A/N: I have the next chapter written of Bleed Me and I will be posting that on either Tuesday night, I will be posting the next chapter of Breathe Me before Bleed Me however, so expect that on Monday night. Don't forget to tell me which story you want updated next in the reviews or via a PM- I will tell you when I'm about to post via a PM. I plan on writing a chapter of The Tower tomorrow so that should be done later this week. As always, enjoy :)
Zero awakened in the center of a field of plush green grass, and under a blue moon.
Beside him lay Akira, his blonde hair tousled and messy. He wore a shirt and pair of pants made of worn brown leather, softened by age. He looked like something straight out of a fairytale that Yuki had loved to have him read.
Zero leaned back, looking down at his body. It was still effeminate, but it was closer to his androgynous form. He was missing his bump and the constant thrumming of his little ones' hearts. Worry swept over him till he heard the laughter of children sweep into the clearing. Two silver haired children ran out from the treeline, their speed much faster than any mortals.
"Okaasan! Okaasan!" The fastest cried, running to Zero.
"Ichiru said he was going to get me!" He tucked his head into Zero's chest, clinging to him desperately.
The second, Ichiru, let out a coy laugh, "Kou, you know I didn't mean it!"
Kou pulled back, "You didn't?"
Confusion and happiness shone at Zero from Kou's red violet eyes. The formerly frightened boy hopped out of Zero's arm with a last squeeze and hugged his older brother, "I'm sorry I broke it!"
Ichiru sighed, but hugged his brother all the same, "Don't worry, it's only material. It can be replaced."
Akira sat up, staring at the children. Ichiru beamed at him, "Otousan, Niisan appears to be touched in the head!"
Kou looked down right offended and narrowed his gaze on Ichiru. Ichiru laughed and ruffled his brother's hair.
"I'm joking, relax." Ichiru teased, collapsing onto the grass in front of his parents.
Zero glanced at Akira, who looked confused, but he shrugged under his lover's gaze. Go along with it, he mouthed. Zero nodded and smiled at the twins, "Where is your sister?"
"Oneesan is still with her friends. She said she would be home late. What are we having for dinner? Can we have the teriyaki beef stuff you make, Okaasan?" Kou asked, his voice excited.
Zero stilled, he hadn't made an actual meal in a long time, except for the basics for Holly, he hadn't had need to make anything else. But he did know what they wanted, so he'd give it a try.
Zero glanced at Akira, who was silent and appearing to enjoy the boys' presence. "Let's go home, then."
"Is Obaasan going to be there? With Jean and Mina? Or are they still in Morocco?" Ichiru asked, pulling Kou to his feet.
Zero and Akira stood following the boys back to an elaborate manor, not as ostentatious as the Kuran manor, but simpler and painted a muted pink. It was a happy home, and it reminded Zero of his parents' house before everything. Akira appeared shocked by the house.
"It looks vaguely like the house I lived in with my family." He remarked and Zero nodded.
"Mine too."
The boys ran into the house and they followed them.
Inside, the home- more than just a simple house, Zero knew- was lit warmly from candle light. The scents of vanilla and lavender made Zero feel warm with familiarity as he scanned the room.
It was sparsely furnished, but with quality pieces of leather furniture that looked comfortable and welcoming in the small living room. He approached the mantle, scanning the photos all laid out smartly across.
There were three in total- the first a picture of the boys and Holly smiling brightly at the camera around a christmas tree with a pile of presents surrounding them all. The second was a picture of he and Akira- with Zero in his androgynous form. The third was a picture of them all place in the center of the mantle piece of their family including Isabelle, Jean, and Mina. In the large picture they were outside underneath a sakura tree having a picnic. It was idyllic, and the thought of such times made Zero warm, but he was still consciously aware of how this was not his current reality- or at least not yet.
Zero pulled back from the mantle and stepped back into the hall where Akira was striding into what appeared to be a small but lively kitchen where the boys were breaking out pots and pans for Zero to use, with Kou pulling out the ingredients.
"Okaasan, can we help?" Kou asked, his eyes gleaming with happiness.
Ichiru nodded furiously, "Yeah, Okaasan. Me and Kou want to help!"
Zero laughed and stepped into the kitchen, ruffling his son's hair. Akira pouted from the table in the breakfast nook.
"I don't know how to cook," he complained, "What can I do?"
Ichiru cringed, "Remember that time Otousan nearly burned down the house? Trying to make toast?"
Kou shuddered, "Everything smelled like soot for months."
Zero laughed and Akira's pout deepened, "There's no way it was that bad."
Zero chuckled, "To be fair, who expects a pureblood to know how to cook."
He shook his head, "How you manage to be older than dirt and not know how to cook I'll never know."
Kou giggled, "Otousan is older than dirt? Ew!"
Ichiru smiled, "Ew!"
Akira never dropped his pout, and threw up his arms, "I'm not that old, Belle is older than me!"
Zero shuddered, "Never say that in her presence, she'll never let you forget it."
Zero ruffled Kou's hair once more and got to work with the twins while Akira mumbled in his seat at the table. Within the hour, the food was ready with only a few complications since Ichiru wasn't the most… talented when it came to cooking, similar to his namesake.
Ichiru settled on setting the table, as Akira had gotten up to wander around, and Zero called to him a moment later as he began to serve the food out. Akira re-entered the room, sitting beside Zero at the table, with Kou and Ichiru squabbling animatedly across from them.
The meal was delicious, surprising Zero when it tasted as good as he could remember it. He still didn't really feel the need to eat, but it was still nice and he and Akira leaned back, Akira wrapping an arm around the back of Zero's chair as they observed the twins.
It reminded Zero of himself and his brother, excluding the fact that the twins were clearly far more healthy than even Zero had been as a child. Ichiru, was almost exactly like his namesake, even mirroring the harsh teasing that his predecessor had been infamous for when he wasn't sick. And Kou… He reminded Zero of himself, the way he had been before he had lost his family.
He never wanted to even think about that happening to Kou.
Zero didn't want either of his sons, or Holly, left alone like that.
Akira rubbed small circles on his back, sensing Zero stiff up.
"Okaasan! Can you believe that? Mira-kun, the smallest kid in school, stood up to that Kuran Noriko girl! Her baby brother, Eiji-kun was shocked too! But Noriko-kun looked like she had never been told 'no' before! Even sensei was surprised!"
Zero stilled again at the Kuran name. Akira noticed, but he didn't stop his rubbing, allowing Zero the time to digest.
If here the twins were Akira's children, of course Kaname and Yuki had children. It made perfect sense and yet he wondered how exactly he should feel about it all.
It didn't hurt per say, but it certainly left him feeling a bit… duller. Why? He clearly had a good life here, but why did it leave him feeling watered down? Maybe that was just how it was meant to be, Kaname had been one of his first loves, so maybe he was just destined to live with the ever present feeling of 'what could have been', even though he had always known it would never have had a real chance in the first place.
Why did he come back?
He wouldn't change it, definitely not now as he sat across from his sons, but still, why did he do this to himself? Was he really that masochistic? It certainly wasn't really revenge that motivated him, but what else could it be? Couldn't he have left well enough alone?
He'd chock it up to fate, if he were lazy, but he wasn't.
So, why?
Akira stood and collected their plates with a smile on his face.
The boys had stilled and quieted when they noticed Zero's silence and he quickly turned a soft smile on them.
"Come on, boys, let's get ready for bed. Otousan can handle the dishes, I'm sure."
Kou smiled brightly once more, but Ichiru was still quiet as they stood from the table and headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Zero followed the twins to their room, passing by a series of empty ones along the way. How big was this house? It didn't seem big if the first floor was anything to go by but- of course! It was charmed! Zero gave a small chuckle and began to get out the boys night clothes as they washed up, taking time to pick out clothes for the next day like he did with Holly.
Ichiru came out in a towl, taking his set and dressing quietly as Kou finished up. After placing his brother's set on top of the vanity, he stepped back onto the carpet of the bedroom and turned to Zero.
"Okaasan? Are you happy?"
Zero stilled, but relaxed after a moment as Ichiru got beneath the blankets on his side of the bed. They shared one, like Zero had for the most part with his brother. Zero sat down on the foot of the bed and sighed softly.
"I am happy. It's just some old pain from my past lingering, but you needn't worry about that, Ichiru. I'll always be happy as long as you, Kou, and Holly are safe and happy. That's all that matters to me in the end." Zero admitted, scooting closer and tucking his son in.
He hadn't realized before, but the boys were young, closer to six or seven years old.
Holly must be fully grown now, he wondered briefly if he would see her in whatever dream this is.
Zero smiled at Ichiru as Kou came running out of the bathroom, dripping water over the carpet in damp pajamas. Zero narrowed his eyes on his (younger?) son and Kou stilled, sheepish.
Zero sighed, "Get into bed, I'll tuck you in."
Kou beamed and slid into bed beside his brother, his damp silver head hanging close to his twin's. Zero smiled warmly at them, tucking Kou in and bidding them good night, leaving the door cracked open, getting the strange feeling that one of them was afraid of the dark.
"Goodnight, Okaasan!" They called and he smiled back at them briefly as he left.
He appeared at the top of the stairs as Akira began his ascent.
"Tell me you've figured out which room is ours."
Zero looked down at the opposite end of the hall where a set of double doors awaited them.
"I'm guessing that is the master bedroom."
Zero passed the stairs and Akira followed him to the set of doors, where Zero pushed open the doors to reveal a tidy bedroom with warm accents like the living room. It was lit by candle light and he vaguely wondered why he would leave candles lit unattended. He disregarded the thought as he stepped into the room, the carpet plush underneath his bare feet. A light breeze swept through the room on occasion, dulling the heat coming from the candles down so that it was comfortable.
Akira stepped in beside him, walking over to the foot of the bed. He spread out his arms and dramatically fell onto the red duvet, smiling at Zero from the center.
"Join me! There is more than enough room, I assure you!" Akira joked, chuckling softly.
Zero grinned, "Must be one big bed if it can fit more than just you."
Akira looked like he had crashed into a wall face first, "Excuse me, did you just call me fat?"
Zero let out a stream of laughter, approaching the bed where Akira sat up to lean on his elbow with a smirk. He made a show of scooting over to give Zero room. Zero sat down beside him, sighing softly when Akira pulled him by the waist deeper into the bed to lay flush against him, his body becoming the small 'spoon'.
"That looks good on you." Akira stated softly against Zero's hair which hung to his shoulders in an unruly mess.
Zero let a small smile sit comfortably on his features.
"Whatever do you mean?"
Akira stilled, but relaxed after a moment, burrowing his face further into the incubus' neck, taking in his minty scent.
"Happiness."
Zero let out a breath, "It feels good too."
But something isn't right, because behind the happiness, I still feel less than whole, like I'm missing something that is vital, even though most everything else is present and accounted for.
I still want him, god help me, I want both of them.
Akira with all his genuinity, his honesty, his joking. Zero could be free with him, knowing that nothing was a game with him, nothing was a front in a quest for something else.
But Kaname, one of the first people he had ever loved, if not the very first. He was dark, intelligent, and he kept Zero on his feet, but he had done awful things, not just to Zero himself, though that numbered well into the dozens with how many times he had hurt the ex-hunter. By all logic, he shouldn't care about him, everything and everyone told him not to, but something kept him tethered to him like a moth to a flame.
Zero sighed, burrowing his face into the plush pillows.
His hunger was burning up again within him, but it was slower this time and he wondered why. Zero blinked as he tasted the familiar taste of blood against his tongue. He scanned the room, searching for anything that would hint at the reason why. Akira was still burrowed deeply into his neck, his arm still wrapped around the silverette's waist, his hand playing with the hem of Zero's shirt.
"Akira?" Zero asked, moving and shifting his mouth, teasing his tongue against his lips as the taste continued to invade his senses.
"Yes?" Akira mumbled, his voice muffled by Zero's hair.
Zero shook himself out of it, but the taste continued to flood in his mouth, forcing him to swallow repeatedly to escape the potent flavor.
Is that? Isabelle. That's Isabelle's blood.
What was she doing? How had they gotten here? It must be a dream. How had he gotten here? What was he doing before he got here?
Zero let out a groan, his head beginning to ache with his unanswered questions. Akira sighed against him, his fiddling fingers ceasing their movements.
Zero rolled onto his back, sensing his hunger radiating like a bonfire from his center as he tasted his Sire's blood on his tongue. Her blood sated his more tangible hungers, but the one that really mattered went unfed, causing it to warm his insides, and send warm goosebumps along his skin.
His lure made an appearance, and for a moment he wondered where it had been earlier, but that thought quickly evaporated as he cast it lightly out, surprised when he didn't sense the boys down the hall. It was like they weren't anywhere near their parents, let alone in the same house. Zero moaned, the hunger drawing him to send out his hand to Akira's jaw beside him and the blond pureblood wrapped his arm around Zero tighter, sitting up on his knees.
The strawberry eyed vampire licked his lips as he stared down at the silver haired succubus. Akira pulled off his own slate grey t-shirt, clawing at his chest for a moment as the lure began to take hold of him. Akira looked down at Zero with hungry eyes, a wicked grin coming over his features.
"I do believe you have too many clothes on." He teased, grabbing Zero's legs and wrapping them around where he kneeled on the mattress.
Zero's breathing picked up, and he sat up to kiss and nip his way over Akira's abdomen, moving upwards across his chest to tease the pureblood on his throat, drawing a groan from said pureblood.
Akira pulled back briefly with a playful smile, "No, you won't be distracting me so easily. Start stripping."
Zero laughed, pulling the steely blue dress his effeminate form wore comfortably off, and revealing a matching lacy pair of bra and panties. He stilled for a moment.
I feel like Isabelle dressed me.
Akira shuddered, his breath quickening as the lure wrapped tight around him, sending warmth careening in waves down his spine. He attacked Zero with his searching hands and desperate kisses, pulling the silverette out of whatever haze he had been in.
Zero's hands travelled up along the blond's back as Akira unclasped his bra, and pulled the offending lace contraption off and onto the carpet beside the window. Zero hissed as another wave of lust was pushed his way as the hunger continued to eat at him.
Akira ripped his panties away with ease, not bothering to save them for some later date. Zero let out a groan, swallowing hard, noticing how the taste of blood was beginning to slow in its potency. But it left him wanting more and he pulled Akira down to hang his head by Zero's shoulder where the silverette sunk his fangs into the other's throat.
His blood tasted amazing against his tongue and Akira shuddered against him, giving his all to Zero, his hands pulling Zero up to switch their positions so that Akira could lean against the headboard as Zero fed off of him. Zero straddled his hips, grinding his wet heat against Akira's clothed manhood.
"Wait," Akira groaned, careful to not pull Zero away from his tapped vein.
The pureblood undid his pants and pushed them down his legs far enough that Zero could properly ride him. Zero swallowed down another mouthful as he sunk down on Akira's length, rocking his hips as he licked furiously at the blond's wound.
Something's missing.
The memory of being in the library flew back into his mind.
Kaname approached them as if the lure had won him over. His gate was predatory and Zero bit his lip lightly at the image. In a flash the pureblood was there, clutching Zero's hair in a tight grasp and tilting his face up to meld their lips together.
Akira unbuckled Zero's pants, never ceasing his light kisses, trailing them down the curve of his spine. He traced circles around Zero's aroused nipples, never giving him the satisfaction of the actual touch.
Zero's hands pulled off Kaname's jacket in one smooth move, unbuttoning his partner's shirt shortly thereafter. Zero felt Akira cease his movements to remove his own shirt, tossing it over the scattered books on the floor.
Funny, he hadn't noticed them fall.
Kaname's hands traveled down his body to his legs, undoing the silverette's pants and pulling them down his legs, his hands making Zero's skin explode into goosebumps.
Zero pulled the brown haired pureblood closer, kissing a trail up his neck as he undid the other's pants. Akira chuckled in his ear and pulled Zero's face around to devour his mouth, nipping at the lips of the incubus.
Zero moaned and he felt Kaname's fingers tease his entrance, flicking at the little nub that came along with this form. He felt himself grow wet at the relentless touches, gasping into Akira's mouth, providing him with more of an opening.
Zero rolled his hips into Kaname's hand, his breathing ragged as he felt a finger sink in with ease. Kaname nipped at the outer line of Zero's throat, the feeling sending the other reeling.
Zero pulled back from Akira, lifting his hips and providing an opening for the blonde vampire to move and slide underneath. Zero grasped hold of the pureblood prince's neck and kissing him, only gasping when he felt Akira sink into his body. He felt Kaname growl against him mouth, and it sparked his desire again.
Without having registered the movement, Zero sucked in a breath when Kaname thrusted inside his other entrance.
Zero came out of his haze, letting out a moan as he felt Akira thrust into him, taking advantage of his stillness to bring him back to the present.
Was that what he was missing? He wanted both of them, but he knew that neither Akira nor Kaname could tolerate one another. He wouldn't force the two of them, not that he really could in either case. But god help him, his want was all consuming and it ate at him, even more so than the hunger.
Zero moaned once more, his voice lilting and shifting into a soft sigh as Akira groaned against his chest, the pureblood's fangs nicking his breast lightly and welling blood to the surface. Akira licked the droplets slowly, turning his eyes upward to look at her with seduction in his gaze.
Zero's breath became erratic as he felt his end nearing. Akira picked up his movements as well, pounding up and into Zero, the silverette biting his lip as he rolled his head up to look at the ceiling.
A mere minute later he climaxed, milking Akira to his own.
Zero collapsed against his lover, Akira wrapping an arm around his shoulders to tuck him further into his chest. They calmed as the lure receded, the hunger full and happily sated for the time being.
Zero relaxed against him, his skin slick with sweat, but deliciously warm as he came down from his high. Akira's breathing was evening out, his heart calming beneath Zero's ear. The silverette pressed his lips lightly against where it beat the strongest, pulling back after a moment.
Akira pushed the hair out of Zero's eyes, concern appearing in his pink stare.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing I can't handle." Zero clipped, but Akira frowned down at him.
"You don't have to do that, you know? I care about you, I want to help you. Whatever you have to say, it won't change that fact." Akira sighed, leaning his head back against the wall where the bed was perched.
Zero let out a slow breath. Should he tell him? Could he really admit that he was still undeniably in love with Kaname? Could he tell Akira that he loved him too? Zero settled on mumbling into Akira's chest, hoping he wouldn't hear.
Of course he would though, he was a pureblood after all.
"Zero…" Akira trailed off, furrowing his brows and turning to look out the window that Zero was facing away from.
"I'd tell you all about how he has hurt you, about how angry it makes me, about how much the thought of being away from you hurts, but I don't think it would really ever sink in well enough with you…" Akira whispered softly, and Zero hung on every word.
"I'm sorry," Zero whispered in return, "I know I shouldn't care about him, I know I should hate him, but I can't and I don't know why."
Akira sighed, "Please don't ask me to leave."
Zero sat up, grabbing hold of the blond's face and forcing him to look into Zero's own eyes, forcing him to see all the emotion that was in them.
"I want you to stay. I know it's selfish, but I love you too." He admitted, his own brows furrowing as he swallowed and released Akira.
Akira pulled him back down onto his chest, squeezing Zero tight.
"I'll be with you as long as you'll have me." Akira mumbled to himself, but Zero could hear him clearly as the pureblood ran his hand through the ex-hunter's unruly lockes.
"Then you're stuck with me for an eternity."
A/N: Don't forget to tell me what you think in the reviews/comments! Questions for this chapter: How do you think this is going to develop? Do you think they can develop a successful triad? How do you think the relationship would be between Akira and Kaname if that's the case? Let me know in the reviews/comments and thanks for reading! 3
