A/N : Hi again! I've realized that the Kaname / Aido part is going to take a lot longer than I thought to come in…but I want to build up their relationship first. I hope that's fine with you guys!

Chapter 2

"Headmaster Cross," Kaname greeted as he slid into a chair.

The Headmaster of Cross Academy didn't look up from the sheaf of letters he was rifling through.

"What do you know of the attack on Kohake district two months ago?" Cross asked after awhile. His serene eyes were veiled with disquiet, and as he placed the papers on his desk he stood up, moving to the window which overlooked his beloved school.

"Where did the next attack occur?" Kaname asked instead. The youth spoke with his eyes half lidded, almost like a lazy cat basking in sunlight, but Cross felt the pureblood's displeasure like cold fingers along his spine.

"Yakuzei village reported a massacre by a pack of wolves … blood everywhere, bodies mangled, throats ripped out… people claim to have seen men in possession of demons and spirits… I do not think this is a coincidence, Kaname…"

Kaname ran his fingers through his hair.

"Shizuka Hiou is the youngest daughter in her family clan. They are one of the oldest pureblood lines, almost rival to the Kuran clan. Shizuka is a princess known for beauty…and ruthlessness.

"She has a human turned vampire as a lover – whether or not by the blood bond, I do not know. They are certainly very close, and the level E has never lost his insanity.

"Now, however, the Kiryuu clan of vampire hunters are hot the trail of this...male. He is in hiding, and it seems his separation from Shizuka has led her to…infect other humans. There is no solid evidence, but I believe they did take the bond of blood."

Cross knew the effects of a blood bond. If Shizuka and her lover had indeed sated their lusts on each other, the separation would have driven Shizuka to bite other humans to prevent her madness.

"Well, Cross, our goals for cohabitation are one. I will go to the next site of attack to deal with these…degenerates. What information do you have for me?"

Cross looked up, eyebrows raised.

"Hizan is the next target…given its remoteness and proximity to forests and mountains, like Kohake and Yakuzei, I would say this is a good guess. But you will not go alone? The numbers are large…perhaps a few dozen."

"Not alone…Seiren will accompany me, as will Kain of the Akatsuki clan, third son of my grandfather's cousin."

"Ka – ? Oh, the girls call him Wild. Then you'll have to bring his cousin Hanabusa as well…they're inseperable."

"If that is all…have the necessary transport and arrangements be ready by this evening. We leave at the first rise of the moon." Kaname turned to leave, but stopped.

"Oh, and say hi to Yuki for me."

Two nights later, four vampires dressed in dark pants and branded leather jackets waited amongst the shadows of the rising moon. They were in the village Hizan, a small town with inhabitants who had lived in undisturbed peace for years. Tonight, however, the aura of taint and contamination permeated the tranquility of this town.

"Remember…we are here as guardians only. You will not … take advantage … of any humans," Kaname spoke softly. The other vampires heard him, but it was aimed mostly at Aido.

The others stirred; the level E vampires were approaching and Kaname's anger shone in his eyes; they were dark and rich as wine, and his bloodscent every bit as potent and intoxicating. Beside him, Aido was barely conscious of eagerly lengthening fangs; Kaname's essence grated on his like shards on bare skin, stoking his already smoldering fervor.

The first scream tore through darkness like a knife through paper. A moment's silence – then the quiet, sleepy town erupted around into chaos. Doors were smashed down, curtains were torn – shrieks and bellows coalesced like a panicked orchestra.

"Go!" Kaname roared, and leapt out at the nearest degenerate, claws unsheathed and fangs bared. Seiren shot out in a blur; fast as a cat and twice as vicious, she slashed and cut at her opponents with unnerving ferocity, twisting and ducking with feline agility.

Kain stepped out, embers dancing along his fingers and a deadly light in his eyes. Flames lit up like rearing cobras from the dusty streets, hissing and twisting; they raced out to meet their enemies, and writhing shadows emitted the scent of burning flesh.

The scent of blood, rusty and viscous with decay and corruption, filled Aido's nostrils. The assault overcame his hesitation of this unfamiliar violence and danger, and he let loose his power with wild abandon. Icy winds howled around him, and slivers of ice, sharp as glass, embedded in the degenerates; several flying vampires fell, their wings frozen and encased in ice.

If the villages saw the four pairs of glowing red eyes and the inhuman strength with which they fought, they neither acknowledged nor remembered. In the terror, they fled into the village hall, the fortress in time of attack.

More degenerates arrived at the scene, and the scent of their filthy blood was like a curse

that drained the noble vampires' consciousness and self control.

It was probably less than hour, and yet Aido's strength was failing. A savage red miasma was clouding his vision. The scent of blood assaulted him like waves tossing a ship – he didn't meet the powerful blow from his adversary in time and the following kick crumpled him against a wall. His head thumped painfully, breaking the bloodlust but making his vision swirl. When it cleared, he looked at a pair of gaping jaws and heard the snarl of triumph as they prepared to close on around his throat –

Only there was no pain – Aido was screaming his head off, very much alive, his throat unpierced. Fear drove him on, and icicles flew unbidden from his hand to the degenerate. There was the sickening sound of ripping flesh, the moan of agony and a bloodthirsty hiss.

Aido stared at the glassy eyed vampire, now dead, entrails hanging by a clawed fist that belonged to yet another vampire…

Seiren whirled and slammed a foot into a chest – how many times, how many victims, she didn't care. She didn't stop. The guttural gurgling of another behind her – she took this one out with a swift rake of claws, and then jumped high to avoid a third lunging at her. Flames burst out around her in a circle, driving the degenerates back, giving her a moment's respite. Then she and Kain were back to back, and the last of the vampires were slinking away, hiding from these formidable warriors that had robbed them of their prey…

A pallid face loomed behind Kaname. He scarcely batted an eye as he reached back and caught him full in the neck, ripping out his throat.

Aido faced him, still against the wall, heaving and panting. The vampire that had nearly killed Aido was dead at Kaname's feet. His blood was congealing in the cold air already, mingling with the gut wrenching stench of burnt and bloodied vampire corpses. Aido gulped once, twice, thrice, trying not to gag on the smell.

There was an odd, fiery sensation in his belly, and there was another unpleasant smell – sharp and sour, quite different from the others.

"Ugh…disgusting," Kain commented, wrinkling his nose. Aido had demonstrated his nausea with a very well aimed jet of vomit… a puddle of which pooled on Kaname's patent leather shoes.

Aido belatedly saw the rip in Kaname's jacket, and realized that the pureblood had thrust his arm between Aido and the rogue vampire, taking the bite that would have killed the younger noble.

"Kaname sama! You were bitten …" Seiren trailed off, then glared at Aido. "You bungling fool! Kaname sama, I should have been more careful –"

"No, Seiren, I am fine, and the fault was not yours. You were invaluable as always. Kain, accompany her back to the helicopter. I will have a word with Hanabusa."

Seiren bit her tongue and flashed Aido another disgusted look. She turned and Kain followed hesistatingly, not wanting to disobey Kaname but unwilling to leave Aido.

Kaname waited till the both of them were out of earshot, then turned to Aido.

"Your incompetence was a severe liability and could have gotten you killed. Next time, do not separate from the rest of your group as you will have little chance of support and will be easily surrounded by your enemy."

His voice was harsh, chastising, and Aido hung his head.

"However, your courage and ferocity is commended … only do not let your heart passion overtake your mind. Hanabusa Aido, look at me…"

Aido obeyed, and to his surprise saw warmth in those dark eyes.

"You have done very well, Aido."

"Did I really?"

"Yes…as good as Kain."

"Ha! Wait till I tell him – I mean, thank you, my lord." But Kaname had already turned around and was walking down after Kain and Seiren.

"My lord?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about your shoes…"

"Don't be. Your job is to clean them once we're back at school."

"…yes, my lord…"

END

Thank you for reading! Review, please!