disclaimer; Most of the characters belong to the creators of Xiaolin Showdown, a few belong to me (and aren't very decent, mind you.) The lyrics belong to Creature Feature, and the Chiroptera/Chevalier concept belongs to the makers of Blood, with some minor tweaks on my part.

warnings; Rating will go up in future chapters, so be warned. Yao/shonen ai/slash, whatever you want to call it. Don't like, don't read. Won't be very explicit, or whatever. Terribly made OCs. (xD) Violence, adult themes, dark, and future physical and psychological torture. Oh yeahs. Theres the language too.

a/n; I'd always wondered what Xiaolin Showdown would be like if it was combined with Blood+... and so I end up making this fic. It probably makes no sense whatsoever, nor has any coherency to it. But if you realize this might actually be a good idea, well... thank you. :D

Ah.. forgot to mention... no characters from Blood+ will be included to avoid confusion. If you don't know what Blood+ is... I suggest you go watch the anime, or get the manga. It is a very good, somewhat but non cliché­ vampire series.

Last but not least, above all enjoy.

-Jam

Lessons of Horrid Things

i. Six Foot Deep (A)

"Sit Back Now,
Let Me Tell You A Tale,
Where Justice Does Not Prevail,"

-

Walking down the spiraling staircase of a never ending torture, the red-eyed creature looked about the negative toned world with naught but contempt. Flexing thin, membraned arms the creature hissed in distraught as it felt its skin-and-bone arms creak at the unexpected movement. Anger flared through its crimson eyes as it trudged relentlessly down the pearl colored stairway, its whole form exposed to every joint, to every bone. Transparent ink skin rolled painfully over the exposed skeleton as the beast walked forward, determined to be done with this.

But how dare they! Those humans, thinking they could lock it up like this! Like some form of mindless, domestic beast!? They would pay, those fleshy morsels it hunted for substance, for locking it up for this long! (the exact time had slipped the creature's mind, but it had to have been a long time for it to look like this). The little cattle thought that it would die from being trapped in a realm composed of negative? All it had to do was find a spot that was opposite of all the rest around it.

With a sudden spur of vigor the creature thrust itself into the open area within the spiral, flinching slightly as the membrane that was its wings grew from long bony fingers. Its crimson eyes scanned the area with such precision, it would put the world's best detective to shame. Spotting a splotch of ink upon the pearl stairway, the creature hovered briefly before landing a stair below the splotch.

To make sure this was not apart of its half-starved brain's hallucinations by waving a hand over the splotch, to let out a great cry when a single splotch of bleached bone color appeared upon the ink that was currently its skin. Clawing furiously at the discolored splotch, the creature reveled when it could slip its whole body through the widened rift. It almost didn't want to go through, but hunger propelled it through the rift with a passion.

It felt strange to it... him, he remembered slowly that he was a he. It felt strange to him to seated upon the soft blades of grass once more, and he sat up on his tiptoes just to get used to the feeling. Letting out a yawn, the albino beast took a deep inhale, and the sweet scent of prey filled his lungs, and overpowered his senses. Creeping forward slowly, it took in the sight of three humans talking about something (shoes? what were shoes?), completely unaware to their surroundings. Well, at least he would have some easy prey.

The creature let out a 'tch' as a twig snapped beneath his weight, causing his would-be prey to grow slightly panicky. Not that it mattered. Leaning forward slightly, he lunged, locking hooked hyena-like teeth and jaws into one of the female humans' neck. The crimson liquid that slithered down his throat renewed his vigor as he lunged at the only male of the group, growing satisfied as the remaining female backed up to the stone wall.

"M-m-monster! I-I- told them th-that a venge-geful spiri-t-t of th-the J-jack of-" The girl managed to spit out before her throat was crushed by the beast's jaws.

The human-eater pondered deeply while he picked the skeletons of his prey clean. Who was this 'Jack'? Was it him? Well, why else would the human call him that if it was not true? So the beast settled with that. He was Jack.

Jack let out a tired yawn as he finished the last of the human, he was still hungry but... that could wait while he rested up. After all, it had been, what? Probably almost a thousand years since he had last had a decent rest.

-

"About An Ill-Fated Life
So Very Full Of Strife
Where Two Wrongs Do Not Make A Right

So,"

-

A devious smirk graced his pale lips as the albino teen examined his new living quarters, everything was either the color of fresh spilled blood or ink. This he approved of, even slightly, only because the two happened to be his favorite colors.

"Jackie, sweetie, the tutor will be over in a little bit! Don't get into trouble!"

Jack growled at the voice of that woman, the woman he made fit to act as his mother so that he could blend in amongst humans. The woman of course, did not know that her 'precious son' was actually an ancient species that would devour her without a second thought. The albino had long since remembered enough of what he had forgotten, and was now laying on the silk sheets of his bed with thoughts of what to do with this 'tutor' if the human teacher didn't fit to his standards.

"I take it you are Young Master, Jack Spicer?" A kind voice that belonged to someone around twenty or twenty-two years of age asked, smiling at the albino. Jack carefully studied the man with little or know interest. Golden colored hair hung to the base of the tanned neck, while dark green eyes scrutinized the albino as well. "My name is Skyler Mephisti, and my family has tutored the Spicer family for generations. I hope we get along then, Young Master Spicer," Skyler finished with a half-bow.

"I hope to get along as well, Skyler, but I'm afraid you'll have to tell me what you are suspicious of," Jack returned, a slow knowing smirk on his face.

The golden-haired man froze, turning his wide-eyed stare at the seemingly younger albino, "How did you know I was suspicious of something?"

"I could smell the anxiety rolling off of you, human. Now tell me, why are you suspicious?"

"Before I came here, my father warned me how Vampires are on the lose, that's the main reason the murders have come about with no evidence. Told me that the Kings of their race had the strangest, and most brilliant of colorations. When I laid eyes upon you, Young Master, I thought you were one of them..."

"You couldn't be more right, Skyler. But the correct term for us is 'Chiroptera', at least that's what the man who found me when I was a child called me. Neh, Skyler, would you do anything to protect me?"

The blond paused, confused at the sudden question. Thinking deeply about it, he realized he'd do just about anything to protect the seemingly fragile creature in front of him. "I would, my King..."

"Good..." The albino whispered before his hand was through the blond's chest, before the human could protest, he pressed his blood-filled (it was Jack's own blood) mouth to Skyler, forcing him to drink the bitter tasting liquid. Jack pulled away as the blond human started hacking away, the fragile human body going into spasms as the Chiroptera blood now worming its way through the human's blood stream reconstructed Skyler's whole DNA structure. Jack had to wince as the man who was going to become his Chevalier's (Chevaliers were created when a King gave his blood to a willing dieing human, thus changing him into the King's own protector) body floundered about in the blood.

His lips in a tight line, the albino hefted the blond onto the crimson sheets - couldn't leave someone who was now a member of his species in such an uncomfortable place, now could he?

There were benefits from having a Chevalier or more; Jack no longer needed to attack humans for their blood (he only needed to eat their flesh when he was in a life-or-death state), he could feed from Skyler. He now, more or less, had someone he could always rely on. Which meant those disgusting monstrous half-beasts that were formed after he fed on a human would no longer be able to get near him, and would go about doing whatever. Probably going about to satisfy their endless hunger, and spawning more of their kind.

Jack thought about that for a little while, and decided it didn't concern him much. It wasn't his fault the venom in his fangs did that to humans. The only thing that nagged him was, what if humans became able to fight back against the spawns? Wouldn't that mean it would soon be him on the list?

"No! I won't think about defeat, because it might actually lead to death..." He muttered, sorrow lightly tinting his tone. Letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, the boy flopped down onto the unoccupied side of the bed. Grumbling till he fell asleep, the Chiroptera decided he didn't give a damn about it right now.

-

"When I Was Born
I Did Surely Scorn
My Proud Parent's Name
Then Their Lives Went Down The Drain
Drove Them Insane
My Birth Was A Curse
I Bit The Nurse
Oh, But I Love The Worst
I Deserve To Be Slowly Submersed
Dried Out Then Laid In A Hearse,"

-

A beggar-ish looking man had followed the two Chiroptera through the alleyways, which was slowly grating on the shorter one's nerves. The blond at his side tried to reason with the infuriated albino, "My King, he may only be able to sense that you are powerful-"

"I really don't want to hear it; the guy reeks of rot. I think he's been hanging around those nasty spawns, or at least the spawns' disguises," Jack told Skyler with a half-bored, half-irked tone. This caused the blond Chevalier to sigh, Jack had become prone to anger recently, and had given Skyler no reason as to why. He could tell that something was bothering the young King, but he couldn't place a finger on it.

The two inhuman characters whipped around at the sound of tearing flesh as a mangled bestial creature that just resembled a bat stood in place of the beggar. The beggar lay, torn in two with crimson scattering the walls of the alley. The spawn let out a pure note as it charged at Jack, clearly intending to attack the boy. In a second, Skyler had cleaved the spawn itself in two, his arm retreating back into a regular hand. Immediately he went to check on Jack, "Are you alright my King...?"

"Yes, yes! I'm fine, Skyler. I just don't like being fussed over so much, I'm not a doll," the teen replied nonchalantly, with amusement in his tone.

"Thank goodness... If a spawn had hurt you... Anyways, sire, we must hurry to that dinner you were invited to," Skyler said, fixing his black tuxedo as well as Jack's

"Dammit. And I was hoping you had forgotten! You know I can't stand human food!"

"You'll just have to deal with it, my King, you'll just have to deal with it."

"That doesn't help, Skylar!"

"How about this; I've been doing research on our hosts, their son, Koen, might make a fine Chevalier for you, Jack."

"Ehhh...? You could have told me sooner Skyler! Now I want to go eat some stinky human food."

"You wouldn't have listened before, you were far too angry."

"I was?"

"You were."

"Oh."

-

"When I Was Two
I Poured Super Glue
Into My Fathers Hair
As He Sat Unaware
In His Arm Chair
Much To Dismay
Had To Cut It All Away
Oh, But It Felt Great
I Deserve To Cut And Filleted
Then Tossed About In Disarray
Until The Pieces Melt Away,"

-

Koen, as Skylar had suggested, was very ecstatic of being able to serve a 'higher being'. Even Jack to admit he was unsure about the willingness the boy showed to serve, but had no complaints. It was what the human wanted, and Jack had to admit that the long-haired boy's blood had tasted delicious, like a rich bittersweet German chocolate. Skylar seemed shocked that Koen's recovery rate from the drastic structure change was extremely quick, and the boy had to explain that he had been trained to be an assassin from his birth.

"Your skill will be very useful, Koen, very useful. Now then, let's go home, eh?" Jack half-commanded, half-suggested as he turned to walk home.

"Ah, wait up Masters!" Koen squeaked, trying to keep up with the more grown-up paced walk, while not ripping his traditional robes.

"Keep up Koen! Wouldn't want to lose a new comrade this early in the game, besides I want to try your cooking!" Jack hummed, ignoring the disbelieving stare of Skylar, and sending a silly grin back at Koen.

"You thought Master Jack was completely cruel!? Koen is ashamed of Skylar!" The German-Chinese Chevalier cried out in mock-astonishment.

"You two, don't mess around we're almost home!"

"Ah-" "-ha"

"Of course!"

-

"I Am Not A Bad Man
Even Though I Do Bad Things
Very Bad Things
Such Horrible Things
But It's Not Quite What It Seems
Not Quite What He Seems
Not Quite What I Seem
Ah, Hell
It's Exactly What It Seems."

-

"Young dragons, I am afraid a greater evil than even Katnappe, Wuya, Chase and Hannibal has revealed itself!" The high master of the Xiaolin temple exclaimed to his four apprentices.

"What type of evil must we do battle with this time, Master Fung? Spiders? Squirrels?" A small voice asked.

"No Omi, this is far worse than either of those. A human-eating race called the Chiroptera has grown out of control. You must seek help from Chase Young to eliminate the two Kings of the Chiroptera and their servants," the wise Master informed Omi.

"Wait! If these Chiroptera are as powerful as you say, why haven't regular humans noticed them!?"

"An excellent question, Kimiko, the Chiroptera can disguise themselves as humans, regardless of their strength."

"So, ah, do these Chiroptera have a weakness, now, Master Fung?"

"I'm afraid I do not have that knowledge, Clay. Perhaps Chase Young has that information?"

"Hold on! We have to go, most likely, beg Chase Young for his help!? Beg the Prince of Darkness to help!?"

"Yes Raimundo, you must. Or else the world is truly doomed this time - and it won't be pretty."

a/n; Well. Plot-y-ness is there. It isn't just incomprehensible babble after all! I feel happy. :3

Anyways, did you love it, hate it? I would like for you to inform me using a review.

R & R please and thank you.