It hurt.

That was the first thought in Zero Kiryuu's head. It was the only thought in his head. It all hurt. His body, his mind, his heart--it was all engulfed in a painful, bone deep agony that made him want to do little except turn over and die. The stupid part of him, as always, wanted to stay and fight. The smart part of him, the part he rarely heard anymore, it whispered to let it go. What good was there in fighting anymore? What could he possibly gain in this battle? Zero had always needed a reason to fight. Revenge, love, the reasons were varied but when his drug-fogged mind repeated them, they all seamed equally foolish.

He could feel the blood in him churn. Yuuki's strength given for a love he had refused. Kaname's strength given for his love for Yuuki, given for a reason Zero loathed. Ichiru--Ichiru's blood was the worst. The worst because it was given to him for the same reason Yuuki had, for love. Only Ichiru's love had been one he could never understand, one he had only really been reminded of when his other half, his twin bled out in his embrace and condemned him to live on. To live for the both of them. Well it was his twin's own damn fault for picking the wrong ship to sail on.

"Just hold on Zero, we're almost there."

Zero realized the world was swaying because he was slung over a broad shoulder, his body limp as though he was already dead. Whoever was carrying him had some kind of strap on his shoulder because the buckle was digging into his stomach, digging into a place in his body that should have been covered by skin. He must have made some sound of protest because the arms around his waist tightened in some kind of show of comfort. Somehow Zero managed to open his eyes but the swaying of the ground was too much and he shut them tightly as his stomach threatened to rebel against him.

"S-stop it."

It was hard to speak, his mouth was full of liquid. Hot, sticky liquid. Blood, his mouth was full of blood. For some reason the thought of bleeding out when he was so dependent on the disgusting stuff made him smile. Though it hurt, a bitter chuckle spilled from his lips, blood spilling out and hitting the ground. The arms loosened a bit but were still there, still warm and still far more comforting than Zero could admit. He felt the angle change, his shoulder knocking against the back of his rescuer. It didn't hurt, the skin was long healed and he had other wounds to worry about but the image of his brother holding the Bloody Rose, shooting him with the Blood Rose, it was enough to send tendrils of agony radiating from the old wound.

His savior did not speak again until they were inside and he was placed carefully on a bed. There was a ripping sound and something pulled away, sending his skin into waves of red hot agony. His body struggled against the pain but a completely different set of hands pressed down on his body, restricting him from moving at all. His fingers clenched tightly into the sheets below him as the two men above him struggled to see the damage done, struggled to save the life of someone who did not want to be saved. Only two men he could think of would be so damn stubborn.

"Headmaster," the name was hard to get out, "Master."

His eyes opened. Though foggy he was able to make out the form of his training master. He was the one holding him down, his single eye swimming with emotion as he tried to keep Zero, if not pliant, then at least prevent him from further injuring himself or them. His head turned to the other side and he saw the face of Kaien Cross. His blond hair hung free around his features, his eyes focused on the wound on Zero's chest. He looked far more serious than Zero had ever seen him, his mouth set in a determined line. From the blood that stained his coat he realized his had been Kaien who carried him back.

"Why?" he managed to ask.

Why? Why had a man with no more loyalty to the Vampire Hunter's Association taken him in? Why had he fought when Zero had no more strength too? Why had he always forced Zero to see that just because he was a Vampire, just because he was a Twin, just because he was so many things it did not mean he was not Zero Kiryuu, the son of two infamous Vampire Hunters. It did not mean that he was not a Vampire Hunter in his own right. He had kept Zero's secret and when he could not keep it anymore, he had taught Zero had to deal with it.

"Why/?" he repeated, an underlying urgency in his voice.

"Just rest," Kaien's voice was soft.

"Let me," it was harder to breath suddenly, "let me," he choked on blood, blood that was colder, blood that was useless. His eyes rolled up, "die."

"Zero!"

Blackness engulfed him and the world vanished.

Of course he did not die. He couldn't die when it was one or the other, with both of them there there was not a chance in hell he was dying. If he had the strength to care he would have found it infuriating, the way everyone seemed to ignore his wishes and did whatever they wanted with him. He truly was a Knight on a chessboard. He could fight, he was valuable but when it came down to it he was a piece to be moved, not a piece to move others. He was not a King, he would never be a King. He could drown in Pureblood blood and he would still never be a King. He wished someone would hurry up and capture him already. Maybe if he were removed from the game he could rest. He could just sleep for a bit. He would like that.

He deserve that.

But his piece was still in play its seemed. There was still use for a Knight, even a broken one like him. When he came too again he was still on the soft bed but under the sheet he could feel bandages wrapped tightly around his torso. He wanted to smile at that. He was a Vampire who needed to be bandaged. Before he could work his muscles he was able to hear, though the voices were distorted and he knew he was unable to hear every word.

"Won't accept blood," that was either Yagari or Cross

"But--" one of them again.

"I'll do it," a new voice, a girl.

"No," that was Yagari.

"Its the only way!"

His insides twisted themselves into knots. He knew that voice, he knew it was Yuuki Cross. No, no she was Yuuki Kuran now. The Pureblood Princess. Why was she here? Why was she still caring about him? He was fully prepared to kill her but she just stood there, her eyes meeting his gaze squarely. For a few wonderful moments they fought together like they had before. But she was still a Kuran,a Pureblood Vampire and he was still a Vampire Hunter. And she was still there, still vowing to save his life, still fighting for him when his own steps faltered. She really was a fool. Queens were meant to be with Kings, not with Knights. He felt the three of them move towards him and he forced his eyes to open. Maybe if he told them, maybe once they would listen.

But resolve was in all three of their eyes and he knew that it was useless. He closed his eyes tightly and pressed his lips together. He knew his movements were weak and for a crazy hope filled moment he thought he could resist them. He felt hands pressed to his shoulders and knew what was coming. He braced himself as soft skin brushed his lips. He could feel her pulse and realized it was her wrist. Her smell intoxicated him as his body betrayed him once more and blood lust surged through him.

With his lips pressed tightly together his fangs sunk into his own lips, puncturing skin and letting blood slip down his chin. He heard something above him that sounded almost like a sob but he was long past the point where he could care. The fingers that touched his chin were soft but the strength beneath them was like iron as his jaws were opened, his fangs slipping out of the holes they had created in his lips. Above him he heard the quiet sob once again. Something wet hit his face and slid down his chin. He heard the sound of tearing flesh and suddenly his sense were overwhelmed with the smell of Yuuki's blood.

His body reacted purely on automatic as he reached for her. But the two Vampire Hunters held him down as Yuuki gently placed the torn flesh of her wrist to his lips. He turned his head to the side, her blood sliding down his cheek instead of his throat. Someone held his head in place but he pressed his lips together, ignoring the sharp pain of his fangs sinking into his own flesh. He felt the hot blood and soft flesh move away, leaving his face almost agonizingly cold.

He felt soft palms cup his cheeks, the blood from her still torn wrist was hot and sticky against his jaw. He felt her breath tickle his face before suddenly her lips were pressed against his.

Zero's eyes flew open in shock. Yuuki was bent over him, her mouth pressed against his. He was too shocked to fight as her tongue parted his lips. Her true intention was revealed as her blood slipped through his lips easily. Before he could gag he felt her fingers move off his cheek and stroke his throat. Between the kiss and the massage his throat convulsed and he swallowed the blood. Just as it was every time before his body reacted after that first mouthful. Where he sunk his fangs he was not sure, just that their lips remained pressed tightly together as her blood flowed through him.

Either one of the Hunters let him go or he broke free because his hands came up and buried in her hair, the new length heavy in his palm. Yuuki's hands went from cupping his cheeks to pressing against the bed next to his head as she braced her weight on her forearms. The blood surged through him, his wounds knitting seamlessly together under the heavy bandages that were wrapped around him. As soon as the blood had strengthened him enough to free him of the madness that seemed to have taken him over, he shoved her back and rolled off the bed, throwing himself against the opposite wall.

"Zero--"

"Get out," he snarled, one of his hands wiping his chin. He just wanted her blood off him. Out of his veins and off him. Her eyes were still on him but he could not bare to look at her. No one made a move to leave, "get out!" he roared, his voice louder than he thought he would be able to make it.

"Go," Kaien spoke softly. Yuuki lowered her eyes, her eyes still swimming with tears as she gave a small, miserable nod and walked out. Yagari was on his heels.

"You too!" Zero roared, his fingers clenching in the fabric of the drapes behind him.

"I wouldn't go through the window just yet if I were you," Kaien spoke, his voice calm as if Zero's furious anger was something he was familiar with.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" he demanded, "I never gave you any reason to care about me and you've done nothing but," he looked at the Headmaster's eyes,"why?"

Instead of answering Kaien reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a photograph, holding it out. Zero took the photograph with a wary glance and turned it over, revealing the subjects. A much younger version of Kaien Cross, his hair pulled back into a ponytail was grinning at the camera. And next to him, her hair in an identical style was a very familiar woman.

"T-thats--" Zero stared at the photograph with disbelief.

"My sister," Kaien said, "and your mother."

Okay this came out of watching the latest episode--I also read the Manga--when I noticed that Zero and Ichiru's mom wore her hair in a ponytail when she wasn't hunting and down when she was. She also happened to have the same hair color as Kaien while Zero and Ichiru's father had the silver hair. Also the Zero is a Vampire Hunter of 'excellent linage' and whose got more of that then Kaien?