the rest of Angelo's dreams were nonsensical and calm. it was only as he was waking that he saw something that scared him. it had been years since the last vision but this one was just like the last one. Angelo was trying to protect Shadow from the hoards of people that were coming to the villa with fire. calling out that they did not know what they were doing. the villagers in reply called out for the death of the monster.

Shadow's expression was solemn. This was something he had always feared would happen. But, he always took precautions...there was always an escape route. He held Angelo as he woke up, still resting. It was clear he was awake, though his eyes were closed...his eyelids kept twitching.

Looking up at Shadows face Angelo reached out and ran his hand along it. "you not asleep, you don't usually breath that much when your truly out." his fingers slowly moved up into Shadows hair. "I forgive you for what you did to me, it was just as much my fault as yours. if you would not mind I would like to take it slower this time. I will try to lead till I am ready." his voice was soft and Shadow could hear the love and need to have that love returned in it.

Shadow opened his eyes, and slowly returned the touch to Angelo's hair. He looked relieved. "I am fine with taking it slowly. But you are going to have to lead. You wanted me to lead last time...and that is probably what led to our moving too quickly. I will not lead this time...even if you want me to."

smiling angelo snuggled in closer to Shadow. "I would only ask you when I am ready for it. you will know when I am ready." his legs wrapped through and around Shaodws. "I know what will happen now, I will be ready for it when I ask."

"That is a plus, of course, that you will know what will happen, now..." Shadow held him close, contently. "I will not make any moves. It is up to you..."

"well I think my first move is to ask you to make breakfast today. I know I usually do it but...." Angelo sighed. he did not feel like making food any time soon but he knew that he needed to eat. "something that you have never made before would be nice."

Shadow smiled, and patted his side, gently. "Give me one ingredient--something you like--and I will make a meal out of it. I need some sort of inspiration, after all..."

"those dried berry's that I have been gathering for the last few years. they are in the gray jar." Angelo smiled up at him and then sighed happily. "I am glad that I don't have to worry about you being killed by a master."

"I don't think you have to worry about me dying for a long, long while..." Shadow ran a hand through Angelo's hair, affectionately, and then stood up. "All right. I'll call you when I finish..." He headed out into the kitchen.

sighing Angelo lay back into the spot that Shadow had left. no longer would he have any one other then Shadow that he loved that was in danger. and now he would be learning how to deal with that danger.

Shadow, unsure of how to use the berries, decided to make small berry cakes. It didn't take him long, at all, since he was good with cooking. When he finished, he set two on two plates--there were quite a few left over.

~I'm finished, if you'd like to come out.~

slowly getting up Angelo sighed and smiled. it was a sad smile because though he had lost his sister he still had shadow. walking into the kitchen he sniffed at the smell. "no meat?"

"No meat for breakfast. I've decided we'll have an all-meat lunch. Meat and berries don't go so well together," Shadow explained, handing his plate to him.

"oh ok." sitting down carefully he smiled at Shadow. "so you have been asking me for some time to learn some of the gifts you saw in me..." he let it hang as he took a bite of the food.

Shadow sat down across from him. "I'll allow you to set up your own learning schedule, but I would prefer to teach you at least once every two days," he informed him, pleasantly. "It is all up to you. We can start as soon as you wish."

"what would you like to teach me first Shadow?" Angelo slowly nibbled as he watched Shadow woudnering what he is going to teach him.

"Well, what would you like to try and learn, first?" Shadow asked, in return. "I will start simple...but anything simple is good."

"I do not fully know what you see that I have, nor do I know what would be simple to you." he finished the cake and reached for a second one. "what can you teach me?"

"I am, for the most part, a jack of all trades, so I could teach you anything..." Shadow paused. "Why don't we start with manipulation of the elements?"

" that sounds like it could be good to learn." finishing his second cake fast Angelo smiled and looked around. "which one will we cover first and where will we work on it?"

"The forest. The fields are too open, and someone might see," Shadow decided, also finishing his. "You may choose which element we work on first. From what I can tell, you can use all of them..."

"then how about we work near my pool and work on water?" picking up his plate he carried it to the sink before hugging shadow.

Shadow put his plate in the sink as well and returned the hug. "That works. When would you like to start?" he asked, pleasantly.

"as soon as it is possible for you to teach me." his fingers slowly traveled down shadows arm to his fingers and intertwined in them. no matter what had happened he still loved this man, even more so now then he had before. but what was to happen to them latter in life. pain seared in his mind causing him to lock his fingers tight to Shadows as he fell to his knees.

he was laying in the fields around the house, some one had shot him with an arrow. his fingers were slowly losing their sense of feeling as he ran his hand along shadows face. there was something off about the field but he could not place it. he could fell the blood slowly flowing from him, almost like when Shadow feeds but he knew it was the last time he would feel it. "sorry...." his voice cracked and faltered as he tried to make all his feeling clear. "I never..." he coughed as blood filled his lungs. not long now, he would be gone soon. he did not want to go like this, he did not want to leave shadow, he did not want him to loose another lover to death.