+Before The Dawn+
Anime/Manga: Vampire Knight
Main Pairing: Kaname x Zero
Disclaimer: The anime and manga Vampire Knight (Guilty) belongs to Matsuri Hino.
Come near, don't fear me.
Close your eyes and listen to me.
Roses are blood red and thorns they'd have.
Trust me lily, they'll let you down.
And you'll be mine before the dawn.
Zero sat on the sofa and his long silver hair glistened under the moonlight. He sat there for a long time ordering his thoughts. The world he knew at the Cross academy just had changed 180 degrees and became something he had never imagined. It had been almost a year since he had left the Cross Academy with Kaname in order to save him from Rido. Both hid now at on of the Kuran mansions. A cold breeze came through the window making him shiver. He never thought about living with Kaname such a long time in such an isolated place. He sighed and changed the position of his legs. It was like a parallel universe. Without any sound, without sunlight and totally kept away from civilization. Every time he thought about Kaname being alone in one of those mansions he regretted badly how he had treated him but he didn't knew about this. He didn't know how lonesome the pureblood felt.
The doors of the mansion opened and he immediately got up there. Zero walked down the stairs to find Kaname talking to one of the maids and then putting his long jacket on the rack.
"You were waiting for me? " The brunet asked without turning around.
The ex-hunter blushed and walked back to the living room.
"Zero?" Kaname followed him.
"Of course I wasn't waiting for you." He lied.
"Strange, you're always asleep at this time." He glanced at his watch.
"I'm not sleepy." He pouted looking at the fireplace.
The pureblood smiled to himself. Sometimes he forgot that once Zero was human and that as one he surely didn't like to be locked up in a place for so long. The boy had long time without seeing sunlight and maybe that annoyed him a bit.
"Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?" He asked sitting on the sofa.
"Go out?" He asked surprised.
"Don't you want to go out?"
"Yes ... well ... not really." Zero replied.
"I'll be with you so don't worry."
"It's not that idiot." He stared at the floor and sighed.
He was a bit afraid of the sun now. He didn't know what it would do to him. To be honest he didn't even know sometimes what he really was.
"Sunlight won't hurt you. You just need to take care of your eyes like any vampire and remember that it's almost Christmas so there won't be any sunlight I guess." Kaname hugged him from the back.
Zero closed his eyes and leaned back. Kaname was everything to him now. He was all he had, the only reason for still living an aimless life. The bond had bonded him forever to the pureblood and it made him feel secure but sometimes it worried him and made nervous. That the bond bonded them also meant that maybe the feeling they have for each other isn't real and in someway he could prove it was like that because he couldn't even describe what he really felt for Kuran. He just couldn't.
"Why so pensive today?" Kaname frowned at a sight of a thoughtful Zero.
It was usual to see the boy lost in his thoughts but never think that much about things before doing them. Zero was always guided by instinct.
"Mind your own business Kuran" He said cuddling in Kaname's arms.
He liked to be with Kaname at times like this, feeling his breath on his skin, hearing his voice and feel his warmth but he didn't know what they really had. Could it be that that awkward feeling was love? Only once they had talked about it…about their 'relationship' but they never dared to talk about it again. It was just too awkward. They just started to get closer because they were lonely.
Kaname leaned in and smell Zero's long hair. His hair had grown and the boy had let it so even though he always complained that like that it made him look more like his biological mother. He said it with contempt because his emotional wounds hasn't healed yet. He still felt the pain of losing Ichiru because of Shirabuki and even felt the pain of being betrayed by Yagari and Kaien for hiding something so serious from him.
The next day the silver haired was the first to be ready. He waited for a bit but then decided to look for the brunet.
"Kuran?" He knocked on the door.
Zero preferred to sleep in separated rooms. He didn't like being with Kaname alone at night because he knew that once both were lost in their desire there was almost nothing that could stop them and like that it was better to prevent something that they would regret after.
"You're anxious, aren't you?" Kaname scoffed and opened the door.
"Not really." He lied.
Both entered the limo and headed to a remote part of the city. Some people walked from one place to another looking for gifts and such for the upcoming Christmas holidays.
"It's a whole year since then, isn't it?" Zero left the car and walked to the first store he saw in front of him.
The brunet followed him after giving his chauffer some instructions.
"It just passed without me even noticing it." He looked at all the decorations and lights that were on the display case.
The ex-hunter fixed his coat and put his hand on his chest. He felt an immense sadness. Everyone was so happy and enjoying a normal life while he was intended to hide in the darkness for the rest of his life.
"Zero?" The brunet said.
"No, it's nothing." He forced a smile.
"That's not what it looks like. If you want to go back..."
"No, it's fine as well. I have to adapt myself and there is no going back." He looked at the Christmas tree.
He regretted not having enjoyed that time in which Cross-san and Yuuki decorated the house. He was so cold to them.
Kaname took his hand in his, pulling him out of his memories.
"Please don't cry."
"I'm not crying? You fool." He said smiling.
Zero took a deep breath and decided to leave all his thoughts aside. Kuran was feeling so bad for him and of course he could feel it with his empathy. He looked around and pointed at another store.
"I want to see that." He crossed the street still holding hands with Kaname.
"Yuuki loves those things." He pointed at a bunch of kawaii necklaces and rings.
"You like them?"
"Kuran, I'm a guy…even with this long hair I'm still a guy."
"You wear earrings."
"They're not earrings…they're piercings!" Zero said irritated. He hated when people said that about his piercings.
"So you like piercings then?" Kaname raised his eyebrows.
"Yup and tattoos too, so what?"
"Wait for me here."
"You buy something and I'll kill you. Kuran!" He left go of Kaname's hand.
After some minutes the brunet walked out and handed him a box.
"I freaking said that I would…" His eyes brightened when he opened the box.
"You like them?" The Kaname asked.
"Yes and ...thank you." He blushed a bit.
Kaname felt so proud of himself then. It was the first time he had bought something for Kiryuu without being punched or kicked.
Zero took the ones he had on and Kaname's ones on.
"They fit perfectly." He said to himself.
The pureblood leaned in and looked at the piercings.
"You're perfect." He stated.
"Huh!"
Without thinking twice, the pureblood kissed his lips. It had been awhile since Kaname had taken the initiative and had kissed him. In someway it made Zero extremely happy. It could be that Kaname still felts something nice for him even if he was a burden to him. Zero kissed back shortly and turned his face way with a reddened face.
"Jeez, you're so cliché." The silverhaired said to the smiling pureblood.
They walked on without saying a word but soon they got infected by the spirit of Christmas and all seemed like a dream for the ex-hunter. After some hours they went back to the limo.
"Zero, get in the car now. Don't tell me you're still ashamed about the kiss?" Kaname teased.
The long silver hair tickled Kaname, who was already in the car but Zero didn't get in.
The ex-hunter frowned and entered the limo but he felt that someone was looking at him.
"What's wrong?" The pureblood said curious.
"Hey, what do you mean by sitting here? No way in hell you'll get me to sit on your lap." He pushed the brunet a bit and avoiding his question.
He could swear that there was someone watching them. Not that he had seen a shadow or something like that but he could feel it.
The pureblood took advantage and posed his lips shortly on the boy's neck. He could drink from Zero whenever he wanted but no always he could touch hi s neck like this. It was Zero's sensitive spot even if he doesn't have the tattoo anymore. Kaname passed his hand over his long ponytail, feeling the softness of this. Sometimes he felt helpless and frustrated for being unable to gain Zero's trust and be closer to him. He had to respect the fact that there was so much that Zero had to assimilate before living on. He was afraid to tell him how much he loved him because he wasn't sure how Zero would take it.
"Though I try to cut it always grows back" Zero said turning around to look at Kaname.
"I noticed but all you need to do is in here and then you'll see how everything turns out fine." He pointed at his heart.
Deep inside Zero had to accept what he was or he was never going to stop feeling bad and have many health problems.
Reaching the Kuran mansion they found the maid waiting for them at the door. It was something strange for her to do that.
"Kuran-sama, Kiryuu-sama" She bowed a little.
"What happened?" The brunet asked serious after getting out of the limousine.
"There's a letter addressed to you from the council."
"A letter from the council? That's weird."
"It's on your office table."
"Thank you." He rushed to his studio followed by Zero.
"What is it?"
"I don't know." He opened the letter and the silver haired could feel how worried the pureblood was.
He came closer but he was gently pushed away.
"Let me read it!" Zero demanded.
"Wait, please."
The ex-hunter sighed deeply and sat on the table and took off his coat.
"Yuuki ... was captured."
"WHAT?"
"It's a trap…" Kaname said sitting next to Zero.
"You don't know if it is. We have to go save her now." The silver haired stood up.
"Zero listen to me once in your life, it's a trap!" He raised his voice.
"But…"
"They ask for an exchange. They want me to exchange you for Yuuki."
"If it's just an exchange then let's do it then."
"Are you crazy? Do you think that I can easily choose between Yuuki and you?"
"I've already decided. If Yuuki really was captured by them, I will take her place."
Kaname stood up and walked to the door.
"Do you think this is easy for me? Do you think that I can just take you there and exchange you for Yuuki? Do you think that I can do like nothing has happened between us?" Kaname asked sad.
Zero stared at the floor. It was hard to force Kaname to decide between him and Yuuki. Kaname needed him because of the bond and Yuuki was his sister but Zero was completely willing to take her place.
"I'll go myself and confirm it. You stay here till I call you."
"Kuran!"
The pureblood looked at him intently before closing his eyes and kissing his forehead.
"When will you call me by my name?" He whispered.
The silver haired took his face in his hands.
"If it's true what the letter says ... I'll go and do the exchange myself." He warned.
Kaname with a deep sigh entered the limo and headed to the council.
Meanwhile Yuuki stood up and looked at the Takuma's grandfather, Asato Ichijo.
"Your brother has already confirmed that he's coming for you. You're lucky today, Yuuki-san."
"He'll do the exchange?" The petite brunette wanted to know.
"I guess if he really feels something for you, he will." Said the blond.
Yuuki were guided to a room where they took off her chains.
After a few hours the pureblood opened the council's door and found Asato waiting for him.
"I hope you have brought the heir." The old blond looked at Kaname.
"You've really sunk low this time Ichijou-san." He opened the door to where his sister was.
"Nii-sama!" The girl cried running towards her brother and hugged him tight.
"Please don't exchange Zero for me! They'll kill him!"
Kaname looked at the ceiling of the room. Yuuki really was there. What was he going to do now?
"It won't be the first time I murder all the council." The pureblood smiled.
"And of course it wouldn't be the first time a human is eliminated to reach the real target." Asato said showing them a lock of hair.
"Yori-chan!" Yuuki gasped recognizing her friend's scent.
From then everything went downhill.
A/N: Yay~ I'm back to torture you with my grammar and spelling mistakes! I'm so evil...muahaha.
So I planned this whole sequel already and I think that it will be really hard to translate but I'll do my best. There's a lot of OOC-ness but I had to do it to fit the plot.
Kaname and Zero are a semi-couple now~ I just love the idea of giving VK a yaoi ending. I hope you liked this chapter! (I'm currently writing the second one in Spanish!)