A/N: Although this story is essentially a one-shot, it is very long (11K+), and I've chosen to post it in two parts. Here's part one. Enjoy.

Jin-ho brought Seung-ri to Ha-neul at the beginning of summer. The days had been getting longer, and the weather was finally settling own: it was always warm and humid now, a pleasant change from the gray, rainy days of winter. Ha-neul answered the ring on his doorbell to find Jin-ho standing outside, gripping a boy who smelled of blood by the arm.

"Jin-ho," Ha-neul said. "I don't think you've ever visited me--and with a new vampire, no less."

"Fresh blood is more trouble than anything. That's why I'm dumping this one on you." He jerked his head at the boy, who glared at both of them.

"Hey," the boy snapped, "quit talking about me like I'm not here."

Ha-neul turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "So why are you here?"

"He's been hanging out with troublemakers," Jin-ho said. "He nearly got staked by one of the Asclepieion's Guardians."

"It was a joke."

"You were hunting one of their Healers. That's not a joke, you fool. You know Healers are dangerous to target. You're lucky Halifax recognized you, otherwise you'd be dead right now."

Ha-neul sighed. "Hunting? He must be very new. And you're putting him in my care?" He raised an eyebrow. "What am I supposed to do with him?"

"I'm not going anywhere with him--"

"Seung-ri, shut up or I'll bite you."

Seung-ri shot Jin-ho a murderous glare.

Ha-neul massaged his forehead, already feeling tired. "You always had a charming way of dealing with people, Jin-ho. Unfortunately, I don't, so there's no way I'm taking this boy in. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry," said Jin-ho, face hardening, "because I have to tell you that this is an order."

Ha-neul's expression didn't change, but his voice took on a sharper edge. "From who? From Ahn Ki-hyun? You know I don't owe him anything."

"No, from the Asclepieion. Otherwise he wouldn't be here for hunting."

"Oh? Then why are you bringing him over?"

"Because the Asclepieion ordered Ki-hyun, and Ki-hyun ordered me, that's why. You ask too many questions, Ha-neul."

"I like to know what's going on," Ha-neul said. He glanced at Seung-ri, who had looked up at the mention of Ki-hyun's name. "But I have no intention of taking this boy in. What is he to Ki-hyun, anyway? Why am I supposed to help him?"

Jin-ho pulled Seung-ri forward, so Ha-neul could see him better, from the high, aristocratic nose to the unusual gray-blue eyes, a color Ha-neul had only seen once before. "Because," Jin-ho said, "he's Jung-hyuk's son--and dead or not, your blood tie to him still exists."

Blood ties were supposed to last forever; they obligated one vampire to another, made them as good as brothers, and carried even through death. Except Ha-neul had never considered that Jung-hyuk would die--would want to die. And he'd never considered that Ki-hyun would keep track of his son, a reminder of him, let alone have anything to do with him.

When Jin-ho had left, Ha-neul sat down on his sofa and examined Seung-ri silently .Seung-ri fidgeted, then sat down on the couch across from Ha-neul. "Stay standing," Ha-neul said, crossing his legs. "I didn't say you could sit."

"You can't tell me what to do, you asshole."

"I'm your guardian. You are to listen to me."

"I'm nineteen. I'm legal."

"You're a baby by my standards. And the Asclepieion put you in my care." Ha-neul stared at Seung-ri steadily, not even blinking, until Seung-ri stood up again. Ha-neul smiled, knowing that his calm had unnerved the boy. "Good. Now, I'm going to ask you some questions. I expect you to answer them--truthfully."

"Whatever."

"You mean, "Yes, sir.'"

"I'm not--"

"Seung-ri ah, I might not bite like Jin-ho, but I expect the same amount of respect from you. It's about 

time you learned some manners.

Seung-ri glared.

Ha-neul merely smiled again. "Now, if you don't want to call me 'sir.' Or, if you want to be more familiar, I will accept 'hyung.'"

"What the hell does that mean?" Ha-neul raised an eyebrow. "…Sir."

"It's what a boy calls his older brother."

"You're not my brother."

"In my case, it's more of an affectionate term."

"I don't even like you…sir."

"Then 'sir' will do."

"Fine, sir."

"Thank you. Now…" Ha-neul inspected Seung-ri from head to toe again. He looked a lot like Jung-hyuk; Ha-neul tried not to let it bother him. "How long have you known Ki-hyun?"

"Since I was little."

"Did he raise you?"

"No, I had foster parents. He just dropped by once in a while, to talk to me." Seung-ri frowned. "Why are you asking so many questions?"

"Because I want to know the answers." Ha-neul sighed, and then he said softly, "You have to understand, Seung-ri, that I know nothing about you."

"But Ki-hyun said he and you were my dad--my real dad's--best friends! How come you don't know anything?"

Ha-neul smiled. This time it was sardonic, not polite or amused. "Really. Ki-hyun said that?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, best friends don't always know everything. Did Ki-hyun tell you anything about your birth father?"

Seung-ri shrugged. "Said that he died after my mom did. That he was a vampire, but my mom was human."

"Mmm, that's about right. So you grew up knowing all this? About supernatural things?"

"Yeah. My foster parents are with the Asclepieion. And I'm telepathic. Telekinetic, too."

"…Ah." Ha-neul sighed. Of course. He'd probably inherited it from his father. "Have you had any training for that?"

"No. I don't need any."

"Everybody needs training," Ha-neul said.

"Not me."

Ha-neul sighed. He wondered if the Asclepieion expected him to try and train this kid, on top of taking care of him. "All right. Well, was Ki-hyun the one who bit you?"

Seung-ri muttered, "Yes."

"Mmm, I thought as much. How long ago was this?"

"A year ago, maybe."

"Were you scared?"

"Hell no. I thought it was cool. I've wanted to be a vampire since I was little."

"It's not all it's cracked up to be."

"It makes you powerful," Seung-ri said, eyes lighting up. "Why would I want to stay weak and human, when I could be immortal?"

He might have looked like Jung-hyuk…but this boy spoke like Ki-hyun. And, if Ha-neul was to be honest, also like himself when he was younger. Ha-neul wanted less and less to do with him, but the blood tie dictated that it was his responsibility. Not even Ha-neul could ignore a blood tie. Uncrossing his legs, he stood up and gestured for Seung-ri to follow him. "Drinking blood gives us eternal youth, not immortality," he corrected the boy as he walked him to the bedroom. "And if you're going to be living with me, I suggest you keep opinions like that to yourself. My weak human friends might not appreciate them so much."

"Ki-hyun said you were weird."

"Ki-hyun says a lot of things," Ha-neul said. "If you're intelligent at all, you'll learn not to take it all as gospel truth."

"Seung-ri ah, if you're going to have the bad manners to scowl like that all through breakfast, at least do me the favor of hiding your displeasure. It's ruining my appetite."

"It's seven A.M. On a Saturday morning."

"And?"

"And I'm awake."

"You could have stayed in bed."

"You woke me up by flinging open the goddamn window and letting all that sunlight in."

"Ah. Well, I apologize."

Seung-ri poked the scrambled eggs on his plate. "Whatever. I thought you'd eat traditional food or something. Not eggs and toast."

"I normally do, but I thought I'd make this today since you're probably more used to it."

"Really?" Something like gratitude flickered in Seung-ri's eyes.

It died out in an instant when Ha-neul said, "…No. Actually, it's because I can't cook anything else."

Seung-ri went from poking to stabbing. "You don't even want me here," he muttered.

Ha-neul opened a copy of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and began reading as he ate. "I'm not very good with people in the first place," he said in between bites. "Besides that, I'm not used to having a child shoved on me and being told to raise him."

"I'm not a child. I'm nineteen, and I don't need any raising."

"You're nineteen, but you have no manners and no respect. You probably don't even know the first thing about being a vampire."

"I know plenty. I mean, how hard is it to bite someone and suck blood?"

"I'm talking about protocol," Ha-neul said, flipping a page. "Or customs, more like."

"What customs?"

"For one thing, nobody hunts anymore. We get blood from the Asclepieion. It's much cleaner that way."

Seung-ri frowned. "But Ki-hyun says that getting blood from the Asclepieion is for weaklings. He and Jin-ho hunt."

"Seung-ri ah, Ki-hyun does not know everything. He just talks like he does. And yes, while he and Jin-ho most likely hunt, that is not the most intelligent idea. You should know. Alan Halifax almost killed you for doing it."

Seung-ri didn't talk for a few moments, but Ha-neul could sense the anger building. He kept reading, waiting for Seung-ri to boil over. Finally, Seung-ri said, "Why are you always putting Ki-hyun down?"

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are! You always smirk when I talk about him, and you say, "Ki-hyun doesn't know everything,' like he's stupid. You're so fucking condescending, but you'd probably run away if you had to fight him. Guys like you always run, because you're all talk and no action--" Seung-ri didn't have a chance to finish his tirade, because Ha-neul got up, grabbed Seung-ri's arm, and bent it behind his back in one fluid motion. Seung-ri howled in pain and outrage, struggling to break away. "Shit! Ow!"

"Talking seems to have no effect with you," Ha-neul said calmly. "And I have no wish to use fear as an influence. But if you continue being a pretentious little brat, I won't hesitate to use Jin-ho's hands-on method, since it seems to be very effective."

"Let go of me!"

"Not until you show me some respect."

"You don't show Ki-hyun or me any respect!"

"You haven't earned any, and whatever Ki-hyun earned he's lost."

"Well, you haven't earned any respect from me at all," Seung-ri said, growling.

"I don't need you to respect me. I need you to listen to me."

"Why the hell do you expect me to follow your orders blindly? Then you'll never respect me, 'cause I sure as fuck wouldn't respect myself."

Ha-neul chuckled, amused, and finally released Seung-ri. "So you do have some guts, after all. Maybe even a bit of brains."

Seung-ri leaped up from his seat, clutching his arm. "I'm not a coward. I'm not scared of you or anyone."

"Oh really? You seemed rather scared of Jin-ho. Aren't you scared of Ki-hyun, as well?"

"I respect both of them," Seung-ri said, dripping venom.

"And how did they earn your respect? Through fear?"

"Through power." Seung-ri whirled around and stomped out of the kitchen.

"Seung-ri! Where are you going?"

"Out! And don't fucking try to stop me!"

The door slammed shut, and Ha-neul massaged his forehead. He'd meant to discipline Seung-ri, not make him leave the house. Clearly, his people skills needed some brushing up on.

Alan Halifax looked up from his paperwork when Ha-neul walked into his office. "What were you guys thinking, giving me some kid to raise?" Ha-neul asked, standing in front of Alan's desk, arms crossed.

"Ah, yes," Alan said. "How's that going?"

"Well, he ran out on me this morning, so I'd say we're off to a rocky start."

"I’m sure you'll be able to straighten him out. That's why we gave him to you."

"There are about a hundred other vampires you could have chosen."

"None of them would be able to handle him. Apparently, he drove his foster parents crazy by sneaking out all the time. I think most vampires would just beat him if he did that, and we couldn't condone that."

"…well," Ha-neul said, "I did twist his arm this morning."

Alan raised an eyebrow.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it doesn't now. Anyway, I don't know what I'm going to do with him. He has no manners, no respect. Also, he's apparently telepathic and telekinetic, but without any training whatsoever. And on top of that, he worships Ki-hyun."

"You have the same talents, so I’m sure it won't be hard for you to train him," Alan said. "And speaking of Ki-hyun, I'm glad you're here. I was going to call you anyway, to ask about him and his little group of malcontents."

Ha-neul asked, "Yes? Well, it's not such a little group anymore, is it? I smell a lot of blood in the air, and the number of hunts are growing."

Alan shook his head, sighing. "You're right. And the number of people being turned is growing, too. It's making the Asclepieion nervous, but the Council keeps insisting that Ki-hyun means no harm. What do you say?"

"Ki-hyun really is intent on creating a master strain of humanity," Ha-neul said, "to fit his ideal that only the strong should be allowed to live. The Council just chooses to believe him when he says he's only trying to bring in new blood. I think some of them want that master race?"

"And you?" Alan's eyes were cool as he looked at Ha-neul.

"Nowadays, I think there's nothing fantastic or powerful about being a vampire. We're the same as other people: we can still feel, and hurt, and suffer. And blood is a drug. We need it; we crave it. We're dependant on it because without blood we'll die a slow and painful death. There's no difference between us and junkies on the street: we just look better groomed."

"Then why not kill yourself?"

"Because I don't think suicide is the way out. Besides, I might leave some people behind who will miss me, as hard as that is to believe. You'd be sad, yes?" Ha-neul smirked slightly.

Alan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "No."

"How sad. So what did you want to call me here for? Just to ask my opinion on Ki-hyun?"

This time, Alan looked slightly amused by something, which was unusual. "I wanted to do that, yes, but I also wanted to tell you that the Council might be ignoring Ki-hyun, but I'm not. I'm preparing for the worst."

"And?"

"And, that means I'm putting together a group of supernaturals to deal with Ki-hyun if he becomes a problem." Alan picked up a piece of paper and handed it to Ha-neul. "This is a list of potential candidates."

Ha-neul's eyes widened when he saw the name at the top. "Hey--"

"Congratulations," Alan said. "You've been chosen as the leader."

"No," Ha-neul said immediately. "I refuse. This is ridiculous."

"It's not. You're one of the very few vampires who aren't connected to the Council. You're old, and you're respected. Most importantly, you know Ki-hyun personally. Ha-neul, you're perfect for this job."

"Except I don't want it. Look, Alan, I've got a kid I'm obligated to take care of, and he hates me. I don't need to be leader of a group of more people who might somehow end up wanting my guts as well."

"You can do it, or would you rather have your blood supply cut off? Then you can go back to hunting, like the old times."

Ha-neul growled lowly. No matter how many years went by, tension would always spring up between Alan and him--neither of them could forget that moment when Alan had nearly driven a stake into Ha-neul's heart, ready to kill him for hunting an Asclepieion member. "That's low," Ha-neul said softly. "Is this that important to you?"

"You said yourself that Ki-hyun wants to create a master race. And you're blind if you don't know that he's possessed by the Mara. Of course this is important to me."

"Then why don't you and the Guardians handle it? You're immortal, for god's sake, it can't be that hard for you to take down Ki-hyun."

"First of all, the Asclepieion has never 'taken down' anyone. We're here to protect, not to attack. Second of all, there are only a handful of Guardians, and I have information that Ki-hyun is gathering more than just vampires. He's got other supernaturals and Gift-users. The Guardians have to protect the Asclepieion as a whole; we can't divert our attention solely to Ki-hyun."

"But why me?"

"I already told you."

Ha-neul paced around. "Shit. It seems like you and the Asclepieion are asking me to do a lot now."

"It's two things, Ha-neul."

"Two big things."

"Yes or no?"

"Do I really have a choice?"

"People always have a choice. You say that yourself, Ha-neul."

"Then fine," Ha-neul said sharply. "I accept."

"Good." Alan steepled his fingers and rested his chin on them, watching Ha-neul pace. "Now tell me something, Ha-neul."

"What?"

"Your reluctance to lead this team…is it because you don't want to work with people, or because you don't want to work against your friend, Ki-hyun?"

Ha-neul stopped pacing. He glanced at Alan, then said flatly, "Ki-hyun stopped being my friend the moment he destroyed Jung-hyuk's life. I let him go then, but this time I have no qualms about going against him--or about having to kill him, if needed."

Ha-neul went home after talking to Alan. He opened the door and walked inside. A vase flew towards him and he stopped it, just as it was about to hurtle into his face. A flick of Ha-neul's hand sent it back to its place on the mantle. "I must say, I'm not used to being assaulted by flying objects in my own home," he said.

Seung-ri lost control of all the vases, pots, and pans suspended around him when Ha-neul spoke, and they plummeted. "Shit!"

Ha-neul sighed. The objects stopped an inch from the ground. Another wave of Ha-neul's hand, and they floated to their original places around the house. "Hmm, that was pretty good for having no training," he said. "Although you could do with some more control."

"I have plenty of control!"

"Ah, yes. And that's why that vase was just about to hit me in the face, right?" Ha-neul walked over to the couch and sat down. "How did you get back into the apartment?"

"I picked the lock."

"…Ah." Ha-neul made a note to put better locks on his door. "Well. I'm glad you've decided to come back, Seung-ri ah."

Seung-ri scowled. "I only came back because Ki-hyun wouldn't take me and I have nowhere else to stay."

"How flattering. Is there anything I could possibly do to make your stay here more appealing?"

"Just leave me alone," Seung-ri muttered.

"I can do that only if you'll agree to follow some rules." Ha-neul leaned back in the couch, crossing his legs.

"Fuck rules--"

"I'm giving you room and board, Seung-ri ah. For free. All I ask is that you follow some guidelines, to make both our lives a little easier."

Seung-ri acquiesced, albeit grudgingly. "Fine. But I don't want any retarded rules or anything."

"Rules are up to me, Seung-ri ah. But I only have two, and one request." Ha-neul gazed at Seung-ri and spoke quietly. "One, I will try to earn your respect, and I ask that you give me a chance, instead of just shooting me down. Two, you are free to come and go as you please, as long as you don't get into any trouble--this includes hunting."

Seung-ri nodded. "And what's your request?"

"That you let me teach you to control your powers."

"I don't need any teaching," Seung-ri snapped immediately. "I already told you that."

"I doubt that. So what can you do, exactly?"

"Move objects. Read minds. Pick up memories from objects and places. I'm really good at it." He was full of pride. Again, Ha-neul saw Ki-hyun reflected in those gray-blue eyes, and he wondered if there was anything of Jung-hyuk in this boy at all.

"You couldn't even keep up your concentration when I interrupted you. That's the kind of thing that takes practice, not just raw talent."

"I get plenty of practice," Seung-ri said.

"By doing what? Hunting people?"

Seung-ri glared at him, and Ha-neul felt a faint buzzing inside his head. Something was poking around the walls of his mind, trying to find its way inside. He smiled, amused as well as disturbed. Ki-hyun always used to do this when he was angry at Ha-neul, and Ha-neul always said what he did now: "It's very rude to try and break into someone's mind, you know." The buzzing ended. "What were you trying to prove?" Ha-neul asked, raising an eyebrow. "That you're gifted? Powerful?"

Seung-ri caught the derision in Ha-neul's voice and turned on his heel. "I am gifted and powerful. And you know," he said, "I heard that you were a legend. You were unbeatable. But all I see is some bitter old guy who talks a lot." He glanced over his shoulder at Ha-neul as he left, contemptuous and angry. "There's nothing I could learn from you."

When he was gone, Ha-neul sighed and covered his face with one hand. "Jung-hyuk…So-na… What would you think now, if you could see your son?" What would they think of him?

Summer was in full swing and the moon was full when Seung-ri was attacked and Ha-neul's life took another tumble. Ha-neul and Seung-ri were on slightly more neutral terms, now that some time had passed. They barely ever spoke, and Seung-ri was gone for the better portion of the day, but since he didn't get in trouble and he gave Ha-neul a modicum of courtesy when they did run into each other, Ha-neul let him do what he wanted.

Ha-neul was too busy to try and force the boy into being taught; he spent the long, hot days and nights talking to people, trying to recruit them for his group. Some were willing; others saw no point in joining. A few, like Matthias Carlisle, came to Ha-neul and volunteered. Even though Ha-neul suspected that the Asclepieion's head had sent him to spy on Ha-neul, he was grateful for his presence. He was immortal, like all Guardians, and his friendly demeanor won over more people than Ha-neul could.

"You know," Ha-neul said, when Matthias came by one night for a visit. Seung-ri had mysteriously disappeared, like he often did when people came by. "I'd like you a lot better if you weren't here to spy on me." He smiled.

Matthias sighed, crossing his legs. "I'm not spying. I'm helping."

"I thought Noah Beccaria was all right with this team."

"He is. It's just that he, hmm--"

"Doesn't like me?"

"Ah. Yes."

Ha-neul's smile didn't falter. "I can reassure you, I'm doing the best I can for this group."

"I believe you!" Matthias smiled cheerfully at Ha-neul. He was about to say something else, but he paused, face puzzled. Ha-neul's body had gone tense, and his head had tilted to the side, as if he was listening to someone, the normal signs of a telepath receiving a message. Then whatever blood was in Ha-neul's face drained away. "…Ha-neul?"

"We have to go." Ha-neul stood up and strode to his room. He came back out, pulling on a black coat and holding a case full of throwing knives.

Matthias was already standing, waiting. "What's going on?" he asked as Ha-neul walked up to him.

"Seung-ri--someone I know is in trouble. I need you to take me to him as quickly as possible."

Matthias placed a hand on Ha-neul's arm. "Do you know where he is?"

"I don't know where--I can just see it in my head. Is it enough? Can you take me there?"

"Close your eyes and think about it," Matthias instructed. "Don't let go of me."

Ha-neul did as he was told. He focused on the single image that Seung-ri had sent him, trying to bring back all the details so it would be easier for Matthias. A dark apartment, dozens of yellow eyes, claws, fear. Seung-ri's fear. His body felt like it was dissolving, but it solidified again when he materialized in the apartment he'd seen--right in the middle of a pack of werewolves.

"Ha-neul!" Matthias cried. "Duck!"

Ha-neul crouched just as a huge paw swiped at thin air, where his head had been a split second ago. Pulling out a throwing knife, he threw it at the werewolf. It embedded in the werewolf's shoulder, and the wolf howled in pain, falling back. Ha-neul quickly fanned the rest of the knives in his right hand. The glint of metal halted the werewolves momentarily, long enough for Matthias to call from where he was crouched by a body, "Ha-neul, this boy is very badly injured. I think he's the one who called you."

"Take him to the nearest temple," Ha-neul said. "I'll follow you."

"You can't hold these werewolves off by yourself!"

As if to prove his point, another werewolf lunged at Ha-neul. Ha-neul rolled to the side and flicked a knife at him, slicing his cheek open. He launched the rest of the knives at the pack as they drew close, but this time he kept a thread of control on each one, so he could manipulate it. The knives weaved in and out of the pack, slashing any wolf that came too close to Ha-neul. "Just go!" he yelled at Matthias. "I can handle this!"

Matthias nodded and gathered Seung-ri, who seemed as good as dead, into his arms. One wolf drew near, attracted by the scent of blood, and Matthias waved his hand, sending him flying into a wall. "Sorry," he called, and then he and Seung-ri disappeared.

Ha-neul's knives hovered in the air around him, poised and ready. He looked at the wolves. They were panting and growling, enraged. Blood matted their fur, and Ha-neul knew not all of those wounds had been caused by him, because lodged in one of the werewolves shoulders, up to its ornate hilt, was a knife. It didn't belong to Ha-neul.

"I don't want to hurt you," Ha-neul began carefully.

But he didn't have a chance to finish, because one of the werewolves pounced on him. He didn't fall back even when Ha-neul slashed at his legs, and Ha-neul bit his lip when a claw tore his own leg open. Shit. The rest of the pack converged on him then, taking knives in the chest and shoulders. Ha-neul felt claws ripping into his back and sides, and he thought, I'm supposed to be past this shit.

And then he blacked out.