Guess who doesn't own the characters of Vampire Knight? THIS chick! *points to self* Matsuri Hino DOES.
So, thank you SO much for continuing to read this fic! I'm so happy that someone out there is enjoying it. That's what has kept me writing on it for this long and I hope you'll continue to like what I come up with. Thanks for reviewing, too! You guys rock!
I'm going to take advantage of this chapter and fast forward a bit to get the story moving a bit faster. It seems like it's bogging down and me no likey!
So, almost time for a new manga chapter…what's gonna' happen? Will Zeki reunite? Will it be a GOOD reunion? PLEASE let it be a good reunion! My poor Zeki lovin' heart can't take much more of this Yume nonsense. Bah! _
SO, more drama ahead, and new arrivals, smut and lemon-ish occurances…enjoy! Oh, and for all you RukaxKain fans, this one's for you! (And a LONG ass beast it is, too!) ;P
X-O-X-O
"You are so spacey tonight. What's the matter? Zero not letting you sleep?" Ruka teased, a smile creeping across Yuuki's face. She sat at the counter on her break, having bustled back and forth from table to table for most of the night.
"Maybe. I guess he'll be leaving soon," she noted, watching him deliver a bottle to a table occupied by vampires she'd yet to meet.
"You know, Zero's never taken any interest in anyone until you came along. That's pretty intense, in my opinion," Ruka noted, continuing to dry the glasses before her.
"You know what? As horribly cheesy as it sounds, I feel like I was waiting my entire life to meet him. God, that sounds so bad," she mumbled, seeing the smile grace Ruka's lips.
"No, not really. The way he treats you has everyone kind of freaked out, though. I don't think anyone ever saw this coming from him. It's good for him, though. I'm sure he's much better off with you than he was before. You seem very good for one another," the sandy blond said, replacing the glasses in the rack above her.
"It's all still a bit hard for me to believe. I never thought I'd be with anyone like him, and yet here we are. It's pretty surreal, but I won't dare complain," Yuuki said, hopping off her stool and making her way into the back.
"I'm gonna' get some more bottles. I'll be right back," she said, before disappearing through the swinging door.
Yuuki went about collecting a few bottles from the back room, arms stretching above her to retrieve the last of her burdens. It was as her hands landed upon the last bottle on the shelf that she froze, two arms lacing around her from behind.
"Slacking again?" she wondered, turning to face the silver haired vampire that had taken it upon himself to pull a sneak attack upon her.
"I just thought I'd bid you farewell properly," he told her, the girl gasping as she was lifted onto the counter behind her, her arms slipping about her companion's neck as he leaned in close. Her eyes closed, his lips touching the column of her neck softly, her fingers tangling in his silvery hair.
It was as his hand slipped beneath her skirt that she froze, her eyes flying open once again. She pulled back, though he seemed intent on continuing the mission he'd begun.
"Zero, what…?"
"You want me to stop?" he wondered, his hand moving to mold the flesh of her breast. Her legs tightened about his hips against her will, her hands caressing his cheeks.
"Well, no…but we can't. Not here," she protested, despite the desire he'd caused to roar to life within her. His fingers brushed along her cheek, his lips capturing hers before he pulled back, looking down upon her with darkened lavender eyes.
"Ok. Just as long as you realize that I'll be keeping you up after I get home tonight," he said smoothly, her eyes closing as his tongue slid along the column of her neck.
"I'll be waiting for you," she whispered, his hands lifting her off the counter, bringing her flush against him.
"You'd better be ready," he said, his hands diving under her shirt as he backed her up against the wall.
Her breaths were labored, her body trembling by the time he released her, her lips aching from his fervent kisses. She looked up at him, her cinnamon colored eyes nearly pleading for some respite.
"That's not fair," she complained, his hands on her hips as he pushed her gently towards the door leading back out to the café.
"That's the fun part," he told her, his lips touching her neck once more before they appeared from the back room, Ruka's eyebrow rising. Yuuki covertly smoothed her hands along her rumpled attire, attempting to erase the signs that she'd been accosted by her lover in the room they'd previously occupied. Zero turned to her, slipping into his coat.
"Be careful," she told him, looking puzzled as he produced a key from his pocket.
"Don't worry. Here. I had this made for you. The code to the door is 3852. Don't forget to lock it behind you, ok?" he said, receiving a nod in return. She took the key in her hand, holding it as if it were some rare treasure.
"Thank you. I'll see you when you get home," she said, his hand cupping her cheek as he leaned down, kissing her with reverence and nearly causing the entire populous of the café to sigh in unison.
"Bye," he told her, forcing himself away from her as he started for the door.
"Later, Ruka," he called, clapping Aidou on the back as he passed and nearly causing him to choke on his drink. The door chimed as he exited, leaving several occupants of the room blinking.
"He's in an awfully damn good mood," Aidou griped, wiping a drop of "wine" from his chin.
"Can you blame him?" Ruka wondered, unable to suppress her smile. She noticed the flush staining Yuuki's cheeks, a sight that only caused her smile to broaden.
"Don't be so modest, Yuuki. We won't hold it against you," she teased, the brunette returning to her work before she could manage to embarrass herself any further.
X-O-X-O
The night wore on, the crowd dwindling as closing time approached. At 10, Kain arrived to drive Ruka and Yuuki home, holding the door open for the former before doing the same for the latter as Yuuki climbed into the small back seat of the red coupe.
The ride was silent for the most part, idle chit chat taking over the silence on occasion until they arrived at the loft occupied by Yuuki and her silver haired consort. Kain climbed out, sliding the seat up and offering his hand, helping the girl out.
"Thanks for the ride. I'll see you guys later," she said, pulling her coat in more tightly about herself.
"Don't forget you're off tomorrow. Do something fun, ok?" Ruka said.
"Sure thing. Goodnight," she called, straightening up to meet Kain's gaze.
"Tell her," she mouthed, a smirk touching his lips.
"Goodnight, Yuuki," he responded, before slipping into his seat and shutting the door.
They waited until she disappeared inside before pulling off, making their way across town to Ruka's apartment.
X-O-X-O
"Would you like to come in for a bit?" Ruka wondered, holding the door opened for Kain to enter.
It was an internal struggle for him, the vampire always longing for what he could never allow himself the luxury of actually knowing. However, after the talk Yuuki had given him before, something within him was a bit more full of fight than usual. Something she'd said had buried itself deep inside him, leaving him feeling a touch bolder than he'd been in the past. He followed her without a word, the door shutting with a click behind them.
"Are you alright? You're a bit quiet tonight," she noted, sitting her bag down on the counter before hanging her coat on the rack by the door. She held out her hand, Kain removing his own and handing it to her. After hanging it up as well, she turned, making her way towards the living room with Kain following close behind her. She flopped down on the couch, sighing mightily, the man taking a seat next to her.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired," he lied, leaning back, his arm draping itself across the back of the couch.
"Is it the tablets? It's been quite a while since you came to me. I assumed you'd been getting your fill elsewhere when you needed to," she said, and he could almost detect a hint of regret in her voice. He felt like laughing outright at her words, though he dared not do such a thing. If she only knew. He'd never desired anyone's blood but hers, though he'd not dared to ask since he'd learned of her infatuation with the Pureblood Kuran. Since then, he'd stepped back, merely watching from the shadows, allowing himself to drown in the pain of his own torn heart.
"No, nothing like that. You should know I'd only come to you," he blurted, immediately wishing he'd kept better control of the words he'd allowed to flow forth. She seemed a bit flustered, momentarily made speechless by his words. The two sat there, silent moments passing them by.
"I'm sorry," they both said at once, nervous laughter soon following, chasing away the stillness of the room.
"No need. I've asked a lot of you lately and I don't think I've thanked you properly. I truly appreciate you always being there when I need you. It means a lot to me," she told him, giving him a smile as he nearly stared at her. He swallowed hard, unable to recall ever being so nervous in his entire life. Why in the hell was this proving to be so difficult?
"I'm glad to do it. If you ever need anything, you don't have to hesitate to ask me, Ruka," he said, his heart feeling as though it were thumping in the back of his throat.
"You're too kind to me," she told him, forcing herself to look away.
As he looked at her, he was suddenly struck by an overwhelming feeling, one that had been nagging away at him for longer than he could recall. At that moment, he no longer cared what amount of danger he danced with, nor if he was about to make the world's biggest fool of himself. All that concerned him was the thought that he would forever remain only a friend to her, should he continue to keep silent.
"Surely you understand why," he began, moving a bit closer to her, her head turning as her eyes met his gaze.
"Kain…"
"I know what you're going to say, but it doesn't matter to me anymore. I don't care if you can't love me. But if I keep this in any longer…Ruka, can't you see it? Can't you see how much I care for you?" he asked, the girl gasping as he took her hand in his.
"Don't. Please…" she said, attempting to pull back. He didn't budge, still gripping her hand as if she would fade away should he release her.
"Is it such a horrible thing to hear?" he wondered, hurt evident in his voice. Ruka closed her eyes, a torrent of emotions assaulting her all at once. She'd spent so long, harboring feelings for Kaname that she knew would never be reciprocated. It was a realization she'd come to some time ago, though she'd yet to fully accept it. She couldn't recall a time when Kain hadn't been there for her, always a shoulder to cry on, always a pillar of strength during her most trying times. And now, hearing his confession, seeing the emotions playing across his face…it was almost too much for her to bear.
"I'm so wretched," she said softly, her voice grave as his brows furrowed.
"What? No, you're far from it," he corrected, hesitating a moment before reaching out, his fingers clearing her sandy hair from her eyes.
"No. All this time, I've ignored your feelings to keep my own selfishness alive. I'm a fool. I've been a fool for so long," she said, suddenly rising to her feet. Her retreat was halted swiftly, his fingers encircling her wrist as he gently turned her towards him before pulling her closer.
"I'm the fool. I've let you slip through my fingers for far too long. You may hate me…you may curse my very name. But I will not stand idly by. Not anymore. I can only hope that someday you can see me as I see you. Ruka, I…" he said, his other hand cupping her cheek as she stared up at him.
"Damn it all," he cursed, his lips descending upon hers, her eyes open wide before gradually slipping shut, her hands gripping the front of his partially unbuttoned shirt.
Her head swam, thoughts assaulting her like a barrage of gunfire. Never had she expected such a thing from him, the man she'd relied on for so long. She felt his arm slip around her waist, pulling her closer, her body coming in full contact with his.
In the back of her mind, hidden behind her hollow feelings for Kaname, lie the emotions Kain had always caused to rise within her. She'd kept them hidden, always too afraid to acknowledge them, afraid to allow them to break free. But now, as he held her close, his lips ravaging hers, she could no longer keep them at bay. She felt a lone tear trailing down her cheek, her body growing weak in his embrace. He broke away, kissing her cheeks before resting his forehead against hers. They both stood, chests heaving as they struggled to regain the breaths they'd been denied.
"I won't apologize," he said, his hand smoothing along her hair. He felt her fingers tighten, gripping his shirt as if he would fade away.
"Then don't. Don't regret anything anymore. We've both been foolish, Kain. We can only go on from here. No more denying things, no more running. We can only be here, in this moment," she told him, her hands moving to frame his face.
"I've wanted you for so long," he breathed, watching as she loosened herself from his grasp before taking his hand. Curious, he followed her, only then realizing that they were approaching her bedroom. He stopped, momentarily stupefied.
"Ruka…" She grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him in behind her, leaving him unable to protest further. She stood before him, her fingers beginning to unbutton the rest of the buttons of his black shirt, her hands smoothing up his bared chest, feeling the taught muscles beneath her palms. His head tilted back, her lips touching his chest, her hands sliding his shirt off his shoulders, allowing it to flutter to the floor below.
"You don't have to hold back anymore," she said, his hands running along her sides, dipping beneath her top and feeling the softness of her bare skin.
"Remember that you said that," he said, his voice low and full of want as she fell backwards onto her bed, taking him with her. He stripped her with sure hands, leaving her lain out before him like an opened gift. She was more beautiful than he'd ever imagined, her curves and hollows seeming to beg to be explored. Soon his lithe, bare body was hovering above her, his lips trailed along her exposed neck, his eyes tinted red in the pale light of the room.
She felt herself being gathered in his arms, her body coming to rest in his lap as he held her close to him. His tongue trailed along her neck, tasting her. He saw her eyes, glowing red as well, the hunger rising within them both. Never had he felt such desire, the unbridled hunger taking him over entirely as his fangs extended, sinking into the column of her neck. His hands gripped her hips, guiding her down until he was inside her, her body moving over him as drank of her life force. Her arms were around him, clinging to him tightly as her body rocked to and fro, drawing him ever deeper within her. Soon, her fangs found him as well, the two melding into one as they shared all of themselves with one another.
Kain broke away, his tongue lapping at the blood flowing down her neck, laving hungrily at her collarbone as his hands gripped her hips. She continued drinking from him, his blood like some forbidden nectar. At last her tongue was running along his neck, her fingers weaving through the hair at the nape of his neck. She gasped as his tongue invaded her mouth, their blood mingling, each tasting the other thoroughly. Ruka found herself on her back, his body driving into her with a force she'd never expected, her voice crying out as the heat of him drove her closer to the abyss.
"You feel so good," he said hoarsely, her body arching into him, meeting his every stroke. Her legs locked around him, drawing him in deeper, her fingernails clawing down his back as he allowed every pent up emotion he'd harbored for so very long flow forth from within.
"So do you. God, Kain…please…" she breathed, his body thrusting hard into her, her body rocking to meet his strokes until she at last felt herself being taken over by bliss, wave after wave washing over her. He heard her voice cry his name as he too came undone, his body hot as it came to rest atop hers. His back ached, trails of blood flowing along his skin, his breaths labored as he gazed down at her. She laid there, eyes closed as she struggled to breathe, her bloodied hands still resting upon his back. She brought her palms to her lips, her tongue licking them clean, savoring the last bit of his blood.
He rolled to lie alongside her, his hand cupping her cheek, his lips touching hers softly. No words seemed adequate, silence reigning as the two gazed at one another, bathed in the moonlight that filtered in through the windows. Blood stained both the sheets and their skin, Kain's tongue darting out to clean the red liquid life from her neck. Her arms went around him, pulling him close, feeling the heat of his body.
"Ruka," he said, though he was soon silenced as her lips claimed his once more.
X-O-X-O
After taking a shower, Yuuki dried her long hair before slipping under the covers, longing for the warmth of her lover. She was still wide awake when he snuck in like a church mouse, shedding his clothing on the way to their bed. He stood naked, smiling down upon her as she lifted the blankets, revealing her bare body.
"I see you're ready for me," he said, sliding in beside her. He was taken by surprise as her lips touched his before trailing down his neck, along his chest and stomach. Looking down at her, he closed his eyes as she took him in, the warmth of her mouth nearly driving him to madness.
Long into the morning, the vampire showed his treasure just how merciless he could be, his body laying claim to hers again and again, her voice crying out her pleasure in the night. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, his lips unforgiving as they tasted every last inch of her.
At last, in the early hours of morning, she lay curled against him, his arms holding her, his body keeping the cold of winter at bay. He found himself surrendering to sleep, the warmth of her breath beating against his chest.
X-O-X-O
Time passed, winter wearing on as the new year came and went without much fuss. Yuuki continued attending her classes with Cross as promised, each more mind numbing than the last. However, she was glad to have the opportunity to spend some time with her foster father, as she'd not seen much of him since she'd moved in with Zero.
She'd managed to keep fairly busy, between her classes, working and keeping their apartment in order, Yuuki found her days to be fairly full. Things had become rather routine at the café, the atmosphere having grown even more pleasant than before due to the newly established romantic relationship between Ruka and Kain.
Yuuki had been working alone when they'd entered together, Kain's arm around Ruka's shoulders and smiles upon both their faces. It was immediately evident that something had changed between them, though Yuuki kept quiet until Ruka had accosted her in the back, unable to keep from gushing about the new development to her newfound friend. Little did she know that Yuuki herself had been a prominent reason behind Kain's confession, her pep talk having spurred him on and erased many of his doubts.
Kaname had been suspiciously absent since their last encounter, though she didn't mind it in the least. The less she saw of him, she thought, the better. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what had become of him, though she dared not bring up the matter with anyone.
Zero continued his duty at night, always coming home in the wee hours of the morning. It was something they both looked forward to, falling into the arms of the other each morning, allowing the events of the day to fade away. At times she'd fall asleep awaiting his arrival, only to be awakened by the warmth of his body as he settled in against her, chasing away the chill of winter.
This night, Yuuki lay alone, their bed seeming so cold as she glanced over at the screaming red numbers of the clock on the night table. It was just after 1 a.m., the girl turning back to face the door as she pulled the blankets up over her slight form. She knew it was too early yet to be expecting him back. He never came home before 2, after all. She sighed mightily, lying silently for a bit longer before at last allowing sleep to take her.
X-O-X-O
Sometime later, the silver haired vampire entered, noting the stillness of the room as he quietly shut the door behind him before making his way over to the bed, his most precious treasure sleeping soundly between its sheets. A smile touched his lips, the vampire leaning over her, the backs of his fingers brushing along her cheek softly. She didn't stir, only continued traversing the land of dreams. Zero turned, his hands moving to remove his coat before likewise removing his holster, depositing them both upon the couch. He continued to disrobe until he stood naked by the shower, allowing the water to warm before stepping in. He was quick, not wanting to be away from the warmth of his lover any longer than he'd already been. Drying himself in much the same fashion, Zero again made his way towards their bed, stealthily lifting the blankets before crawling under them, her warmth immediately assaulting his naked skin. His arms gathered her in against him, her eyes at last opening, a smile gracing her lips.
"Hey. How'd it go?" she wondered, warmth flooding the pit of her stomach as his lithe form pressed against her lightly clothed body.
"Slow…and cold as fuck," he answered, his lips touching her forehead lightly. His head bowed, his lips brushing against her earlobe as he spoke.
"I was thinking you could warm me up," he told her, rolling atop her in one fluent motion. Her eyes closed as his tongue dove between her parted lips, her eyes slipping shut as she allowed the feelings that only he could incite within her to take her over completely.
His hands slipped beneath her t-shirt, smoothing along her sides, causing her to shiver. Yuuki broke away for a moment as he smoothly pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it aside before returning to pay homage to the owner of his heart. His hands molded to her breasts, his lips trailing kisses between them. Her body arched into him, her fingers threading through his hair, holding him close as his tongue darted out to taste her bare skin.
"You get more beautiful each time I see you," he said, his lips moving lower, touching the soft skin of her stomach.
"You'd better stop being so sweet. What if someone found out?" she teased, watching as moved to hover over her, his hand cupping her cheek.
"Yuuki, I love you, and I don't care who knows it," he said, his arm lacing itself around her waist as he proceeded to kiss the very life out of her, leaving her head swimming in his wake.
Just as he'd managed to disrobe her entirely, his lips trailing along the insides of her thighs, the intercom buzzed, a harsh and all too familiar voice interrupting their intimacy.
"Hey, dumbass! Open the damn door! It's fucking freezing out here," the deep voice griped through the intercom, Zero's head rising, leaving Yuuki nearly begging for him to continue.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," the vampire groaned, his head hanging as he sighed mightily.
"What…who is it?" she managed, still clinging to his shoulders.
"You'd better put some clothes on," he muttered, ignoring her question entirely as he reluctantly got to his feet, leaving her feeling totally abandoned. She watched him dig through a dresser drawer for a pair of boxers before he drew out a pair of jeans, slipping into them while still griping aloud because of the newcomer waiting outside. Finally snapping out of her momentary stupor, Yuuki slid back into her clothes before likewise digging around for a pair of ripped jeans. She padded over to the couch, plopping down with a frown. Whoever this strange man was, she didn't appreciate his timing in the least. She watched as Zero walked over to the intercom, pushing two buttons in rapid succession.
"It's open," he said tersely, more complaining soon coming from the stranger.
"About damn time," the man said, Zero sighing as he flipped on the light, turning to make his way over to the couch. He slid in next to his somewhat disgruntled lover, his arm sliding around her shoulders.
"Sorry," he mumbled, Yuuki's curiosity growing by the moment. Who one Earth would be crazy enough to bother Zero at this hour, much less speak to him in such a way?
"Who…?" she began, only to become silent as the door swung open, revealing a lanky figure unlike any she'd yet to witness.
A long trench coat graced his form, a smoldering cigarette hanging from his mouth and an outback hat perched precariously upon his head. Continuing her scrutiny, Yuuki took note of his shoulder length dark hair and the shotgun strapped to his back. The thing that held her gaze was the black patch covering his right eye, though she tried to avert her gaze as he strode forth, stopping a couple of feet away from where they sat.
"So this is why I haven't heard from you," the stranger noted, taking a long draw off his smoke as he regarded the small brunette leaning against the vampire before him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Zero wondered, his arm still firmly about his partner's shoulders. "And how about you put that out?"
The man smirked, a deep chuckle escaping him as his fingers withdrew his cigarette from between his lips. Yuuki watched as he smoothly put it out on the coffee table, leaving the still smoking butt behind.
"I see you're as delightful as ever. So again I'll ask…what brings you here, Master?" Zero asked, Yuuki's eyes growing wide. This was him?
"Can't I pay a simple visit to my stupid apprentice? Hope I'm not…interrupting anything," he drawled, a smirk upon his handsome face.
"It's almost four in the morning and I've been hunting all night. What do you think?" Zero retorted, their gazes locked as Yuuki continued to sit silently by his side.
"Yeah, about that. I've heard you've been slacking lately. Don't tell me this little girl has caused you to lose your damn mind," Yagari said, "because that's not something I'm going to allow."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Nothing's changed," Zero told him, "except now, I have even more to protect." His hand pulled her long brown hair back, his fingers running along her cheek gently as Yagari continued to stare the couple down.
"Never thought I'd see the day where you gave a shit about anybody again, kid," his master noted, removing his shotgun from his back and helping himself to a seat in the chair near the couch.
"Things change. And you never answered me," Zero pointed out, Yagari throwing his hand in the air.
"Speaking of change…you'd better have your guard up, because from what I've heard on the wind, things may just get a little more fucked up very shortly," he informed him, drawing a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket.
"You don't say. Well, that can't be all. You're not exactly known for your social calls, after all," Zero said, watching as the older man took a cigarette between his lips.
"Not in here. You can keep on killing yourself slowly when you're elsewhere," the silver haired vampire said flatly, Yagari smirking as he plucked his smoke from his mouth.
"Yeah, because you take such good care of yourself. Dumbass," he muttered, his one good eye landing on the silent girl on the couch.
"Any damn way, I'm here to take you to an Association function. There's a new crop of hunters coming up and they want a few of us with a decent amount of experience there to help assign them. You may even be getting some help out of the deal," he told him, a frown touching Zero's lips.
"I don't need help and I hate those stuffy bastards at the Association. I'm not too keen on the thought of being away for a few days, either. I've got obligations here," Zero said, his arm pulling Yuuki closer against him.
"Look, you can play house when you get back, and I'm sure a few days isn't going to allow the E's to take over the city. Stop being so damn bull headed," Yagari said, his dark eye still fixed on Yuuki.
"So I guess you're Cross's girl, aren't you? Isn't this a sweet arrangement?" he mumbled, still contemplating lighting up despite the protests of his young charge.
"He's looked after me for a long time. I owe him a lot," she told him, finally breaking her silence.
"So, you can speak. Tell me…how'd you manage to win this moody bastard over?" Yagari wondered, Zero's jaw clenching in response. She turned to her companion, her finger pointing towards the master hunter lounging in the nearby chair.
"You didn't tell me he was such an asshole," she said, his deep laughter soon echoing throughout the room.
"Well, well. You're an audacious little thing. Maybe that's why you caught his eye. Hell, you're not bad looking, either. What the hell are you doing with this jerk?" he asked, Zero holding up his hand.
"Enough already. Where are you staying?" Zero wondered, his hand coming to rest upon his lover's thigh as he awaited his master's answer.
"Don't stress yourself out. Cross insisted I stay at St. Mary until we leave. You've got two days," Yagari informed him, leaning back in his chair.
"So Cross is going, too?" Zero asked, receiving a nod in return.
"I can't leave Yuuki with no one to watch over her," he said firmly, a chuckle escaping the older man.
"She's got a veritable army to protect her. Do you think they'd dare to let anything harm her while you're gone?" Yagari asked, annoyed by how combative his student always insisted on being.
"Don't fight everything so damn hard. You'll be ok, right?" he asked the girl, who nodded in response.
"See? Now how about you get me a beer? I'm parched," Yagari said, his eyebrow arching as he waited. As Zero moved to get to his feet, Yuuki stopped him.
"I'll get it. You want one?" she asked
"Sure," he answered, the girl slipping out from under his arm and making her way to the fridge. Both men watched her, the sounds of bottled clinking together reaching his ears.
"You'd better be careful with her," Yagari said, his voice low so that only Zero could hear.
"She looks to me like she'd be easy to break."
"You let me worry about that. So how's life treating you these days, Master?" he wondered, as Yuuki handed one of the bottles in her hands to their visitor. Zero pulled her down onto his lap before plucking the remaining bottle from her hand, popping the cap and taking a drink as she leaned back against him.
"God, what has she done to you?" Yagari wondered, taking a long drink before shaking his head.
"Fuck's sake. I must be in the twilight zone," he muttered, before getting back to the matter at hand.
"I've been busy, but hell, I'm always busy. I've been through God knows how many useless students, with only a handful with any skill at all. Almost makes me appreciate you…almost," he added, a chuckle escaping his charge.
"That was too close to a compliment. You must be losing it," Zero noted, taking another drink.
"How about I go hunting with you and we'll see whose lost it," Yagari suggested, anxious to see just how much his apprentice had improved since he'd last seen him in action.
"You're welcome to it, if you think you can keep up," he retorted, nearly causing his master to choke on his beverage.
"I'll shove those words straight down your throat," he told him, a smirk gracing his lips.
"We'll see," he said, noticing Yuuki yawn.
"Are you tired? Maybe you should get some sleep. I won't be much longer," Zero told her, kissing her cheek softly.
Yagari could hardly contain himself, the desire to express his disbelief nearly overwhelming his self control. Never in his life had he witnessed his young charge behaving in such a manner, so concerned for the comfort and well being of another. The Zero he'd known was cold, apathetic and unforgiving, none of which showed in the presence of the girl perched upon his lap. The man wasn't quite sure what to make of the new facets he was witnessing, though his rather cynical nature wished to do nothing but chide him for being so soft. It wasn't his duty to be soft. Quite the contrary, it was his duty to be uncaring and precise and Yagari hoped that this girl wouldn't strip him of the cool collection he'd always possessed.
"No, I'm fine. I'll wait for you," she said, watching as their hard assed visitor downed his beer in record time.
"Well, as much as I'd love to stick around and watch you two lovebirds, I'm going to St. Mary. Maybe that way I won't have to get sick to my stomach," he muttered, Yuuki getting to her feet.
"And maybe the next time I see you, you'll be less of a dick," she said, crossing her arms over her chest as he too rose, giving her a wink.
"Does this mean it wasn't a pleasure to meet me?" he wondered, the girl setting her jaw as she stared up at him.
"Fine, fine. Have a good morning, little girl. And behave yourself. Don't let this punk ass get you into trouble," he said, bowing mockingly before heading for the door.
"Good to see you again, you stupid kid. I hope you'll be ready for a lesson tomorrow night," he called over his shoulder, before disappearing, leaving Yuuki nearly seething in his wake.
"What a fucking jerk," she proclaimed, her anger ebbing as two arms wrapped themselves about her from behind, beginning to pull her backwards towards their bed.
"That's his way. I've gotten used to it over the years," he said, his voice a low whisper in her ear.
He wasted no time, his hands pulling her shirt over her head before he turned her towards him. He smiled down at her, taking her face between his hands.
"Now…I think we were interrupted," he said, disrobing her with precision before depositing her upon their bed. Her words died in his mouth, his hands pinning her wrists above her head as he proceeded to love her in the way that only he was able.
X-O-X-O
Good ol' Toga Yagari. *dreamy sigh*And YAY for Ruka and Kain! :D
So there's Chapter 9. Hope someone likes it! Chapter 10 will be a while coming, since I'm working on so many (siiiiix) fics at once. BUT, I have ideas!
Thanks so much for reading! Oh, and if I fouled up too badly, lemme' know. I just did a quick read over of this before posting.
*Cosmic*
