....Ok, Ok..." She hung up with a sigh,
Donovan had told her to somehow get the guardian to him, so that Don
might talk to him. 


Ariel escorted ryo through the airport to a waiting car. the boy
remained quiet. the young angel put a comforting hand on the boys
shoulder as he drove. "Just relax. you've been through alot today.
once we see michael we can hopefully get this all straitened out."
The young boy looked over at him. "uh... I'm not even sure... if I
want to clear this up... he says i don't need him any more..."
"Do you still love him?"
"yes... But... I mean now that he said he wanted to leave... I don't
want to stand in his way if it'll make him happy..." the tears began
to trickle down his face.

"Rapheal? Ryo's here." Ariel had driven them out into the country to
a small well furnished house. The youngist of the angels lead the
boy in. Ryo was suprised at the simple comfortable home. The house
could have been occupied by by any normal family.
"Hello, Ryo. " Rapheal appeared from the bastment, a basket of clean
landery in his hand. "Just give me a min..." he put the basket onto
a chair and untied the apron he was wearing. "Micheal's been waiting
to see you Ryo." he lead him up the stairs.

The youth nodded. "Uh ok..." He looked at the others Rapheal
indicated him to go upstairs. michael was in the first room on the
landing. Ryo peeked in. "Sir?" He closed the door softly seeingthe
prematurely elderyl angel sitting in the bed. He approached
carefully.

"Ryo...there is something you must know, the summoning that brought
back Sabyien....it's use has disrupted the matter of this world.
Untill resently, there had been no problems. Now, I feel as though
thier is a rift opening....I'm afriad that the Guardian is cuasing
it"
"Rift?" Ryo asked. "What kind of a rift?"
Micheal layed his thin hand on the covers. "A dementional rift, As
you can see, I'm very senisitive to it...others with physic ablities
will soon become atuned to it. It would drive them to insanity, if
they haven't already."

The boy swallowed. "How..." he dreaded finishing the question. "How
do we... stop the rift?"
The angel took his hand. "the guardian... must die." he looked the
boy in the eye. "I'm sorry to be the one to say this but. you must
kill your own husband."
Ryo turned away sullenly. "He's my husband no longer. he decided he
would rather leave Seth and I.... He said I needed him no longer."
The boy started to cry again michael tried his best to take him into
his weakening arms.

He was frantic, he couldn't find Ryo anywhere. The last anyone had
seen him was outside the hotel. one the empolyees had said he left
in tears. That worried him. Seth thought of calling Sabyien sure
that the boy was with him, but he resisted. What if Ryo desided
to....no that couldn't be....Ryo was seen alone. 

Rapheal listened to how Ariel had found the boy and shook his head,
"We'll have to call the vampire to let him know where he is. even if
he is unworthy he's probably worried."
Gabe nodded. "I'll do it. it may soften the blow somewhat."

Seth was sitting in hotels lounge when his phone rang.
"Hello?...Gabe? Sure....I'll be right there."

A few mintes later, the vampire met Gabriel on the bridge over
looking the river. Seth frowned this was the same bridge where three
years ago...
Gabriel was leaning on th iron rail, looking over at the river
Tymes. Seth joined him. "So...Why did you want to meet me here for?"
Gabriel decided to get strait to the point. "The saint... has
requested... that we angels take over his guardianship due to
Sabyiens abdication." He looked over the water at the city lights.
"He also said to... give you this." The angel solemnly placed the
ring ino the vampires hand.
"..." Seth held the ring to his chest felling like he had been
killed again. he turned away from the angel and started walking.

"You understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes....I understand."
"This world must be cleaned, the only way order to continue is rid
of those who oppose the natural law...immortals defey that law.
Nothing in this world should last forever."
Sabyien nodded to Donovan, then left the room. Out in the hall,
Shanna was waiting fo him. "So?" She asked.
Sabyien walked past her. "I will join you....on the hunt tonight."
he kept on walking but stopped when a white faced Shadow regarded
him with moody ruby eyes.
:: "You don't know what your doing Guardian."::
Sabyien frowned at the voice in his head, then truned back to
Shanna.  "Donovan said to make peperations. Shanna there is
something that I want you get for me. " He drew a key and held it
out to her. " Go to my home, in the basment there is a vault, it
holds the Sancorsanct Sword." 

Ryo sat in a bedroom silently brooding. he knew it was wrong for him
to leave the vampire. but... he couldn't stay. things right now...
it was just he couldn't. He lay down on his side. remembering the
wedding day, the day they had met, their first time, so many things.
he held a pillow tight wishing, just wishing he could go back. He
would do anything to fix it all. but he knew nothing would.
nothing... but death.

Seth sighed, thinking.  He was never good at mending broken
relastionships...hell, this was the only real serious reationship
he'd been in. He stopped walking, perhaps he should just forgive
Sabyien...and talk to Ryo.
The vampire truned back and headed back to the bridge. 

Michael was sitting in bed resting wondering if he was right in
telling the boy to murder his lover. there was another way to stop
the rift entirely. but it would take power that the boy did not have
alone. he thought. Maybe.... just maybe with the others help... The
three of them had been united for a reason... but would their bonds
still be strong enough through this adversity?

"Can you please tell me where  Ryo is? I need to talk to him." Seth
implored to Gabe.
The angel shook his head. "He said that he needs some time alone."
"Gabriel...Please...He might have made a rash desition, I need to
know if he truly wants to end this."
The angel sighed. "Fine but I'm telling you now it's a mistake to go
see him now." he unlocked the car. seth got in.
"The only mistake I made was my over reaction."

"Shadow, I know that you may not want to, But I feel that the
Guradian will betray us."  Donnovan put a hand on Shadow's shoulder.
"If he does, use your voice to keep him on the right objective."
Dante twiched, he never spoke outloud.

Thevampire stared out the window catching the reflection of the angel 
Gabriels profile in the glass. neither had spoken along the drive. but 
there was a strange kind of comfort to the silence. finally he spoke. 
"Gabe... Do you remember... that time...."
"Yeah. UI guess I do. What of it?"
"I just wanted to appologize for not keeping the promise."
"Fuck to people of our lifetimes it was just a summer fling. words in 
sand get lost to the tide of time."
"Right... I Know that but... even so. I never said i was sorry for it."
"I knew you were. I knew."
"Thanks."

The car eased into the driveway of the home seth got out slipping on 
sunglasses as the sun hurt his eyes. Ariel sat on the front porch reading
 a book. he only nodded when they addressed him. Seth moved inside the 
house.

siting quietly in the lent bedroom looking out the window at the farm land 
the boy sat legs curled to his chest. he heard footsteps on the stairs. he 
could tell by the gate from the creak of the stairs it wasn't one of the 
angels. he didn't even turn his head asthe door opened he took a shuddered breath and spoke.
"Was it because it was your duty?" he asked quietly. "Rapheal told me why..."
"What do you mean?"
The boy turned tears in his eyes and sparkling tracks told there had been
 others before it. "The first time you and I... Did you do it because it
 was your duty as a knight?"

"No, I did it becuase I loved you...and you wanted me to do so."

Donovan smiled, It was like watching a ballalet. The gurdian was
warming up, doing slow movments with the sword. the sancorcanct
blade must have been heavy, for Saby's bare skin gleamed in the
lights of the training room.  He glanced to his side. Shanna was
enrapured. He held back a laugh, the guradian could have any woma
he wanted, what was he doing keeping himself married to another
male?...not that it mattered anymore. Donovan wanted to use the
Guardian's perfence to men to his advantage. Getting Shadow to use
his voice on him was the first step in controling him.
Dante hung in the doorway, his moody eyes on Shanna. He knew by now
that she was quite taken by Sabyien.
He was so focused on finishing the sword ritual, Sabyien didn't
notice them watching and his thoughts where truned inwards. 'Perhaps
this time, I will do what my elders have always done, It's my family
that I become a vampire hunter....My mother did it. Lady Elysion of
Ashalan was said to be one of the greatist vampire hunters...before
she fell from the ranks of the Ashalanian Order. '   Sabyien's face
hardened in an expression of resolution. 'It's time to re-gain my
family's once noble haritage.'  He moved through the last movements
and stopped.
"That was....intresting Guardian."
Saby frowned, he had an aduance?  "Donovan, why are you here? I
requsted that I not be disturbed untill night fall."
"It is already passed nightfall Sabyien...Shadow has done a
preliminary recon of our target. He will tell you. Shanna come!"
Shanna started out of her daze and followed Don out. The door closed
behind them.
Sabyien and Shadow reaguarded each other from across the room.
"So..."  Sabyien started.

Ryo turned he slowly got up from the bed. "Seth..." He hiccuped.
"Seth..." He ran into the mans open arms sobbing. "I'm sorry... i'm
so soory for what i've done. Please, please take me back. I- i
wasn't thinking clearly..." he looked up at the vampire begging him
his large brown eyes sorrowful. "Please..."
Seth looked dow at him sternly. "I don't know. first time i let you
you left me. whats to say you won't do it again?"
"Because... I need you. I love you...." He gripped his shirt tighter
pulling the vampire close. "I don't want to loose you again..." the
vampires face softened.
"Alright. Here." He slipped the ring back onto its rightful finger
stealing a kiss as he did so."Good to have you back love."

"If you two are done... Michael wants to talk to you about a
vision." Rapheal stood at the door. he kept mumbling abra-cadabra.
It got rather repetitive."

"...Yes Donovan, Shadow has told me everything." Sabyien said,
glancing to to the side to give the man a dreamy smile. "I'd do as
you would say.....Donovan." the last word was added in with
reluctance.
Shadow seemed pleased, he was stroaking an ebony strand of the
Guardian's hair. Sabyien was standing close to him, subbmissive to
the man's every gestures and movment.
Donovan hid his smile. The  halfling's angel's voice had compleatly
ensnared the guardian, just what he wanted.  He compared them. What
a fine pair they made, each the oppossite of the other, in coloring
and in manner.
Shanna truned and stomped out the door.
"Shanna!"
Donovan's voice stopped her in her tracks. She took a deep breath,
"I'm going to check on our equipment...."  She sais as she continued
out.

Ryo held to seth as they walked to michaels room. he felt terrible.
what was the angel going to say now? They entered the room. the
blinds were pulled down from the right sun. michael lay under the
blanket sweat coursing down his faace. ariel was applying a cold
compress to his forehead. the mans breath came in shudders. he
wheezed. "Saint child.... vampire... Theres not much time. Holy
trinity..."

Seth frowned. "Holy trinity?"  he came closer to Micheal. "What have
you seen?"
The Angel reached out to take his hand. 


Seth took the hand holding it tightly. Michael spoke his voice
barely above a whisper. "Father. Son. holy spirit. Trinity...."
"We don't understand."
"Saint, protector, and..... balance..." The angels eyes shut. ryo
turned away. praying that the man had not just died.

Rapheal was distressed. "I'm afriad that we might be too late. Ryo,
if only we had a strong healer, then we might be able to keep
Michael alove longer."
Ryo remebered. "There might be one, I've might a powerful haler, If
I could get him here...."  The vampire at his side frowned. "Where?
I haven't heard of a such a healer." 

"Just trust me." The boy nodded. seth got up to follow him. curious
to know of whom the boy spoke.

"Where are we going?" He asked the boy.
"Back to Hexen, he might know about him." Ryo said, sliding into the
passenger side of the car.
Seth waved to Gabe. "We'll be back soon."
They headed back to the Lazen hotel.

The four waited in the cafe across from the hotel. Is was now night.
but they still had time to pass before they made a move.
Shanna never touched her drink, she was looking out the window. It
was dark, but she thought she reconised the boy coming out of the
car in front of the hotel. 'The Saint?' she thought.  Donovan
noicted her expression. "Is that him? the Saint-child?.....Yes, I
know that vampire who is with him, Belmont." he snarled. 

Shadow went to get up but sabyien grabbed his hand. "Not yet.
they'll alert the others." he tok a drink of his smoothie.

Ryo and seth made their way through the hotel. "Hexen?" The boy
asked peeking into his room are you...." He blushed and shut the
door. "Ack! My eyes!"

A laugh from inside. "Don't be shy come in. "
Seth pushed ahead of Ryo and opened the door. Hexen was  toweling
the young boy dry, they had bathed together. Hexen had wrapped
Luciver in a fluffy soft towel, a towel warpped around his hips
which looked about to fall off.
"Ryo..." Seth pulled the still blushing boy into the room.
"....wanted to ask you for some information."

The boy blushed turning away. "I uh... was wondering if you could
help us find the half breed vampire."
"Lucivar.... go drain the water from the tub." The boy vampire
practically dove into bathroom.

"You are looking for a Dhampir." Hexen said, taking this time to
secure the small towel more firmly around his waist. "From my
knowloge, there are no living Halflings living now...the last one
died 50 years ago, a 5 year old girl-child." 

Ryo shook his head, "Thats not true. theres one left. one we're
looking for. People call him shadow, but his real name is Dante."
Hexen froze. his hands tightened into fists. it couldn't be HIM.
could it? He flashed back. he had just feasted uon his saint wife.
it had turned him into what he was now. no longer had he been a
demon. he looked at Ryo. "This Dante. What does he look like?"

"He had long white hair....very pale skin and red eyes..." Ryo
trailed off. What was going on here?
Hexen's face darkened. "So 'He' still lives...."
"Who?" Seth asked.
The vampire looked to Seth. "Do you remeber Maria? the Saint?"
Seth looked horrified. "You didn't..." He growled. "...You coudn't
have!" 

exen looked away. "I did. we had a dhamphir son." he made his fist.
"I'll help you find him. so I can kill him."
"After he heals Michael."

The vampire frowned at the boy. "A Dhampir has no use, it has no
disire other then to slay it's vampire parent. This dhampir will do
anything to get to me. Better to kill it, then let it continue."
Luciver slamed the bathroom door open, he had been listening. "He
has a NAME! His name is Dante...and He's not a Monster like your
discribing!"


"Lucivar. you know nothing of what you speak. Leave this to the
adults."
"Like ryo? I'm older than him and you're talking to him. Listen to
me dammit!"
The elder vampire looked pained. "You don't understand."
"No! You Don't understand!" Lucivar cried. "Or maybe you just aren't
the man I though you were..." 
Seth shifted uncomfortably. "Uh..." He flicked his eyes downwards,
letting Luciver know that he was  standing in the doorway in the
buff. The vampire-child grabed a t-shirt and pulled it on. "I'm
gonna go help Ryo and Seth  find him."

"How? You can't sense anything, and he'd kill you before you could
do anything."

Luciver pulled on a pair of shorts, he looked up at Hexen. "He won't
hurt me."  The elder was baffled. "How can you be so sure?"
"..........." Luciver frowned. "I'm sure..."


Sabyien ignored Donovan, he wanted to go thorught with it now.
Waiting had become a enduring pain he coudn't take anymore. Getting
nodd from Shadow, the Guardian had boldly walked into the hotel.
He knew which room Hexen was staying in.
Riding the elevator up, he thought that the other's would be getting
into postistion. everthing riding on timing. The mission to
eleminate the vampire king was going to be tricky at best. Donovan
was counting on Sabyien's famileriaty to get in close. 

Ryo was escorting Lucivar out. the elevator pinged open the saint
froze as sabyien stepped out.
"He has the scent of the hunters on him." Lucivar whispered.
"Sabyien..." Ryo whispered paying lucivars warning no mind.

As if hearing him, Sabyien turned his head and froze, his eyes wide.
What was he doing here? Other emotions shot thorught him. Regret,
self loathing ... most of all, a burning disire to take the boy in
his arms and begg him for forgiveness.
But, the mission....he'd mess everything up if he let his emotions
runaway with him.  Steeling himself, he took a step to Ryo. "Where
is Hexen? I...I need to send him a message..." 

Before Ryo could tell him the truth lucivar spoke up. "He's not
here."
"He left you alone?" Sabyien looked down at the boy searching for
the signs of a lie.
"Yeah. he said he had some things to take care of that was too
dangerous to take me with him."
"Lucivar who are you talking too?" Hexen called from in the
hotelroom.

Sabyien frowned.  This was getting... "Hexen! Please come out here,
I need to tell you...The Vampire Hunters are after you. They are
guarding the lower floors..."  Sabyien thought quickly, he didn't
want Ryo to geting in the way or get hurt. Hexen was the Vampire
Hunter's target. He looked at Ryo. "Ryo....They know, " he groped
for words. "They know about you and Seth...they won't be kind to
you. you must get out of here now!" 

Ryo reached out for sabyiens hand. "Its alright though now that your
here... you are here to help us aren't you?"
"Ryo... I don't trust him..."

Sabyien stepped away from Ryo's reaching hand, still reluctant.
"It's dangerous to stay here."
Hexen and Seth came out into the hall, "What's going on?  Sabyien?"
Oh shit! Sabyien thought. Being grouped together like this was just
what Donvan wanted. "Hexen, Seth...You must get out of here!"
Seth frowned. "What for? It's not like I can't fight..."
"Yes, but not here. The Hunters have surrounded this place..."
Sabyien opended the doors to the stairs. "The two of you, this
way...Ryo, stay with Luciver in the room, lock the door, They won't
hurt you are Luciver..."
Hexen looked confused. " How do you know this?"
Sabyien  shook his head, "Thet are only after you and Seth....Let's
go." He pointed up to the roof. 

Seth and hexen begaan to follow him once in the stairs Hexen grabbed
sabyine and held him over the stairs. "Alright what the hell are you
trying to pull We can smell the Dhamphir on you. you went to bed
with him didn't you?"
Seth stared at him feeling betrayed.

A smile grew on Saby's face. "Yes, I have."

Ryo locked the door. He wanted so much to believe Sabyien, to give
him another chance.
Sitting on the bed, Luciaver was frowning. "Shanna and Dabte siad
that they'd leave us alone,They let us go...They woudn't go back on
thire word would they?"
Ryo paced, "No, I don't think they would...I  believe that they are
good people."

Seth growled he began to stalk away angerly. 
"Ryo he had dante's scent on him. it was a heated one... they had...
slept together... and by the scent of him... he enjoyed it." Ryo
looked at him. the hurt in his eyes.

"I had no choice, I had to. a few hours for my freedom." Sabyien
said. He looked over his shoulder at Seth. "I'm sorry Seth..."

"..." The vampire started climbing the stared. he reahed the top of
the first flight and turned. "He truely loves you you know. I can
see it in his eyes when he looks at me. he looks for you I was only
a substitution for him while you were gone sabyien." Seth didn't
sound bitter about it but there was hurt in his eyes. "Remember that
as you lead us into their trap."

"But I'm not leading you into a trap....don't you see? I can't stopp
the way I feel towards you and Ryo....I thought maybe....I could
help you get out this trap."  Sabyien closed his eyes. "And you are
runing into a trap...."
The wall exploded!
The stairway had partly collapsed, leaving a gaping hole a few
floors down.
Waving the dust from his face, Donovan strode from the hallway
beyond and looked down at the two sprawled out on what was left of
the landing. "That traitor, I knew this would happen...Sabyien, I
had thought better of you, it's a pity that I'll have to kill you
now."
The woman Shanna was forwning. But orders were orders. She got into
a fighting stance, her hands crackling with lighting. 

Seth stood up he had hit the wall pretty hard due to the concussion of the 
blast he wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth. "Bastard..." He glared angerly
Hexen tried to stand. donovan kicked him hard in the face sending him sprawling 
against the stair railing. Sabyien swung his sword donovan leapt landing on the 
blade. he smiled at the guardian. 
"Pity." were his simple words. he then backflipped kicking sabyien under his 
chin knocking him down the stairs. the man landed next to shana and 
dante. "Shana. be a dear and fetch the saint. it would be a shame for him to 
miss the festivities."

Shanna steped over Saby, But Dante held out an arm. He was going to get the 
Saint himslef. The woman shrugged and let him go past.
Seth growled and lanched himslef at the halfling, A blast of ligting from 
Shanna hit him squre on, it blasted him through a weakened wall. The vampire 
fell from the building.
"Misha!!"  With a burst of speed, Hexen followed, knowing that the fall would 
kill him. Hexen cught SEth in mid air, landing on the roof of an adjoining 
building.

Ryo heard the fight, he and Luciver huddled together on the far side of the
suite. 
When he heard the locked door be kicked in, he tensced up.
Dante walked in, he saw the pair. He paused and then knelt on one knee. ="Saint-child, The guardian requires your help."=
Ryo blinked. Was this a trap?
Seeing the look of distrust on the boy's face. Dante impored. ="Please trust 
me, You've shown me mercy...Shanna and I need you and Sabyien's help in 
freeing our-selves from Donovan's power."= He held his breath, after all the 
planing, the trechery  and counter-plots to decive Don into beliveing that he 
had faithfull servents. 
 
the boy cleared his throat. "Someone once said 'i help those who help themselves.'"
::"So you won't aid us then?":: Dante stood a look of sorrow on his face. 
"I will but you canot depend upon the guardian soley." 
::"I had no intention to."::
The saint stood he hugged lucivar and whispered in his ear. "I leave the rest to you." the young vampire nodded and backed away towards the open window.ryo bowed to him respectfully and followed dante into the hall.

Dante turned and grabbed seth by his ankles as he attempted to do a flying 
scissor kick.
"An object is dropped from a building 12 stories up. how long until it hits the 
ground?"
"8.5 seconds." Seth replied he bent and gripped the railing attempting to 
throw the hunter over.

Ryo's eyes widened when he was Sabyien sluped against the wall, Shanna was 
bent near him. The boy's voice cuaght, The woman had grabed a handfull of 
Saby's hair and with a knife, cut off the lenth. 
Shanna looked up at Dante and Ryo, she smiled. Then jumped through the hole in 
the wall to join in 'helping' Donovan in the fight with the vampires.
"Donovan, I have disposed of the guardian."  She said landing.
"Good." Don had gotten up where the vampire had thrown him. Seth narrowed his 
eyes. "Impossable, he can't be killed by any normal means."
Shanna dropped the black locks on the ground. "Here's the proof, he's just 
human after all." Donovan luaghed.

Dante held Ryo in a lose hold. Ryo felt dizzy standing at the edge of of the 
hole. but Dante was holding him securly.
=" Donvoan, I've got the Saint-child."= 
There was a certin satisfaction in the voice. Even to Ryo it was hard to 
belive that this was the plan.  
Sabyien was gone from his place by the wall.
Dante sent a prayer, They needed the right timing and luck to pull this off.  

Ryo tried to struggle from Dantes hold. he was trying to make things look more 
believeable. "Let me go!" he shouted. "Seth!" 

"Seth, don't play into them, they're trying to make you lose control." Hexen 
said standing beside him. Seth was tenced. Did they really kill Sabyien? what 
kind of game was this? His first thoughts was for Ryo's safty.
"I won't let the Saint be harmed, but you two must summit to my blades." a pair 
of curving syths slid from the flesh of Donovan's hands.
"Never, I'll rip you apart for ever harming them."

The boy screamed as the two charged towards each other. seth unleashed a whip 
of light. it snaped across the huntes chest shredding his shirt. the vampire 
stares in shock. his body... it was covered in metal? he leapt backwards as don 
swung at him. Ryo turned and screamed back. "LUCIFER!" The young vampire cut 
himself scattering the blood on the wind. almost instantly the  city became 
lively with bat like bodies lifting from the streets. his people had come. 
Lucifer was relieved it had worked. hexen had told him how to do the summoning. 
he was relieved that it would actually work.

Seth strugled, but the metal was hardening, threatening to freze him in his 
tracks. He heard a Ryo's scream and then the smell of blood.
Several vampires landed on the roof beside Hexen, summound by the urgentcy in 
the child-vampire's blood. They seemed to wait for Hexen's word.
"That man, kill him." He said.
Donovan became hardpressed in defending himself. 
Shanna gasped, she stepped back. The vampires where attacking her too!

Dante grabed Ryo and jumped down, landing, he let go of Ryo and ran to aid her.
There was a flash of bright metal, Sabyien charged in front of Shanna, Sword 
held defencively. "Vlad Des Conna!" He yelled.  Immeditly, the vampires 
stopped and then truned to aid thier commrades in fighting Donovan. 
Hexen frowned, that was the password given to humans who where under his 
protection.

Donovan backed up against the walllashing out with the metal cutting down the 
vamires that attacked him. shanna looked around. She couldn't help but 
wonder. 'Is this right?' 
  
"Shanna, Help!" Donovan called out. She frowned and hesitated, unsure. Dante 
was ignored by the others.
Sabyien left Shanna to push the vampires aside to get Donovan. By now Don had 
figured out that his two partners would not come to his aid. 

Donovan glated at sabyien as the guardian lifted his sword intending to swing 
at him. The man lashed out with the metal naking the railing to impale 
sabyien. Shana Screamed attempting to get in his way.

"Shanna don't!"  Sabyien called out, too late. The woman deflected the snaking rod with her body. 
"SHAANNAA!"  Dante cried out, startling those near him.
Shanna grabbed the shaft of metal impaling her, she grined. "Freedom..."

It grew bright with light as shanna grabbed the metal bar sending 
Electricity through it. Donovans body began to quake and thrash as the energy 
came surging through him Smoke came belching from him. as his body fluid 
boilded. Shannna finally stopped as she lost her charge finally.

Dante rushed to shanna's side pulling the pole from her. the girl gasped 
weakly. "Dante..." She whispered. "Please... Forgive me."
::"Shanna... please don't die.":: he bvegged. pulling her close. ::"Let me turn you. Please..."::

Sabyien's face and skin tingled from being so close to Shanna's attack. Seeing 
the woman in a pathitic state, a cold nameless rage grew and Saby walked to 
the smoking form on the ground. He raised the sword, 
"Sabyien! he's already dead." Hexen's voice stopped him from beheading the 
corpse. 
Luciver walked over to Shanna and Dante. "Couldn't you heal her like what you 
did before?"

Dante held the woman close. "Theres really only one way to heal her now..." HE 
looked down at her. ::"Shana... Do you want.....to become one of us?"::
"...Dante..." she pulled him into a kiss. She felt it right at that 
moment.dante pulled back a bit startled. 
::"Shana...."::
"Dante.... I knew..." She started to cry. "But.... I cant... I Can't love you."

The man bowed his head. ::'I understand':: He looked up at seth, ryo and 
hexen. ::'Please... I humbly beg you to save her life.... Please.'::

Hexen was frowning. 
Ryo looked from Dante to Hexen. "Well? How can we help her?"
"She is a vampire hunter, all hunters are perpared to risk thier life..." Seth 
said.
Sabyien was standing nearby listening, one hand clenched.
"But she saved Luciver and me. She let us go." Ryo cried out.

"Ryo, You could do it...You could save her if you wanted to." Sabyien said. he 
wasn't looking at Ryo but at the woman in Dante's arms.

The boy swallowed. "I'll Try my best." He knelt near her and took her hands in 
his trying to channel his energy into saving her fading life force. Shana 
coughed and weakly whispered.
"This must have been what it was like for my sibling..." She closed her eyes 
and went still Ryo felt panic rising inside him as he tried harder to revive 
her. The vampire lord put a hand upon the boys shoulder.
"That's enough.... She's alive. Let her rest."

::"Thank god...":: Dante held her close. 
Sabyien went to take Shanna from him. "Come, Let's go..."  Dante didn't want to let her go just yet. Sabyien nodded his understanding and stood up."Take her back to the hotel, I'll get a room so she can revive." 
As Ryo and Dante stood up. Ryo swayed, dizzy, his hand reached out...
"Are you alright?" Saby asked, when Ryo placed a hand on his arm. 

"Just... Tired." The boy whispered then collapsed. The guardian bent and 
picked him up. Turning away as the vampires disposed of Donovans carcas. Hexen 
held Lucivar close licking his bleeding wrist as he told the boy how proud he 
was. Lucivar looked up at the others and blushed averting his gaze to ythe 
floor.

Seth was stading nearby, watching the whole procedings. He smiled at Luciver.
"Nice move you did..." He saw Sabyien pick Ryo up. he frowned and strod over to the guardien. "Where are you taking him?" He demanded. 
"To the hotel...he needs to recover." Saby said.
"You've abandoned us, and now you want to help? What about your new 'partership' with the Dhampir?" 

"This isn't the time seth."
"Then when is?" 
"..." He started to walk with the boy in his arms. "Just not now." he backed 
through the door. Seth crossed his arms watching him go. 
"selfish as always."
"I don't think that was selfish... he carries the world on his shoulders. too 
bad he won't share the load.... one day. It'll crush him." hexen looked up at 
him "You used to be like that."

Dante was frowning, his eyes at Sabyien's back as he followed him. If Shanna awake, she'd probly would want to help him. As it was, Dante wasn't sure how to help the guradian, but he owed him.

Ryo awoke to Seth's smiling face. "Good to you you sunshine." The sun was shining throught the sheer curtiens of of the window. Ryo blinked and groaned. "Wheres' Saby?"
The smiled faded from Seth's face. "He's with Dante watching over Shanna." 

Ryo was quiet for a few minutes. "...Are they alright?" He looked up at seth. the man nodded slightly. 
"Stable for the moment..... Sabyien on the otherhand..." He shook his head. "He's gotten close to the dhamphir."

Dante felt Sabyien's hand drop to his own, Dante gripped it, reassuringly. ::"Ryo's up....do you want to see him?":: he asked the guardian.
 "No."  Sabyien was quiet, he was sitting on the bed beside Dante. On the other bed, Shanna was sleeping comfortablily.  They had been up all night and most of teh day neither men wanted to leave the woman for no longer then a moment.
He knew Dante's reason, but what of his own? Sabyien's eyes weher on the sleeping form.
 
::'You Know Sabyien...':: Dante sat quietly. ::"You can go back to them you know. The saint and the vampire still love you.'::

Sabyien didn't sayanything, he let go of Dante's hand and stood up. Eyes Still 
on  Shanna. "Look after her will you?"  he truned to leave when Shanna gave a 
soft moan.  Immeditly, saby and dante were at her side. 
She blinked, sure what she was seeing double. She rubbed her yes. No, they 
where real. "Sabyien? Dante?"
Dante was smiling. ::"The Saint-child revived you.":: 
"I'm glad you made it." Sabyien said.
They were both relived.
Shanna sat up. "So what did I miss?" she asked getting out of bed.
Sabyien grined "Only the secound coming of Christ." he joked.
Shanna stuck her tounge out at him. But Saby grabed it. "Ladies shouldn't do 
that."
The woman swatted his hand away. "Who are you to tell me what to do?" She 
stood up a bit woozy from her brush with death. Dante took her arm to steady 
her, he avoided looking at her face.

Ryo Looked sown at the floor. "then... does that mea...." tears came to his eyes. "...That we've lost him?"
"...." Seth said nothing. he put a hand on the bys shoulder. "I can't say. the only one who would know is sabyien."

"I want to thank you, for saving my life lastnight." Sabyien began. Dante had left the room, gone to get a hamburger and a soda for Shanna.  
"I owe you my life, if there's anything that I can do for you-"
Shanna cut him off with a raised finger. "Saby, knock off the knight's crap, it won't work on me." She smirked at his confused expression. "But if it important to you....I will ask for one thing."
Sabyien glanced around. "Whatever it is, I'll gladly take it."
"A date tonight"
He blinked in suprise drawing an amused lughed from Shanna. 
"Yes, just one date." Shanna said seriouly, "Dinner and a movie....it's not too much to ask for of the Guardian is it?"
"No." Sabyien relaxed. "..it isn't." he smiled, he was begining to like her.

Seth and Ryo stepped out of the hotel, the boy was feeling much better and 
seth had offered to take him for something to eat in the hotel resturant. they 
stopped and allowed Dante to pass. Ryo wouldn't look at him. new tears brimmed 
in his eyes. Seth put a arm around him. Dante looked at them solumnly then 
walked away. Quietly ryo whispered. "I.... hate him..."

When Dante walked into Shanna's room, he was suprised to see her and the guardian lughing together. Sabyien was fingering the ragged ends where his hair was cut short. It wasn't even and Shanna had joked about it.
"...Yeah, I should get this fixed up." He said, in a brighter mood. "I think I 've seen a salon in the lobby- oh, Dante..." He noticed the halfling standing in the door with a paper bag in one hand. His smile froze. "I'm...just leaving." he looked at Shanna. "I'll see you later." 
As Sabyien walked out the door, Dante put a hand on the Guardian' sholder stopping him. ::"You should find a way to talk to Ryo...":: 
"I know." Saby said softly. Dante let him pass, watching him dissapear down the hall.
"...Dante?" Shanna aked when the dhampir gave her the paper bag.  
::" Yes?"::
"Is there something your not telling me?"
He looked puzzled, ::"Like what?"::
"Like you're into him?" She indicated the door, where Sabyien had left.
Dante's hand twiched. ::"Of Chorse not! I'm just worried about him.":: He protested. If he had been speaking outloud, he would studdered over his words.
"Good,"  Shanna dug in the bag and brought out the wrapped hamburger."This situation is already more complcated then it already is."
Dante was silent, how could he tell her know what happened in the training-room after she left? One hand squesed uncereitnly. 

Seth sat in the resturant a hand on ryo's shoulder. "You shouldn't let this 
get to you ryo. He wanted to leave you should let him if you really love him."
"I know seth. but.... It hurts." He touched his chest. "I just wish.... I... 
That I could forget. He loked up at thevampire as he stood up. "Where are you 
going?" He asked as the vampire walked away. The man didn't answer. ryo rose 
to follow him but faltered and sat agin urrying his face in his hands and 
sobbing.
 
Sabyien got off the elevator and headed tothe glassed off salon. Lucky it wasn't busy, The woman who was there tsked at his bad cut. Saby flushed. "I got...into an accident...could you fix this?" 
"Sure hun. sit down."
Chewing a bubblegum, the lady sat him in the chair and combed out the ends.  

Ryo continued to cry desperately people turned to stare. 

Seth Moved through the hotel searching out sabyien.

Sabyien head the snipping, of the scissors. He tried to stay as still as possiable, but there was odd heaviness in his gut. It made him uneasy...
"Stop twiching, your almost done." The stylist complaned. "It'd be ashame if I made a mistake."
Finally, She let him go. Sabyien spang up from the chair. "Uhm, Please put this on my hotel bill: Sabyien lazender, room 640,,,excuse me." He left not bothering to look into the mirror.

As sabyien was leaving seth rounded a corner they collided for a moment seth 
did not recognize the man. "... Sabyien?" He grabbed the mans arm so he 
couldn;t get away. "YOU sir have some explaining to do. Ryo won't stop crying 
for you... I... don;t know what to do."
"......." sabyien couldn't say anything, he was in shock. "Crying?...then why aren't you with him?" Saby Pulled his arm away with such force, Seth staggered.
"...." Seth looked at him. "He crys for you. He wants you and you alone. I told you he did not want me." The man looked calm. "He only married me to be with you."

Sabyien was shaking inside. He swollowed back tears that threatened. "Should I care? about one who has had me trapped in an endless cycle of repeating battles? One life ending with-out forfillment and then starting the cycle again?"   Sabyien took a step back away from Seth. :you don't know what it's like...to remeber all the fights, battles I've been thorugh" He shook his head..."Donovan was right, fighting is all i'm good for."

Saeth stepped foreward reached out touching Sabyiens face. "Sabyien you know 
who I am." He stepped closer as if to kiss him Then Slapped him in the face 
hard. "How many times have I had to live when you die? How long do you think 
I've suffered. You selfish bastard think of others for once, god dammit." This 
was not seth speaking rather Sorren through him. "Stop it. Go to the boy 
before he does something we all regret."

Tears spilled over, Sabyien couldn't hold them back anymore. The slap didn't hurt as much as the words did. He hung his head,"Sorren..." it was said in soft sob.  "...I'm sorry." His hand clenched. "...For THINKING ABOUT MYSLEF FOR ONCE!"  
He looked up at the vampire dareing him to hit him again. From somewhere deep inside an anger rose up in him shutting out all rational thought. A desire to fight and maim....chaotic and dark.

Seth intertwined his fingers "Sabyien." His voice was soft and 
comforting. "This world... Was created for you to rest in. Your mission... Has 
finally ended. The cycle has been broken. Your fielty... has finally at an 
end. Please. Rest." The man held out his hand. "Take my hand and return to 
your love. he crys for you. His sorrow, your sorrow... it threatens to consume 
the world. Please... Accept this gift and live."  

Immeditly, the haze of anger subsidded. Sabyien blinked away the tears. "What about my home? Ashalan is still..." He stopped. it had been his abition all along to bring both the sword-barer and the Sancrosant sword to restore the lands and to settle down to rule in peace with...
"I can't. I can't give up on my dream."
 
The man looked saddened at him. "You still hold a candle for the dead world of 
Ashalan..." He took a breath deeply trouled. "That world.... Is no more. The 
have all vanished. Your father.... is dead as are the others..." He 
trembled. "I alone survived... only because..." He cried 
swallowing. "....because...I was immune to the blighting." He looked 
down. "they're all gone sabyien... and I can't get back to ashalan. the citadel has been sealed. The gateway has been closed to me... I can only keep this link up for a little while longer...."
As the words sank in, Sabyien fought the rising panic, he didn't want to lose Sorren, his bestfriend. "How much longer?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"I... Do know..." He said softly. "But Please dearest friend.... do not worry about me."
"Sorren? " Sabyien asked uncertienly. "What must I do? I...I want to help you."

The guardian confused him, Dante was seated in a cool dark room. He wasn't sure if he liked him or not. The halfling admired Sabyien's beauty, it was rare to find that in a man...and he was an immortal to boot
But On the other hand. Shanna had just told him that She was going on a date with him later on, he didn't like that at all.

Seth touched Sabyien's face. "try to forget about me."
He felt his heart constrict, "Forget?  How can I forget about you? Your my best friend...." 
With the words snagged in his throat Sabyien suddenly thew himself at Seth. 
"Please...Forgive me, I'll do anything to help just don't leave me...please Sorren.." He sobbed fresh tears.
The man held him. "Sabyien.... I will never forget you." He said quietly holding the sobbing man. "Understand that whenever yu fell alone or afraid. I.... will always care for you." He whispered in the mans ear. Seth then collapsed against sabyien for a moment before uttering.
"Fuck my head.... what the hell happened?"
Sabyien was trembling, He was supporting Seth. "You...you convinced me, Seth....Where's Ryo?" 
"He's... still in the resturant..." The man said weakly. "I need to go lie 
down for a bit." he pushed himself off of sabyien to move to the elevator and 
barely made it.

Ryo had been able to choke out an order for a strongly alchoholic drink. he 
just wanted to drown in it.

Sabyien saw Ryo sitting alone in in the resturant. He was afriad. He, who fought demons from the lowest pits of hell, he who faced annihilations of worlds....was afriad that this boy might not forgive him.
But he wasn't a coward, taking a deep breath, Sabyien walked intot he resturant where Ryo was sitting.
"Ryo...?" He fought to keep his voice even, threating to tremble.

The boy looked up at him and started to cry harder then downed his drink in a deep swallow.l "You're...back?" he hiccuped trying to dry his eyes and calm down. 

Sabyien was forzen, he didn't know what to do. He gathered himself and the first thing he wanted to do. He pulled Ryo up into a embrace.
"Ryo...please forgive me, forgive me." he didn't care that he was in a resutrant with other people truning to watch. 

Ryo Pulled him closer. "Always. I always will..." He burriend his face in the mans neck. "I love you." his voice low enough so only the other could hear.

Sabyien closed his eyes, The words he wanted, needed to hear from him. 
"Ryo, I promise...with all my heart, I will never, ever leave you again." He whispered in the boy's ear.

The boy held him tightly. "Thank you saby... Thank you."

((What about his date?))
((  I can fix it  ))

:: "What do you mean a date?" ::  Dante asked through the locked door, He didn't have to be in the same room to talk to Shanna, He was figgeting and blushing. Hearing her voice over the sound of the running water, Dante wished that she hadn't told him that she was going to take a shower...it was better that he'd not have known.
"A normal Date....you know, a guy and a girl going to a dinner and a movie...a normal honset to goodness date. Not the 'missions' in which we wind up bloody  and bruised."
Dante wanted to protest; he liked being with her on missions. ::"I've just gotten word that The guardian has made up with the Saint...":: He frowned, Seth had sent him a telepathic message to stay way from Sabyien in a treating tone.
"Yeah? But he promised, he gave his word....You haven't heard the stories about him haven't you?...Oh God, just wait untill I tell the girls at base 15 that -I- went on a date with the Guardian." 
Dante could almost hear the broad smile in her voice, sighing in defeat, he went to get himself something to eat....alone.  


(( *lol*  Poor Dante...He's never gonna get it on with her.XD
Oh yes, Shanna's already betrothed to someone...by the order of the church.))

Ryo Clucng to the guardian as they made their way through the lobby to go check on the ailing vampire They waited for the elevator to open. Dante stood within. he looked at Sabyien in suprise. Ryo Held the man tighter. a look on his face that said 'He's Mine. Stay away if tyou want to keep them.' 
:'Jealousy does not suit you young one.': Dante thought to the boy only before moving out ast them. 

Sabyien smiled, understanding his reaons for holding him so tightly. "Ryo, I haven't cheated on you wit him."

Ryo Looked at him uncertainly. "Ok...." He held the man close thankful.

:'Guardian... why do you lie to him?': this one was only targeted at sabyien as Dante walked away.

Sabyien frowned, It had been a mistake, they had gone to far....before he knew it..
Sabyien shook his head to clear it. "Let's go see Seth ok?" 
Ryo unlocked the door that he shared with Seth. "Seth?"

The vampire lay on the bed. he looked up at the two drowsilly. "Unh?" He still looked worn out. Ryo walked over offering an arm. "You look terrible... are you alright?"

Seth truned his head. "Other this headache I'm fine." The vampire sat up with Ryo's help. "So...is everything back to normal with you two?"
Sabyien nodded, but then his eyes widened. "Oh! I totally forgot!"
"What?" Ryo was puzzled.
"I....sorta," sabyien looked at the floor. "I promised Shanna I'd take her out to a movie..." 

Ryo was quiet. "You made a promise... you should keep it as long as its just a movie and dinner... nothing else." he looked at saby then back at seth. "come on feed some. "it'll cure your headache." He offered the man his arm. "Please?"

Saby looked a bit uncomfortable. he was never used to seeing Seth feed on Ryo.
Seth nodded. "That would help..." with that he took the offered arm and pulled Ryo closer,perfering to drink from Ryo's pretty throat.

The boy swallowed nervously. it always worriend him when seth drew from his throat. he couldn't help but flash back to the first few times he had. the insaity the vampire had gone through. Once he was done Seth looked to the guardian.
"Don't you have a date to get ready for?"

"Uh,,, yeah..." Sabyien flushed and left the room to get ready.

Shanna was in the lobby waiting, she had been waiting for half an hour. 
When she spotted Sabyien coming off the elevator she waved him over. 
"What took you so loong?"
"Sorry, I didn't have too much to wear." Sabyien was wearing the clothes his had on before covered by a new black leather jacket. 

Dante watched the two of them from not far away. rather diasapointed that Sabyien had shown up. He turned to a bush a small smile on his face he could see the saint spying on the two. maybe this could work to his advantage.

Shanna quickly forgave him, and she took his arm and they headed out the door.
Lucky for them they didn't have to walk far, the movie theater was only a block away.
After getting thir tickets, they desided to play a few of the games in the lobby
Sabyien smiled as Shanna took a try on the DDR game, then trying it out himself.

"Ddr?" Ryo Glared. "He never wanted to play that with me..." 
::'Because You never asked him.':: Ryos body bristled he whipped around seeing Dante at the door to the arcade.
Dante didn't want to be seen by them either so he stood behind a piller with Ryo.

Shanna was lughing at him, Sabyien finally gave up and stepped off the playpad.
"Dancing games are not my thing." He said, slightly embarrased.
"Look, all you have to do is find the rythm of th beats and go wit it." Sahnna said."...you can start at the learners level."
Sabyien brushed back his short hair. "Uh, no thanks. I'm just gonna stick to shooter-games and RPGs."
Sahnna shrugged. "Your loss." She grabed his arm. "Oh! Look over there a crane game!"  She dragged him over the covered bin full of plushies. "I've never won one yet....but maybe to day's my lucky day." 
Sabyien watched with amusement as Shanna wasted $5 in trying to get a plush kitty. She was getting more dissappointed with each miss. Finally Sabyien grabed the controls. "here,,let me try..." He fed the machine a dollar and carfull postioned the crane.
"Hey! You got it!" Shanna said in suprise. He gave the plush kitty to her. "Here, it's yours."  

Dante clenched his fist around the sde of the pillar ryo elbowed him he looked. the metal was warping. "If you get us caught I'll make sure they don't find the body." HE warned. 

"Thank you very much Sabyien." Shanna smiled, "It' so cute! <3 She hugged the kitty.
Sabyien looked at his watch it almost time for the moive to start. do you want to get popcorn?
"Sure. the line ups not that long...lucky for us."
They got a large bucket of popcorn, drinks and went to find seats somewhat in the middle of the theater
 
Dante stalked into the Theater after shanna having himself disguised. Ryo watched the man inline from the door of the guys bathroom. "Popcorn?! Oh this is going too far."

 The movie they chose to watch was an action flick. Full of kung-fu and car chases. Absorbed into the movie, they didn't notice  the pair in the back row watching them. 
Dante hunkered low in the seat. Ryo beside him. He was pretty sure that Shanna and Sabyien where sharing the popcorn. Ryo could hear Dante grining his teeth. 

Ryo glared Jealousy in his eyes. Dante touched his shoulder. ::'Stop or you'll cause more trouble then you intend.':: Ryo Tried to relax. and gain control of him he saw Sabyien put his arm around Shana. Dante stood up the fire sprinklers surged to life dousing the crowd in water.

There where screams and cries, Shanna and Sabyien high-tailed it out of there along with the rest of the crowd.
They where laughing out-loud, it was so unexpected. "Here," Sabyien held out the soggy popcorn."...I managed to rescue the popcorn." he grined though a damp fring of hair
Shanna dumped the popcorn into a waste-basket. "So much for that..." She brushed her damp hair back. "Wait here, I want to dry off a bit."
Sabyien was suprised, even when the movie was intreuppted, being with Shanna made it fun. And that sence of fun was rather attractive.
Taking a page from Shanna, Sabyien went into the bathrooom to try and dry off.

Ryo Punched dante in the arm. "Dammit! I blame you for that!"
Dante pushed him away going to follow Shanna into the womens bathroom.
Ryo grabs the dhampire's arm. "No" He hissed."If you talk to her know then they'l know you ruined the movie."

In the bathroom, Sabyien rubb the leather, the hot air coming from the dryer was helping alot. He already got his shirt dried. but his pants where a bit damp...it didn't matter.


Ryo Thought. "SOmething... there had to be something we can do..." 
:'We could Get them Drunk.':
"And?"
:'Seperate them.':