Chapter 3 - Parting Ways
Warnings- Possible spoilers up to recent chapters. M/M pairing. Un-betaed.
Disclaimer- I do not own Vampire Knight or its characters. This story was written for enjoyment and no money is being made of it.
Chapter Notes- This chapter takes place right after Chapter 43 of the Vampire Knight manga. The scene goes AU from there, so there's been a bit of a time skip since the last chapter of my fanfic. The storyline is the pretty much the same as the manga over the missing time. Any changes will be revealed and explained in the following chapters, though the only changes that do exist concern recent events. This chapter mainly concerns the three main characters and their interactions in the aftermath of the battle with Rido.
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As the tangle of sinewy vines and thorns retracted in a silver whirl, the last of Kuran Rido crumbled quietly. But the fine dust that shifted in the wind was no longer what the two occupants of the ruins, once a part of the Moon Dorms, had their attentions on. Kiryuu Zero and Cross, no… now Kuran Yuuki faced each other in the tense silence.
With hardened bitterness in his eyes, Zero shifted Bloody Rose to aim it at the girl standing before him. He would put an end to it all. He'd end the purebloods, his pain, his life, Yuuki's life…
"Forgive me, Yuuki. But this has to end now…" The words so easily left his lips but his finger on the trigger did not move. It reminded him of when he had faced a different pureblood. But whereas it had been Hiou Shizuka's will that had bound him that last time, now it was his own will preventing him from pulling the trigger. Kuran Yuuki was not the innocent, lovable girl he had known… yet those large brown eyes gazed at him the same way they used to. She was worried not for her own well-being, but for Zero's.
"Zero…" Yuuki lowered her weapon but she dared not approach her fellow prefect. The way he was training his gun at her clearly showed that he viewed her not as a friend and sister he'd spent nearly every day with, but as a pureblood. She knew a part of him hated her for it. It hurt to think that things could no longer be as they were, but things had irrevocably changed and they had no choice but to find a way to live with that. The girl took a deep breath before speaking again, trying to make him understand… "I'm not the human girl you knew. I'm a vampire now, as I have been from birth. My parents, my brother… But that doesn't make the last four years any less true. I wasn't lying to you or anything, and I'd choose the same all over again if we were to go back in time. I… I'm still Zero's ally."
Zero kept seeing the little girl who had held out a hand to him in the past, whenever he had been wallowing in darkness. When he'd despaired of ever knowing the simple joys of life again, she had been there with a ready smile. When he could not stop himself from remembering the feeling of pureblood fangs sinking into his neck, she had been there to soothe his pain. It was so ironic that she was now that which he had hated with a passion for the past several years. It really wasn't her fault, but such logic did little to appease the ache of betrayal he felt. Fate, it seemed, just loved to screw up his life. A shuddering breath and a moment of hesitation later, Bloody Rose was slowly lowered as amethyst eyes turned away from brown. He couldn't do it. She was not Cross Yuuki anymore, but she was still Yuuki. The hunter wore an unreadable expression as he quietly asked, "What now, then?"
Yuuki wore a smile and a light flush as she answered. For some reason, seeing her like that caused Zero's heart to give a small lurch he pretended not to have felt. Even the soft yet passionate tone of her voice sharpened that odd feeling within him as he tried to focus on her words. "I'm leaving with my brother. I… I love him. I always have, and he's loved me in return. I see that now. I don't know where we're going but wherever it is that Kaname wishes to go, I'm going to follow."
"You're leaving the academy? Isn't this your home?" Zero's query was deliberately neutral but inside, his heart bled. Yuuki was his first love, though she remained blissfully unaware of it, and to hear her choose Kuran so blatantly… Although he had harbored no hopes in her returning his own feelings, having it made so clear like this still hurt. But Zero knew this was the way it was supposed to be. Perhaps one day… if he could reconcile himself with the fact that Yuuki was a pureblood, he could be happy for her. Perhaps he could be glad that she had someone who would remain by her side for eternity… someone who'd keep her safe and happy… who'd hold her close and… love her… He did not allow himself to closely examine the reason why his heart violently recoiled from imagining the Kuran siblings happily in love. He'd get over it. After all, he had lived through worse, hadn't he?
Yuuki remained in thought, letting her gaze linger on the familiar grounds and buildings around them. But then another warm smile was on her lips as she answered, "My home is by Kaname's side."
Those words were so typically… Yuuki… that Zero stared at her for awhile. It was almost too easy to forget that she was no longer human, despite her longer hair and distinctive aura registering in his hunter senses. Yet he would not be fooled. He would not let yet another pureblood play around with his life. What Rido had said earlier had cut deep, though he had not shown it during the fight. The old vampire had seemed half-mad, but he had been perceptive in this. The hunter pursed his lips before finally meeting the girl's eyes again with a glare. "Go, then. But we don't know each other anymore. If ever we meet again… we meet as strangers," he said, his voice frigid.
"Zero, what…?" Brown eyes widened as the girl stepped forward in an attempt to approach the other. It felt like Zero was attempting to place a yawning gap between them. And she feared that if she let him, they'd never be able to be close again. Yuuki knew things would be different from now on, but this… this wasn't something she was prepared to face. Complete strangers? Didn't he realize he was asking for something she could not do? He was her best friend, and the one person who had truly understood her fears during the past several years. They had spent so much time together… And in some ways, Zero had known her better than Kaname. Was he really telling her to throw all that away?
Her gentle heart aching, she took another step towards the hunter. Before she could get any closer, however, strong arms held her still and she was pulled back against a warm body. In her distress, she had not noted his arrival but was not alarmed. The person's scent and aura was familiar. Kaname.
A dark head dipped down and a soft kiss was pressed against Yuuki's temple. Warm breath tickled her ear as Kaname murmured, "We have to leave soon. The Night Class should be near the Day Class dorms. Will you go and wait for me there?'
"Why? Aren't you coming with me? And I was… Zero was…" Yuuki hesitantly asked. She was met by a gentle smile, one she had seen many times. She had always thought it was hiding an undercurrent of sorrow…
"I'll follow soon. There's something I'd like to speak to Kiryuu about." Purposely exuding a calm aura to reassure his sister, Kaname watched as Yuuki cast one last glance at the hunter before leaving as requested. A glint of fondness softened the older pureblood's eyes for a moment as he mused on how trusting she still was. So much like the child that had come running to greet him whenever he visited…
When Yuuki had disappeared from sight, he turned his gaze towards Zero. While he had been speaking with his sister, he had intentionally avoided turning his attention to the hunter, perhaps apprehensive of what exactly he'd see in those violet eyes. The last time he had seen the ex-human, Zero had been struggling against the changes taking place with the awakening of Yuuki's blood. He had been in pain… and Kaname had to force himself to stay his hand, recalling that that pain was necessary for his plans…
Now, though… Kaname had to make a conscious effort not to let the other notice how his heart rate increased at the sight of the silver haired hunter. And it was not Bloody Rose being steadily aimed at him that garnered such a reaction. Zero was beautiful. The pureblood had to admit that this was not the first time he had had that particular thought. But the way those silver vines curled around the hunter, morning sunlight glinting on his hair, the familiar amethyst eyes burning so fiercely… He looked dangerous and yet deceptively pure. Kaname was reminded a painting he had once seen. A fallen angel… Zero was breathtaking. If only the fire in those eyes were not that of hatred…
Shaking himself out of his slight distraction, Kaname regarded the hunter with an unreadable expression. "Kiryuu, would you lower your gun? I merely wish to talk."
Bloody Rose did not budge as Zero inwardly snorted. Talk? What on earth did that bastard have to say now? What more did Kuran want from him, after using him so effectively? And he had played right into the pureblood's hand, moved like a puppet under the guidance of a master puppeteer. Yuuki… Ichiru… Zero had given up every last thing he had to hold onto. Yet Kuran apparently, still didn't think it was enough.
"There's nothing to 'talk' about. That other Kuran's dead, Yuuki's with you, and I'm left with nothing. Didn't you get everything you wanted?" he asked. Bitterness swept through him, fueling his anger. And why was Kuran looking at him like that? It wasn't satisfaction, triumph, hate, or even pity in those garnet eyes. The hunter couldn't quite put his finger on it but it was… unsettling.
Kaname paused, uncharacteristically at a loss for words. Indeed, what was it he wished to talk about with Zero? Though the accusations hurt, they weren't completely wrong, and there was no way he could tell the other his true reasons for seeking this moment. He had just wanted to see if the hunter was alright. Physically, the hunter seemed better than ever. All that pure blood in his system and… it was apparent that he had fulfilled the curse of the hunter twins.
The pureblood knew that the younger vampire was in essence, a gentle soul. Ichiru's birth attested to that fact. For the older twin to have taken the power of the younger, the former must have had no other choice. There was no way he would have willingly killed his brother, despite the bloodshed and betrayal they had between them. Kaname wondered what Zero was thinking now… He could only hope the strong-willed hunter would be able to endure all that had happened recently. If he had used the hunter only to have the boy end up broken by it all… Kaname would never be able to forgive himself. The pureblood wanted to believe that Zero would not emerge from this irrevocably changed. He did not want the hunter to lose the gentle kindness he took such pains hiding from everyone.
Zero continued to regard the silent pureblood with hostility, never letting the aim of his gun falter. Kuran was different from Yuuki. One false move and the hunter would have no qualms about pulling the trigger. Would you not? Unbidden, a treacherous little part of his mind whispered. Can you truthfully tell yourself that you could kill Kuran Kaname with no hesitancy? That you'd feel no pain at his death, despite all that he's done to you? You can't lie to yourself… Yes, Zero knew. He knew that he'd be unable to actually kill the pureblood if it came to it. Wound and fight? Yes, he could. Kill? No, he was too much of a hopeless idiot for that. Of course, he was furious at the older vampire for having used him as a pawn… and he'd love to land a few solid blows on that leech's pretty face… but he'd never have the guts to end that vampire's life.
Even now, underneath all his fury at having been used, the thought of this particular pureblood doing so… it hurt like hell. Hiou Shizuka and Kuran Rido had both done much worse, yet it was Kuran Kaname with his manipulative ways that had wounded him most. Because like the fool that he was, Zero had almost started to believe that maybe this pureblood wasn't as bad as the others. He'd thought maybe Kuran was a hurting soul underneath the trappings that came with being what he was. And Zero had acknowledged that he and Kuran might have some things in common…
It was no one's fault but his own. Master Yagari would be horrified to learn Zero still had not learned his lesson. How many times had the young hunter been told never to trust vampires? When would the lesson finally sink in?
As the silence lengthened between them, Zero clenched his jaw. Was this another mind game the pureblood so enjoyed? "What the hell do you want? Just leave!" Kuran had told Yuuki that they were leaving, so why didn't he do just that? The hunter had better things to do than stand around facing a vampire with no apparent purpose. He needed to retrieve Ichiru's body and… and make sure he had a proper… burial. Oh, God… Ichiru… There was so much Zero had not done for him in life… and now Ichiru lay cold and alone. But he was not so naïve as to simply turn his back on a pureblood.
Kaname could easily guess what Zero was thinking of. Everything about the hunter screamed tension and agitation. The pureblood knew he should just leave, before he did anything he might regret. And Yuuki was waiting. She would start worrying about the two of them if he didn't show up soon… And if he remained silently staring for any longer, there was a distinct possibility that it would happen. The younger vampire before him looked ready to pull the trigger any time now, and Bloody Rose was no longer a weapon he could easily brush off.
So Kaname settled for two simple words, wishing Zero would understand his sincerity but knowing it was an empty wish. "Thank you." Thank you for protecting Yuuki, for freeing me of Rido, for being strong enough to survive what you've had to face… and for helping me feel alive again.
For so long he had been asleep, dead to the world until Rido came and woke him, placing his consciousness and soul within the body of a helpless young boy. And when his memories returned, when the weight of his years suffocated him… he had hated this life. It didn't even feel as if he were alive. He knew Yuuki, Haruka, and Juuri all loved him and cared for him as their own, but even they could not banish the apathy that often seized him. Kaname had lived because he was too proud and stubborn to die. So he ended up clinging to the one goal that seemed available to him. He had failed to protect Haruka and Juuri from the one vampire he loathed above all others. He would not fail a second time in protecting someone dear to him. Yuuki became his lifeline, the only thing that kept him from falling into that tempting, lethargic darkness. Only she could coax genuine feelings from him, whether it was joy or kindness or fear.
Until Zero. From their first meeting, the boy somehow managed to evoke emotions in him of such strength and depth that it had surprised the pureblood. The intensity he had often seen in those violet eyes struck an answering chord in him. At first, Kaname had only felt anger and a foreign pang of jealousy towards the young hunter. The former because so much hate and insolence was directed at the pureblood, while the latter came from seeing his easy relationship with Yuuki. In time, Kaname began to feel curiosity as well. He began to wonder what the boy was thinking and how he was coping with the changes he'd surely be feeling since that fateful night. And when the pureblood saw the self-loathing the boy always carried, he had felt sympathy. It was something he could relate to. Then came fondness, affection… and the impossible, aching longing. After meeting Zero, Kaname did not feel as if he were a walking wraith.
Even now, as he watched the disbelief and suspicion chasing each other across the hunter's features, Kaname felt a mix of emotions that made him understand he was alive.
Zero, meanwhile, was having trouble believing what he had just heard. Did Kuran just thank him? For what? For fulfilling the pureblood's plans as intended? "Thank you? For being your unwittingly obedient pawn? Since when did anyone thank others for something like that?" he derisively said. His words were more bitter than he had originally intended. But he was tired of this. Kuran was always messing with his mind and the hunter couldn't stand it any longer. Just when he had dubbed himself an idiot for wanting to trust this vampire, Kuran had to do this. Zero did his best not to notice the utter seriousness reflected in the maroon gaze. Why could the pureblood never leave him alone?
Kaname nearly winced at the hunter's retort. He hadn't expected to be understood, he really hadn't. But it still frustrated him. Could Zero never see him as anything other than a lying, manipulative pureblood? Probably not, his mind supplied, not very helpfully.
The pureblood slowly began to approach the hunter, keeping his posture relaxed and unthreatening. It was like trying to get closer to a shy animal that would bolt at the slightest hint of a threat. Wryly, Kaname mused that it seemed unfitting to compare Zero to a timid creature. As wine red eyes considered the tense grip holding Bloody Rose, he reflected that trying to approach a wary predator without getting injured in the process was a more accurate comparison.
"Stay away! Get any closer, and I swear I'll blow your head off!" Zero threatened. The hunter forced himself to hold his ground even as he watched the pureblood approach. He wouldn't be the one to retreat, he wouldn't! Gritting his teeth, he aimed his gun straight at Kuran's heart. But even that failed to deter the pureblood, as the other stepped closer until the barrel of the gun was pressing against his chest. Zero growled, furious at himself for still being unable to pull the trigger. Here was an opportunity unlike any other. With Bloody Rose shoved against his heart like that, even Kuran would not be able to recover from a couple shots. But he already knew he couldn't do it.
Kaname regarded the hunter steadily as a pale hand rose, reaching towards Zero. The younger vampire jerked away involuntarily from that hand, causing it to halt uncertainly mid-air before falling back to the pureblood's side.
"You were not a pawn… Zero," murmured Kaname before disappearing at pureblood speed. He really shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't help the small bout of selfishness of wanting Zero to know. The other would not understand what he truly meant and yet…
Zero was left staring wide-eyed at where the pureblood had been but moments ago. In the lonely silence, the sound of his hammering heart filled his ears as the pureblood's words and that soft, bittersweet smile burned their way into his mind.
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A/N – I was really, really hoping for some plot development and action here… but if you've read this far, you must have realized that the chapter is again mostly thoughts. The whole chapter deals with nothing but the characters standing there, saying a few words, and thinking. I tried to move things along but this just typed itself and I was powerless to change its direction. Apparently, my muse loves to describe inner thoughts more than anything else. The next chapter will have more scenes (as opposed to this one or the ones before) but I'm starting to feel that I will again end up with a lot of characters' thoughts. *is a little frustrated* I think I'm still trying to get the hang of anything longer than a one-shot. I'm sorry if the chapter seemed a bit ramble-y.
Feedback, criticism and reviews will be greatly appreciated!
