Disclaimer: I do not own either the manga or anime "Vampire Knight". All I own is my passion for the series, my passion for this fanfic, my copies of the manga, my dvds of the anime, and the official fanbook.
A/N: Let me please start out by saying that I have been touched and encouraged by all who have responded to this fanfic so far! The number of views have definitely excited me concerning the tale, and also, those of you who have followed, favorite, and/or reviewed it have also caused me great happiness! So, a special thanks to Akatsuki Fatale, Arinna Ned Conquerra, MizCeeJay27, PottersLittleSister, , animemcgee, jamathis, perfectly flawed woman, stcy, and yuinea for following the story! Furthermore, thank you LuvCrackers23, Shanen-Mathew-Michael-Halliwell, and TsukihanaYUE for favoriting it! And of course thank you ben4kevin and 144 for both favoriting and following! I encourage all of you to review the story! I would love to hear what you think of it as the tale unfolds, and will respond to you as best I can regarding anything you might have to say in your review! Or, if you want to PM me, that would be just fine as well! On that note, I also want to thank spiritleopard, angelionfire, and Chaos for reviewing the last chapter, as well as thank especially Kags21 and NamikazeMia for not only reviewing the story but also favoriting and following it! All of you, your support means a lot to me and encourages me to put my best foot forward regarding new chapters! (as if my passion for the story weren't enough already!)
Now, my dear readers young and old, far and wide, I hope that you enjoy this chapter of "The Vampire & The Guardian"! I know it's long, and I know it was a bit of a wait for it to be posted. But I hope the length the chapter is and the wait for it are both worth it to you lot! I've been working a lot of hours at work, and so getting a chance to really sit down and not only work on it but proofread it as well has been slightly difficult. And this is actually only half of the original chapter. It grew to a length that I felt would be both overwhelming for me to proofread and for you all to read, and so I decided to split it into two chapters. Which only means that I'm able to focus on more details in each chapter grammar wise and concerning the overall story's flow! Not to mention it also means that the next chapter will be out all the sooner, should everything go well! I plan to start proofreading it if not tomorrow then sometime later this week!
One final thing before you read:
-for the sake of my story, I've altered Zero's history just a little. Yes, the Vampire that bit him in the series did attack his family and turn him into a Vampire. But parts of the Vampire's reason or cause for doing so as well as the fate of Zero's brother is different in my story. Furthermore, if any of you have not gotten so far in the anime to know who said Vampire is or who said brother is, I'd suggest that if you don't want any spoilers, for you not to read any further. I don't want to spoil anything about the manga or anime for anyone, and so this is just a fair warning for you. :D And, I hope those of you who continue to read don't mind the altered history very much. Not much of it will be in this Chapter, but there will be a sizeable chunk of it in the next.
-in this chapter, Kaname (and perhaps the narrative itself) will use the term "Turner". I don't think this term is ever used in any official copyrighted Vampire Knight media, so please let me explain what the term means. In Harry Potter, you have slang terms for wizards: Wizards without any normal human in their lineage are called Purebloods, Wizards who are born to normal humans who have no previous magic in their lineage are called Mudbloods (though this is a degrading name), "Wizards" with no magical talent but who are born to lineages with magic within them are called Squibs, and Wizards born to a Pureblood/Halfblood and a Mudblood/Halfblood for that matter are called Halfbloods. These are slang terms, and aren't generally accepted as official terms for Wizards or mortals in that series. In my story, Turner is used in a similar way. In short, "Turner" is a term used by Vampires like Kaname to label a Human who has either already been turned into a Vampire or a Human who is in the process of turning into a Level E Vampire. It can be either just a label or a degrading term, dependent on how it is used.
Now, I think that's everything! So, please, sit back and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 2
With A New Role Comes The Promise of Control
Cross tilted his head, blinking at Zero with a solemn look on his face, "Why don't we go speak on the couches?" he motioned to the couches in the lounge area of Kaname's bedchambers. Kaname turned to the Headmaster with a frown but still nodded, "Sounds like an idea." The Pureblood began to rise, and Zero sighed, resigning himself to comply and readying himself to get up as well. To be honest, he wanted to not just go to the couches-he wanted to run as far as he could from Kuran, his room, and the entire Moon Dorm-but he figured that trying to get out of the dorm might not be the best idea. Not that he thought he'd lose against the Vampires swarming about. He'd fight each and every one of them with his bare hands if he had to. It was just that he couldn't feel the weight of Bloody Rose at his side, and without the weapon he felt naked and vulnerable. And, he didn't truly want to destroy the entire Dorm in the process of fighting the Vampires. He was no stranger to the precariousness of the situation between Humans and Vampires, and new that tipping the balance between the two races wouldn't be the smartest thing to do at the moment. As he moved, he felt a sudden pull on his neck's skin and he froze, eyes widening as Kaname and Kaien, already halfway to the couches, turned their heads and frowned at him as they heard him stop moving. Now Kaname was watching him with narrowed, watchful eyes while Kaien watched with shifty ones, both anticipating the worst reaction possible from Zero but one with calmness and the other with anxiety.
Zero darted his eyes down gazing angrily at the crimson sheets of Kaname's bed, gritting his teeth with his fangs pressing down on his bottom lip and gums as they crossed over his bottom row. As some blood began to leak from his gums and over his lips to race down either side of his chin, he breathed deeply and slowly reached up, fingering and prodding at his neck. He growled from low in his throat at the gauze he found there. His eyes glowing red, he hooked his fingers around the material, preparing to pull it off. "You'll open up my fingernail wounds from earlier," Kaname muttered, frowning at him, "From where I was gripping you? Keeping you safe and away from Yuki?"
Zero darted his eyes up to him, fury welling up within him towards the Vampire, "SHUT UP, YOU BLOOD SUCKING MONSTER! WHAT I'M FEELING ARE NOT SCRATCH MARKS! NOT BY A LONG SHOT!" with that he wrenched the gauze away, the puncture wounds opening up quickly as he did so. He breathed harder as his blood began to slowly trickle down his neck and collar bone to race, visible through his open shirt, down his left and right pectorals and to his abs, flowing quicker and quicker as his heart raced all the more in his anger. He narrowed his eyes as Kaname's own eyes took on a red glow, the Vampire's nostrils flaring as the scent of fresh blood filled the air. "What, want this too? Didn't get enough the first time?" Zero snarled, venom practically dripping from his words as he reached up, ran his fingers over the bloody rivers, and held them out, the crimson liquid dripping from them as he held his hand out to Kuran. Kaname frowned, blinking, trying to calm his own breathing which had quickened in his bloodlust. But there was no way to hide the crimson luster in his eyes, the betrayer of his hunger. "What are you talking about?" the older Vampire muttered with a frown. Zero snarled, "DON'T TRY TO PLAY DUMB WITH ME!" Kaname arched a primly trimmed eyebrow, but didn't say a word.
Snarling from low in his throat, the Ex-Hunter moved his fingers up to the wounds, hissing through his teeth as he felt over them, eyes darting to glare at the darkness beyond Kaname's nearest floor to ceiling window, refusing to look at the Pureblood before him as he continued, "There was only one other specific time when my neck felt just like this. . ." His fingers traced the edges of the puncture marks and his fury grew all the more at the size and depth of them, which were larger than expected due to Kaname digging in deeper to get more blood from Zero. Kaname tensed but remained fluid, as Kaien shifted nervously from one side to the other. Both knew the explosion was coming as Zero hung his head, his eyes hiding behind his silver bangs, muttering, "It was that night . . . that night that woman. . . the night she attacked. . . I SWORE. . ." he pressed his fingers deeper into the wounds, causing more blood to rush out and coat the digits as he trembled visibly with fury.
Zero suddenly jerked his head up, mouth open in an animalistic snarl, fangs dripping with saliva as he narrowed his eyes in on the Pureblood, his eyes glowing in his fury as he wrenched his fingers away and pulled on his wounds with his nails, widening them and causing more blood to flow due to his actions, "THAT THE NEXT VAMPIRE TO DRAW BLOOD FROM ME WOULD PAY!" In the next instant, from where he'd been sitting on the bed he lunged for Kaname. Kaien cried out and his hand moved to his hidden sword at his hip, but even he couldn't move fast enough to stop the raging Zero. Kaname was another story.
Kaname growled, flinging his arm out at lightning fast speed and with inhuman strength grabbing Zero around the throat, holding the boy as he hung in the air, the Pureblood's fingers tight against Zero's skin to the point of bruising, just beneath the boy's jaw, holding Zero's fangs at a safe distance from Kaname's neck. Zero growled at the gagging sensation being suspended like that caused, and with one hand holding Kaname's arm tightly with its nails biting into the Pureblood's wrist as Kaname's sleeves slid down his upraised arm, flung out his other arm, trying to get a strike to make contact with Kaname's face or chest. Unable to reach the older Vampire, Zero growled and began to twist around more vigorously, kicking out randomly in attempts to unsettle Kaname. As he did so, his fingernails dug deeper into the Pureblood's arm, and blood began to race down Kaname's pale skin beneath the Pureblood's clothes. The scent of the Vampire's powerful blood incited Zero's hidden Vampiric tendencies, but in his rage it didn't make him want to drink from Kaname: it made him want to DESTROY him. The passion that it would normally cause in his need to drink blood instead was formed within his anger, and he began to move faster and faster, roaring as he tried to get the upper hand. But no matter how his legs struck Kaname, Kuran just narrowed his eyes at the degenerating Vampire in his grasp, and closed in his own hand further around the boy's neck, cutting into Zero's wounds more and causing more blood to pulse forth. Zero tossed his head back with a pain filled cry as his own blood raced down Kuran's arm and mixed with Kaname's own blood as it moved over the Vampire's skin.
"Did you honestly think I'd let you attack me, you filthy Turner?" he snarled, spitting out the last word with venom in his tone as his eyes seemed to cut into Zero deeper than his fangs ever could. Suddenly a shrill ringing began in Zero's ears, as the windows of the room cracked in Kaname's display of power. Zero shot his head back, screaming as his ears began to bleed, the precious red liquid leaking out of his outer ear lobes. "Kaname!" Kaien cried out, "Kaname stop this! You've done enough!" But Kaname ignored the Headmaster, and taking one step back, lunged forward, slamming Zero on his back in the bed before straddling the younger Vampire quickly, glaring at him. Right now he wasn't with Zero Kiryu in his dorm room in the Moon Dormitory of Cross Academy. At that moment, Zero was just some Level E Vampire, like the others Kaname had hunted down in his travels that he'd made shortly after his parents' deaths, letting his rage fuel his attacks upon the Former Humans. And now Kaname knew what to do with Level Es who attacked him. He clenched harder on Zero's throat, but instead of giving in, Zero began to fling his arms and legs about, roaring as he tried to unseat the Pureblood to no avail.
Zero could feel his neck beginning to bend and creak beneath the strength of Kaname's hand, and it sent terror through his soul. He knew all too well that Kaname was at this rate going to break his neck. And though Zero might have been upset enough to want Yuki to end it all for him in his dorm room, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he did NOT want Kaname to be his executioner now. He had to do something to get away, had to find some way to divert Kaname's attention. Finally, something on Kuran's bedside table caught his eye.
Grunting, refocusing his raging eyes on the Pureblood, he leaned closer to the table and began to wave his arms about even more frantically, his breathing coming short and rapidly as his windpipe was slowly crushed beneath Kuran's iron grip. Just a little bit further, he whimpered gently as he strained himself trying to get to the table, fingers gripping at the wooden edge. Luckily, Kaname didn't follow his movements, focused solely on holding Zero's neck tightly, not giving the Level E a chance to get at the Pureblood's throat.
Kaname grunted, eyes only on Zero's fangs, his mind only focused on keeping the Turner away from his neck. After all, it was all based on instinct: a Vampire often attacked the throat. So that was the vital point they took care of the most. So Kaname was determinedly focused on keeping Zero away from that, not even noticing as Zero's fingers closed around the metal rod of Kaname's electrical bedside lamp until the lamp came around and crashed into the side of Kaname's face, the electrical energy flying into the Pureblood's eyes and hair and setting the latter aflame as the metal ornamentation of the antique left jagged marks on his flawless skin and the rod all but dislocated his jaw. Kaname grunted and in his moment of surprise, his fingers slipped from Zero's bloody neck.
This is my chance! Zero thought, as the pressure was quickly removed from his throat. He gasped in a deep breath of sweet fresh air and tossing his head back, braced himself upon his arms and slammed a kick as hard as he could into the Pureblood's midsection, flinging Kaname off of him just enough to give Zero an opening to roll under before making a mad dash for the door. He knew it wouldn't take more than a moment for Kaname to be back and grabbing for him, and he had seen the flash of anger in Kaname's eyes as the lamp had made contact. The one that swore that he'd be just inches away from ending Zero should he be able to catch him.
He had just touched the unlocked door's handlebar, when a warm hand grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back as he tossed back his head and cried out, Kaien's sword close to but not so much as nicking his throat. In the next instant, Cross's worried voice was in his ear, "Calm down, Zero! Do you have any idea what the other Vampires would do if they saw you fleeing from their leader's room in such a manner?! You wouldn't make it out alive!" Zero growled, and twisted around, glaring at Kaien who stared, shakily, into the young Vampire's glowing red eyes. But Zero didn't lunge forward as he opened his mouth, he merely spoke, "I don't care if I'm dead by morning light. I'm NOT going to spend one more moment in this room with that fiend!" Whipping around, he growled, cutting into his own hand as he pushed the sword up and over his head, wrenching his arm out of the surprised Headmaster's fist and grabbing the door handle, pulling it open. Only to have ice fly out and encase him up to his throat.
He roared and squirmed as much as he could in the prison's hold as none other than Hanabusa Aido walked into view, frowning at the Ex-Hunter in his crystalline encasing, "I heard the struggle from outside. Your Headmaster's right. Even if you did get past Kain and I, you wouldn't have made it to the first level of the house without being killed. And if you try anything else against our President Lord Kaname, I will kill you personally." Zero growled, glowering at the blonde Vampire, "Fine then, you might as well kill me now, you little lap dog! I don't care!" "Yuki would," Kaname's icy cold voice slurred from across the room. Zero stared dead ahead as if slapped, as a flashing image of Yuki filled his mind.
Kaname began to walk forward, having taken a moment to compose himself. He wanted nothing more than to thrash Zero for the attacks the kid had unleashed upon him, but he was willing to hold that part of himself in check, for now, "For whatever reason Yuki cares deeply for you Zero, if not out of an intimate love, out of love regardless. She would hate the idea of you being needlessly killed. And although I could modify her brain so that she forgets about you, would you really want her to live believing such a lie? A lie you could have prevented if you only behaved reasonably?" Zero shook all over. Kaname, knowing that Zero was stunned into submission for the moment, nodded to Aido, and the other Vampire let out a heavy sigh as his ice retracted and Zero collapsed on all fours on the carpet of the Pureblood's room. Zero whimpered, tears forming in his eyes as he gazed at the carpet, "I. . . I only behaved that way because you . . . because you. . . I believe I was being reasonable." "You believe wrong, then," Aido snarled, glaring at him murderously, "To attack a Pureblood like Lord Kaname is never reasonable. Especially when the Vampire attacking is FILTH like . . ." "Enough, Aido. Do not press the issue with Zero," Kaname's voice cut through the air to the other Vampire Aristocrat like a knife, "Go back outside and guard the door. Cross and I have much to discuss with Zero. Important things to help handle his blood lust." He shifted his eyes to Zero's hunched form, "Zero, come and sit down. And don't try attacking me again. It will not end well for you. Cross, come." Turning he walked to the couch on his right, their left. Cross sighed and began to move over to the opposite couch, re-sheathing his weapon.
Zero turned his eyes back to the floor, his throat still throbbing in pain as Aido quickly excused himself from the room. He shut his eyes tightly as crystal tears ran down his face. How could it be that two days ago everything seemed so normal, so alright? Sure he was dealing with his blood lust, but compared to all that had happened that evening and the day before, merely hiding his blood lust seemed so much more peaceful compared to now . . . So much more preferable. Kaname frowned hard at him from the couch, "Zero, I said come. Stop acting like a sniffling child." Zero gritted his teeth with a growl, and clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into the carpet and leaving marks behind. Deep inside he felt fury rise up once again, ready to bite back that the other Vampires might follow Lord Kaname's whims, but he would NOT. . . "Zero, please," Kaien begged, "We've wasted too much time as it is. We need to get everything settled before the sun comes up." For a moment silence fell over the room.
For minutes, the only noises in the room were their breathing, but then at last Zero turned his head to them and sighed, standing up and walking over, sitting quietly beside Cross, "Fine. What is there to get settled?" "This," Kaname remarked in a clipped tone, taking the forms from Cross's hand-the Headmaster had put them quickly in his pocket when Kaname and Zero had been wrestling and now had taken them out to discuss them with the two males- and unfolding them. The Pureblood laid them flat on the coffee table betwixt himself and the other two, frowning down at them as he smoothed his pale hand over them. Turning them around, he moved them to lay right in front of Zero, who stared, horrified, at the title on the page before him and at his name scrawled in the Name slot on the form.
Zero physically shook as Kaname watched him calmly and Cross gazed at him uneasily. Then the silverette lifted his head, glaring hard at Kaname, "This was your idea wasn't it? I bet you'd love to leave me in the hands of some other vicious Vampire, forced to be his slave." He barred his fangs at him, eyes glowing red once more. Kaname didn't let a single emotion cross his face, only raising an eyebrow at Zero's forwardness, "Yes it was my idea, but the cause of it was hardly because I'd like to put you in the business of serving some Vampire as his or her slave. Rather, the cause was to provide for you something you've craved for concerning your blood lust for quite some time: control."
Zero narrowed his purple eyes in hate, gripping the papers in vice like fists over the table, "And how would the Jimusho Hando Federation's Quarterly Vampire Slave Auction do that?" Kaname blinked at the venom in his tone, and sat back, "Contrary to what you assume about it all, it's all quite a clean cut and proper affair, Kiryu. . ." turning to his pocket, he pulled out the silver collar that had belonged to Rose and tossed it to Zero, who blinked, catching the collar and frowning, turning it over in his hands as Kaname and Cross quickly gathered the papers the Level E had dropped in order to catch the slender silver device. Zero frowned down at the sleek silver collar, "What is this?"
Kaname blinked at him, "It's a collar. Each bidder at the auction places it around the necks of the slaves they buy, and after cutting into themselves, spill blood upon the closed ends of the collar, sealing it together. From that moment on, the bidder is able to have complete control over and is able to exert their will over the Vampire slave as long as said slave bears the collar. It's quite handy in keeping Level E Vampires under control. I have no doubt it would work on you." Zero jerked his head up, staring at Kaname, who turned to the forms before continuing, flipping idly through them to make sure they were all in order since Cross handed his half of the forms over to the Pureblood, "Typically the collar remains on you for all eternity and your Master is the only one who can ever remove it. That happens often after you die, should you be unable to live on. However, if for whatever reason you live through one generation in a family and into the next, remaining with them, the new heir to the family cuts his or her skin and repeats the ritual of marking you as their own. Furthermore, if for whatever reason your Master gets bored with you, you are to be released back to the Auctioneers, and the collar is kept upon you until you are ready to receive a new one from your new Master. It's a good way to make sure that Level E's like yourself have their blood lust contained constantly and are made use of by Vampires who can use them as servants."
Zero narrowed his eyes, "You keep on saying 'you' like I've already agreed to this. But I haven't, need I remind you? I find it all sick. I'm no one's lap dog, and certainly not to some bastard Vampire. . ." he tossed the collar hard down on the table, where it nicked at the wood, "The previous wearer of that damn collar might have been willing to be your little play thing, but I refuse to bend to your will, you damn blood sucker." Kaname's eyes lit furiously, and he shot up, glaring as he leaned over the table, grabbing the collar and holding it close to Zero's face and grabbing Zero's hair and causing the silver haired boy to cry out as the Pureblood jerked upwards, causing tears to form in the Turning Vampire's eyes and Zero's mouth to open in a gasp of pain. "You will NOT speak of Rose that way, you little wretch! And what makes you think I'd want you for a servant anyway, you piece of ungrateful filth?! One of the perks to this idea is that it makes it so I NEVER have to see your face or hear your defiant tone ever again!" Kaname snarled, glaring at the Turner. Zero snarled right back at him, glaring furiously at him as Kaname continued, "And as far as you agreeing to this is concerned, you have no choice, Kiryu. The decision has already been made." "No it hasn't, Zero," Kaien whispered hastily, staring pleadingly at Kaname then at Zero who turned his head slightly, glaring at the Headmaster. Kaien gulped and reached out, cupping Zero's shoulder, only to have Zero growl and wrench his arm away from Kaien. Cross sighed, "Kaname just thinks this is the best thing for you right now, Zero. That's all. Due to your . . . recent . . . difficulties. . ."
Kaname snarled at Cross's attempt to sugar coat the situation and turned back to Zero, "It is the best thing. It's the quickest solution to your ravenous lust for blood. If you stay here, you're a hazard to all the other students and to yourself. And I won't give you the chance to bite Yuki. Not now, not ever again." He tossed Zero back against the seat of the couch, and Zero groaned, hanging his head as pain shot through his spine at the rough handling. Kaname sneered, "Now sign the forms where we order you to, and do as you're told." Zero gazed, breathing hard, at the sheet of paper that was once more slid before him. Then felt the tears begin to prick at the corner of his eyes, and he gave a shuddering sigh.
The other two stared as tears flooded Zero's eyes at last and he doubled over, whimpering, arms wrapped around himself. Everything that had gone on, all that Kaname had just told him, it was too much. He knew that this could give him control, but the last thing he wanted was to serve and be controlled by Vampires. For years, they'd been his enemies! How could he possibly bend to their will?! He'd rather be dead! Burying his face in his hands, he began to sob brokenly, curling into himself and trying to make himself smaller, like he did as he was a child and was upset. Kaname blinked, a frown crossing his face at the normally cold Ex-Hunter's actions, and waited for Zero to calm down. But when minutes passed and the teen was still weeping, Kaname sighed, hanging his head, and moved around to sit beside Zero. It wasn't that he cared about the kid's insecurities, but he certainly couldn't send a blubbering child up on the auction block. He did have his pride to think about. Besides, Zero was getting annoying as he wept on his couch.
Cross sighed, having wrapped an arm around Zero's shoulders, gazing at Zero's bowed head. When Zero had been brought to him by Yagari after recovering from the attack on his family, Cross had seen the lad break down many a time, and the Ex-Hunter had held the little boy until he would calm down or fall asleep from exhaustion. Over the years he'd tried to help Zero prevent such fits, by trying to get him to be more open about his emotions and let them out so that they wouldn't build up, but Zero just wasn't the type to be able to do that, and Cross had eventually given up on trying. Zero had grown up with a sickly younger brother, and to help take care of Ichiru, Zero had held a lot of his own emotions in. So now, the Headmaster resigned himself to pull Zero closer and wrap a hand protectively over his silver locks of hair as he held him as Zero had whimpered and sobbed into his hands, and then darted his bespectacled eyes to Kaname.
The Pureblood understood quickly what was going on without the Ex-Hunter having to say a word. Zero normally kept things bottled up inside, refusing to shed a tear. With all of the stress of what was going on, it was clear why he broke down now. Kaname'd need to follow a different tactic to get to his goal. Hesitantly, he moved a hand up and stroked Zero's back gently, moving his hand up and down. Zero shivered away from the touch, pressing further from the Vampire and closer to Cross. Kaname sighed and let his hand fall, hanging his head and closing his eyes, "Zero, look. I know that a lot's going on and I know you're scared and confused. But trust me, the auction's not as bad as it seems. . ." Zero sobbed brokenly and sniffled, collecting himself gradually before turning to the Pureblood, his face hardening slightly but unable to manage the coldness the teen normally portrayed in the older Vampire's presence, "And how can it not be?"
Kaname smiled calmly at him, "Well for one, you have a say in who gets to bid on you." Zero arched an eyebrow, sniffing a little more and rubbing at his nose, "What? How is that?" Kaname blinked at him, "It's the overall design of the auctions that enables that. Let me explain: in the first part of the auction, those being auctioned off hardly have any contact with the Vampires who might buy them. Instead, they are in a large room, able to primp and preen themselves in flawless suits, making sure every hair on their head is in place and all of their clothes look spotless. Such a process involves mostly just general hygiene care, plus maybe a bit of extra sprucing. While that's occurring, all of the bidders are in another large room, walking about and reading forms, much like the ones Headmaster Cross has filled out for you here. . ." he motioned to the forms lying on the coffee table at that point, "As they're reading the forms the bidders will be deciding which slave they may be interested in obtaining. For each slave there's usually a limit of thirty bidders who can express such interest. Then, beside each slave's set of forms is a schedule sheet with blocks made up of 15 minute periods on it. The bidder finds an empty slot and jots their name there . . ." Zero frowned and tilted his head, "Why is there a schedule sheet?"
Kaname frowned slightly back at the silver haired teen, being a bit irritated at being interrupted, but quickly regained control of his emotions and smiled calmly once more, "Because of Phase 2 of the auction. Once about an hour and a half to two hours has passed in Phase 1, all of the slaves are then led into a large banquet hall with enough seats and tables inside to seat all of the slaves with one per table plus one guest. It's a rather ornate room, and there are refreshments provided throughout Phase 2 for all tables and their occupants. The tables each have a sign placed on them showing which slave is to sit at each table. Once each slave is seated at his or her table, they're handed a schedule sheet that's actually a copy of what the bidders filled out concerning that slave in the previous phase. The slave is also given a pen to mark off each bidder's name, to help them keep track of the schedule. Then Phase 2 actually starts. Each slave has a . . . I suppose you could call it a 'date' . . . with their bidders. The bidders come to each slave's table during the times they previously signed up for and chat with the slave for 15 minutes. It can be about anything at all. Regardless of what is discussed, that date gives each slave and bidder some one on one time with one another. From there on out, the bidder can decide on whether they still want to bid on that slave, and the slave can decide if the bidder should fall on their Light or Dark list."
" 'Light or Dark list'? What do you mean by that?" Zero whispered, frowning at Kaname, leaning forward a little, unable to hide his curiosity towards the system the Vampire was describing. Kaname blinked and leaned back a bit, waving a hand as he explained. "On the left side of the appointment sheet, there are two columns. One is titled 'Light' and the other 'Dark'. Dependent on the dates the slave engages in with their bidders, they can mark each bidder as being on either their Light list or Dark list. The Dark list will include bidders forbidden from bidding on the slave. The Light list includes those who are allowed to bid on the slave. Now, you can have as many bidders on the Dark list as you want, so long as you have two or more on your Light list. But the more you have on your Dark list, the more your starting bid goes up. The reason for that is that if there are less bidders competing for you, the auctioneers may make less money if the starting bid isn't high. It's a system made to benefit the sellers, the slaves, and the auctioneers, after all." Kaname shrugged, frowning at Zero.
Zero pulled back a little, frowning at Kaname with both nervous and critical eyes, "But what if the slave wouldn't be comfortable with any of their bidders? What if all the bidders for a slave just want to suck its blood?" Kaname frowned at him as the Pureblood arched an eyebrow, "I'm not going to deny that that will definitely be something most of them will expect from you, Kiryu. They're all Vampires after all, and drinking blood is a part of their lives. You might as well go in expecting for everyone to want to drink your blood." Zero crossed his arms, sitting back into the sofa further, glowering at the Pureblood, "Well then why even try? I won't ever have a Light list that way. . ." Cross sighed, his tired and worried eyes on Zero. He had known this would be a sore spot with the silver haired teen . . . He had no doubt that Zero planned to adamant about his stance regarding someone drinking his blood. . . Kaname leaned forward, glaring at Zero, "That is NOT an option. You need to be controlled Zero, before you hurt anyone else. These collars. . ." he pointed to Rose's, "Are the best thing for that. And the only way to get them is to participate in this auction. Now, you're acting ridiculous. Just go and participate, and man up during the tough parts!"
Zero glowered at him, eyes glowing red in his fury, "That's EASY for you to say, you're not the one who they're going to look at as if he were a walking blood bank!" "AND I'M NOT THE ONE WHO CAN'T HELP BUT SEE EVERYONE ELSE AS IF THEY ARE A WALKING BLOOD BANK!" Kaname snapped right back with a snarl, his own eyes glowing red at the rudeness of Zero's outburst. Kuran then let a slow smirk cross his face, knowing his next words would strike Zero hard, perhaps enough to get him to comply once and for all, "After all, Yuki seems to be your bank of choice." That got Zero to lower his eyes- the irises now changing to have a more purple hue-and gaze sadly at the tabletop.
Kaname leaned forward, "Zero, I won't let . . ." "I should talk to Zero alone," Cross muttered suddenly. Kaname frowned and turned to him, raising an eyebrow questioningly. Never before had the Headmaster interrupted him. Kaien frowned at Kaname, "You've explained the first half of the auction to Zero. The rest can wait for later. Right now continuing your conversation with Zero will do more harm than good for the situation at hand. So please, leave me to talk to him." Kaname frowned hard at Kaien, wanting to finish his conversation with Zero before Kaien spoke to him, but then glanced at Zero before sighing and closing his eyes. Perhaps Kaien could speak some sense into the boy. . . "Fine. I'll go outside. . . And I'll be back shortly. Just knock when you're done and ready for me to come back in." Zero turned his head, glaring hard at Kuran's backside as the Pureblood rose up and walked to the door, "You may also want to ask your friends out there who has my Bloody Rose gun. . . I know one of them took it from me."
Kaname chuckled harshly, placing a hand on the door handle and turning to smirk at Zero, "Perhaps it was a good thing they took it from you. It wouldn't have been good for the situation at all should you have used it on me. . ." Zero sneered at him, eyes flaring up once more, barring his fangs, "I think that's a matter of perspective, Kuran. I would have had one less problem in my life. . ." Kaname smirked at him, barring his own fangs right back, "I think you pride your skills with that toy far too much, Kiryu. And besides, even if you were able to kill me, you might have thought you'd have been done with one problem only to have many more." Turning, he pulled on the door handle, "Still, if it means that much to you, I'll find your precious gun. Whether I'll give it back or not is another story." Stepping through the doorway, he began to close the door. Zero was up in an instant, roaring as he rushed at the door, "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO KEEP THAT GUN FROM ME! IT WAS A GIFT FROM MY MASTER! MY MOST PRIZED POSSESSION! YOU BETTER HAND IT OVER, YOU SELF-CENTERED PRICK! DAMMIT!" he cried the last as he tugged and kicked at the door, finding it immovable. Turning his body ever so slightly, he began to slam his shoulder into the door's wooden surface, roaring in his fury.
"It won't open, Zero, come sit down," Kaien remarked, blinking at him. Zero whipped around, glaring at him, "How can you try to even speak so calmly to me, with what's going on?!" he marched over, riding his wave of fury still, and picked up the applications, flinging them at Kaien's face and torso where they broke apart and scattered onto the floor, couch, and coffee table. Kaien only blinked at the hit, as Zero paced angrily to the wall beside the Pureblood's bed, "HE WANTS TO SELL ME INTO SLAVERY, CROSS! AND YOU'RE JUST GOING RIGHT ALONG WITH IT LIKE IT'S NOTHING! LIKE I'M NOTHING!" Kaien jumped, wincing as Zero's fist collided with the wall. For a moment Zero stood there, glaring at the crater he'd made, and Kaien held his breath, watching the silverette. Then, as blood streamed from the broken skin of Zero's fist, dripping to the floor behind Kaname's bedside table, soaking into the carpet, Zero hung his head, tears streaming from shut eyes, "I know I have issues, I know it. I've known it for four years. But you KNOW that I'm trying to fight them. You CAN'T just give up on me!" Kaien sighed and got up, moving slowly to Zero, "Zero, I'm NOT giving up on you. I know that you've been trying hard to hold in your instincts. But sometimes, your will power just isn't enough. Kaname's providing a way-the only way he knows-to control your Vampire side. . ." he put a hand on Zero's shoulder, rubbing him in an attempt at comforting the boy as Zero gazed with teary eyes at the wall, "Believe it or not, Zero I think all he wants is to protect Yuki, just like you. He just thinks this is the best way." Zero turned to him, frowning at the Headmaster with icy purple eyes, "And you do too, is that right?"
Kaien opened his mouth, but Zero didn't bother to stick around for an answer, pushing past the Headmaster and sitting on the couch, glaring at the collar that remained on the coffee table, "You, who are supposed to be like a father to me, want to just put a metal ring around my neck and be done with it? You want to just ship me off to be the slave of some bloodsucker?" he turned and glared at the Headmaster, "Kaname may have talked it up and sugar coated it as something different, but I still know what this is: this is enslavement of former Humans to horrible Vampiric monsters. How could you possibly think about suggesting this to me? Or of even going along with it?!" he snapped the last phrase accusingly and paused.
Kaien frowned at Zero from where he still stood near the wall and crossed his arms, "Because it was Kaname who proposed it, Zero." Zero narrowed his eyes as they flared up with a red luster once more, "What's that supposed to mean?" "What it means is that you need to think of where we are right now, both physically and position-wise. We are in a school, in a world, where the peaceful coexistence of Human and Vampire rests on the shoulders of Kaname Kuran. In this school, he's the only Pureblood Vampire with enough clout and power to keep the other Vampires under control. In the Vampire community, he's the only one respectable enough with them and friendly enough with us that what he says can make a difference betwixt the two. Our alliance with the Vampires and our overall peaceful existence rely on Kaname. If we don't agree to his terms, do you have ANY idea what could happen?" Zero lowered his eyes, not answering but thinking over Kaien's words. Kaien pressed onward, taking a step towards Zero, "I can tell you what would happen, Zero. Chaos. Death. Battles. Those who would win would emerge with scars, and those whose lives would be lost would fall never to rise again. Or at least, not as they once did."
For a moment a silence hung over the room, as Zero mulled over Cross's words. Finally, he let out a ragged sigh, closing his eyes before opening them again, "So, to keep that peace we've 'achieved', you expect me to sacrifice my free will, my morals. . ." Zero darted his cold eyes up, glaring at the Headmaster, "To go and be some Vampire's slave?" Kaien sighed, hanging his head, putting two fingers to each temple, "Zero, don't look at me like that. You know you're more to me than just some bargaining chip. I'm just. . . I'm just backed up to a wall right now. I don't see any other way. . ." he looked up, sighing and gazing at Zero. Zero lowered his head and looked away. For a moment he just sat there quietly, gazing at the papers Kaien'd hastily straightened on the table before him. Picking them up, he brought them to himself, "I'd. . . Be able to deny bidders who I find. . . Questionable?" Kaien blinked and walked over, "Of course, Zero. I'll be sure no one you put on that Dark list will have a chance at getting their hands on you. . ." he sat down beside Zero, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulders.
Zero didn't curl into the grip as he had before, but he didn't move away from it either. Kaien took that as a good sign, "And, Zero, if it'll make you feel any better, I'll see if I can't even be one of your bidders. Or if Kaname could be one. That way, even if you don't like him, even if you loathe him, you'd be going with someone close to us here at the Academy. That way, you wouldn't be going with a total stranger." Zero lifted his head and turned to Kaien. He didn't like the idea of Kaname owning him in that way, but if there was a chance. . . a chance that he could stay with the devil he knew rather than the devils he didn't know anything about . . . He heaved a deep sigh. And he really couldn't deny the control it could provide for him. Yuki and everyone else would be safer. And he doubted Kaname would treat him too poorly . . . well, he was sure that Kaname wouldn't put him through too much more than Zero felt he could handle, at least. . .
"Fine," he muttered, blinking, "I'll go to the auction. If you're ABSOLUTELY sure that this is the only way to control my urges?" Kaien smiled weakly, and opened his mouth to console Zero, but Zero didn't let him get a word in as he continued, "But ONLY if Kaname agrees to bid on me. And ONLY if he tries his HARDEST to own me." Kaien smiled weakly, "Very well."
Kaname frowned, turning Bloody Rose over in his hands, fingering the Anti-Vampire gun as he stood with Kain and Aido in the hallway. His contact with the weapon sent out shocks and tremors through his body with every few seconds of him holding it, but the pain wasn't so intense for him that he couldn't stand it. "I'm sorry I took it, Lord Kaname. I know you didn't order me to," Aido remarked quietly, not looking one bit as ashamed as his words prescribed, "I was just concerned about how Zero would react upon awakening. I only truly had your safety in mind." Kaname blinked, "You thought correctly, Hanabusa . . ." he turned to him and twirling the gun around on his ring finger of his right hand, slid it into his pants pocket on that side, to where only the trigger and handle stuck out. He pulled his jacket over the gun to hide it, "You did well." At that moment, there were three knocks on his bedroom door beside them. He turned, blinking with a frown at the door, "That was fast. . ." he walked over and gripped the door handle, "I'll be back shortly. Have someone prepare the guest room for Zero Kiryu. He'll be using it this week. Get Seiren's help with that. Then come back here." Aido and Kain bowed, then turned and rushed off as Kaname opened the door.
The Pureblood frowned first at the crater in his wall, his nostrils flaring at the blood within the crater as the smell reached his nose before he turned to Zero and Kaien on the couch. Zero had his back hunched and hands clasped before him and out of sight, but Kaien was gazing at Kaname, blinking, a hand resting gently on Zero's shoulders. Kaname arched an eyebrow, "You couldn't speak without harming my property?" Kaien smiled weakly as Zero tensed slightly. The teen knew that Kaname was referring to the wall, but in the current situation, the term "property" sent a chill down the silver haired boy's spine. Kaien sighed, "I'm afraid not, Lord Kaname. Please come sit." Kaname blinked and walked over to sit on the couch across from Zero and Kaien, leaning back and putting one leg up and bent with the foot of it on the knee of his other leg, one of his arms draped over the couch's back, "So, what is your decision?" his eyes fell on Zero, and his frown deepened. Zero didn't have his hands just clasped before him. Instead, in his hands he held Rose's collar, and was rubbing his thumbs over the "K" there as he gazed at it intently. Kaname frowned at the sight, and then turned to Kaien, "Well?"
"Zero. . ." Kaien glanced at Zero nervously, "Is willing to go through with the auction." Kaname let a slow smirk cross his face, "Excellent. Now, let me continue with how it. . ." "Not so fast, Kuran," Zero suddenly remarked and lifted his head up, frowning at Kaname and resting the collar on the table, his eyes never leaving from being locked on Kaname's own.
Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out, the younger teen muttered, "I'm willing to go through with the auction on TWO conditions." Kaname arched an eyebrow and glanced at Kaien before turning his focus back to Zero, "Oh really? And what might those be?" Zero gritted his teeth, studying Kuran and thinking over his decision one more time, "The first is that you become one of my bidders. And the second is that you try as hard as you're capable of doing to purchase me." Kaname blinked, surprise flitting through his eyes, "You're seriously asking for me to become your Master?" Zero frowned hard at him, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not THRILLED at the idea of you having ANY sort of control over me. But if I have to put my control into anyone's hands, I'd rather it be the bloodsucking demon I know rather than one I don't know. . ." Kaname arched an eyebrow, tilting his head up, "And why do you think I'd ever want an arrogant little Level E like you as a slave?"
Zero glared at the Pureblood, fire sparking in his eyes, "Because otherwise I'll never willingly participate in this auction, that's why." Kaname glowered back leaning forward and sensing the challenge in Kiryu's words, "You know, I could always make your life agonizingly painful unless you concede. Then I wouldn't have to risk my reputation by having a trouble-making imp like you at my home." Zero snarled back, "If you choose to torture me to try to get me to concede, I'll die that way. So long as you refuse to bid on me, I won't attend the auction, I won't sign these papers, and I won't take part in a single Phase of it."
A/N: Sooooo, what'd you think? Did you believe the characters were portrayed accurately? Did you like aspects of the chapter? Did you not like aspects of the chapter? Are there any things you'd like to comment on or ask me about? Please feel free to review or send me a PM! I normally check Fanfiction at least once a day (usually more than once), to see if anyone's contacted me! So I'll be sure to get back to anyone who reviews or messages me right away!
