Life after you 01:12

Okay guys, I know i promised that i would stop my ramblings, but seems like my muse like to babble a lot about her thought. So don't expect a lot of kickass action. But hey, the kid is down, of course he's not very active or anything. Though I'll try to do better next time. The title was named for '' Life after you'' from Daughtry. Not much in link with the content of the chapter, but if you can guess where i slid some hints of the song, I'll give ya a cookie ^^

Another long chapter.

Disclaimer: Vampire Knight don't belong to me

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It was the middle of the afternoon when Zero woke up, a bit disoriented but not feeling as sick as earlier.

Pushing himself up, he was glad to notice that his balance was back, that his stomach had stopped making flip-flops in his body and that his headache had lessened to a supportable level. He pushed away his torn bed sheets and brushed off the feathers from himself before meeting Kaito's questioning gaze.

'' What are you going to do now for the rest of the day? '', inquired the hunter who sat on the couch, doing crosswords.

Zero glanced around, looking outside at the town and at what lay farter in the forest before answering: '' I want to visit my family and go in town to eat ramen. I'm going to take a shower and clean up a bit too before I go.''

'' Sounds good to me.'', agreed Kaito, before going back to his crosswords.

The silver hunter got up, took some clothes from his wardrobe and entered his bathroom. He closed the door and was glad to see that there weren't much damages in this part of the apartment. The shower looked like it still worked and there weren't any gashes in the wall. The only thing broken was the mirror which had cracked, some pieces of it on the floor.

He took a look at himself, not surprised to see that he looked as awful as he had felt earlier. He still didn't feel good and would have liked to let some of his anger out again to clean his mind from the dark thoughts swirling in it, but it wasn't possible with Kaito around.

He proceeded to undress himself, throwing away his pajamas in a trash can because he obviously couldn't wear them anymore and putting his gun on the sink. He entered his shower and turned his water on, waiting for it to go hot. Finally sensing that the temperature was okay, he started washing himself, cleaning away the feeling of sweat sticking to him like a second skin. He put shampoo in his hair, rubbing through the silver strands, before turning the water icy cold to rinse his head.

He let the water run on him, waking him up effectively as he tried to clear his thoughts and regain control of himself. Goosebumps started to race across his skin, but he didn't care because he really needed to cool off.

As he stood under the cold water, a lost look on his face, not really looking at the shower head but at some ghost image of a girl smiling and fading into nothingness, he let go of the one emotion he didn't allow himself to show that night. The fictive rain washed away a single trace of sadness as it ran on his cheek before falling. He never thought his heart could break once more. He had thought it had been long dead, that it had hit the limit of suffering a heart could withstand before shattering. He had went through a Spartan training, he had hardened his heart through the hunts and the killings, he no longer was the apprentice who hesitated before the enemy.

The broken man balled his hands into fists and promised to himself that he would accomplish his goal. And that he would forget about everything that happened between them. She was no longer the girl he loved, she was someone else's and he would hunt her, like he had said back then. He would push her away from him, out of his reach so he didn't have to kill her anytime soon.

His heart went back to the cold and hard rock it had been since that day. The fortress guarding his heart wouldn't open to anyone anymore, it had learnt his lesson the painful way. Never again.

He stepped out of the shower after having turned off the water. His head was clear now, he knew what he had to do and he wouldn't waver anymore. Taking his towel, he dried himself, passing it roughly in his hair to get most of the wetness out of it. He dressed up, putting on some white shirt and a pair of dark grey jeans. He passed his belt in his pants and didn't bother with his cufflinks.

He took a look at the reflection in the mirror, a bit distorted by the web-like cracks in it. He looked normal again, if not a bit paler than usual. He noticed that his wet hair was longer than in the past, the strands having grown almost as long as Ichiru's. He was a bit disturbed by the image, but reassured to see a familiar face, as fake as the illusion could be.

When he got out, he found Kaito lying lazily on the couch, still scribbling letters on the small book. But, strangely, the sheets on the beds were missing and the bottles and glasses shards were gone.

Zero let out a small smile, akin to a smirk, the first in a long, long while. ''And here I thought Kaito wasn't the type to clean up after someone else's mess…''

Looking up, Kaito was surprised to see Zero's expression. In all the time he had spend with him, Zero rarely showed him that face. And it never had been as genuine as this one, most of the time it was a mocking or ironic half-hearted grin.

''Seems that he's finally back to his senses. It's crazy how this woman can make him act oddly. First, a full-blown anger crisis and after, a smile. What's next, laughter?'', he thought, smirking at the idea.

'' Yeah, yeah, smirk all you want, Kaito. Now move your ass or I'm leaving without you.'', Zero said, taking a small coat and his holster out and slipping them on. He put Bloody Rose in place -hidden from view and chained to his pants- before stepping out of his apartment, soon followed by his teacher.

The cemetery was empty when the two hunters arrived. The place was far away, hidden in the middle of the forest outside the town. It was a hunter cemetery, where lay generations of hunter families inside their graves. Walking in the aisles of grass, between the rows of tombstones, both men advanced quietly, paying respect to the dead.

Stopping at a crossroad, Kaito faced Zero who also looked back, understanding what his colleague wanted to do.

Talking in a quiet voice, Zero answered to the silent inquisition. '' I'll join you in a moment, it won't take too long.''

The ash-haired hunter nodded and took a different path from Zero's, going in direction of the Takamiya's family grave.

Holding the bouquets of white roses he bought earlier with Kaito, Zero went on, passing the headstones, erected marble crosses and sorrowful carved angels before stopping before his parents'.

The Kiryuu's part of the cemetery was well trimmed, probably because they were an influent family. Their status was as influent in the hunter world as the Ichijo's were to the vampires.

Putting one knee down, the only living descendant to the Kiryuu family bowed his head in respect to the deceasing. He deposed one of his bouquet on the white marble, sending a quick prayer to his mom and dad. He really missed them and he couldn't help but think about what they would have said about his current state. He was a dishonor to the Kiryuu name, an error, someone who didn't belong in the lineage.

Lifting his hand, he slowly traced with his fingers the names carved into stone for eternity.

His father, Suzume Kiryuu, had been a rightful, trustworthy man. He had been a strong, yet very cold and serious person. He never had been good with words and he never spent much time with his family because of work.

Zero had been his father's portrait ever since he was a child. He had the silver hair and the amethyst eyes, traditional traits of the Kiryuu's heritage. He inherited a lot from his father's bloodline, he hadn't much in common with his mother.

His mother, Naoko Koizumi, had been a strong-willed woman, very independent and open-minded. She had been very true to herself and held great convictions about a peaceful future with vampires and had been the one to teach him acceptance of the vampire race at young age, much to his father dismay who wasn't convinced of this ideal. She had made great effort to spend as much family time as they could between the hunts, the moving from one house to another and the training. And even if she knew her children's fate and about the curse plaguing them, she cared for the both of them very much. People said a lot about her behind her back, but that didn't stop her from loving Ichiru or Zero. That caring attitude had been passed on to him when he was kid while her wits and confidence went to her second child.

Maybe she would have been able to accept him, to keep on caring for him even if he didn't deserve it. His father would have been accepting his son with more difficulties, but he would probably understand it with some time and persuasions from his wife. They never were present a lot, but they loved him, he was sure of it. He wondered if they were still watching over him from heaven.

''If they are, then they must be very disappointed. I couldn't even avenge them nor protect Ichiru. I was used by the purebloods like a tool to kill my own twin. I killed him.''

In his head, he begged for their forgiveness, for the things he had done and for what he had become.

He stood up, put his hand on top off the marble headstone before going to the next, empty grave.

He knew he didn't have to come to Ichiru's empty tomb, his body having disappeared into thin air when he had killed him. There were neither ashes nor crystals, nothing to put to the ground. The only thing remaining from his deceased brother was the katana he had been using back then and the blood flowing in his very own body.

Zero now lived with his brother's essence, his soul had finally becoming one with Ichiru. He felt complete, but there still was this feeling of loss and loneliness. He had shared a strong bond with his twin and…

'' You still do.''

Zero wasn't startled when he heard Ichiru's voice. It had been a year since he discovered he could talk to his brother, whatever he was now, in some special occasions. It didn't have to be at the cemetery, but he still came, feeling better here then at some other places. He didn't understand much about how and why he could, and though it had spooked him a bit before, he became rapidly habituated to it.

'' Ichiru…, I miss you.'' He whispered, knowing he didn't have to speak at all to converse with his twin, but feeling the need to speak aloud. He turned around to face his twin, who looked exactly the same as the day he died, minus the wounds and blood staining him. Same purple eyes gazed at him as Ichiru smiled softly at him.

'' You came here again. You know you don't have to, I'm always with you. And I see you brought me flowers. It's not necessary but thanks for caring. I miss you too, dumbass, if only you were listening to me more. But all you do is brood and mess your head with dark thoughts.'' Ichiru said, bringing Zero's head closer to him.

''…There have been a lot on my mind lately, I don't know what I should do now that I'm not needed anymore. I lost my purpose, I just hunt vampires, go to school and do my job at the Headquarter. ''Zero said as he leaned against his mirror image, appreciating the closeness.

'' You know that's not all you think about, Zero. That girl is what is really on your mind lately.''

Frowning, Zero kept silent.

'' It's not over yet Zero, you still have things to do in this life, a goal to achieve. And I'll be with you, always. Just don't loose sight from your objective. The real one, what you really care the most about…'' Ichiru whispered his last words, hugged Zero lightly, the presence being so intangible, the way you felt sunlight on your skin, before disappearing completely.

Zero sat in silence on the grave, replaying Ichiru's words in his head.

'' What I really wanted to do back then was to spend what was left of my life to protect Yuuki and her happiness. All I have been after was for her to live a life full of laughter. She didn't have to love me back or even notice my own love for her, as long as I was by her side. Now that this Yuuki is gone…''he mused, thinking about the way he felt for her years ago.

Not finding his answer, Zero shook his head, leaving it as that for now. He would have to think about it another time, he needed to go. Leaving the roses on the grave, he got up and went back to the cemetery's gates.

It was late afternoon when they came back to town and ordered their ramen bowls. Sitting behind the counter, the two hunters attacked their meal with ferocity. Zero, not having eaten much since last day, was especially ravenous, eating away his salt ramen, appreciating one of his favorite meal. The cook was habituated by his visits since he often came before or after work and always added an egg or two and did it exactly the way he liked it. As for Kaito, he didn't eat dinner earlier, not finding much in Zero's fridge. He was gladly scarfing on his noodles, very fond of them too.

The ate in silence, not knowing what to say in Kaito's case, and not caring about it in Zero's case.

The silver-haired hunter only raised his head from his bowl when he felt the vampire aura. All his sense in alert, he recognized it as a noble's aura and a familiar one at that. Normally, he wouldn't check it out but since they were in a hunter city and vampires avoided those places usually, that presence was a bit suspicious.

Leaving his money on the table, he said for Kaito's information : '' I think some noble is nearing this place, I'll go see what it's about.''

''What a waste…'', Kaito sighed, not having finished his dish, before he left money for the meal and followed Zero. He was growing sick of having to follow the boy around like some leashed dog.

They left the restaurant and followed their instinct that told them it was just a street down the ramen shop.

When Zero apperceived the shop sign from where he sensed the vampire's presence, he stopped dead in his track. ''You must be kidding me.' 'he thought, disbelieving at the fact that the noble was at the sweets shop Yuuki used to pull him with her to go eat parfaits and cakes.

And said vampire's back was at him, as he flirted with two cute girls wearing aprons, giggling and blushing at him, as he leaning against the outside walls of the building.

Masking his presence, Zero walked on them, took the vampire by his shirt collar from behind and pulled him away from the girls.

'' Hey, what! Kiryuu? What are you doing here!'', said the blond-head, shocked as he recognized the moody hunter.

'' I hope for you that you didn't plan to suck them dry, Aido-sempai.'', retorted the other, looking suspiciously at the smaller vampire.

Kaito, deciding it wasn't best to talk about vampires before the waitresses, winked at them. '' I'm sorry if you had plans with this guy, but we'll have to borrow him for a while. '' The girls, absolutely delighted that the handsome man had smiled so sexily at them didn't complain at being interrupted and went back dreamily inside the store.

Zero snorted at his comrade's diversion -he'd always been a womanizer- but took that opportunity to drag the blond vampire further away. The aristocrat started resisting against the pull, but stopped as soon as he sensed the gun's muzzle on his back.

They stopped walking when they found some isolated street, where no one could hear them. Kaito chose to wait for Zero to begin.

'' What did you drag me here for! I did nothing wrong!'' said Aidou, defending himself. ''I really did nothing, why are they acting like that?'' He thought.

Kaito too wanted to know that. What the vampire said was true, he had done nothing wrong yet but looking suspicious. There must be some reason why the blond vampire was at the café, and Kaito would bet anything that it had to do with the Kuran family.

'' What were you doing at that café, Aido-sempai?'' questioned Zero.

'' Well, for your information, I was eating sweets and conversing with those lovely girls from back then. And then, you just had to come and interrupt us. It never had been my intention to take their blood, I'm a pacific vampire.'', responded the noble.

'' That time when you almost bit a student at the Academy was you being ''pacific'' ?'', Zero pointed out.

A bit embarrassed, Aido fiddled with his fingers. He knew the student Kiryuu was talking about was Cross Yuuki, before he had known she was Kaname's sister.

'' It was just a slight error, it doesn't mean that I don't respect the pacific ideal.''

Letting go of the vampire that he still held by the collar, the hunter bent down and took Aido's bag from his hands. Offended, Aido stopped himself from taking it back and glared at the silver-haired man. '' He really knows no manner, that level D.''

Zero searched a bit through it only, to find sweets, cakes and other delicacies, in a huge amount.

'' What, so you just wanted to buy those and eat them all by yourself? Aren't you a bit gluttonous, sempai? '', Zero inquired, trying to piss off the noble.

That did it. '' Of course not! What do you think I am, I'm a very healthy young man, I don't eat that much chocolate. It's not even mine, I'm just running an errand for Yuuki-sama!'' , Aidou exploded sick of being accused when he didn't do anything.

The hunter had stopped rummaging through the content and glared at the vampire. He shoved back the bag on the blond man's chest. The aristocrat's retort died on his lips as soon as he saw Zero's face.

The look on the hunter face's gave him the chills, he was very uncomfortable under the unspeakable hate lying in the purple orbs. Aido was experiencing a feeling akin to his master's pureblood aura when it was unleashed. It was a dark, unwelcoming feeling, that made him want to crawl under a rock. Not that he would dishonor himself like that, he had to much pride, but it was a very primal urge. His instinct told him that the guy before him was very able to challenge a pureblood. Before they left the Academy, the hunter was a very hard-headed and rebellious one, but he didn't stand much chances against Kaname. Now, he obviously had more power than a noble and it was quite scary.

'' I forgot that you're Kuran's minion. She just have to order you around because she has the power to make you obey.'', coldly said Zero, no longer casually instigating on Aidou's presence.

''She didn't order me of anything! She asked me a favor and I gladly agreed without being obligated. She's not the type to do those kind of things!'' replied Aido, not able to let his trap shut when Zero insinuated that Yuuki was forcing him to be her slave or whatnot. Really, she was too kindhearted to do that to him. The blond vampire had become one of her close friend because he kept on treating her the same way as before.

Zero didn't have the time to replicate to this because a level D pounced on him from the top of the building and clawed right through his chest.

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Author's note: dududuuuun, cliffie! Hope it wasn't too boring. -_-

Sorry if I didn't give any fanservice moment while Zero was in the shower. I just thought it was weird to start talking about his abs or whatever when he was depressed.

Suzume and Naoko are made up name because I alway felt that Zero and Ichiru's parents were never given the same respect and importance than for the Kuran's. They could have at least a face, but all they had were blank faces. It's kinda sad.

Suzume means '' Sparrow'' while Naoko means ''Honest child''.

I had to put Aido somewhere, haha, he's just too funny those days. And I like the interaction between Zero and him, it's comical.

Don't forget to leave me a review, it's really appreciated and I take your opinion at heart 3