I don't own Vampire Knight or any of the characters in the series.
A/N: Chapter 2 is here!
I went back to university on Monday and my first week has been good but a little busy. Thankfully I've managed to write the next chapter of this. Hopefully I'll update something else this weekend. I will do my best to keep writing around my studies and volunteering. Things may slow down if i get bombarded with assignments but I have no intentions of disappearing any time soon ^^
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the first chapter, you're fantastic and i hope you continue to enjoy ^^
Kai Hoshizuki: It is set in the future after Rido, but it is a little AU i guess because I was going to have the whole Kuran family on this holiday in the first chapter (Haruka and Juri would still be alive) and also in this Kaname isn't as well-aquainted with Zero as he would be after Rido in the series. In this he kind of sees Zero as his little sister's bad-boy friend but doesn't actually know him that well. Does that answer your question about if it's AU or not? I hope so... I'm relatively new to fanfiction and sometimes don't know what things like "AU" mean (i had to google it) so your question has also been educational for me, thank you :) Also many thank yous for all of your reviews across all of my stories: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! :D I hope you continue to enjoy ^^
Please read, fave, follow, review and most importantly enjoy! ^^
Chapter 2: Positive Reinforcement
*splash**splash*
Zero woke to the sound of waves crashing onto a shore. As more feeling came into his body he felt that his clothes were soaked through.
*pit-pat**pit-pat*
He then heard the sound of someone running across sand towards him.
"Zero? Zero, can you hear me!?" He could vaguely make out that it was the voice of Yuki's brother, Kaname Kuran.
Having regained most of his senses he was about to open his eyes when…
*slap*
He was slapped on the cheek, hard.
"Oi, Zero can you-?" Kaname stopped his attempts to wake Zero as he saw those amethyst eyes glaring back at him.
"You couldn't have given me a few seconds to respond before you hit me!?" Zero complained, rubbing his red cheek.
"Sorry…" Kaname mumbled, not sounding overly sincere.
*slap*
"What the hell was that for!?" Kaname yelled, now rubbing his sore cheek.
"Payback."
"For what, I was trying to help you!" Kaname fumed.
"I don't need your help, Kuran." Zero insisted.
"tch" Kaname clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Rolling his eyes, Zero righted himself and slowly stood up. He blinked several times to get his eyes adjusted to the way-too-bright sun before surveying his surroundings.
They were on a reasonably sized extent of beach that was being heated by the midday sun. The water was crystal clear and fish could be seen swimming about beneath the surface. In the middle of the island was a jungle full of greenery. Zero had no idea where they were but the place did not give him the best of vibes.
"Where are we?" Zero tried asking Kaname.
"I don't know. Some island in the middle of nowhere?" Kaname suggested sarcastically.
Seriously? This guy was supposedly a straight A+ student back when they were in high school and the best answer he could give is the blatantly obvious? Zero was frustrated with Kaname's answer and continued to glare daggers into the pureblood.
"I only woke up a short time before you so I haven't looked around the island yet but considering how far out to sea we were I would say that the place is extremely remote and most likely uninhabited by humans." Kaname continued.
That was at least slightly more helpful…
"Did anyone else wash up here?" Zero asked, somewhat hopefully.
Please let there be someone else, anyone else, I don't want to be stuck alone on an island with this guy!
"I haven't sensed the presence of anyone else. Besides, we were the only ones on deck when we were searching for Yuki. Therefore, we are the only ones who could have possibly come off of the ship in the first place." Kaname replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Damn!
"Well, I'll search the coastline just in case your senses are failing you." Zero insisted, really hoping there was someone else on this island with them.
Kaname went to stop him and warn him about using up energy when they were yet have a secured water or food source. But, he was too late. Before he could utter a word the silverette had sprinted too far away for his voice to be heard. All Kaname could do was sigh and wait for his fellow castaway to come back.
…
A short time later
Zero's heart sunk as Kaname's form came into view again. He had ran the whole way around the island and found no others. The truth of the matter was clear:
Crap, I really am stuck with him…
Kaname looked at him with disapproval as he approached.
"Are you feeling thirsty after your little jog?" Kaname asked, knowing that Zero would have used up a decent amount of fluid running underneath the hot sun.
Zero hadn't thought about it at the time but his throat did feel extremely dry. After all, his last drink was when he was still on board the ship. The seawater and running had just dehydrated him further. His throat began to ache.
"Yeah actually, I'm parched." Zero replied.
"Isn't that fantastic? You're thirsty and we have no water source yet." Kaname pointed out with a condescending smile.
Damn this jerk! Can't he do something useful other than complain?
"Then where can we find a water source, smart-ass?" Zero asked rudely.
Kaname was nice enough to ignore his attitude before listing off some possibilities.
"Well we can boil some sea water, which would require lighting a fire first and having a container to boil the water in, unless you want your hands scorched. Or, we could make a dew or evaporation catcher in which case we would need a large amount of time to even get a mouthful of freshwater. Or, we could search the island for a fresh water source like a spring." Kaname listed.
"Which is quickest?" Zero asked, knowing that he needed water soon.
"Probably…searching the island. Considering the time it took you to get back, the island seems quite small and should be relatively quick to search in comparison to the other options. And, while you've been running around, I've seen a few ground-dwelling animals. They must have a water source to survive out here so we'll definitely find one somewhere." Kaname explained.
"Then, let's get cracking." Zero said, trudging off into the jungle ahead of the pureblood.
Kaname could see that the lack of water was making Zero cranky so he kept his mouth shut and quietly followed behind. Besides, if Zero was leading the way, then he would surely run into any cobwebs, prickly bushes and other unpleasant things first. Keeping with this strategy, Kaname let Zero bravely lead the way while he followed behind, avoiding any hazards that had caused Zero to swear in warning beforehand.
…
A short time later the duo arrived at a spring with a small waterfall.
"This is fresh water and since the water is running we don't have to worry about it becoming stagnant." Kaname explained, examining the water approvingly.
Extremely parched, Zero dashed into the water and to the waterfall. He drank up some of the fresh water before allowing the waterfall to wash some of the saltiness from his hair and clothes. He appreciated the coolness of the water after the burning of the sun. Meanwhile Kaname drank a few mouthfuls before looking around the area.
"We don't want to camp here because if we're too far inside the island, rescuers won't be able to see us. But, thankfully this place isn't too far from the beach on that side." Kaname pointed to where he could see a small amount of beach through the undergrowth on one side "So, I suggest that we make camp over there and clear a small path to the water so that it's easily accessible when we need a drink." Kaname suggested.
Now that Zero had has his fill of water he was calmer, cleaner and thinking more sensibly. He knew that Kaname's idea was good and had also realised by now that they should work together to survive. He grudgingly agreed to the plan and began clearing a path to the beach on that side.
…
As they came into the light of the beach Zero checked the sun's position. It had gone down from when they had first washed up so it must be sometime in the afternoon, he guessed about 3pm. He also noted the direction of east and west from the sun's setting point. Kaname had done the same.
"We've only got a few hours of light left so we should try to work quickly to at least get some kind of shelter up and find some food." He announced.
"Just what I was thinking." Zero replied, heading off to rocky tide-pool outcrop on the water's edge.
"Where are you going?" Kaname asked.
"To find dinner. There should be some shellfish or crustaceans in there." Zero said, pointing at the rocky area. "I can just grab them with my hands. I'll probably make a proper spear tomorrow for fishing but since we're running out of time that looks easiest." Zero said.
"I thought I saw some berries back by the waterfall." Kaname said, finding them more appetising than the thought of what culinary wonders Zero might return with.
"But we don't know what they are. They could be poisonous and I am not volunteering myself to test them." Zero pointed out.
"I can also see some coconuts above your head but climbing will use more energy and then I'd still have to find a way to crack open the damn things. So, maybe tomorrow. Clams and simple stuff tonight." Zero explained.
Kaname knew that Zero was right and resigned himself to eat whatever Zero caught. But, he was thankful. Even geniuses like himself had lapses occasionally, and at least he was stranded with a guy like Zero who would stop him from eating possible poison by accident…even if the guy's personality was rather flawed and he didn't particularly like him.
After a quick consultation the two went their separate ways. Kaname went about finding some dry kindling to start a fire. It would keep them warm if the nights were cold, could be used for cooking and may be noticed by people sailing nearby. In the meantime Zero was finding various edible things for their dinner. As Zero returned Kaname cringed a little at not being able to make out what some of the things were.
Zero's tidings consisted mostly of various shellfish, however Kaname quickly noticed that their dinner wasn't fine oysters or the like. Kaname was an upper class guy who, when he ate seafood, was used to having the best of the best. He didn't exactly like the idea of eating these things but he didn't really have a choice in the matter. Even though Kaname may have had some better brains than Zero, he did not possess the hunter's ability an iron stomach. He had also never cooked and was a novice as to what would be edible and not. He knew that he must rely on the hunter's judgement in this matter.
When it came time for dinner Zero was having a hard time suppressing his laughter at the stupid look Kaname was showing him as he pinched his nose with every bite like a child who hated the taste of his vegetables.
"C'mon Kuran, be a man and eat what you're given." Zero teased, not seeming phased by the taste at all.
Kaname desperately wanted to scold the hunter brat, but knew better than to annoy him. After all, it seemed as if he would be relying on Zero for food during the next few days.
"Can I request to be given something more recognisable tomorrow?" Kaname asked.
"You can request all you want. What you get will depend on how I'm feeling." Zero decided.
"On how you're feeling?" Kaname sensed something ominous implied with these words.
"Yep. If you be nice to me and I'll give you coconuts and some grilled fish. But, if you piss me off, I give you this cheap stuff. And if you really piss me off…I might feed you poison." Zero threatened.
*gulp*
Kaname realised that he was at a dead end. He had to trust the hunter about what was edible because he had no idea, and now he had to be nice to the hunter if he wanted to stay alive. He hung his head knowing that he would have to befriend the hunter to stay alive. Zero took the pureblood's body language to indicate that he agreed to his terms. He wanted his time on the island to be as easy and painless as possible. Hopefully this arrangement would curb the pureblood's attitude towards him.
"I hate you, you know." Kaname said, pinching his nose before attempting another one of the local delicacies.
"Sure you do." Zero said, grinning.
So it's true… the best way to tame a beast, or pureblood, is food and positive Reinforcement...