Holy crap! It's been over a month since I've written anything but I broke my laptop and school started up so it's been crazy. There was also a family emergency, but I won't bore you with the details. So, as an apology, I'm writing an extra long chapter.
Alright, here's the chapter!
Kaname stares blankly at Zero. Zero had knocked on his door and had announced, very unhappily, that they were going to share a room. Kaname wasn't sure how to react and he really hoped that Zero was joking and he meant that he was staying in the room next door. There was no reason to share a room when there was an empty one not twenty feet away.
Maria Kurenai pops her head out from behind Zero and Kaname realizes that he'd been staring at Zero for so long he hadn't noticed Yuki, Maria, Shiki, Cross, and a female vampire he'd never met behind the hunter. He turns to Cross for an explanation.
Cross smiles apologetically, and laughs nervously. "Ha ha, funny story Kaname-kun! There's only one room open and there's three students that need a room. Since Zero-kun can't room with a girl, I thought that he could stay with you!" Kaname's eye twitches, "I figured since you have to be near him anyway, it would be a good idea to just put you in a room together."
Kaname frowns. It was true, it would be easier to feed Zero if they stayed in the same room. At least this way, the other nobles not in his inner circle wouldn't question why their pureblood leader would go into an ex-human's room once a week. He couldn't risk the other vampires figuring it out and telling the Vampire Council.
Zero keeps his gaze on the wall beside the door. He still can't decide how he should feel. On the one hand, he would be sleeping in Kaname's room, which smelled exactly like him. On the other hand, there was an even bigger chance that Kaname would learn of his feelings. And that scared him shitless.
Kaname bites back a sigh and opens the door further so Zero can get past. Zero hesitates for a second before entering, Yuki and Shiki following after him with his luggage. Cross bounds in after them, while Maria and Ayaka hover uncomfortably in the doorway. They had no real reason to go into the pureblood's room, so they didn't.
Kaname only glanced at them before turning around to walk further into the room, leaving the door open, but not inviting them inside. Every vampire knew not to enter a pureblood's room without express permission, and even then, the more respectful and loyal vampires still hesitated to do so. He knew that if Shiki hadn't been carrying one of Zero's bags, he wouldn't have entered.
Yuki and Shiki set the two bags on the floor by the second, untouched bed. Shiki glanced between Zero and Kaname before he walked out of the room, pausing at the door and turning to Zero. "Goodnight, Zero. I'll see you at breakfast." He nodded to Kaname, turned around and went back to his room, desperate to get back to sleep.
Yuki bit her lip before smiling brightly at Zero and Kaname. "I'm going to go, too. I'm hungry and I don't want to miss breakfast! I'll see you both at class change-over, alright?" At Kaname and Zero's nods, she too walked out the door, a smiling Chairman trailing after her.
Zero glanced at Maria and her friend Ayaka who were still standing outside the door. When their gazes met, Maria smiled brightly at him and linked her arm through Ayaka's. "Well, we should go too. We still have a lot of unpacking to do, as I'm sure you do. See you in the morning, Zero, Kaname-sama."
Zero gives them a slight wave goodbye as they walk away towards their room next door. He lets his arm fall limply to his side when they're gone, suddenly very uncomfortable being alone in the pureblood's presence.
Kaname turns to look at Zero. " I suppose I should clear a spot for your toiletries in the bathroom while you unpack." Zero nods slightly and picks up one of his bags, Kaname leaving to do what he said he would.
Zero quickly unpacked all his things, knowing that while he had a good night's rest, Kaname had probably just fallen asleep when he'd knocked on the door and invaded his room. He felt like he should apologize for being such an inconvenience, but knew that Kaname would be suspisious about why he apologized when the Zero he thought was real would never apologize to a pureblood.
Kaname watched Zero unpack, not sure what to do with himself. He knew Zero wouldn't accept his offer to help him unpack, so he simply sat down on his bed. He's never shared a room with someone before and he didn't know what to expect. Knowing Zero, he wouldn't invade his privacy or get in his way as long as Kaname didn't get in his way. Hopefully they could coexist peacefully so there wouldn't be any unnecessary problems.
Zero finished packing in record time, and looked at the regal pureblood vampire who was sitting gracefully on his bed. Zero tried to keep from staring at the expanse of smooth, pale flesh that was visible where one of the buttons had come undone on Kaname's shirt, exposing his collar-bone. He cleared his throat, and shifted uncomfortably. If this was how he was always going to act in front of Kaname, his time in his new room was going to suck spectacularly.
He sighed. "Look, I was expecting to stay in the room next door but unforeseen circumstances have forced me to stay in this room, so we're both going to just have to suck it up and get over it."
Kaname smirked slightly at Zero's word choice, slightly surprised that he hadn't cursed once. "Yes, I believe that would be the best way to go about this. Neither of us asked for this, but it happened and it really is the best option. This way, no one but my inner circle of nobles, Yuki, Cross-san, and Yagari-san will know about our feeding sessions."
Zero nods his head. "Yeah. Um, I suppose you want to go back to sleep since we have classes later tonight, or I guess now, in the morning." It would take a while before he got used to being on vampire time instead of human time.
Kaname held back a grateful smile and instead nodded his head and turned the lights off. He and Zero both settled into their separate beds. Kaname forced himself to relax and fall asleep since he hasn't slept in another's presence in a long time. It was easier than he thought it would be, considering Zero was a vampire hunter by birth and has openly stated that, given a chance, he wouldn't hesitate to kill the pureblood vampire. Despite that, however, within a few minutes, Kaname was asleep.
Zero, however, couldn't fall asleep as quickly. He had already gotten some sleep last night so he was fully awake now. After half an hour, Zero decided to focus on Kaname's presence across the room. With his sharp hearing, he could hear Kaname's steady and even breathing, and it lulled him to sleep.
The next vampire morning, Zero woke up to find himself on the floor of the bathroom, Bloody Rose clutched in his hand. After realizing where he was and what he was holding, he sat up and looked around. He started when he found Kaname next to him, still in the process of waking up after he was jolted awake by Zero's sudden movement. Apparently, Kaname had been leaning on Zero while they slept, a fact that made his face heat up.
Zero looked at the bathroom door and noticed a pile of ash on the floor. He shakily stood up and pushed the door all the way open.
There were a dozen piles of ash all around their room. They were attacked last night, and yet he had no memory of it. Why couldn't he remember getting attacked in the middle of the night? And why weren't the vampire nobles trying to break down the door when their pureblood was just attacked? And how did the E's get inside the Moon Dorm anyway? Yagari always said a hunter could kill Level E's in his sleep, but he didn't think that they actually could. All these questions and yet no answers.
Kaname shakes his head to clear it, stands up and takes in their room with a frown. Zero knows the pureblood is asking himself the same questions that he just asked himself. And by his frown deepening, he obviously has no answers either.
Kaname glances at Bloody Rose still in Zero's hand. " It would seem that you killed all these Level E's while in your sleep. Why I did not wake up at all, is something I'm afraid is connected to whoever attacked you. We should search the dorm and check on the others."
Zero nods his head in agreement. He takes one last look around the room before following Kaname out of the room and next door. They stop short of the doorway.
The walls and the carpet are painted red with blood. Zero instictively grabs Kaname's hand with his left arm while covering his mouth with the other. Kaname glances down at their entwined fingers, but doesn't pull away. He's too concerned about his nobles to really care that he's holding Zero's hand.
Zero can't even blush at the fact that Kaname doesn't pull away because of the horrific sight of bleeding entrails leading to Maria and Ayaka's room.
When they open the door, they see Maria and Ayaka on the ground covered in blood with their arms outstretched towards the door. Zero slides his hand out of Kaname's, walks over to them and nudges Maria's side with his foot. She doesn't even twitch.
Zero exchanges a worried glance with Kaname. He quickly bends down and puts two fingers against Maria's throat to feel for a pulse. It's faint, but it's there, and Zero heaves out a relieved sigh.
After checking for Ayaka's pulse, they leave the room and journey down the expanse halls of the dorm. Every room they check it's the same thing; blood spattered on the walls with the nobles covered in it on the floor with their arms reaching towards the door. They all look dead, and Zero can't help but feel like he's in a horror movie.
When they get to Shiki and Takuma's room, it's different. Shiki is halfway out the door while Takuma is face down in the hallway with a note taped to his back.
Kaname picks up the note and opens it, Zero moving in closer to read it as well.
Dear Kaname Kuran,
I hear you refused my invitation for you and the rest of the so-called "Night Class" to attend my party this weekend. That made me sad! I wrote you this letter in the hopes that you'll reconsider my offer. I figured that you'd need a little push, so I decided to show you what will happen if you don't accept. I so do hope you change your mind!
P.S. I apologize if my pets got a little out of control. They were my newest batch, and are very excitable. Don't worry about replacing them for me; I have plenty more where they came from.
Love, Chiyeko
Kaname growls and crushes the paper in his fist. "She did all of this, just because I said no to going to her party? And what she says at the end? About having plenty of Level E's?"
Zero felt slightly sick. This person was obviously a pureblood, seeing as no vampire would treat a pureblood like this besides another pureblood. She's obviously powerful if she caused the entire Night Dorm to fall into a deep sleep.
A thought hits Zero and he turns his wide eyes toward Kaname. "I understand how she managed to put me and the others to sleep, but how did she do it to you?"
Kaname frowns. "I'm not sure." Kaname knows this pureblood, and he knows that she's nowhere near powerful enough to overpower him. He is the most powerful pureblood alive, he should have woken up the second the spell was cast over him and the others.
Zero gazes at Kaname. He knows just how powerful Kaname is, so none of this makes any sense. Zero stands up straighter and blinks. Unless...?
Kaname notices Zero's sudden movement, and tenses, his senses on high alert. "What?" he asks while glancing around.
Zero shakes his head. "It's just...what if this Chiyeko didn't do it by herself? What if she had help from another pureblood? Is it possible that two purebloods working together could overpower you?"
Kaname's eyes widen. "Yes, it is possible. If that is the case, then this goes beyond me not accepting an invitation to her party."
Zero runs his hands through his hair. A phone starts ringing and Kaname and Zero exchange looks. Zero bends down and picks a phone out of Takuma's pocket. There's nothing on the screen but the time. 5:32 p.m. "What the hell is going on?"
Suddenly a Level E jumps out of Shiki and Takuma's room with a snarl and jumps at Kaname.
Zero lifts and aims Bloody Rose at it. "Kuran!"
Zero and Kaname both simultaneously sit up in bed, gasping for air. Zero's eyes immediately search out Kaname to make sure he's alright. Kaname looks back at him with a similar startled expression.
They both look around the room and see that there aren't any piles of ash on the floor anymore. Zero checks the clock on his nightstand and see that it's 2:29 p.m. He scowls and gets out of bed, Kaname doing the same.
Together they make their way down stairs and to the dining room where they could hear the other nobles all having multiple conversations. When they enter, still dressed in their night-clothes and looking freaked out, all noise stopped as everyone looked at them.
Takuma was the first one who broke the silence. "Kaname-sama? Kiryu-san? Is something wrong?" Zero scoffs. What wasn't wrong?
Kaname ignores Zero as he address the entire room. "Did any of you notice anything strange last night?"
Kain frowns. "I didn't notice anything." The others all nod in agreement.
Kaname glances hesitantly at Zero. "Where did you all wake up? Did any of you wake up on the floor, by chance?" Everyone shakes their heads uncertainly.
Shiki glances between Zero and Kaname. "Kiryu, what's going on?"
Zero sighs in frustration and runs his hand through his hair. "I really wish I knew." Shiki frowns at his answer.
Kaname turns to Takuma. "Were we invited to Chiyeko's party this weekend?"
Takuma blinks. "Yes, and you turned her down, remember?" He hesitates before asking, "Are you sure you two are alright?"
Kaname nods impatiently. "Yes, yes we're fine. That's not important, I want you to send her another letter saying that we'll all be there. Also tell her that we won't come unless Kiryu can bring Bloody Rose." Zero has to smother a smile of happiness at the thought that Kaname had thought about him, that he knew that he wouldn't be comfortable at a pureblood's party without his Bloody Rose.
Takuma brow furrows in confusion, but he knows better than to question his pureblood leader. Instead he simply nods. "Alright, I'll do that now." He didn't move.
Kaname didn't notice. He turned around and he and Zero went back upstairs to their room.
Everything that had happened within the last 48 hours has been completely crazy. Zero couldn't believe that only two weeks ago he had been worried about his secret being found out by Shiki. He had no idea what had happened before. No one else had seen anything strange, and they'd all woken up where they'd fallen asleep. Where as Zero and Kaname had woken up on the bathroom floor, and then in their beds right when Kaname was about to be attacked.
Kaname closes the door after they both enter their room. He grabs Zero's arm and drags him into the bathroom and closes the door. He turns the fauset and shower on before turning to look at Zero.
Zero raises his eyebrow. "What are you doing?" His arm was tingling where Kaname had grabbed it, but he did his best to ignore it.
"We can't allow the others to over hear us," Kaname whispers. He sits on the toilet seat cover and motions for Zero to sit on the ground in front of him.
Zero scowls, but still does it. "What the hell happened last night? How did we skip a whole day without the others noticing anything? Are they still under her spell?"
Kaname shakes his head. "I don't think we skipped a whole day, and I also don't think the others were ever under her spell. I think what we saw was her spell, and only we were in it."
Zero scratches his head. "So when we thought that we were the only ones who broke her spell, we were actually the only ones caught in it?"
Kaname nods. "It seems that way, yes."
Zero frowns. "Why was I caught as well? I understand trapping you because you're the one who declined her request, but why include me?"
Kaname pauses. "Maybe she and this other pureblood cast the spell on the entire room and since you just moved in, they didn't expect you being in here?"
Zero bites his lip. "Yeah, I guess." As much sense as that made, Zero couldn't help but feel that even if he hadn't been in the room with Kaname, he would have gotten caught in the spell anyway.
Kaname could tell that Zero wasn't entirely convinced, and neither was he. It was too easy, and nothing about this was easy. There was more to it, and he was sure that he knew why Zero would have gotten caught in the spell as well. It all came down to who the second mysterious pureblood was.
Zero dropped his gaze to the floor to hide the blush he felt heating up his face. "I, uh, wanted to thank you for requesting that I be allowed to bring Bloody Rose."
Kaname looked down at the hunter. "I figured that if the party is a trap, and I'm incapacitated, you can kill them with your gun."
Zero closed his eyes and held back a sigh. Of course, it was a logical decision. Zero was only deluding himself into thinking it meant more.
Kaname realized that Zero looked strangely disappointed, but he didn't know why. "I think we've been in here long enough, we should get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast. We have classes today so we'll talk about this later tonight. Do you have any formal wear for the party?"
Zero's blush is back, only this time it's in embarrassment. "No, I've never really needed it before now."
Kaname nods his head like he expected that answer. "Very well, then. After classes you and I will go to town and get you a tux." He cocks his head to the side as he goes over what colors would go well with Zero's unusual coloring. His silver locks that always looked so soft, amethyst eyes that seemed to shine in the bathroom light, pale cheeks painted red from his embarrassed blush, and his full pink lips that glistened when he licked them with his small pink tongue.
Kaname blinks. He'd never realized that even though Zero was an ex-human, he has the looks any born vampire would be jealous of. He shakes those thoughts out of his head and stands up. He walks over to the sink and turns it off while Zero turns the shower off. They both get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast.
Zero shifts uncomfortably where he stands by the Moon Dorm gates, waiting for them to open so they could go to class. He glances back at the other nobles who had been giving him strange looks because of his and Kaname's strange behavior earlier. Since they wouldn't dare question Kaname, they've been upping the intensity of their stares at him.
He sighs and straightens his tie. He's still wearing his Day Class uniform because Cross thought that the black contrasted nicely with his silver locks and brought out his amethyst eyes. He doesn't entirely get it, but he's glad to have something that's familiar.
Finally, the gates open. The Day Classes screams of delight get even louder, and even Aido winces at their noise level.
Zero pushes through the mass of bodies as he makes his way to the front. Kaname is also in front, and Zero stands next to him. Kaname gives him a slightly questioning look, but Zero only glares at the Day Class girls.
The clearing goes quiet. The girls were confused as to why Zero was with the Night Class because they hadn't seen him in class that day and now he's walking out of the Moon Dorm gates wearing his Day Class uniform.
Yuki walks up to Zero and smiles happily at him. "Hey Zero! Did you get a good night's sleep in your new room?" The Day Class girls start whispering among each other, shocked that Zero Kiryu had joined the Night Class.
Zero bites his lip and glances at Kaname, who discreetly shakes his head no. "Yeah, Yuki. It was fine."
Kaname knew that they couldn't tell the others just yet, if ever. If Zero hadn't been there as well, Kaname wouldn't have told him either. There was a reason only the two of them were caught in Chiyeko's spell. The others don't need to know about it until it involves them.
Zero waves goodbye to Yuki and walks ahead so he doesn't see Kaname give Yuki a hug.
Shiki catches up to him. "So what happened this morning?"
Zero shakes his head. "I don't even know, Shiki. Don't worry about it." He and Kaname agreed not to tell anyone about what happened
Shiki frowns but shrugs. "Alright, but if you figure it out, don't hesitate to tell me."
Zero smiles at him and nods. "You'll be the first to know if I figure it out. Thanks Shiki."
Shiki smiles back at him, before going to talk to Rima. Zero notices Takuma looking at Shiki in his peripheral vision. It's a look he's very familiar with, and it causes him to stop walking. Takuma notices him and quickly looks away.
Kaname sends him a questioning look, and Zero mouths, "Later." It seems that Takuma likes Shiki, and Shiki has no idea. He starts walking to class again, with even more on his mind then before.
There's no way he'll be able to pay attention to the teacher, but it's not like he ever paid attention in class before.
