Xiah wasn't that far out, he took note of all the different sounds, just in case. Even the foot steps of the man, that Kamui brought along was being kept to remember.

Xiah would stay silent now, he wanted to know what they were planning on doing to him now. As wary as he was of the psychopath that took him by force.

The wound on his back, he had not attempted to regenerate it. He wasn't even sure, if he could at the moment. The alcohol that was poured onto it, stung like hell. But it also kept his senses awake. Awake enough to send out signals.

The doctor led the way back to his house and took it upon himself to set up their sleeping quarters, leaving the guests alone in the drawing room. A merry fire burned, and Kamui had Xiah laid across his own lap, one hand idly stroking the man's hair. He was a lot calmer now, and knew Xiah was awake, but chose not to destroy that bubble for the time being.

He would need to contact that witch again, but it would have to wait, he could not think of a price right now that he would be happy to pay. Subaru stared at his twin, seeing his brow furrow in thought.

"Sorry for making you wait," the doctor said. He was carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. "My name is Kyle Rondart, though you can call me Dr Kyle if you want to."

"I'm Kamui," Kamui said, then indicated his brother. "That's Subaru. And the one in my lap is Xiah."

The doctor smiled. "Well, you're travelers right? This is Jade Country. I'm afraid it's rather cold here, but I have made sure there is warm bedding for you all."

Kamui nodded, but his eyes were cold. This doctor... was hard to read. His mind was like Subaru's, not quite closed off, but slippery, and superficial. He looked down at Xiah. He didn't like the lie, but the man needed rest.

"Please show Subaru and Xiah to the guest room, Dr Kyle. I have some business to attend to outside."

-"Xiah? There are people searching for your captors."
-"... Join them?"
-"But, it's funnier to torture them."
-"You. Are you trying to have revenge or are you playing around?"
-"... both."
-silence-
-"... Jade Country, is what the man said."
-"Kill him?"
-"Why? I'm not going to erase my trail."
-"Ugh. I mean, should I kill him when I see him?"
-"Do it."
-silence-

Xiah was wondering, what kind of people those two were, to be stupid enough to keep their pursuers alive. Then again, this came from a person, who made sure, everything was destroyed along the way.

He questioned Dr Kyle though, his voice was too. Different tuned from the words, then again, it was Xiah's job to observe and then strike to kill.

"... would that person even have emotions...?" He wondered to himself, then pondered the thought of copying his emotions as a test.

"Awake?" Subaru looked up from the book he was reading. The doctor had left them alone, so the vampire had put Xiah to bed. He could tell from a fluctuation in the general atmosphere that something was changed with his twin's pet, but he wished now he knew what Xiah was thinking.

"Kamui will be back soon." Subaru looked back to the volume he had open. "Though I'm guessing you do not wish to see him."


Kamui landed beside a shepherd's hut on silent feet. He knew the doctor would provide food if they were hungry, but Subaru had not fed yet. He winced a little as the wind chilled him, making one of his earlier injuries ache. He did not heal quite as quickly as Xiah overall, but his regenerative abilities seemed more long lasting.

He slipped down carefully from the roof as the lights in the hut were turned off. The sheep seemed nervous, but with a flash of his eyes, the animals fell silent. More from terror than anything else.

Kamui picked one of the lambs and slit its throat once he was far enough away for its cries not to be heard. Then he packed the wound with snow and leaves before heading back to Doctor Kyle's residence. The doctor had said he was making night rounds, so Kamui headed for the second floor window where Xiah and Subaru were.

'I might be.' Xiah answered, his voice hoarse still. 'You drank it?' He asked, opening his eyes and turning his head to look at Subaru more clearly.

'Tian said... never mind.' He coughed, a stream of blood coming from his mouth. Perhaps, he suffered more damage, than his body was allowing to regenerate all at once.

He wasn't going to ask about those pursuers, he had other things on his head. The moment he heard a noise outside, he closed his eyes again, pretending to be asleep again.

"Might be sleep talking?" Subaru teased. He closed the book though and turned to face the man, putting one hand in his palm. "I drank from Tian, yes."

Subaru got to his feet quickly as blood gushed from Xiah's mouth, and rushed to Xiah's side. He had put him in the best bed in the room. Kamui did not use beds often, and he could make do with the couch. "You're very hurt, I apologize for Kamui's behavior."

The latch worked itself loose and the window opened as Xiah flopped back into the bed. Kamui chuckled as he came in, then dumped the lamb on top of Xiah's still form. He smiled at Subaru. "I brought something for you to eat, it's not very tasty, but I think my E needs some rest. Can you hold on that long?"

Subaru glanced at the lamb and gently petted its staring eyes closed. "Yes, Kamui."

Kamui hopped down from the window and sat down on the bed beside Xiah. He leaned over and kissed the man on the nose.

Xiah kept silent, he had to focus on other things than his severe dislike of the man. One of the things, he wanted more information from Tian.

Wherever it was, she travelled to. He wanted to know about those people following them, as well as why Subaru was given the opportunity to drink from her. It made his stomach turn into a knot. Then again, how did he manage to drink, without getting infected with some type of a disease?

He had to ask her all of that, when she would open a connection again, which was rare with her.

He didn't even respond to the lamb on his body, nor the kiss on his nose. Though he was shivering in disgust mentally.

Kamui pulled the sheets from Xiah's body despite Subaru's objections. He glared at his twin, such a rare occasion that it made the younger looking vampire back away. Subaru took the lamb with him and rushed from the room, deciding to feed somewhere out of sight. He had never seen Kamui be this possessive with anything but himself.

It was a relief, but at the same time he was a little worried. Xiah was definitely not everything he had hoped for in a companion for Kamui. There was something very wrong about him, and he came with Tian. Kamui knew all of this though. So Subaru was driven to one conclusion, and that was a discomforting thought.

Kamui did not visibly respond to Xiah's disgust, though he could sense it. Subaru probably knew already, but that was fine too. He was attracted to Xiah because of the very fact that he rejected him, and was a danger to him. He didn't need anyone to love him, or understand him. Those who pretended to do so in the past were all liars.

"I will keep you with me," he purred, stroking Xiah's cheek. "It is most honest this way. I don't need lies about love and loyalty. I will guarantee it."

Xiah

That wasn't Tian's voice, opening his eyes slowly to look around. He swatted Kamui's hand away with a sneer and got up. He had to focus to analyze the voice pattern.

His clothes had fully regenerated back as his fingers drew a circle in the air. He ignored Kamui at the same time, there was no guarantee whatsoever. 'Open connection. Wave breakthrough.' He pressed his hand on the spot he had drawn the circle and a device entered his hand.

'Tian.' He spoke calmly.
Experiment Tian has received data. Administer simulation. With that he walked to the window, holding his hand up, palm facing forward.
'Simulation completed.' Was his response. It was a bit funny to see that the device in his palm looked like a mirror.
Simulation synchronized. Current position. 6 worlds in between the core. Manifestation of experiment Tian. 7 worlds in between the core negative.

'Tch. Opposite.' His expression blank as he threw the mirror away. It disappearing in the process. 'Seems I will be stuck with you, for a little while longer.' Finally his gaze rested on Kamui, he had taken control of handling the copied emotions and threw them into a lock.
'Your emotions are useless. Such as yourself.'

Kamui rubbed his hand slowly as he was batted away by the waking Xiah. His face remained expressionless as the communication occurred and he made no comment of Xiah's actions. He lay back in the bed and stared at the E.

He smirked at the last sentence thrown at him, but such words had long lost their effect on him. "Unwanted, useless, filthy, unholy, what else would you like to add?"

Kamui rose and approached Xiah, a motion that was at once elegant and strangely controlled, as if every action he took was directed first through a limiter in his mind. Perhaps it was just his strength, but there was an underlying tremor that hinted at a seething heart of anger.

"What is the point in argument between us? You, someone who contains no wishes of his own beyond immediate survival, and I who cannot feel the pain of others. What can you hope to achieve with words that you cannot say better with your fists?" It seemed the vampire was looking for a fight, but then again, he was too relaxed as well. His eyes were blue, indicating calm, even though there was still the suggestion of pent up madness within.

'Give me new words to add and I will happily add them to the list.' His response would've been sarcastic if anyone else said them. OR the lack of any kind of emotion was sarcastic on itself.

Though a light chuckle escaped him, though it vanished as calmly as it came 'You're mistaken. I do not hold wishes for anything. Neither for survival. If you will excuse me, I have other things to tend to. Play with those toys on that table there.' He moved past Kamui with swift movements.

"Ah, such a quick tongue you have," Kamui said, and as Xiah brushed past him, his hand shot out and closed around an arm with painful firmness, though this time he did not use his claws outright. He had not before decided to let Xiah live, but now that he has, he would be more careful with the E.

"You can't leave," Kamui said softly, his blue eyes still blank, matching Xiah's lie for lie. "It's snowing outside. And this world is very different from the last, you will be an eye-sore."

He turned and grabbed a coat the Doctor had lent them, throwing it over Xiah's head as he let go of his arm. "I'll accompany you."

'Then I'll just have to take out their eyeballs, don't I?' His eyes going from gazing at the firm hold. To stare at Kamui directly. 'You're very transparent.' No explanation given.

He threw the coat off and arched his eyebrow. 'I don't need something like that. My own is enough.' With that the texture of the coat changed, turning thicker than the sturdy one he had before.

'I don't mind. Do keep away from me with a vicinity of 10 feet. Unless you want to get in trouble.' With that he exited the room casually. His eyes looking around for the Dr Kyle person.

Kamui did not blink at the solution, it was what he would have done, except that Subaru always seemed to get upset when he did. "That's what Subaru says too. He says I'm like glass, but I don't understand."

To someone who did not feel what others felt, it was also not easy to lie properly, although he was quite good at concealing whatever he felt, since that did not rely on knowing how another might respond. And so, Kamui failed to recognize the fact he projected certain things quite clearly to people around him. Not that the people around him were generally around for any length of time.

Kamui shrugged. "If your clothing is that versatile. Though I prefer you in something different." The next comment he delivered straight into Xiah's head. 'And you'd probably tell me to fuck my preferences.'

The vampire of course had no intention of staying that far from Xiah, and he didn't care about trouble. Subaru would have to stay here today.

Dr Kyle walked out from a nearby room as they left their's. This made Kamui raise an eyebrow, since he was certain the good doctor was out not long ago and he had not heard the man come in. No. He didn't feel the doctor's mind at all till now.

"Good evening," Dr Kyle said, smiling at them both. "I see your friend is awake."

'Keep your preferences to your own or to your sibling.' Was Xiah's collective answer. Not looking back at Kamui as his eyes fell on dr Kyle.

'That voice.' Xiah muttered, walking straight at the Doctor and his hand raised at the same time. 'You will suffice as the target lock for now.' His hand disappeared into the man's body.

Xiah's head tilted as he was analyzing the man, though not as he did with Kamui. He was unsure what to make of it. 'You will have a high possibility of running away. Though your copied data is a good enough coordination marker. The castle it is then. Should I go destroy it using your own emotions?' Xiah asked, a smile such as that of the Doctor dripping onto his face.

Kamui chuckled to himself, and leaned against one wall to watch. He had no real concerns about the doctor's well-being, especially since he suspected the man was more than he said he was anyway. Subaru might give him an earful later though.

He frowned as Xiah's hand slid into Kyle's body. This was a skill Kamui had hoped the E would stop using. He did not like the flicker of emotions absorbed from others. He did not like how it corrupted Xiah's face.

Dr Kyle had by now grasped Xiah's arm, he was sweating heavily and trying to get the hand away. "I... don't know... what you're talking about! What sorcery is this..."

A knock came from the front door, it sounded loud and urgent. A gruff voice could be heard outside shouting his plea. "Doctor! Doctor, are you there? My child is feverish, please doctor Kyle!"

'It's not sorcery. I'm your emotion.' Xiah replied calmly, his hand venturing even deeper. 'I will let you go for now. I'd rather erase them in whole instead of only one child's father.' He stepped back and stared at his hand.

'Tian. Open connection you worthless piece of shit.' He growled as he walked away. Though he left through a window as to not run into the person behind the door.
He kept staring at his hand as if something was written on it, clenching and releasing it every now and then.

Xiah?
- I am sending you data of emotions I have just gathered. Upon reaching this world. He might've travelled already. Kill the people in the town. Erase all traces.
- I believe you have stumbled upon something not genuine?
-silence-
- Where are you right now?
- Trapped in a world with 2 types of dragons fighting.

The connection was gone. Xiah's pace towards the castle was very fast. Was he that intend to destroy it for the sake of the Doctor wanting something from that place? Or because he was just annoyed by Kamui?

Subaru buried the lamb in the snow-hardened turf and sat in the cold air until he was sure his face looked normal. He really wanted to talk to Kamui, but...

A few wisps of golden hair stroked his cheek, but the touch was ethereal. The vampire looked up, and his green eyes widened in surprise. "You are..."

- There is not much time. That man must be stopped. The castle, something is being protected, promised for another... -

Subaru scrambled to his feet and followed the mirage.

---

Kamui walked a few paces behind Xiah, the snow again distracting him. He hated the cold, but especially he hated snow. It brought back memories he had carefully put away over the years, and the cocktail of emotions that came with those old experiences left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Xiah, my brother is coming." He suddenly announced, as if this news was important. It might not have been, but he felt something else in Subaru's mind. He was talking to... something.

'I don't care whether he is coming or not. I have something else to do. Go play with your brother.' He waved dismissively without slowing his pace down.

At the same time heavy clouds gathered at one spot and lightning and thunder roared shortly after. Displaying Xiah's mood at the best, or ,ore so. He was aiming it at the castle that his gaze fell on.

'Which part does it want to find most?' He pondered gazing left to right.

Kamui's eyebrow twitched, but he made no other show of annoyance. "My brother is occupied, but what I was trying to tell you was..."

A shadow brushed past him, running at a speed that made the figure easy to recognize, even though it was just a dark blur. Subaru clutched onto Xiah's waist, his diminutive size making it a tad comedic. He was shouting something.

Kamui recognized it as their home language, and he frowned. Subaru was talking to spirits again.

"Subaru wants you to stop," he said, raising his hand over one eye as his gaze flashed gold. "Stop, Xiah."