Not long after that, Kael confronted Rafariel rather abruptly with a question: would he leave Kael for Hanael, if Hanael asked him? When Rafariel could not deny that he still had feelings for Hanael, Kael seemed to take it as a doomed eventuality. This brought Rafariel to his feet -- and to tears -- as he tried to explain why Hanael was so important to him, while still reassuring Kael. In the end, they made up, and Kael apologised; but although the question may have been hypothetical to Rafariel, it seemed that Kael had not forgotten Hanael's threat, and it was preying on his mind.
A few weeks later, Mikael finally became aware of the relationship between Kael and Rafariel. When he ranted about the foolishness of the whole thing to Zafkiel, Zafkiel countered that he thought perhaps it might work out. Mikael was disbelieving, and possibly prone to more ranting, but Zafkiel quieted him with the idea that it was a win/win situation for them; either the relationship would work, and Kael might become nicer as a result, or the relationship would fail, and Hanael (and possibly others) would cause Kael pain. Mikael seemed quite comfortable with this.

In early February, there came a night when Kael did not come home, and Rafariel found himself waiting alone in bed again... waiting, and doubting. Things had seemed to be going well for the last month, and yet, although he wanted to, he could not fully trust Kael.
But then at midnight, just when he'd finally drifted off to sleep, Kael burst into the room at last, swearing that he hadn't done anything. He admitted that he'd gone out thinking about it; but he swore that all he could see was Rafariel's face, and that he couldn't do it. Rafariel chose to believe him, because, as he said, Kael stank of nothing but sweat and fear this time. And Kael came to suddenly wonder how Rafariel had changed him so much.
It was only a day or two later that Kael approached Hanael.. this time, seeking advice. Or perhaps merely someone to talk to. Like with Raziel earlier, he showed a side of himself more steeped in self-doubt and unsurety, but it was obvious that he felt strongly for Rafariel, even though at the same time he was resisting it. Or perhaps simply wanting to resist the other unpleasant feelings it aroused in him, such as jealousy, and fear of failing, or of losing Rafariel. Hanael did his best to calmly advise Kael, and in the end, Kael's smirk and self-confidence surfaced again.. but it seemed he still had a lot to think about.

Less than a week later, Kael abruptly talked Rafariel into going out dancing with him; going out to one of the places that he normally used to go to pick up. Rafariel was hesitant most of all about the fact that he didn't know how to dance, but with Kael's reassurance, he agreed to go. And although he was nervous and confused at first, Kael managed to make him feel relaxed to be there. And more than that; he made him feel wanted, as if Kael was letting him into a part of his life that he'd kept separate until now. So even though he didn't know how to dance, he danced with Kael. And although Kael's extreme jealousy threatened to ruin their night -- for he was convinced that other men were staring at Rafariel, and he was not happy about it -- Rafariel reasoned with him, and the night ended on a high note for both of them.
When Valentine's Day rolled around, although it's not known what the others did, Raziel surprised Gavrael with a present of himself, naked save for a bunch of flowers, awaiting in bed. Gavrael seemed somewhat bemused by this, but when Raziel started to apologise, Gavrael was quick to reassure him that he was just admiring Raziel's cuteness. This threatened to turn things sour -- for Raziel hates being cute -- but Gavrael quickly pounced, proclaiming that whatever else, he liked Raziel being cute. And so in the end, it became a Valentine's Day thoroughly enjoyed.

On a sunny summer afternoon in late February, the Briah house had a very unexpected arrival. Raziel found a young boy in the music room, nearly unconcious and covered with bloody torn wounds. Being the kind-hearted type that he is, Raziel tried to carry him up to bed... and things took a turn for the worse. Raziel remembers nothing after that, but sometime later, he was found by Gavrael, still in the music room, and with the young boy sitting comfortably on his lap. Khamuel, as he was apparently called, had decided he was staying for awhile, and that Raziel was his babysitter. And when Gavrael tried to protest and intervene, Khamuel had only to wave his arm and Gavrael found himself lifted off his feet and flung across the room.
Gavrael sought Hanael's assistance... he didn't know what Hanael could do, but he knew that Hanael always solved problems. And when Hanael laid eyes on Khamuel, he seemed to know at once that he was no ordinary child; that what surrounded him was darkness, and hunger. And he seemed unsurprised by this. When Khamuel stated that he had taken Raziel because he needed a protector, Hanael offered himself instead. Khamuel was startled, but intrigued, for there were already things about Hanael that did not add up. So he agreed, and Raziel was let free to Gavrael's waiting arms, who immediately whisked him away.
Khamuel found that Hanael was resistant to the powers of mental domination that had worked so well on Raziel... but this only seemed to intrigue him further. And just as Hanael had stated, his blood tasted different to that of a normal human's. Khamuel decided that he would stay awhile, and agreed to Hanael's condition that he would only drink from Hanael, and not the others. But his wicked smirk left more than a little worry in Hanael's mind.

Khamuel seemed to recover from his wounds very quickly, although he would not state what caused them, or what he felt he needed protection from. He appeared to have no intention of leaving, however, but instead moved into Hanael's room. Raziel approached Hanael a day or two later, for he was worried. Although he remembered nothing of what had happened, Gavrael had filled him in, and he hated the idea of Hanael sacrificing himself for the rest of them. But Hanael reassured him that Khamuel could not manipulate him the way he could manipulate the rest of them -- and furthermore, that he didn't mind Khamuel. Raziel doubted the whole lot of it... but Hanael seemed so sure of himself that he decided to leave it alone for the time being.
As the weeks went by, Khamuel and Hanael spent plenty of spare time together. Hanael seemed quite relaxed around the child vampire, treating him as an adult without being afraid of what he was, and showing him the same kindly, gentlemanly nature that he showed to everyone else; and in return, Khamuel seemed to relax around him as well. Although his attitude was most of the time sour, standoffish and snarky, he had moments where he was more friendly, and sometimes even playful. And although he seemed to make most of the rest of the household members a bit uncomfortable, Hanael seemed very happy to have him stay.

One afternoon in mid-March, Hanael found Rafariel sound asleep over his schoolbooks. A little surprised, he wakened him gently, and as they talked, he suddenly spotted very familiar tiny bitemarks on Rafariel's neck. When pressed, Rafariel remembered that he had had bad dreams the night before, but nothing more.
Hanael went in search of Khamuel, and here once again his rare temper showed itself. He reminded Khamuel that he was "no ordinary human"; that not only did he taste different, but that Khamuel's powers did not work on him. And that he was capable of more than whatever Khamuel was capable of. That he was capable of hurting the vampire if he chose. Khamuel seemed as intrigued by this as anything, and his only question was whether he was still allowed to drink from Hanael. Hanael admitted then, that he felt he understood the way Khamuel was, and was willing to make concessions for him... provided he didn't go against Hanael's wishes.

In late March, Hanael and Khamuel were out walking in the nearby park. They bickered over whether Hanael should carry Khamuel, and whether that meant Khamuel was being treated like a child... and in a temper Khamuel spat out his anger at being stuck in the same unchanged body for centuries, a thing he felt sure Hanael could not understand.
It was then that Hanael finally chose to admit that he understood that feeling much better than Khamuel thought. And Khamuel realised that underneath the human scent of Hanael's blood there was a little something... non-human as well. He demanded explanation, but Hanael, having never met anyone else like himself, could only tell him what he knew; that he never aged, but ate human food (unlike Khamuel, who needed blood), and that there was another realm that he could go to, that he called 'the shadows'.
Khamuel recognised him then, as something vampires referred to as Walkers. But as far as he knew, Walkers were very rare. And when he asked if Hanael had always been this way, Hanael admitted that he had been human once.. but that he had died. Khamuel began to realise that they weren't so different after all. He asked, then, if Hanael was bothered by what he was, or by his size. Hanael said that he minded neither, and when Khamuel offered his hand so that they could walk together, Hanael took it in his own without hesitation.

One pleasant afternoon in early April, Khamuel was playing with Axolotyl in the yard, when two very unwelcome figures from his past appeared out of nowhere; a man and a woman who said they had been looking for him, and who seemed very intent on not letting him get away from them again. Khamuel didn't hesitate - he ran in search of Hanael.
He found him in the music room, and without stopping to catch his breath, begged him for help. Before he could explain the situation, however, his pursuers appeared. Hanael seemed to grasp the situation almost at once, and drew Khamuel close to him, protectively, before asking what their intent was. The pair assured him that they only wanted Khamuel, and that they wouldn't harm him if he didn't interfere - but Hanael was not interested in bargaining. And when the man and woman approached them, threatening, Hanael was quick to make his move. He grasped tight of Khamuel, and the pair of them vanished completely before the eyes of their bewildered assailants.
Hanael had taken Khamuel into the Shadows, the alternate plane that he called home. It was an oddly gloomy, barren place, devoid of any life but grass and trees. And Khamuel quickly found that it did not like him; he had barely been there minutes before sickness overwhelmed him. Hanael quickly led him through the Shadows, in order to "get away" from their pursuers, and a short while later, he wrapped his arms around the vampire, and they vanished yet again.
When they reappeared in the real world, they were some distance from the house, somewhere safe, outdoors. Yet Khamuel was despodent; so long as the other vampires knew where he was, he could not go home. Hanael asked him to wait where he was and let Hanael deal with the situation. Khamuel showed his first real concern for Hanael's well-being, perhaps the first concern he'd ever shown for another; but Hanael reassured him that he could take care of the situation. And then he vanished into the Shadows again, leaving Khamuel alone.

Hanael reappeared in the music room where he'd left the vampires, only to find that they'd taken a hostage -- namely, Zafkiel -- in his absence. The vampires wanted to bargain for Khamuel, but Hanael was not interested. Instead, without warning, he grabbed ahold of both of them and dragged them into the Shadows with him.
The vampires were furious, until they, like Khamuel, discovered the effect that the Shadows had on them; the sickness that was very quickly almost overwhelming. Then it seemed fear started to kick in. But Hanael was uninterested in their pleas -- unlike the hot, fiesty temper he showed when those he loved upset him, the temper he showed here was cold, calculating, and completely unforgiving. Knowing that they had intended to kill Khamuel, he left them in the Shadows, confident that the environment would end their lives, instead.
When he returned to where Khamuel awaited, the vampire was startled to hear that his pursuers would never bother him again. The relief he felt was secondary to his curiosity at what Hanael had done, but Hanael's answer was simple: "only what they deserved". And Khamuel realised that he had underestimated Hanael and what he was capable of.
As they walked home, Khamuel finally asked Hanael why he had saved him. When Hanael seemed surprised that he would ask, Khamuel admitted that he didn't think Hanael liked him all that much. His unsurety was perhaps a sign of the care and trust that he had come to place in Hanael... and Hanael was ready to return it. He assured the vampire that he saw only the best of him; that his good side was more important than his flaws. When Khamuel still seemed unsure, Hanael dropped to his knees, bringing them to a height. He swore that he would never treat Khamuel like a child, and never grow old and leave him. And he asked Khamuel to never leave him alone in return. And Khamuel returned the promise, touching his face gently, and then wrapping Hanael in a tight embrace.

After that, it seemed a given that Khamuel was staying permanently. Hanael and Khamuel became more comfortable with each other, and the little vampire, for all his snarky, sour attitude, seemed more content, less snappy, and less determinedly independent. The two spent much of their spare time together, and Hanael did his best to convince the other household members to take Khamuel at face value, while at the same time trying to let on as little as possible about either his own nature or Khamuel's. But for the first time he had found a fellow immortal, that he could share more than just a short time of his life with, and he was not about to give that up for any reason.
He found, too, that he was finally able to share things about himself truthfully. When Khamuel asked where he was born, where he had grown up, and even how and when he had died, he could give honest answers. Yet when it came to the question of his death, and the last few years of his life, Hanael was still unwilling to share; it seemed there were things in his past that he still could not let go of. But he wondered if that might change at last, now that he was no longer alone. And Khamuel, too, seemed glad to no longer be alone; to have finally found someone willing to take him as he was.

One evening in early June, as they were getting ready for bed, Khamuel abruptly kissed Hanael. Although they had shared the same bed for months, and although Hanael was always willing to hug, to hold hands, and to be close, that final step of intimacy had always been missing. Khamuel, with his upfront nature, had finally decided to just tackle it head on. But when Hanael seemed startled, and unsure, he wondered aloud if Hanael was asexual, or repressed.. or whether it was just his childlike body that was the problem.
Hanael was quick to reassure him that his size was completely irrelevant. He admitted, then, that he had spent much of his life denying himself things; perhaps as a sort of punishment for things he had done wrong in the past, a way of atoning. But then he tangled his fingers in Khamuel's hair, and told him that being with him was finally making him realise that life was for the living. And that he wanted to relearn how to enjoy himself. Khamuel wasn't entirely sure he understood... but he was certain that he could help with the enjoyment part. And as their lips met again, as their bodies pressed closer together, it was perhaps the first time either of them had dropped so many barriers, bared so much of their selves, in all of their long, immortal lives.

In mid-July, on a night when the two of them were drinking on the back porch, Gavrael tried asking Kael in a roundabout way if he was cheating on Rafariel or not. Gavrael as always was without subtlety, and Kael quickly figured out that he had a bet on with Raziel about the answer. However, whether because he was drunk or just wanting to talk, Kael agreed to play along - on the condition that he would get to hear about the outcome of the bet. (For Gavrael had been forced to admit that they were betting on a blow job.) When Gavrael finally agreed, Kael finally gave him the answer... that he was, indeed, cheating on Rafariel, although he was being as careful as possible about it. The confusion and sadness in his expression - as if he were not even sure why he was doing what he was doing - rid Gavrael of any elation he had felt over winning the bet, for in the last year Kael had come to be a friend to him as well as to Raziel. And although comforting was not his strong point, he managed to reassure Kael, by deciding not to tell Raziel the truth; for he knew as well as Kael did that Raziel believed the best of people and hated to be proven otherwise. Kael seemed very grateful for this favour, and Gavrael felt like he had done some good, at least.

A few days later, a stranger turned up at the house unexpectedly, apparently in search of Hanael. And when Zafkiel brought Hanael out to meet him, the sight of his face alone was enough to shock Hanael to his knees. The stranger seemed unconcerned, and cheerfully introduced himself as Kashael, Hanael's older brother. Hanael was driven to silence, and the tension seemed almost overwhelming, but Kashael paid it no mind, and even bid Zafkiel to sit down and talk with them awhile.
When Zafkiel went to get drinks, Hanael finally seemed willing to speak. He was almost unable to believe that it really was Kashael, and when Kashael reassured him, Hanael blurted out that he had seen him die. But Kashael was quick to remind him that he wasn't the only one in the room who had died. Hanael was only more confused by this; he thought he'd been the only one to survive death, that it had been some sort of accident. And then, more than anything he wanted to know only this: why had Kashael not come back for him, all those long years?
Kashael seemed unable to answer, and then they were interrupted by Zafkiel, returning with drinks, and the conversation turned to more normal things. Kashael bade Zafkiel talk about his brother and how they had met, and Hanael returned to obstinate reticence. Only a short while later, Kashael noticed the time and said he needed to leave. Hanael, up until now unwilling to talk, suddenly felt betrayed that he was leaving again; but Kashael promised that he would return.
After Kashael had left, Zafkiel asked Hanael what was wrong, and if he needed to talk. When Hanael tried to apologise for his strangeness, Zafkiel said that he was only worried about him. For the first time ever, Hanael seemed at a loss for words, and wishing to talk, or to seek advice; for the first time, he seemed not the older, wiser one in control of everything. But in the end, all he could bring himself to say was "thank you".

Only a few days later, Kashael returned, and this time, he and Hanael had a chance to talk alone. Hanael seemed suspicious and doubtful, wondering if he could trust Kashael to be around again. Kashael said that he had never wanted to leave in the first place, and Hanael asked him why he hadn't returned then. Kashael's reply was scathing; that as a known dead person it was not exactly easy to get close to a ten-year-old boy always surrounded by others. The scathing tone was particularly strong as he included "his cousin" in that... and Hanael's temper was quickly set off. He told Kashael never to speak about Lyrael in that way. Kashael quickly countered that Lyrael had been nothing more than a replacement for him, and when Hanael became further angered, Kashael turned mournful, stating that Hanael had replaced him with Lyrael, and so he'd had no choice but to leave. But then spite seemed to return, as he accused Hanael of spending the rest of his life grieving over Lyrael, not Kashael.
Hanael did not seem to want to have this discussion any further, and he demanded that Kashael leave; that he had no right to vanish for a century and then return to belittle the choices Hanael had made in his absence. It was then that Kashael's solicitious side came forth. He spoke loving words, that Hanael was his everything, that he needed him, that he had come back just for him, and the closer he got to Hanael, the more his arms wrapped around Hanael's waist, the more confused and unable to resist Hanael became. One the one hand, he found his arms around Kashael in return, while on the other hand, he asked him to go away. Whether spurred by the obvious confusion in Hanael's manner, or perhaps just the brief admittance that Hanael had spent his life wishing Kashael had never left, Kashael agreed to leave for now. But he promised he would be back, a promise that almost seemed like a threat. Even after he had left, Hanael was lost in confusion and despondency; his life had been so completely turned topsy-turvy by Kashael's return, and he seemed unable to know how to deal with it.

For the next two weeks, Hanael lived in a constant mix of dread and anticipation, waiting for his brother's return. He did not know how to handle his brother at all, and yet he could not deny that he wanted to see him. He could not even bring himself to tell Khamuel anything, for he could barely understand his own feelings, let alone explain them to someone else.
In early August, he found himself alone in the backyard with the winter wind, quietly asking the empty sky why Kashael had not returned. Almost before he had even finished the sentence, his brother was behind him. And before he knew it, Hanael found himself on the defensive again. Kashael seemed determined to remain the dominant, older brother, and yet Hanael wanted him to see him as an equal now, for he had grown so much since they'd last met, lived so many years as a capable adult. Yet for all they bickered, Kashael moved constantly closer to him, and Hanael seemed to find his resolve slipping away under his brother's warm caress and honey-sweet words.
Then without warning he heard Khamuel speaking his name... and he realised what a compromising position he was in. He quickly stepped away from his brother, and put his arms around Khamuel's shoulders, intent on introducing the two. Yet before he could say more than Kashael's name, his brother interrupted, asserting his influence in Hanael's life and calling Khamuel a runt; and before he knew it, the two were practically at each other's throats. Hanael had to yell to even get them to stop, and for a moment, he was driven to silence, horrified by the sight of the two most important people in his life bickering because of him.
But ultimately, he still could not trust Kashael's motives, and so he made things very clear to his brother; Khamuel was his, and he had chosen things that way... and if Kashael had wished it otherwise, he should have come back sooner. And then he turned away, Khamuel with him, though the vampire stopped to spitefully stick his tongue out at Kashael as they left. Kashael could not stop them leaving, and he swore under his breath, obviously furious at Khamuel's unexpected intervention in his brother's life.

It was only a week later that Hanael was walking past one of the spare rooms in their house and noticed Kashael inside, lounging on the bed, reading a book. Startled and confused, he walked in and demanded explanation, and was even more startled to find that Kashael had decided to move in with them, and had gone around him and talked Zafkiel into it. He was angry at Kashael for manipulating Zafkiel to get his way... but Kashael accused him of having done the same thing when he first entered Zafkiel's life. He couldn't entirely deny that, but he mantained that he had done so with good intentions. To which Kashael put it to him that he didn't know what Kashael intentions were; how could he judge him so quickly?
Hanael asked him plainly, then, to explain why he was there. And Kashael told him that he was there because of him, because he wanted to be there for Hanael, like before. That he wanted Hanael to come away with him, to stop messing in the short lives of humans, and go back to just the two of them. Yet his asking was so beligerent that it set Hanael on the instant defensive. Nor did he wish to leave. Kashael tried to reason with him, and asked him how he planned to explain the fact that he didn't age... but Hanael refused to think about it. Kashael seemed to give up for the time being, but he made it plain that he had no intent of leaving until he had convinced Hanael otherwise. And Hanael wondered about his brother's ultimate motives, and just how much he had changed since they'd last seen each other.

Khamuel was unsurprisingly not pleased to find out that Kashael was living with them. He immediately attempted to assert his dominance; that Hanael was his, and he was not planning to give him up. Kashael mocked him with the fact that he had been a part of Hanael's life for longer, and that he knew things Khamuel did not. He taunted Khamuel for not knowing who Lyrael was, and tried to place doubts in his mind about his place in Hanael's heart. Khamuel, driven to frustration, told him plainly that Hanael had not needed him for a hundred years, and didn't need him now. When Kashael tried to assert otherwise, Khamuel asked where he'd been for the last century... a question Kashael did not seem to want to answer.
Khamuel may have left that fight on the upper hand, but Kashael's taunts about Lyrael would not leave his mind. It was only a few days later that he approached Hanael and without preamble, asked who Lyrael was, stating that he had found the name engraved on the ring Hanael always wore. Hanael immediately understood that Kashael was trying to intervene. But he still felt the need to apologise; for although he had never felt comfortable talking about his past, he knew that keeping it a secret had inadvertantly upset the vampire. So he shared what little he felt able to tell - that Lyrael was someone who had been very dear to him, back when he was human, and that Lyrael had died because of him. He reassured Khamuel that it was a long time ago, and that it was not relevant anymore. Khamuel seemed unsure, for Hanael still wore Lyrael's ring... but Hanael told him simply that he wore it as a reminder to himself to do something to help his loved ones when they were hurting. And that he would never ignore Khamuel's problems or his pain. Khamuel seemed able to take comfort and confidence in that, and it seemed that Kashael's attempt to come between them had instead just brought them closer.

One evening in late August, Gavrael wandered out onto the back porch to sit down and get drunk, and found the unfamiliar figure of Kashael sprawled on their sofa. He hesitated, but Kashael offered him free alcohol in return for a cigarette, and he found the offer hard to turn down. So he sat down and they proceeded to get drunk together. Curious beyond words about Kashael, Hanael, and the tension between them, Gavrael found himself prying a little, and Kashael, once drunk, seemed more comfortable to talk. He told Gavrael that Hanael had been ten when he'd left, and that he hadn't wanted to leave; that he'd only ever thought of going back, but that he'd been unable to find Hanael until now, for until he'd settled down with them, Hanael had moved around constantly. And he admitted that he thought Hanael hated him for having left in the first place.
Gavrael was fascinated by it all, and, having come to find that he quite liked Kashael, he told him that he was certain Hanael still cared about him; that he wouldn't be reacting so strongly if he didn't. Kashael seemed grateful for these words, and before long he settled down into a drunken, relaxed snooze.
Not long after, Hanael beckoned Gavrael inside, and tried to apologise for Kashael monopolizing his time. Gavrael quickly countered that they were fine, and this time he prodded Hanael; telling him that his brother cared a lot about him. Hanael, confused, admitted a little that he had never shared before. He said that Kashael had been his everything when he was a child, having raised him and always taken care of him, and that his world had gone dark when he left. But that now, he wondered about all the things that bothered him about Kashael. Gavrael pushed further, wondering if Hanael was just looking for reasons to justify his distrust, and it was enough to spark Hanael's temper for a moment. He quickly apologised, though, but he seemed perhaps ready to think about what Gavrael had said.

Perhaps spurred on by Gavrael's words, a few days later Hanael finally confronted Kashael head-on and demanded explanation for things -- for why he was now following him everywhere, and for why he had never come back for Hanael in almost a hundred years. Kashael tried to avoid the question, but pushed by Hanael's anger, he finally admitted that he had been unable to find him.
Hanael, still not mollified, demanded to know why he hadn't 'seen' him, and Kashael countered that he'd been able to 'sense' him, but that it was no help. They came to realise, then, that the 'gifts' they had each developed upon dying had matured somewhat differently. They discussed the differences between them and what it made them capable of, but it only seemed to serve to make Hanael more suspicious.
Kashael was frank then - he said that he had been trying to find Hanael the entire time, but that Hanael kept slipping through his fingers because he moved around so much. He said that he'd come to believe that Hanael was running away from him... but that now he believed that Hanael had been running from himself. Hanael could not find a response for that.
Kashael asked him to stop mistrusting and doubting everything he did, and Hanael admitted that that was not the problem. More that he'd had his world turned upside down, and he just wanted things to go back to how they were before, when he'd understood everything. Kashael quickly responded that Hanael need only understand that Kashael was there for him, and would not leave again, and that was all that mattered. But Hanael asked him to give him time, and space, something Kashael seemed fine to agree to.

In early September, there was another row between Kashael and Khamuel over Hanael. Khamuel wanted to spend some free time alone with Hanael, but Kashael was determined to intrude upon every moment of it, causing Khamuel to blow up at him. When Hanael tried to calm them both down, they were both equally as defensive of their position.
Hanael asked Kashael, then, why he had not followed Hanael into the Shadows when he'd hidden there for many years. Kashael told him that they each had their own 'Shadows', and that they could not enter the others'. This seemed exactly the answer Hanael was looking for, and a moment later, he took a gleeful Khamuel by the hands, and they vanished from sight. Kashael was furious with himself for allowing them an escape, and only more determined to come between them.
And so the animosity between the two grew still further. And Hanael was still stuck in the middle, wanting desperately to please them both, and constantly horrified at what he was causing them both to feel.

It was several weeks later before it finally came to a head. The three of them were watching television, and as usual, Kashael and Khamuel bickered, almost seemingly unaware of Hanael's presence. At last, Hanael's temper snapped, and the rare angry side of himself came out; he yelled at both of them, telling them how stupid and pointless their fighting was, and how thoroughly sick of it he was. He stormed out, with the final threat that he would rather spend eternity alone than spend it listening to them fighting.
Khamuel had never seen Hanael's temper before, but Kashael seemed to have been expecting it, and in fact seemed pleased somehow. When Khamuel queried him, he said that Hanael was always like that - that he would put up with a great deal to make people happy, but that his temper always let loose in the end. And he further admitted that he had been actively provoking Hanael, not trying to win him over as Khamuel had thought. It was possibly the first time the two had ever had a conversation where they weren't at odds.
Khamuel started to leave, but then at the last minute he turned back, and asked Kashael if Hanael would get over the temper quickly. Kashael replied that it would depend on how they dealt with it; if they stopped fighting, he would be agreeable at once, but if they didn't, he might follow through with his threat. Khamuel stated then that he was not going to let Hanael walk out of his life; that he could be civil with Kashael if Kashael was prepared to do the same to help keep Hanael happy. And after a moment, Kashael agreed as well.
Khamuel told him, then, that he and Hanael needed to be allowed some alone time as well - he reminded Kashael that they had decades and centuries ahead of them, and that there was no need to be selfish. When Kashael countered that he needed alone time with Hanael as well, Khamuel was already more than willing to agree.
When Kashael told Khamuel to use his cute, childish looks to his advantage to bring Hanael around, Khamuel realised then that they could make their mutual agreement work to their advantage, for the both of them were equally conniving in a way that Hanael was not. Kashael seemed more than a little intriqued by this idea.

Khamuel then went to talk to Hanael. He found him reading quietly in his room, and it was obvious his anger was still close to the surface and ready to lash out. But Khamuel showed just a little of how much he had changed by being with Hanael. He tried to explain why he'd been unable to see things from Hanael's point of view, and how he'd only been able to see Kashael as the enemy, not an important part of Hanael's life. And he stated bluntly they he was not going to give Hanael up, that he wasn't going to go back to being alone, but that he could not be happy with Hanael knowing that he was miserable. Hanael was startled almost into silence by such a frank admission from the vampire, but touched at the same time, and when Khamuel went on to state that he wouldn't fight with Kashael any more, that he could get used to being around him, Hanael found it impossible to hold onto even a shred of his temper. He pulled Khamuel into an embrace, thanking him softly, and apologising for yelling at them. Khamuel countered that they'd deserved it, and Hanael couldn't help but agree with a smile, but he still wanted to apologise. Looking at Khamuel though, he felt that perhaps things would work out okay for all of them, in the end... and Khamuel agreed.
The following day, the two of them ran across Kashael in the loungeroom, their first encounter with him since Hanael's outburst the day earlier. Kashael was, to Hanael's eyes, surprisingly agreeable and cheerful, and in return, Khamuel seemed capable of keeping his own temper in check. To Hanael's shock, he found the three of them sitting down and playing video games together, and watching the two of them interacting in something akin to a friendly fashion made him almost want to cry with relief. It had been hard enough to accept Kashael's mysterious and sudden arrival, but hardest of all for him had been the animosity between the two most important people in his life; he had been driven almost to insanity trying to placate the two of them. Now that they seemed capable of getting along, he felt like he could maybe look forward to his future again.

On a night in late October, Khamuel made his way out into the yard, drawn by the full moon in the sky that called him to hunt human blood. When the moon was full he could not control his bloodlust, and so he always left the house to hunt. But this night, he ran into Kashael outside the house.
Kashael remarked on the contentedness of his aura, and Khamuel could only reply that it was a full moon. But Kashael seemed to understand his meaning. Khamuel wanted only to get away from the scent of Kashael's blood, but he couldn't help but ask what Kashael knew. When Kashael replied that he had known several vampires, Khamuel found his curiosity further piqued. However, Kashael's bloodscent was far too overwhelming, and so Khamuel left it there, turning away towards the city. That is, until Kashael begged him to stop.
Kashael said that he'd always wanted to know whether he and Hanael tasted the same. And the closer he got to Khamuel, the less Khamuel found himself able to think straight. He tried to warn Kashael that the hunt was on him, and that he would kill him. But Kashael only smirked and said he couldn't; that it had been tried.
By then, Khamuel was beyond reasoning, and he pounced, bowling Kashael to the ground and draining him of blood, while the moon sang overhead. But when his bloodlust was sated, he was startled to find that Kashael was still alive, and completely unsurprised. Khamuel realised then that Kashael had been bitten before, and that the vampire had failed to kill him.. and Kashael confirmed it. And Khamuel realised that that meant he could safely drink from Hanael when the hunt was on him as well.
He was angry with Kashael for setting him off, but surprisingly, Kashael was more friendly than usual. He said that he'd meant what he'd said, that he only wished to know if he and Hanael tasted differently. And Khamuel found himself laughing, as he admitted that he'd been so crazed with bloodlust he didn't remember the taste. But he was curious as well, and offered to test the theory, if Kashael would let him drink again.
Kashael seemed surprised, but more than willing to agree, and so Khamuel took another bite. He found to his surprise that the taste of Kashael was indeed quite different from Hanael, but just as tantalizing. However, as he drank more, he heard a soft groan from Kashael, and realised that the Walker was taking pleasure in being bitten.
Shocked and horrified, he felt dirty, as if he'd inadvertantly cheated on Hanael. He lashed out at Kashael, his words sharp and violent, but Kashael seemed repentant; he stated bluntly that he hadn't meant things to go this way, and that he wouldn't ask to be bitten again. Khamuel wasn't sure if he could trust the sincerety of Kashael's gaze, for he knew that nothing with Kashael was ever easy, and yet at the same time he was coming to realise that unlike anyone else except for Hanael, Kashael took him as he was. That even if he could never let down his guard around Kashael, he could let it down more than around any other human.
So he relented, and told Kashael the truth; that he tasted different from Hanael. And somehow, the entire odd exchange seemed to bring them to a closer level of comraderie.

One day in early November, Rafariel came home from school to find Kashael on the front porch, using the punching bag that he and Gavrael had set up on the weekend. Until then Rafarielhad felt disdain about the very idea of boxing... but when he saw the grace with which Kashael moved in front of the punching bag, he found himself doubting such thoughts. Kashael's shirtless, muscled, taut body certainly helped, too.
And for the first time, he seemed to get the chance to talk to Kashael without Kael or Hanael intervening, something that had, up until that point, driven him quite to frustration. Kashael teased him gently about his knights in shining armour, and about his cuteness, and he found himself blushing and lightheaded under the older man's attentions... but although Kashael seemed quite capable of taking advantage of him, he stopped at the last minute. (Leaving Rafariel all the more confused.)
However, he offered to teach Rafariel boxing, and Rafariel could not find it in him to say no, so he agreed. And surprised himself with how much he enjoyed the feeling of driving his fists into the punching bag.
He was just getting ready to learn more when, without warning, Kael came out onto the porch. It was instantly obvious that he was displeased to see the two of them together. Rafariel knew better than to pick a fight with him in front of anyone else, so when Kael demanded he follow, he did as he was told. However, once they were indoors, he realised he was as angry as Kael was, and a fullblown yelling match ensued as they made their way upstairs.
But once they made it to the privacy of their room both of them seemed capable of calming down. Rafariel appealed to Kael's common sense, trying to overcome his irrational jealousy... and eventually, he succeeded. Kael agreed to let him continue to learn to box if he wanted, and they renewed their appreciation for each other in blissful privacy.

On another day in early November, Hanael made the abrupt decision to go clothes shopping. Khamuel was still sound asleep, so he invited Kashael instead. His brother was obviously in a cheerful mood, and playfully teased him from the outset, almost making him regret inviting him along.. but for all it frustrated him at times, he enjoyed his brother's humour.
As they drove to the mall in Gavrael and Raziel's old car, Hanael watched Kashael, who so obviously enjoying the act of driving, and realised how much it reminded him of when they'd been younger, and Kashael had ridden his horses so gleefully. When he mused on this allowed, Kashael seemed more startled than anything at the rareness of Hanael reminiscing about their past. And Hanael came to wonder if his attempts to keep a distance from Kashael had confused his brother about how much Kashael still meant to him.
They had a great time shopping together, especially as Kashael seemed to have an uncanny gift for finding clothes that were perfect for Hanael. So uncanny that Hanael felt moved to comment, wondering if it might be another odd 'gift' that Kashael had acquired since dying -- after all, he reasoned, it was about as useful as any other. Kashael seemed more amused than anything, although he retorted sincerely that if it was of use to Hanael, then he was grateful for it... a comment that left Hanael blushing and lost for words.
As the day drew to a close, Hanael found himself distracted by some child sized clothing that he was sure Khamuel would love. For a moment he felt glad, until Kashael wistful voice intruded, noting sadly that Hanael was always thinking about Khamuel. Hanael could only tell the truth; that Khamuel was an important part of his life. Kashael turned away, and Hanael felt suddenly scared that he was leaving, and wished he knew how to explain to Kashael that he was an important part of his life too.
But then Kashael vanished into the clothing store, and came out a moment later with another item of clothing that he said he thought was perfect for Khamuel. Hanael didn't know what it mean exactly, except that he knew Kashael was trying, and that was all that was important.
When they returned home, Khamuel seemed unbothered by the fact that the two had gone shopping without him, and most delighted by his gift. He was at first startled when Hanael told him that Kashael had chosen part of it for him... but Kashael remained relaxed about it, and so Khamuel was relaxed in return. When he ran off to get changed into his new clothes, Hanael felt moved to thank Kashael, even though he could not explain entirely what for. But watching them interact comfortably now, and remembering how much they'd been at each other's throats only a few months before, made him grateful beyond words.
To his surprise, Kashael responded with something that sounded both threat and warning; that neither he nor Khamuel was ever going to give Hanael up, and so Hanael had better be prepared to live with them both. And then he left with a smile, leaving Hanael to try and wonder what on earth he meant.

And then, just a few days later, something changed, and everything changed. Hanael and Kashael were sitting together, quietly reading, but Hanael noticed that Kashael kept looking at him instead of the book. Finally, he confronted his brother head on, and asked him what was on his mind. Kashael was silent for a few moments, before he finally admitted that sometimes he could hear them at night... the sounds that the two of them made together in bed. Hanael was shocked into silence for a moment, before trying to speak, only to have Kashael defend himself instantly, asking if he should plug up his ears. But Hanael couldn't help but ask why Kashael felt the need to listen. And Kashael finally admitted at last... that he'd only been waiting for Hanael to grow up, and that if he hadn't died, things might have been different.
Hanael seemed to startled, yet again, to know what to say, but Kashael's tone turned plaintive, and he asked if he'd been that unimportant. Hanael could only answer the truth; that Kashael had been all he'd ever cared about. And looking away, he found himself admitting that he still wished that Kashael had risked it and come back to him back then, when they were still young.
Kashael seemed startled and yet emboldened all at once by this admission. He moved closer to Hanael, saying that he'd made too many mistakes with him, but that perhaps it wasn't too late to change things. And as he moved closer, as his arm wrapped around Hanael, as his warm breath tickled against his neck, Hanael found any resolve he'd had weakening. Finally, he admitted in soft tones that Kashael was his only weakness. His brother only smiled, and moved in for a kiss.

As the passions rose between them, Hanael and Kashael moved to one of the spare, unused bedrooms, hidden away from the eyes of others. But it seemed that their actions had not gone entirely unnoticed; as Kashael pushed Hanael down onto the bed, making moves to climb atop him, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat from the doorway... and they both realised that Khamuel was standing there, watching them with narrowed eyes.
Hanael was absolutely overwhelmed with guilt, for a moment unable to even move, let alone face the vampire's steely gaze. But he could not ignore it, and he pushed himself upright slowly. He tried to speak, but he could not find it in himself to say more than the vampire's name, and even that in the tiniest of voices.
And then Khamuel stated bluntly that they were only allowed to do that sort of thing if he was included. Hanael was stunned into complete silence all over again by the implication -- and forgiveness -- inherent in those words. And when Kashael was quick to give his agreement to the idea, Hanael was stunned all over again. Yet the two seemed in agreement, waiting only for his response.
He reached out to the vampire, speaking his name softly, and Khamuel made his way over to where the two waited. Hanael tried to apologise, but Khamuel was quick to silence him, with a kiss, and an embrace... an embrace that Kashael joined in, the three of them somehow finally in full agreement and alignment with each other, in a way that perhaps none of them had ever imagined could occur.

Only a few days later, Hanael awoke late one night at 3am, to find himself alone in bed with Kashael, and Khamuel nowhere to be seen. This was not unusual, for Khamuel kept quite odd hours, but with all the changes that had occured recently, he still worried. And so instead of going back to sleep, he sought out the vampire.
He found Khamuel alone on the front porch, quietly musing. He sat down next to him, and when Khamuel noted that it was rare for him to be up so late, he mentioned wistfully that something woke him up, perhaps the fact that Khamuel wasn't there. Khamuel countered with the fact that Kashael was there, and Hanael wondered if they had reached the point. When he gently mentioned that it wasn't the same, Khamuel countered with a snarky voice that he thought one warm body was good as another.
But before Hanael, wide-eyed and fearful that what he'd worried was true, could even reply, Khamuel stopped him tiredly; and said to forget that he'd even said that. And then he moved away from Hanael, standing up to stare out over the balcony.
Hanael tried to apologise, but Khamuel cut him off. Instead, he admitted that he'd known this was coming. Hanael was stunned; he'd already figured out that Kashael had expected things to turn out this way, but had never thought Khamuel had... and he felt confused that he was the only one who hadn't seen it coming at all.
Khamuel went on to tell him more; about how much he'd hated Kashael at first, but how he'd come to change his opinion, and realise that he wasn't so bad to have around. And how he'd also realised that there was a lot of Hanael in Kashael too, something that made him attractive to the vampire. As Hanael tried to process these words, and wonder what to make of them, Khamuel admitted finally that he'd been ready for this, but that he was still selfish, and needed some time to get used to it.
And Hanael realised them, just how hard things had been for all of them these past few months.. and how perhaps it had been hardest of all for Khamuel, who had been alone all his life, and who had been forced to change so much already just to be with Hanael. He found himself overwhelmed with gratitude, and his vision blurred with tears. And he collected Khamuel in his arms, the two exchanging almost fierce words of possessiveness.

In late November, the full moon swung around again, and Khamuel headed out for the hunt. But this time, he'd barely left the house when he found himself captured and carried straight back inside... by Kashael, possibly the only person strong enough to tangle with him. He fought back, desperate to get away, but Kashael seemed completely uninterested in the fact that it was a full moon, and carried him all the way back to the room they shared with Hanael.
For a moment anger overwhelmed him, but that was quickly followed by horror at the realisation that he was stuck in a room with two Walkers, their blood overwhelmingly tantalising, on the night of a full moon. Without further question, he hid himself in the furthest corner from the two, wondering how the hell he could make his escape.
Kashael was ever cheerful, wanting only to 'let Hanael know', and Khamuel realised his intent. Yet he wasn't ready for that. When Kashael pressed him, wanting to know why, his anger boiled over, and he found himself admitting that Hanael had never seen him when the hunt was on him; a worry he'd never wanted to voice aloud.
And yet Hanael spoke his name softly, and reassured him that he knew exactly what he was, and always had. That he should not be afraid to be himself around Hanael. And Khamuel suddenly wondered why Hanael hadn't been sent to him a hundred years ago.
He was ready then, and he growled out Kashael's name. Kashael sat down on the bed between the two, and told Hanael that he needed only know two things. One, that vampires could not kill Walkers by drinking from them, and two, that he himself got off on being bitten. Hanael was delighted by the first, and flabbergasted by the second... but Khamuel saw the challenge in Kashael's words and answered it, pouncing on him and drinking hard and strong.
When his bloodlust was sated, he raised himself to look at Kashael's face, and reassure himself that he was still alive... and in return, Kashael reached up and pulled him into a blood-smeared kiss. And then Hanael's voice whispered in his ear, teasing him, and he found himself startled upright again. Hanael's face was gentle and understanding, despite having just watched him feed, and Khamuel felt more grateful than ever for having found him. And realising that Kashael had made this moment possible, he found himself grateful for having found Kashael as well.

It was mid December, and Ixoniel (better known as Xon) was impatiently waiting for his class to finish. As per usual, his thoughts were not on the teacher's words, but on the ringleted beauty sitting just a few rows in front of him. And when the class bell rang, he dawdled over packing up his books, watching him quietly.
But this day, his target of study stopped to talk to the teacher, and Xon wondered if he might get his chance at last. So he dawdled still more, searching on the floor for a 'dropped pencil', listening to the two murmuring at the front of the classroom. But when the murmuring stopped and he stood up, he found that his target was already gone from the room.
He dashed out into the hall, seeking him out, and at last found him at his locker, completely ignoring everything around him. And the hall was almost completely empty of other students... making the timing perfect. So Xon barelled his way down the hall and straight into him, knocking them both to the floor in a tangle of limbs and schoolbags.
For a moment they stared at each other, and then Xon saw the sudden fear in his eyes, and he backed off, playing his usual hyper self, apologising in a babbling stream of cheerful words, and helping the other to his feet. And then, emboldened, he confirmed that his name was Rafariel. Rafariel was instantly wary, for that wasn't the name the teachers called him, but Xon was quick to counter that he'd seen it written on his books, and that he wasn't the only one who didn't like his own name.
Rafariel seemed to take him in fully at last, from head to toe, appraising him, and then stated bluntly that he didn't remember his name anyway, so Xon was quick to introduce himself just as Xon. Rafariel asked him then if the other kids spoke to him as little as they spoke to Rafariel, and Xon, over-excited, agreed, but said that he didn't care, for school wasn't forever, and then in his endless babble, found himself asking if Rafariel wanted to hang out sometime. For a moment he wanted to kick himself for saying too much too soon... but then Rafariel smirked, and as he agreed, Xon saw an expression of hope on his face, a hope that reflected what he felt himself, that maybe there was a chance for something more for both of them; a chance to not be so alone.

Xon and Rafariel soon found themselves spending plenty of time together, getting to know each other, and a few days later, Rafariel invited Xon over to visit his house. Xon was absolutely awed not only by the huge house and everything in it, but by the life Rafariel lived, free of parents, sharing his space with a group of young men like a university dorm. Rafariel seemed hesitant to talk about it at first, but he wanted to share something of himself with his friend. So when asked how he'd gotten so lucky, as Xon put it, he admitted that he'd run away from home. Xon was impressed with his courage, and Rafariel felt moved to admit that it hadn't worked out so well at first.. but that in the end he was glad he'd done it. Xon was quick to counter that he was too, for if he hadn't they'd never have met.
Hanael stepped into the room, not realising anyone was in there, and Xon was quick to introduce himself. As they talked, Hanael noticed a nasty bruise on Xon's arm, but when questioned Xon was quick to cover it up, stating only that he was a clumsy dork. Rafariel backed him up, noting that they'd met when Xon tripped over him, and Hanael was quick to return to more cheerful conversation, before leaving them alone again.
As soon as he was gone, Xon pressed Rafariel for details about Hanael's 'cool' scar, but Rafariel knew about as much as anyone else, which is to say, not much. Still, Xon was fascinated by him, wondering if everyone who lived there was so cool, and where he could get such luck. Rafariel offered that he could visit as often as he wanted, and Xon said that if he meant it, then he really would. But Rafariel said he'd truly been glad that Xon had tripped over him like that... and Xon couldn't help but blush happily to hear it.