Chapter Two.

Rating: M.

Pairing: Kaname x Zero.

Warnings: Content may be sensitive to some viewers, includes, abuse to a minor, yaoi in later chapters and adult themes.

The bell of a clock tolled, the chime of metal ringing across the newly awakening sky.

Cool digits unfurled to lace around a blanket of white, speckles of moisture beading on calloused flesh as the pallid fingertips were pulled forward into an affectionate embrace. A twist of the arm, and soon it was being swallowed, unable to be seen in the vast cloud surrounding the area. The fog rolled onward, pulling the dark foliage of the trees in to hide their roots, melting in with the sway of grass, chilled with the freezing mist. Not a moment later, was it tugging on the edges of faded blue jeans, clawing at the fabric as it climbed higher up the length of denim. Numb and transparent, much like the growing apathetic gloss to amethyst orbs.

The denim stepped back, a glint of metal piercing through the dense landscape as Zero tried to scramble backwards, his tiny fits raw and bleeding as they hovered over his face in an act of self-defense. Silver lashes folding downward to mask his fear as laughter rang in his ears. "...Just as I thought..." Leaves crunched all around him, and the black ankle boots Zero adorned on occasion drew to his shivering body in haste. Why was he so numb? Why did everyone hate him? He peeked out from beneath his lashes to trail his gaze over the twisted grins hidden beneath the fog, cerulean eyes, smoldering brown, children's laughter, "you're nothing but a freak."

Salt poured into the bleeding wound, and one of the mist covered figures stepped forward, another glint of metal hitting the dawning rays of light. The pocket knife sitting proudly in seemingly innocent fingers, a misplaced angel. "What happened to your family? Zero? Did someone kill them?" The child flinched back in shock, steam rising in pools of pure hatred. He reached out to coat his fingers in the softening soil of the earth, pushing downward as he made his way to his feet.

"You fucking bast—"

"Or did you kill them?" Pain, sharp and sickeningly familiar, slammed into Zero's right thigh as his teeth cut into his bottom lip to cut off any reaction his traitorous voice would give.

"You did, didn't you? That's why you're the only one who survived! You freak!" Crimson dyed blue, warmth trickling down his leg as the pain shot deeper. Glancing down at the sharp edge buried inside his skin, Zero shot out his hand to clasp over the one covering the handle of the knife. Nails ripping through the other's flesh.

"Fuck off, Aidou." Zero hissed, before the blonde had time to open his mouth again, a pale fist was smacking hard into bone. A small body hitting the ground with an audible crash. That was all it took for the other two figures to run forward, two pairs of arms forcing their way around his thrashing frame. Surrounding the youth with their touch, the flesh long since cold and devoid of humanity. The touch…reminded him of that woman. Sharp animal descended claws tipped up his chin in horrifyingly slow motion as his lungs busted in his chest, begging him to run. Her long white threads of hair draping over his body in a promise for the forsaken, his mouth had opened in a silent scream. That white…peppered red with the blood of his family.

Why?

"Never forget it was I who did this to you. Never forget the immense hatred you feel now, my precious boy…" A coy smile, before cherry blossom eyes rimmed with sadistic pleasure lowered, "You, who shall become the embodiment of sin."

Why are you doing this?

"Kiryu Zero, my name is Shizuka Hiou. Remember it well."

An elbow jutted to the side, limbs swinging in every direction as the grips on him grew tighter. "Get off me!"

With a palm cupping his bruised flesh, Aidou slowly rose to his feet, a sharp gleam in his ice blue globes as he spit some of the blood that had gathered on his tongue across the swaying grass. He watched mercilessly as the elder boy struggled against Akatuski's and Ruka's combined strength, and stepped forward, revenge spreading the deep black of his soul even further.

"Who do you think you are?" He asked as Zero's stone gaze clashed with his own.

Zero merely scoffed, his body slack for a split second.

Brows drawing inward, the young boy dropped to his knees and ripped the knife from the red pool it inhabited. The argent haired boy let out a hiss of pain and Adiou glanced upwards to share a look with his cousin; Kain, with a reluctant tension in his shoulders, merely watched as his derailed relative gave the signal. A nod of blonde hair, and the red-head was releasing his hold on the male. Only to slam him back against the bark, his expression masked as the sound of the blade slicing into the air sounded below him.

Zero refused to make a sound. Staring straight ahead, past the fiery red locks of a fellow orphan, Zero's throat went dry as his skin was torn with each brutal slash of the blade. He could feel the blood run in rivulets down his leg, but his mind had already clouded over. Another cut, and Zero recalled a faraway scream, a voice like his own, but softer, a phantom of someone who had admired him like no other. A lone lavender petal swaying in his mind's eye as he saw a happy smile, drenched with tears. Is this how Ichiru felt when he was being slaughtered? Not able to escape? Helpless?

Zero surveyed the trees standing at attention, looking past their large oak trunks as they watched him like armored soldiers. No matter how much he peered into the looming darkness brought on by the fast approaching blows littering his body-smaller and lighter than Adiou's, no doubt Ruka's-his alert irises couldn't detect a hint of life among the whisper of the wind, aside from those assaulting him. For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe they would kill him this time. Perhaps that was why he had left his room at five in the morning…maybe he wanted this to happen. A path to the end…

A stray leaf came up to brush against his cheek, and Zero's frown only deepened. Their voices became muted, their faces spotting black as Zero tried to hold back the moisture coating the corners of his eyes.

Two accusing lavender eyes pierced into Kain's and the latter felt his mouth go dry.

With his senses screaming a warning in his ears like a blaring alarm, the male quickly reached for something, anything, that would get him out the situation that was quickly getting out of hand. His fingers brushed against the satisfying weight of a rock, rough and barely touching his fingertips, as the digits wiggled and reached for the object on impulse. Steady fingers on a welcomed kiss of stone and silver locks whipped to the side as a timed punch landed dead on his temple. A brief twitch before the lost forest was cradling an unconscious boy, Kain's eyes wide as the battered body fell forward.

"Shit!" Adiou cussed from between parted lips as he took a step back from the boy.

"D-did we kill him?"

Harsh blue met Ruka's astonished-fear riddled orbs. "Don't be stupid! He's just unconscious! We need to get back inside before Cross wakes up!"

Not bothering to help the child they had just tortured, Ruka and Adiou quickly began to wipe the evidence of their deed on their clothes, before running with quick steps back towards the main building.

"Come on Akatsuki, hurry up!"

The breeze shifted forward and a sorrow fell over the feeling of tension in Kain's shoulders. Dark hatred mingling with guilt ripped forward to coat the youth's senses, drowning him in a feeling of self-hatred. No one would have to know he was at fault, but he would always know. He, who always aided in this boy's abuse. And he… didn't even have a reason aside from wanting to be close to her.

"Forgive me, Kiryu."

Silently, Kain wrapped his arms around the boy and as indiscreetly as he was able, and carried the boy back to his room. If anyone asked, it to simply insure they wouldn't get caught.

But as he closed the door behind him and headed to his own room, each step…made him sick to his stomach.

Tendrils of light, unrelenting and most certainly unwanted attacked Zero's eyes as his curtains were ripped open by a pair of demanding hands. Blinking at the harsh intrusion, a groan rippled from his parched throat in strained protest, nails digging into his legs as he propped himself into an incline with his elbows. For some reason, they felt bruised. A snake coiled over Zero's heart, constricting as images suddenly played in his mind. Laughter, pain, the hatred…

"Zero! You need to get up or you'll miss breakfast!"

Turning his head to the side, the male had to stifle a sigh at the sight of Yuuki standing in his room, her large brown eyes filled with concern as she began to nag him. Carefully pushing his body up further, hesitant fingers curled around the bed sheets that were damp with sweat. Was it all a dream…?

"Yeah, yeah. I know." He replied after a subtle cough grated at his throat. Swallowing, Zero had to hold back a flinch as Yuuki's hand came down to rest on his shoulder. Raising his gaze to hers, he watched her lips pursed in thought. Her brown bangs framing those eyes he both loved and hated.

"Hey…Zero…?" She spoke his name in a questioning manner, and a silver brow rose in question. Her finger skittered down to the front of his shirt, and he watched her silently…the way her chest hitched when her hand ran over a certain spot on his shirt. Confusion swirled with a hint of anxiety. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?" A moth of confusion swept toward the light.

"You… you have blood on your shirt."

Ice prickled in his veins as shock stole his breath, a firm fist clamping down on his chest. Without removing his shocked irises from Yuuki, he subtly reached beneath the covers, a spider of doubt being squashed the moment his fingers glided over…

A glance away, then a soft ruffle to brown locks.

"It's nothing."

Sloth.

The male pulled the covers over his head swiftly, and turned his back towards the girl, burying himself beneath the pile of blankets. Soft tuffs of silver hair peeking out from the fort.

"I'll come down later."

For a moment, there was no sound. Then he heard Yuuki sigh and the welcomed sound of his door closing echoed in his ears. When he was sure he was alone, Zero pulled back the covers, his hard gaze landing on his legs.

Dried blood caked his jeans, long gruesome tears displaying mauled flesh as pink, bubbled flesh, met him with a grimace. His sheets, also infected by the red that had overtaken his pants.

A dream, such a thing did not exist.

Zero just sighed, pulling out a worn-down book, the pages crumpled at the edges. Pressing his fingers against the hardened cover, he tried to pretend…it didn't hurt.

There was a soft crunching as two twin pairs of black dress shoes moved in a swift stride down bleak, surprisingly barren, streets. With the scent of a crisp autumn wind carrying seasonal spices and pumpkin along its fingertips, the taller of male of the duo silently trailed his gaze over the landscape presented to him. The winding path to the orphanage was nothing short of taxing, Kaname decided as the soles of his shoes glided over the concrete path. Gentle hums of a song in the distance played from the forest, slender digits pulling his messenger bag snug to his waist.

A clock ticked.

"So you're here to deliver something from your father to the chairman?" Takuma inquired with a smile as they walked side by side towards the grand double doors, his attention caught between his own curiosities and the manga resting between his opened hands.

Not sparing his best friend a glance, the brunette continued onward until he was directly before the door. "Yes, it would seem Cross is a good friend of my father's."

Sparing his friend a tilt of the lips, while the cheery blonde continued to read his beloved manga, Kaname raised his fist, knocking twice on the large oak frame. No sooner than when the knuckles laid a kiss upon the wood, did the door get pulled open. Five small fingers curled over the handle, and a girl that reached only to his chest stood awkwardly in the doorway. False light illuminated her blue sweater and long tresses as she greeted them with a timid smile. "Oh, can I help you?"

Finally putting down his manga, Ichijo peered up at the girl. Widened eyes before a blinding smile, "We're here for the chairman."

The little brunette gave a surprised squeak before stepping aside for the two to enter. "Then please come in! He should be down in a minute!"

An amused chuckle escaped Kaname, walking in behind his companion. Shoulders brushed and he watched as the cute girl gave him a soft smile, her cheeks bathed with pink as she tripped over her next words. "Oh um…" Child-like innocence, a butterfly that craved the light. Kaname's lips tipped into his customary polite simper, his hand clasping around hers when she offered it, her face bright like a lamp.

"My name's Yuuki Cross!" She introduced, his friend's enamored expression not missing his radar. The clock ticked again, and as he brushed away the lingering touch with a firm shake, he uttered his name in turn.

"Kaname Kuran, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. This is my friend, Takuma."

As Kaname turned to direct the attention to his classmate, his body was suddenly lurching forward. Silver locks brushed past his vision, and a body was pushed against his, partially shoving him aside.

The clock stopped.

"Can you move."

A shocked gasp pierced the stunned silence that had snaked around the forms in the foyer, an aggravated glower being shot across the silverette's face as Yuuki suddenly rounded on him. Her finger being jutted in his face, "Zero, don't be rude!"

"He was in my way." Came the calm reply before nimble digits were flicking the girl's wrist away, and legs were pull forward in a stride.

"Zero!"

The boy didn't cease his footsteps, and as he braced his hands across a coffee engraved door, the flower painted window leaving glows of red to spark over the unique silver locks, Kaname's eyes stabbed into his every movement.

"Hey don't walk away!"

The door was pulled forth with the gentle caressing wind, plants peeking out from the small space, before the boy twisted his head just a tad and vanished behind the portal as it swung on its hinges.

Yuuki visibly deflated. "Eh…" An awkward head scratch later, and she was turning to their guests, "I'm so sorry about him! That was Zero Kiryu, my friend. He…you see…Zero has it pretty rough here so please don't hold it against him!"

"I see."

Kaname continued to stare at the spot Zero occupied prior; before he had turned away…Kaname had seen it. The slow limp burdening his movements, the flawless porcelain skin, speckled with dirt that dampened its beauty.

But what truly caught his attention was…

"Is he up for adoption, by any chance?"

Yuuki blinked in shock, her lashes fluttering once then twice around her carmine spheres, then she was nodding her head eagerly. "Yeah... he's been here for a while!"

"I see." Came the same response as last time.

Takuma, who had his deep emerald orbs on his friend, tipped the edges of his mouth down in concern, "Kaname, is something wrong?"

"Nothing at all."

For the rest of the evening, Kaname kept looking for sharp amethyst eyes.

A/N: … I'm not sure if this came out alright, but I just wanted to say, I extremely hope it didn't disappoint. I was shocked beyond belief by the amount of followers I got for this story and I was pretty nervous typing this up, considering I don't want to let anyone down and all that jazz. Your feedback was greatly appreciated and I've decided to make this a multi-chapter series. Thanks very much for the support, and I'll have the next update in a month or two…knowing me, it could be whenever. We all know I Suck at updates.

*Sweat drops.*

Ah….and…

LOTSOFLOVETOMYREVIEWERS.