Have you guys missed me? Gods, I can't believe it's been so, so long since I've written, or even thought about my FF.N account. I can't believe that I've had one for so long. So, to those that have waited about two years for me to update, I'm doing so. I hope you guys like what I'm offering this time. :)

So, let us try this again. I Am A Vampire- lame title that has stuck- third rendition. Now, this time, with PASSION!

In the beginning...

There is nothing more beautiful than looking up at the sky on a cool, autumn night. At least, in the mind of Ryou, slim young high school student, there is nothing more beautiful. Away from the stress of his father- we'll get to him shortly- and school, the boy felt, for a moment, at peace.

But, we'll get back to him in a moment or two. For now, lets look a bit deeper, pick apart things beneath the surface. I'm your narrator, and this will be a bumpy ride.

Underneath the city of Morpork*, lies a sprawling labyrinth, tunnels and large, dome shaped rooms, creating a white-stone palace city. Very few know about the existence of this labyrinth city, save for a very few that serve as gate keepers, and of course, those who reside within said city. Pity they're all dead.

Medically speaking, of course. They move about, live lives, have families, work boring desk jobs. Come night, though, these people hide away within the walls of their city-under-a-city, starving for the blood of those that live in the world above. For many, the thirst is quenched through the bagged blood from one of Morpork's many blood banks, others that need the rush of a hunt find satisfaction outside of the city walls, feeding off of animals that reside in the forests. Though, for many others, they find other, less, shall we say, humane ways to feed. Those shall come later, though.

The royal family of these people ruled with a firm, steady, but gentle hand, and held with them a great many secrets, and a select few of very trusted individuals guarded the family, and their deep and oftentimes dark secrets. Within the small ranks of these individuals, was a man by the name of Bakura. As a dearly trusted friend and guardian to his Royal family, he was assigned to watch over a young boy that held the future of both cities in his small hands.

Bakura was a very graceful man. Long ago he was a thief, one of the best. They called him a King in legends of his ancient empire of Egypt. But, alas, he had trouble keeping his footing, a mere five feet off of the ground, in a small tree.

The man swore as his foot slipped, sending him to the ground again- for the third time that night. Why couldn't his charge hang out elsewhere? Like, a house. Homes were easy to watch. Plenty of places to hide. Parks, on the other hand... No decent trees, and one cannot usually hide behind a swing-set.

The boy stood from his place on the ground, took a few steps and promptly slipped on the slick grass. Bakura laughed lowly as the teen was sent sprawling onto his back, not unlike himself. The boy stood again, carefully this time, and made his was out of the park, Bakura silently on his heels, the thief thoroughly enjoying the view. Mind you, Bakura was several thousand years older than the boy, but once one hit the hundred year or so, one stopped caring about that. Generally, at least. The child was, in fact, a stunning being. He was petite at five foot five inches, and slender, muscular. His skin was a pale shade of peach, though at times it looked nearly white, and he had hair to match- silvery white stands that looked silken. Mouse colored eyes finished his angelic look, a look that Bakura loved. Innocent and deliciously breakable. And oh, how the man loved to break things.

Though, he had to remind himself that he was to protect the child, not prey upon him. Bakura certainly felt like the predator he was, stalking though the city late at night following someone. It made some deep part of him nearly loose control, the sight of a beautiful meal, the scent of the blood pumping through his veins, faintly hearing the thump of a very human heart lying in within that chest, waiting to be devoured. Thank whatever gods there are that his shift would be over soon.

Ryou could swear to the gods that someone was following him. The hair on his neck stood on end, and shivers ran up and down his spine, like someone- or something- very, very dangerous was behind him. But, when the boy turned, not a soul was in sight. The streets near his suburban home were empty at nearly midnight, streetlights casting an eerie glow, lengthening the shadows considerably, making them grow into the monsters that lived in any late-night pedestrians nightmares. The teen continued, his pace quickening, only a few more blocks until his mind would stop playing tricks on him, only a few more--

A heavy hand clamped down on Ryou's shoulder, a small scream being torn from his throat in the process. The child whipped around, eyes wide, to stare at the blond boy that had frightened him so.

"Marik-kun! What are you doing here? You scared me!" Ryou exclaimed, his heart pumping wildly, setting a hand to his collar bone to steady the uneven rhythm. In his mind, he gave thanks the gods that it was only his friend. Hell if he knew if he could protect himself...

"I'm sorry, Ryou-chan! I am! I didn't know that it would've given you such a heart attack! I was supposed to come over to spend the night, but my date lasted longer than I thought it would," Marik replied, looking apologetic. "I saw you a few blocks back, but I thought that you would've heard me running up to you."

Ryou offered his friend a smile, then a hand. "Well, now that you're here, I won't be looking over my shoulder every two minutes worrying about something attacking me. Gods know that you're scarier than anything else that could be wandering the streets, right?" The lavender eyed male nodded in a agreement and took his best friend's hand, leading them to the large structure that Ryou called home. "Now, your date with.... Marikku-san, was it? How did that go?"

Marik's eyes lit up, and Ryou settled himself in for a nice, long conversation.

Bakura found himself, once again, up in a tree. He cursed his luck, this assignment, this beautiful boy, his Queen, his King, his friend, who was sitting on a branch below him chuckling, and most of all, this beautiful, human boy. He had a perfect vantage point from where he sat, to look into the child's window without being seen, and, if the situation called for it, to dive straight into the window, into that damned bedroom, to protect that boy at all costs. So, why, on Cain's green earth, did he feel like such a dirty old man, a peeking Tom?

"Shut your damn mouth, Marikku, before I shut it for you," Bakura hissed with venom on his tongue. The man he called his best friend looked up at him with a playful smile on his lips, and raised an eyebrow. "Just because I'm... attracted to the boy does NOT mean that I have to act on those base, animalistic urges." He spat out 'attracted' like the word was dirt in his mouth.

Marikku frowned, and caught his lip with his white, razor sharp teeth. "Bakari...** I'm sorry. You've your own reasons, but... you've never had this fire for another person. You could, maybe, socialize with him, and make your job a little, ya know, easier."

Bakura winced at the name. "Well, Ishaq***, I was told to be discrete. Not shove myself under his nose. Besides, once this is done and over with, and he is crowned, the boy wouldn't look twice at me."

Marikku shook his head thoughtfully. Dear Bakari, how wrong you are...

*A cookie to whomever knows where this name came from.

** Bakari means Noble Oath, and is a common Egyptian name.

***Ishaq means Laughs, and is a common Egyptian name.