Crimson Depts by Rondomness

In the real manga/anime I don't think it is possible to control someone from a blood bond. That is completely made up for this fanfic. Also, Shiki is capable of doing it because his soul is a pureblood and because he knows something about how to use it. But off course there is no way for a noble to control a pureblood. Therefore he can't control Kaname, unless he is in his real pureblood body.

Also please don't hate Zero for this, he is completely lost in bloodlust and doesn't know what he is doing…

Chapter 4: Defenseless

Rima's body quickly slackened, her muscles didn't obey her. She could feel what was happening right now and that sent small shivers down her spine. In an instant, Shiki had taken complete control over her body, but not over her mind, it was still in there, still in some ways controlling her body, even though she could sense how Shiki now could make her do anything. And in her head she heard want he wanted her to do. Bring me Kuran Kaname…

Kaname looked out the window, out in the moonless night and he considered the facts. First, a scent he immediately recognized as Takuma's had filled the entire dorm, then in a matter of seconds after Rima went in to Shiki and Takuma's room, her scent was everywhere. And Shiki didn't seem like he was himself. What had he done to them? The pureblood desperately wanted to know, but just bursting in like that would be a fatal mistake. If they were doing anything suspicious, Kaname would almost certainly be the goal and if he was, it would be very unwise to literally deliver himself to them. Even though he certainly could take all of them down in an instant, he didn't want to hurt them and that would be inevitably if they tried to take him.

Zero woke up, screaming. The horrible nightmare he had suffered from ever since he had let his fangs into Kuran's neck was making it difficult to sleep. That frightening figure, eyes two different colors standing, watching him from above. The feeling of chains, chains all around him, making it difficult to move and the fangs penetrating his skin, whispering of Zero's own defenselessness. The feeling of blood spilling and dripping on him and from him, the blood everywhere. And worst of all, the immense hunger. The hunger that threatened to suffocate him, to take him down to the state where there is no going back.

He gathered himself, but inside he was deeply shaken by the reality of the nightmare. It was actually more of a memory than a nightmare, but it wasn't Zero's own memories. The last few nights, his nightmares had shifted between this and re-experiencing the horrible events that led to this. The frightening last minutes of humanity, feeling how that woman's fangs bit him once more. Zero didn't understand why he had to suffer through these nightmares, but at least the one of them made sense. The other however, was so different, so unreal and mysterious, it almost frightened him even more.

When the gates to the moon dorm opened, Yuki was surprised to see that neither Ichijo–senpai nor Touya-senpai was there. She fixed a questioning gaze on Kaname–senpai, hoping he could answer some of her questions. But it was more than that. As the class walked away, she quickly followed and run to the dorm leader's side. "Kaname – senpai. I have something I want to ask of you." Her beautiful eyes looked at him, a huge despair hidden in her gaze. Kaname immediately saw the innocent, but serious look in her deep, brown eyes. "What is it, Yuki?" He smiled at her, but she didn't response as he had expected and he knew that meant she was very focused on her task. "Um, can we meet after your class is at an end?" She didn't want the rest of the night class to hear anything, wasn't sure they knew Zero was a vampire. "Yes, I will see you in the morning." He left her to stand there, watching him go away and she felt like all the other students glared at her.

"Shiki, do you know why Takuma isn't here? After all you share room with Takuma. And you Ruka, did Rima seem ill this evening?" Shiki sent the pureblood a knowing gaze. "Well, Takuma had a slight headache when he awoke. It isn't anything serious I hope." That was what Shiki said, but at the same time he glared viciously at Kaname, sending a clear message. You know it isn't the real reason. You know I have done something, but if you try to be difficult, it will be even more painful for you.

"No, Kaname-sama. Rima wasn't at our room this evening. I have not seen her since last night." Ruka hadn't really been thinking about it, but now that Kaname mentioned it, Rima had made her way to Shiki's room and just kind of disappeared. Kaname had expected that answer. He knew something was going on and he knew Shiki was the one controlling it, but he had to keep a low profile in order to make sure Rima and Takuma wasn't harmed. And right now, he had other things to deal with. He had been puzzled by Yuki's wish to see him, but also happy and curious at what it was she wanted. He would give her anything, anything at all, if he was capable of giving it to her, he would do it right away.

Yuki made her way down the hall of the school building as soon as she was done patrolling. She knew she was a little early and decided to wait outside the classroom. Her thoughts were a big mess. She knew exactly what she wanted Kaname – senpai to do, but she had absolutely no idea how to say those words, how to ask that of him. Why should he listen to her request? It was childish and stupid, she didn't even know if it worked, but it was her last option. It hurt her to see Zero this way, to see what his bloodlust did to him and she knew he hadn't long time left. She could tell how deeply he suffered from being around the day class, around the Chairman, even around her. Yuki had tried everything in her power, she had offered her blood and her support, but it didn't seem like anything she did made it any better. She didn't know who to trust or what to ask, but she knew Kaname would listen to her request, knew he would be there for her, just like he always was.

"Yuki, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" A calm, but warm and loving voice sounded behind her. Yuki had been so deepened in thoughts she hadn't even heard him, when he had approached her. "Kaname… senpai…" Yuki had no idea at all how to ask this, but she knew she had to find a way, had to do something to make him understand her. "H-how do you feel?" she asked, trying to find a way to get to her point – Zero. "I'm fine. And you?" She just couldn't hide anything to those eyes, it felt like he looked straight through her. "Well, uh … fine." Yuki knew she was just talking in circles, she had to get to the point.

"Yuki, you must say if I'm mistaken, but I don't think it was this, you so desperately needed to talk with me about." Kaname quickly made his way over the floor, pulling her into a tight embrace, nuzzling her locks. "You know you can tell me everything and ask everything of me," he said, thinking of just how much he would be happy to sacrifice for her. Yuki slowly nodded, she knew she could tell this person everything and she knew he wouldn't just laugh or call her crazy when she asked this. She sighed, then pulled back to look more directly at Kaname, needed him to see the serious look in her eyes. "Zero doesn't feel well, he is becoming desperate. I don't know what to do anymore, I'm so afraid that he should lose his human side and I have come to you as a last option. Isn't there anything you can do for him?" Her eyes were starting to burn and she knew she had his full attention. She didn't want to cry like a little child in front of him, but she could slowly feel how her eyes became wet and then she felt the tears begin to fall down her cheeks.

"Yuki, it is in Kiryuu's nature to do this. Every ex-human will sooner or later fall to level E and you must understand this. The situation is off course regrettable, but even a pureblood can't chance how the true nature of vampires are. We are bloodthirsty and wild beasts, even I am. I understand your concern, but there is no way of avoiding this. I'm truly sorry, Yuki. But there is nothing I can…" Yuki stormed into his arms, almost falling into the embrace, clinging desperately to his uniform. The tears now toppled down her cheeks, as she looked up at the person she cared so much for, begging him to help the other person that meant something for her. "Please help him, Kaname – senpai! I beg you, I will do anything. Is there really nothing you can do? He didn't want this, Zero is suffering, please he need help and I can't do any more for him, so I beg you do everything for him. Please…" Yuki wildly sobbed, as she learned against him taking in his scent. "Yuki…" Kaname slowly laid his arms around her, trying in vain to calm her down. He didn't know what to do, he had promised to himself that whatever she asked of him, he would do it. So why did she have to ask this of him, this of all things she could have asked? Didn't she know that was impossible? But then again, he already had given Kiryuu some of his blood, couldn't be that hard second time, right? And yet, something said him it just wouldn't be a second time and then it would be over. Kiryuu would need so much more, Kaname would have to let Kiryuu drink his blood so many, many times again and again and Yuki would still be in danger daily.

When Yuki saw the hesitating look in his eyes, she knew all was lost. This would be the one thing he wouldn't do for her, but there was no way she could let Zero kill himself, slowly and painfully. She had to try at least once more. "Kaname – senpai, I'll do anything, anything you say. I will give you my blood and stay with you forever, you can have anything you want, just please save him." She was desperate and didn't really know what she was saying, just had to get out with the feelings in her heart.

Kaname looked at her, as if she had stabbed him. You can have anything you want. Was that how she felt? Did she feel like she was repaying him with her affections? How could he have been so blind and stupid? Why hadn't he seen this? She had offered her blood, her body and her love for him like it was a sacrifice, like she thought he needed payment for helping her. Kaname's heart sank.

"Yuki, you don't need to force yourself to anything, ever. I would never force you to anything you didn't want to do." Kaname tried to remain calm, but his feelings were overpowering him, showing in his eyes. Yuki saw that and suddenly she understood how her words had sounded. She gasped, as a flash of understanding came into her gaze and in an instant she tried to pull her devastating words back.

"Kaname – senpai, I-I… I didn't mean to make it sound like I didn't want to do this. I was just panicked, I swear this is what I want." The tears still falling down her cheeks made it seem like she was forcing herself to say it, sacrificing herself to protect Zero. In fact, the tears were coming because she was afraid that she had pushed Kaname away from her, made it seem like she wasn't interested, like she only wanted to keep Zero alive, no matter what she needed to give to the mighty pureblood in return.

Kaname looked shortly at her with his sad eyes, then he pulled her into an embrace whispering in her ear, "I will do what I can." Kaname wasn't sure what he could do, how he could avoid it, but now he had to try. Now, there was no choice. If all he could do for Yuki was to keep Kiryuu safe, then so be it. He would do it none the less, he would do anything she asked of him. He turned around, heading for the human boys' dorm. Yuki felt like she needed to say something, like she needed to thank him, but she couldn't say a thing.

Zero sat by the bedside, taking in deep breaths while he let a hand run through his hair. Yuki. He couldn't even be around her, could barely look at her anymore, without wanting to bury his fangs in her soft, creamy skin. And even though she was the most intoxicating scent, it was becoming a problem to even be around others now. The other students, the Chairman even the night class seemed like prey to him now. He had tried over and over to swallow the blood tablets, but he just kept gulping them up. A light knock on the door together with a silent warning that it was a vampire sent Zero to his feet. Slowly, he gathered himself and stumbled over to the door in his small and lonely room.

"Yes? Kuran?" Zero hadn't thought the pureblood would come to his own room. "I have just talked with Yuki. She is so worried about you. Can I come in?" he kindly asked. Zero shrugged, turned around and let the door stand open to indicate he didn't mind if Kaname came in or not. Kaname walked in and silently closed the door behind him. "She begged me to do something for you. She couldn't stand the thought about you being a bloodthirsty monster and even though I really don't care, Yuki will be devastated when you do. That is why I'm here." Zero turned around and looked surprised at Kaname for any indication that he might be joking. There was neither joking nor a lie to trace in the pureblood's gaze. A shiver ran up Zero's spine at the sight of that pure glare as hard and cold as stone.

"I will let you have me blood, but remember this. This isn't for you. This isn't for you, but for Yuki." He removed his jacket and shirt and sat down on the bed. An uninterested gaze looked darkly up at Zero with a warning. "Quit being stupid, Kuran. That last time was a one-time only. It'll never happen again. Take on your clothes and get out of here." There was no mistaking the message in the hunter's eyes. He meant every word and Kaname sighed. It didn't need to be this complicated, why didn't Kiryuu see that there was no way they could avoid this? Zero walked past him to the door, wondering if he should use violence to get the pureblood out. "Unfortunately, Kiryuu… You don't really have a choice."

In an instant the pureblood had made it through the room, gripped Zero and now had him pinned against the wall. "Now you will take a little and I'll leave. In a couple of days we'll repeat this." Zero pulled back. "Look here, Kuran. There isn't a we, there's never been a we." Kaname sighed once more. "No, and if it hadn't been for me there wouldn't even be a you," he hissed. Quickly, he pulled Zero backwards with him to the bed and held a firm grip around his wrist, making sure he didn't try to run off. He led the other hand to his mouth and bit down in his wrist, letting the blood fall just before Zero's eyes.

Zero was so close to the breaking point. He immediately took his remaining hand to Kaname's hair, yanking his head to the side and then he let his own fangs penetrate the skin. "Try not to spill so much," Kaname quietly whispered. The pain was great but not big enough to make him grit his teeth, he just had a calm and collected look as always. As soon as Kaname let Zero's wrist go, Zero took it around Kaname's back in a possessive movement, Kaname's quiet warning was overheard and the blood toppled down Kaname's shoulder and torso. Zero was becoming lost in bloodlust and because he enjoyed the feeling of penetrating skin, he pulled his fangs out, only to bit down again, even though it caused so much pain to his willing donor. As Zero took out his fangs and reburied them in Kaname's neck several times, the pureblood let out a small whimper, even though he would never admit it. Slowly, he sensed how Zero lost control, how the instincts took over and he shivered.

In the meantime, Kaname's scent made it to the moon dorms. However, at this moment it didn't really matter. Some of the students were gathered in Shiki and Takuma's room, Rima, Akatsuki, Hanabusa and even Ruka were now servants to Shiki's will. He sat in a chair, playing chess, even though he wasn't really interested in the game. However, as soon as Kaname's scent came into the room, he smiled darkly. Drained by the ex-human, unable to fight back, he would be an easy target. Thank you, nephew. Thank you so much.

"Kiryuu, enough… Just a few drops. Stop." But Zero had no intentions whatsoever about stopping. Kaname's blood was so intoxicating, and when he sensed the shivers running down Kaname's spine, his bloodlust just increased. Kaname knew Zero could feel his powerlessness and that he wouldn't be able to stop. A vampire was a predator, and just like all predators, vampires went after the weak. Therefore, you should never appear weak and never ever appear wounded. The pureblood gathered himself and refused to show his pain in his features, while he sent out a calm atmosphere. He didn't want Kiryuu to think he was an easy target, he was still a pureblood and Kiryuu should respect and fear him.

"Kiryuu, you're drinking too fast, you have to stop… Kiryuu." Kaname half twisted in his grip, trying to push the others fangs out of his neck. Zero gripped his wrists slamming them against the sheets of the bed, right now he couldn't care less what Kaname had to say. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kaname was in raged, struggling against Zero's hands, twisting and squirming to get out of the hunter's firm grip. How dared the irritating, little brat disobey him like this? Kaname had offered a great gift, but apparently that wasn't enough. "Let go of me Kiryuu. I mean it." The pureblood sent a burst of energy out in the room, jerking Zero's head back and ripping his fangs out of Kaname's neck. Then he squirmed wildly, but Zero's hands immediately tightened their grip around the pureblood's wrists. His eyes were bloody red, when he looked furious at the body underneath him. His prey shouldn't try to get away. "I'm done here. Let me go." When their eyes met, it sent a dark chill down Kaname's back, which in some twisted, disgusting way turned Zero on.

"You are nowhere near done here," the hunter whispered, a dark promise in his eyes. "G-get of me..." Kaname wanted to sound cold and calm, but the look on the ex-human's face combined with Kaname's defenselessness frightened him even if he would never admit it. Zero buried his fangs in Kaname's neck once more, taking so much so fast. Kaname could see black spots dancing in front of his eyes, making him dizzy. But he refused to let it get to him. Even in his now completely defenseless state, Kaname managed to smile faintly and whispered in the hunter's ear, "Do you want to kill me?" A small growl was all the answer he got, but deep down he could feel that the hunter was paying attention. "This is so rude of you. Here, a pureblood, with all his powers offers something so great to you as his blood and then you just completely drain him? I think you're more of a vampire than me…" he said darkly, mocking and yet, seductive.

Kaname mocking tone and the irritating words sent Zero back to reality. He let one of Kuran's wrists go, while he took out his gun, placing it under the other's chin. Go to hell.

The gun made Kaname furious. That filthy, little ex-human brat bending over him, slurping his pure blood up without restraint… and now he'd even used his gun to make Kaname shut up. This was just too much. Kaname used his last powers to throw Zero off himself, before collapsing back, gasping for breath. Zero gathered himself from his position on the floor and sat up, looking strangely around, like he didn't know where he was. He thought about apologizing to the pureblood, but that seemed somewhat idiotic. He got to his feet and let a hand run through his hair. "And you think we should do this another time?" he asked.

"At least you didn't kill me. " The pureblood took his shirt and jacket in one hand, walked over to the sink and washed the already solidifying blood of. A wave of dizziness came over him and he had to grip the sink for support. "Hey, are you alright?" Zero wasn't used to see the pureblood so weak and pale. "My body just has to produce new blood. In a couple of hours, I'll be just fine."

Kaname certainly didn't look like he was going to be fine in a couple of hours as he took his shirt and jacket on and swayed a little when he walked to the door. "See you next time you want to insult me," Kaname said as he walked past Zero, and headed for the moon dorm.

"There you come…" Shiki whispered to himself, sending a quiet message out in the room.

Kaname sat down on the bedside, his vision blurred and his head throbbing. Having so much blood taken from him and then use some of his powers, made him very weak. A silent knock on his door made Kaname sigh. He couldn't afford to see anyone now, but the voice sounding from the other side made him relax. "Kaname, it's me. Can I talk to you for a moment?" Takuma. So he was alright. "Yes, just come in." Kaname had to make sure and as the door opened, he smiled faintly. Takuma was the same as always, except for his sad expression and the color of his face. It was white as a bone. Takuma could sense how Kaname judged his appearance and a smile tugged at his lips. "It's the headache," he explained.

Kaname nodded and slowly turned away, walking to the window. Takuma could see how he swayed a little and that made him hate himself even more for what he had to do now. "I'm happy it was nothing serious. Do you know if Rima is okay?" Kaname asked, as he learned against the window, deepened in thought. If nothing had happened to them, then what was wrong with Shiki? "She is alright, and has returned. I don't know what happened." Takuma walked to Kaname's side, taking something out of his pocket.

"We'll have to ask her about it. Do you know what's wrong with Shiki?" Suddenly a hand holding a cloth harshly landed over the pureblood's mouth, making him unable to scream. He tried to pull back, but a hard hand pushed his head forward.

Kaname could feel the wet cloth cover his mouth and nose, while he fought against the hands holding it.