[REVISED] Tied Fates 6/?

[hydraheiress]

i. story by: hydraheiress
ii. pairing: yunjae, yoosu
iii. genre: romance, drama, fluff, humor, highschool, fantasy, supernatural
iv. length: chaptered|series
v. rating: nc-17
vi. summary: Kim Jaejoong is a normal high school student who's respected by his schoolmates, adored by his teachers, had excellent grades, stunningly good looks and awesome friends. Yoochun, his bestfriend in particular had an unhealthy knack of going psycho over his fans, admirers and the like. Jaejoong treasured his friends and is happy with how his life is turning out. But there was always that feeling in his heart that he couldn't shake off. The feeling that somehow he knew that there was something missing in his life. It was then at that one fateful night when he crossed paths with that certain someone that Jaejoong began to understand, that his life wasn't as normal as he had initially thought it should have been.



chapter six

Teardrops fell like bullets of rain on Yunho's closed eyelids. Jaejoong's lips quivered menacingly, body shaking as he held Yunho's body closer against him. It hurt so much. It hurt too much. Blood seeped through Jaejoong’s clothes. It was Yunho’s blood. He knew the heady sweet taste, knew the intoxicating scent. It was Yunho. It was all Yunho.

Immense grief flooded Jaejoong's whole person as he held him impossibly tighter against him, crying and begging for Yunho to open his eyes as if Jaejoong was gasping for his last breath of air.

Without warning, flashes and images suddenly raced through his thoughts. Jaejoong’s whole body went rigid to the spot, his breath hitching, the air ripping itself out of his chest. Slowly, he released the hold he had over Yunho’s body. The raven haired teen stared at his blooded hands, the mist stinging his eyes painfully, blurring his vision.

“Yunho.” Jaejoong mumbled under his breath as tears continued to stream down his cheeks refusing to dismiss. And then, as if some kind of switch was pushed open inside of him, everything came rushing back.

Eons of Years Ago

Blood. There was always blood. Everywhere he looked there they were. Blood lines covered the entire room. It was in everything, surrounding him. The furnitures, the bed, the walls, his own hands, his feet, everywhere he looked - those lines were in every corner and no matter what he did, he couldn’t get rid of them.

For days or has it been years? He was always reduced to sitting by his bed, head buried beneath his folded arms, hugging his knees to his chest, eyes firmly screwed shut. He refused to go outside. He didn't want to look at anyone. He was even scared of his own reflection. Because every time he looked at the mirror, the lines were always there. Multiple blood lines outlined and traced his features, from his forehead to the side of his cheek, the corner of his mouth, to the ear, to his neck, everywhere, they were just everywhere and he just wanted it all to go away.

But his pleas were left unanswered and all Jaejoong could ever do was cry until tears no longer fell.

A Few Years Later

Jaejoong adjusted the glasses against his eyes as he shifted his gaze from the beautiful night sky.

Craning his neck to the general direction of his home, he let out a small breath. There was a gathering happening inside the palace right now. Another sigh fell from his lips. He had never been good with parties and it wasn't like he had ever been to one his entire life. So he figured that his absence wouldn't really make any difference.

Besides, his umma did gave him permission to wander the palace gardens. It made him feel better to be here, a whole lot better. It was peaceful, quiet and the connection with nature was doing wonders for his mood.

A cheeky grin adorned the young Prince’s face. Truth be told, he didn't expect that he'd be able to do this again, to go outside and enjoy himself without being constantly freaked out with the things that he was seeing. Several times after his eyes manifested into what they were now, he had deemed it best to lock himself inside his room and had refused to go anywhere. He had been sure that it was the end of everything for him.

The lines had been scary like hell, and he never felt like stopping from shedding tears. Until the day that his umma went inside his room and cradled him into her arms, shushing him and telling him that it was all going to be okay. But despite the words of comfort, Jaejoong had been sure that it was never going to be alright - knew that he was going to be alone forever, that everything... just wouldn’t be normal for him.

But it all changed at that one moment; when he felt the cold wiring of a thin frame being pushed against the bridge of his nose. And when he opened his eyes at the sudden sensation, what he saw practically blew him away.

'A sorcerer friend made this for you baby. It's going to be fine.'

That time, what Jaejoong did was blink over and over again until he was one hundred percent sure that yes, the lines were gone. And the next thing he did was glomp and hug his mother so tight that she was beginning to turn blue.

'Your eyes have a special power given only to you.' His mother's voice rang once again through his thoughts. 'When the time comes that you find someone whom you really want to protect, you will definitely need it.

Jaejoong's lips quirked into a small smile at the memory. "Someone whom I want to protect huh?"

The sound of a twig snapping suddenly caught his ears. Jaejoong’s head whipped towards the source of the sound, seeing the bush a short distance from him move. His eyes narrowed as he gazed suspiciously at the piece of shrub.

Against his better judgment, the young Prince quietly yet quickly made his way towards the spot. When he was standing a foot away, another movement caught his eye. He saw a small body huddled beneath the bushes.

“Who are you?” Jaejoong asked, causing for the owner of said body to turn towards him, wide eyes locking on his own, and the raven-haired little prince nearly gasped in surprise at being subjected to such a handsome face.

Woah, woah, woah! Did he just say handsome?

“Ssshhh!” The face whom he now recognized as belonging to a child his age quickly placed a finger against his lips in attempt to silence him. Startled, Jaejoong could only nod and stare at the pair of honeycomb orbs before he was abruptly yanked into the bushes along with said child. “Don’t make a sound.” The young boy whispered in his ear.

Jaejoong squirmed. He wasn't used to being such close proximity with anyone and this was just bordering on abuse of personal boundaries. He swallowed then murmured. “Why are we exactly whispering?” He asked, a bit curious.

The kid pointed at a clearing just a few feet away from them. Jaejoong’s eyes considerably widened. “That’s... that’s...” A deep blush rose up in his cheeks. What the hell was this kid doing watching some kid their age doing stuff like that - with - oh god they’re kissing. Jaejoong gulped as he turned disbelieving eyes to the other kid.

“That’s my brother. Heh! Sly little Shinso that he is. I knew he was up to something.”

The blush on Jaejoong's cheeks increased tenfold. Their proximity was just too close. He was quite thankful that it was dark where they were crouching on, because he didn't really want the other seeing his redenning face.

But what the hell? This was wrong. This kid was - huh, he really should stop calling him kid seeing they were both kids anyway. He didn’t exactly know the age but from what he could tell, they seemed t be just a few years apart. Maybe he should ask the name first so he’d have something to yell at him for dragging him into this mess?

“What's your name?” Jaejoong whispered back, keeping his voice carefully modulated.

The other child turned his neck to face him, a playful grin present on his face as he leaned forward.

No, that’s too close.Jaejoong thought in alarm, feeling his cheeks burn.

“My name’s Yunho.” He replied then tilting his head a little to his right, he asked. “You?”

“J-Jaejoong.” the Shinso prince answered, instantatenously mentally screaming at himself for stuttering. But can anyone blame him? They were just that close. It would only take one wrong move and their lips would... meet.

“Waaaaaaaa!!! I’m scarred for life!”

Jaejoong and Yunho’s gazes immediately snapped to the source of the voice. Where there were two kids in the clearing a few minutes before, now there were three and it looked like they were in the middle of an argument.

"What were you doing to my cousin?"

Yunho pulled himself up on his feet, worry lines creasing his forehead. “Uh oh, you’re in for a mouthful now dear brother.” He said with a shake of his head. Looking back at Jaejoong’s crouching figure, he smiled and winked, saying. “Sorry Jaejoongie, but uhh, my brother needs me right now. Maybe we can meet some other time?”

Jaejoong could only absently nod in reply, not really not knowing what else to do. And did Yunho just called him Jaejoongie?

And with one last breathtaking smile, Yunho started walking away.

"Hey! Break it up you three!"

Jaejoong vaguely heard him yelling at the three other kids before hearing a call for himself. He quickly scrambled out of the piece of greenery and ran as fast as he could to the direction of his nanny’s voice, thoughts filled with nothing but Yunho's handsome face. A smitten smile slowly made it's way to his lips. He felt giggly all of a sudden.

"Yunnie-yah."

“You’re the... you’re the...” Yunho couldn't seem to choke out the words while Jaejoong smiled at him.

“This is Prince Jaejoong, Yunho. Now, say hello.” Yunho didn’t budge one bit. “Yunho?” His mother asked again.

Lips curving into a pout, Jaejoong took a deep breath and mustered up some courage to properly greet the other boy. “Yunho-yah. We meet again.” He cheerfully said while reaching out his hand. When Yunho still didn’t move, he took the other’s hand in his and began shaking them up and down. A sudden flash of their little ‘time spent’ at the gardens raced through his thoughts. Jaejoong flushed, quickly squashing his subconscious like a bug.

Yunho finally seemed to come out of it. He looked at their joined hands and then at Jaejoong’s face. “I... you’re...”

Jaejoong closed his fingers against Yunho’s and made a move towards the exit. “Come on, let’s let the grown-ups do some grown up talk.” He leaned up to his umma for a quick kiss before practically dragging Yunho away with him.

Once they were outside, Yunho at last found his voice. “You’re the Prince!”

Jaejoong rolled his eyes and tapped the spot beside him. “Yeah, but... it’s not that big of a deal really.”

“How come I’ve never seen you in the gatherings before?” Yunho asked with a frown as he seated himself.

Jaejoong shrugged. “I didn’t like crowds and well, there were some things that I didn’t have any control over.”

Yunho watched him, noticing the eyeglasses framing his eyes, finding it odd for the Shinso Prince to be wearing something as plain as a human accessory. He knew what eyeglasses were for. He’d been to the human realm several times and had found out that humans with bad eyesight usually wore those kinds of things.

But bad eyesight never really applied to their race. “What are those for?”

Jaejoong’s fingers quickly closed in around the thin frames of his glasses, tearing his gaze away from the other. Yunho didn’t need to find out that he had creepy abilities in addition to their already creepy heritage. “Its nothing.”

Yunho grinned when an idea hit him. “Hey! Can I like, try it on? Come on please? I just wanna try what they feel like.” He pleaded. No matter how many times he had begged his appa to buy him one, the old geezer wouldn’t.

“No.” was Jaejoong’s monosyllabic reply.

A frown creased Yunho's forehead. “Huh? Why not?”

Jaejoong quickly stood up and made a move to walk. “It’s complicated. I’m sorry I have to go.” He apologized and was about to take a step when all too suddenly he saw the blood lines in everything again. A gasp erupted from his throat, head whipping back to a grinning Yunho who was now playing with the eyeglasses in his hands.

An overwhelming sense of dread began to claw its way into the young Prince’s body. He could see it. He could see it again! Everything! All the lines! All the blood. Shudders racked his whole frame as he fell to the ground. He wrapped his arms tight around himself, eyes screwed shut as tears began stinging the corners.

Yunho’s hands landed on his shoulders, voice dripped with extreme alarm. “Jaejoong? Jaejoong?”

“Give it back.” Jaejoong wept, blindly grasping at the body above him. “Give it back. I can’t... I don’t...” A broken cry escaped him and then in that instant he felt the comforting coldness of the frames against his face once more. When he opened his eyes, everything was back to how they should be, and Yunho was gazing down at him in deep shame.

“I’m sorry.” Yunho apologized, face scrunched up in remorse. “I’m sorry... I didn’t... I didn’t know you would...”

Jaejoong scampered backwards, covering the back of his hand to his mouth while the tears continued to fall. It dawned on him again, that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be like everybody else. The words "I hate you" left him before he had the chance to stop himself as he fled from Yunho’s crushed expression.

As months passed, Jaejoong had made it a point to never leave his room again. Why bother trying to be normal? Why bothe trying to fit in with the rest when he knew he wasn't. There was no use. There was just no use.

“Your umma told me about your... gift.”

Jaejoong turned towards the general direction of the voice. Yunho was standing by his bedroom door.

“Get out!”

“Jaejoong.”

“I said, get out!”

The door to his room was swung shut and Jaejoong hated himself even more for chasing Yunho away.

He missed him. God! He truthfully, insanely, pathetically, terribly missed him. He wanted to see Yunho again but - Jaejoong buried his face deeper against his pillows as he sobbed while his umma rubbed soothing circles on his back.

“I thought the two of you would become best friends Joongie, just like your fathers.”

But Jaejoong didn’t want them to be friends. For all the time he was left alone, to contemplate about everything. It became clearer everyday that he wanted more. God, he wanted more. And to think they were but mere children.

“What did you do to me?!” Jaejoong heatedly asked, fists clenching as he glared at the boy opposite him.

Yunho looked like he hadn’t slept for days. “I should be the one asking you that.” His voice was hollow, thick and empty. Yunho’s bedroom was a depressing sight. Things were scattered everywhere. The bedspreads weren’t made, the curtains were still closed even if it was already the middle of the day.

Yunho directed him with a blank expression. And in that instant, Jaejoong just didn’t care anymore.

He stormed over, fully let himself into Yunho’s bedroom and approached his bed. When he was but a foot away from the other’s slumped form, Jaejoong’s balled fist connected with Yunho’s right cheek. Yunho propelled backwards from the impact but not before gripping Jaejoong’s wrist and dragging him along with him.

They fell on the soft sheets in a tangled heap.

For minutes, they just stared, taking in heavy breaths as they heatedly glared at each other.

But eventually, a smile crept it's way into Jaejoong's face. Yunho found himself smiling back. It was as if they finally came to a common understanding.

"Jaejoongie..." Yunho muttered lovingly as he caressed his cheek.

And before either of them could fully understand what was that thing that was blossoming between them, they had leaned in, meeting halfway and captured each other's lips for their very first kiss. It wasn't perfect by a long shot but Jaejoong was sure that he wasn't ever going to kiss anyone other than the boy beneath him.

“I’ve decided!” Yunho announced that one beautiful afternoon in the palace’s gardens where they currently played games. “...that when I grow up I’m going to marry Jaejoong.” The Shinso Prince who was sipping on his lemonade choked on his drink while three sets of laughter quickly erupted from their friends. Yunho scowled. “What?”

“Nothing... nothing hyung.” Yunho’s brother howled, clutching at his stomach from laughing too hard. Yunho just glared harder, but then his brother’s expression sobered as he softly asked. “You really like him don’t you?”

Yunho nodded his head vigorously. Jaejoong blushed brighter and when he heard the words ‘You two really make each other happy.’ from Yunho’s sibling, he thought that of course Yunho made him feel very happy and... loved.

In that moment, Jaejoong decided as well, that Yunho will be the only one for him.

“What happened?” Jaejoong dazedly asked, trying to find focus of his surroundings. The room was still spinning.

“Don’t move yet young master or you’ll hurt yourself more.” A nurse to his right softly spoke.

Jaejoong was confused as he struggled for full consciousness. What happened?

“This is totally unprecedented. You know this is no one’s fault. We didn’t know it would turn out like this! We didn’t know!” The voice of his mother was heard by the door. Jaejoong tried to move his head, but he felt too weak.

“As your king, I should have seen this. I should have seen this coming. Those poor children!”

“Please my dear husband, keep your voice down. The prince is still resting. He doesn’t need to hear about this." The queen said, hand holding the king's arm. "He’s used up a lot of magic. He’s going to need all the rest he could get.”

“My poor son. His friends. He’s grown attached to them. He finally learned how to smile and this had to happen.”

“How is Yongjun's children yobeo?”

There was a pregnant pause, as if the king was trying to find strenth to deliver the news. “The younger one hadn't been lucky he... passed away. But they said that the older one's going to be fine in a couple of days.” There was another distressed pause, then a heavy remorseful sigh. "The guards said that when they found them, our son wouldn’t let Yunho go. And there were about fifty corpses surrounding the forest. Do you think it's...?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore. My Joongie is just a child.”

Jaejoong would have wanted to hear more of the conversation, but his eyelids began to droop once more.

As far as he was taught to believe, Shinso never resort to violence. They might take blood from humans for nutrients but it wasn’t like these humans in particular were against it. In fact, they had close ties with the humans. So how did things turn out this way? It wasn’t fair. They were just playing in the forest. Having fun. They were just kids.

Beside him, Yunho clasped their fingers together. Jaejoong quickly willed the depression away as he glanced at the other's eyes. He looked worse for wear but Jaejoong shouldn’t be surprised, Yunho’s brother was one of the children that died after all. Yet there he was, trying to comfort Jaejoong. He was sure that he could have saved his friends, saved Yunho's brother. But it had been already too late. He felt useless. He had been useless.

“What will happen to them appa?” Yunho’s empty voice filled his ears while his father gazed down at them both.

“We’ll send them to the human realm. We can’t have their spirits linger in this place or they’ll get devoured by the wandering Shitos.” The father sounded just as broken and crushed but he was trying to keep his voice firm, an attempt to be a pillar of strength for Yunho. But Jaejoong could sense how vulnerable he really appeared.

Jaejoong knew that they were at war. Shito had drawn first blood.

That night, Jaejoong's father handed him the symbol of their family crest.

"I know what you can do my son. Your eyes have a special gift. If the time came that you'd be faced again with such a threat, use this. It's been in the family for generations but there had been no formal use for it up until now."

The dagger's cold bite on Jaejoong's skin had felt more comforting than unsettling.

"I guess its you that it has been waiting for all this time."

Years passed and the war was still going on.

Jaejoong was sick of being confined inside the palace walls. Why couldn’t he take part in the war anyway? He knew he was more than capable of killing off those Shito bastards. He had spent the following years taking part in his rudimentary princely and royalty (in Yunho's case) training yet what? They were still sheltered inside.

“You don’t know your own limits, you nearly killed yourself the last time Joongie.”

It was his mother’s voice assaulting his thoughts once again.

“And you have to think of your child. You’re in a very delicate condition right now, so don't even think about it!”

Jaejoong smiled and gently rubbed his swelling stomach. His mother was right. He was going to be a parent soon and it wasn't just his life he had in his hands anymore. His and Yunho's child was going to be added into the mix.

“Don’t think too much or you’ll hurt yourself.” Yunho muttered from behind, arms snaking around his waist as lips began nuzzling his neck. Jaejoong sighed, instantly feeling the tension leave his body as he sagged against him.

“Yunho, that’s harsh." He said, pouting. "Are you suggesting I don't have a brain?”

"Well, I know for a fact that I'm the smart one." Yunho playfully responded, earning him a painful elbow to the side. "Ow, I take that back, you're the smart one." he added while flinching.

Jaejoong's chuckle resounded against the bedroom walls. "Remind me why I agreed to marry you again?"

"Because of my devastatingly good looks?"

"Oh puh-lease." Jaejoong huffed out a breath and rolled his eyes. "Vain much?"

"So you're saying that my looks had nothing to do with it?" Jaejoong could practically hear his husband's pout.

Lips breaking into a grin, the Shinso Prince turned his body and wrapped his arms around Yunho's neck. "Well, it was part of that but you know..." Jaejoong raked his eyes appreciatively over Yunho's body. "...among other things."

Yunho raised a fine brow. "You're such a horny bastard you know that?" He leered.

Jaejoong smirked as he leaned close, an inch separating their lips. "I'm allowed to be horny, I'm pregnant."

"You're going where?" The queen's disbelieving voice infiltrated Jaejoong's ears as they sat at the dining table for breakfast that one bright morning. "Yunho, please talk some sense to your husband's head."

"I'm sorry umma, but it's what they want. Jaejoong and I need to go there for peace negotiations." Yunho's hands closed around hers. "If it all goes well, this might just end the war. Wouldn't you want that for your grandson?"

The queen's expression was saying that she wanted to vehemently argue. But the promise of ending this pointless war sounded too good to her ears. Yet, still! "What about your son, are you just going to leave him here?"

"He's got an army of guards and you won't let him out of your sight that much is obvious." Jaejoong pointed out.

"But you're..."

"Umma, I gave birth a year ago. I can handle peace negotiations without straining myself. So stop using that excuse as to why I can't do my obligations because it won't work!" Jaejoong retorted, voice taking in a dangerous tone.

"Yunho dear, please help me out here!" The queen was seriously getting distressed. First it was her husband that had been fighting these Shito tooth and nail to keep them off their kingdom and now her only son had agreed to enter the enemy's lair? She gazed at her son-in-law. If only Yunho would agree with her at least.

Yunho shook his head and directed her with a pleading look. "Umma, you have to understand, as Princes we have obligations to consider. And like I said, this might just be what we have been waiting for. Shito has never been open to negotiations up until now. Maybe they're just as tired as we are with this pointless war. If we let this chance slip..."

"There might just be no other chance after this." Jaejoong added, finality in his tone. The queen could only hang her head in defeat. But she knew deep within her heart, her mother's instinct, that something wasn't right.

A cheerful smile was on Jaejoong's lips as he watched his husband by the crib who was carefully holding their son in his arms. Yunho seemed to be having the time of his life as he made funny faces at their little bundle of joy.

The excited giggles and laughter emitting from his beloved child warmed Jaejoong’s heart so much. There were no words that could express the myriad of fulfilling emotions he was feeling right that instant. They were his life now. And he was going to do whatever it takes to keep them both safe.

Jaejoong left his spot by door and walked towards his family. “Enjoying yourself honey?”

Yunho turned around, the ever present bright smile on his face never wavering. “Jaejoongie.” he greeted and closed the gap between them for a brief kiss the second the beauty stepped in on his personal space.

Jaejoong wrapped his arms around Yunho’s neck then gazed down at his son. Taking the little fingers in his grasp, he leaned down and kissed the fingertips one by one. “Hey there.” the Shinso prince sweetly cooed before lifting his head up once more, locking eyes with his husband. “He’s looking more and more like you everyday."

“Well, he does have the shape of my eyes.” Yunho giddily responded, acting like every bit the proud appa that he was as he looked down at the angel. "And the shape of my mouth, my cheeks, the eyebrows and the...”

Jaejoong lightly hit his husband on the shoulder, pouting cutely. “God, you’re unbelievable.” He rolled his eyes while Yunho directed him with a cheeky grin. “But yeah you’re right." he smiled. "He does look an awful lot like you.”

“Well you know what they say about strong male genes.” Yunho smugly teased.

Jaejoong crinkled his nose, lips curving into a pout again. “I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”

Yunho grinned, amused. “Awww, Jaejoongie.”

“You do realize that if we ever decide to have a second child, you’re going to be the one carrying him.” Jaejoong pointed out, waving a finger in front of his face as if he were talking to a little kid. Yunho suddenly looked in pain. Jaejoong smirked. “Oh you bet your royal ass you are. You’re the one to undergo the ritual next time, love."

Yunho’s soft caresses against his back were slowly and steadily beginning to calm him down. Jaejoong sniffed and lifted his head from his husband’s shoulder. “I’m…I’m okay now.” he breathed, wiping the tears off his face.

“Are you sure?” Yunho asked, brushing a stray strand of hair on his forehead. Jaejoong gently nodded. Yunho sighed and rubbed his thumbs across his cheeks. “Jaejoongie, you know it can’t be helped.”

“I know that, I just…I hate doing it Yunho, it always reminds me, always reminds me…” Jaejoong trailed off as choked sobs began to flood his chest once more. God! How he hated being this way. He didn’t want to feed.

He hated it, despised it, abhorred it yet despite all the restraints he’d been practicing all these years there would always be instances that he’d end up giving in to his fucked up nature. And because he didn’t want to risk having these humans turn into Shitos, he had no choice but to kill them. But he never wanted to kill anyone.

“It’s inevitable Jaejoongie. This is what we are.” Yunho gently shushed by his ear. “Its part of who we are.”

“I fucking hate this.” Jaejoong brokenly murmured under his breath, clutching at Yunho as tight as he could.

“You do realize that this could be a trap.” Yunho chastised, leveling gazes with him.

Jaejoong gently placed their son back on the crib before fully facing the other, jaw clenching and lips set into a thin line. “I've thought about it.” he replied then turned his neck, fixing his gaze on his son again. “But what if it’s not?”

Yunho walked towards him, wrapping his arms around the smaller man’s waist. “You willing to risk that?”

“I don’t want our son to grow up and live in a world of war Yunho. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

The negotiation failed or maybe it wasn't much of a failure as to it being a damn trap on the first place.

The whole area was swarming with Shitos. Fuck!

“There’s no chance of escaping. This is the end for you.” A raucous voice was heard over the chaos that was currently enveloping the entire land. Jaejoong cocked his head back, eyes quickly zeroing in on the owner of the voice, silver eyes narrowing into slits, glowing brightly against the contrast of their dark surroundings. Jaejoong seethed. Everywhere he looked, he could see red but he didn't fucking give a damn anymore.

Gripping the arrows that caught him by the shoulder blades, Jaejoong gritted his teeth and slowly pushed the back end right through his skin until the tip reached the other side before he began pulling it out. A loud excruciating cry tore out of his throat. Goddammit, dead man's blood was starting to fuck up with his motor functions.

More arrows rained down the sky. Jaejoong blanched when another shot pierced through his arm. Quickly, he gripped the arrow and yanked it out. Those Shitos really knew what they were doing.

How the hell did they even know that dead man's blood was poison to their kind?

“Jaejoongie.” Yunho called out and rushed to his side. He was panting, blood dripping from his forehead to his cheeks as he gasped for breath. Jaejoong could feel his husband’s magic beginning to drain. “You alright?”

“I’m sorry.” Jaejoong bitterly apologized. It was clear now that everything had been wishful thinking. He had wanted the war to end so bad he didn’t want to entertain the possibilities of a trap. He had been blinded by hope.

Another set of Shitos went charging straight for them again. Yunho swung his sword and began fighting again, a part of him making sure that he shielded Jaejoong from the monsters' attacks. Jaejoong did his share of fighting. He ducked low and sliced at the first bastard’s throat that was growling and wildly aiming sharp objects at him.

The Shinso Prince’s eyes spun at an incredible speed. The red lines seemed more prominent now more than ever. Jaejoong swallowed thickly, the image of his son flashing right through his thoughts. They had to fucking escape somehow. They couldn’t afford to die in there. He wouldn’t allow it. He won’t fucking allow it. Yet, more and more Shintos seemed to be coming out of nowhere. Jaejoong could barely feel his fellow Shinsos magical reserves.

They were dangerously approaching their limits as well.

Jaejoong jumped a little to his right just in time to avoid a spear aimed right through his chest. Jaejoong gripped the sharp dual blades tighter in his graps as he whirled around and began hacking and slicing the nearest sorry sons of bitches he managed to get his hands on. Back and forth, up, right, left, down and center. Jaejoong swung his arm and slashed through everything in his path. The whole area was a battle field. Blood covered the earth.

But dammit, they were simply outnumbered.

Another battle cry was heard to his right, Jaejoong pivoted around and was about to strike when - he froze.

Sharp red eyes pierced right through Jaejoong.

“Your highness.” The girl Shito’s voice was dripped with hatred and disgust. “Remember me?”

This girl... had once been a human friend. “Swoonhee-noona.” Jaejoong managed to rasp out, eyes wide.

A malicious glint flashed before her crimson orbs. “Because of you my family died. I couldn't control myself. I ate them all!” She glared hard at him, baring sharp fangs. "You turned me this way! And you’re gonna fucking pay!”

Jaejoong remained paralyzed on the spot.

Another set of arrows rained down the sky but the Prince’s eyes were fixed on the face of the girl. He had taken blood from her in order to replenish himself. There were others too. He was sure of it. Just how many... did he have to feed on to get better? He couldn’t control it. It was instinct. He was weak and fragile and his umma kept telling him that he needed to get better because he wasted too much energy... wasted too much.

Breathe hitching as he fell to his knees, Jaejoong clutched a hand to his chest as he was reminded once again about the incident in the forest from years ago. It was his entire fault. He couldn’t save them. It had been too late.

And now, he had turned this girl into a monster and who knew how many more? It was his fault.

Tears began stinging his eyes. He was to blame for everything.

“Jaejoong!”

It was Yunho’s voice but Jaejoong couldn’t bring it in himself to move. The stabbing bite from his wounds along with the excruciating pain in his veins where he could feel the dead man’s blood flowing right through his system ceased him. Jaejoong could only watch and wait while arrows began falling towards him at an incredible speed. He was rendered immobile. He couldn’t move even if he wanted to. Shame and guilt had gripped him whole.

In a heartbeat, Yunho jumped in front of him and encased him in an embrace.

Jaejoong could only gape in shock when he felt massive amount of blood seep through his clothes. Rich thick liquid was coming out of Yunho’s mouth. He was sure that the arrows were all dripped with dead man’s blood. “Are... you okay?” Yunho gasped by his ear. Jaejoong’s eyes watered, feeling Yunho sag against him.

In his peripheral vision, he saw dozens of arrows clinging on Yunho's back.

And as tears spilled down his cheeks in torrents, his vision dimmed and something inside Jaejoong - snapped.

“Jaejoongie.... it’s alright.” Yunho weakly assured, squeezing Jaejoong’s hands, a strained smile on his lips.

The entire land was a mess. As far as the eye could see, dismembered Shito body parts were scattered everywhere. The ground was flooded with blood. There wasn’t a living thing left in sight except for the two Princes.

Jaejoong blinked back away tears, jerking his hand from Yunho’s hold as he continued to focus all his magic on treating his wounds. He could feel himself getting weaker by the second, but he’d be damned if let his husband die. “Shut up! Shut up! You have to get well, you hear me? Don’t you dare die on me Yunho!”

It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough. Goddamit, the bleeding won’t stop. Yunho wasn’t healing at all.

“It’s... too late for me... Joongie.”

“No it’s not. It's not! You have to live. You can’t leave me. You can’t leave your son. Dammit, Yunho, I’m not letting you die!” Jaejoong continued to plead and cry. A sharp pain suddenly shot through his head. Everything was starting to blur. His vision was swimming. But he ignored it. He didn't matter. What mattered was Yuho. Only Yunho.

“Stop it.” Yunho rasped out, swatting his hands away. “You can’t…you’re going to kill yourself if you... don't stop this.”

Jaejoong let out deep shuddering breaths as he held the back of Yunho’s neck and leaned down to capture his lips for a kiss, desperately pleading for him to not die! “No, we’re going to be fine. We’re both going to be fine.” He assured, lovingly rubbing a thumb on Yunho’s lower lip. “I promise. I promise alright? We’re both going to live.”

Yunho barely smiled at him one more time before his hands went limp and his eyes fluttered close.

Jaejoong gaped in unimaginable terror.

Quickly, he laid both palms on Yunho’s chest directly where his heart resided as he desperately tried to feel for a beat. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him when he felt the soft rhythm. But it was already nearing to a stop. In that instant, Jaejoong had made up his mind. His resolve increased a hundred fold. He wasn’t going to let him die. He just wasn’t going to! He was going to save him even if it meant-

Present Time

Yunho’s dead. Yunho’s dead. Yunho’s dead. Those were the only words invading Jaejoong’s thoughts. Nothing mattered anymore. He’s dead. What was the use? He hadn't been able to save him. He failed. He failed. He failed!

Another jarring cry tore out of Jaejoong's throat. Torrents of emotions flooded his chest, of hatred, sorrow, grief, pain, loneliness, sadness. Jaejoong slashed and sliced and stabbed at everyone and everything. More, more, more! He wanted...needed more. Kill! Kill! Kill! He was going to kill them all. He was going to fucking kill them all!

Heechul looked on, speechless. He had never in his life thought that the day would come when he'd be able to see the legendary "Demon Eyes of Direct Death" with his own two eyes. The teenager gulped. All the information the Church had managed to gather about the Shinso heir's true form and power couldn't par up with the real thing.

Jaejoong was a killing machine.

Heechul gasped, the air leaving his lungs when the pair of glowing silver orbs zeroed in on him. Jaejoong's eyes glinted with immeasurable hatred, his full attention now focused on the young teen. Shit! Heechul thought in panic. The Shinso heir must have thought he had something to do with the current state Yunho was in.

In a flash, Jaejoong disappeared in his line of vision, which was instantly followed by a menacing aura quickly materializing in front of him. Jaejoong hissed and growled, revealing fangs and teeth, hands ready to strike.

Heechul could only stand in frozen fear, eyes screwed shut as he waited for his impending death.

Flashes and scenes of a life they didn't remember having raced through their thoughts.

Yoochun, Junsu and Changmin fell on their knees, clutching at their throbbing heads. It felt like their brains were being cut into little tiny pieces. There were images or was it memories? of a childhood they didn't recall of ever sharing. What was this? They could see Yunho and Jaejoong with them. They were kids. They were playing. But where? The place looked awfully familiar but - how was this possible? What was happening?

Why were they seeing Yunho sharing their childhood with them?

Yoochun and Jaejoong shared their childhood with each other that much was true while Junsu and Changmin were neighbors growing up. But they only made friends with the other two when they reached middle school. And Yunho - Yunho had only been with them for a week and not under the best of circumstances.

So what was up with these memories? This was insane.

However, in a snap something seemed to click into place in Yoochun's thought.

His eyes snapped open just in time to see the Prince...wait, his best friend ready to strike at a human boy. And did he just dubbed Kim Heechul as a human boy? And what the hell had happened to his brother?! Wait. His brother? Yunho and him? Brothers? However, he didn't have any time to ponder on such thoughts when he felt his body move out of its own accord and charged straight towards Jaejoong like he didn't have any control over his actions.

"Your highness!"

Heechul's eyes snapped wide open in shock, gaze flooding with the view of Yoochun's back while the teenager gripped at Jaejoong's wrists, preventing him from doing any more damage. The scythe Jaejoong's held trembled in his hold. Then it suddenly hit him. Heechul realized how the other two teenagers were holding each of Jaejoong's shoulders while the Shinso heir continued to struggle against their hold.

Wait. What the hell was going on?

"Get a fucking grip Jaejoong!" Yoochun growled. Heechul fell on his behind as he began scooting backwards. He felt himself pale when he saw three sets of eyes glow golden. It was the same shade as Yunho's. "I don't know what the fuck is going on right now but we have to get Yunho some help. So fucking get a grip already."

The mention of Yunho's name freed him from his bloodlust state.

Jaejoong blinked, gazing into the Yoochun's glowing orbs. "Chun..."

Jaejoong stared at him wide-eyed, before his gaze darted back to Yunho's unconscious form. "He's...he's not dead?" he breathed in mixed relief and disbelief, silver orbs retreating back into their midnight black color.

Without warning, Jaejoong fell to his knees feeling like the life got drained out of him.

The scythe fell to the ground and morphed back to becoming a normal dagger. He clutched a hand to his face, grimacing and wincing and...oh god! Shakily examining his bloodied hands, Jaejoong only had a second before unconsciousness swallowed him whole. Junsu and Changmin's arms were instantly under him, breaking his fall.

When the three teenager's gazes met, confusion of epic proportions could be seen in their eyes.

"What's going on?" Changmin asked as he blinked a couple of times, feeling like he got run over by a speeding train. His cousin Junsu...wait, his cousin? He blinked again and looked at the other. Junsu merely blinked at him right back appearing to be just as confused. Huh. They weren't supposed to be related so where did that came from?

He looked back up at Yoochun's worried gaze. "Hyung?"

Yoochun didn't answer and quickly walked over to Heechul. Nothing was making any sense but he knew he had to do something for Yunho...his brother. What? Hold on. That wasn't right. "He needs blood, I have to give him some." That earned another confused look from the other three and himself. What the hell did he just say?

He looked at his hands, unsure. "I'm...human right?"

Heechul was instantly on his feet, pointing a finger at his face. "Your eyes earlier. They were just..."

"Help him!" Yoochun yelled as if some kind of force egging him to do so. But he just...he didn't know, what?

Heechul nodded, running with great haste towards his backpack and rummaged through his belongings. Upon finding the blood transfusion set, he ran back towards Yoochun's form who was by now sitting beside Yunho's unconscious body. Heechul held the apparatus in his hand and gestured for Yoochun's arm.

Yoochun deftly offered the needed limb as he continued to gaze at Yunho's face. This was all kinds of fucked up yet a part of him was yelling that it was what he needed to do. Didn't he hate Yunho? Didn't he...

Junsu crawled to his side. "Chunnie." Yoochun craned his neck and met the other's stare. This was another thing that's been fucking up with his emotions. For some strange reason, Yoochun felt like he had failed Junsu somehow.

Yoochun's gaze moved to Jaejoong who was lying atop Changmin's lap. "My head hurts." He groaned and held Junsu's body against him as he kissed the mop of his hair. "Something's off. It's like...it's like I'm not me, yet I am." he breathed in the other's scent then asked. "Sunnie?"

"I saw things in my head. I don't know Chun. I should be freaking out but I just feel...tired." Junsu murmured and buried his face deeper into Yoochun's neck.

"Yeah...me too." Yoochun agreed. Turning his gaze back to Heechul, he asked. "Is he going to be fine?"

"He's lost a lot of blood but this ought to help in killing the poison in his body. It's nearly as effective as direct feeding." Heechul distractedly replied, eyes set into a determined frown as he worked around the apparatus and Yunho's injuries. There were about a gazillion questions he was itching to ask right now but he held himself back.
Once Yunho woke up, he's got a lot of explaining to do.

Heechul inwardly gagged when the strong scent of blood assaulted his nostrils. The place reeked of it and dismembered body parts yet the three teenagers didn't seem to notice. He could only hope no one from the church would decide to barge in on the scene that night. Heechul had a lot of clean up work to do.

"After we're done here, we're going to my house and recuperate there. It's shielded and protected." he suggested at the three teenagers who merely shrugged at him in response. "He needs more blood." he supplied.

Junsu readily offered his arm. "Take mine."

Yoochun's head began lolling to the side. "I... feel weird."

Heechul could only hope that the drama he was dreading to happen could wait until sunrise.

Next

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A/N: It's soooo effing loooong! O__________O *collapses* DXX