Chapter 2

The sun was presently cresting the horizon when Zero turned over in his bed giving a morning stretch. The would-be-hunter had a lousy night's sleep and was a bit agitated about having to get out of bed to do an early morning patrol. He slung his feet onto the floor and messed a hand through his sliver strains letting out a yarn. He went to stand but his head swirled around the room causing him to fall back on the bed. Catching himself he notice that the blood in his body felt like lead. That's not normal, he mused as he tried to right himself again, and this time making it up without falling. Every movement he made he had to put forth great effort and strength. By the time he got to the sink in the corner of his room, his chest heaved like it was captured under a bolder. Zero placed both hands on each side of the basin in an attempt to steady his laden breath and his swaying body. The image in the mirror was one he could have missed seeing. His face seemed to be a bit paler, if that was even possible, and covered in a light perspiration. Thankfully, he thought, his lavender eyes were not showing any tell tale signs of the bazaar happenings flooding his body. Taking one hand away from its foundation, he turned the cold water on and splashed his face in both an effort to wash away the sweat and to rouse himself from this ailment. The water felt wonderful against his burning skin which he didn't notice was so very hot until at that moment. The cooling affects of the water on merely his face felt so beneficial that he decided to take a whole shower.

Zero stayed under the cold spray until he felt more like his typically self, then haphazardly dressed. Man, what was that all about? He contemplated as he walked out of his room and down the hall. He was surprised when he didn't see Yuuki waiting him at their normal rendezvous spot but didn't put too much thought into it because he was late. He shrugged his shoulders seeing as he would simply have to go find her and started to walk off. He was thinking about how much she was going to mess with him for cutting out early on her last night and showing up late today when he bumped into Yori.

"Ohayo Kiryuu-kun," waved Yori.

"Ohayo Yori-chan," replied Zero.

"Have you seen Yuuki this morning? She didn't sleep in her bed last night," inquired Yori.

Zero was a little puzzled by this, but after a moment of consideration he responded, "She probably spent the night at Ichichou's house last night. That's where I left her." That's why she wasn't waiting for him this morning.

"Oh, okay then I'll see you both later I guess. Bye bye," answered Yori, and off she went in the way of the dining hall.

Bearing in mind of conversation he had a minute ago, Zero came to the conclusion that the reason behind Yuuki was not lingering was that she was still at Ichichou's most likely eating breakfast, and therefore he decided to join them. It had been awhile since they had all sat down and ate some of the crazy concoctions Ichichou decided to wipe up half asleep. Thinking about his make shift, put together family put a goofy grin on his face that he tried to shack off but couldn't despite himself. The lengthy walk to Ichichou's residence caused him heat up again. It was this strange felling of his blood inside burning his veins but not like the usually burn his veins would normally feel if he was lusting for blood because simply he was not hungry. Zero decided to maybe breakfast wasn't such a good idea seeing as this new wave of heat triggered his stomach to feel queasy, but then he did ascertain that he needed something very cold to drink.

On his way to the kitchen, Zero notice that the searing feeling had gotten just a little more tolerable, and therefore the ease must have been from coolness of the house and lack of sun light. He didn't quite identify with that because the sun had never affected him like other vampires since he was an ex-human, and furthermore his blood didn't truly consist of vampire blood. Zero straightened up with a snap, like someone would have presently smacked his ass out of nowhere. Kaname's blood. He had been more than happy to have forgotten that only two days ago he had approached the pureblood and after a heated confutation he was semi-forced to drink that nasty pureblood's blood. Only at the time he didn't think it was nasty at all; actually it was sweet, so so very sweet, and he was sickened father by the involuntary response due to this memory as his mouth watered and fangs lengthen. The taste of the blood itself was intoxicating but the power he felt afterward was something of its own entirely, like a drug. He was never one who abused drugs like others he had known. Given his situation with having to deal with the fact that he was now a vampire and one day would fall madly to a level E and not to forget about his dead parents, he had all the excuses necessary to get hopped up every day, but Zero was not one who liked to take the easy way out.

"That exasperating pureblood. Next time I see him I gonna rip his heart out," he swore as he slammed his fist through the wall.

The loud sound of things breaking caught Ichichou's attention and immediately he went in search of its source. He was a little surprise to see Zero panting heavily with his arm still in the wall. "Kiryuu-kun what is the matter? You can tell me what happened," gently asked the older man.

Zero pulled his fist out of the wall but didn't turn to look Ichichou in the eye. "I don't know. I just don't feel like myself today," he replied not wanting to disclose his situation with Kaname. "I came by looking for Yuuki. I thought you might be keeping here from her rounds this morning," he said trying to change the subject.

Ichichou looked at Zero with a puzzled look on his face. "I know she said that she was spending the night here, but when I checked her room after she didn't show for breakfast, she wasn't in there. Therefore, I figured that she must have already gone out. Why? Haven't you seen her?" questioned Ichichou evenly.

Zero really didn't know what to say for once. He didn't want to sound or look too alarmed so not to upset Ichichou any further, but if neither of them had seen Yuuki this morning something must be wrong. "Well I thought she might have gotten caught up by you to have some breakfast that's all," answered Zero merely telling some of the truth not to startle his want-to-be father. "I didn't go the dining hall this morning she probably decided to eat with Yori. Yuuki must have felt bad leaving the girl all alone last night or she might have had some homework she need to catch up on," again trying to act casual. "She's most likely there right now," I hope, Zero said with a play smile on his face.

"You're perhaps right, but I want you to bring her to me the moment you find her. Do you understand me?" posed the now worried looking man.

"Hai," responded Zero, and he left in search of Yuuki.

He was almost back to the Sun Dorms when a face he would recognize anywhere—because it was his own—ensnared his attention, Kiryu Ichiru. He should have known his brother would have something to do with Yuuki's disappearance. He ran to his mirror image and slammed him into the tree a moment ago he was resting against. "Where is Yuuki? What have you done to her?" Zero demanded as he shoved his brother harder in to the tree.

"I don't know, but with the way you're reacting I wished I had done whatever it is you're so upset about," laughed Ichiru trying to make his brother more enraged. "What are you talking about oni-san?"

Zero shoved him one more time into the tree before letting him go. Ichiru must have been hurting cause Zero hadn't held back any of his power, but he did show any signs of stress. "You can quit the innocent act I know you too well. Now are you gonna tell me what you've done to her, or do I have to start ripping you apart?"threatened Zero.

"I really don't know what you're talking about, honto. But if I had to guess about the situation, I would guess that the little twit you're all in love with is missing. I have to say I thought you'd be more on your toes. I didn't think that for one moment you would let her out of your sight with me on campus," snarled Ichiru while turning his head to look the other way in the distance. "If I had, I would've not missed that opportunity and let someone else run-off with her and if I were you—which I'm glad I'm not—I would never have been stupid enough to leave her alone in the first..."

CRACK!

Zero cold-clocked Ichiru before he got a chance to finish what he was saying, but Zero had had enough of him. Not because Ichiru was being an ass, which incidentally he did an excellent job of, but it was precisely because he was right that Zero punched him. How could he have been so careless to leave Yuuki unguarded merely because he didn't want to deal with Kaname last night? Having not spared an ounce of strength, Zero studied his unconscious twin and couldn't believe that, even now after everything Ichiru had done, he felt remorseful for having hurt his younger brother. Zero knelt down to pick him up and bring him to the infirmary…

B-BUM…B-BUM…B-BUM…

Instantly Zero reached for his throat while his brain registered the smell of blood. He knew that if he looked in a real mirror that he would see the all too familiar crimson glow in his eyes. He rapidly got to his feet and started to run as fast as his legs would move—for a vampire this was exceptionally swift—not caring who saw him for it was still early and most students would still be getting dress or eating; Either way no one was around, and that was a good thing for the intensification in bloodlust made him doubt his restraint. He didn't know where to go at first with all the strange activities of the morning quickly flashing through his mind. With everyone awake and about in the dorms, he couldn't go to his room, but Ichichou's place was a no-go since he hadn't found Yuuki, and the only other place he might go and not frighten anyone was the Moon Dorms which ironically was the last place he go while in bloodlust since none of the vampires knew he was a vampire. Then suddenly it clicked, the stables. No one would be out there yet, and equine studies were saved for afternoon classes therefore giving him the time he needed to stop the bloodlust.

By the time Zero got to the stables, he was sorry that he ran so fast because his body burnt like the ailment from earlier had come back with vengeance and his lungs were so tight that it seemed all the oxygen had been sucked form the atmosphere. He staggered to the stall of his favorite horse and felt his knees give out shortly after reaching the door. He pulled himself to onto some clean dry hay and tired to get control of his non-working lungs. At this point he thought that maybe Ichichou's, nay even the Moon Dorms would have been a better idea than coming way out here. Unable to gain command over his body, Zero passed out.

Ichiru came to with a horrendous headache, and an all ready dried bloody lip. Simply sitting himself vertical to lean his back upon the tree next to him was challenging. He would swear he was on a marry-go-round—one he wanted off of—seeing as his head was spinning so fast that it had his stomach doing circles as well. His body on the other hand felt it had been smashed repeatedly with pile driver and throbbed achingly like a strobe light. His brother would pay for this. His attention was caught by nearby voices of the other students going to class, and he knew he had to get himself moving before anyone saw him. With tremendous effort Ichiru forced himself onto his feet and moved away from the crowed of students making their way to their first classes. He decided that the best and worst place for him to go was the infirmary; best—it would have everything he needed to make his head stop hurting, and worst—they would ask questions that he could not give an answer too. Sure it would be nice to get his brother in trouble for this but not like that. He would see to it personally that Zero got what he deserved. After deliberation he chose to go to medical wing regardless of the questions they would ask—he was a skillful liar—but first he had to make a phone call. He pulled his cell out of his pants pocket scrolled down a few names till he found the one he was looking for and pressed the green send key letting it ring few times be for someone picked up.

"Moshi moshi," answered a scratchy male voice.

"It's Ichiru. I have some news. It appears that the princess is missing," spoke the battered boy.

"Nani! What do you mean she's missing? You were supposed to be watching her. What happened? Who took her?" yelled a very unpleased elder vampire.

"I don't know all the details yet, but I just had a brush with Zero, and he had totally lost it thinking I was the one who did it," responded Ichiru.

"Do you think that it could all be a trick to try to hide her somewhere else?"asked Ichio.

"Iie, I don't think so, not with the way Zero was acting. He was too freaked out for it to be a set up. I know that look on his face, a look of total terror. The damn fool had that same look when he thought that Shizuka-sama was going to kill me. Zero wa baka desu," laughed the younger twin.

"I want you to find out everything you can about this. It had been planned for the others to leave today and join you, but in light of the situation I think that it might be better to know all the details before having them proceed. I want you to notify me as soon as you hear something," demanded the man over the phone.

"Wagata," said Ichiru and flipped close the phone.

Zero woke to a warm wet nose and hot breath in his ear. At first he was confused as to where he was, how he had gotten here, and what had happened; then it all came rushing back—the blood, the fight with Ichiru, Yuuki being missing. Yuuki. He had to find her. He quickly though about what time it was and looked at his pocket watch, 9:41; he had been comatose for almost two hours. He had to get to class and make sure Yuuki was there. She has to be. He told himself as he got to his feet and assessed his body. He felt a little better now that the bloodlust had passed, but the heat in his body was still noticeably there. He wanted to run to the class building but thought better of it. He didn't need to pass out the moment he got to class, and what if she wasn't in there. He quickly pushed that thought aside because he was not quite ready to deal with that thought at the moment. So he thought about something he could keep his mind on like a certain pureblood he was gonna give a server betting to or at least try. He knew that whatever was going wrong with his body Kaname was the reason. Then from thinking about one asshole he was reminded of another, Ichiru. He wondered if Ichiru had made it to class or not. It wasn't because he was concerned about his ototo—he told himselfit was more along the lines for not wanting anyone in the Day classes to find Ichiru laid out like that.

When Zero finally got to their classroom and walked inside, he his heart plummeted to his stomach because both Yuuki and Ichiru were not in the class. The sensei frowned at Zero's remarkably late entrance and was even more put-out by the fact that he was simply standing at the back of the classroom. Zero stood in stupefaction and didn't know how to get his brain started again. No, no this couldn't be happening. It had to be an enormously bad dream. With everything that has occurred this morning, none of this could be real. Yuuki. No, no! I have to find her, NOW. Zero's silent self command was what got his legs to work and sent him running straight out of the class room, down the stairs, through the front doors, only stopping once he had reached to courtyard. Huffing and puffing, Zero came to the grim realization that Yuuki was in fact missing, and he didn't have a clue of what could have happened to her. His only option currently was to go tell Ichichou, and see if together they could figure out what had happened between last night and now.

By the time Zero made it to Ichichou's, he was more scared and nervous than the night he has fought Shizuka. Zero had never been this nervous in his life. His hand actually trembled as he apprehensively reached for the door handle to Ichichou's office. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door and scanned the room for Ichichou. He found Ichichou looking out the window with his back to Zero.

"Well it took you long enough to bring her back," Ichichou said without turning around to address properly his guest. "I guess you were just waiting until you two could miss out on class," he said jokingly. "You're perfects. You're supposed to provide a good example for the other students."

Zero couldn't take it anymore and had to interrupt him. "Ichichou," he called out very sharply.

As Ichichou turned to look toward what he thought would be Yuuki and Zero, the playful smiling face that he was wearing transformed into a grimace then a semblance of distress. "Where's Yuuki?"was the only thing he could think to say.

In all the time Zero had lived with Ichichou, he never feared the man as he did that very moment. Zero, who after all perceived this was his entire fault, worried that Ichichou would be upset enough to pull a page out of his pass days and go all hunter on his vampire ass. Lowering his head in a bow, he pleaded, "Shitsurei itashi mashita, I cannot find her. "

"Have you been looking for Yuuki the entire time since I last saw you?" asked a man so troubled that he looked twice his age from the stress.

Zero could tell it was now time to come clean, but not for his sake, Yuuki's. "Well when I saw you this morning, and you asked me if I was ok. I lied, sumimasen. I don't know what is wrong with me. I keep getting hot and can't breed. I drank a little—you have to swear this to secrecy," Zero interrupted. Ichichou nodded and Zero continued, "I…I drank some of Kuran's blood a few nights ago." Zero silently studied Ichichou. He had expected a reaction, but this one was not it. The older man appeared calm. So much not like his normal temperament, however he did have a slight expression of puzzlement with one blond eyebrow extended on his forehead.

"Anyway, after I left here I was going look for Yuuki, but then I ran into Ichiru," at the sound of Zero's twins name Ichichou unnoticeably held his breath, "and I thought he might have done something with Yuuki." Zero sensing how on edge Ichichou was quickly followed up with," but he didn't have anything to do with it," and then old man relaxed somewhat. "But none the less he did have a smart mouth," feeling ashamed and checks turning aki, Zero turned his head to finish telling him the rest, from the punch and bloodlust to the empty classroom. Throughout the retelling of Zero's morning, Ichichou stayed speechless, but his range for emotions went from surprise, to concern, to downright shock by the time he got to the end. "… and that's when I decided to come to you," he concluded, only now looking up.

Ichichou basically sat there for a second, like his brain was trying to process all this unbelievable information; obviously the man was flabbergasted. After the initial shock wore off, wordlessly Ichichou just reached for the phone that was on his desk, picked up the receiver, dialed a number, and waited for an answer. Baffled, Zero looked at the man thinking he must have lost his mind, and he was soon to follow. After what felt like forever to Zero, Ichichou put down the phone having got no answer. "I need you to go to the Moon Dorms for me and request that Kaname-kun come here, but I don't want you to tell him why. I need to be the one who tells him Yuuki is missing. Merely tell him it is imperative that I speak to him now."

"You don't need to worry about that. I most certainly do not want to be the person to tell Kuran that Yuuki is missing," commented Zero.

"I know that you don't like him, but he does have available all the resources and the means for finding Yuuki swiftly." Trying to act nonchalant he added in a matter of fact tone, "…and whatever vampire he decides to share his blood with his is his business. I have no say over vampire matters." The old ex-hunter comprehended the gravity for the situation of the blood sharing with a pureblood, and even though he already held Kaname in high esteem, the respect Ichichou held for the pureblood was increased significantly. For whatever reason Kaname had allowed Zero to drink his blood, Ichichou was truly grateful because he knew that the pureblood's blood would help keep Zero from falling to a level E. Therefore, he was not going to make a big deal out of it even though it was one of the biggest things he had witnessed in vampire society. Purebloods do not allow ex-humans to drink their blood for any reason other than to stabilize the ex-human vampires they themselves created which only happens once, if ever.

Zero understood what Ichichou was doing; he was just gonna ignore what had happened exactly like he handle the situation with him drinking Yuuki's blood all the time, and that was fine by him. The last thing he wanted was the probing questions that he knew were on Ichichou's mind, and he was appreciative for Ichichou's consideration. "What do you want me to do after I tell Kuran-kun to come here?" he asked fully wanting the advice of the much wiser man because he did so well by himself.

"I want you to find Ichiru. I know that you already said that he had nothing to do with this, but I want to talk to him myself. Apparently you gave him a really good beat down, and I also want to make sure other students didn't get involved in all this commotion. I likewise don't want anyone to know about Yuuki's disappearance either. Rumors about student getting kidnapped and assaulted are the last things we need to deal with while trying to find Yuuki," explained Ichichou. "Have you spoken to anyone about this already?" he inquired

"Not really, Yori-chan had asked where Yuuki was this morning, but we both had decided that she was here with you because she said that Yuuki didn't sleep in her bed last night. But she didn't think anything wrong with it," answered Zero.

"Ii, at least we know that Yuuki wasn't in her room last night. It's not much but it something," he remarked then suddenly he realized something important that was so obvious he questioned his own intelligence for not thinking of it sooner. "I never really checked the house for any indication of what happened last night. I doubt that someone would have taken her while she was still in the house, but we may be able to find out where she was heading to this morning for us to search there," deduced Ichichou. "Nevertheless I don't want to waste anymore time talking about this. Zero get to Kaname-kun as fast as you can but don't push yourself, and I will be looking around here to see if I can find clues as to what went on.

"Don't worry about me. I'm starting to feel better, and besides if I show up ill maybe Kuran will know what is going on with my body," reassured Zero, and then he blotted out of the office like the wind wanting to get there ASAP.

Ichichou thought that he should try one more time to reach Kaname even though Zero had already left. The sooner Kaname knew about the situation the better. He once again picked up the phone and dialed his number.

Kaname opened his eyes with a sentiment of annoyance when he heard his cell vibrating yet again this morning. Of all the mornings for people to be calling and disturbing his sleep this was not the one. Kaname lifted his head off Yuuki's head, looked over his shoulder, and evilly eyed the source of his irritation that was in his jacket pocket which was lying on the floor. He normally wouldn't have just casted his clothing on the floor, but last night was defiantly not normal—though he would like it to be in the future. Kaname could have easily willed the phone to him, but he really didn't want to answer and no one could make the pureblood do anything he didn't want to do. If he answered the phone it would disturb Yuuki and after the night he put her through, she needed her rest. He did however think about blowing the phone up—he could always get another one—but thought better of it because the noise might also wake Yuuki. In the end he simply let out a sigh, turned back to the angel in his arms, gave her a light kiss on the lips, and made himself snugglely comfortable before closing his eyes again to fall asleep.