Hi everyone. Welcome to the revised version of my story formally known as Life Starts Now. I really wanted to revisit this story and finally finish it this time around. Hope you enjoy.

It was late. Kaname knew that much as he stared at the rays of sunlight that peeked through the room's heavy drapes. He should have fallen asleep long ago, wrapped in his lover's embrace as he had done every night for the past three years.

"Kaname."

The pureblood turned to see Zero had rolled onto his back, muttering his name as his brows knitted together. Even deep in sleep Zero's hand was reaching out for him.

"I'm here, dear." Kaname cooed as he gently rubbed the tension from the hunter's forehead. His heart almost broke at the sweet smile that tugged at Zero's lips as he instinctually leaned into his touch. Zero was so peaceful when he slept, what right did he have to ruin it?

"I don't deserve something so pure." He brushed an errant lock of silver hair away from Zero's still closed eyes, feeling the sting of tears welling up in his own.

This was not the first time the pureblood had spent his day watching his lover sleep. In fact any time he had had trouble sleeping in the past, he would only need to prop himself up on his elbows and let the comfort of Zero's presence lull him back to sleep.

Zero was just so beautiful in the late hours of the morning; his normally serious expression melting away to a look of serenity, his full lip's slightly parted. Kaname could always tell what the hunter was dreaming about based on his body's unguarded reactions. Every so often a blush might appear on his cheeks or he would let out a small moan in the back of his throat. Then Zero would shift in his sleep, causing the sheets covering him to bunch together and reveal more of his bare skin. Zero could never imagine how these seemingly small actions affected his pureblood lover, but many afternoons he would come close to finding out.

A visible tremor traveled down the hunter's exposed body as a slender finger traced the line of his spine.

His lovely lilac eyes slowly opened, their depths shining even as his lids were still heavy with sleep.

"Kaname…it's not even five in the afternoon." He moaned half in annoyance, half in pleasure, "Couldn't you have waited until the alarm clock we set for seven?"

Never one to miss an opportunity to ravish his lover, Kaname simply snuggled up against the hunter until their bodies were flush against one another. As he felt the evidence of his partner's interest, he practically purred "What alarm clock?"

Yet now as his name escaped from those perfect lips in a breathy moan, it only sent a stab of pain to Kaname's already aching heart. He couldn't do this anymore; he couldn't sit in the same bed as his lover, pretending that everything was fine. When Zero woke up, he would have to tell him the truth but until then he wanted the hunter to sleep.

With the grace only a pureblood could manage, Kaname slid off of his side of their bed, forcing himself to gather up an outfit to wear without looking back at his lover. It was hard enough remain strong willed without seeing Zero's angelic face. Even as he finished doing up the row of buttons on his shirt, Kaname fought the urge to return to his lover's side and selfishly take comfort in his embrace once more.

There was not a sound as he closed the door of his personal rooms that he shared with Zero or as he snuck out of the Moon Dorm. He could not risk any of the slumbering Night Class seeing him in such a state. Of course even after a restless night, Kaname would have looked flawless but those closest to him would be able to tell that something was bothering the pureblood.

While the afternoon sun was uncomfortably bright to his vampire eyes, Kaname could see the fast approaching clouds in the sky that were thick and gray. By the end of the day it would be raining. The campus was deserted, the Day Class still in the midst of their lessons, obliviously to the lone pureblood that wandered down the familiar path to the Cross Academy stables.

As all of his fellow Night Classmates did, Kaname had not visited the stables during his earlier years at the private school, knowing how the horses would react to his predatory nature. However over the years he had become closer to Zero, who had always felt comfort there, especially with the temperamental White Lily, they slowly grew used to the pureblood's presence.

There was a sense of irony to Kaname's decision to come to the stables to clear his mind as, in the early stages of their relationship, it was usually Zero who hid there. Now it was his turn.

"Zero? Zero, Please come back!" the pureblood shouted as he searched the academy grounds for his distressed lover. As he passed by the stables, his sensitive hearing picked up on the sound of soft sobbing inside.

"Zero, I know you're in there. Please open the door." Kaname pleaded as his rapped his knuckles against the wooden frame.

The door slid open to reveal a glaring lilac eye, "What do you want, Kuran?"

Kaname winced at the sound of his last name, its use acting as a sure sign of Zero's anger. Back when the hunter had hated all vampires, he had always referred to the pureblood by last name only. "Dear, I know what you saw may be unnerving but I never meant for you to have seen it. You must know I have not felt anything close to that for years."

Less than an hour ago the couple had been enjoying a quiet night, cuddling on a couch together as they watched some television. Zero had been kissing his lover's neck when his fangs had slipped into the pale flesh. It was not the first time he had tasted Kaname's blood but instead of the normally heady images of passion that he saw when they exchanged blood, he was greeted by a violent gory scene. Zero had begun to shake as he saw himself lying in a pool of blood, his neck snapped, as Kaname loomed over him with blazing red eyes and a triumphant smile.

Now facing his lover once again, Zero had a hard time meeting his eyes. "I know, Kaname. It's true that we used to dislike, maybe even hate, each other but it still hurts to know that you once wanted to kill me."

"I admit that at one point I harbored some rather dark feelings for you Zero, those fantasies you saw were from when I first found out you had bitten Yuki. Not only was this before I really knew you but I was afraid to see my little sister hurt." Kaname sunk down onto a mound of fresh hay, his hand extended to Zero to join him.

"Yuki was always was a source of tension between the two of us. We both wanted to protect her so much that we didn't realize we were smothering her." the hunter agreed as he sat down on his lover's lap, "Watching our little sister grow up will never get any easier, will it?"

"No I don't think it will. It was a difficult time for me and I guess I just needed someone to be upset with beside myself…and Hanabusa."

Zero laughed at the mention of the troublemaking blonde "Honestly I don't know what she and Yori see in that goof? Who would have guessed that they would have roped in the self-professed lady's man?"

"It must be the Kuran family charm. I have been told we can be irresistible."

"Maybe…" the hunter mused as he brought their lips together for a much needed kiss.

Of course of the years there had been other arguments between the lovers, mostly just the petty arguments that come from two people living so close together. They would get angry and storm out of the room but by the time the sun had risen for the day, the two vampires were back in each other's arms. While he wished that today would end the same way, deep down Kaname knew that there was a real chance that Zero would never forgive him for what he had to do.

The strong scent of hay hit Kaname's nose as the incoming storm's winds whipped around him. The Cross Academy stables were a set of grand buildings that was constructed in the same elegant style as the school itself was. Yet despite the half a dozen horses each one housed, its appearance suggested that they were two greenhouses from the hundreds of delicate vines that decorated its walls. Kaname traced the intricate patterns nearest him, knowing that each one was proof of how much time his lover had spent there.

He had been just on the verge of sleep, nestled against his lover's chest, when he felt something not quite human slithering across his pelvis. Had he not been helping the hunter train most of the night, he might have let out a yelp of surprise but he had become familiar to his particular sensation.

His skin tingled with anticipation as yet another vine wrapped itself around his body. It was only a matter of moments before the pureblood's entire lower body was encased in the creeping plants and more traveled up his back to support him as he was slowly lifted off of the bed.

Tilting his head, Kaname gazed at the smirking hunter, "I guess it is too early to go to bed anyway."

Zero chuckled as with a flick of his wrist, the vines lifted him up next to his lover's suspended form. Zero ran his hands over the pureblood's creamy thigh, silently commanding the vines to spread those long legs further apart. Every inch of Kaname's normally pale flesh seemed to flush a beautiful pink with every touch.

Kaname could not have looked more delicious as he willingly put himself at the hunter's mercy, his eyes burning with the need to be taken and his body shuddering with the intensity of Zero's hungry gaze. The hunter looked as if he would devour his lover and as he lowered his mouth to Kaname's engorged member it was obvious that he had every intention of doing just that.

"You were right about perfecting my abilities, my dear." Zero said in between licks, "I find it is very rewarding."

Kaname shook his head, bringing himself back to the present where he stood in front of the stables, alone. From the opened door way he could see a surprisingly mellow White Lily watching him from her stall.

"Hey there, pretty girl." He cooed as the mare allowed him to stroke her mane, "I guess after coming here for so long with Zero, you don't me after all. I'm glad."

Picking up the special brush he knew Zero had gotten for the horse, Kaname tenderly ran the bristles through her long pearlescent hair. "You know I have always been a bit jealous of you, White Lily? While he knows I would do anything for him, Zero always seems to end up here, talking to you about his problems. Can you promise me you will be there for him when he needs you later?"

He knew the mare could not truly understand him but as she neighed in approval, Kaname felt himself relax a bit. Kaname continued to brush her hair until it shone, barely noticing the setting sun. He held back a yawn, the effects of staying up all day starting to catch up to him. In the distance he could hear the bustle of the Day Class students coming to take their last class of the day, physical education. He needed to go soon or else he would be mobbed by the mass of hormone driven girls.

There was a sharp snap of a branch, alerting him that he was no longer alone. Feeling the familiar presence of the only other vampire used to being awake at such an early hour, the pureblood let out a shaky sigh of relief, "I was wondering when someone would find me. Come in, Takuma."