A/N: Because I was to start using all the different characters languages a little more in this story, I'll start putting translations at the bottom of chapters. So, you guys don't have to go googling everything. They'll be little * next to the words since that's what they do in real books and stuff.

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Shae collapsed into his bed, feeling all his muscles finally relaxing. He smiled blissfully, "Ahh, there's nothing better than getting in bed after a long day and snuggling," He grabbed Yuki and hoisted him onto his hips, "With my angel." 

The little elf giggled adorably. He leaned forward and kissed under Shae's chin, trailing his lips along his neck. "You make me feel tiny." He said.

"You are tiny, Baby. Why, you're no bigger than a mouse." He teased.

Yuki certainly looked like a mouse sat on a demon's stomach. Being only 4'11" and under 90lbs, he was a pipsqueak compared to his 7'3" husband. Their height and species had never mattered to them, though. Their love was the kind you couldn't fake or force. It was natural, it was unbreakable.

The smaller placed his lips to his dominant's delicately. It was like receiving kisses from a butterfly. Shae's hands held onto his thin legs and hips to comfort him. He was always careful not to break his little elf, though Yuki knew he never would. Suddenly the small creature pulled away from their kiss. He whined out of fear, getting that look that he tended to get right before bursting out into tears.

Shae gently cupped his cheek, "Baby, what's wrong?"

He whimpered like a puppy. Shae sat up, pulling Yuki against his chest to comfort him. He could feel his tiny heart beating fast. The one word he gave as a response shook even the demon. Wispy as the winds, Yuki muttered, "Reaper."

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As the storm approached, it brought with it crippling winds. The drapes in Deacon's room whipped around violently, the sound hurting his aching head. Ryan pushed the window closed and locked it. He gazed out on the long stone pathway that twisted up the mountain. Supposedly those hunters were out there, though he had yet to see them.

"I wasn't expecting this to happen so quickly." Ghost mumbled in between his sniffles. He wrapped his arms around himself, looking for comfort that was missing.

Ashley gently draped a cold towel over Deacon's forehead. He weakly grasped her hand, looking up into her eyes. "Thank you, my dear." He pulled her down closer and whispered to her, "Take care of them for Chris and I. They're going to need you." 

She didn't know what to say. Part of her felt like she should say something, but she was grateful when the door opening gave her an excuse not to. Deacon released his grip on her and returned to his rest. Jasper walked in the room slowly. He grasped his cane tightly knowing his own body wanted to give out at the sight of his old friend at Death's doorstep.

"My apologies, but I'm afraid I'll have to cut your goodbyes short." He said.

"We've all said what we needed to." Ricky replied, "We'll leave you to rest."

Not much had been said, in all honesty, but Ricky figured few words were needed. The brotherly bond they had for Deacon reached unspoken levels. They all could rest a little easier knowing he wouldn't be alone in the afterlife. Maybe that's one good thing that comes of death. When we lose the ones we love, we know they'll be waiting for us when it's our time. No one wants to pass over to the afterlife alone.

Once the room was cleared, Jasper took a moment to blow out all the candles. Some light still emitted from the fireplace, of which kept the dying vampire warm. That's all the glow they needed to see one another. Jasper sat down at his bedside and leaned over him to see his face one last time.

"So, it's come to this, old friend." He murmured, "I do not know what the world will become without you. You were the last stitch keeping peace alive. They are all children. Without a parent, they will fight constantly."

"I never thought Chris would die before me, or else I would've-" He cut himself off with a cough, "I would've trained someone else."

He snit softly, "It wouldn't have mattered. Eventually, we did have to come to a day where the strong would finally trample the weak. I know your life's work was spent preventing such a thing, but conflict and eradication are inevitable. Death is also inevitable. I will see you again, someday, when there is nothing left to this world. When it is all ashes, when I no longer have a purpose, I will see you again."

"Until then, please remember trust is a tomb, but you will need someone to bury you." His breathes became longer and slower. Deacon grasped his old friend's hand firmly, "Take it."

Jasper seemed stunned, "Are you sure? The reaper is nearly here." 

"Yes." He could barely speak through a thick throat, "You need it more than they do."

The elder demon closed his eyes for a moment. He knew what Deacon meant in his words, but he never thought it would come to this. His eyes illuminated as he spoke an order, "Shae, Micah, stall the reaper until I say so. That is an order."

Jasper's eyes remained a purple-ish red even after the command was delivered. In this body, he couldn't revert to his true form but he could harvest a soul just the same. Reapers weren't too fond of their work being taken by demons. It didn't happen much these days, but the rarities pissed them off. 

As difficult as it would be for the servants to hold one off, Jasper didn't care. If this was his friend's last wish, then so be it. He leaned over Deacon's body, resting his hand on the side of his face. Jasper brought his lips down to his. In a gentle kiss, he extracted a soul rich with grief and tragedy. The more abused a soul was in it's life, the more delectable it was to a demon.

Downstairs, in the main entryway, things were about to become a little less calm. Reapers had a certain scent to them that creatures could smell a mile away. They knew the devil's handyman would be coming through those front doors any moment. Micah and Shae planted themselves strongly at the foot of the main staircase. The demon cracked his knuckles and neck simultaneously. 

Micah removed his jacket, which he rarely ever did. In doing so, he revealed the pact mark on his upper arm. He handed it to Paris, muttering, "You may like to poke fun at my roots, but no one can fight like a Cajun."

Ryan stopped at the top of the staircase, resting his arm on the banister, "So, that whole Ragin' Cajun thing is true?"

He smirked, "Yes, Monsieur*."

"It seems we've got some specters." Shae commented, realizing the tension in the air had drawn out several patients, servants, and guests.

"I see that. It's been so long since I've had a good fight." He mused.

"Be careful what you wish for. A reaper's not going down easily." He replied.

Silence fell on the room for a moment. Just when it got comfortable enough, it was broken by the doors busting open. A body went flying along the entryway floor. The face was unfamiliar to most, but panic set in quickly for Felix and Marci. He rushed towards the hunter now unconscious on the floor.

"Really," The reaper scoffed, "Trying to stop me with human?" 

"Our orders weren't to stop you. They're to slow you down as long as we can." Shae growled.

Micah smiled, coming off as crazy as some of his patients, "You'll be able to have the body, when our Master allows it."

He groaned and adjusted his glasses. "Such childish creatures. Very well."

Felix picked up the hunter, carrying him past the other servants and upstairs. Marci quickly ran after him. She wanted to watch this fight, but their friend was more important. Ashley followed them back to one of the bedrooms to see if she could help in anyways. Granted, her abilities could probably be better spent on this but she preferred to be more of healer than a fighter. 

"Come get me if it gets too bad." She murmured to Angela.

The familiar nodded to the witch. Though it was a sly comment, Ghost noticed. He was the type to see what others didn't. Finding it interesting, he reminded himself not to forget that little transaction. He leaned over the upstairs railing to enjoy the entertainment. Reapers were powerful beings with equally as power tools, but they can be stopped.

He knew very well that he'd fair better if he took out the stronger of the two first. The reaper's blade went straight for Shae, but of course the demon caught it. Nonetheless, earned a small squeak from Yuki, whom currently was hiding behind Paris. Micah grabbed their unwanted guest by the back of his hair and threw him to the ground. He was back up within two seconds, unfortunately.

"When they said they were calling hunters, I didn't expect them to be human." Ryan murmured to Ricky.

The two watched from the top of the stairs, leaning on the rail. He kept his voice low as he replied, "He looked Korean. There's a few temples left that believe in our existence and train warriors for that very reason. They're meant to protect humans from us though. Not the other way around."

"Felix said he found him when he was drifting. People that spend their life drifting... They've lost their way with themselves. Which, he did. Felix went off the rails when he left home and I know you think when he fell in love with Marci, he went off the deep end. The truth is, she saved him from losing himself."

Ricky's hand tightened around the rail, "Don't try to tell me how to parent. You've never had a child, you don't know. You've never even fallen in love with anyone."

Ryan watched down below as Micah was thrown to the ground. The look of fear in Paris' eyes said it all. How tragic, he thought; Paris loved the one person that wouldn't have him. "I haven't. You're right, but you forget that I do know what real love looks like. After all, I watched you and Ghost fall in love. I watched Chris and Angelo fall in love too. He looks at her the way Chris used to look at Ange, the way you used to look at Ghost too, before you guys became boring."

Ghost, having heard all of this, just stared at his old friend. The trust was... Ryan was right. He'd been thinking about it for awhile, but he didn't dare say anything to Ricky. Of course, that stubborn ass got pretty pissed to hear anyone doubt his relationship. He shoved himself back from the railing and began to walk down the stairs.

At this point, Micah and Shae had gotten pretty torn up. The wounds from a reaper's scythe wouldn't heal easily. They had to be careful that one didn't go too deep or else it'd be lights out forever. Shae fell back against the bottom steps after his attack was countered. The reaper raised his blade with intentions of plunging the blade into the demon at his mercy.

Ricky grabbed the staff of the scythe a second before the tip of the steel blade met Shae's face. He used his bionic strength to yank it away from the reaper, then threw it up at the ceiling. It must've been forty feet up. 

"You reapers are all just dogs following orders," He pointed upwards, "Go fetch."

Micah sighed, grasping his side. The symbol on his arm glowed to indicate he'd received a new order. "It doesn't matter anyways. It's done." 

Shae chuckled and rested his head back on the stairs, "Run home, little doggy. There's nothing for you here. Not anymore."

He groaned, "You're insufferable." 

"It's all apart of my job." He replied. Yuki finally wiggled out of Paris' protective grasp and ran over to his loving husband. Shae reached up to his face, wiping away a tear, "Hey, don't cry, Buttercup. I'll me alright. I'll heal."

Beau, having avoided viewing the fight, finally emerged from the hall that hosted his office. He knew what was going on but chose to ignore it in order to work. Walking down the steps, he addressed Ricky, "I'd hate to ask this of a guest, but I cannot support his weight myself. Would you be as so kind as to help me get him to his room?" 

"Yeah," He replied, "It's no problem."

Paris gently set his hand on Micah's chest, "You too. You need rest."

He hooked his finger under the smaller vampire's chin, "You worry about me too much."

"You give me reasons to worry," He said, then smirked, "Je prendrai soin de toi. De toute façon tu as besoin de moi*."

Micah clicked his tongue tauntingly, "Vilain, vilain*."

"Angela, please go to Finch's study and tell him Micah needs to be treated as soon as possible." Beau ordered her.

"Yes, Sir." She bowed properly, then scurried off down the hall.

"One of the hunters got hurt. Felix took him back there," Ryan jabbed his thumb in the direction behind him, "I assume he's going to need medical care as well."

He sighed, "I'll treat him as soon as I'm done with Shae."

Ryan bit his tongue, knowing the doctor probably had his reasons for what he did. They had three doctors. Why wouldn't he call on the third? Maybe Colton wasn't qualified to work on a human, or possibly sleeping already. Whatever the reason may be, it didn't sit well with him. Beau had an aura of mystery to him, one that Ryan knew he needed to shatter.

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Monsieur = Sir

Jes prendrai... = I will take care of you. Anyway you need me.

Vilain = Naughty