You know guys; I love you all so much! Your reviews just lift me up so much when I read them! I want to thank all of you.
Question Answering Time: No, this is not the end of the story. There are still a lot of things I will chock into the next however many chapters. Also, I'm sorry if the timeline seems confusing…I didn't really understand it as I was reading it. Let me lay it out for you a little better.
The beginning of Zero's and Kaname's relationship is five months prior to the start of the story. Yuki finds out about the second or third month. It takes her a week or so to accept the relationship and talk to Zero again. It isn't until the talk with Yuki that Zero and Kaname begin to slowly accept their reluctant feelings for one another. Kaname, after finding that Zero's bloodlust would harm Yuki and Zero himself, talked with Yagari and Cross in the months following the talk with Yuki. They all agreed that Zero should join the Night Class as a trial. It was Kaname who pushed up the date for this to occur. Zero has only been in the Night Class for two nights and is rooming with Kaname.
I hope this helps you guys!
One by one, the Night Class filed in behind Kaname. Each clad in his or her respective white uniform, they wore the same or similar expressions of disdain towards the recent turning of events. More than the rest, Kaname Kuran's more intimate inner circle remained intently displeased. Tonight, unlike the past few years, they'd chosen to take up all of the space around Kaname, as if their proximity would intimidate the hunter still held under Kaname's arm.
Hanabusa scowled-the chill of his blue eyes not softened by his blond hair as he raked a thoughtless hand through it. He'd dressed messily that evening, too distraught from the recent events to properly piece together his uniform. His rage towards Zero, especially, had played a very large part in forcing the boy awake, though he'd gotten little sleep that day to begin with.
He took his seat now directly in front of Kaname and Zero, watching as the Kiryuu boy finally wriggled away and took his seat at the window. Hanabusa, still too weary and angry, hardly noticed the intense glare he'd focused onto the silver haired ex-human until a large and very familiar hand came to clamp down on his shoulder. He jumped in surprise and whirled around to scowl up at Akatsuki Kain, who'd managed to appear cool and unaffected.
That outward coolness, no matter how carefully built, wasn't enough to fool Aidou. No, he knew Kain was furious. They all were. It would have been fine, or as close to fine as it could be, if Kaname had been the one to mark Zero. Instead, however, the scent of blood, sex, and a bond had woken them, and the knowledge that the lowly level-D had had the nerve to mark their pureblood leader had sent them all into somewhat of a frenzy. For the most part, however, they'd begun to control their reactions, knowing their punishment by Kaname would be unfavorable at best if their leader knew their feelings.
Aidou knew Kain was at least steady, which was more than he could say for himself. Hell, he knew by the way his own hips ached that Kain was as steady as could be expected. The scent of blood and sex that had riled them had, he thought with slight discomfort in his hips, pushed most of the recklessness out of Kain and into Aidou.
That, he supposed, was what made his insides quiver as he stared up into those serene dark eyes. He'd loved seeing Kain so…out of control was the only way he could put it. Even as his hips ached, he'd committed that intense feeling to memory. Kain wasn't usually so rough and uncontrolled, after all. Still, that look of calmness was enough to unnerve him. He could see the storm brewing beneath that calm gaze, and he promptly kept himself from staring at Zero-instead averting his gaze towards his notebook.
… … …
Ichijou shifted uneasily from one foot to the other as he waited for Kaname to enter the room, Zero in tow. As he closed the door, cutting off the dim light of the hallway, he promptly did not meet Kaname's eyes, though his expression remained calmly polite. How could he meet the pureblood's eyes when his own betrayed exactly how distasteful he found the scent of the ex-human on his leader? He moved slowly now to slide into the seat just above Kain and Hanabusa, feeling Shiki and Rima follow and sit beside him. He did not look over, did not acknowledge Kaname that evening. He wished he didn't feel such distaste, but it was there nonetheless.
His eyes did fixate on Zero, however. The hunter turned vampire was sitting calmly, slouched against the window like usual. Even that, he realized with sudden clarity, was a low blow. Had Kaname lost his mind, allowing the hunter to wear their uniform? He must have, because that slap in the face was obvious to all vampire eyes in attendance.
The familiar warmth on his shoulder made him blink in confusion after a moment, and the tickling of crimson hair on his bared neck sent tingles of memory through his body. His emerald eyes glanced down past soft blond bangs to fixate intently on Shiki's peacefully relaxed expression. He'd worn the boy out the night before, he remembered, and smiled as he leaned over to peck the boy's pale nose. He could still remember it, still remember the way he'd devoured Shiki the day before.
Unlike his usually patient, gentle caresses, he'd taken, taken, and taken some more, and Shiki had allowed him to vent the frustration he felt welling up in his chest. Shiki, his Shiki, had offered himself, knowing it would settle Ichijou's frantic anger. Even now, the redhead was shouldering his disdain and glaring with indifferent grey-blue eyes at Kiryuu, knowing Ichijou did not approve of the hunter. It was almost enough to make Ichijou regret letting Shiki know just how much it affected him.
Shiki, he knew deep down inside, felt uneasy about the knowledge that a lesser vampire had marked Kaname. Unlike Ichijou, however, Shiki's unease stopped there. It wasn't bone deep, and it wasn't angry. He simply disapproved and did not bother to hide it. It was Ichijou's influence that brought Shiki to glaring. Really, the boy was far too innocent sometimes-far too impressionable.
Rima, at least, was angry on her own. She sat calmly, though her glare was a bit more impassioned than Shiki's. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed at Zero and she leaned back in her seat, strawberry pocky dangling from her lips. Ichijou watched out of the corner of his eye she broke off the part she'd been munching, only to pass the remaining portion to Shiki.
The redhead took it with a muttered 'thanks' and propped the wafer between his lips. He sat up slowly and, in an attempt Ichijou assumed was meant to sooth, leaned forward until he felt the end of the pocky at his own lips. Shiki's hand had rested itself on his shoulder now, and every sensation in the vice president's body tingled into life. He bit down in return and their lips brushed, momentarily averting that anger from the day before into silent amusement at Shiki's childlike act of kindness. He patted the boy's soft red hair in return and felt that familiar weight of Shiki's head leaning on his shoulder. The redhead was quickly becoming an expert on mediating that anger Ichijou rarely acknowledged in him.
… … …
Ruka's hatred mirrored Aidou's, though she did not attempt to mask it as she leaned forward, crossed arms pressing hard against the desktop. Her rose petal eyes narrowed and her fangs elongated in rage. She was pale, restless, and angry, a cocktail of emotion that was not new to her. Tonight, though, it had a target, and it had a reason. The hatred that coursed through her veins shook her fingers until she had to clench them to make it stop.
That scent had been disgusting. She'd almost-almost-gotten used to the sex and blood, if it would make Kaname happy. The knowledge that the mistake of a Level-D vampire had left its scent on their pureblood leader had brought her to this, had brought out the worst in her. That was unacceptable, that was disgusting. Who did he think he was, marking their pureblood prince with that sort of bond? How did a low level vampire even know the magic needed to create something like that?
The most heartbreaking part of it, though, was the fact that the bond wouldn't have been strong enough to force onto an unwilling pureblood. It had to have been voluntarily consented to on Kaname's part, and they all realized that, which rubbed the salt of betrayal into the wound created by the scent itself. Her nails dug long and hard into the desktop, and she recovered some piece of solace in the knowledge that she was not alone in her feelings of rage. Many others did the same, felt the same.
… … …
Zero wasn't stupid. He'd sensed their rage the moment he'd walked down the stairs. He wasn't a genius, but it was common knowledge that they were blaming something on him-something big. Somehow, he thought bitterly, it had to do with the gap in memory. The thought brought his hand to itch at his tattoo again. The spot was warming under his fingertips once more, tingling in that familiar warmth that made him want to fidget. Exactly what had he DONE with or to Kaname Kuran the day before to make the glares in those crimson eyes intensify so drastically? Somehow, he figured he didn't want to know. No doubt he would find out soon…
Still, he remained seated where he'd become accustomed at the window closest to Kaname, body tilted in that direction without realizing it. His eyes closed slowly as he waited for classes to begin, though his half-sleep was restless with the knowledge that those eyes were scrutinizing him harder and harder. His entire body was tensed, and his sore hips ached in discomfort.
Suddenly, the need to press himself against Kaname and take refuge in those strong arms was nearly overwhelming. He held his head in one hand and glared out towards the slowly shrinking silver moon, covered partially by overcast clouds above him through the window. No, he thought bitterly, that was a stupid thought, and he was stupid for thinking it. What scared him, though, was that it lingered even after his mind had dismissed it. To him, that was the only safe place to remain. This was more than the unease of a hunter around vampires. That, at least, he tamped down instantly. This coldness was new.
The opening of a door had him blinking and glancing up now, violet eyes shifting restlessly behind silver bangs as they focused intently on Yagari. The feeling of relief was washed quickly away when his master began to sniff the air slowly. That piercing, pointedly disapproving stare was lingering levelly on him, pinning him in place with distaste. Yagari knew-had known for a while-about their relationship-his and Kaname's. Why, now, was he glaring like that? Why did his sensei scowl like that? Again, he knew it had something to do with his gap in memory. Damn it, what had happened?
The unease just kept growing-just kept gnawing on his stomach and chest in slow, bitter tugs. He couldn't move-wouldn't move-and remained immovably at the window. He'd swallowed the plea in his throat, swallowed the urge to beg his master to forgive him for whatever wrong he'd done. He hated that disapproval, hated it more than being a vampire. It was that same disapproval he'd seen in Yagari's eyes when the man had first come to the academy. He'd shot Zero in the shoulder then with the anti-vampire weapon-he'd not hesitated then. The hurt then, and the hurt now, they both mirrored one another. He forced himself to dismiss this as well, however, knowing he would only make it grow by dwelling on it. He ripped away his gaze and the class began like always.
… … …
Kaname was restless. As he stood calmly at the window, book open in his palm, he was restless. Why was he so restless? What was wrong with him? He had no reason to be restless. A pureblood didn't GET restless. Nervousness joined it, then the tug of a heart in pain, the longing for acceptance, and finally the unease. These couldn't be his emotions…
Only half listening to the lesson at the front of the class, his gaze fell on Zero out of the corner of his eye and he knew instantly what was wrong. As his vermillion gaze absorbed the pleading in those lilac eyes, as his aura read Zero's, Kaname at last understood. The silver string of power that connected them gave a tug and was transmitting those helpless emotions from Zero to him. That string had grown stronger, and he felt the tug to come and sooth those uneasy feelings, despite the reputation of coldness he held as a pureblood.
There was something else beyond the unease, though. He focused intently on that line of power and felt his mind brush against Zero's. He was, with his own eyes closed, seeing things through Zero's eyes, hearing his thoughts, KNOWING him on that most basic level. The boy had never stopped craving that need for Yagari's acceptance, and the older hunter's glare was unsettling him. Zero was, Kaname realized, feeling the hatred of several vampire glares. He supposed he'd hardened himself from those emotions enough not to notice usually, and he mentally kicked himself for overlooking that fact.
He pulled out of Zero's mind slowly then and came back to himself. How had he missed that? Of course that would be the reaction of his underlings after sensing what they had the day before. As he studied Zero now, he watched as the hunter pressed his back hard against the glass of the window, as if that would steady him somehow. Not even a skilled hunter could stand up to that sort of intense scrutiny, especially when it was so personally hateful.
Somewhere outside of his thoughts, a door swung open and his eyes focused sharply on the shadowed figure in the light of the hallway. He knew already that it was the chairman. Class had stopped, and he gave Cross his full attention with a pointed nod. Cross was a former hunter so no doubt he'd read and understood the tension in the room-no doubt he'd come to understand what had happened between him and Zero. Any hunter would smell the blood bond, and it would make them naturally uneasy.
"Kuran, I need to talk to you and Ichijou for a moment, please. I have some things to discuss with you concerning the Senate…" Kaname was already moving, and he knew Ichijou was following his lead wordlessly. What could the Senate possibly want with him now?
As he left, he tossed a glance back over his shoulder and bit his lip in concentration. He didn't want to leave Zero vulnerable. During the first few days of formation, the mark would leave Zero exposed. It was his status as a pureblood that kept Kaname functioning perfectly fine away from Zero, though he longed to be beside the boy like nothing else in the world. Zero, for all the things that had happened to him, was on his own now and more vulnerable than the hunter would ever admit to. It would take Kaname's constant presence to sooth that unease, just like it would take a touch from Zero to unwind the tension in his shoulder blades. Still, he left and allowed the door to shut behind him. He sensed Yagari following and cursed silently. Who would be there to watch Zero now?
… … …
Back in the room, all eyes waited for that door to click shut. The Night Class listened intently for the footsteps to fade and those crimson eyes brightened. Like sharks who smelled blood in the water, their gazes snapped as one towards Zero, and their movements mirrored one another. They were a single entity then, a single unit working towards the good of their pureblood master. To them, Zero had imprisoned, bewitched their beloved Kaname, into a trap-into imprisonment, and they would not stand for that.
They stood as one before the window, some on desktops, on benches, and on the floor surrounding the window. On the front lines, Ruka and Hanabusa glared down at Zero with menace and their fangs bared themselves with ivory flashes under the moonlight that dimly lit the room. The eyes-the luminous crimson eyes-pinned Zero where he sat as they all took a collective step forward. Their pale faces reflected the dim rays of silver moonlight and their dark presence somehow outshined it now.
Ruka paused in her advances as she stepped up in front of Zero. That was the difference between them and him. They were taller, stronger, and far more powerful than the pitiful ex-human who remained where he'd been sitting the whole night. As it was, the hunter wasn't bothering to fight back. He simply sat, blinking cold lavender eyes up at them. He seemed somewhat…bored? Ruka's lips pulled back at the nonchalance shown her and her hands rose from her sides, fingernails sliding gracefully into dangerous razor sharp talons.
"You think you're so powerful now that you've marked Kaname-Sama? You should know level-D vampires aren't welcome here, Kiryuu." That was Hanabusa. While usually the one rendered speechless with rage, he was lethally calm, as cold as the ice with which he wielded power over. His arms remained crossed neatly over his chest as he stepped up beside Ruka, his own eyes shining electric blue instead of crimson. For once, he was in control of his emotions. This wasn't regular anger-not now. He had a lot to pay the prefect back for, after all. Not only his pride, but his reputation had been smudged badly by the insults, the fight he'd lost, and especially Kaname's open chastisement. It was all because of Zero.
Two vampires stepped forward. They were handsomely beautiful creatures, as all of the nobles were, with flickering crimson eyes and bared fangs. Their claws, too, were extended. They flanked Zero now, cutting off any escape. The rest encircled Zero, ready to use any and all of their powers to put the hunter in his place. As one, they growled.
Hanabusa's cold gaze watched the shock slip from Zero's expression. The hunter's instincts were working fast now, and would work faster soon. They'd only slightly surprised him. He watched as Zero snarled and almost-almost-flinched back at the potential for destruction that lay in the man's low growl. He shuddered inside and consoled himself with the knowledge that all of the nobles were backing him. He'd been expecting it-been expecting to greet the silver barrel of the anti-vampire weapon fairly quickly. It glowed like their fangs under the moonlight and nearly hummed with potential energy. Zero's finger remained on the trigger.
What startled Aidou hadn't been the gun. He'd been about to knock it away with a shard of ice as it was. He watched it begin to sizzle and glow. Suddenly the room went up a few degrees in temperature. He watched with silent amusement as Zero's eyes widened. That fool wasn't frightened yet. The finger pulled back and a random shot was fired into the crowd. Hanabusa did deflect that, and was just in time to watch Zero drop the burning silver weapon. He kicked it leisurely away with his foot and smirked, turning back to watch Zero clench the burnt palm in anger and try to ignore it.
Behind him, Kain cleared his throat and Aidou almost stopped…almost. "Hanabusa, that's enough…" Always the calm thinker, always reasonable, Kain was still smart enough to not pick a fight with the association's best hunter. Still, that low voice vibrated with anger and Aidou knew it would take little convincing to get Kain on his side. There was no time to be on the fence about these things.
"He'll learn his place, Akatsuki… I'll make damn sure he learns his place! I'll do it to free Kaname-Sama." The ice formed at his command. It formed even as he spoke, snaking up Zero's legs as they rested on the floor. It had been silent, and now tightly constricted to freeze that way. It was too thick to break with human strength…or level-E strength. Zero was trapped now, and the shock in those bright lavender eyes made him almost giddy with excitement.
It was Ruka's turn. He stepped back and watched her snarl, knew her anger matched his, and smirked. She lunged, and he folded his arms, watching as those clawed hands closed around Zero's throat.
Ruka squeezed, squeezed, and squeezed some more, banging Zero's head back against the glass in rage as the boy clawed at her wrists in vain. She hardly noticed it, and that was what brought her killing rage back into check. She narrowed her eyes now to study his quickly paling features and those eyes…those eyes that wouldn't flicker red. Why wouldn't they change? This only made her angrier, and she slammed his head back on the window again.
… … …
Pain-blinding pain-sang through his entire body and numbed it. No, he thought, holding back the beast inside him. No, he couldn't attack, couldn't risk his precarious sanity. One wrong move and he would fall to that level, would fall to Level-E. If that happened, then no amount of blood would bring him back. He knew it. The second his eyes flickered, he would lose control. As it was, the sickly sweet scent of his own blood in his nose was both tempting and sickening. It nauseated him and he paled, his own fangs piercing his lip. His pale hands gripped those hands around his neck, and he knew he would meet his end at this rate…yet he refused to die.
Damn it, every time he wanted just to die, it would never happen. What the hell was keeping him here? Again, his neck tingled. It tingled until it felt warm…then like it was on fire. Shit, it hurt so badly. His burned palm stung, but it paled in comparison to the pain that coursed through him at his neck. He hardly noticed as Ruka's hands left his throat. His own eyes had closed now, and he coughed, trying to catch and regulate the breath through his sore windpipe. His head ached, and he was thirsty-so thirsty. His neck burned. HE burned. It was painful… Suddenly, it was like his own body was burning, and the ice around his legs faded. The pain in his palm lessened, lessened, and finally vanished.
There it was-his eyes. There went the purple he saw in the mirror. Whatever sanity he'd held onto, an outside force had pushed it away. In his mind, he envisioned a long silver string leading to…somewhere. Something pushed him on the other side of that disappearing cord and he lost his sanity then. The burning stopped, and his hand was momentarily numb. He stood then and smelled the fear in their blood. It awoke something dangerous inside him and he growled, not bothering now with his gun. This was a fight between vampires.
He lunged forward; fangs extended, and sank them into the first pale flesh he saw. A loud shriek told him he'd found a target, and he growled into the bite, felt clawed hands rip at his shoulders. Still, he did not move. This surge of power was intense-overwhelmingly intense. Was this what a pureblood felt like? Even as he absorbed that lifeblood from a noble, he had only one thought. This sudden power was warm-sensually warm-through that silver cord. He pulled silently away, blood staining his lips and his white blazer to match his crimson eyes.
He wiped it away with his sleeve and blinked, standing from who he vaguely knew was Ruka. She was huddled now, furious like an animal, and clutching her neck, though she didn't make a move to get up or attack. She was no longer a threat to him.
He turned to his next target. Hanabusa Aidou stood before him, eyes wide and heart racing. Zero was still hungry. His neck still throbbed-still BURNED. His lips parted and his fangs glinted ruby and ivory in the newly brightened moonlight. A step forward-then another-and another, and he stood now before the blond, eye to eye. Something cold found him and he was on the floor…bleeding? His hand came up to clutch the gash in his arm that had been created by a shard of ice slicing through it. He yowled in pain, a wounded beast, and struggled to his feet. That burst of power was dwindling, and the blood of a noble did little to help him now. He staggered and grasped for the wall, wincing as another shard of ice tore through his shoulder. He could smell his own blood again, and the burning in his neck ceased. Whoever had pushed him, whoever had given him that power, had cut the connection now.
Zero panted, and his vision swam, still bathed in ruby. His chest hurt so badly…and his head. His head throbbed, and his eyes ached like his fangs. He was crying? No, he couldn't cry now! He felt the pulse of darkness, felt it around his eyes, and they widened in shock and pain as a vampire he didn't know ran at him and punched him in the chest. Ribs broke, cracked, and pain exploded inside his body. He was sure he had other broken bones, but his body had gone numb.
His gaze flickered, flickered, and flickered some more. Only then did he realize he was falling. He was falling fast. Pain again, and it coursed through him dully. He'd hit the floor, and the dark room filled with sudden and painful light. Someone had turned the overhead lights on. The red in his vision faded and the dim shadow above him came closer. He was on his back now? How had he gotten there? He was about to ask when his voice cracked, rasped, and he reached out desperately, trying to grasp his sanity back with both hands. He couldn't reach it…so it came to him. That figure slowly came closer, and a burst of crimson on pale skin met his lips.
He clung to the strong familiar body and suckled greedily, like a drowning man coming up for air. He felt it as the pureblood nectar coursed slowly through him, slowly mending the worst of his injuries. Before his eyes closed, the flash of something under a desk caught his eye. His anti-vampire weapon lay there, and his eyes refocused. Dark hair, wavy and soft, before desperate vermillion eyes, brought him to hear the voice. The angel above him, the angel whose blood he took, was calling his name, telling him not to sleep. He wanted Zero to 'stay with' him? What did he mean? Why was he floating?
Cross was there now, sullen and worried. He didn't wear his glasses now, and his hair was down. His vision faded and refocused after a moment. Yagari stood over him now, his good eye projecting honest worry. Fading vision gave way to a startlingly clear picture of another angel…Yuki? He reached out a shaking hand to her and it fell back at his side. She looked so angelic, so worried for him. He smiled just for her, just to ease her worry, and finally found her hand. She was speaking to him now… What was she saying? Where had the first angel gone? Why couldn't he feel anything?
"Zero, just rest… Kaname says the worst of the damage is healed. He said you'll be better soon… Zero, please stay with me. Please don't shut your eyes, Zero… You're on a stretcher, and we're taking you to the infirmary. Don't worry, Zero. I'll visit you every day, I promise! Zero…" Her expression was so sad. He wanted to tell her not to be sad, not to worry about him. He would be fine…
His hand raised now and he cupped her cheek weakly. His hand shook slightly. His lips parted to reassure her and no sound came out. Instead, he heard Cross telling her to let him rest. Rest, they said? He didn't need rest… His body disagreed, and the previous throb in his neck increased. Somewhere in the fray, he'd been bitten, and the fang marks only made it worse. Why did it hurt so badly? He whimpered, unable to make it stop. Why were they strapping down his arms? Only then did he realize he was thrashing.
The shadow descended over him as he floated on the stretcher. Kaname's face-the angel from before-was there above him now, and that sudden intense ache in his neck was a soothing throb. Had he given him blood? That warm thought gave way to harsher feelings. "Your fault," he muttered, eyes narrowing weakly. "You left… Your fault, Kaname…your…fault…" He drew silently into himself after that, feeling those soft lips on his. Sadness through that silver cord found him. He responded with anger and turned his head to the side, feeling the ache of need against his neck.
"Hush, Zero. Go to sleep now and heal. I'm sorry I had to force you into a bloodlust earlier. I couldn't reach you…I'm so sorry…" Hands-gentle hands-found him now and he felt his weakened body sag. Those hands held his face and the ache in his neck dimmed. He was slipping…slipping…slip…
He was drifting now. He was drifting on loathing, on bitterness. Kaname had left, had abandoned him. He should never have trusted the pureblood…or any of them. Yuki was a fool to trust them. All he saw were fangs; all he knew of them was pain and blood. He loathed himself for his blood lust, loathed Kaname for abandoning him…loathed the world because he could. Silent tears trickled down his cheeks now and he floated in the darkness on that loathing. Even as he floated, the image of a rose wove together in his mind, and the warm tingling at his neck followed the pattern…
Hey guys! So what did you think? Sorry, it took me days to write this! Don't hate me! I wanted it to be good, and the first attempt…sucked. I tried to pack this with as much detail and emotion as I could. Sorry for the absence. I've been busy with homecoming and a birthday party this weekend between writing this. If you liked this, then you'll love Kaname's reaction in the next chapter. Ben4Kevin, I hope you like it! Bye guys!