Back to ze past

((Shade: "Oops... Hehe..." *backs away*))

Shade finished his bread and poked his head into Evelyn's room to check on her. Once he'd done so, he went to bed.

Elizabeth rolled over and blinked up at Shade. "Everything Ok?" She asked, her voice a little groggy.

"Yeah. She's fine." He said, rubbing her shoulder. "Go to sleep."

"I just... I still can't believe it." Elizabeth muttered. "Why Evie, out of all the people. Why a little girl?"

Shade hugged her close. "I don't know." He said lowly. "I'll find out though. We've got to find out. There's something really wrong here somewhere."

Elizabeth let her head fall onto his chest. "Rhun could be next. he's a smart kid but..."

"...But he's pretty trusting. Well, we're aware of it now, so we have to be extra careful. And you, you're not touching anything unless it's been checked first." He said, gently touching a hand to her mid-section.

Elizabeth sighed and lent up, kissing his jaw. "I thought we were safe here."

"I suppose everywhere has it's problems." He said softly, gently brushing back her hair and kissing her. "We'll all be fine."

Elizabeth kissed him back and pulled herself closer to him. "I know we will."

"Whatever it is that I've done to make you mad... I'm sorry." Taro whispered. The breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees around them, and the blonde drew his knees up to his chest, looking down.

Anywhere was better than the figure sitting beside him.

The silence lengthened, and he felt hot tears prick at his eyes, his hands tightening around his legs and he bit his lip to prevent the tears coming in sobs. He couldn't take this anymore. It just hurt. He was all Taro wanted, all he needed, and he was the one thing that he could never have. And this distance between them...

He had no idea what had happened, but he knew that even his prescence was enough to anger the demon. It was enough for him to be friends, just to have Mori there, was enough. But the way his beloved regarded him now, that he couldn't deal with.

He didn't want to live, not if it meant hurting Mori. What he had wasn't even life anyway, he was living by drinking the blood of others. Such a thing should be hunted, killed without mercy, not allowed to live, not when it caused suffering for others.

Elizabeth and Shade, he knew that Shade hated him. The kids... They would be better off without him. And Mori... He shouldn't have to waste his time and health just to keep someone like him alive, especially as he seemed to loathe him. It was meaningless, pointless, and he was sick of it.

He would just leave.

Everyone would be happier without him.

Nobody need even know.

He could vanish and die knowing that they were safer without him there.

It was all he deserved anyway.

Taro heard the man sitting down beside him move and looked up, face a picture of unmasked misery. He barely had time to react. Mori grabbed a handful of Taro's shirt and yanked him up. He cried out, but was cut off when Mori crushed his lips against Taro's.

One of Mori's arms wrapped firmly around his waist, holding him close, as the other held the back of Taro's head. Shock roiled through Taro, yet he didn't react. Mori did not love him. He knew that. There was no doubting the matter, and so he didn't want this.

If this was Mori's idea of an apology, it wasn't going to work.

When Mori either didn't notice or didn't care that Taro wasn't responding, he twisted away from the demon and tried to push him back. Mori moved suddenly and slammed Taro's near weightless form up against a tree. Taro made a sharp noise, eyes wide with a mixture of anger and fear, but was once again forced into silence as Mori leant forwards to kiss him again.

The kiss was angry, forceful, and Mori grabbed Taro's wrists, holding him in place, pushing him back against the tree.

It seemed so wrong.

He had imagined Mori's battle calloused hands caressing his face, imagined being embraced by those strong arms as if he were made of glass, but now his hands were forming bruises on Taro's wrists, he seemed angry, rough, and he hadn't once looked Taro in the eye.

Silent tears rolled down Taro's cheeks, and he relaxed, no longer struggling against Mori's grip as he leant into the kiss.

~

Mori didn't know why he was doing this. He just knew that he needed to. Taro was beautiful, delicate and seemed so very breakable under his hands. He could feel Taro trembling under his too tight grip, but he didn't care. He could taste coppery blood where Taro had bitten his lip, probably from when he grabbed him, could taste the salt of his tears, but he didn't care. He released one of Taro's wrists and slipped a hand under his shirt, pushing up the light fabric. He could feel each rib under the smooth, pale skin.

He didn't care.

He pulled Taro close again, and for a moment, niether of them did.

Elizabeth awoke the next day and smiled softly down at Shade. At least he seemed to sleep ok, but then again it had been a few days since he last slept.

She got up slowly, so not to disterb her husband and left the room. Seemed no-one else was awake.

The princess wrapped her gown tightly around her body as she went to check on the kids. Rhun was still sleeping and Evelyn... Evelyn was sitting up and playing with her doll?!

"Shade!" Elizabeth called over her shoulder before rushing into the room and scopping Evelyn into her arms.

"I'm Ok mummy." Evelyn said, a little confused by her mothers actions.

Shade ran into the room, face lined in alarm. "Elizabeth! What's... Evelyn?" He moved forwards. "Is she okay?"

---

"She's fine." Elizabeth smiled. "She's up and sitting."

Evelyn looked to Shade. "Daddy... Whats going on?"

---

"Nothing sweetie, nothing." He said with a smile, leaning against the wall. "Thank god. How do you feel?"

---

"Hungry. Can we have fruit? I havn't had fruit in a while. or meat! I want some meat, can I have some meat?" Evelyn asked.

Elizabeth smiled and kissed Evelyns head. "of course you can." She stood up. "I'll just get it for you."

Elizabeth kissed Shade on her way out of the room.

---

Shade grinned. "Great! Hey, could I have some too?" He asked with a laugh. It had actually worked. He couldn't believe it!

Taro stood just outside Elizabeth's house. He had tried to make himself presentable. His sleeves had been tugged down to cover the handprints on his wrists, his hair neatened and pulled over one shoulder. He had let it grow, Mori had said he liked it longer, quite a while ago now. But the cut on his lip was obvious, and rather unfixable, as was the redness of his eyes.

But it would do. Nobody should question it anyway, he'd just say he went to the tavern and got a little carried away. That'd work.

Sighing softly, Taro forced up his usual vague smile and walked inside. He had been expecting to find them still dosing, not awake. But he had least of all expected to see Evelyn up.

His smile widened in delight, and he quickly shut the door behind him. "Eve! You're feeling better?"

Shade looked over briefly. He had made another cup of the medicinal tea to give to Evelyn, just to make sure she wouldn't fall back into it.

"Taro-Daddy!" Evelyn exclaimed, ignoring the Tea that would be coming her way. She hated that stuff.

Her eyes widened. "What happened to your face!" She exclaimed again.

"Its beautiful..." Elizabeth whispered, holding a sparkling blue necklace infront of her face. The man who said necklace belong too, not to mention the number of wares infront of her, looked up. His eyes and face could not be seen behind his cloak, a hood being the one to blame for his hidden identity.
But his mouth could be seen.

"One of a kind." The man said. "Said to hold a hidden power. The power of hidden thought."

Elizabeth rose an eyebrow but twisted the necklace in her hand. She wanted it... But no, she had to buy meat. "Thank you anyway."

The man gave her a quirk of his lips. "I'll keep it safe for you."

Elizabeth walked off, slightly confused as she bought the meat and returned home.

"Taro-Daddy was silly and fell over." He said cheerfully. He moved over to pick Evelyn up and hugged her. "I'm so glad you're feeling better!"

Evelyn giggled and hugged him back. "Don't fall over anymore taro-daddy. Because my friend Miku fell over and broke her leg and she couldn't walk for a week and she said it was painful and I don't want you to break your leg becausethen you wouldn't play with me anymore."

Elizabeth smiled as she walked inside, a bunch of meat in her arms. "Good to see her talking and.. taro! What happened?!"

"Nothing, tripped." He said, waving it off and holding Evelyn with the other arm. "And breaking a leg wouldn't stop me!" He chuckled. "And that was almost a speech little missy!" He added to the girl he was holding. "Good to hear it." He set her down and kissed the top of her head. He really loved these kids.

Shade seized the opportunity to force the mug of tea into Evelyn's hands with a firm command to drink it.

Evelyn pouted and looked up at him with big eyes. "But Daddyyy..."

Elizabeth didn't push it but she didn't trust his 'I tripped' exscuse. She went to the kitchen.

~~~

"You're not going anywhere until you've drank that." Shade warned.

"It's nothing. Just leave it." Taro said quietly, turning away.

---

Evelyn continued to sniffle. She rubbed her eyes.

"Leave it?!" Elizabeth snapped and even though she was so angry, she gently took his wrists and pulled them towards her again. "Taro, look at these. how can I leave this when you come home with these?"

---

"Because I'm fine. Really, it'll go away soon anyway." He said and moved back.

---

"Uh-uh, don't even think about it."

---

"I hate Daddy." Evelyn sniffled again, smelling the Drink.

---

"Taro please." Elizabeth said, she stepped closer to him and took his face between her hands. "Can't you see he's taking advantage of you? Don't let him do this to you."

---

"Daddy loves you too." Shade said with a small smile. 'Drink it."

---

"He hasn't done anything." He protested. "It's not important!"

---

"You stupid boy!" Elizabeth snapped, stepping backwards and running a hand through her hair. "This is Important! He's hurting you Taro! Hurting you! I am not going to stand here and let him continue treating you like this because you think its 'not important!' He's treatment of you was bad before but now... I am not going to stand for this! Even if you don't do anything I will!" She stormed out of the kitchen.

---

"I will if you will." Evelyn handed the drink out to him.

---

Shade rose an eyebrow, took a sip and handed it back. "Last chance or you're going to bed early."

---

"Don't!" Taro said, quickly following her. "Come on! You're overreacting!"

---

"Overreacting?!" Elizabeth snapped, rounding on him. "This has been a long time coming and now his treatment of you has gone to far. I will not shed any tears over this, I hold no love for that man if this is how he treats those who love him. This is one thing I will not listen you on Taro. Either you tell him he's not welcome here, or I will."
She left the house.

---

Evelyn put the cup to her lips, glaring at her father.

----

Shade watced, meeting her gaze steadily.

---

Mori set down his glass and heaved a sigh, running a hand through his hair. The convenience of a tavern.

---

Elizabeth opened the door to the tavern and sat herself down next to Mori. "Your not welcome at our house anymore." She said, not looking at him. "I'll leave your stuff outside for you to pick up."

---

Evelyn emptied the cup and showed him that it was in fact empty.

---

Shade frownedand reached for the cup. "Okay... You win this round." He siaid and walked off to the kitchen.

---

The demon snorted. "Oh, you can't just kick me out! What the hell did I do?" He asked, ronding on her.

--

"Your old enough not to hold onto us anymore." Elizabeth said, looking at him. "Unless you need a woman to hold you hand. But reguarding the scars on taros wrists I'd say a woman is not needed."

---

Evelyn turned to the nearest plant and spat out the liquid.

---

"You're not serious." Mori growled. "That's not your buisness! What right do you have to pry into things like that!" He snapped and stod up. "That's got nothing to do with you, and I'm sure he's perfectly fine!"

---

Elizabeth stood up as well. "You made it my busniess when you decided to bruise the only person I can rely on. You see Mori unlike some people, I care about Taro. I will not have a man living in my house if this is how he treats those who love him. What would you do to the kids? Your drinking has gotten out of hand and now You've lain a hand on the most loving man I know. You wont be happy till you break him will you?! Till you destory him inside out and leave nothing! JUST BECAUSE YOUR NOTHING MORE THEN A LIVING SHELL DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN DO IT TO OTHERS!"

---

Mori was trying extremely hard to keep a reign on his anger, but he'd gone through a few drinks already, and he couldn't think of anything to say, so there were more cons than pros. He shoved back his chair and set his chair, hands forming fists. "He has a choice in this you know." He snarled. "He can leave if he wants."

---

"He's loved you for a long time Mori, and you know that. You are abusing his feelings for you because for some unknown reason you cannot hold onto any of those you love. Now your going to destory those who love you, tell me Mori. Was it fun being heart broken? Staying with those you knew would hurt you? Did you enjoy what happened? I saw what happened. I saw what it did to you and you know What Mori, I will not stand around and let you do it to Taro. So you are not allowed in my house and this is final."

"So you've kicked me out. Like that changes anything." He said angrily. "You are the most painfully controlling person I've ever met.Has it ever struck you that he's just as capable to take care of himself? Why the hell do yo insist on mothering him, hm? It's pathetic really, if he hasn't got a problem with anything, then I don't, and you shouldn't even have a say in this!"

---

"Worried he'll actually listen to me? My dear Mori, I've never seen you scared." Elizabeth said. "Worried that you'll lose another fuck buddy? Ok, I'm just saying your not welcome in the house anymore."

---

Mori slowly shook his head, baring his teeth in anger and raising a fist as if he were going to hit her.

---

Elizabeth didn't recoil, in fact she simply laughed. "You're going to actually hit me? Really? go on, Do it. hit me. Prove me right about you and hit me."

---

In an instant, Mori swung his fist forwards and punched her as hard as he could. The other few occupants of the tavern leapt to their feet, glasses shattering to the floor.

Elizabeth fell to the floor, knocking over the table she grabbed to keep herself steady. She already started to bleed. She held onto her nose and cried out.

When a few people helped her to her feet she pushed them away from her and moved forward, pushing Mori as hard as she could then. "If you ever come near Taro, me or any of my family again I'll kill you with my own hands."

---

"Just you try." Mori snarled and turned from the tavern, storming out and slamming the door behind him. Shit. Now he was beating up women. And he couldn't get a drink. What a shitty day.

---

A few of those who saw what happened Helped Elizabeth to her feet and helped her home. She thanked them when she reached her door.

But the people didn't go away, insted they opened the door and took her inside.

---

Shade looked around when the door opened, a greeting already on his lips. When he saw Elizabeth, and the people, and the blood, he moved forwards quickly and pulled her into his arms. "Elizabeth! What happened? Who did this?!" Looking urgently from his wife to the people that had escorted her home.

---

"There was a bit of a disterbence in the tavern." One of the men said. "One of the regulers, Mori and Elizabeth got into a bit of a fight."

Elizabeth was holding her nose. It felt broken.

---

"Jesus." He murmured. "Okay, thannk you for bringing her back." He said and, not glancing back at them and leading Elizabeth over to a chair and sitting her down. "What did he do?" He asked, gently pulling her hand away from her face. He was furious. once he'd figured out if she was okay, mori would be missing a few vital limbs.

---

"Wheres Taro?" Elizabeth asked, leaning her head back.

---

"He's in his room." He said and then called him. The blonde opened his door and peered arond the door frame, cnfused as to why Shade would want him out. As soon as he spotted Elizabeth his eyes widened and he dashed over. "What happ e- It wasn't Mori was it?" He asked, disbelief fliashing over his face.

---

"Listen to me fool." Elizabeth said. "I no longer care what you do with that man but if you bring him anywhere near my family, it wont be just his head I remove."

---

Taro drew back abruptly, hurt flashing in his eyes. "I didn't mean for this to happen." He said softly. "

"But it still happened Taro." Elizabeth whispered. "I know I should not have been sticking my nose in a place were it should not have been. But if this man can do this to a woman, what will he do to others?"

---

"He's not normally like that." Taro said just as quietly,

---

Elizabeth groaned and held her nose. "I can not finish this conversation now. My nose is in too much pain."

---

The blonde man turned suddenly and walked away, closing his door quietly behind him.

Shade had chosen to ignore the conversation. Topics he didn't like. Better to ignore. Much better to ignore. He didn't want or need to know. He set about figuring out what the brute had done to Elizabeth's face.

Now that guy he wasn't going to ignore. Death was imminent.

---

"Shade, shade, Shade!" Elizabeth yelled, trying to get the man to pay attention and leave his train of thought. "I'll be fine. The bleeding will stop in a moment."

---

He snorted furiously. "Good. Once you're okay I'm gonna go kick his ass." He didn't think over the facts that Mori was more masculine than he was, much more experienced in fighting than he was, and to top it off, Mori was drunk and mad.

It was a stpid idea, but Shade was on the edge of blinding fury. If Elizabeth hadn't been sitting in front of him, he'd already be hunting down the bastard. He grit his teeth.

---

Elizabeth touched his rough cheek gently. "I don't want you to go after him Shade, do you understand?"

---

"And I didn't really want you to go after him either." He replied dryly, turning away for a moment. "Here, it's all I've got." He said and offered her a few herbs. "Just eat them, should help numb it a bit." He said. "I need to try and get more herbs."

---

Elizabeth ate them without question or hesitation. "I was stupid. Felt like I was a Mother Hen who needed to protect her chicks from preditors I guess..."

---