Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Knight, things would have been quite different if I did.

A/N: Here is the next chapter of Relinquish! Sorry it took so long, I've been going crazy over here; in case you didn't know I now have 5 current "In Progress" stories underway due to my over active imagination. Anyway! Here in the chapter, I hope you all enjoy!

Six

Zero blinked slowly, trying to process the words spoken to him, "Mate?"

Kaname nodded as he leaned his head against the back of the couch with his eyes closed, "Yes, they want me to mate."

"Mate?" Zero asked again, obviously in confusion.

Glaring slightly at the hunter across from him, Kaname spoke sharply, "Yes Zero, mate. Marry. Matrimony. Any of those sound familiar?

"I know what it is damn it!" Zero snapped back, "I was just… shocked that you use that word for it!"

Kaname grinned slyly, "We are beasts in human form after all."

Zero blushed softly, hearing his words thrown back at him, as he mumbled, "Sorry."

"Don't be, it's true and don't let anyone else tell you any different. You know it's true," Kaname admitted.

But Zero didn't want to get off topic, "But why is that such a bad thing, that they want you to be… mated?"

"I don't want to mate yet," Kaname spoke, conviction in his tone.

"Then… What's the problem?" Zero asked, completely confused.

Kaname sighed, closing his eyes, as a single piece of paper floated from the desk and over to Zero. The silver-haired man let the paper fall softly into his hands as he looked confusedly at the pureblood across from him.

"Read it," Kaname prompted softly.

Zero looked down and quickly read through the few sentences that were present on the paper:

As the head of the vampire council, I, Asato Ichijo, hereby write this to inform you that the matter of your current unmated status needs to be resolved. We, the vampire council, have left you to your own matters for far too long due to your pureblood status. However, that can continue no longer. The fate of the vampire race was a burden that was given to you upon your birth and thus you need to accept your duty. We, the vampire council, have suggested many times that you are to look for a mate. Hereby, you are informed, that if you do not take a mate and continue the Kuran line, a mate will be chosen for you.

Zero's eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he read the last line, "They're forcing you to mate!"

Kaname sighed, all the weariness of the past months displayed in that one little sound, "Yes, it would seem so. I have managed to put them off for months but it seems that I can no longer. It appears that I am to be mated whether I consent or not."

"Can't you just… refuse?" Zero asked softly.

"I wish it were that easy; lord knows that I have tried. But it appears that the matter has been taken out of my hands and put to vote within the council… I am to be married by the end of the month," Kaname near whispered.

Zero flew to his feet, blanket dropping from his shoulders, "Bullshit! They can't do this! It's your life; they can't run it for you!"

Kaname pinched the bridge of his nose, "I wish I could contradict you, but the vampire council's rulings are absolute. I cannot disagree with them to that degree without starting a war. The council was formed so other vampires could not do as the pleased."

"But Kaname!" Zero protested.

A sharp glare was directed at the hunter, "What do you want me to do Zero? Start a war just because I am frustrated at the lack of control in my life?"

Zero dropped back down onto the couch, heaving a frustrated sigh. Holding his head in his hands, he tried to calm his rage by taking deep calming breaths. He hated that there was nothing he could do for the pureblood across from him. Not able to stop it, a tear slowly rolled down his cheek for the pureblood's pain.

A hand gently cupped his cheek as a lean finger wiped the tear from his cheek, "Why do you cry?"

A few more tears fell from Zero's eyes, "Because you can't."

Kaname wiped the new tears from Zero's cheeks with a sad smile, "Don't cry for me Zero. I shed my tears last night… And now… I shall accept my fate as a pureblood with dignity."

Zero clenched his eyes shut as he tried to stop the tears but it seemed that once they started they wouldn't quit. Before he realized it, he was bent over his knees with his hand over his mouth, trying to suppress his sobs as tears fell like rain. He couldn't describe, let alone explain, the utter hollowness and despair that tore through his person.

His heart reached out to the man before him; neither had control of their lives. Kaname had to live by the rules of the vampire council if he wished to live peacefully. Zero had to obey the hunter's association if he wished to live at all. They both seriously messed up somewhere in a previous life.

"Zero!" Kaname shook the hunter's shoulders, trying to get his attention.

Zero raised his head to look into Kaname's eyes as the last tears fell, "I'm sorry."

Kaname smiled sadly again, "I know, but, again, there is no need for you to cry for me."

Zero shook his head as he whispered amending his previous statement, "It's for both of us."

Now Kaname was confused, "Us?"

Zero wiped at the tears drying on his face, "Neither of us has control of our lives. You have the vampire council, and you listen to them so you can live in peace… I have the hunter's association and I listen to them... so I can live. I cry for our lost lives Kaname."

Kaname tilted his head slightly, "Have you ever thought of joining the vampire community to get away from the association?"

Zero laughed curtly, "The hunter's association hates me for being a vampire. The vampire council would hate me for being a hunter. I am a danger to the human race… If I left, where would I go? Hell, if I left, they would kill me."

Kaname stared into Zero's eyes, a dead serious expression in his eyes, "I would protect you."

Zero shook his head, "You saved me once before Kaname… And you have too much on your plate as it is. I can't ask that of you."

"You're not asking, I'm offering," Kaname pushed the topic.

Zero saw that the pureblood wasn't giving up, so he changed the topic, "I'll think about it. But first, what are we going to do about your… upcoming marriage?"

"There is nothing we can do," Kaname said automatically.

"Can't you… I don't know… Say that you are currently pursuing someone?" Zero asked, pulling at straws.

"Who would I use? I could not but that burden on anyone with that. Besides, they want me to marry a pureblood and there are none that I find… desirable. If it were a human, I would be forced to turn them, are you saying that is something you would recommend?" Kaname asked softly.

"No! No turning!" Zero protested right away.

"Then it is decided... I'll mate someone of their choosing," Kaname stated, acceptance coloring his tone.

Zero went to protest but Kaname rose and moved to his desk without another word. While at the desk, Kaname fixed another glass of wine with blood tablets. When he picked the glass up, he happened to catch his finger on a sharp edge on the bottom. The scent of his pure blood filled the room within seconds. Kaname cursed softly before he heard a strangled groan from across the room. Turning, he saw Zero on the couch, eyes tinted crimson as he grasped his throat. Of course the hunter was hungry, he had blood taken from his last night and he didn't have the luxury of using blood tablets. Kaname cursed once more for being so thoughtless.

Zero smiled apologetically as he rasped, "Sorry."

"There is no need to apologize," Kaname said softly as he quickly licked the blood from his finger as Zero's eyes only retained a light crimson color.

A knocked sounded as someone shouted through the door, "Kaname-sama?"

Looking at Zero, he spoke as he unlocked the door with his mind, "Come in Aido."

Aido burst into the room, looking ready for a fight. He had scented Kaname's blood from the living room and had rushed to the pureblood's room as fast as he could. He didn't trust the hunter to be in the presence of his pureblood friend even after he had saved him the night before.

"I am fine, as you can see Aido," Kaname soothed his friend.

Zero snorted softly, "We haven't killed each other yet."

Aido glared at the hunter sitting on the couch. Only when he looked at the hunter did he realize that both of the men in the room were topless, wearing only sleep pants. Both their hair was in disarray. The bed in the corner had obviously been slept in on both sides. He couldn't help but let his thoughts wander. Zero saw the look on Aido's face before Kaname did.

With a smirk on his face, he taunted the blonde noble, "Yeah Aido, I deflowered your precious Kaname-sama," the noble's face turned red so to put the icing on the cake, he purred, "And he loved every minute of it."

"Why you!" Aido shouted, stepping forward.

Kaname chuckled softly, "Easy Aido, he is just playing with you. We slept in the same bed that is all."

Zero leaned back against the couch, having fun making the noble flustered, "Don't let him lie to you, he's just shy... When talking about it that is."

Aido gaped at the hunter, "Wh-Wh-What?"

Kaname and Zero looked at each other before they both burst out laughing. The look on Aido's face was just too priceless. They both laugh so hard, they had tears in their eyes.

"Kaname-sama?" Aido asked softly, surprised at seeing of the two men so carefree.

"Forgive me Aido, your face was just so funny," Kaname panted softly, trying to catch his breath after laughing so hard.

"Yeah sorry man, I just couldn't help myself," Zero apologized, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Aido growled softly before he remembered why he was truly there in the first place, "Kaname-sama, I smelled your blood from the living room, are you alright?"

"I am fine Aido; I just nicked my finger of one of the glasses," Kaname soothed his friend.

"Of course, forgive me Kaname-sama. I was just… worried," Aido said softly, glancing at the hunter, noticing his lightly tinted eyes for the first time.

Zero snorted softly, but remained silent as Kaname answered him, "As you can see, I am fine. Would you please leave us now, and tell the others what occurred? I'm sure they were worried as well."

Aido nodded and quickly left the room, shutting the door softly behind him. Kaname looked at Zero once more, seeing his hands clench into fists as his jaw also clenched. He could tell that Zero was exerting all his control to keep his beast under control. He would willingly give Zero his blood if not for the fact that he had taken blood from the other the previous night; he doubted Zero would want a blood bond with him; it was akin to marriage within the vampire race.

"You can leave if it's too much for you, I won't be insulted," Kaname said with a small smile at the hunter.

Zero snorted, "I'm fine."

Kaname chuckled, "As I can see from your eyes."

Zero growled at him, "Don't mock me Kaname."

Kaname walked swiftly over the other man and kneeled before him, taking one his hands in his own, "I'm not mocking you; I can just see that you are uncomfortable."

A curt laugh passed Zero's lips, "And where else would I go? I can't go out among the others like this, I won't hurt anyone else just because I'm… hungry."

Kaname could see the pain in Zero's eyes; he hated the fact that he needed blood to survive. It pained him to not be able to help the hunter when he was in obvious pain, physically and mentally. Without thinking, Kaname pulled Zero into a hug, trying to comfort him the only way he could.

Zero's face was buried in the side of Kaname's neck. As he breathed in, all he could smell was the pure blood flowing through the man's veins. His throat convulsed as his mouth seemed to water at the scent. He growled slightly in pain as his fangs burst from his gums. Using the last of his control, he pushed the pureblood away from him as he darted to the window, panting heavily. Kaname cursed his stupidity as he stood, making to move toward Zero.

"Don't," Zero rasped.

"Zero?" Kaname asked softly, stopping his forward movement.

"I know… You can't help me Kaname. You took blood from me, if I took blood from you, it would create a bond. There is no way you would want that with me, a lowly level D," Zero almost sounded sad as the words left his mouth.

Kaname was surprised that the hunter knew so much about the bond. Then again, it would probably be something he learned as a hunter. If not, he would have looked up information on vampires when he turned into one. If Zero was anything, it was prepared.

He was brought out of his thoughts as Zero fell to his knees before the window, one hand clenched around his throat as the other gripped the window sill. His body reacted without his mind's consent as he was before Zero in the blink of an eye. Zero reacted with the instincts of a vampire as Kaname soon found himself pinned beneath Zero's body as the man's crimson eyes bored into his own rosewood.

"Damn it Kaname," Zero growled, crimson eyes more pained than before.

Kaname could only stare up at Zero, taking in his appearance. It shocked him to think that he found the hunter beautiful while he was nearly lost in his vampire instincts. His silver hair shone in the sun that came through the window, making it look like a halo surrounding his face. His crimson eyes were endless, set beautifully in the feminine face. His fangs jutted past his plump lips even as they twisted in a snarl as he fought against his vampiric urges.

Zero bit his lips, forgetting his fangs, as he tried to not lean forward and sink his teeth in the graceful neck flaunted before him. He growled softly as his fangs nicked his bottom lip, the scent of his own blood further deteriorating his condition. Before his own crimson eyes, he watched Kaname's rosewood eyes flare to crimson as they trained on the blood slowly running down his chin. His pupils shrank and expanded rapidly, as they did the previous evening.

Almost in slow motion, Kaname leaned up, his mouth parting to lick at the line of blood on Zero's chin. Zero shuddered as the sensual feeling of Kaname's tongue on his person. He gasped in surprise as the pureblood's tongue followed the blood to his lips, lapping at the cut like a cat at milk. Before he realized what was happening, Kaname's lips slanted against the hunter's, sealing them in a bloody kiss.

END

A/N: And there is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it! Kaname and Zero kissed, YAY! This is a warning, there is drama to come in the next chapters, but I promise it is light drama :D Please, let me know what you think!

ishala8- Yes, progress! There is even more progress in this chapter! A kiss! YAY! I hope that it makes you happy.

ben4kevin- Hm, yes, mpreg is a definite possibility. I haven't quite decided yet… Oh well, I'm sure I will figure it out by the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

KyouyaxCloud- Your wish is my command, here is more :D I hope you like the chapter and continue to enjoy the rest of the story!

fujoshii92- Yes, they are being civilized, who woulda thunk huh? Lol, as you can see, Zero feels sorry that Kaname has no control over his life, that he is being forced to mate. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you think!

freakish88- I'm glad you are liking the story. As for Kaname's mate, that it pretty much predetermined by the pairing I chose :D How it happens, you'll have to continue guessing! I hope you liked the chapter!

Sonzai Taz- I think I answered your question here as to how they can force him to mate and why he can't fight back. The VC was created to make sure the vampire world functioned properly and Kaname doesn't want to start a war for his own selfish reasons. I hope you enjoyed the chapter :D Please let me know what you think.

CrystelNightandFlameNight- I'm glad you like this story as much as the others. And thank you for thinking my ideas are good. I try to be original lol. Here is the next chapter for you, I hope you enjoy it!

Naruta13- Your wish is my command, you have Zero's reaction here. It kind of made me sad to right it D: I hope you enjoyed it. As for the solution to this problem, it will probably be a mpreg though who I haven't decided yet. Still not quite sure about the mpreg part. Oh well, I suppose I'll figure it out before I post the next chapter :D I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Sasu-Sama' Sarukiji-Sempai- Lol, I shall give nothing away in regard to if that is possible for Zero or not :D I suppose you'll have to wait and find out ;) I sincerely hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you think!

artemis602- I like it when they are open to one another, it adds a new twist to the story. As for this being a mpreg, is seems like that is highly likely though I am still considering other ideas as well. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

SonamySistah96- I'm glad you are enjoying the story. I hope you continue to do so. And of course it's gonna be Zero!

queenruby987- I plan to go into detail with the mating process in a later chapter… a much later chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy the chapter! Please let me know what you think :D

Angelling- Lol, it's ok if you have you own fantasies based off the fic, it happens to me all the time! I'm glad you like the story. As for Zero being pregnant, it is a high possibility, though it might also be Kaname, haven't quite decided to do yet. I hope you look forward to my decision!

irmina- I didn't plan for the nightmare to be any sort of premonition, it was just a nightmare put there as a plot device to bring the two closer. Of course Zero's gonna be his mate, I wouldn't have it any other way! However, how that is going to happen with continue to remain a mystery to everyone but me ;) I hope you continue to enjoy the story. Please let me know what you think! :D