THIRTEEN

The next morning we all left after breakfast. Driving to the Demon Hunter bar we all stood in front of the board to see who our target would be. Just as always Ban and Kenji remained on the board untouched by everyone who didn't have a death wish.

My eyes stayed on Ban's smiling face. Just as beautiful as every. He stared from the picture as if he was looking at me. I could hear Mother Fate's words. She asked me if I loved Ban. How could anyone love a demon? I'm a demon. I'm incapable of love. Even if I could love Ban has only earned my undeniable hatred.

Shaking silly thoughts like love out of my head I cast my eyes away from Ban so that I could look at the rest of the board. A C-class demon would be best for this team. It was strong enough to get us some money. Weak enough to be used as the practice we needed in order to get our teamwork down pack.

Looking at my ragtag team of misfits I wondered if teamwork even existed between us. Rai hated Soji because I kissed him. Emiko hated me because I was a demon. Soji was free loving and smiles all around. What was I? Annoyed with all three of them.

Pulling a page from the board I looked at the demon on it. The Soul Demon Azul. He would fetch us forty thousand credits. He would be a good first mission for the team. Maybe being trapped in the car as we make it to him will be good for team morale.

Spitting up we all needed to go shopping for the road ahead of us. I didn't need anything so I sent Rai with Emiko and Soji. It would be good for the three of them. At least I hoped it would be. For now I wanted a few minutes to myself. Since Shu's death and making to back to Rai and Amy, I don't think I had a moment that it was just me.

Pulling a pack of cigarettes out, I placed one between my lips. Flicking my finger, the black flame appeared lighting the end of the stick. Inhaling deeply the smoke burned slightly as I blew it out through my nose. I could feel the stress of the last few weeks melting away from me.

Turning I started to walk when I was frozen in my tracks. My eyes fell to a man who wasn't actually a man. The Blood Demon Kenji was in this city. It had been a while. Maybe he picked this city to be where he got his next meal. Some family was about to be demon food.

The last time I saw him he was kicking me around as if I was some rag doll. The last time I saw him Shu died. The thought of Shu made my blood boil. He was alone, without Ban around I wondered if I was demon enough to take him. This was my chance to avenge Shu and his family. It was my job as a member of that family to take my pound of flesh.

Flicking the cigarette away, I followed Kenji as he walked through the streets. Fighting him out in the opening would just mean more humans would die as they were caught up in our battle. I would follow him until he was somewhere less crowded.

As Kenji walked down an alley, my nails and fangs pushed down. I was ready to end his life. He had to pay for all the sins he commented. He had to pay for the pain that he has caused the people I love. The people who took me in when I had nothing. Kenji had to pay.

My steps started to quicken. Soon I was rushing towards the Blood Demon. Before I could touched him, hands grabbed me yanking me back. They covered my mouth and wrapped around my waist as I was pressed against something, no it was someone.

I could feel my mind racing as I struggled against hands that had enough strength to hold me. Who was this? Kenji wasn't alone. Who was he with? I stopped my struggled for a moment. I could feel someone lowering themselves so their face was beside mine. My eyes shifted and I could see hair as red as blood.

"You're so feisty, Natsu." Ban's lips were at my ear as he whispered. My eyes shifted down the alley, but Kenji was gone. He got away because of Ban. They were trying to bring about the Night of Demons. I was the person who was supposed to be stopping this. Killing Kenji probably would stop it.

In a smooth motion, Ban slammed me against the wall of the alley. My face hit the wall hard enough for spider web cracks to form. I hissed out as he was still behind me.

"I live to see that look of pain on your face, Natsu." Twisting my head Ban pressed his lips to mine. I parted my mouth under his. Our tongue twisted around each other as I started to close my eyes. I knew what this was. I knew how easy I could get lost in Ban. I could feel his fingers grabbing a fist full of my hair as he slammed my head into the wall. The warmth of my blood ran down my face as dust from the wall rained down on us.

Ban slipped his fingers into my pants groping me. I gasped at the pleasure of his touch. How could this man make me feel so good? A small moan parted my lips as his fingers wrapped around my length and started to stroke me. I shook my head. Trying my best not to fall into the trap Ban was laying for me.

Jerking my head back, I could feel it slamming against Ban's face. He backed away from me and I quickly turned around. My lips pulled back in a sneer as I let out a low growl. Ban was rubbing at his nose, but there were no outward signs that my headbutt affected him.

"You know it turns me on when you fight." He was smiling that perfect smile at me. His fingers wrapped around my throat as his other fist slammed into my stomach. I doubled over as he let me fall down to my knees. His fingers pressed into my hair as he yanked my head back hard enough to make me look up at him.

"You're so hot when you're on your knees, Natsu."

"Burn in hell, Ban," I growled at him and he laughed before punching me in the face. I thought I saw stars for a moment, but I shook it off trying to get back to my feet. There was no way I was going to stay on my knees in front of him. Ban pulled on my hair making me raise back up. He pushed me into the wall again before mashing his mouth against mine.

My fingers pressed up his shirt resting against his chest as he deepened our kiss. He tasted like coffee and blood. I could feel myself giving into him before he pulled back. There was a frown on his perfect face. I don't think I ever saw Ban frown before. There has never been a need to. He has always gotten what he wanted.

"You smell different." He pressed his noses into my hair sniffing me as if he was some kind of animal. Maybe being a demon and a dog wasn't that far apart. He shoved his fingers into my pants again and I gasped as he squeezed his hand around me. It felt amazing as he started to stroke me.

"Who has touched you?" No one touched me. At the very most Soji and I kissed. Could he smell that on me? Or maybe it was just the fact that Soji was so close to me now that he could smell his light on me?

"Ban," I moaned his name as he pressed in closer to me. Ban was the only one that touched me like this. Maybe I wanted someone else to. Maybe I wanted Soji, there was no maybe about that. I knew that I wanted the white mage. Maybe that was what Ban was smelling on me. My want for someone other than him.

"What whore did you lay down with?" I laughed. Was he . . . jealous?

"Any I like." I hissed at him and moaned when his fangs sank deep into my neck. I could feel him drinking from me. My nails ran down his chest as he continued to stroke my member. I didn't know how much longer I could last. The pleasure this man caused was always overwhelming.

Ban was the only demon I knew that drank from other demons. I had some of that power in me. I didn't drink from demons, but I could take their powers by eating their core. It was the same thing I had done with Maya and so many others before her.

Pulling back I watched as my blood dripped from Ban's lips. He grabbed my shoulders turning me around. My face was slammed into the wall again as my pants were yanked down my waist. I could feel two of his fingers enter me and it sent another wave of pleasure coursing through my body.

"You're mine, Natsu. Only I can have you. Only I love you." This was whispered softly in my ear. It was almost said a plea. I shook my head. I didn't accept his words. I wasn't his. I didn't believe that someone like him could love. Even if he could, I would never love him back.

I could feel him licking the back of my neck. It sent shivers down my spine to feel him touching me. I wanted more than his fingers. How long has it been since Ban and I done this. Forty years since he been inside of me. I wanted it, I needed it.

Mother Fate words played inside of my head again. It was sobering to think that someone thought I loved him. He was a monster. He killed my mother, sister, and my father. He killed my sister-in-law and tried to kill my brother and the niece I never got to meet. More importantly he killed me. My brain hated him, my heart rejected him, my body wanted Ban.

"Ban," Kenji's voice echoed in the alley. I had been coming after him so how had Ban and I ended up like this. "We need to go." Kenji called and Ban tongue ran over my neck again. His hand was still pumping my member as his fingers continued to slide into my body. I could only moan in the pleasure he was bringing me.

"Ban!" Kenji yelled and my eyes shifted to him. Ban let out a deep threatening growl and I could see the Blood Demon take a few steps back. He was scared of Ban. That was something I never felt towards the Great Demon. Fearing him seem pointless after I became a demon. Fear had gotten me nothing but dead.

Removing his hands, I hissed out in disappointment as he turned me around again. His black eyes looked down into my golden ones. His eyes were beautiful. Yet they served to remind me he lacked a soul. There was only darkness inside of this demon. It sobered the lust growing inside of me. Still I shivered when he licked the blood from my face.

"I'll kill any and everyone who touches you, Natsu." Ban yanked my pants back up as he stepped away from me. My mind shifted to Soji. To what Mother Fate said about Ban killing the white mage. It was my job to protect Soji from this beast.

"Over my dead body." I hissed my words at him and Ban gave me that perfect smile of his.

"My sweet Natsu. That's already been done." He laughed as the two demons disappeared in front of my face. I hissed out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. Pressing my back against the wall, I slide down to sit on the ground. Reaching up I clenched the cloth over my heart. Ban, his name echoed inside of me.