They returned early he was called back home

Zan sighed as he walked through the empty throne room not quite sure what was going on. Rei had called him less then twenty minutes ago told him they had returned early from Germany he was not to ask questions. He was to not co continue doing the task asked if him he was to return to the castle and go straight to his room. He would find no one on his way there. He would no detour. He would not disobey or he would be punished and then he hung up the phone before Zankokuna could say or do anything.

So right now that was what the ex-king of the dark side of the moon was doing he was walking through the castle wondering why on Earth Rei was suddenly so very cranky...it wasn't like Zan had done anything in the last three decades to disobey him anyways....his heavy black boots thinker in the hall as he racked his brain trying to figure out what he did to piss off the dragon king. He wore skin tight black paint me on peel me off jeans tears in all the 'right' places' chains hanging down around his waist. A jacket with studs in the collar and well placed zippers the necklace and earrings he wore were gifts from Kusatta and never came off. He reached out sighing softly as he could not figure out what he had done opened the door and walked in closing it behind him. Eyes closed as he rested his back against the door wishing he knew what he did this time to make that dragon mad at him now.

They walked in, him following behind Rei as his boots thudded on the floor, the heavy sounds echoing throughout the great halls as he walked close to his master. Guarding and protecting just as he had swore to do oh so long ago.

His hair was shaggy now, long and uncut. His eyes were the same, but he has two piercings in the bottom of his lip on either side of his mouth and a tribal looking tattoo that went nearly up to his shoulder on his right arm. He was much more muscular now too. He had finished maturing, growing into his powers and becoming even more true to his name.

As they came to a stop, he couldn't help but let his gaze wander over the throne room. Not much had been changed from the original castle. It was as if taking a trip back into the centuries when he had first met the crazy royal family he had grown ever so fond of. He knew Zan was here, and was both anxious and hesitant. He had been away for so long...would Za be mad?...He was patient though. He knew things would turn out for the best.

He stood up off of the door to his room having returned as he was told to and still he had no idea none. The order had sounded so very urgent. Speak to no one. Return home to your room. He had done so. He walked away from the door and over to the window looking out it down at the gardens below. Not for the first time did he wonder what....Kusatta was doing was he a right and then there was that damn dragon demanding he return like that. Zan turned and left his room the door closing behind him not shouting as he walked with purpose down the hall. The heavy sound of his boots could be heard as he closed the distance entering into the throne room. He could easily see Fu by the white wolf's ears. There was two he certainly didn't know. Rei and standing guard.,,,shaggy hair in human form one golden eye but it was the glowing teal that made Zan's breath hitch.

His own hair fell in front of the glass eye the 'dead' eye he himself looked much different, younger, scented younger no longer ashen like he was always on deaths door he once again looked like the King of the Dark Moon which was not what he looked like when his beloved wolf left him centuries ago....but only one name left his lips. "Kusatta"Zan breathed on a whisper looking at this ones eyes daring to hope longing to his Ku's voice one more time.

Rei didn't say anything, instead, he moved silently away from Kusatta and moved to begin his trek down the hall to his room. He was tired after having to free Fenrir, and ready for a meal and then sleep.

Kusatta though, tilted his head a little, as if confused at first, but then he smiled. An odd thing since he had been scowling so much lately, stewing in his own anger and frustrations about Fu and Fenrir. "Hey Zan...sorry I was gone so long..." he greeted him lowly, taking note of how hesitant he himself sounded. He kicked himself mentally for it. It was so stupid for him to be hesitating. He had been so eager to see Zan so why then, was he not rushing over to him and scooping him up in his arms? Why then, was he not calling him hateful names and cussing him because he never once came for a visit or even sent word of how he was doing...why then...was he so uneasy all of a sudden?

Zankokuna looked at him at the soundof the voice he so longed to hear. What was with them? Had the centuries apart really changed solo much between them that they no longer knew how to act around each other? Or....'sorry I took so long' he was hesistating as if waiting to be scolded for being a bad wolf. For making him wait centuries for his return. It did he think that Zan had moved on in his absence? That he had tired of waiting? Was that why Zankokuna himself hesitated? Did he himself worry that Kusatta moved on...,no he worried that the one he wanted was the damaged man he had been before the vampire who had been struggling to put himself back together.

That was neither here nor there. What was here, what was now was the lovely black wolf he gave up half of his power to save. Half of his essence. Half of his being even if it cruelly bound Kusatta to him for the rest of eternity he had offered a choice. Kusatta took it. They had been together ever sense and the one time he could have been free when Aoi was going to kill Zan, Kusatta himself interefered of his own accord demanding that it was them both or neither. Zan stepped down covering the distance between them in the throne room he reached up cupping the right side of his face not the left. Running his fingertip beneath Kusatta's natural eye. "Welcome home Ku. I've missed you. I wanted to. The gods know how much I longed to defy Rei and go be with you. To see you, hear your voice again. But as I was then I was still consumed by my demons still fighting the ashing death inside of me. While by nature I am dark I was beyond cruel then. Rei said that darkness may in me may be used to lash out at Fenrir. If it was it would put you in a position that mean you'd have to kill me and end up getting you killed.....I won't be responsible for your death Ku. Had I written and you written back it would have increased my longing to go so in the end all I could I could do is wait even if that meant waiting to the end of time I would."Zan spoke simply enough he meant nothing by it but Kusatta had signed himself to two masters. But this was where Zan was usually misunderstood. He didn't mean that Kusatta would heatlessly kill him. He meant that if he accidently upset Fenrir and triggered Fenrir it would invoke Rei's standing order and put Kusatta in a terrible position that would end up killing something inside of him or killing him all together. Either one was not a pain he could ever bring to the wolf before him. His hand moved down to rest against Kusatta's heart.

And shown in the past that when it came to protecting Zan from Aoi's orders....Kusatta always held back and hesitated. Zan never said anything never held it against him. It was a simple fact. That he loved Zan and cared about Rei and didn't want to harm either one. Zan knew this. He lowered his hand he simply choose to obey this time so as to never make Kusatta have to make that choice. "It took me far longer to heal then I thought it would, but I kept my word to Rei and stopped taking the power needed to boost it. This is how I should have been when we first met...."Zan said softly looking at him "You're incredible. I blinked and you became even more impressive then before....and to me you were a beautiful wolf when we first met."

When they first met.....the spell Zan used was a 'god-level' spell. Called a Soul-void. It created a void in one of the two peoples souls. The one who held the void syphoned off the life force of the healthy one slowly over the centuries. Slowly consuming and killing them. The place the void was created could never be refilled aka Zan's left eye. However......that was were Zan being as defiant as always changed the rules. The king of a fallen kingdom like Kira he would be endlessly reborrn and he learned alone. When he arrived on Earth the first one he found was Kusatta who although he was dying looked into the returned War King Nejireta's eyes with a defiant will to live. So that was what Zan had offered.....a quick painless death. Or a contract that would last to the end of time. Kusatta would be healed, would gain not only Zan's left eye but the power contained there in, would gain and maintain fifty fifty of the power that Zankokuna himself had...and Zan would in that instant take his death from him. They would be bound forever as partners even in death. Should one be reborn that would not change. Kusatta could choose the moment he was free to move. His choice had been instant he had lunged ripping out and consuming Zankokuna's left eye. Zan had told Kusatta that nowmthe wolf belonged to him. Kusatta suddenly shifted becoming human and licked the blood off of his cheek telling him he was wrong. Zan was his and his alone. Zan had not lied to Kusatta....it was Kusatta who bore deaths scar inside of his soul. Kusatta who had one foot in the grave....and Kusatta who lived off of Zankokuna's life force. Zan by all rights was Kira's dark mirror. Being king of the Dark side of the moon. Zan.....gave up all that power getting back anywhere near close to having it just to be able to have Kusatta at his side.....and now centuries later he was faced with a fear he never thought he would face.....was he going to loose Kusatta. No one but Kusatta knew what he did that day what he gave to him anyone who knew the spell would think he was still the cruel cold Nejireta who was toying with Kusatta...before consuming him when in truth he'd be lost without Ku.

Kusatta closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, feeling so much better now that he had been able to feel Zan's touch, to see him and hear his voice. However...Kusatta's fears were now reemerging. His family...had left some very deep wounds on him. He was now afraid...that Zan would realize how weak he truly was without him. And so, for the first time he shook his head and spoke lowly, "I only grew...because you grew...without this eye..." he brought his left hand up to his left eye, covering it. "I would be exactly as powerless as the day my family had nearly killed me..."

It was a harsh reality to face, but it was the truth. Without his contract with Zan, without Zan's left eye...he would never have gained any powers of his own. "I was born without any power of my own...a vampwolf with not other power than to shift....I was too slow, too weak to keep up with the rest of my clan...and so...they beat me and left me, banishing me for eternity...my fight with that wolf hunter...should have been my last..." he explained, telling his side of the story. A story he had never even told Zan then.

But he opened his eyes then, and looked at Zan and smiled a little sadly at him. "Even if others see it as cruel...I will always see you as a blessing...without you...I would have died long ago...and without you...I would not be strong enough to stand behind Rei and guard him as he asks me to...."

Zankokuna looked at him quietly. He sighed softly reaching up to grasp Kusatta's face gently in both his hands. "I am a being that was born when the Rasul were. Nameless unwanted by anyone or anything. Drifting through the centuries I formed the Dark Moon Kingdom. Gathered warriors and people formed a kingdom and choose Zankokuna Tenshi because of its meaning it is a name I had chosen for myself. My enemies then called me Nejireta. Tsuki killed me and forced me to recollect myself." Zan ran his thumb under Kusatta's normal eye again he could do what he did because of what Zan gave him.

"I am the Deity who was unwanted even at his own creation. So when I reformed and came to Earth this blue planet I created but Thanh gave life to. The first two I find were this fool of a werewolf hunter and a beautiful but badly injured and dying Vampwolf. I halted the hunter thought I'd keep him from slaughtering you and yet you were willing to keep fighting for every inch of life. So I slowed deaths touch I slowed your time. I gave you the choice.... I would place half of my power in you....if you would stay by my side for the rest of eternity or I could end your suffering instantly you'd not feel it. You were looking into the heart of darkness. That is what I am. The night, the darkness the endless void. The one all Deities naturally seem to hate....and for that reason...I could never go near Fenrir while his heart was consumed by hate....I'd be surprised if he'd even speak to me now. No one wants the dark Ku but everyone desires the light...

Kusatta actually laughed lowly as he looked at Zan. No one wanted the darkness? "See...that's where you're wrong..." he protested as he looked at Zan. "Everyone wants the darkness, but fear it because they're afraid they'll be shunned by the light...so they pray to the light, asking them for protection from something they truly desire to jump into and never surface from again...but if they did that...no one would be looking to the light anymore and this world...would be completely different...." he explained, glancing over at Rei, who didn't deny it. For even he, a god who was over the balance of the world, had desired to plunge into the darkness and never surface again.

Kusatta wrapped his arms around Zan though, refusing to let him move away. "Without you...Rei would have no balance to protect, to defend...and without you...this world would be so incredibly dull...we all like having you around...believe it or not...but more importantly Zan, I love looking at that darkness...because it was that darkness that saved me from never getting to see the light of day ever again...that darkness saved me from never smelling the rain or feeling the cold of snow again...and for that...I love you..."

Zan went a bit wide eyed. Collapsing into Kusatta the moment the taller wolf wrapped his arms around him. Everyone wanted but feared the darkness. But Kusatta loved the darkness loved him because it was he who saved him. Who bound him who gave him power that fate did not. Forever removing himself from the night sky from the Imperial Heavens because he could never take it back. He didn't regret it. He hated the idea of not having Kusatta of being alone more. Zan held almost desperately to the taller Wolf as his head rested against his chest.

"I fell in love with you..when I first saw you. I could reclaim all of my lost power by morning easily. I could rebuild a throne in darkness. You said I saved you Kusatta. I had endured centuries of lonilness. And here you were dying before my eyes and defying death. You were reaching instinctively for the power in my left eye. The power to bind all things in Oblivion is its full power. I divided it. Giving you the core of its abilities and using the other to keep my word sealing the death stroke. Keeping you from dying. That part was a one time use." Zan held to Kusatta for dear life as if some part of him feared that if he let go the wolf would dissapear and this would be a dream. "The moment I met you I fell hopelessly in love with you. All of the power in the world could not replace you for me. So I cut my power in half gave it to you. If it meant keeping you safe so that no one could harm you. I was willing to give up that and so much more. Anything for you...as long as you stayed by my side you could and can have anything you want."Zan said he loved and adored Kusatta so very much as he held onto him not looking at Rei. He heard Kusatta's words but there was times Zan was certain he made Rei hate him all over again. At least the dragon always seemed angry at him for something or another then again Zan didn't obey orders very well....it was part of his very nature to buck them.

Kusatta hugged him tightly, pulling him close. "Silly Zan...I love the dark...always have...because I was born of the dark..." he told him lowly as he rested his chin on Zan's head. "I don't care about your past or what others think...I don't need to know their opinions...all I need to know...is that I love you," he said, putting emphasis on his words.

He knew that Zan had been a very lonely man when they first met, had seen it in his eyes the moment their eyes met...however...by that point, Kusatta had been ill and was being destroyed by that illness, dying because of his wounds and nearly mad from his sickness. He had wanted to live, and had sensed power...so he struck out only to find that he himself had been blessed with a being who saw the real him beneath all of his insanity, and offered him freedom and life...and so he chose life...

"I chose to live, to fight to live, because you looked at me that day...and you didn't see a mad wolf, you saw a man...and saved him...even if it cost you so much...you still did it...and I thank you every day, even if you never know it..." he admitted lowly as he kept Zan close.

Zan hugged Kusatta back. Hearing his words. He could live for this man alone. Exist for him. Nothing else mattered to him. Not anymore. Not anyone else on this world accepting him. That part of his heart that had longed for a place to belong a place to call home to call family. To love and be loved. He had that with Kusatta alone. Zan looked up at him.


Zan even now hurt in his heart. Kusatta eased a large part of that. Where he was Zan was happy. But he rested there in Kusatta's arms hearing his words and smiling. "I love you too. I saved you....and if the price was the loss of an eye then it is a small one. This one eye what I gave up compared to what I gained that day Kusatta...the loss of power is smaller in comparison. Its nothing compared to what you have given me in its place."

Zan turned his head though resting in Kusatta's arms still and looked at Rei. "Rei! Kusatta's mine I don't care if a fucking war breaks of tomorrow you can't have him."

Kusatta just looked at Rei, worry filling his heart. would this be a repeat of the centuries past? He could only pray...that Rei had moved past his own fears...

Rei looked at Zan, but after a moment, he just snorted, flipping him off, telling him lowly, "I'll do whatever the fuck I want with him...he's mine too...stupid..." It didn't sound like a cold thing to say, more like he wanted to be a part of it all too...even if he was just a friend to Kusatta, a person to protect...Rei wanted that with Zan too. Rei longed to be more than just someone for Zan to hold at arm's length and despise.

Zan rolled his eyes seriously? Was it too much to ask for just a couple of days of not being made to be alone. He looked at Rei though some where between annoyed and amused when the man responded with something other then outright anger towards him. Moved one arm from within Kusatta's embrace and flipped Rei off in return. Lol nope but Zan won't feel better unless he says it. He and Rei always seemed to be bickering. "The hell you will. You have this thing with taking up all his time lately. Its fucking bull-shit. While you have your lovers I'm told to stay away from mine for the sake of save the fucking world. Fine I did. I stayed away for your world so back the hell off for a while Rei....I don't have what have. I have him. He's all I have in this fucking world So excuse me for wanting time with him uninterrupted." It would never occur to him that this time unlike any other Rei would want him there too.

Rei paused looking at Zan. "I took up his time to guard Fenrir because he wouldn't accept anyone else but Kusatta and Fu. Excuse me for having to deal with a massive god!" Rei was so upset he was starting to tear up. Zan was on the offense... He was honestly kind of shy about the fact that, like Kusatta, he's become attached, to Kusatta and.... "I don't care for you getting to spend time with him, he's home for a reason...but...I..."

Zankokuna narrowed his eyes left the warmth and safety of Kusatta's embrace to walk over and for the first time ever reverse there position as he'd grabbed a fist full of Rei's shirt. "But you what?!? Let's face it you would have never taken me in had Kusatta refused. Told you he would not come if you didn't take us both. I have always believed I was hated. Ku says feared. I wasn't even loved enough to be given a name at birth, now faced with you who...who opens his arms to everyone. Who accepts everyone into there home... I seem to be you favorite kicking post I'm always managing to piss you off even when I'm not trying. I have nothing. No one in this world. In any world but him. The one time you touched me other to beat me was to take my cloak and burn it. Since then...every damn chance you get you call him to your side. I hate to sound like a fucking selfish bastard but....without him Rei I have absolutely nothing. And you...you seem to enjoy invoking your damn contract with him and watching me suffer alone every chance you get." Zan let go of Rei suddenly his hand releasing the material of his shirt quickly and turn to walk away. "When we met you would have killed me if not for Ku..I say it over and over again...I have nothing this world but him. That has been made clear to me on enough occasions and you seem to love torturing me every damn chance you get."

Rei sighed and shook his head. "I missed him...you were always here...always a reminder of my inner demons...maybe that's why I was always so angry...but...I don't hate you...Kusatta is right...I do fear you...so does Neikan...everyone fears their inner darkness Zan...I fear mine all the same...but now? Now...I like the dark...even if it's not love, I like you...and..." he looked away and clenched his fists, biting his lower lip before he whispered lowly, "I just want to let you see...I'm not scared anymore...so please...hit me or scream at me...but don't leave...don't walk away from me, who has been more cruel to you than kind..."

Zan shook his head his back to Rei. "Hitting you would prove nothing. Screaming? I've screamed myself hoarse. What do you want me to say Rei? I won't do either...all I want right now is to be with the one who has never rejected me without you taking him away again just after he comes home. I'm tired of trying to exist...to those who fear me and wish I didn't..." Zan would look back over his shoulder at Rei. "Everyting even darkness. Needs light the more I reached out for the light the more it burned me cast me out...when I was ready to give up. I found...Kusatta. I can exist if its just for him if. He's the only one who needs me..I always found it a cruel joke the people in this castle would save everyone...but deny me in the same breathe just for existing"

Rei finally let them fall, his tears Hate....Zan hated him. "Good...finally someone besides myself who hates me..." he breathed lowly as the tears fell. "I've finally pushed people away so much...that one of them finally hates me...and when I try to apologize...he won't even listen to what I'm trying to say..." He looked at Zan and then look at the floor. "I just wanted...to spend time with you both...but I'm stupid...for ever thinking you'd want to get to know me...after having been so horrible for so many centuries...even if I was sick...and hurting...and always afraid..."

Zan looked back at him good he hated.... No. "I don't hate you....I don't feel anything at all towards you Rei. I don't love you. I can't forgive you. I don't care if you were sick or healthy. Not anymore." He said as he walked back up and stood before the crying vampire. "You don't understand. I feel nothing inside when it comes to any of you anymore. The only reason I do not want to see this world destroyed is because Ku is on it. Although now....after all this time I have never been a man who regrets or second guess's himself. I suppose I have to wonder why...I slowed Odin's spear down too far away to stop him so Loki could intervene.....if I have to think about it perhaps back then that  it was in hopes that someone like Kusatta would be born...or curiosity as to why you choose to put this life things I created within my space of exile." Zankokuna sighed shaking his head and turned. "I can't hate you Rei Takusen because I honestly no longer care if you live or die. It simply came down to wishing to stay off of your bad side so Kusatta would no longer be trapped between us. I can't help that you were always afraid but all I had ever wanted was a place to call home and the man who accepted everybody was sick and afraid of my darkness the same darkness that resides in my beloved Ku. Accepted him with open arms for that which I am grateful....but made it clear while this was Kusatta's home it was never mine. I am here only so long as Ku continues to want me. Things may have changed now Rei....but the heart that longed to be accepted by this world by this castle by you....died a long time ago. I can exist for Kusatta....that's fine...he's the only one I've been allowed to exist for anyways. No...not exist....live."

"Then leave..." he breathed lowly, closing his eyes and turning his back. "Both of you...I don't care wehre you go...but leave...and get out of my sight...I...won't force you to ever see me again..." So that Zan would not see him hurting himself would not see his pain his pain he could not say he didn't deserve this and yet he want....

Then leave. He would not force them to ever lay eyes on him again. He had missed him. He was willing to throw him out and he would likely go off and begin no doubt hitting and hurting himself. He walked up behind Rei looking at the back of the Deity of Balance not at the one he loved. "You never were very good at understanding me." Zan said looking at his back.

"You miss him but because I say I feel nothing you are willing to throw him out and myself. I feel nothing Rei....because I stopped crying in frustration and pain long ago." He closed his eyes he didn't walk back to Kusatta Zan was such a lonely man that he'd cling to Kusatta and cut away anything painful when it became clear to him that pain was never ending. He simply closed his eyes. He felt nothing for Rei anymore because his heart when it came to Rei Takusen just Hurt he didn't hate the man. He just when numb because he couldn't cry himself to sleep alone at night anymore...but Kussatta knew Zan....knew when Zan felt nothing he was hurting his worst inside all bottled up with no outlet.

Rei shook his head. "It's because I miss him...that you're hurting...it's because I want to try and solve so many problems my own way...that you're here..." he just kept his back turned, not letting Zan see...how much pain filled his face. "It's because of me...you're hurt...and because you're hurt...so is Kusatta...because I care...I'll let him decide...I'll let him be free...if it means making things better...for everyone..."

Zan said nothing as he stood there the explosive argument between them and it all boiled down to Kusatta's choice. Zan was staring not at Rei but at the floor he was feeling numb inside. He always did when he started to hurt like this. But somehow he doubted what was bout to happen would make things better for everyone. Zan reached up and laid his hand over his sightless left eye. A place that he could call home *with* Kusatta family friends it was all he ever wanted. But deep numb was becoming a burning cold pain in his chest and it hurt terribly. It hurt like it did when he was isolated and alone. It wasn't what he wanted but he'd Never get it across right.....hadn't since the whole thing started.....he was never told by Rei he was wrong he had a home a family. So know all Zan could do was wait for Ku to choose.

Rei didn't even give Kusatta time to say anything. He didn't want to hear it. He had worked so hard to keep his back turned...but he couldn't anymore. He turned, his mouth bloody now, and his eyes puffy and ugly. "You're so stupid! You think I want you to leave?! You think you can't just stay because we all like you and love you as a family?!" he screamed, the sobs coming out even if he didn't want them to. He couldn't help but collapse in the floor, seeming to become nothing but a heap of defeat and hurt. "You're so concerned about how I hate you, but did you ever stop to think about how I love you?!"

Zan looked up slowly confused at the sudden outburst. Blinking as Rei screamed at him about them liking him about them wanting him to stay and Rei loved him. He walked over and knelt down in front Rei letting one arm rest on his legs his own right eye a puffy mess his was running slightly from ironically crying Zan was so quiet and reserved with his more painful emotions one would miss them. "How could I when you never seemed to want me around just Ku. Always always taking Ku from my side leaving me alone most of the time." He retorted not shouting. "Everyone here likes me? The one everyone wants is Ku." Zan looked down at the hand in his lap there wasn't jealousy or anger towards him. "He deserves to be loved. But no Rei I have never once in all the years I've known you thought for a moment that you or any one else in this castle could love or want me besides Kusatta."