A/N: Sorry for the long wait! To everyone who hasn't given up on this story despite my woeful lack of updates, thanks - I hope you enjoy it! This is a shorter, slower-paced chapter, focused mainly on Kaname and Takuma angst, but it marks a turning point in the story, so bear with me! :D

This is dedicated to kanshou87, Sagakure and XxAssenaxX, who motivated me to continue this fic.

Also, since this chapter is so terribly short, I felt bad and decided to post another little extra for this fic on my LJ (link in profile). Notes and warnings for it are in the post itself.


The car pulled up to the gates of the estate and Kaname moved to get out, but Asato arrested his progress by holding the cane in his way. Unable to resist causing the pureblood emotional torment on top of the physical, he spoke.

"Send Takuma my thanks. He did an excellent job of delivering you to me."

A dark shadow passed momentarily over Kaname's face, but he said nothing. The cane was lowered, and Kaname disembarked, heartily pleased when the car had disappeared into the distance.

The pureblood walked slowly up the drive, still pained somewhat by his injuries, but pained a thousand times more by Ichiou's parting words. It was not entirely unexpected; after all, Kaname had always known that trusting Takuma was a risk. What was unexpected was that it actually hurt him to even think of it.

It's my own fault for allowing myself to care.

Resisting the urge to put his arms around himself to ease the ache in his chest, he walked on, holding himself tall and proud. He was not even halfway to the house when Takuma came towards him in a rush.

"Kaname! Are you all right? What happened?"

As if he didn't know.

Shutting all emotion deep inside, Kaname let his eyes become cold and glazed, ignoring Takuma's expressions of concern and continuing to walk towards the door.

Takuma was afraid of – not to mention greatly confused by – the pureblood's lack of response. Perhaps it was only because they were in public view? Takuma supposed he shouldn't have come running out here in such haste. He should have waited until Kaname was in a more secluded area, but he'd been so terribly worried for his friend, and when he'd seen him through the window... Silently, he fell into step at Kaname's side.

Every second with Takuma next to him was torture. Kaname longed to confront the noble, to show him the folly of crossing a pureblood and a Kuran no less, but he knew that acting on his urge for vengeance would bring him nowhere.

Takuma became aware that Kaname was exuding a very hostile aura right now, and it made the hairs on his neck rise in instinctive response. He looked around for something that might be causing the pureblood's aggression, but there was nothing. Surely… surely it wasn't directed at him? If only Kaname would speak, say something to relieve his concern.

The silence grew, as did Takuma's discomfort. By the time they reached Kaname's room, Takuma's fears were spiralling exponentially. Ignoring the startled guards who still thought the pureblood was inside, Kaname retreated into his room. Takuma was unsure whether he should follow, but Kaname had made no move to prevent him from doing that, so he went inside, closing the door softly. The pureblood had walked over to the window, and was gazing at some point on the horizon, tension visible in every line of his body. Takuma's voice was soft, almost pleading.

"Kaname, please… tell me what's wrong."

"I suppose you take me for a fool."

Takuma's eyes widened; both at the pureblood's tone – which was hard and cold as frozen steel – and at the sudden accusation.

"N-no! Of course not!"

It was not the most eloquent defence, but Takuma had been taken by surprise, and his mind was reeling. Kaname whipped around to face him, eyes beginning to blaze with brilliant carmine rage.

"Your grandfather asked me to thank you. He must be so proud to have you as his protégé. You executed his plans perfectly, delivered me to him, and now you stand here - lying to my face - and still manage to make it sound almost convincing."

An iron fist seemed to punch through Takuma's chest at Kaname's words. The noble realized at once what was happening. Somehow, no doubt through Takuma's own carelessness, Ichiou had found out about the trip, intercepted Kaname, and to top it all off, set his grandson up to take the fall.

"Kaname, I-I never… please, you must believe me, I didn't know!"

"I grow tired of your lies, Ichijo. Get out."

Kaname suddenly emphasising his family name – associating him with his grandfather – made Takuma's heart ache, as did the pureblood's cruel dismissal. He was determined not to take it personally though; he knew Kaname was only lashing out at what he perceived to be the cause of his pain. What happened today? Was he beaten again? Was…was he perhaps still hurting, even now? Takuma longed to ask all those questions, yearned to tell the pureblood that he would protect him, watch over him again if he wanted to sleep… but he knew it was impossible in the current situation.

He decided it would be best to leave the pureblood to calm down somewhat before attempting to convince him of his innocence, but not before he'd laid out the facts. He kept his eyes on Kaname's, hoping they would convey the truth of his words.

"It… it probably was I who betrayed you Kaname; and I can only hope that one day you'll forgive me for my negligence - but I promise you, I did it unknowingly. You must see what grandfather is trying to do! He's not satisfied with hurting your body; he wants to break your spirit as well! I swear to you, I was not involved!"

A small flame of hope dared to flicker briefly in his heart, but Kaname smothered it at once. This was too much - too much pain, too many deceptions; far too tempting to believe this enemy wearing the face of a friend. He just wanted to be left alone; so he put as much ice into his tone as he could, needing to drive Takuma away.

"The oath of a traitor means nothing to me."

Each word fell between them like the blow of an axe, and Takuma had to fight back tears. He knew there was no point in staying now; Kaname's pain was obviously still too fresh, the memories too raw. He turned to go, but just before he opened the door, he delivered a final, anguished entreaty.

"Please… don't let him win."

x--x--x--x--x

Once he was sure Takuma was gone, Kaname let the pain take him. He could not make a sound lest the guards come to investigate… so he just sank to the floor, ignoring the stabbing pains shooting up his spine from the areas where he was still tender due to Ichiou's cane. He hugged his knees as if hoping to hold himself together and keep the looming tears at bay.

He hated how weak he was, how easily he set himself up to get hurt. He should never, ever have been fool enough to trust Takuma Ichijo. It was his own fault… his heart - so empty and cold since the death of his parents and the loss of his sister - had been aching for a friend. The visits to Yuuki were always too sparse, too short… and of course he could never really confide in her; never speak of the horrors that befell him daily in this lavishly decorated hell. It had been so easy, so comforting to believe he had a confidant, someone he could speak freely to, another soul to share the burden of his secret shame. In the end, it had been nothing more than an illusion, a cruel, teasing mirage conjured up by wishful thinking. He was alone once more. Always alone.

Silent sobs tore through his frame and despite his best efforts, incriminating tears began painting glittering tracks down his cheeks, accentuating his hopelessness. Every time his hated guardian had him cornered, he swore he would not allow Ichiou to get to him, and yet somehow, the old vampire always did. His hands clenched into fists as he tried to rein in his emotion. He managed, but barely. Stiffly, he got to his feet and stumbled over to the bathroom.

It was hours before he felt he'd even begun to remove the taint Ichiou's touch had placed upon him.

He curled up on the bed eventually, on top of the covers, his raw-scrubbed skin still flushed and sensitive beneath the fine silk of his pyjamas. Even though the slight friction of the soft fabric on his skin was painful, the very thought of removing the clothes and sleeping naked fairly terrified him. He lay there, breath hitching quietly in distress.

His final thoughts before sleep rose mercifully to claim him were of Yuuki. He wasn't quite sure when he crossed the line between wakefulness and slumber, but he dreamed she stood in a field of flowers, calling to him. He wanted to go to her, but she got further and further away until he could see her no longer.

I'm sorry Yuuki…I tried.

x--x--x--x--x

The conference had been long and unproductive. The talks had reached a deadlock, and even with his extensive influence, Asato Ichijo had been unable to sway enough opinions to resolve the issue. As a result, they would have to reconvene in a few weeks time – an annoying inconvenience that was bound to cost both time and money.

Slamming the car door as he got into the back, Asato scowled. Today, things kept going from bad to worse. It had started with the driver's untimely interruption of his session with Kaname, and everything had gone downhill from there.

Since then, his body had been restless and tense… the sight of the pureblood so naked and vulnerable in front of him had awakened dormant urges within him. He ached to get hold of the boy again and continue where they left off...

His mind drifted through an inventory of the whips and implements he had in the soundproof room, contemplating their possible uses on the pureblood's lithe, beautiful body. As more fevered imaginings took hold, he realised it might be time to acquire some new items specially for this new, more satisfying game he'd discovered.

Closing off the partition between himself and the chauffeur, he reached for the in-car phone. While he waited for his contact to answer the call, a sadistic smirk spread across his lips.

He hoped Kaname was resting well, re-energizing that stubborn, iron-clad determination of his.

After all, half the fun of the hunt lay in the chase.