AN: I just want to clarify that my intention for the "pairing" of this story is not a permanent Zero-harem, but for Zero to eventually end up in a stable relationship with BOTH Kain and Kaname. (Maybe that counts as a very small harem?) It may take a while, though, and there is plenty of fun still to be had with others along the way.
For a few minutes, it seemed like Zero was going to come back to himself, but then the kid's eyes drooped, and he passed into sleep. Yagari took the first watch, and Kaito nodded off right away. Yagari couldn't blame either of them. It'd been a long day, starting with a ten-mile hike at dawn, then the close call with their targets, and finally this nonsense with Zero.
Yagari wrestled the kid's clothes back onto his limp body, tucked him into a sleeping bag, and then tended to the fire. At last, he propped himself up on the mossy roots of a tree and settled in for a long night.
The shrill and eerie cry of a bird in the tree above Yagari pierced his sleep, filling him with a sense of dread. Opening his eyes, the hunter saw that dawn had not quite broken, and mist shrouded the mountain. He felt Kaito's aura nearby, wavering on the edge of sleep even though it was his watch. Zero's aura, however, was gone. Yagari bolted to his feet and jostled Kaito awake. They split up, searching in opposite directions along the mountain ridge for the kid.
Knowing his student as he did, Yagari took the direction leading uphill, and after ten minutes of searching, he finally spotted the vampire, through a swirl of mist that glowed with the first golden rays of dawn. Zero was perched at the edge of a massive stone promontory with a dizzying drop-off into the hollow below. It was the perfect spot to watch the sunrise—or commit suicide.
Yagari approached with nearly silent footsteps. Zero was curled up with his arms wrapped around his knees. It was a pose the older hunter had found him in often, in the days and weeks after Shizuka's attack. He sat down, settling a hand on Zero's shoulder, and the kid tensed, but did not look at him.
Yagari was ashamed to admit that he wasn't quite ready to look his student in the eye, either. It wasn't because he had watched Zero having sex, or even because he had, in some small way, participated. No—it was the way Zero had looked at him. The longing and adoration in that violet gaze had been so raw, so—in a way—innocent, and Yagari hadn't been prepared for the intensity of his own response to that.
"I hope you didn't sneak off because you were planning to try some impromptu sky-diving," Yagari said cautiously.
Zero glanced at him, startled, then looked away again quickly. "No. I just wanted to…clear my head. I'm sorry about—what happened." His voice was a little rough, as though he had been crying.
Yagari patted the kid's shoulder. If it had been any other hunter who had failed to warn him about having a massive liability that could get his entire team killed, Yagari would have throttled the guy. But, knowing Zero, the kid would be far harder on himself than anyone else would.
"Shit happens. Don't beat yourself up about it," the older hunter answered gruffly, jamming a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. "But I gotta ask. How long has this been going on?"
"A few months," Zero admitted reluctantly. "I don't even know what it is. It just happens, and I can't stop it…"
"And you didn't say anything because?"
Zero took a deep breath and released it gustily. "At first I didn't realize what was going on. It was just this weird kind of ache in the back of my mind. Then, even when I started having attacks, I could use inverted spell circles to restrain myself. But then…" He trailed off.
Yagari waited a moment before prompting him. "Then?"
Zero hid his face. "But then I escaped one night." There was a pause. "So I made the spells stronger. Only it didn't work after that…I just kept getting out, even when the backlash injured me. And by that time—the things I'd done—I felt so disgusting…"
Yagari wrapped his arm around his student's shoulders. "I'm sure you only did what you had to. It wasn't really you."
Zero groaned and ran his hands into his hair, making fists with it. "You say that, but I can't even tell what is me anymore. It's not just those attacks like you saw. It's all the time. And it just builds and builds until I lose my mind."
Yagari blinked. "Even right now…?"
Zero nodded miserably. "I can fight it back during the day because the vampire part of me is weaker then, but it never really goes away."
Yagari frowned, inhaling his nicotine vigorously. "Spell circles were a good idea, but you need someone else to make them for you, so you can't escape."
Zero shook his head. "It's no good. Even if I don't escape, I'm so exhausted in the morning that I can hardly move all day, and then it just starts up again at nightfall."
Yagari grimaced. "We'll figure out what this is," the older hunter assured Zero, "and in the meantime…maybe Kaito would be willing to—"
"No!" Zero looked startled by his own vehemence. He dropped his gaze to his feet. "I—I mean—last night was bad enough…please don't make me do that again."
Yagari blinked. "Would you rather I had…?"
"No! I—I just mean—it's too…" Zero huffed, obviously frustrated at his own difficulty in formulating words. "I don't want you to see me…like that. Either of you."
"Then what do you propose?" he asked bluntly.
Zero blushed again and, in the direction of his feet, mumbled, "I already have it covered."
"You mean you have some kind of…arrangement?" Yagari inquired, in a fumbling attempt at delicacy.
Zero sighed and cast a long, melancholy look out at the dawn which had fully broken at last. The mist that had shrouded the promontory had burned away, but the hollow below them was still swathed in fog and shadows.
"Something like that."
"With a vamp," Yagari concluded. It would have to be.
The kid shifted uneasily and nodded once.
A sudden vision of tracking down whichever bloodsucking leech it was, tying him to a chair, and interrogating him, with a drill and pliers if necessary, passed before Yagari's eyes. He shook it off.
"I see," was all he said. After a moment, sensing his student's shame, he added, "Look, don't worry about it, kid. You wouldn't be the first hunter to, uh, fraternize with the enemy, so to speak. You don't even wanna know what that pervert Cross used to get up to with those Kurans—the older ones, I mean."
Zero looked so aghast that Yagari had to chuckle. The moment of levity passed quickly, however.
"We'll figure this out," Yagari repeated firmly. "Okay?"
Zero nodded, but Yagari couldn't help thinking it was an empty gesture.
Kain leaned with his arms folded against the stone parapet, six stories above the ground atop the highest tower of Cross Academy. Even in the moonlight, the view was spectacular, showing the entirety of the grounds, the lake, the forest, and, in the distance, the town. The only downside was a cold wind that whipped past briskly at all hours, but even that could be an advantage, if one wanted to have a private conversation without going to the trouble of using a spell. Just at the moment, however, Kain was more interested in watching than in talking.
It was well after dark, and the noble vampire should have been in class, but it was impossible to concentrate, knowing that his lover was out there somewhere, maybe fighting for his life, maybe injured, maybe out of his mind, and surrounded by hunters whose purpose in life was to exterminate out-of-control vampires.
It wasn't like Kain, to be unable to quiet himself and focus on the present. With Kiryuu on his mind, Kain had no room to worry about his own changing nature. At times, however, he was overtaken by the fear that the entire structure of his life was being rebuilt, one brick at a time, each individual change so small that he didn't notice it, but all of them together accumulating to render the entirety unrecognizable.
"Ah, I love the view up here," Ruka said, coming to stand next to him at the parapet. "Especially in Autumn. I wonder who designed this place?"
"I think it belonged to the Kurans originally," Kain replied absently.
Below them, a black sedan appeared on the road leading to the main gate, and slowed to a stop. Three figures stepped out and entered the grounds, while one of the Academy staff took the car to park for them.
Ruka gave an irritated huff and flipped her long, ashy-brown hair. "You know, I can deal with having a hunter as headmaster, for Kaname-sama's sake, but I do wish they wouldn't hang around this place like it was their headquarters."
Kain made a non-committal sound. His gaze was locked on the silver-haired figure below, who was walking a little stiffly, he thought. He should have agreed with her, in theory at least, but in truth he would welcome as many hunters as Cross wanted if it meant Kiryuu never had to leave.
"He's a cold one," Ruka remarked, pressing herself against Kain's side and wrapping her arms around one of his.
"Hm?"
"Kiryuu. He gives me the creeps even more than that awful sensei."
As if he had heard his name, the person in question looked up in their direction, and Kain imagined that their gazes met, even though it was impossible over that distance. He wondered what his sister would say if she ever knew just how hot Kiryuu could be.
"Let's go to class," Kain said suddenly, eager for the opportunity to sneak off on his own again. If only the window could be open tonight…
"Um, so…" Kaito began awkwardly to Zero. "About last night…"
The two hunters had been studiously avoiding the pertinent subject all day, during the hours spent hiking out of the mountains and then driving back to Cross Academy. The hike had been particularly grueling for Zero; his broken bones had not completely fused back together, and they ached fiercely with each step. Naturally, he kept that to himself. It had long since become instinctual to hide any weakness, even with those he most trusted.
It was night now, and the silver-haired hunter still hadn't gotten the chance to wash. He was grimy and dirty from days spent in the woods, not to mention his exploits with Kaito, and it felt disgusting, but it was the last thing he would complain about. Zero had been careful to use scent-masking charms all day, but Kaito, whose nose was not as sensitive, and who spent less time around packs of inquisitive vampires, had apparently not thought to do so. Zero had been forced to spend the entire day awash in the lingering aroma of their encounter.
That persistent scent, the physical exertion of the trip, the stress of explaining his stupidity to Yagari, the throbbing pain from his bones, and the ever-present hunger inflicted by his curse (or whatever it was)—all of these had left Zero numb and exhausted. He wanted to take a long, hot shower, and then crawl into some sort of cocoon where he could hide for a few days.
Kaito apparently had other ideas. "I just wanted to say…" the ash-haired hunter said, trailing after Zero, who was single-mindedly trudging up the stairs to his floor. "That is—you've always been like a brother to me, and…"
Zero's mind zoned out as Kaito kept talking. He couldn't concentrate on whatever nonsense the other hunter was spouting. He had a vague notion that Kaito was probably apologizing for violating the norms of their relationship, but as he turned his key in the lock of his room at last, he finally realized that the hazel-eyed man was saying something quite different.
Zero blinked at his old friend. His head felt like it was filled with cotton. "…Huh?" he asked.
Kaito shuffled his feet. "I said, if you ever need me again, um…just give me a call… I'll try to be around more."
Zero turned his face away, cheeks burning, and hurriedly entered his room, hoping Kaito would leave him there.
No such luck.
"Why do you have a spell circle in here?" the ashy-haired hunter asked in a puzzled tone.
The spell circle that Zero used to restrain Kain's powers and ensure their encounters were private had become a semi-permanent feature of his room. As long as he fed it a drop of blood every day, the inscription maintained itself.
"Why not? This place is crawling with vampires," Zero answered, dropping his backpack onto his dresser with a heavy clunk.
"But I think this is a privacy ward, isn't it?" Kaito asked, frowning at the chalked lines and sigils. Some of the elements were hidden under furniture and behind picture frames, so he couldn't make out the entire pattern, for which Zero was grateful.
Is there something you need?" the silver-haired hunter asked brusquely, irked by Kaito's unwarranted scrutiny of his private quarters.
The other hunter stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away. He was still standing in the doorway, hesitant to intrude too far. Zero found that a bit ironic, considering Kaito had already intruded just about as far as was possible into Zero's personal life, not to mention his body.
"I was just wondering…but I know you don't want to talk about it…"
Zero groaned, and sank into his desk chair, glad to get off his feet at last. "Ask what you want," he said, resigning himself to it despite his wishes.
Kaito came inside and shut the door, for privacy's sake, Zero supposed. There was an awkward silence before the other man spoke, however, and Zero got the impression that Kaito was almost as uncomfortable with the subject as he was. He steeled himself for another interrogation along the lines of Yagari's, but when the question finally came, he was unprepared for it.
"How come you kept going for Sensei instead of me?"
Zero had been staring at his hands steadfastly, but at this his gaze shot straight to Kaito. He found an expression there that he had never seen before. It could only be described as…pouting. Zero stared in disbelief. Then he laughed. It was only a small chuckle, but Kaito's pout grew more distinct, and he began to blush, too. That was another rare and chuckle-worthy expression. The tiny injection of humor after such a wretched night and day was a soothing balm to Zero's soul, and he felt some of the tension begin to drain from him at last.
"What, did I hurt your pride or something?" he asked with amusement.
Kaito crossed his arms and pouted at the wall instead of at Zero. "Maybe."
"You idiot," Zero said, with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. Then his mirth faded, as he realized he still had to answer the question. "I just—he's stronger, so…" He paused awkwardly. "I mean, I couldn't even remember who you were at that point…he just seemed stronger…"
"Oh." Kaito's expression was sober once more. "Do you always do that?"
Zero fidgeted, not wanting to say anything that would reveal who else he might have been with. "Pretty much."
Kaito made a face. "So…Kuran?"
"No!" Zero shouted, bolting to his feet in consternation. A twinge of pain radiated from his ankle, and he sank down once more. "God, no. I'd rather…anyone but…just no."
Kaito looked startled. "Oh. Okay, then. Umm…" He scratched his head, glancing around the room uncomfortably. Then his eyes fell on the spell circle again, and this time he seemed to realize its true purpose, because his cheeks turned slightly pink again. "So—um—I guess I'll get going, then…"
Zero breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. Kaito went to the door and stepped out, while Zero followed to turn the lock. Just before he closed the door, however, Kaito spoke again.
"Oh! I almost forgot," the ashy-haired hunter called, grinning. "Congratulations."
"Huh?" Zero asked blankly.
"You completed the mission."
"Oh," Zero said, realizing for the first time that he was no longer an apprentice, but a full-fledged hunter, with all of the privileges and responsibilities that entailed. "That's right."
"Dumbass," Kaito said, still grinning.
"Fuck off," Zero muttered, but it was with a small smile of his own that he closed the door.
"You know, don't you?" Yagari asked, flinging himself down on Kaien's overstuffed couch.
"Know what?" the bubbly hunter asked, tilting his head and beaming.
Yagari favored him with a flat look. "I just spent three days in the woods with Kaito and Zero."
Kaien's bright façade sagged a little. "Did something happen?"
"You know perfectly well what happened! Why didn't you warn me?"
All trace of Kaien's smile drained away then, leaving an expression whose solemnity was more appropriate to a man old enough to be Yagari's grandfather several times over.
"You didn't…?" Kaien asked, trailing off to avoid filling in a blank they both would rather not say out loud.
"No. Kaito."
"Thank goodness for that," Kaien remarked with a wan smile.
That sort of bittersweet expression was one that his adopted children rarely got to see. For them, Kaien had boundless reserves of gaiety. Yagari still wasn't sure if Kaien's harebrained and hyper mode was a role he played for his children's benefit, or if the man really was that ridiculous, but he was certainly more serious in the company of adults.
"I haven't yet sunk so low as to sleep with my own student," Yagari grumbled. "Though I very well might have if Kaito hadn't been there."
"I'm sorry, Touga. I have no excuse. I suppose I was hoping he'd dodge the bullet. And, then, I didn't really know what to say. It's hard to understand unless you see it for yourself."
Yagari waved the apology off. "So. Who's this vampire he has the arrangement with? And can I borrow your interrogation room?"
Kaien glared from behind the wire-rim glasses that he wore only to make himself appear older. "Akatsuki Kain. And no. Though I'm sure that won't stop you."
Yagari remembered the tall, tawny-haired noble only vaguely. He had never had any run-ins with Kain that he could recall, so the vampire hadn't made much of an impression. He seemed to remember that the noble mostly just stood around looking bored a lot, often in the company of one of the females, and sometimes tried to get the little blonde male spitfire to settle down. On the other hand, Kain had nearly always entered the classroom only a step or two behind Kuran, and that would make him one of the pureblood's most trusted lieutenants.
"One of Kuran's attack dogs," Yagari summed up his thoughts in a dark tone.
Kaien huffed. "And people say Zero is yours."
Yagari gave his old friend an assessing look. "So it's like that, huh?"
"I'm not going to let you loose on him, if that's what you mean," Kaien said. "Kain-kun is my student, not to mention a noble of quite high standing."
"Well, your student is taking advantage of my student, so what's the jurisdiction for that?"
Kaien reached over to pick up his wine glass and took a small sip. Yagari used the moment to light a cigarette, glaring defiance at the other hunter's disapproving moue. He'd be damned if he was going to discuss this madness without nicotine.
"Your student can't function without such an arrangement," Kaien said at last, seeming to weigh his words. "I don't claim to know exactly what there is between them, but believe me, Yagari, Zero is far better off with Kain's help than without it."
Kaien gave the other hunter such an ominous look with those words that even Yagari's hot blood was cooled somewhat.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked suspiciously.
Kaien sighed and shook his head. "Nothing. Just that there really is no one better for the job—at least amongst those Zero would accept."
Yagari fumed, but said nothing. Privately, he supposed that he could live with it, as long it wasn't Kuran. He would never forgive the pureblood for using Zero like a pawn in his games of power. But it was hard for him to accept that Zero would prefer be seen in that state by a vampire rather than a hunter.
"So what is it? Some kind of curse?"
Kaien nodded. "That's my guess, as well. But one I've never seen or heard of before."
"Then how do we break it?"
Kaien took another sip of wine and turned his face away, looking at the flames dancing in the fireplace.
"A curse of that longevity and power must almost certainly have been laid by a pureblood. I've spoken to both Yuuki and Kaname—discreetly, of course. Yuuki is completely unaware of what is going on. Kaname knows, naturally, but has no better idea than myself of the cause. So I must assume that the curse was laid by either Shizuka or Ridou."
Yagari sat forward suddenly. "But they're both dead."
Kaien nodded, still not looking at the other hunter.
"Then…" Yagari couldn't bring himself to say it.
Kaien looked at him finally, and his expression was sorrowful. "Yes. If, as I suspect, the curse was laid with the dying wishes of either Shizuka or Ridou, then it is likely unbreakable."
AN: One last note - I cherish every review, and they definitely spur me to write more, so please drop a word or two in the box. even if it's just 'thanks' or 'more please'.