Conquest

by lightpathetic

Zero awoke to the sensation of Kaname gently licking the wound on his neck. The wound itself was quite numb but Zero's chest was protesting painfully at the lack of blood in his system. His head was also beginning to throb. He groaned aloud.

"Does it still hurt?"

"No. Not my neck. I was lying before. I'm just hungry..."

Kaname picked up Zero gently and nestled his head into his own neck. Supporting Zero's head he urged him to drink.

"Go ahead before you are too weak."

Zero sank his fangs into Kaname's neck and sucked urgently. As he grew stronger he shoved his hand into Kaname's hair and pulled his head back, greedily seeking more access, more blood. Kaname always allowed Zero to get carried away. He enjoyed being dominated by Zero and it was hard to bite back the moan of pleasure that had threatened to erupt at Zero's action. But he couldn't relax just yet. He sensed that Zero was taking this too calmly. He didn't want to do anything before they could talk. He would hold back until he knew where they stood. Still he couldn't stop his hand raising up to trace Zero's beautiful neck, noting the area had already healed and already longing to destroy it again. Kaname's fangs grew at just the thought. Why couldn't he get enough of Zero? Kaname grit his teeth and took a deep breath as Zero chased a trickle of blood as he loved to do. Okay, it was time for the talk. Now.

Zero lifted his head at Kaname's intake of breath. He would always lose himself to the sensations when he drank. The pleasure when the blood seeped into his starved tissues always stole his conscious mind, giving him such a feeling of peace and contentment, owed in no small measure to the fact that Kaname never complained or intruded, unless Zero was doing something deliberately provocative. Zero loved being with Kaname. They had a good thing. When he was finally satiated he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Maybe Kaname was mistaken. The bond could take a great toll on vampires. Make them feel emotions that weren't real.

"Are you sure? You know that the bond can be very similar to..."

"Yes. I am sure. You really think I would confess to you of all people if I wasn't?"

"But. You can't be! What have I ever done to encourage such a thing! We are always arguing. We are total opposites! I even belong to a family of vampire hunters for god's sake. Have you no pride?"

Kaname smiled at this last. The one thing Zero thought would make him unpalatable to Kaname was exactly what he adored about him. His stubbornness. The fights. Being at loggerheads. His courage, honesty and lack of artifice. And then the long sessions afterwards that threatened to blow his mind. He would tell him. He didn't want his pride if it meant losing Zero. But when he spoke he spoke quietly and tiredly, as if it was after a long battle with himself.

"Before, even with the bond I felt like I could share you. That you could have had your own life and we could have had access to each other just to satisfy it. Now, I know I don't want to share you. I know I want you all to myself. Even from Yuuki. I don't like when anyone else touches you and I don't like when you look at anyone else. I want to be your everything and I desperately want you to feel the same way. I want to spend the rest of my life with you: supporting you, touching you, drinking from you, loving you. Seeing you when I wake up and holding you when I go to sleep. I want…"

"No. No!! Stop this Kuran! You can't mean this. What about Yuuki? You love her! You did this for her! I had hoped you would…"

Zero stopped. He'd almost said it. He'd almost said he wanted Kaname to take care of her when he died. He trusted Kaname now to keep Yuuki safe and to make her happy. To love her like he did and to never change her. Yes Zero loved her but he knew he was not long for this world. Either his life or his sanity would go in a few years and he would not subject Yuuki to that. He had wanted to the two people he cared for most in the world to have each other but now… Zero put his head in his hands. He had ruined it with his stupidity. If only he hadn't completed the bond.

Kaname watched Zero's body as it crumpled more and more in anguish. He didn't regret what he said. He knew he could make Zero very happy. The things he could show him, the life they could lead. As his other half he could go places and see people and live like he would have never known as a simple human. Kaname truly realized he loved Zero when he thought this, knowing that it would all mean nothing if Zero wasn't there to share it with. God things were a mess. Could you imagine the breakfast table conversation of the renowned vampire leader and the foremost vampire hunter? Kaname smiled. He looked forward to it. He looked forward to all of it.

"I do love Yuuki, but not in the same way I love you. I fell for Yuuki's innocence and genuine warmth, traits that were so lacking in those around me all my life. She saw me as a person and loved me as a person and not the feared pure-blooded vampire of the Kuran clan. She was a welcome balm to the loneliness I felt, plus I owe her…a great deal…

"But I was innocent. Innocent of what real love was like. Until I was bonded to you. Sure I had tried to tell myself it was the bond that made me seek you out all those times, but basically I loved not being alone anymore. I loved being with someone who wanted only me. Who knew me and accepted me for exactly who I was and what I was. And you do don't you? You knew instinctively what I needed before and did it, despite your fear, because you trust me and…you care about me. Don't you? You love me as well."

Zero was horrified. Love him? Was he insane? He stood, rounding on Kaname, suddenly angry. Furiously angry.

"Don't you put words in my mouth!! I love Yuuki and only her. You're the one that wants to betray her like this. You should pull yourself together and stop with this nonsense. If I had known you would behave this way…"

"Yes? What would you have done?"

Suddenly Kaname was in front of Zero, face to face. Again with that damn ability of his to move like lightning. Zero stepped back in surprise, but Kaname followed him.

"What would you have done? Not touched me? Stayed away? Like you did today? You forget what you do in this bargain Zero? What you like to do to me? What you like me to do to you? What did you do today when I told you you were free? You insisted on pushing me over the edge. You laid claim to me. You wanted this every bit as much as I do. You want me every bit as much as I want you. In fact…"

Kaname had steadily advanced on the retreating Zero until he was brought up by a wall. There was something thoroughly scary and exciting about Kaname right now that communicated itself straight to Zero's bones. He remained quiet thinking it best not to provoke him but his breathing became unsteady and his body was alive with a sensation of anticipation. Zero sighed in frustration. What was wrong with him?

"You are aroused by me right now, aren't you? My being this close is doing all sorts of things to your vital signs. Your heart rate is up, your breathing is erratic, your pupils are dilated and you just unconsciously raised your head so I could touch your neck. All this without my making a move. And you dare shout your denial at me."

Kaname raised his hand and ran one finger down Zero's bite area. Just that touch caused Zero to tremble, his body arching for more. More. He closed his eyes. He had to leave. Kaname had to be doing something to him.

"No. Stop it. This is a trick…"

"I am not doing anything. At least not yet…"

Kaname looked at Zero's face. The face that had haunted him constantly until now. The face he cherished more than anyone else's. He cupped it and laid his forehead against Zero's just enjoying the closeness; the smell of his breath, the feel of it on his face.

"I could wait, Zero. I could wait if you…need Yuuki now. If it would make you happy. I don't need to have you to myself right this moment although I want to. I could wait until you could look only at me. But I won't let you forget me, Zero. I won't let you forget what you need from me and I will take this as payment for my patience."

Kaname pulled back a bit. Something in him wanted this last place of conquest with Zero. He didn't want Yuuki to claim it first. Zero was his and he would leave his mark on him. Kaname lowered his head and pressed his lips to Zero's. He would take his first kiss.

Zero's eyes flew open and he started to pound on Kaname's chest. What on earth? He wasn't ready for this!! He didn't want his first memory of kissing to be with a man!! All his fantasies of golden beaches and Yuuki laid out on a white towel at sunset came crashing down with a thud. Noooooo!!!

"Kaname, you bastard! Get off me…ooph."

Kaname pinned Zero's hands easily and resumed his kiss. Zero was going to kiss him back, he just had to find out which button to press. He moved one of his hands to hold Zero's face and began his leisurely exploration of Zero's lips and inner membranes, listening all the while to Zero's body. He knew Zero like his own self. And there is was; when he sucked his lower lip like this…

Zero moaned. He was so ashamed. His body was reacting to Kaname's insistent pressure on his lips. But this was a different sensation. A slow easy pleasure that was sweeter in its subtlety. Before he knew it he was kissing Kaname back and grinding his body into his.

Kaname was beginning to think he was going to lose himself instead. He groaned as Zero opened his mouth to give access. He was warm and delicious. Kaname wanted more. He wanted to discover all the places that made Zero crazy. He wanted… He whined restlessly as Zero's tongue ran along his sensitive gums where his fangs grew. Kaname was gone.

Zero started as Kaname pulled off his shirt without even thinking about buttons and began to lave his chest. Kaname had always longed to touch Zero's nipples when he had noticed they puckered when he drank from him. He had always thought doing that would be too…strange. Now he raked his teeth against them before sucking them greedily.

Zero cried out. His knees went and they ended up in a heap on the floor. Kaname never missed a beat, moving only to alternate licking and sucking, Zero's internal as well as external reactions engrossing him totally, Zero's mindless moaning only the tip of the iceberg. What if he went lower, he thought as his hand moved to Zero's belt. He knew Zero would love what he could do to his…

"Kaname, darling, I see we really do have to have a chat."

Kaname lifted his head in astonishment. He whirled around to see the last person he thought he would see sitting on his windowsill. He hadn't sensed her at all, but pure-bloods could mask their scent if they wanted to and obviously she did.

"What are you doing here? I told you never to come here without calling first."

Zero had finally pulled himself together and sat up, more than a little shocked at the intrusion. Someone had startled Kaname? He stared at the beautiful blonde who seemed to float as she dismounted the windowsill.

"What sort of greeting is that for your fiancée, Kaname? You really are mean to me. Fine I will introduce myself. Hello, I am Sara, and I am guessing this delightful little morsel is Zero?"

WHEN ZERO was safely away – or at least away from his room – Kaname went to the bathroom to clean up, leaving Sara to inspect his apartment as she loved to do. Kaname refused to feel guilt or regret. This was his room and she had come by uninvited. Besides, their engagement was purely "business"; arranged by the two families and the council to ensure the survival of the pure bloods. It was to happen many years from now – a pure blood's life span being what it is, one hundred years was hardly like a human's ten. They were to be wed in one hundred years and contracted to produce at least two heirs. Well it could be said there was no love lost in the arrangement; neither of them especially fond of the other. But they were at great pains not disrespect the other as to the "public" they were the couple of the future. However, it seems Kaname's extra-engagement activities were getting around, and he did owe her an apology, as his fiancée, even though they hardly ever saw each other.

"Kaname, I really do hope you are half this passionate with me when we are married. The carpet, the bed and then the hardwood floor. I am trembling at the implications…"

"Sara. To what or whom do I owe this pleasure?"

"Always to the point, as usual." Sara giggled and then sighed resignedly. Kaname was always so cold with her. No matter what she had tried to change his opinion of her. He had even set free the set of children she had gone to great trouble to send him earlier this year – children being such a delicacy with vampires, none of the bothersome hormones and chemicals from bad habits are in them – calling to tell her in no uncertain terms not to do that ever again. I mean how was she to know he was strictly a blood-tablet user? Sara's face bunched up unattractively at just the thought of those chalky blood substitutes. Why were they here putting themselves through this agony anyway? Peaceful co-existent you say? Please. She fervently hoped he didn't bring this little hobby into their marriage. Although she wished he would let her visit him more often. Didn't the scent of all that prey from the window drive him crazy? She would dearly have loved to have taken a detour to one of those dorms except that Kaname was not someone to tangle with. The academy was under his protection and as she glanced up to answer him the cold brown eyes reinforced the consequences that may lie in the wake of such an action. She squirmed.

"Kaname, I have become a laughingstock. It seems that EVERYONE knows about your unusual attachment to you pet and I am unable to ignore it much longer. It is time you gave him up. Have you no appreciation of the position in which I find myself? My father thinks I am not treating you properly that you have to turn to a human for affection. I am getting no peace at home."

"Sara, I am really sorry you had to hear it like this."

"And see it…"

"But who or what I subjugate is no business of anyone else's. You should perhaps put the 'position in which you find yourself' in this context and persevere."

"But Kaname, you called Him to help you get your pet out of trouble. Ex-humans are not worth this effort. When one goes you get another. It is how special he is to you that is making my life a misery. More special than I am. I, a pure-blood. This is most unacceptable."

Kaname tried not to laugh at Zero's being called a "pet". He really was losing his mind.

"There is nothing to worry about. I chose that course of action to find a very dangerous criminal. Not necessarily to merely rescue Zero. The President of the Vampire Hunters Headquarters was playing games with me. You appreciate how much I hate that. I am no-one to be trifled with."

"All the same. The rumours…"

"I am sure as a pure-blood you could claim the respect you deserve, Sara. Now if that is all I wish you a good morning. I have a full day ahead of me. Perhaps you could tell me when you are coming next time so I could be better prepared to receive you, hmmm?"

"Kaname, my father is making me go to the Council to change the date of the wedding. He hopes to have a resolution passed soon to make us wed next year so I could better…take care of you. He really is insistent. I thought I would come by and give you the news myself."

ZERO was disgusted with himself. Every time he closed his eyes he saw what…what they… He groaned. They had come so close. Why had he behaved like that? Couldn't he ever control himself when it came to Kaname? Even where sex was concerned? What the hell were they going to do? Nope, he didn't want to ask that question. And Kaname telling him all of "that" and having a fiancée. He really was a secretive, manipulative bastard. A fiancée. A fiancée? Zero started to giggle. Then laugh. Yes that was it. It was a moment of weakness. Kaname would get some sleep and realize that he had worked too hard all week and it had gone to the brain. He loved Yuuki and was betrothed to a beautiful princess of a woman. There was nothing peculiar going on at all! Zero was almost sure of it. And he was fine with that! He didn't feel that way at all about Kaname. He loved Yuuki. He wanted to spend the rest of his miserable life by her side. The kiss had been a mistake. It was a factor of their strange relationship and the easy camaraderie that had developed between them. He was so used to Kaname pleasuring him he just responded. That's it. His world wasn't in turmoil. There was nothing stopping him from looking Yuuki in the eye or being with Kaname. Kaname would take back what he said after some rest and a bit of time spent with Yuuki and his fiancée. In fact it probably was that he was spending far too much time with Zero. He would set up some dates with Yuuki. Kaname would remember then why he loves her and stop this nonsense.

Zero was set. Having decided on the solution he felt better. Much better. He didn't have to lose anyone or betray anyone. Life would return to normal. He was sure.

to be continued

lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. I am grateful to "Vampire Knight" for my inspiration.