"Get out."
It was barely a whisper, but more than audible to Kaname's vampiric senses.
"I see, is this your final answer?" Kaname's usually graceful demeanor seemed to falter. His plans relied solely on the boy in front of him. There was no plan B. If Zero succeeded in pulling that trigger, then Kaname will have truly lost the war he began waging so long ago. However, he mustn't let Zero see his desperation.
"I said GET OUT!"
Kaname calmly turned on his heel and left the way he came. As he exited he left one parting message. "If you decide to stop this childishness and change your mind, you know where to find me. Happy Shooting Kiryu."
Zero was less than thrilled with the vampire's parting words. He was anything but childish. It took every once of strength he had to hold that gun to his forehead. If he put down the gun and took Kaname's offer, then Kuran would win. But if he pulled the trigger, Kuran could have Yuuki all to himself. Either way, Zero would come out once again on the bottom. His his head was aching as he thought through the conundrum Kuran had put him in. If Kuran was serious however, (and Zero had never seen him be anything but) maybe he really could return Yuuki to him. It was that thought and that thought alone that once again forced Zero to holster his Rose.
He got up from his bed and found himself wandering down the hall to the bathroom. He needed a cool shower to clear his head. The blood from his gunshot wound was still caked stickily on his shirt, mixing with the blood spilt from his brother. Zero clawed at the material trying in vain to unbutton the tainted garment. His fingers, still shaking were having a hell of a time, and he wound up ripping most of them off in his haste. He threw the garment into the nearest garbage, the smell of blood bringing bile up into his throat. Zero glanced at himself in the mirror. His wound was nearly gone, nothing more than a blemish on his creamy pale skin. His brother's blood had enhanced his healing powers immensely, which was of course why Ichiru had shot him in the first place, forcing Zero to take the blood. Zero could stare at his face, his brother's face no longer, and wobbled to the shower. He needed to clear his head if he was going to be paying a visit to the Moon dorms.
Yuuki made her way back to the dorms with Yori in tow. The night sky brought relief to her strained eyes, so unused to the light as they were. She cast a sideward glance at Yori, unable to properly form the words she so wanted to say. Yori herself seemed to be lost in her own thoughts, pausing every so often, as if she had just put some piece together in her mind. Then she stopped all together.
"Yuuki? Does Zero know about the vampires?" Oh of all the questions he could have asked. Yuuki did not know quite how to respond. Zero was technically a Day class student, and as such, Yori didn't know what he was. Should she tell her, or would that be breaking her promise to Zero to keep it a secret... Well if Yori had been this understanding so far, Yuuki really didn't want to continue to lie to her.
"Zero knows about the vampires Yori. His family was made up of vampire hunters until they were attacked by a psychotic vampiress. His parents were killed, and he was transformed."
"Transformed? Do you mean... Zero is a vampire?! but he despises the night class, or at least that is how it always seemed to me. I'd always assumed it was because he was jealous of Kaname senpai, but there must have been more to it."
Yuuki smiled, it was so nice to have her best friend back. The lies that had been building since the beginning of the school year had been forming a wall between the two of them, but now that everything was out in the open, they could talk freely again. And my how Yori was talking. The usually quiet girl was so full of questions she couldn't keep her mouth silent if she tried. More and more of Yuuki's odd behavior over the past year had begun coming clear.
Yuuki suddenly remembered something. "Wait, what do you mean jealous of Kaname senpai? Why would Zero be jealous of him?" Yori rolled her eyes in a very un-Yori like fashion. Sometimes her dear friend really could be dim witted, or perhaps she was so blinded by Kaname senpai's love for her that she was unable to feel anyone else's. He was after all her brother/fiance. Actually that part was still bothering Yori, probably more so than the best friend being a vampire thing.
Zero was making his way across campus when he spotted Yuuki walking back to the dorms with Yori. The dormitories would provide them with some safety, as it seemed vampires and the association were about to have a showdown within cross academy. He quickly ducked behind a tree, not ready to see her again just yet. Her inky hair was reflecting the moonlight in an almost unnatural fashion, he wondered briefly if Yori had noticed the change in her friend. He also caught the scent of another familiar vampire not far behind them. Hanabusa Aido was trailing behind them keeping far enough back to go unnoticed by the girls. So Kaname had sent a secret guard? Zero was concerned for a moment at the sight of Aido, but then he gave out a merciless laugh. What could Aido possibly do to Yuuki now? A pureblooded vampire betrothed to the only person Aido truly respected and feared. No, Yuuki was more than safe in his company. Once they were out of sight he continued on to the Moon dorms, surprised to find the old gate keeper not at his post.
Kaname was stretched across the divan in his room, an arm lain carelessly across his eyes. He knew it would be starting shortly, he wanted these few minutes of peace. As much as Kaname detested the very thought, he needed Kiryu. He could not do this alone. He had primed Kiryu for this battle without him ever even knowing. Kiryu would come to is senses though, he was too cowardly to pull that trigger, and too in love with Yuuki to give up without a fight. He would come, it was just a matter of when. Kaname hoped it would be sooner rather than later.
As if on cue, Kaname felt Kiryu's presence enter the dormitory. Should he go down and greet the hunter, or make Zero seek him out? Kaname decided to stay right were he was, only then could he keep the upper hand. The Moon dorms were ominously silent, like the calm before a great storm. The vampire inhabitants were lying injured in their roos, or guarding what was left of the day class students safely locked away in the Sun dorms. Zero hoped to find Kuran in his room, or else this trip will have been a waste. He was pleased to see a thin sliver of light underneath Kuran's door. Zero contemplated knocking, but then changed his mind and simply walked in. Kaname looked less than shocked at the intrusion. Without so much as a glance up, he said
"So I take it you've come to accept my offer, Kiryu?"
