Standard Disclaimer: Characters belong to the talented Naoko Takeuchi and a great many other companies. No copyright infringement is intended. Hentai Disclaimer: Insert your own here. No real explicit sex, but quite a bit of science-fiction, horror, romance, and fantasy. Written in the perspective of Tsukino Usagi. Comments/flames/suggestions/etc. at ayfl@hotmail.com Copyright 1999 to Lunar Rose ---------------------------------------------------- Prologue I closed my eyes letting the power take control as it always did. The power twisted and coiled then flowed like a smooth current outwards. I could feel it skim the surface of the earth before burrowing itself into the fertile soil. (Cemeteries were always built on fertile soil.) The power pulled at the deceased's body, tugging firmly at its limbs, supplying it with a temporary life force. The soil began to push away at both sides, and a hand broke the surface of the earth, fingers wiggling and emerging magically. Soon the arm followed along with the rest of the corpse. Usually I was pretty good at choosing the better zombies but sometimes I failed. To be honest, my zombie looked more like Frankenstein with its patches of hanging skin. Deterioration had set in faster than normal leaving spots of bacterial infections eating away at the sagging skin. It appeared that my zombie (I was always responsible for what I pull out of the earth) had once been an attractive male. The sightless eyes bulged as the outer tissue split. Body fluids oozed out in thick globs. Not a pretty sight, but wasn't what was inside much more important? In this case, I didn't think that I wanted to know. Feeling that familiar power, I pushed it towards my waiting zombie. The power touched the zombie's skin healing it momentarily, giving it a soft rose. I healed the patches of decay and strengthened the limbs. Once I was satisfied with my healing, I looked at my zombie. He stared back, his lifeless eyes meeting mine. "Come here," I commanded. The zombie lifted one foot and placed it in front of his other. Slowly, he made his way towards his mistress. I supposed that it was kind of fun having someone at your beck and call, but most of my unearthed creations resembled a person's worst nightmare. Not much fun having a slumber party with zombies. --------------------------------------------------- Tsukino Usagi: Necromancer DANCE OF DEATH ---------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 The most beautiful corpse that I had ever seen was lounging before me. Dressed in his usual way (which meant that he seemed quite at home in an outfit from an over-budget sexual fantasy), he sat with his legs propped up on my desk, head thrown back. Having just fed, his pale skin gleamed with a slight rose. I figured that there was a reduced chance that I would become his midnight snack that particular night. A reassuring thought, I supposed. "Well, what have you done this time, Mamoru?" It was not the first time that the beautiful corpse before me had found its way into my office, nor would it be the last. Mamoru Chiba seemed prone to trouble among other things. Or it could be that he was still trying to seduce a certain necromancer into his bed, or coffin, depending on the time of day. Unfortunately, I just happened to be that poor, little necromancer (read: preternatural expert with the ability to raise the dead) that Monsieur Chiba had set his sights upon since our first encounter. "Why the irritation, ma belle? Surely you cannot mean that you are not happy to see me," he replied with his naturally husky voice. His midnight blue eyes gleamed with mock anguish as his coal black hair fell forward, spilling over his collar. The contrast between the white collar of his translucent shirt and his midnight hair was absolutely startling. I supposed that most females would fall in love with the breathtaking creature before me. I supposed that I was a little too picky when it came to the men in my life. But somehow the thought of a walking and blood-sucking corpse did not appeal to me in any way. You never knew when that wonderful corpse would sink his fangs into your neck, sucking you dry within minutes. Despite my not so pleasant opinion of our city's fanged community, Chiba Mamoru, Master Vampire of the City as chosen by the NVC (National Vampire Council), had become a fixture in my life. I was hoping that he would only be a temporary fixture. However, the vampire had other plans of fulfilling a permanent place in my life. So what was a girl to do but to cope with the annoyance? "Usagi, you are happy to see me, aren't you?" The vampire also had a damned habit of persisting until he got what he wanted. "I'm happy. I'm happy as a clam to see you. Now what have you done?" His dark brows drew together then smoothed themselves out as if by magic. Mamoru grinned, and I suppressed the urge to leave the damned man in my office by himself. Straightening from his sprawled position, he leaned forward in the chair, his shirt gaping wide open. His muscular chest peeped out from the wide gap left by his unbuttoned shirt. "Why, ma belle," he drawled," can't I merely come to visit the light of my life?" I adjusted my shoulder holster, the most precious thing I owned next to my Firestar 9mm. It was late and I wanted to go home. There's nothing like a warm bubble bath to calm jumpy nerves and soothe body-aches. "How nice. When you find her, do let me know and I'll send over your wedding present," I replied. I sighed, drained already from an early morning and an unexpected visit. --flashback- Morning had arrived, bleak and dreary. A 'friend' had come to visit. "Andrew," I exclaimed. If I was called the "Executioner," Andrew would be considered as "Death." The man killed the city's creatures for sport. He called it a hunting challenge. I supposed that I considered him my nemesis; he was a preview of what I would become or what I was already becoming. Monsters ran rampant in Tokyo and some of them were human. His sandy flop of hair was quite normal for a man who was not. Sometimes I wondered if he was able to feel anything. When I killed, I felt nothing. And that was scary. When Andrew killed, he felt something or else he would have given it up a long time ago. He felt a thrill, a thrill of excitement, of pure control. It was primitive, but alas, killing always did bring out the worst in mankind. "Bring me any new toys?" When I said "toys," I didn't mean anything as tame as dolls or even cars. He brought me guns, bullets, knives, and other nice weapon assortments. I didn't know from whence they came. I didn't want to know. Sometimes ignorance was bliss. "Yeah," he replied. He pulled out of his coat pocket a small machine gun. It was a Uzi. I didn't really like machine guns, but they had a pretty impressive killing rate. "It's a Uzi. One of the newest kinds. You know how to work it, Usagi? Or do you need a live demo?" "I'm fine, Andrew." "Are you? You're not still seeing that bloodsucker, are you?" Ah yes, Andrew didn't quite like my relationship with "the bloodsucker." Mamoru didn't quite like my relationship with "the killer without a heart." I wasn't sure that I liked my relationships with either one of them. "The bloodsucker saved my life more than once in the past few years. He's not as bad as you think. He's actually got a heart that beats," I retorted. I was actually defending Mamoru. Thank the Lord that he was not here to either witness or gloat over my apparent defense. He would think that I was softening towards him and then he would simply assault me with a fresh onslaught of dizzying overtures. That was something that I did not need. "If I didn't know better, I would say that you're defending that damned bastard. You know what he's done. Fang-face deserves to die. You're "the Executioner" and you know full well how you earned that name. You earned it killing vampires. You staked them through their "beating hearts." And now you've done a 360 degree turn. You, Usagi, are actually smitten by the worst of them all. The Master Vampire responsible for enough deaths in the city to cause a population decline." I didn't need him to remind me of my job. Before my job as necromancer, I was a vampire hunter. Slaying was my job and I supposed that I relished the thought of ridding the world of the walking, monstrous corpses. I wasn't prepared to be enchanted by one of them and certainly not the master of the race of inhuman monsters. Vampires seduced with their words, with their bewitching gazes, with their false promises. Somehow I had become ensnared in Mamoru's seduction. His was a terrible beauty, both potent and fatal. The trouble was that I had no answer to Andrew's accusation. No smart retort came to my mind. Nothing. It left me with a dazzling shock that flittered through my thoughts. I could kill Mamoru if the need arose. I just didn't think I could live with myself afterwards. ---------------------------- My thoughts were interrupted by the unexpected commotion that ensued shortly afterwards. The door swung open abruptly with a loud crash. I certainly hoped that there would be no extra dents on my door for my boss to fuss over. M. Chapman, President of Animators Inc., was a male chauvinist who didn't believe that a woman could do the job, much less excel at it. I planned on proving him wrong. Dead wrong, in fact. Just as long as I didn't end up being the dead party. A young man swaggered into the office, his shirt blossoming with crimson. Blood seeped into his shirt from what appeared to be a large wound to the ribs. I rushed over to help the poor man, but Mamoru's hunger did not go unnoticed. Mamoru's eyes had darkened and pooled with fire. Hunger was consuming him; the blood was his temptation (for the moment). "Attack...werewolves...attack," the wounded man rasped out between clenched teeth. He appeared to be in his early twenties with a distinguishable preppy look. I hid my worry behind a concerned expression. The werewolves were attacking innocents somewhere in town. I could not be hindering in my office if other innocent lives were at stake, nor would I leave a bleeding man alone with a predatory vampire. Maybe I should clarify the world in which I lived. It could be considered "normal" depending on your definition of the word. However, I highly doubted if my life would ever be termed "ordinary." When the world had suddenly and magnanimously allowed vampires to be decreed as citizens, it was bound to decree all the other creatures as citizens as well. Discrimination was an offence, and peace had been the primary objective. So, the world continued spinning round only with the added presence of other non-human creatures. Werewolves, vampires, wererats, and werecats were just a few among the never-ending list. Animators Inc. was a profitable business that raised the dead for a price. Of course, raising the dead was a natural ability that could only be found among the few. I was one of the lucky ones. The power twisted and coiled inside of me waiting for me to put it to use. Hence, my job as necromancer began. I raised the dead for grieving families who wanted to put their fears and their questions to rest. I raised the dead for the local police who needed answers to their cases. It was always easier to find the name and motive of a murderer by asking the deceased than to go on wild goose chases around the city. Having bandaged the wound, which turned out to be less serious than I had originally thought, I grabbed my Firestar (my shotgun, for those of you in doubt) and headed for the door. Turning my head towards the silent vampire, I frowned. It was not like Mamoru to be so silent or to restrain from any sexual innuendoes. He was hardly a gentleman, and at that moment I was wondering what wheels were turning in his devious head. Mamoru was being on his best behaviour and I wanted to know why. The vamp was not just a pretty face. He was a damned pain in the arse. And of course, he would promptly retort "and in many other places, ma belle." I looked at the wounded man critically. It was best to drop him off the hospital before I tracked down the attacking wolves. There was always a good chance that the bite may transcend Lycanthropic Disease. I headed for the door as I loaded the Firestar. Pausing to sheath my knives, I glanced at the men. "Coming gentlemen?" I smiled sweetly and concentrated on sheathing the knives securely. The knives were nothing special save for their high mercury content. There was something about mercury that caused the werewolves to howl in pain. Kind of the equivalent of thrusting a stake into a vampire. Chapter 2 Having dropped the wounded off at the local hospital, I was left in the pensive vampire's presence. The two of us walked towards the peripheral of the city. I scanned the dark alleys for wandering shadows. It was always better to be safe than sorry. However irritating Mamoru was, it was strangely comforting to have him as an ally at times like these. The fanged one had an aura of power that seemed to cling to him protectively. "So, what brought you to my office this lovely evening?" I was going to strike up a conversation to drive away the ringing silence of the night. The silence was eerily deafening. "I just wanted to be with you, ma belle," he murmured drawing closer to me. This was more like the Mamoru that I knew (to my deep chagrin). It was just like him to push the situation to his advantage. He always had to have things his way. I supposed that power was just as addictive as blood to the vamp. As he moved towards me, I glanced down. I was suddenly struck with the sight of a beautiful corpse dressed in a translucent shirt and a pair of abnormally tight leather pants. The outfit was completed by a pair of knee-high black leather boots. It was rude to gape so I abruptly closed my mouth. I should have been used to Mamoru's peculiar fashion sense, but it always seemed to shock me at the most inopportune moments. Before I could reply, a scream pierced through the air. I didn't wait another second before I threw myself into a dead sprint down the road and towards the owner of the ear-piercing scream. My eyes widened at the sight before me. It seemed as though the pack of lycanthropes (werewolves) had decided to gather a night before the full moon. The pack was feeding or should I say in the process of devouring several humans? It was too late. I had come too late. All of the victims were dead. Their bones picked dry of their meat. Limbs lay in pools of blood. Organs joined the heap of flesh and bones. This was madness, sheer insanity. It was at times like these that I believed that nothing was sacred. A werewolf turned towards the sound of my footsteps. I glared at its blood spattered face. The wolf was still in the midst of chewing a limb. The arm dangled from his mouth, swinging to and fro with every movement of the wolf's jaw. Still in human form, the wolf stared at me. I glared back defiantly fighting the erratic pounding of my heart. Werewolves smelled fear; they seemed to thrive in fear. I felt it then. That familiar aura threw itself towards me, hurtling in thin air. It passed through my limbs lifting the goosebumps along my arms. Damnit. I should have known that it was her. "Why the Rabbit has decided to grace us with her presence, fellows," she drawled. She limbered forward basking in the spotlight of rapt attention. "Long time no see Beryl. The last time we chatted was right before your darling Damian's death. You told me that Damian would kill me. Yet if memory serves me right, Damian's the one in the grave and I'm still here to witness your cheap, little antics," I spat back. If there was one person that I could not tolerate at all, it would have to be Beryl. Her red hair curled around her body seductively as her green eyes flashed. She looked like a voluptuous Barbie doll gone wrong. Of course she was dressed in her usual tight-fitting, curve-clinging purple dress. "I see you haven't lost your sense of timing, Rabbit. Are you still whoring or have you left the trade for the bed of a vampire?" Beryl's red lips curled in a malicious smirk. "I would pay more respect to ma belle if I were you. She is known as the Executioner for a reason, Beryl. She kills in the blink of an eye. You wouldn't want to be joining Damian so soon, now would you?" Mamoru drawled, his head inclined to the right. Shadows hid his entire face from view, but nevertheless, he presented a menacing figure in the arena of death. An abrupt movement to the right caught my eye. I drew my beloved Firestar and pulled the trigger just as the wolf leapt in the air, its claws outstretched. I pulled the trigger again and again, watching the mercury bullets enter the wolf's body. Blood spurted out in streams from the wolf's chest. The blood ran crimson as it hit the pavement along with the prone form the wolf. Smelling the fresh scent of blood, the pack veered towards their comrade and began to feed. Sharp canine teeth ripped the chest wide open, flesh spilling outwards in a pink heap. Mamoru's eyes darkened once again as I felt his answering hunger. The dead wolf's body soon lay mutilated, muscles ripping apart. Arteries and veins lay lifelessly as blood spurted from their openings. An eye was being pulled from its socket as the flesh of the dead wolf's face sagged like melting butter. I didn't want this confrontation to turn into a bloodbath, but sometimes a girl couldn't always have what she wanted. There was no way that Beryl would allow any situation to be compromised, at least not with me. Hatred was like love: it was a thing to be shared. And believe me, we shared that thread of hate with an unsurpassed vengeance. "Beryl, I hardly find it hospitable to be attacked bodily by one of your wolves. I crashed your little party, but you still have to play the role of hostess. Involving your wolves in a personal matter is not considered a wise choice for any leader," I declared, my blue eyes making contact with hers. "Oh, the Rabbit speaks. But do not forget yourself or where you are. My wolves are loyal and any one of them would devour a rabbit in a second. But I suppose they could leave one scheming bitch for me to rip apart, piece by piece, limb from limb. It will be fun, don't you think Mamoru? Would you not like to join me?" Her crimson eyes glowed, golden flecks appearing across the pupils. Beryl's power filled the night air, warm and menacing. It advanced closer, the hairs on my arms lifting themselves. In a sudden, jerky movement, the power formed a ring around my neck and began to tighten. Soon it was choking me. Closing my eyes, I channeled my power into the ground as the ring closed tightly, squeezing the esophagus. I aimed the gun, feeling my arms reach out in vain, and fired. I didn't care where the bullet hit. It was a distraction. Nothing more, nothing less. Beryl's power thinned out then disappeared. I gasped for breath, glaring at the bitch garbed like a royal slut. The inhalation of air swept through my lungs, and it never felt better. Funny how humans always took things for granted. When I had filled my lungs with air and was satisfied with the results, I looked at the damage I had done. The mercury bullet had pierced Beryl's arm. Blood seeped out, but soon trickled to a few select drops. The wound would take time to close properly even though werewolves were known for their fast recovery rate. Mercury really was a powerful weapon against the lycanthropes. "Fuck her!" Beryl was sinking to a new low: cursing in public in a string of language that would have made an ill-bred fisherman proud. I would have found it more amusing had I not nearly been choked to death. I was planning on meeting death soon enough, but it seemed that death wasn't ready to meet me. "It's a pity that you can't fuck me yourself," I drawled. Better to be outwardly arrogant than to shrink away in fear. "Fine, Rabbit. You want it, you got it. Tomorrow night in front of the Fushigi Woods. A fight to the finish, just me and you." "Oh, a cozy gathering. How intimate! There will be a full moon tomorrow night, Beryl. Are you planning on going furry on me?" Beryl straightened her purple dress as though she finally grasped the concept of feminine modesty. She was seething and she was weaving a web of schemes to ensnare me. I didn't believe for one minute that she would actually offer a challenge without bringing a pack of wolves attacking in full force. "Tomorrow night, Rabbit. Be there," Beryl shrieked, her composure slipping away. The shrew was emerging and I was not surprised. Chapter 3 Beryl, after her little speech, had dismissed my presence. I shrugged and let Mamoru escort me home, only he had other plans. He had decided that HIS house would be fitting for the occasion. So there we were, him and I, standing in the foyer of his luxurious house. His underground refuge was decorated in black and white. Black drapes and white marble floors. An ebony desk filled with crisp, white sheets of paper. His coffin was nowhere to be seen, but I assumed that it too was black and white. "What do you want from me? You can have anyone you want. Why me? Why won't you leave me alone?" I was confused, swimming in a whirlpool of absolute incomprehension. I was feeling something, something too much like love to be a comfort. Andrew had said that I would fall in love one day. He had seemed disgusted with the thought of a necromancer in love. Was I in love? Was that the origin from whence this confusion stemmed? "I want you to love me. Love me, Usagi, as I love thee," Mamoru whispered, his breath a warm caress against my skin. He closed the gap between the two of us with such ease. His midnight hair mingled with my pale blonde strands. We were so different from one another. We lived in different worlds; we walked in different circles. We could never be together. Never and Forever. For eternity. The promise of an eternity of sweet love was tempting. I wanted it so badly. To be loved, to be held, to be cherished. But could I find such a love from a vampire? "Love? What do you know of love, Mamoru? You are confusing love with lust," I murmured, inhaling the scent of his musky cologne. It was a heady scent that made my head spin. "Ah, ma belle, you must give me more credit than that. Being this old has to have a few advantages. Lust only lasts so long. However, love, true love, does not die so easily. And you, my darling bunny, are not getting away from me. I have the rest of eternity to spend in pure bliss." "Then I suggest you start spending your time in pure bliss by yourself. I don't think - no, I know that I couldn't -" "Couldn't what, beautiful lady? Couldn't love a bastard of a vampire? Then maybe, Usagi, you need to give me a chance to show you how much I love you. Did you think that all my followers actually accept the fact that I, Master Vamp of the City, am in love with a vampire hunter? Do you think that it was easy for me to forgive you, ma belle for killing my comrades, my servants, my race? I have forgiven you. Hatred will play no part in our relationship. Let me in, darling. Let me in to your mind, to your soul, to your heart." His heated whisper faded. I looked into his eyes and began to drown, engulfed by the naked tenderness in their blue depths. I sank into the pool of indigo letting Mamoru's eloquence sear through the walls of my guarded heart. He was beautiful, so beautiful. "How can I think you beautiful when I know what you are? How can I still marvel at the fact that you could love someone like me?" I watched rapt as the pulse at Mamoru's neck quickened. He looked uncertain. I never thought that Mamoru could ever be uncertain, not secure of his future. The uncertainty in his eyes vanished in the blink of an eye. A slow smile spread over his sensual lips tugging them upwards at the corners. I shuddered involuntarily. It was the smile that I knew well. A little too well. The smile that hid Mamoru's dark, wicked thoughts promising infinite pleasure if I would but succumb. Killing was something that I knew. Relationships, on the other hand, never failed to confuse me. My growing affection for a certain vampire continued to bother me. Could I really learn to love a bloodsucker? I didn't know the answer. There were times when I thought that I could. And that was a scary notion. "What am I, ma belle, that you fear me so? I was once human and have felt all that you feel," he replied. He leaned closer, his arms encircling my waist. The sudden intimacy was overwhelming. Chapter 4 I was still cradled in his arms an hour later, letting his voice soothe away the anger and confusion reigning within me. During the hour, Mamoru had come up with a "brilliant" plan as to how Beryl will be defeated. He believed that it would be best for us, Mamoru and I, to become a biumvirate, to become one. I, on the other hand, fully disagreed. So what else was new? "Ma belle, you are being stubborn. We must become a biumvirate if you plan on facing Beryl. A bullet will not be enough to kill her. The full moon will lend her strength for she is lupa. The lukoi will vanquish you at any given moment. We must become one, my power combining with yours. I will not be able to accompany you this time for it is not my fight," Mamoru explained, all traces of mockery vanishing beneath his mask of seriousness. "Nor would I want you to fight for me," I replied. "No, ma belle, you underestimate the things I would do for you, but I digress. We will have to combine powers tonight. There is no other way and I refuse to see you dead. Beryl wants you dead. You and I both know it, and it is time for you to acknowledge the fact that you need my help," he continued. "Alright," I whispered, hardly believing that I was actually asking for help. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would need help. Of course, logically speaking, I would eventually ask if the need arose. Just not from Mamoru. "Excellent. We shall proceed immediately," he exclaimed, obviously pleased at the little resistance I had put up. "How long have you been planning this little scheme of yours?" I was quite suspicious at Mamoru's sudden magnanimous offer. Granted, biumvirates were powerful. But something just did not feel right. One thing Mamoru was not nor would ever be was nice. He just did not offer something without expecting something in return. "Moi?" He was all innocence. His blue eyes widening guilelessly. He smiled angelically as I sighed. The man would never change, and somehow it was comforting to know that Mamoru would always be the same. At the same time, it was disturbing to know that I was becoming dependent on the scoundrel. "Please finish your Oscar-winning performance. I thought that you wanted to proceed immediately. I certainly don't think it's wise to wait until the last minute." Mamoru grinned devilishly. Apprehension began to seep into my thoughts. Just what had I agreed to? Gesturing gracefully towards his bedroom, Mamoru looked at me. The kind of look that stripped away all barriers. The kind of look that sent shivers down my spine. "After you, ma belle." "Just when did you become such I gentleman?" "I have always been a gentleman," he replied indignantly. "Yeah, and I'm the Queen of England," I retorted. He sobered, his eyes gazing down at mine. "No, ma belle, you don't have to be the Queen of England when you are already the queen of my heart. Enjoy your conquest, darling." A powerful shock of energy hit me full force. It was his energy and it was damned soothing. I could grow to like Mamoru; I could even grow to love him. I smiled shakily and met his wandering gaze. Illusion was what kept the world sane. You believed in certain images and icons disregarding the rest. Innocence was overrated for no one could remain innocent forever. Did it hurt to lose such innocence? I didn't know because I couldn't remember the loss. "I don't think that you will ever be conquered, Mamoru," I murmured, still reveling in the embrace of his energy. "Nor will you, ma belle." "Is that what interests you? The fact that I will never be conquered? The fact that I can resist your advances? The fact that I'm a challenge?" "Not just a challenge, ma belle. MY challenge. MY challenge forever," he whispered against my ear as he ushered me unceremoniously into his bedroom. Mamoru's bedroom was a creation of black and red. Trust a vampire to use the colour of blood in his own room. A large bed acted as a focal point for the room with its sheets of crimson and its pile of black pillows. The room was dimly lit with candles, but the darkness seemed to prevail allowing its shadows to pervade every nook and cranny. "So, do you want to give me the name of your decorator?" I wanted to break the silence that had ensued after Mamoru's declaration. "No one that you would want to invite into your house, ma belle," he answered, busily preparing himself for the joining. Mamoru slipped out of his shirt, his chest glistening in the light of candles. His body was like carved alabaster, all smooth and white. Lust was creeping into my limbs, pooling into a burning lake of desire. He smiled. Mamoru had always been able to pick up my every emotion, and he was bloody pleased that I was lusting after him. Of course it helped that the vamp had the cutest butt that I had ever seen. Turning towards me, he advanced with a golden bowl in one hand, stopping to re-light a few spare candles. "Are you comfortable, ma belle? "Quite," I replied, smiling shakily. It felt as though I had walked into the lion's den and didn't know what to do. I was neither frozen nor was I comfortable. "Good. Come here, ma belle," he commanded. I narrowed my eyes. When did I become some sort of puppet for my darling Mamoru to command? The vampire was enjoying this far too much. "Why don't you come here instead?" "And miss the chance of seeing you actually obey me for once?" Mamoru smirked, his eyes twinkling with silent laughter. He was laughing at me, yet I couldn't help but return his smirk with an innocent smile of my own. He scowled, and without further preamble, stalked towards me. A predator stalking its prey, only I never intended to be anyone's prey. I pointed my index finger and flexed my thumb, curling the rest of my fingers into a tight ball. Lifting my hand, I pointed it like a gun at the advancing figure. He arched a dark eyebrow as I continued to lift the hand jerkily upwards. "Bang!" "So that's how you treat me, ma belle," he hissed savagely, swooping down and snatching me into his arms. Lust flared and my knees weakened. Telling him that he was beautiful only seemed redundant. Saying 'Golly Gee Whiz" was not the wittiest remark to make. Giggling like a schoolgirl was out of the question. "And how is that, master?" I pressed myself against his body wantonly. I arched my body, a moan escaping. I wasn't a sex maniac, but still it seemed so right at this moment in time. He chuckled, a low rumble echoing freely in the room. His mouth found mine, our lips caressing before the kiss exploded. He devoured. He possessed. He staked his claim....and I surrendered. Passion was what made life worth living. I gasped as I felt his fangs press intimately against my bruised lips. I pressed myself closer, never wanting the kiss to end, never wanting to relinquish the tide of feeling coursing through every inch of me. A sting of pain became apparent. Soon a coppery-tasting stream invaded my mouth. I didn't care, recklessly abandoning any prudish, maidenly inhibitions. A groan tore from his throat, so husky and so deeply rich. Mamoru pulled away so abruptly that I stumbled slightly, my hand brushing and clinging to his chest for support. His eyes glowed as he passed a moist tongue over his lips. "Ma belle, how could I have existed for all these years without you? How is it that I lose control and any semblance of a mind whenever I'm with you? The spell you so delicately wove has accomplished more than you think, ma belle." I stood there speechless and humbled by the tenderness lurking in his eyes. I was willing to play the fool. I was willing to be swept away by the hurricane called Love. That invincible hurricane that conquered and destroyed; that inevitable hurricane that appeared out of thin air when least expected. "Witch," he hissed, his breath warm against my skin. I closed my eyes eagerly waiting to feel the brush of his lips on mine, to feel the excitement and pleasure of passion. I was passion's slave, finally conquered by something infinitely greater than even in my wildest dreams. He left a trail of sweet kisses down my throat. I burned to become one with him. A moan escaped my lips as I felt Mamoru plunge his fangs into my throat. His teeth pierced through my skin forcefully. His lips closed over my neck as blood pulsed into his mouth. He was a vampire; I was only human. I could have laughed at the youthful idealism that had mysteriously pervaded my thoughts. Reality was certainly very different from the optimistic viewpoints of youth. I felt faint, dizzy with the loss of blood. He, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the state of ecstasy. We were to become one: a mortal and an immortal. We would be bound to one another for eternity. Why was I suddenly having doubts about this biumvirate joining? I didn't know. Somehow it didn't matter. I wanted him so much that my body ached. I mourned the loss of his body when he pulled away momentarily. In a grand gesture, he swept my willing body into his arms and ceremoniously dumped me on to the conveniently waiting bed. His kisses were intoxicating, drugging my mind. All common sense had long fled. His strong hands traced patterns along my bare skin. I closed my eyes and ceased to think. The dance had begun, that dance of soft, soft skin and satin hair. The pleasure was overwhelming. I wanted to cry out with joy, but I didn't. Strangely, I felt tired, drained of energy. I didn't notice when the veil of blackness had descended, leaving me in a senseless stupor. Chapter 5 I awoke some time later to the sound of silvery laughter. Mamoru had placed me in the middle of his bed. So there I lay, one overly pale girl surrounded by a pool of crimson. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Blood was splattered across, to my horror, my naked body. The damned vampire had taken certain liberties in the process of joining. Somehow I didn't believe that we had gone all the way because I would certainly have remembered. I had been drugged by his embrace, but even then I had still been dressed. I narrowed my eyes as my anger flared. I felt cheated somehow, violated perhaps by the circumstances in which I found myself. "Damn you!" "Now that is certainly no way to greet the man to which you will be bound for the rest of your life, ma belle," Mamoru reprimanded. "Was it absolutely necessary to undress me?" Obviously not, but I wanted to hear Mamoru's godawful answer. "Of course, ma belle," he replied. He was as cool and calm as a corpse should be. What was I thinking trusting a corpse to be responsible? "That's it? That's the answer?" I was feeling terribly groggy, the splattered blood serving as a reminder of the intimacy to follow. "Hush, ma belle. The worst is over." He stood at the edge of the bed, his eyes fixating on parts of my body. Intimate parts of my body. Parts of my body that I, if I had not lain there unconscious, would never have let him uncover without my permission. I was feeling foolishly chaste, but alas, I couldn't help myself. "Close your eyes," he whispered. I felt uncharacteristically weak and decided that obeying him would be the better choice. I did not want to argue why I would prefer to leave my eyes open at a time like this. I closed my eyes and lay there. I lay as still as death. Without warning (was there ever any warning where Mamoru was concerned?), power surged through the cooling blood and seeped into my body. His power. I knew that Mamoru, being the Master Vampire, possessed a great deal of power. I just never imagined how it would feel to be subjected to his power. Mamoru pushed his power into me, the power entering my body where the blood had splattered. A voice cried out, the scream high-pitched. It took me several moments to recognize the voice. It was mine. I was delirious, thrashing around in the bed. The power took control of my body, my mind fading. "Ride it, ma belle. Ride the power," Mamoru commanded, from afar. I did as he commanded. I rode the power and it was like nothing that I had experienced before. It was magic. Pure magic. It was wild and uncontrolled. There was a certain kind of dangerous beauty that existed in this dance. This ecstatic dance of death. The dance that allowed death and life to meet and bind. Chapter 6 I awoke later that same night, tired yet full of energy. I was finally pondering the wisdom of my abrupt decision. I must have lost my mind temporarily. I would never have agreed to something so, so...... "So what, ma belle? So wonderful....so different?" Mamoru's voice cut through my pondering, unexpected yet familiar. I was losing my mind, losing my mind to the strange reasoning of my pounding heart. Mamoru being able to read my mind was not an added bonus to my situation. It was terrible, horrible, awful....then why did I want to shout with joy? He chuckled, his arms magically wrapping around me. I was soon comfortably cradled in a vampire's arms. Mamoru was a vampire. Funny how that ceased to bother me. "You enjoy reading my mind, don't you?" Becoming a biumvirate was not as easy as it sounded. It was more a sacrifice of two people in the name of power. It was the binding of hearts, souls, and minds. Farewell to privacy and any form of secrecy. "Oh yes. I enjoy reading your mind and those deep, dark, wicked thoughts of yours. The last one was quite stimulating," Mamoru replied, laughter creeping into his voice. I pouted, my eyebrows furrowing together in deep thought. What was my last thought? I certainly hoped that it was not the one where Mamoru and I.... I blushed, the rose flush climbing its way up my cheeks in a rapid ascent. Oh no! I hit the laughing man in frustration. I could not believe that I let him read my mind like a book. More like my diary. And to think that he witnessed my fantasy.... "Our fantasy, ma belle," he whispered, his face sobering. One pale hand crept up towards my face, caressing my cheek. To my disgust, my blush deepened. I probably looked like an over-ripe tomato. "And you are certainly ripe for the picking." I was probably the only necromancer who possessed a vampire able to read my mind AND do a running commentary on every single embarrassing thought that flitted across the recesses of my mind. "Very funny," I muttered. I couldn't help but stare into his indigo eyes, breathless and ready to puddle at his feet. Was this love? Or was it merely lust playing its game? I couldn't help but ask. I wanted to know what he had witnessed. Had it been my fantasy? My fantasy of Mamoru and I in the midst of love-making? "Ah, ma belle. If I remember correctly, we were in the throes of ecstasy. Your sweet body was clinging to mine in absolute surrender. The sound of your voice, your racing heart, the look of pure desire in your beautiful eyes....ah, they only fuelled my hunger. My never-ending hunger for you." His lips met with mine, and I was suddenly very afraid of the scorching passion that had become my master. I had lost control.... Chapter 7 I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. Mamoru, the man who had held me through the night, had disappeared. It was just as well. I wasn't sure how I would react if I saw him lying beside me, a white corpse as stiff as death. Things had become so damned confusing in a matter of moments. Tonight was the night. I would face Beryl in a life-to-death challenge. I had always believed in afterlives, however, I had never believed in dying too young. I figured that I was young when compared to Mamoru's five hundred year existence. No point in putting even more pressure on myself when I was already in a state of near panic. My life would have been so simple if I had not become a necromancer. There would have been no need to face vampires, werewolves, and other monsters. Alas, I had chosen my path and it was full of twists and turns, all complex and utterly baffling. Chapter 8 Night had come and I was prepared, or at least as prepared as I would ever be. My trusty Firestar hung in my shoulder holster. An extra set of mercury knives were sheathed in their hip-cases. Extra ammo was pocketed in my leather pants. Mamoru had decided to dress me in one of his elaborate costumes before I actually departed. He insisted that the costume would bring me luck. I tried disagreeing, coaxing, pouting....and the list went on. But in the end, I was dressed in that bloody outfit. Tight, black leather pants, high-heeled boots, and a translucent, white shirt. Of course, this added to my anxiety. If I died tonight, I would be buried in a ridiculous outfit belonging to my boyfriend. Boyfriend. Funny how the word seemed awkward when used in the context of describing my vampire lover. Boyfriend seemed like such a wholesome word, so pure and nice. Mamoru was neither nice or wholesome. After a lengthy goodbye (at Mamoru's insistence), I was off to Fushigi Woods. I would go alone since there really was no point in turning one measly, personal challenge into a bloodbath. War breaking out between the vampires and the werewolves was not a good thing. The human population in Tokyo, currently estimated at 450, would decline rapidly if war broke out. The wind was cool at my back, its breeze causing my hair to flutter into a mass of tangles. I surveyed the woods upon my arrival. It seemed that Beryl had come alone, but I highly doubted that. Her pack was out lurking in the woods waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce upon their unsuspecting victim. "Nice outfit," Beryl commented, a smirk appearing. I cringed inwardly. "Thanks," I replied as flippantly as possible. There was no point in changing the past when the future was only an arm-length away. The full moon shone from above illuminating the woods. Without further preamble, Beryl morphed into her true nature: the werewolf. Her furry counterpart was much larger and much uglier. She was essentially a she-wolf with an astonishing coat of cinnamon-red fur and a great deal of slobber dripping down her throat. It was a big goop of slobber, and it was distracting. "Impressive," I murmured, scanning the woods for any additional movement. The she-wolf cackled and launched herself towards me. I sighed and pulled out the Firestar. Without further preamble, I pulled the trigger and fired, directing the blast at Beryl's heart. She stumbled slightly confused, and kept on advancing. The pack howled from their hidden spot in the woods. I closed my eyes and summoned the power. I felt it flow through my body then outwards into the world. "Mamoru...." "I'm right here, ma belle. Remember to ride the power," he responded telepathically. I jumped in shock at the answering voice in my head. I knew that we shared minds, but this was another power altogether. I had no time to ponder over the intimacy of my connection to Mamoru. I only had time to react. The power flowed outward radiating a silver sheen. It headed towards the pack of waiting wolves and proceeded to envelop each one of them in its silver aura. The wolves whimpered as the power increased tenfold. The wolves were temporarily subdued. Beryl was the only threat that was left. She seemed momentarily awed, her mouth dropping from her snout. I reacted on pure instinct as her claw swiped angrily downwards. I jumped to the side and pulled out a knife. She had claws; I had knives. She advanced with lightning speed, her claws outstretched and her canine teeth ready for action. I leapt aside as her body came crashing down upon me. We fell to the ground. Unfortunately, Beryl was the one on top for I was pinned to the ground by her heavy body weight. Her claw bit into my arm, tearing and ripping. Blood gushed out in a stream of crimson. Holding the mercury knife carefully, I pushed it into her arm. She yelped and swung back with another full impact hit with her furry fist. "Ride the power," Mamoru screamed inside my head. Trust him to appear out of nowhere whenever I needed him. I called the power, feeling Beryl's claws sink into my ribs. The claws pulled at my skin, ripping the outer tissues. My heart would be next. I didn't have any time to spare. I felt the power return, the silver sheen dancing around my body. My hair managed to billow wildly even in my current predicament. I slammed the power full force into Beryl's body. I felt blood stream out from somewhere. I imagined that most of it was mine. Life was passing by before my eyes. I screamed in anger, the sound surprising me. The sound was primitive, loud and ferocious. I concentrated on life, on the joys of life. I didn't want to die. I screamed again, the sound echoing in my mind. The power grew in intensity, the silver blinding to see. I felt the scorching heat of the power and I knew that Beryl felt it too. Beryl screamed once before her body slumped. I was alive! It was all that mattered. Somehow I had managed to fry Beryl's brains to a pulp and live. Life was mysterious, always full of miracles. I lay on the damp soil and closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of pine and of life. I was alive! And it certainly felt good. Chapter 9 It was some time after that I ventured to open my eyes. I found myself lying on Mamoru's bed. Bandages swathed around my ribs, my arms, my legs... I couldn't help but smile. I was alive. I felt his presence, his familiar musky scent. His fingers traced a path down my nose until it reached my lips. I caught him staring at me, his blue eyes a naked pool of emotion. Tenderness was etched in every muscle of his body. I smiled. "Je t'aime, ma belle," he whispered. He was taking full advantage of the situation. Some things never changed. Epilogue A few months later... Mamoru's face was contorted with a mask of pure ecstasy, his eyes pooling into a shade of cobalt blue. I stifled a groan. The vamp closed his eyes and licked his sensual lips. He smiled, and more or less, purred like a contented cat. I sighed, having finally satisfied his insatiable hunger for the night. "I see you enjoyed yourself," I murmured, falling on to my side. His fingers intertwined themselves deftly into my hair. "Always," he replied, still basking in the afterglow. "But we can't go on like this, Mamoru," I whispered. His fingers traced the curve of my jaw and I shuddered. "Ma belle, it is not so bad, is it?" Strands of midnight hair fell into his eyes, and I looked away. "Mamoru, I have gained six pounds in the last two months, beginning on the day you insisted that I eat for you." I was going to be the size of King Kong if I kept this up. One of the privileges (or disadvantages) of the biumvirate union was that Mamoru could taste food. Solid food, liquid food, any food. He could taste the food through me, and believe me when I tell you that it was something that he had missed for the longest time. I supposed that it explained why Mamoru was insisting that I eat or at least taste every dish that he could find. He was making up for lost time, and I really couldn't blame the guy. Except for those six pounds, which were getting on my nerves. "Ma belle, at least try the chocolate icing. All you have to do is dip your delectable finger into the icing and put it in your mouth. Just one little lick, please, ma belle." His eyes were imploring me. I sighed. "The last time you insisted that I taste something I ended up with a massive hangover. You do remember the wine incident, don't you? One little sip after another. It left me as drunk as hell," I said. Mamoru grinned, and it seemed to me that he looked like the devil himself. He flashed some fang as his grin widened. Oh, he was remembering the wine incident alright. A stimulating image of our joined bodies popped into my mind. At that time, Mamoru had easily coaxed me into his marble hot tub. We had had fun in the water among other things. A blush crept up my cheeks, and Mamoru laughed. His laugh spilled forth as his eyes eyed me hungrily. Blood, food and sex. That was all the damned vamp ever thought about although I probably could use the nocturnal exercise. He grabbed me into his arms and headed for the bathroom, striding regally into the marble room. We christened the hot tub yet again. A sea of candles illuminated the room as hundreds of rose petals skimmed the surface of the water. If nothing else, Mamoru was an absolute romantic at heart. I would tell you everything except as my darling undead boyfriend would say: "We do not kiss and tell." I supposed that a girl's got to have some secrets. The End......for now ----------------------------------- This fanfic was inspired by Laurell K. Hamilton's work and the following terms are hers: lycanthrope: werewolf necromancer: animator, one who raises the dead lupa: female head of the werewolves (kind of like the queen of the werewolves) lukoi: pack of werewolves There are probably more except I can't seem to think of them at the moment. Author's Notes: There was no explicit sex since most of it took the form of mere insinuations. However, I figured that there was enough of it to merit a 'hentai' rating or at least a R-rating. If you enjoyed reading this, please write. I honestly would like to know what you thought of it. I was also wondering if anyone would care if I wrote another horror/fantasy/science-fiction/romance fanfic. I was thinking of calling it 'Flesh and Blood' starring flesh-eaters (werewolves) and blood suckers (vampires).