Done with a swim and new people (Tag Yuki and China)

At the current moment Gaelan was in snake form. His clothes were up on the side of the canal he had entered from, and was swimming against the current. The cool water felt like a kiss along his entire body. It had been too long since his last swim, and his skin had felt flaky before entering the water. He had been swimming as such tonight for a few hours, and now that his scales felt refresh he angled himself to slip out again. As he drew closer to the wall his energy was released to shift to his half form so he could pull himself up and out. Another release and he was soon a happy naked man, dripping water off of his body.

Bending down, he slipped his pants back on, and then stops as he picks up the smell of human. His eyes shifted for a brief moment to show his snake before returning to normal. He left his shirt where it was as he quickly made his way down the side alley he had followed to the canal. The human smelled good, maybe not as much as the wolf he had found a few nights back, but he was still good. Watching from the shadows, his upper body gleaming a bit from the moisture that still clung to it, he peered out through his eyes in search of the human he had smelled.

Yuki was so excited to be out and about tonight! He'd never beenn to a nighttime market before and now that he was all better and not hurting, he could enjoy it all the more. Every time he and China stopped somewhere he couldn't help but notice a few things that he found really pretty but he made sure to keep his enthusiasm in check. At least enough that he didn't start asking to buy things. Other than that, the excitement and simple delight shone clearly on his face. And of course it was impossible not to notice the spring in his step and the general lightheartedness of the boy as they meandered through the market. Or bounced through in Yuki's case. He was filled with almosy childlike awe everywhere they went.

For the umteenth time that night, the boy squeezed the vampire's hand and let out an excited chirp, looking up at him with wide, ecstatic eyes that pleaded to be able to go over and look at something. This time it was a vendor selling masks. He'd never owned a mask before but he'd always had a fascination with them and when he got the go-ahead, he lightly tugged China-Rose over to the masks and bounced as he started looking them over. "Shiro, they're so pretty!" he gasped out, again that child-like awe peeking out. He reached out to pick one up but restrained himself, shoving his hands into his pockets. As much as he wanted to touch the masks and pick them up to look at them he would be good and observe with his eyes.

It was funny but cute to see just how much Yuki was acting like a child right at that moment. Everything grabbed his attention and everything was amazing in one way or another, like a toddlers wide eyed curiosity at the simplest of things. Yuki was mirroring it perfectly and China had to admit that with every tug on his hand and every sound of excitement, it just caused his small smile to grow larger as he watched and shopped with his charge. Feeling pressure on his hand once more, the vampire looked up and in the direction Yuki was indicating. It was a mask stall and with a nod of his head, the blonde started to lead the way over.

Reaching the stall he felt the tension in Yuki's muscles, the excitement trembling through the young adults frame and it caused a small laugh to escape from China's mouth. It wasn't a bad thing though and seeing the mask Yuki was eyeing, China picked it up and tied it around his servants face. The vampire had to admit it certainly suited Yuki and made his dark chocolate eyes stand out even more than usual. Nodding to himself, the vampire bought and paid for it right there on the spot. He didn't care if Yuki had objections. Making sure not to leave himself out he paid for another mask and picked out a gold, highly musical mask before he slipped it over his face to show Yuki and then placed the masks carefully in to a bag.

Taking his servants hand once more, the vampire turned down a few backstreets, figuring that a walk along the canal would be a good way to end the night. He wasn't too alert either, so really he should have sensed it but being near Yuki had a tendency to throw him out of whack and that's why he missed the scent of snake.

Gaelan was in his human form again, wearing just pants, and using all his skill as a shifter and preternatural hunter to follow the two. He was sure the human didn't hear him, but the other was definitely vampire. He had the taste of death about him when Gaelan tasted the air. However he didn't read off very strongly to him...like he had just hit master level. So he decided the risk of trying to taste the human was worth it. His mannerism around the other vampire was meek and submissive, and he just happened to be in the market of finding one for himself. So far he had only found one possibility out of the males and females he tasted, and he wanted to open his options up.

Taking a guess on where they were going, Gaelan slipped ahead of them until he was nearly to the River again. There he waited in the shadows until they started to pass. He wanted until the Vampire was up just enough before his hands darted out, gripped the boys arm, and started to pull him in with him. He was trying to move as quickly as possible so as not to alert the Vampire, but there was always margin for error in every plan.

Yuki was blushing brightly when the vampire picked up the mask he'd been about to touch and put it on him, tying it without even having to step behind him. As the mask hid only the top part of his face, he had no doubt that the color in his flushed skin was more apparent with the mask resting against it. "Arigatou..." he said softly.

He'd learned very recently that China loved to hear him speak Japanese so he had been using certain words and phrases more often lately. And teaching them to the vampire whom he now referred to as Shiro, which was short for Shiroi Bara or White Rose. It was his way of showing affection. He'd also discovered that not only did they both speak French, which was what they had been conversing in for the most part while Yuki adjusted to speaking Italian, but they both spoke English. They'd taken to switching off between the two while China educated Yuki in Italian and likewise, Yuki educated the vampire in simple Japanese. He didn't know what it was about the language that so enthralled China but every time he spoke it for him, the vampire got a heated look in his eyes. He rather liked that look. So he'd taken it upon himself to actually help him lear a little so that he'd know what he was saying rather than simply hearing it.

He smiled brightly when China-Rose picked out a mask for himself, marveling at how dashing he looked in the decorative accessory. They would have to wear the together sometime. But for now he removed his own mask and likewise placed it in the bag so that it wouldn't get lost or ruined before they got it home. His smaller fingers curled around his lover's as he took him by the hand and he leaned his head against his shoulder, not caring who might see them displaying such affection in public. In a very short time he had grown very attached to the vampire. He'd saved him, cared for him, and been his first lover. Their bond was more than special. It was a treasure.

He sighed happily, content to simply be in China's presence and stroll along beside him in silence, eyes half-closed because although he wanted to at least partially see where he was walking, he trusted China to guide him.

What he wasn't expecting was to suddenly be snatched away into the shadows and he barely had time to let out a soft, startled gasp before he felt a hand over his mouth. Wide, dark eyes stared up at the stranger -who was on the handsome side really but it wasn't exactly the time or place to focus on that detail. What did he want? Why grab him like that? Was he going to hurt him? Was he going to hurt China? He began to struggle at the thought but the man was far too strong to keep it up for long. Oh dear!

It was a split second. That was all it took for Yuki's hand to be snatched from his own loose hold and for China to hear a soft gasp. At first China thought Yuki had spotted something and was running ahead to see whatever it was but by simply turning his head it was revealed that it was not the case. Despite the gloom, China could see in to the alley without a problem and his eyes narrowed as he saw a male holding Yuki.

Without another thought China stepped in to the alley and made his way slowly towards the pair. Who did this male think he was? Admittedly he was handsome but he had no right to take or attempt to take Yuki from him. He had been enjoying his time with Yuki, his nice stroll along the river with his servant that was so horridly interrupted. Reigning in his anger the vampire spoke softly but firmly. Ensuring that the capturing male would be ale to hear.

"I suggest you release him unless you want to be hurt"

His power was still clamped down tight and controlled but it was vibrating as if angry itself.

Gaelan was a bit surprised that he had managed to succeed, and as he did slipped a hand over the boys mouth so he would not speak out so loudly. He lowered his head down to his neck as he breathed him only to feel the other start to approach before he heard the words. He turned to face him and got a feel for him. He wasn't that strong. He was definitely stronger then the vampire. He was also not looking him in the eyes. Upon hearing his threat, he leaned down to slowly lick at Yuki's neck before answering.

"Mmm...but he taste's real good. I think I'll take him back with me for some fun after I deal with you," he said as he stepped in front of the male so that the other wouldn't get near him too closely. He then let his own energy flare up, and the vampire would feel that he was no meager, or weak shifter. Though the flavor of his energy and scent would more then likely be foreign unless the vampire had encountered other snakes before.

"I think the young male would enjoy my attentions better then your own," he said as he looked him over. The vampire was taller and just as slender, but Gaelan had training when it came to fighting their types. He was a hunter for the most part after all. He licked his lips a little as he waited to see what the vampire would do as his first move.

The petite youth's eyes closed with a whimper as the stranger pressed his face to his neck and, from what he could tell, begun breathing in his scent. Smelling him. Either he was a very twisted human or he wasn't human at all. Hat to be a shifter or a vampire. It was hard to tell but either way, Yuki wasn't happy to be his captive.

His eyes snapped open at the blessed sound of China's voice and he struggled to get free,, his calls for his Master and lover muffled by the blonde man's hand and coming out sounding more like little whimpers. Which, in a sense, they were. he was scared. His memories of being at Mr. Hart's mercy were not at all faded and this was slightly reminiscent of their last night together. Slightly. The only person he trusted to touch him familiarly was China and that, in his mind, was as it should be.

He shuddered and let out a muffled half-sob when his captive gave the slender columnn of his neck a slow licking and tried to jerk away. The man's words chilled him to the bone and he wanted nothing more than to get as far away from him as possible and be safe in China-Rose's arms. China would save him. He was strong and he cared for Yuki. He wouldn't let this man take him. Didn't make the situation any less scary but at least he knew he could believe in him.

When he was released, so the man could turn to face China, he tried to dart around him but he'd pretty much backed him into a corer and there wasnn't really anywhere he could go. But he kept trying, even shoving futilely against the blonde ma to try and get past him. He shivered and shuddered at the prickly feeling of power and energy, arms hugging tightly to himself. Definitely not human though he still couldn't tell what he was exactly...

When the cad suggested that Yuki would prefer his company over China's, he started pounding at his back with his small fists and shoving at him in a more panicked manner. "No!" he shouted, lapsing into speaking Frech as his Italian was still a little wobbly. "I'm not going anywhere with you! I don't belong to you and I wouldn't want to! How dareyou!"

China remained silent as he continued to move towards the pair in front of him. He could see everything and when he saw the lick on Yuki's neck...it was almost enough to send him over the edge. The only thing that held him back was the thought that Yuki was in the way. He couldn't, just couldn't barge through Yuki like that to get to the other male and risk hurting his human servant. It was not an option.

Somehow maaging to keep his cool, the tall vampire waited until Yuki was pushed behind the male and released his enery in a bid to frighten China off. So the male was a shifter, a shifter whose back was currently being pounded weakly by an angry Koyuki. A very angry Koyuki. He didn't know what species the male in front of him was, keeping him from his servant be he was deffinately stronger than the shifter. You didn't live to one thousand and not learn how to tell who you were stronger than.

"Did you hear that? He doesn't belong to you and he doesn't want to go anywhere with you."

China's next sentence was uttered with power and despite the unknown shifter shielding his gaze, he would still feel the power that China held. His eyes bled to an ice blue film so he looked blind and his skin began to low slihtly as his true power was shown.

"Release him. Now."

Gaelan blinked at hearing the sudden French. The pounding wasn't a problem, it was the fact he couldn't understand what the kid was saying that annoyed him. He was just about to push the human off of him when the vampire spoke up and translated what the kid was saying. He smirked just a bit as he kept his own energy going. His eyes shifting to that of his snakes as he embraced it with out changing. "Why don't you make me?" He asked with his eyes still avoiding his gaze.

He felt how strong he was. He had killed vampires his level and stronger before. Granted he was unaware of exactly how strong this one was, and if he had known...he would have listened. Unfortunately the fates were not smiling on him that much at the moment. This time he did push Yuki away from him so as not to get him in the cross fire. No need to damage the goods that was being fought over.

He then took up a stance that was clearly defensive, and showed that he knew what he was doing. His eyes went blank as it seemed he went into a certain part of himself to do what he had to. There was no emotion...no fear...no excitement. It was all gone...everything except the look of death. That instead of the man or the beast with in, it was a killer. Granted his beast was a predator as well, and was best in strength. However that was not something on his mind right now. Right now...he was focused on the vampire before him...waiting.

Yuki stumbled backward and fell onto his rear as the stranger pushed him away and he was positively shivering at the displays of power from both his Master and his captor. This was no going to go well... but he was free now. That was definitely good.

Moving as quietly as he could, he started trying to mmake his way around so that he could get over to China. And of course he kept in mind that he would need to stay out of reach of the other man... he could probably move really fast like Shiro but with as focused as he now seemed to be, Yuki didn't think he would bother tearing his eyes from the vampire long enough to chase him. He hoped.

It was an annoyance really. All this because one shifter got it into his head that Yuki was fair game. Well he was not and although China detested the idea of starting another war in this fair city, it looked like that could possibly happen quite soon. If China did end up starting a war though......Donovan would kill him for sure. All their hard work would be for nothing and everythng would once more decend into chaos. This time though there would be more casualties as it would be a knock down drag out fight until one side was eradicted from the city.

That was the reason that China had formed a little plan in his mind. If he could show off his power without actually killing the shifter infront of him, force the male to back down, adit he is submssive then he could both get Yuki back and avoid a war.

"I believe the term is.....You do not know who you are messing with."

That said China focused his power and unleashed it towards the male shifter, pressing on his aura and turning it against its owner. It would cause blood to sprout in three neat slashed across the males torso if done correctly and China had enouh practice at this particular techniue to do it with his eyes closed. Thankfully he was also a good aim because with Yuki moving around it would be all to easy to hit the human servant by accident. Chna couldn't afford that either.

Gaelan felt movement but it was too late to ask. The human was already out of his reach, and heading for the vampire again. Great...he just lost another prospective sub. Finding someone just for him was proving more difficult by the day, and he was needing a good lay already. Upon the vampires words, he only smirked a bit. He wasn't just a normal shifter. He was a trained bounty hunter, and had taken down baddies like him.

However when the attack hit with out the vampire even moving towards him. Blood spurted where he was slashed, but he didn't fall. If anything he looked more stubborn, "Is that suppose to scare me? I've faced down worse then you." He said defiantly. He had fight in him, and using his own supernatural gifts he use his speed to charge at the vampire.