This story is AU and the characters may seem OOC but I will do my best to keep them as true to the manga characters as possible. Also, this story has implied yaoi but no real action, sorry! This is the first fanfic I have attempted so I hope you all like it and give me constructive criticism/feedback. I will post as often as I can but have a rather busy life so please try to be patient with me. I am not going to hold chapters hostage for reviews but I would like opinions if you are willing to give them. This story is inspired by the song "Burning for You" by Blue Oyster Cult and occasionally I will use lyrics from the song as they pertain to the plot. On with the show now and please enjoy!

Italics=flashback

Burning for You

Chapter 1

No Home

Home in the valley
Home in the city
Home isn't pretty
Ain't no home for me

"Burning for You" by Blue Oyster Cult

Zero rolled over in bed, blocking the sun with an arm thrown lazily across his eyes. He had another late night and just could not bring himself to face the day yet. His relentless pursuit of the band of E's had taken him until after three A.M. There was no denying that his current lifestyle was taking its toll. His body ached, there were permanent dark circles under his eyes, and he was thin to the point of near emaciation.

Moving his arm away he glanced at the clock. It was now nine A.M. and time for him to get up for his day job. He was working days at a small café as a cook. He actually enjoyed it since he had little dealings with people (other than the staff) and it kept his mind off of things he would rather not think about. The café had an excellent menu and was quite popular due to the exceptional food and service. Every Thursday Zero worked a double shift and stayed until two A.M. baking special pastries that were only available on Fridays. This, of course, made it the busiest day of the week since Zero's treats were unlike anything most of the customers had ever tasted. Luckily, Zero did not have to come in those days since he worked the whole previous day and all night.

As luck would have it, today was Thursday. After hunting all night and getting about four hours of sleep, he would have to work into the wee hours of the next morning. Sighing, he moved to sit up, wincing as he felt the pain throughout various places on his body. All the cuts had healed, but he could tell there were still mending ribs, and his muscles were almost screaming as he stood at last. He took a step and groaned in pain, reaching for the painkillers on the night stand. Bottle in hand, he headed for the bathroom for a hot shower.

He entered the bathroom and immediately turned on the water as hot as he would be able to stand it. Zero slowly stripped out of his clothing from the night before, wrinkling his nose at the sight of the gore that remained behind from the hunt. He relieved himself, took a small handful of painkillers, and then stepped into the steaming shower. He hung his head low and let the water pelt his back, relaxing the tense muscles in his neck and shoulders. He stayed this way for a few minutes before reaching for the bar of soap and washed his body. Finishing up, he shut off the water and exited the shower, grabbing a fluffy towel to wrap around his waist and another to dry his hair. He had relaxed some but still felt the ache is his body. He headed out of the bathroom and to the kitchen for some blood tablets. Standing at the kitchen sink with a glass of water in his hand, he gazed around his humble dwelling. It was just a roof over his head, not a home. Zero no longer had a home.

His current residence was a small, one bedroom apartment that looked as Spartan-ly furnished his dorm room at Cross had. Zero felt little need for anything beyond basic living necessities. There was a small couch against the wall on one side of his living room, which faced the old TV and radio on a low shelf, opposite the sofa. A small table and a worn chair in the corner completed the living room. His kitchen was small, running along the wall to the right of his entry way. It had a few cupboards over head and below, a small sink, a refrigerator, and a three burner stove. For seating a tall table and two bar stools worked just fine for him.

He had little company other than Cross, Yagari and more frequently, Kaito Takamiya. Zero was more than aware that Kaito was checking up on him per the request of his respective "fathers". Cross and Yagari worried about him constantly because of the way he had been living for the past six years. It drove him closer to insanity than he was managing on his own, so he finally snapped one day and told them in no uncertain terms to stop mothering him, because contrary to popular belief he did NOT have a death wish. He knew it hurt them but he had to remain distant, or he was worried he would start caring again; about more than his small handful of people that stayed by him, at least. And he could not afford to care anymore. Zero was dead inside, a husk of the man he once was, before his whole world finally shattered beyond what he ever imagined it would. He needed to be dead inside to finish what he set out to do.

He had to kill Kaname Kuran. His pride would not allow him to let the pureblood live. He loved Kaname with all of his soul at one time and the man had completely ruined him. Had taken more than Zero even thought he had left in him to give. What Kaname had done was unforgivable.

Eight years ago…

No one knew about the taboo relationship between Zero and Kaname. It began when Kaname forced his blood on Zero in the dungeon at Cross Academy. Had Kaname known where this exchange would lead, he would never have offered the ex-human his blood in the first place. This one act would seal them in a bond of blood stronger than the hate each felt for the other.

Once Zero had finally sunk his fangs into the pureblood vampire's neck, it was over. They would not be parted for the next two years. Zero had drunk too much and Kaname , lost in the ecstasy of the feeling of his blood being taken in such a violent, yet intimate, way called to the vampire inside him. As Zero jerked his fangs free only to bite down harshly again Kaname gave in to his vampiric nature and sunk his fangs into Zero's strong neck, growling as the boy's blood burst into his mouth. It was amazing for both of them and before long they were sharing bloody kisses and tearing the clothes off of one another, their bodies soon writhing together on the cold, stone floor. Zero was horrified afterward and tried to avoid Kaname as much as possible. His attitude toward the pureblood grew nastier than ever; glares during change-over had grown to show a slight tinge of red in his eyes from the barely contained rage Zero felt toward him. Yet, even though he hated Kaname with all of his being, the bond drew him to the pureblood again and again. Somehow his hate began to diminish, only to turn into something else entirely. He fell in love with the arrogant, insatiable beast in human form, the pureblood king of vampires, Kaname Kuran.

Kaname on the other hand was smitten from the first moment they bonded through blood and body. Zero's blood was like nothing he had ever tasted, even better than the highest of vampires Kaname had taken blood from. None had ever made him feel like Zero did. His blood was like nectar and Kaname could play the ex-human's body like it was the finest instrument, as if it had been made just for him. Afterward Zero would leave almost immediately. The first months left Kaname feeling cold and bleak. He did not know how to break through walls his lover had put up after his brother's betrayal, and death of his family that left him as the very creature he was trained to hunt and kill. He was not sure the boy would ever get over it. Kaname was determined to help him try, even if Zero did not recognize that as being his motive.

Zero hated these couplings and himself more for not being able to deny the pureblood his body, nor his blood. Somehow though, Kaname was able to slowly draw Zero out of his self hatred and despair, back to the world of the living. Really, the pureblood had always thought that Zero was dealt a crap hand in life, and was happy to be a reason for the ex-human hunter to want to live. He treasured Zero, treating him like a priceless jewel, making Zero come to realize his own worth. He encouraged him to pursue his hunter training and often accompanied him on missions. He was amazed at what a capable hunter Zero really was and knowing that he was more than worthy of even the deadliest of missions the association would assign to him.

They were in love. They were happy. Zero believed they had a future together. And then one day, Kaname was gone and Zero's mended heart shattered into millions of pieces.

Zero shook his head to clear his thoughts. Bringing up the past was excruciating but it only made his resolve stronger.

"Oh yeah," he mused. "I am burning for you, Kaname. "

Far away in a cold mansion a certain pureblood stirred from sleep. He felt the strong hatred burning through the bond he still shared with his ex-human, ex-lover. A tear rolled down his cheek. This was not how he had wanted nor imagined how things would turn out.

"Soon my love, we will meet again for the last time. Oh how I long to see the fire in your beautiful, amethyst eyes, just once more", Kaname thought as he willed himself back to sleep.

A/N There will be more flash backs in the story explain their past and why they ended up in the current situation. I am still working on the outline for this tale but have a good idea where it will go, just need to add the meat! I hope you liked it and will have more for you soon. Thanks for reading!

Wicked-sama

4 May 2011

Word count 1633