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Zareh
~Chapter 3~
Walking swiftly through the forest surrounding the Night Dorms, Yuuki clutched her hunters weapon, the Artemis Rod, uneasily.
Normally, she would have it tucked away from sight beneath her school skirt, but tonight was different, tonight Zero hadn't show up for patrols and she had searched almost everywhere on the school grounds for him without finding a trace.
Earlier she had gone to the headmaster, thinking that, he, her and Zero's self proclaimed father would be concerned and help her look, or maybe tell her that Zero was off on some mission, but the headmaster had simply told her that Zero had probably just gone ahead and started patrolling without her and that, she, his adorable daughter shouldn't worry so much.
Understandably, she hadn't been very convinced. It just didn't add up…
Yuuki sighed sadly, she might not think the headmaster was quite right about the reason for Zero's disappearance, but she hoped desperately that he was.
An unexpected rustle from a tree just feet away from Yuuki made her stop dead in her tracks. In the blink of an eye, she was gripping Artemis defensively in front of herself, as she scanned the shadowy trees distrustfully.
The darkness betrayed nothing out of the ordinary. It was as still and quiet as it had been before, but Yuuki didn't let her guard down, the feeling that someone (or something) was watching her was to strong. Suddenly, a black blur dropped heavily to the ground right behind Yuuki, and it made her squeak in surprise and stumble forward.
Disoriented, Yuuki tried to recover herself. She spun around and fell clumsily onto her backside before crying "Ouch!". Now she felt alarmed and somewhat embarrassed, what a stupid way to die, she thought distractedly, making an idiot out of herself one last time before the murderer offed her.
She was trying to struggle to her feet when very familiar chuckling filled her ears, she gasped and looked up, and lo and behold, it was Zero was standing above her, chuckling.
Gaping, open mouthed at him, she struggled to form a sentence, "Zero! You- where? Where were!- what?", Zero laughed and Yuuki stared dumbly at the sight.
Still chuckling and shaking his head, he bent down and grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He grinned and cocked an eyebrow at her, "Aren't you the security around here? You should be more alert.", Relief flooded Yuuki, overpowering any annoyance she might have felt, and she threw her arms around him a breathy gasp.
"I thought something had happened to you!" She cried. Zero's lip curled in disgust at her hug, and he pried her away from his chest, then smiled tightly, "I'm fine, Yuuki.", Yuuki bit her lip, not satisfied with the vague answer, she gripped his sleeve and continued, "Where were you? I couldn't find you anywhere-", Zero interrupted her "I was taking a nap inside the school building."
Yuuki furrowed her brow in confusion, "Inside the school building? But-", Zero patted her cheek distractedly, while looking distractedly behind her "Yes, odd, now we should continue with the patrols. Yes?", she nodded hesitantly and he smirked, "Good."
Yuuki gazed at his retreating back with a bemused glint in her eyes. She wasn't the smartest person in the world but Yuuki wasn't quite sure she recognized the way Zero had acted, it just… wasn't him. Wasn't his usual attitude.
She shook her head fervently. She was looking to far into it, he must just be in a good mood, and she just wasn't used to it, or maybe the stress was getting to her, that's all. Yes, that must be it.
After patrolling and then later bidding Yuuki goodnight, Zareh practically skipped back to Zero's dorm room. He swung the door open, swaggered in, and tossed his jacket off carelessly onto the bed, he couldn't hold back a self satisfied grin when he stepped into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
It really couldn't have gone more perfect. He was finally in possession of Zero's body! He winked cheekily at his reflection, casting aside how strange his expressions were on Zero's face.
He fucking won, bitch~ they can keep their puppets and chess pieces but he had just laid down a royal flush. Sure, he had to lay out the rest of his plan but the game was as good as his~ Zero had been the only serious obstacle, and now Zareh had obtained his body.
And what a beautiful body it was too~ call him a narcissist but you couldn't deny he was delicious. Honestly, he would use Zero's body far better than Zero would and did. Of course he hadn't intended to put him through quite that much pain to get it but Zero had been so stubborn.
On a different note, he hadn't know what to expect when he had met Yuuki, he had seen her through Zero's eyes and memories before but he had never really 'met' her. Good heavens Zero had bad taste! He could only hope that he had only fallen for her because no one else talked to him.
He chuckled to himself, she had been amusing at first, but after the first two hours he had been ready to rip the sweet dear's head off. He laughed heartily 'pop it clean off!'
A good laugh like that was just what he needed! Ah but Zero would be unbearably tragic about it.. well leave it to him to spoil his fun.
Zareh winced as his throat burned irritably. Ah yes, that. Earlier that night he had been unpleasantly surprised with the fact that he had possessed him just in time to deal with his bloodlust. Joy.
Well one thing was certain, with a sneer Zareh took the blood tablets from his pocket and promptly dumped them in the sink, he was not drinking those things.
Zero was foolish for trying to use them despite his obvious intolerance, and besides, they tasted like crap. While thinking this Zareh turned the water on to wash the tablets down the drain.
He licked his lips gleefully, they were going to dine like the kings they were! Oh where to begin?~ and where to not be caught? He didn't have Zero's morals but he'd rather not have to explain his way out of something awkward.
Best to keep his dirty secrets to himself~ Zero would thank him later, or not but it was all what was best for him really.
In the end, Zero wouldn't have a choice, because Zareh was taking control of far more than just him, the world was his, and there was nothing to stop him from making himself comfy.
Humming cheerfully to himself, he turned off the water after all the tablets were safely down the pipes, and strode back into the bedroom. He began to change into his sleep wear but not before spending a good chunk of time admiring his body.
Living like a person and not like a voice in someone's head was truly fantastic! And Zareh was not about to give it up so easily, Zero could bitch and moan, (and he would bitch and moan, it was only matter of time before he started trying to take his body back) but it was his turn now.
Warm and dark were all Zero could register, he drifted through them, emotions muted and barely stirring. It was like he was on the edge of sleep, any thoughts he had were mostly nonsensical and fleeting. He remembered none of them.
It went on like this for hours, days, maybe years. He could have drifted like that for centuries and not have know the difference from a minute and forever.
But had prodded at him and draw him to something like awareness, he was talking to someone. How? It was someone… familiar, someone he knew. Who? Who did he know?
Discomfort curled around him. It would go away as long as he slept, if he submitted it would leave. But Zero didn't want to, he was curious, something wasn't right, something was very, very wrong.
He had sunken deep into the warm and dark, and it was almost impossible to gather thoughts and attempt to think. Why should he? It was so hard and draining… it was safe here. Why should he want to leave?
No. He struggled, he wanted to move and think. Who was talking to him? The dark warmth that had been comfortable and welcoming before was now suffocating and dragging him down, forcibly ripping away emotion and thoughts.
Yet he still struggled, fought against the unknown force that held him down and apart. But it was becoming harder, the force promised him warmth and comfort again. It would be so easy to just slip away.
It enveloped him and coaxed his grip gently away from reality. It told him so much, whispering sweet vows of safety, it would hide him from unpleasantry, keep ghosts and nightmares at bay, if only he submitted.
He couldn't help it. He allowed the tension and fight in him to bleed out, and the dark and warmth returned, heavier and deeper than before, pulling him lovingly beneath the surface.
Kaien Cross sighed tiredly, laying halfway on his desk. He was sure his dear son, Zero, was the cause of half of his gray hairs. So mean and cruel to his poor hardworking Papa, it wasn't easy being a headmaster after all, he deserved more pity!
Couldn't Zero see that he was just a single father trying to make it in a cold, uncaring world?! Had he no compassion?! It was nice to see all his love and hard efforts unappreciated!
He made Yuuki worry too! If only he relied on his daddy more, he wouldn't have to disappear by himself like that anymore. Kaien shook his head sadly, it wasn't that he didn't understand though, what Zero went through on a daily basis was more than any seventeen year old should have too.
If Zero had someone he trusted and could rely on, that would be ideal. Zero trusted Yuuki but he doubted that Zero felt like he could confide in her.
No, he wouldn't want to burden Yuuki with his troubles. He probably wasn't comfortable talking about them either. But Kaien knew that it wasn't healthy for him to keep it all bottled inside like that, Zero needed to accept what happened to his parents.
When Zero had first arrived at the headmaster's home, Kaien had felt his heart go out to the thirteen year old, he had such a stoic and cold look on his face, but he had seen how broken he was as well. He had wanted to heal Zero and bring him into his and Yuuki's small family.
And in a way, he had become a part of their family. But he had never stopped being distant, try as they might, him and Yuuki couldn't replace his old family, and his thirst for revenge against Shizuka was proof that Zero hadn't gotten over their deaths.
Maybe he thought that by killing Shizuka he would finally have closure. But Kaien knew better, after killing Shizuka, Zero would just feel empty and lost. It might break him. Zero needed to move on and find more in life than just killing vampires.
Zero needed family, a friend, or a lover, anyone as long as they were a person that Zero could finally lean on.
Kaien had many goals in life, he wanted to achieve peace between two races that were so much more alike then they realized, he wanted to protect and raise the daughter of his dear friend, and he wanted to help Zero in anyway possible.
Despite how much Zero denied it, he was still as much a son to Kaien as Yuuki was a daughter. They were his family and he would defend and nurture them, through any storm they had to weather. They were his children, blood related or not.
Kaien gazed unseeingly through the window while pondering these things, but suddenly he jumped to his feet with an undignified squawk.
"MY TEA WATER! Sweet mercy, I left the stove on!" He stumbled from behind his desk and over his floppy slippers, "Goodness! This is why I need someone taking care of me!".
Forgive me for this slightly shorter update that took forever! I've been going though unpleasant stressful period in my life so the updates are going to be a little farther apart x( sorry. I really hope this chapter was enjoyable ^^ thank you everyone who has reviewed so far~ thank you for reading and please leave a review :3