CHAPTER-11: ANNOUNCEMENT
The sun was just starting to rise and sneak through the gap in his curtains when he awoke. Sitting up, Zero stretched his shoulders and yawned contently. This morning was the first time in weeks where he felt truly well. Apart from a very small ache in his side, which was barely noticeable. For the first time since he had come back to the dorm he wasn't waking up feeling groggy or nauseas or lying across his bathroom floor. In fact he felt peaceful and refreshed. "Well that's Christmas spirit for you." Zero joked to himself as he pulled back the duvet and climbed out of bed. Today was the first of December and he knew that Yuki would soon come searching for him to help her decorate the school and dorms. The silverette smiled as he thought of her smiling face as they put up the tree in Cross's house the year before. Yuki loved Christmas and Zero didn't have the heart to appose her.
Zero quickly got dressed in his black uniform, before he left his room. downstairs he made it to the kitchen without running into anybody All the bloodsuckers where still sleeping. Zero smiled contently as he switched on the kettle and dropped a tea bag into a mug. Leaning against the counter as he waited for the water to boil, the silverette's mind began to wander. He remembered all the Christmas's he'd spent with his family and how happy they had all been. Zero could still see the shine in Ichiru's eyes the first time they had decorated the tree together and he remembered the lights of the tree reflecting off the spilt blood on the floor the night his family had died. Feeling tears begin to well in his eyes, Zero forced the memories from his mind and turned back to his tea as the kettle clicked. Adding milk and sugar, the silverette grabbed his mug and sat down to read the book he had brought back from Cross's.
Within the hour a few of the nobles began to rise but none of them bothered with him, in fact they didn't even seem to notice him. That was until a Rima came to him after a knock at the front door and informed him that Yuki was here to see him. "Told ya." Zero thought as he stood and walked to the door to meet her. He didn't want her coming in here with all the blood sucking leaches around.
"Zero!" Yuki greeted cheerfully as she saw him approaching the door.
"Hey, Yuki." Zero replied casually as he walked out the door. The pair had just began to walkthrough down the path that led to the moon dorm gates when Takuma rushed out the door behind them.
"Zero, be sure to be back by six. Lord Kaname has an announcement to make." The blond noble informed. Zero gave a small nod of his head to show he had heard before the he turned and silently walked to Cross's house, Yuki in toe babbling on about this and that. It didn't take them long to reach the headmasters house, but when they did Yuki was glad to get out of the cold. Zero on the other hand didn't mind it so much. The cold air helped to clear his head and the wind blowing through his hair was soothing.
"Oh, Yuki your back. Good, just in time. I've just make some hot chocolate." Cross cheered as they walked through the door.
"Thanks dad." Yuki replied as she was taking off her coat.
"How about you, Zero. You wants some? I've got mini marshmallows, too. I know their your favourites." Cross questioned and Zero couldn't help but smile at the older hunter. He could hardly believe that the soft old man had once been the worlds greatest vampire hunter. Looking at him now it seamed outrageous.
"Sure, thanks." Zero replied, he didn't often have indulgences, but hot chocolate with mini marshmallows was his favourite.
"Ok, I'm on it." Cross informed merrily as he headed into the kitchen.
"Right, Zero, where do you want to start? We could do the garlands or the lights or- " Yuki trailed off.
"The tree." Zero jumped in. "Let's do the tree." He said as he watched her smile.
A few minutes later cross came into the lounge carrying a large tray of hot chocolate, cookies and mince pies, a look of pure joy washed over his face as he walked in to find Zero and Yuki decorating his Christmas tree. Yuki was running round and round the tree with a trail of multicoloured lights, while Zero was starting to place red and gold burbles on the branches. Looking at the pair of them now, Cross was reminded of the first Christmas they had spent together after Zero came to live with them. Every year since then the two of them had decorated the tree, with Yuki delegating and Zero doing as she asked.
With the fire roaring and an endless supply of hot chocolate the day flew by. Zero sighed as he sat down to take a break. Across from him, Yuki was sat on the couch cuddling up with her dad. They both looked so happy and Zero couldn't help feeling left out. He could remember back when his family used to be like that. It seamed such a long time ago, but those days had been the happiest days of his life and know they where gone he didn't think he'd ever be that happy again.
Not long later Zero left. By now it was going dark and the cold weather had turned more brutal, with a strong wind that burned his cheeks like ice. The Silverette wrapped his arms around himself as he walked back to the moon dorm and by the time he arrived at the gates he was shivering through his coat. The time was about 6:30 something and Zero knew he was late, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Reaching the door he pushed it open and looking on to the foyer he knew he was in trouble. Inside all the nobles where waiting for him and glaring at him with compressed ill intention.
"Your late." Takuma informed as Zero stepped into the foyer.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Aidou asked angrily.
"Out." Zero deadpanned, throwing a hand over his shoulder and pointing back at the door.
"Don't get smart with me you little shit." Aidou spat. "you know bloody well what I mean." The blond said as he glared.
"I told you to be here by six. Now its almost seven." Takuma stated as he shook his head disapprovingly.
"So what? I missed your meeting. Big deal. Probably didn't concern me anyways." Zero said casually.
"But it did concern you, Kiryu. It concerned all of us. Kaname asked for your presence pacifically because it concerned you. Do you honestly think that any of us would have wanted you here if it hadn't. It's no secret that none of us like you. We don't want you here at all." Ruka informed coldly.
"Yeah, well I don't want to be here either." Zero spat back.
"Then why are you here, Kiryu?" Aidou questioned, rising an eyebrow in interest.
"Because Cross asked me to be. Besides someone's got to keep an eye that none of you leaches attack anyone." Zero replied with a glare as he looked around the room.
"Come now Kiryu. Is that what you truly believe? Are you sure you weren't put here so that we could keep an eye on you? Think about it. Out of all the people in this room your the only one who's ever attacked a human. Poor Yuki was so scared that night. I heard that she couldn't sleep for weeks. If Kaname hadn't show up who knows what you would have done to her." Leon questioned as he appeared out of the crowd and walked up to the silverette. The words cut into Zero like a blade and he could feel his anger rising. His hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles turned white and his amethyst eyes where burning with hatred. Leon grinned as he took in the reactions he was causing.
"That's right Kiryu, Cross doesn't trust you. After what you did to his daughter how could he?" Aidou informed with a sinister smile.
"Nobody wants you Kiryu. Not Cross, not Yuki, not us. Your worthless. Why dont you do us all a favour and get out of our lives." Ruka hissed. Looking at Zero she thought he was about to cry or attack them, but she was completely lost for words when his hands unclenched and he let out a small chuckle. Within seconds the chuckle escalated and soon Zero was laughing openly.
"What?" Niku roared. "What's so damn funny?" he demanded.
"You all honestly think that your so much better than me, dont you? You think your all so high and mighty. But your not. If it wasn't for me your precious pureblood prince would be ash right now and there wouldn't be a damn thing you could do about it." Zero smirked.
"That's it you little brat. I'm gonna teach you a lesson." Niku bellowed as he lunged forward and grabbed hold of the silverette's collar.
"Enough!" Kaname's voice cut through the crowd. "Release him!" He ordered. Niku glared with rage as he looked into Zeros eyes, buy he let go nether the less.
"My apologize sir, but the punk doesn't have the right to talk like that. He needs to be shown his place. If you-" Niku tried to explain, but the pureblood wasn't in the mood to listen.
"Quiet!" Kaname warned. "All of you return to your duties. Kiryu, my office now." The pureblood ordered, his voice holding a dangerous tone.
"Whatever." Zero muttered as he shrugged his shoulders and pulled down his shirt to get it back into position. Sending a deadly glare at Niku as he passed the blond vampire and followed Kaname up the stairs.
Reaching his office Kaname calmly walked in and beckoned for Zero to follow. As soon as the silverette was inside the pureblood used his abilities to close and lock the door behind them. Kaname smirked as she saw Zero give a nervous glance behind him at the sound of the lock clicking.
"What is this about, Kuran?" Zero questioned sounding rather bored.
"Well, you would have known if you would have attended the meeting." Kaname answered calmly.
"Look I got court up helping Cross and Yuki, alright?" Zero explained, trying to defend himself.
"Playing happy families, where we?" The pureblood mocked and Zero glared.
"Just tell me whatever the hell it is you're gonna tell me, so I can get out of here." Zero demanded, getting irritated.
" I will, in my own time." The brunette informed.
"God damn it, Kuran. Get on with it!" Zero exclaimed in frustration.
Quick as a flash Kaname lunged across the room and slammed Zero into the wall behind him, his hand wrapped tightly around the silverette's throat.
"You see Zero, your not in a position to demand anything from me. The only reason you are here is because I am allowing it." The pureblood hissed in the teens ear.
"Then why am I here?" Zero asked. His voice husk from the pressure around his neck.
"Because the headmaster asked me to and I don't like to disappoint. But make no mistake, I will end you without a second thought if you give me reason to do so and there's not a thing you can do about it. Do I make myself clear?" Kaname asked, his eyes showing his seriousness.
"Are you sure about that?" Zero questioned, his voice little more than a whisper but still holding a teasing tone. That's when Kaname felt it. A pressure being pressed against the centre of his chest. Looking down he saw the Silverette's hand tightly holding the letter opener from his desk, ready to thrust the blade into his heart. The pureblood had no idea how the silverette had managed to grab it or even when he'd had the opportunity to do so. Looking into those amethyst eyes Kaname was almost impressed. Thinking about it, the ex-human was almost impressive. Just by surviving the transformation from human to vampire showed the teen's determination. Taking in Zeros appearance, his face was flushed red from lack of air, yet his eyes showed nothing but determination. Knowing they where at a bypass Kaname released his grasp and Zero lowered the blade.
"Jeez, what is it with you lot and going for the throat?" Zero wheezed out as he tried to catch his breath. Kaname refused to answer, deciding to get the matter at hand over with as soon as possible.
"The meeting you missed was about us being invited to a ball." Kaname stated.
"What has you lot being invited to a ball got to do with me?" Zero asked.
"It has everything to do with you. Your a member of the night class now. That means your invited as well." The pureblood explained.
"Well invite declined." The silverette replied.
"You dont have a choice. Your going." The brunette said firmly.
"The hell I don't! I'm not going and you can't make me!" Zero shouted his temper once again rising.
"You are going. I've already spoken to Cross and the vampire council and if you dont attend you will be suspended from this school." Kaname informed coldly. "That's the end of it. Your dismissed." He added. Zero was fuming at what he had just learnt, but he knew setting his frustration against the pureblood was pointless so he stormed out of the room and slammed to door loudly behind him.
Once he was alone, Kaname couldn't help the sigh that escaped him. He knew the silverette was going to be angry, but he had no other choice. The letter from Flora had pacifically insisted Zero's presence and when it said requested, it meant demanded. So what ever Flora was going to throw their way, himself and Zero where just going to have to deal with it. And that was that.
Wow! Two chapters in one day. I'm on o roll!
I know it's a bit late for Xmas, but I just couldn't get it out in time. Still, better late than never. Merry Late Xmas.
Please Review.