Hello. *Hides* Sorry for the delay, and I'm not going into what kept me away, 'cause it is a long and I feel horrible for the wait. Part of the reason was the chapter, because there is a semi-admitting of feelings from Zero and Kaname, and being who they are in the manga...well, you get it. In other words, I wanted to sound at least partially feasible. Hopefully I did okay. I won't lie; it was hard.
Thank you so much for the lovely review. I can't express my gratitude enough, and your continual support. It is what keeps me afloat when I'm down. :D Thank you.
Disclaimer: Don't own… Ah, you get it.
Previously:
"What manipulation?" Kaname asked, curious.
"Kaname, don't," Zero warned. And Kaname didn't miss the threatening look Zero gave Akira, silently telling the other hunter to shut it.
"You don't know?" Akira whispered. "I thought he would have told you…"
The look on Akira's face caused his heart to stop for a moment. There was raw fear in the other hunter's eyes.
"I don't know what?" he whispered through clenched teeth.
"Your blood. The marriage was set up to get to you, Kuran."
Chapter Nine: Reality Shatters
He hadn't heard that right. His blood?
"My blood?" he sounded his thoughts, eyeing the redheaded hunter with eyes he knew were narrowed, perplexed and angered.
Akira cocked his head, a grin forming. The hunter obviously thought he found some leverage he hadn't expected he had.
"Yeah," said Akira, an edge of smugness to his tone. "I can't believe Zero didn't tell you. Your blood is the end game, Kuran. The big-all in the showdown."
"Why?" he asked.
Zero was beside him now, thin fingers gripping his arm, as if he was trying to pull him away from the other hunter. He shrugged the hand from his bicep.
"Kaname," Zero whispered, almost pleadingly, "let me explain this, but let him go."
Perhaps he was naïve, but a part of him wanted to have a reason to tear Akira apart—a part inside of him that wanted to believe Zero knew nothing about it. The omission was heavy with guilt, and deep inside his gut he knew Zero was aware of what Akira was saying. Anger rose and mixed with hurt. He had thought they were building a bridge toward a somewhat decent relationship, albeit a wobbly and broken bridge, but something was there between them; and now it had shattered in two seconds. He took a step back.
"You knew?" he asked, but he already knew the answer.
Zero's heavily hung head and drooping shoulders answered the question. Then a thought popped forward, searing his already torn soul: What if Zero intended to take his blood and complete the mission? What if the hunter had been leading him on the entire time to get close to him? What if Zero was in on it from the start, and was doing it because he was ordered? Oh, God. He had been played.
He took another step toward the broken window. He realized his mask was slipping and quickly put on a hard face.
"I knew, yeah, but not until a few hours ago." Zero's brows were arched, silently saying, 'I swear.'
"You think Zero was in on it?" Akira said with a snort. "Idiot."
Before he realized his feet were moving, he was on Akira, his fist curled into a powerful charge that crashed into the redhead's face. He could have used his pureblood powers—a telekinetic punch—from where he was standing. But there was something strangely satisfying when he felt the bones crunch beneath his hand, an allure that made him grin when he heard the crack as the cartilage snapped. He understood why people got a rush from vengeful violence. It felt damn good to punch the hunter.
"I believe I warned you once, hunter, to choose your words carefully," he said with a sneer.
Akira clamped his mouth shut and rolled his eyes. "Prick," Akira mumbled, while nursing his broken nose.
"Akira," Zero hissed, eyeing the bloody mess in the center of the hunter's face. "Don't be stupid. He can do a lot more to you than break your nose."
"Wise words. I can tear you to pieces without moving, yet I'd rather not tip the scale too soon between our races. Be glad you're a hunter. You can leave now," he said to the redhead. If he allowed the elder hunter to stay any longer, he was sure he would do something to the idiotic hunter. It took all the strength in him not to rip out that impudent tongue. "I'm only going to say it once."
Akira stood, a scowl in place as he contemplated his next words. The redhead smacked Zero on the back, a hard pat that knocked Zero forward. "Don't let this bastard seal your sentence, Zero. He's not worth it." He eyed Kaname up and down. "No vampire is."
He instinctively wanted to tell Zero to ignore that last statement, as he saw the hurt flash across Zero's face at the words, but he willed himself to stand near the window. His words wouldn't come out like he wanted them to, not while he felt his rage building in his veins, like a hot rush of anger coursing beneath his skin.
"Akira," he called. He smiled darkly when the redhead met his gaze. "Never come near Zero again."
The door slammed and he knew they were alone.
Zero's blood filled the small space, and he looked down to see the hunter's bare feet gleaming in the center of the shattered glass, still moving as Zero came closer.
"Why does your leader want my blood?"
Zero shrugged. "I don't know."
"And were you going to obtain it for the Association?"
"It crossed my mind." Violet eyes took to the ground. "But I decided I couldn't do it."
The sincerity behind the words wrapped around his anger, slowly working through his body to clam him down. There was no doubt that prior to the Union he and Zero had been enemies. True. But now they were… married, yes, but there was something there that connected them together beyond the Union. Takuma had asked him if he loved Zero. Maybe. He was starting to see that his feelings were connected to Zero, that they affected him, aggravated him, made him warm, angered him, made him smile—a mix of good and bad that swirled into a harmony he realized he didn't want to live without.
But the sincerity in Zero's voice couldn't douse his anger completely. It was still budding into a fiery rage that threatened to break free. Zero had lied to him; kept things from him.
"And you would have given it to him without knowing the consequences of your actions?" Ah, the bitter edge was back.
"I don't know, Kaname. Okay? I don't know what I would have done. I said I thought about it, yeah. I'd be lying if I didn't, but I said I wasn't going to do it."
"You've lied to me already, and now you want me to believe you?"
Something snapped in Zero. "I'm not going to argue with you about stupid things that aren't going to happen. You got your answer, so go bug the President about it if you want to know so badly."
The words crushed into his already angry temper, and without realizing what he was doing, he flitted across the glass and to Zero, pushing the hunter until his back collided with the wall. His face was inches from Zero.
"What would you gain from this, Zero? Do not lie. What would you have gained if you gave them my blood?" His fingers trembled around the shoulders he was gripping.
Zero smiled, a soft smile that sent chills through his stomach.
"My life," Zero whispered.
"Your life? What does that mea—." Reality crashed into him. The President was using the marriage as a means to blackmail Zero; the sentence must have been… "Death," he said aloud.
"Yeah," Zero confirmed. "My sentence wasn't what I said it was, alright."
"They sentenced you to death?" His anger was instantly redirected to a new source: the Association President. But beneath the rage was raw fear that stripped his body of any feelings. He was numb as the words crept through his mind. Zero was going to die, and it was an order given under hunter laws, not vampire laws—not his laws. He couldn't stop it from happening.
He hadn't realized he had let go of Zero's arms. His body had swayed backward until the sound of crunching glass beneath his feet broke the silence. His gaze shot to Zero.
"How long?" His body went suddenly still. His heart thumped against his chest so loudly it muffled his hearing.
"Three days." Zero looked away and sighed. "I told you that I already decided, Kaname. I can't go through with what he wants me to. You're safe."
"But you're not," he snapped. "I'll kill him," he said, more to himself.
Zero shook his head, his silver hair moving with his motion. "No good. It'd start a war if you did, and you know that. Plus they'd just lock you away for being 'crazy' if you did something like that. You know that, too."
The words left his mouth with little hesitation. "And you're worth that war and a lifetime in prison."
Zero seemed slightly shocked at the admission.
"My life versus hundreds? No. Your sanity for me? Again, no." Zero held up his bloody wrist. "And I'm out for the count, too. He marked me this morning. I can't kill him even if I wanted to, and I want to. Believe me."
"He did that to you?" He was at the wound instantly. He pulled Zero's wrist to his face, rubbing the welted skin against his lips. He licked the dried blood, ignoring the sting from the hunter magic that popped against his mouth in protest. He did what he could to soothe the pain he knew the cut must cause Zero. But it did little to take away the pain he felt knowing he wasn't there to stop it in the first place. "I'll figure this out, Zero," he whispered against the hunter's wrist.
"Don't you think I've thought of ways out of it, Kaname? I have. I thought of killing the President. I thought of giving up my humanity completely and renouncing my hunter side, but that backfired, too. He'd just manipulate the list once I've crossed over to your side, then I'm still dead. I thought about running, but where? And he's already threatened Yagari…and I'm sure he wouldn't stop at just my old master… I'm screwed, Kaname." Zero's lavender eyes glowed in the moonlight as he caught Kaname's stare. "I'm not worth it. I can't—I won't have someone else die because of me."
It was the calmness in Zero's voice that frightened him the most. The hunter had already given up. "No," he deadpanned. "No, Zero." He gripped Zero's face between his hands, forcing the hunter to stare at him. "Your life is precious. I won't let you die."
Zero pried the fingers from his cheeks. "Are you dense? Kaname, this is something beyond you. You can't control everything, and the Hunter Association is definitely something you can't control. One day you'll realize you're not the ruler of every damn life around here."
He put his hands back on Zero, running his palm down the hunter's shirt until it stopped over Zero's heart. "And one day you'll realize that your life is one I don't want to rule, but rather cherish."
Zero's lips tugged up into a grin. "I thought you were angry at me?"
"Furious," he replied with a smile, but then it fell as soon as it graced his face. Solemnly, he added, "I will find a way out for you, Zero. I promise."
Zero dropped to the floor, resting his back against the edge of his bed. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Kaname sat next to him, matching his legs so they too were spread out and arched above the shattered glass on the floor. The hunter swung his arm loosely to the ground, his fingers splaying through the broken shards and pushing them to the side of his left leg. The moonlight cast a soft beam of light where they sat, and the winter breeze drifted through the broken window, catching Zero's hair in a light flutter.
He reached out to Zero, brushing his finger against the hunter's cold cheek and caught a clump of hair and ducked it behind Zero's ear.
"I won't let him harm you," he whispered.
Zero's shoulders shook as he inwardly chuckled. It was a bitter laugh. The hunter inhaled deeply then looked up at the ceiling with a sigh. "Do you wonder what would have happened if we didn't go to Mexico?" Zero tilted his gaze to him. "How crazy it is that we are where we are now?" Zero paused to nibble on his bottom lip. "I wanted to die so badly. I wanted to end it just so I didn't have to live with what I had become… And now, because of you, I'm…terrified to die." The hunter let out a puff of air before straightening his back. "Maybe I should hate you even more than before," Zero said lowly.
He took a moment to take in what Zero had said. The hunter was speaking so freely with him. It warmed him deeply to know that Zero spoke with him like he would with Yuuki. The bridge was slowly rebuilding between them.
"I think that sometimes life throws unexpected trials our way, and no matter how it happens, we are the ultimate kings of our fate," he replied, almost somberly. "We may not have foreseen the events that brought us together, but perhaps they occurred for just the reason we keep denying now."
Zero looked up at him and licked his lips. "How do you feel about me?"
There was a question he wasn't ready to answer. It would be rather hypocritical of him to deny what he felt for Zero, but to actually voice it aloud…
"I care for you, Zero," he said, trying to keep his voice from sounding forced. "I have thought about this a lot lately. I can no longer say that I dislike you, and I seem to hold deeper sentiments towards you, like jealousy, fear and…"
"You don't have to say it," Zero said. "Please don't say it."
"Love," he finished. "I realize that I do reckless things to try and protect you, and that I would lay down my own life just to see yours continue. I think that is love."
He tried to gauge Zero's reaction. The hunter looked taken aback slightly, then fear filled the emptiness, and then morphed to nothing again.
"You?" he asked.
"I don't know anymore," Zero whispered. "When you say things out loud they become a reality. But I'm confused. I told myself over the past four years that I was in love with Yuuki, but now, with you…" Zero started picking at the broken glass again. "I'm not the caring sharing type, Kaname. I can't say it like you do, but I don't hate you. And all of those things you said…they're true for me, too. I think."
Zero's blood swirled around him. He looked down to see the hunter had cut his finger on a piece of broken glass. A tiny bead swelled at the top and then dripped down his finger. He brought the digit to his mouth, smiling when Zero didn't protest, and ghosted the cut across his lips. The shudder he felt from Zero's body ran down his own. He pulled the finger into his mouth, letting his tongue wrap around the tip. He withdrew it, and then slid it back in. He did that several times, letting his saliva run over the wound to heal it.
Zero's face was flushed a deep red and he was trying hard not to pant loudly. Kaname kept the hunter's hand in his.
"It's moments like that, that define how I feel, too, Zero. You can hear my heart beating so rapidly, can't you? I know I can hear yours. And I know that if you died I'd never forgive myself. That's why I think we should give the President my blood."
Zero's eyes shot open. "You're a stupid fool, Kaname. We don't even know what they want to do with it."
"True. But I'm gathering they'll have a way to test if we decided to give them a fake sample of someone else's blood. It's the only logical solution."
"It's not logical at all." Zero's voice rose. "It's idiotic. Damn, Kaname, can't you just leave me alone and forget all about it? I can't let him—." Zero stopped the next flow of words.
"Hurt me?" Kaname finished with a lift of his brow. "Are you afraid for me, Zero?"
"Shit, Kaname," Zero hissed. "Just leave it be. Alright? Just go back and command your lackeys like you do every evening. It's not a game."
"It is a game, Zero. And depending on how well we play it, we both will end up the victors. We find the President's so called 'end game' before we make the move. We stay one step ahead of him, so when it comes time for the exchange, we have the upper hand. He has manipulated all of our moves, but like I said, we are the true owners of our fate. It's our move, Zero."
He stood, brushing the loose glass from his pants before extending a hand to Zero. The hunter eyed it momentarily before accepting. He tugged Zero closer, wrapping his arms around the hunter's back, slipping his hands up the back of Zero's shirt until his fingers danced around the curve of skin above Zero's belt. The warmth from their bodies soothed him.
"I believe I am a fool, Zero," he muttered quietly. He had thought Zero wanted to use him, had made the horrible mistake of thinking the hunter only wanted to be near him because of the mission. But he was an idiot. Zero was willing to die for him. For him. He would find out what the President was planning before the deadline in three days. I should have trusted you, he thought, as he looked into the lavender eyes before him.
"I won't argue with you on that one, Kaname," Zero responded with a smirk.
He could get used to seeing the hunter smile. "You used to smile a lot, didn't you? It's hard to imagine this hardened shell existed prior to your tragedy."
Zero didn't answer, and he didn't expect a response. He said it more to himself, and he probably stirred up old, painful memories for the hunter with those words.
As a distraction, he leaned forward and pulled Zero's lips to his own. They were soft, parting with ease to allow him a better taste. He kept his hand on the flat of Zero's back, keeping his pace across the hunter's warm skin.
Minutes passed and their clothes were on the floor, their bodies rocking against one another in the bed. The heat from their skin wrapped around them like a blanket, and both were oblivious to the chill drifting in from the broken window.
The perspiration and soft pants created a dense fog, but he managed to reach down and sweep Zero's hair from his forehead before entering the hunter. He wanted to see Zero's face as they became one.
Zero clenched his teeth, his muscles cording as he adjusted to Kaname's length.
They were both quiet, a word not spoken except the occasional moan and gasp. The window was an open stereo to whoever would walk below.
The time passed and was only occupied with thoughts of them. He looked down at Zero, brushing the hunter's hair to the side so he could take in the view of the slumbering ex-human. Zero must have been exhausted. He had fallen asleep within minutes of finishing.
He looked out the window to the deep night. It was hard to believe the entire day was gone after everything that had happened. It felt like minutes, but instead hours had passed. He found a loose piece of paper after dressing, scribbled down a note and slipped out the door. Before he left, he made sure Zero had been tucked tightly beneath two blankets. He also managed to cover up the broken window with two towels he had found in the bathroom. The winter air was extremely chilly, and he didn't want the hunter open to the cold wind.
The Day Dorm was quiet. It was just the opposite of the Night Dorm, where every occupant was up and running around at this time of night. His shoes clicked against the wood floors as he made his way toward the main entrance of the dorm.
He felt they had made a lot of progress. They both had accepted the Union the night before, and now they had admitted there was something real between them. They hadn't uttered the words "I" and "love" together, but they did say it felt like love. It was a huge leap forward. His life had taken a complete turn. He had always learned to rule creatures like Zero, make them respect his order. He was a pureblood, but he sympathized with him.
Zero had said he was ridiculed and belittled after becoming a vampire. A hunter turned, and to have the courage to walk amongst other hunters after that; words of disgust and their hate-filled stares…
He could relate to being looked at like a monster.
He entered his room through the balcony so no one would see him. He changed his clothes, deciding on a plain white button up and black slacks. He had a lot of paperwork to complete that he had put off today, as well as meetings he didn't attend, but he'd deal with the repercussions later. He had more pressing matters to deal with. He had made a phone call on his way over, wondering briefly if it was a good move.
Thirty minutes later and there was a knock on his door. He knew who it was, and he hated the idea of meeting with dirt like him, but it was necessary.
"Come in," he said.
"Kaname-sama," Aido whispered as he opened the door. "This hunter said you asked to meet with him?"
The blond noble was glaring at the redheaded hunter as Akira pushed past Aido and stormed in with an equally threatening expression.
"This better be good, Kuran. I hate the way being around all these vampires makes my skin crawl." Akira shivered for dramatics.
"Thank you, Aido. You may leave now."
The blond eyed up the hunter once more before closing the door.
"I would thank you for coming, but it wouldn't be sincere," he said to the hunter, and then motioned for Akira to have a seat.
"Then why waste my time?" The venom wasn't hidden from Akira's tone.
"I have some questions to ask, and was hoping you'd be able to provide the answers. Our last…encounter ended rather abruptly."
He didn't miss the sneer or the way Akira ran his finger down his bruised nose.
The hunter sat in the chair in front of his desk. He waved his hand to the glasses of water a maid had brought in just a few minutes prior. The hunter threw his hand back with a snort, openly dismissing the offer. Oh well, he thought. He grabbed one for himself, popping a tablet into the water and then stirred it with his finger to force the fake blood to take in the icy temperature. He took a sip before setting it down and folding his hands on the desk.
"Disgusting," Akira muttered.
"No, a necessity to further coexistence between vampires and humans. But hunters rarely listen to reason when it is for the better, right? You usually like to take the reckless route. The 'jump before looking' method," he said.
"Whatever, Kuran. Move on to the point of why you called me here," said Akira.
"You agreed to come. I'm surprised," he said with a lift of his brow.
"You said it was to help Zero. I'm only here for that reason. Stop with the pleasantries and get on with it."
"It is to help Zero, yes." He looked down at the bloody water before him. "I was hoping you could elaborate to just why my blood is wanted by your President."
"And you'd think I'd help you?" Akira asked. The air of smugness was back in the hunter's tone.
"No," he answered. "But I do believe you would do it to help Zero."
Akira's face fell, his bottom lip pulling into his teeth. "You're right about that, Kuran. I do want to help him. So my advice is to leave him. If you know what's good for him."
"And you know that his life would end in two days now if he didn't deliver my blood to the Association. Me leaving him would seal his coffin, don't you think?" he countered.
The hunter punched the side of his chair and growled in frustration. "Why did you meet him? Why did you have to waltz your fucking pureblood legs toward him? It's all because of you he's going to die," Akira yelled.
He didn't let the words change his expression, but they did cause his heart to freeze. He was the reason Zero was going to die, which was exactly why he needed to fix it. He would do anything to save him.
"What's done is done, Akira. Zero was chosen because we share a past. That cannot be changed. So do the right thing and help out. I can assure you I can find out one way or another, but your assistance would be quicker in finding a remedy for Zero's situation." The threat was hidden in the words, and he meant it. He would break Akira bone by bone to get an answer out the hunter—especially if it meant saving Zero.
"Fine. What do you want to know?" Akira said with a puff of defeat. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned further into the chair. "Shoot."
Oh, he had no idea how much he really wanted to 'shoot' but he would stay focused for Zero's sake.
"Why my blood?"
"I don't know exactly. You're like one of the oldest pureblood families or some shit, right? All I know is what the President wants me to know, and that isn't much." Akira lifted his lips in a half grin. "But I hear things that he doesn't know. I'm good at eavesdropping." The hunter deeply sighed. "I heard him talking to someone in his office last week about getting ready for the final ceremony. He was talking about needing your blood to awaken an old pureblood, or something."
"Are you sure you heard that correctly?" He didn't show his fear, but his heart had already started to hammer at the mention of an awakening.
"Yeah, I'm damn sure. He said your blood was the key to make this work perfectly. He has some old hunter scroll locked up tight in his office, but I see him pull it out every so often and run his hand down it like it was a damn bible. The look in his eyes is…creepy. He worships the thing like it's the answer to everything, you know."
"Did you hear any names?" he asked. He was trying to hide the anxiety by thumping his feet quietly beneath the desk. It wasn't helping.
Akira shook his head. "No. Just yours, I'm guessing. He said something about the resurrecting a true Kuran, and I just figured that it was you."
"How gravely mistaken you are. It's a relative of mine that would put hunters in business for decades because of the destruction he can…"
"—cause," Akira finished. "You think the President is going to unleash this pureblood so he can gain off of it? That makes no sense."
"It would make no sense unless he was able to bind him. My uncle isn't a pureblood that would do as told, so awakening him would make no sense unless the President has an early death wish," he said.
"And what if he was able to bind him?" Akira asked, leaning forward in his chair. "What if, say, I overheard him talking about those scrolls to the Archivist just two days ago."
"The Archivist?"
"He's the know all about ancient hunter shit. He's like the guru librarian of all things hunter. I walked into the office two days ago when the President wanted to discuss my role in the whole bring Zero to him mission, and that Archivist was there. I only heard the end of the conversation. He was telling the President that according to what was written in ancient times it would be feasible to tie a pureblood to order," said Akira, biting his lip again like he was deep in thought.
"Akira-san," he said, pulling a piece of paper from his top drawer. "Are you familiar with this?" He slid the paper across the desk.
The hunter picked it up and analyzed it silently, shaking his head. "I saw this symbol when I was in the President's office a couple of days ago, with the Archivist. It kind of looks like part of the broken was seal…it uh, was on the side of the scroll. I didn't get a good look at it, though, so I'm not entirely sure."
"Could you possibly find out more information? Time sensitive, considering we only have two days left before Zero's sentence is filled." He was hoping to have more information on the triangular symbol the other hunter had written on the DVD envelope, but with as many complications that came up today, it didn't get done. And after Zero's meeting with the President, he doubted Zero would be setting foot inside the Association soon.
"Yeah, I guess I could dig around the Association library tomorrow morning," Akira said with a nod.
"What is in it for you, Akira? Betraying your lineage to help a vampire is very uncharacteristic of a hunter," he said accusingly. He had learned over the years that nothing is received without personal desire.
"Zero," Akira whispered, then paused. "And my brother," he added. "I figured bringing down the Association President would take someone willing to do it. You have motive now, Kuran. And Zero is the perfect motive. That's why I came to see you."
"You realize that the President probably plans to kill Zero regardless if he succeeds? I am sure letting Kiryu know as much as he does now would leave him as a risk to the Association." He hadn't discussed that with Zero yet, but he knew it would be the likely outcome. The President needed to be taken down and never rise again for Zero to live completely safe.
Akira nodded. "Yeah, I figured. Just as I know I'm probably next after that." There was a hint of fear in Akira's eyes. "Those hunters from Mexico died just because of that. They killed that noble vampire, Marco, you know. Then two more hunters killed them for what they knew. Except those hunters were told to kill their own because they were traitors, siding with Marco to sell a new vampire drug. I knew it was a cover-up."
"And how do you know all of this?" he asked.
"Because I was one of the hunters that killed them…" Akira whispered in shame. The hunter shot his head up, eyes blazing. "And don't even dare start to judge me, vampire. I've done what I've done so far to avenge my brother."
He raised his hands up in defeat, mockingly. "Don't be so quick to turn your guilt into anger toward me; though," he added, more seriously, "I can relate with wanted vengeance for loved ones lost. "
"Kuran, Zero seems to really…care for you." The hunter nearly choked on the words. "They are going to kill me, but I'm going to try and get my revenge. I want to see it happen before I die. But if it doesn't…make sure that President gets his just deserves, okay?"
"I think that is something we both can agree on," he said, not answering exactly whether it was the statement about Zero or the President. But the look on Akira's face meant that he understood fully it was in regards to both.
"Is there anything else you know?" Kaname asked.
"No. That's about it." Akira rubbed his arm nervously. "If you weren't a vampire and a prick, I'd say you'd be an alright guy for Zero." The hunter laughed. "Too bad."
"Too bad indeed," he said with a bemused grin. "I wouldn't say I'm grateful given our past encounter, but I do appreciate the information you've given. If you need anything, food or drink on the way out, Ms. Yajima will be in the foyer awaiting your leave, and she will service you to any refreshments you require."
"No, thanks," Akira said as he stood to leave. "Watch out for Zero, will you?"
"With my life," he replied. And it was the honest truth.
The hunter left and he was left to his thoughts. He later called Seiren, asking her to go over to a place he longed to forget about. He had to know if his uncle's body had been disturbed recently. Perhaps it was another relative of his that they planned on awakening, but judging by President's wish for possible destruction, he would place his life on Rido. He only hoped it to be untrue.
He sat down and finished another glass of 'blood' before pulling out a stack of old papers from his desk drawer. He glanced at the Kuran line and all the names listed. The list was long, thousands of name stacking up against one another and dating back nearly 10,000 years ago to the first Kuran… He stared at the name of the first with a smile and a knowing smirk, and then flipped the pages to the back. Juri, Haruka and then…Yuuki. The name above Yuuki's stood out to him. With swirls and curves, the name Kaname was written with a black slash through it, just like Juri and Haurka.
Next to Juri and Haruka's name was Rido's, with the same black line slashed through his name.
He promised to keep her safe. He would. She had Kuran blood flowing deep within her veins, but he was the only one with that knowledge, besides Cross. And it would stay that way. Forever. He promised to give her a human life, a normal life. She would be far away from the situation, but he needed precautions set in place in case the information had slipped.
As if the man had heard his thoughts, Kaien Cross walked into his room without even knocking. He smiled at the Headmaster, and then gestured for him to come sit.
"Kaname-kun," Cross said sweetly. "Always a pleasure."
"Likewise. Come and sit," he replied.
As if on cue, Ms. Yajima came in with a tray of fresh fruits and a pitcher of ice water. She poured two glasses, placing a blood tablet in Kaname's, then bowed and left.
Cross chewed on an apple slice and folded his legs, sitting comfortably in the chair across from Kaname.
"Can I ask what the unexpected visit is all about, Chairman?" he asked, carefully placing his family lineage back in the bottom drawer and then locking it closed without a key. Perks of being a pureblood.
Cross' face turned serious. "Are you aware of Zero's charges, Kaname-kun?"
"I am," he replied smoothly.
"And his sentence?"
"As well, yes. I will tell you that I am in control of the situation currently, Chairman, but I do have a favor to ask of you in return."
"Of course," said Cross.
"Protect Yuuki over these few days. Keep a close watch on her. I'm afraid your Association has their eyes set on Kuran blood. I know her secret is safe with you and I, but just in case, I ask nothing more than sheltering her a little more than normal for a few days."
The Chairman nodded. "Understood, Kaname-kun."
And he believed that Cross did understand completely. That was why he admired the Headmaster. He seemingly knew everything.
Cross stood up and twirled for a moment, a beaming smile on his face. "I'll take my darling daughter to that shopping mall she's been dying to go to. It would be a two day trip, of course."
The Chairman spun all the way to the door, then stopped, his body going still again. He turned to face Kaname, a sly smile on his lips. "My precious son has missed all of his classes since being back, Kaname-kun, you wouldn't have anything to do with this, right?"
Kaname smiled softly. "Of course not, Chairman."
Cross grinned. "I didn't think so." And with a wink, he closed the door and left.
It was only fifteen minutes before the next knock came to his door. He was going to have to invest in one of those "Do not disturb" signs to hang from the knob. He told Takuma, who he knew outside the door, to come in. He already knew before his friend told him. He sensed them the moment they entered the school grounds.
"Tell your grandfather that I'll meet him and his friend in the study down the hall. Can you escort them there, Takuma?"
"Of course, Kaname." Takuma nodded and then left.
The Council was here. Those slimly elders wanted nothing more than to try and humiliate him so they could crush his ideals. They never understood why he put so much effort into the coexistence of human and vampires, and he didn't expect vampires with purely blood on their minds to understand.
He contemplated taking a brief shower, knowing he was smothered in Zero's scent. With a smile, he decided against it. The entire world knew of their marriage now, so why hide something that wasn't a secret. They were here to confirm the rumor, and he was ready to confront them. They were mere pawns in the scheme. They were puppets to the darkness that surrounded politics. Even vampire politics. They craved his pure blood, and wanted nothing more than to snatch him up and devour him.
He'd put the fear back in them. Purebloods should be respected. To harm or kill one was punishable by vampire law. After he proved to them that he was just as lucid as glass, he would send them away to never bring up the matter anymore.
He closed the study door with a soft click. He turned and smiled, polite as ever, at the two gentlemen sitting on the loveseat in the center of the room. A small fire was lit, a gentle orange glow flickering over their faces and casting harsh shadows as they bowed their heads in respect.
"Ichiou, Tori," he said, "nice of you to visit the academy."
"Kaname-sama," Tori said, his wrinkles hiding his deep brown eyes as he scanned Kaname over.
"I assume you know why we've come, Kaname-sama," Asato said, never once breaking his gaze from Kaname. The older man had aged much over the years, his face hard and cold like his eyes.
"Of course. You wish to discuss my recent marriage to Kiryu, correct?" There was no hiding the matter, nor did he wish to anymore. They were old leeches that couldn't control everything. And they couldn't control him.
"We think it is rather unwise, well, I mean, as a pureblood and a Kuran, your mate should be of higher blood. Filth like D's have no place beside you," Tori said, unaware that his statement caused a dangerous heat to rip through Kaname's blood.
As if mimicking his emotion, the fire rippled and rose, breaching the stone and sweeping across the edge of the fireplace. It sank lower as Kaname smiled coolly.
"I'm aware of your position regarding Kiryu, and all lower stationed vampires for that matter," he said smoothly. He sat down in the armchair across from them, folding one leg over the other and placing his clasped hands over his knee.
"Let me get directly to the point, Kaname," Ichiou stated, his voice full of authority. "We want you to end this ridiculous charade and dispose of the boy appropriately. He's a hunter and a D vampire. You can't seriously wish to continue the relationship much further." The last part was a statement, not a question.
"I do intend on continuing the relationship, yes," Kaname said. "We were married under the Union, and you know as well as I do how impossible the act is to reverse. So spare yourselves some time, gentlemen, and really think this through."
"You're delusional," Ichiou said, making a noise with his tongue as if he were flabbergasted. "You must seek counsel immediately to clear your mind."
Kaname leaned forward, shaking his head. "I'm neither delusional or mad, Ichiou. Kiryu is a noble hunter. A strong part of his blood lies with strong ties to our own from history. He was also once human. His creation is a prime example of how we can survive living amongst one another. You know my ideals and convictions are rooted deep within my parents' wishes and the treaty of this school. My goals have not changed, and they won't. Having him beside me further represents that coexistence is plausible."
"You can't seriously… Your bloodline will die, Kaname-sama. You must find a mate worthy of carrying your DNA. A woman to carry on your legacy," Tori said, eyes wide in disbelief.
"And my bloodline will die the more you do not understand the importance of balance, gentlemen. There is an order to life, a balance, and we tipped it slightly when we were created. We need that in order to survive like we have for so many years," he said.
"I can bring upon the destruction of your school, your ideals in minutes," Ichiou threatened.
"Your job is to protect my blood and life. Your sole purpose of existing is to protect purebloods and keeping lower vampires under control. Now, would you really risk threatening me?" he said with an equally threatening smile.
"All of this and you proclaim it is for unity?" Ichiou inquired.
"I want the world to know that we can live without fear of harming one another recklessly. You cannot kill me, gentlemen, nor can you try. I have not broken any rules, so either you excuse yourselves or take me in."
"It's reckless, Kaname," Ichiou said, his lips pursing as he contemplated his next words. "You know it won't be the end of the discussion. I'll have to inform the rest of the Council of your answers. I suggest you choose your next moves wisely."
"Is that a threat?"
"Of course not, my lord." The mocking tone was thick in Asato's voice. "I merely mean your blood is sacred."
"To whom?" Kaname asked, an edge to his expression that clearly stated he was calling Ichiou and the Council out on the matter of 'his blood.' It was sacred, especially to those that wished to taste it.
"And you are right, Kaname-sama. There is no law, but it is still unheard of. Why do you think your race, purebloods have dwindled? Some have chosen marriage through noble blood, and others have died. You must understand that we only wish to protect the Kuran bloodline by any means possible, sir," Tori said, quickly changing the subject. Wise man.
"And that will definitely be taken into consideration, yes. I'm not above looking at the survival of the pureblood race," he replied with a nod. "Now, excuse me. I have other matters to attend to this evening."
"Of course, Kaname-sama," Tori said with a bow.
"I understand, lord," Ichiou said with a similar, yet smaller, nod of his head. "We'll be in touch."
"I'm sure you will." And then he left.
He knew he had lied when he stated the reason for their marriage was unity, but the Council only needed a coherent answer. Stating that they were setup by the Association, and then fell in—well, possibly in—love because of an accident, would have earned him a ticket straight to the 'crazy house.' He knew they would come back, and next time they would want to speak with Zero.
He spent the remainder of the evening in his room. He signed papers he had let sit for too long, and sealed envelopes that should have been mailed two days ago. A swoosh from his window rustled the papers on his desk. Kneeling in front of his desk was Seiren. He smiled and motioned for her to stand.
"Any news?" he asked.
"Yes," she said as she stood. "It appears as if the hunters may have entered the tomb recently. There scent was all over. The body remains, lord. I followed it to the town nearby, and then lost it near a local bar where they are rumored to frequent. I didn't enter."
"No, of course not. You did well, thank you."
"Always."
"You're dismissed, Seiren." He waved a hand in reply.
She vanished with the same speed she entered.
So, the hunters were thinking they could waltz onto his property without consequence. And to leave their scent, which meant they were there recently. Or they were careless. But he knew it was the first option. Hunters were generally very careful in vampire territory.
He leaned back in his chair, flipping a pen through his fingers like a mini baton. He contemplated how they would pull off the rest of the plan. Rido was a threat even before the President decided to reawaken his uncle. It was a dark mark hidden away in his mind that he was aware was there. Now that it was on the cusp of resurrection, he needed to place in motion a plan to stop his uncle once and for all.
He laughed at the irony. Zero was unable to kill the President, and he was unable to kill his uncle.
His mind automatically started to calculate a resolution to the problem. He would require Zero's help, as well as those from the Night Class. It wasn't their battle, but he knew none of them would refuse. He would meet with them tomorrow evening.
Drinking down another glass of fake blood, he organized the stack of forgotten papers on his desk. He took to the balcony, relishing in the slight winter chill that brushed over his face. It was deep in the night. The Day Class was heavily asleep and the Night Class was wandering around downstairs before preparing for their "night" in a few hours. In the distance, he spotted a figure in the snow that caused his lips to curl into a slight smile.
A disheveled looking Zero wandered into the gate, lifting his head to meet Kaname's gaze.
The wind came again, fiercer this time and caught the hunter's black hoodie in its grasp. There was a flash of red beneath the silver hair that stood out brightly against the pale strands. He was hungry. The President had wasted some of Zero's blood, as well as Akira, and the double spells probably caused havoc to stir inside the already weakened hunter.
His soul ached at the sight.
He leapt down, his fall quiet against the snow, and then wrapped his arms around Zero, only to have them smacked away.
"You're hungry," he whispered.
"I don't want you to do it, Kaname," Zero replied, quickly turning away and shielding the red eyes from the pureblood. "I still think you're a huge idiot for even thinking about it."
"Quite the unexpected turn around, wouldn't you say?" He grinned down at Zero. "I'm positive two weeks ago you would have told me that you'd only be free once every vampire were dead, including myself."
Like a nervous twitch, Zero's hand was at his arm, rubbing over the black fabric as if it calmed him. "Yeah, things change. Someone I know told me that we're the masters of our fate."
"Someone very intelligent, I assume," he said with an air of lightheartedness.
"Egotistical," Zero mumbled. "And arrogant. And an idiot."
"Sounds like an upstanding person," he said.
Zero finally locked eyes with him. "A serious know-it-all. Thinks that an ex-human is worth saving."
"Then he's a very wise person," Kaname said, his eyes firm as he looked down at Zero. "You're still hungry, and in pajama bottoms." His gaze swept over the white cotton pants fluttering in the wind.
"I am," Zero whispered, and leaned forward, wrapping his arm around Kaname's neck.
A finger curled around his collar, pulling the fabric down and exposing his neck. Hot breath coated his skin as soft lips were planted on his pulse point. He ran his hand down Zero's arm as it, too, coiled around the pureblood's body, to the center of his back. Zero's fangs punctured his neck with ease, sliding in deeply and immediately drawing blood. The hunter's mouth moved against his skin slowly, as if Zero was relishing in the taste and drawing out the moment.
It was absolute pleasure that attacked his system. Feelings were felt through blood sharing, especially if it was mutual. He allowed Zero to feel everything he had tried to convey in words when they were in the hunter's room. The warmth from their souls intertwined and sparked together. The glitter of the ring on his finger caught his gaze, and reminded him of just how deeply they were tied to one another now.
His body still felt fuzzy all over when Zero withdrew, taking a step back to wipe his lips clean with his hand.
"I am…" Zero repeated, and then to himself added, "ashamed of what I've become."
Zero's hand ghosted over his as the hunter walked past.
When he turned to respond, he was greeted with practically the entire Night Class staring at them through the window. He knew they could sense his darkening aura, a warning for them to disperse, and quickly. They had smelt his blood in the air. The shocked looks on most of their faces confirmed that most of them had speculated their marriage had been a hoax, or an accident, but seeing their leader freely giving blood to the hunter had confirmed what they had wanted to deny.
"Back to your rooms. Now," he commanded. His voice was nothing but a whisper, but he knew they heard him.
With a jolt, he realized the buzz in his pocket was his cell phone. He slid the device out, staring at the name that flashed across the caller ID: Akira. It had only been a few hours since they had spoken, but perhaps the hunter had more information on the symbol he had shown him.
"Yes," he said, placing the receiving against his ear. He nodded to Zero, silently using his gaze to instruct the hunter to head up to his room.
"Kuran," Akira said, his voice low as if he were trying really hard to keep his tone from ears reach from whomever might be around. "I just left the Association. I found the information you wanted, well, at least a little bit of it."
"And?" he responded.
"It's not good. At all," Akira whispered.
Click. And then silence. He looked down at his phone. The call had ended, or someone had ended it for them.
…...
As promised, this chapter was solely in Kaname's POV and dealt with his issues. :D Thought it was time for our pureblood to shine. And man, 20 pages of Kaname. Nice.
Another cliffhanger. I'm sorry. You can tell this will be hitting a climax in a couple of chapters, now that the pieces are falling and the action is coming. Sorry about the delay, again. You all can kill me (not really) but I thought it might help. :D
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for everything you guys have said and done to make me beam, and the support you've given. I can't thank you enough. Seriously.
And…thanks. You may think you have all the answers right now, but let me tell you… *Wink* Just wait and see.