A/N: Hi, All! First i wanted to thank those that reviewed chapter two (ben4kevin, King of Hearts 129, and Love332)(Thank you especially if you reviewed both the first and second, I noticed), Faved (King of Hearts 129, Sapphir Kyuubi, ben4kevin) and those who followed (King of Hearts 129, Sapphir Kyuubi, ben4kevin, berryc, hebasab442, jesakura22). Ya'll are awesome! As always, please review under a username with any of your questions, I will PM you your answers. Please Fave, FOLLOW, and REVIEW (!). Enjoy :)

Ichiru was waiting for him when he returned to his room in the Sun Dorms, his mask gone, revealing features identical to his own.

He sat on the bed, the curtains drawn, only the lamp that lay beside Zero's bed providing lighting.

For a moment Zero contemplated revealing his true form- but he put that thought to bed. Ichiru had never minded sharing a face with who amounted to be his far removed grandfather- the sire to the Kiryu line.

When Zero had decided to re-enter the mortal world he had tracked his descendents down till he found who would become his father in this life, watching as he grew and fell for another hunter of another powerful clan.

She near resembled Zero's first wife, but the similar looks were ruined by the severe difference in eye color and the way his descendant's wife held herself- rigid, and without warmth.

So he had watched them marry and create a life together and when they had decided to finally produce an heir he had created a new body for himself within his soon-to-be mother's womd, inadvertently fostering the growth of an identical twin.

They had grown steady for a few years, Ichiru's body slowly beginning to fail as time wore on.

He inevitably told his twin of what he was, briefly providing a glimpse via a mirror in their bedroom of what he truly resembled.

Ichiru had been awed and Zero had been glad to see that the boy was not afraid of him.

"How could I be afraid of you, Nii-san? You are my other half, whether you intended it or not."

Ichiru had grown to be able to read him like a book and in turn Zero had adopted him fully as a brother, coming to see him as perhaps the only one worth his care.

But as he had grown and he came back into more and more of his power he came to realize that events were about to come to fruition that would change the life he had so carefully planned for himself here.

But when he had seen the opportunity to breathe new life into his plans- to perhaps draw more entertainment to the dull monotony that had become his existence- he seized it.

He killed Shizuka's lover quickly and without remorse and he knew it would only be a matter of time before word got out that he was killed by hunters which would inevitably lead the pureblood to his family's home.

It had surprised him though when she approached Ichiru first- and with kindness, too.

But Zero merely saw that as another blessed opportunity and brought his brother into the fold, convincing him to go with the pureblood, to make his way into her service and to discreetly follow Zero's directions to the letter.

Well, he hadn't taken that much convincing, and Shizuka to be fair, had certainly acted relatively independently. But would anyone truly believe that she had decided to show herself here for no reason?

The reason alluded him as he threw off his suit jacket and unbuttoned his collar, placing the weapon he was always supposed to keep close at hand in the drawer beside the bed.

Ichiru was quiet as he waited for him to settle down.

Zero smiled at him, ruffling the younger male's hair lovingly.

"I take it I did well?" Ichiru drawled and Zero nodded, throwing off his shoes and sitting down beside him with his back facing the headboard.

"I have set a lure for Kuran. We shall see if he allows himself the pleasure of following where it takes him."

"You mean where it takes you both." Ichiru rolled his eyes and Zero smirked.

"Of course."

Ichiru glanced at him briefly, "And what of your plans for his sister- your adopted sister?"

Zero cocked his head to the side, analyzing Ichiru before he broke the growing silence.

"Do you like Yuki?" He asked and his brother's face lit up like a christmas tree.

Zero couldn't hold his laughter in, Ichiru pouting like a sulking child until he calmed.

Zero rolled his eyes, "I don't care for her that much, but it would do me no issue should you pursue her."

"I am surprised you're not going for her," Ichiru admitted and Zero blew out a breath.

"Yuki, while sometimes charming, can be quite annoying what with the screeching and the pestering and her need to smack me when she doesn't get her way."

Ichiru paled, "And you left her alive?"

Zero shrugged, "I wasn't planning to forever,, but if she makes you happy I will."

"What were you planning to do when Kuran found out you killed her?"

Zero leaned back and stretched his legs out, "Ru, we both know that if I wanted her dead no one would have been the wiser. I think you forget that I can leave my body at any time. I need only return before it dies off of starvation or thirst."

"You were planning to kill her as a ghost?"

It was Zero's time to pout.

"Why not, it would have been merciful. All I would have had to do was… I don't know. Set her on fire, maybe? Rip out her heart? I hadn't given it much thought."

Ichiru sighed, "You know, Nii-san, you scare me sometimes."

Zero grinned at him, "Of course I do. That just means you have common sense."

Ichiru scoffed, "And here I thought you would comfort me."

Zero rolled his eyes, "You're also remarkably clever, Ru. You know I would never kill you. You are after all, my brother."

"Technically, I'm your great-great-great-great-"

"Semantics."

The next morning found the pair in the headmaster's office, both of them sitting before Cross- Zero with his annoyed mask perfectly in place and Ichiru with a bright welcoming grin plastered over his own visage.

"Well, I don't know, Ichiru-kun…" Cross trailed off and glanced at Zero.

"What do you have to say about this, Zero-chan."

He narrowed his eyes on the blond ex-hunter and the man shuddered as Ichiru near giggled beside him.

He was going to murder the blond one day- he had long ago vowed it despite the male's somewhat endearing aspects.

Zero scoffed and shrugged, looking off toward the window that looked out upon the headmaster's lawn.

He couldn't wait for winter to truly reach across the academy's grounds- it would make his life more entertaining as events grew in fervor.

But until then….

"Well, alright, Ichiru-kun. But our only opening in the Sun Dorms would put you two sharing a room."

Ichiru turned to beam at him, his perfect happy smile making the elder twin roll his eyes.

"Won't it be great, Nii-san?"

Zero sighed, "Whatever."

They left the office after Cross found Ichiru a day class uniform, Zero leading him down the stairs to the headmaster's living quarters before he stumbled upon a groggy Yuki in the den.

"Zero!" She cried in surprise and he rolled his eyes yet again..

She cut herself off when she caught sight of Ichiru however.

His younger brother approached her and rubbed the back of his neck, pasting on an apologetic smile on his face, his eyes convincing Yuki that he was genuine as he offered her his most heartfelt apologies.

Zero scoffed and made his way into the kitchen, stretching out his senses to listen in from afar.

"Yuki, I am so sorry about last night. I… I never thought she would hurt you-"

Yuki cut him off, "She didn't! Don't worry, Ichiru-kun. Zero saved me before she could do anything."

Ichiru laughed, "You too? Don't tell me Nii-san makes it his life's goal to save people."

Yuki inhaled before replying, "Zero… is a softy."

Zero ground his teeth in the kitchen, His jaw tensed and he released a series of growls, banging cabinets in fake search.

Ichiru was laughing like a fucking hyena at his expense and in return Zero muttered threats under his breath.

He withdrew his senses and eventually relaxed, cooking up a storm as lunch approached.

Yuki skipped into the kitchen when he wasn't looking.

"Ichiru went to unpack his things. What are you cooking?"

Zero scowled at her, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Yuki giggled at his expression and danced in, surveying the pots and pans before squealing and flitting back upstairs.

Ichiru crawled back as lunch was ready and they all ate while Cross continued to get on his goddamn last nerve.

"Cross." He interrupted as the man swallowed, ending his sentence before bolting from the room in fear.

Zero sighed.

At least someone had the good sense to be afraid of him.

Really, what could a bad guy do to get his daily dose of fear around here?

Ichiru and Yuki cleaned up the kitchen and he finished up a bit of homework before he knew the elder Kuran was bound to come around- if only to check on Yuki.

By the time the pureblood had arrived they were all lounging in the den, Yuki laying upside down from a chair and Ichiru laying out on the couch with his head in Zero's lap.

He ran his hand through Ichiru's hair, lost in thought before the doorbell rang and Yuki squealed, flipping off the chair and running to the front door.

Zero withdrew his hand and sighed.

Soon enough Kuran walked into the room, his eyes barely widening, but enough so that Zero noticed.

He didn't expect he and Ichiru to have made up so soon.

Fuck, rookie mistake numero tres.

If he fucked up again he might as well confess all that he was.

Actually… that didn't sound quite so bad.

It might win the pureblood over in fact- if not that then he would no doubt wish to ally himself with Zero.

Zero kept startlingly quiet as Kaname and Yuki talked, eventually resuming his petting of his brother, his mind wandering once more.

A loving caress, a brief flicker of happiness, a gaze full of fear.

His prey trembled before him and he licked his lips in anticipation.

While he had zoned out both Yuki and Ichiru had fallen asleep, leaving only Zero and Kaname truly present in the room.

Zero came back to himself and found Kaname staring at him.

He smirked, "See something you like, Kuran?"

"And if I do?"

Zero leaned back against the couch, "Then we have something to talk about."

Kaname glanced out the window before glancing back at him, "Want to go for a walk?"

Zero shrugged, "Sure."

He slid Ichiru's head out of his lap and stood, walking through the kitchen to the back door.

He felt Kaname follow him and they left the small house and they took to the forest, walking slowly as a pleasant breeze danced around them.

They were silent for quite some time, neither of them glancing at the other.

"As I've been here I've come to know a couple things," Zero said, "And yet I still have some questions for you."

Kuran barely glanced at him, "And they are?"

Zero smirked, "Well, for one, why an ancestor would create an elaborate scheme involving some child hunter as an integral part."

He saw the pureblood tense slightly out of the corner of his eyes and prepared himself just as the vampire darted forward to pin him against a tree. He dodged the male's hold and appeared several feet behind him.

"Did I strike a nerve, Kuran?"

He could see the unspoken question in the other's wine colored eyes.

How?

"You are not the only one who is not how they appear to be."

Kaname's eyes narrowed near imperceptively but he did not speak.

Zero chuckled, "You know, if you want answers to your questions you're going to actually have to ask."

"You think you know me so well, Kiryu?"

Zero shook his head, "No. As I have already stated, I have some questions for you too."

Zero glanced away for a moment and suddenly found himself caged.

The taller male pinned him and ran his nose along the silverette's throat, making the hunter shiver.

"And here I thought you had something more alluring in mind."

Zero laughed lowly, "Who says we can't do both?"

Kaname ran a single canine over his neck, drawing blood from the near-useless tattoo.

He licked it up with a slow flick of his tongue and Zero released a slow breath.

"What are you?"

"I wish I knew that myself." Zero sighed, his own canines sharpening beneath his tongue as he took in the pureblood's scent.

Dark cherry and warm coffee.

Something within the hunter near purred in excitement.

He didn't even flinch when he felt the other male latch onto his own throat, drawing a moan from him.

Kuran kept his hold in his wrists, bracing them even with his head to keep him from interfering.

When he pulled back and caught sight of the supposed level-D he didn't seem aware of his own breath catching as both of their eyes glowed crimson as they stared silently at one another.

A moment passed.

Then another.

And then they attacked one another in a blur of movements, their lips warring against the other's, their tongues battling for dominance.

Kuran released his wrists and Zero ran his fingers through red-brown hair, pulling him closer as the pureblood gripped him by the legs, wrapping them around his waist.

Within a breath, Zero found his aura being urged open by the purebloods and soon enough they both allowed their's free, if only for a few moments.

And oh, how utterly astonishing it was to be allowed such freedom once more.

His aura stretched far and wide, embracing Kuran's own and for a brief few seconds their hearts beat as one, their breathing aligned as they continued to kiss, Kaname's fingers dancing up his thighs to claw into Zero's hips.

His aura was perhaps the only one Zero had not unintentionally crushed with his own in over a thousand years- no, the pureblood could stand with him even, his own power managing to roughly leash Zero's own, but not near enough to ever truly force him to do his bidding.

But Zero would take it- he knew in that moment that he might never come across someone so closely related to him in level of power again.

So it should surprise exactly no one that they ended up fucking in the middle of the woods like human teenagers.

In fact, even after, Zero knew he would not come to regret it.

But he would take note that next time needed to be in a bed because fucking hell, the wooden splinters he had were ungodly.