Subjugation
by lightpathetic
Kaname was barely able to conceal his impatience as the meeting drew to a close. They had left his particular issue until last on the agenda, so now he was keyed up where before he had calmed himself.
Finally it came. Sara's father stood and solemnly tabled the resolution to order an early marriage for Kaname Kuran and his daughter Sara. He spoke of the information he received that Kaname had formed a very close bond with an ex-human named "Zero" and had used unusual measures to free this ex-human when he was kidnapped, giving up his attendants to keep him safe. This spoke volumes of an unnatural attachment. He was also of the information that Kaname had formed a very affectionate relationship with a female human. He was fearful that the union would be compromised if the marriage did not occur soon.
Kaname listened as his private business was laid bare before the world. He had to stay calm. At this point it was his word against his. However he could not help but realize that his information was very accurate. Sara's father was tipped off by the same people that had tried to hold him to ransom. He wondered if he was merely a pawn. When he had finally finished Kaname presented his own case, persuasively and reassuringly, noting with satisfaction the nodding heads and the incredulous glances at Sara's father. This may not take long after all. However Sara's father persisted.
"I insist he is not a slave. This "Zero" is impossible to control. Once more he is an active vampire hunter. That does not sound like a "subjugation" to me."
Pandamonium erupted around the table. A vampire hunter? How extraordinary. Kaname frowned in irritation. If Zero was really a slave he would not have tolerated this. However, they would be left alone if they were convinced. It was important to keep his head.
"Perhaps a test would bring things to a close here. I could go get him and bring him here. Once you see that he is completely harmless, perhaps we could end this contention once and for all. I want nothing more than to reassure Sara and her father that my family's word will be kept, on my honour, in a hundred years."
The Chairman jumped at this solution.
"That sounds fine to me. All in favour?"
ZERO barely dodged the fireball as he rolled to his left and ran for cover. Then his cover dissolved into flames. What? He turned to look at Ichijou still not believing what his eyes were telling him. Ichijou himself was nearly unrecognizable with the fierce, red, glowing eyes and fire balls where his hands should be. Ichijou could command this type of might?! Ichijou?! Zero thought of the smiling, carefree face he had known, a stark contrast to his visage now.
"Ichijou! Stop! Why are you doing this?"
Ichijou only hestitated a moment before he let loose two fireballs in quick succession. Zero had to push away his sheer astonishment and focus on saving his own life, ducking just before they took out three trees behind him. There were flames everywhere and no place to hide. Zero had to attack. He raised his gun a fired three shots at Ichijou before running to his right. Ichijou moved quickly, the shots going harmlessly by as he ran after Zero letting loose a double volley as he ran. Zero thinking the only place to go was up, scaled a tree quickly hoping to move around the branches as cover. He wasn't even able to use his powers as he required concentration and he couldn't even get a moment to think. He tried to listen out for Ichijou as he moved through the leaves. Dammit nothing. He stopped. Suddenly his world was orangey-yellow. He dropped from the branch and used his powers to turn in midair as he fired back at the source of the flames. He was rewarded by a scream and the smell of blood. He quickly "shoved" the tree, lowering himself to the ground, he reloaded his gun, waiting for whatever strange fruit may fall. Nothing. Now what? He moved quickly backward to another tree, "heaving" himself on a branch. The last thing he saw was Ichijou's glowing red eyes.
Ichijou dropped from the tree and limped over to where Zero lay. Rolling him over he took in the charred upper body and was amazed that Zero was still alive. This and how quick he was. Could it be…
"You… You are a vampire? How? When?"
Zero ignored his questions. He couldn't stand the pain. He wished someone would shoot him.
"Did Kaname make you his property?"
Property? Zero tried to find his gun. He was definitely going to try and shoot Ichijou. If only he wasn't hungry. He would have recovered quite a bit by now. Damn Kaname.
"But why all this trouble for a slave? Why would Kaname guard you like that? Why sacrifice two nobles over an ex-human slave?"
It didn't make sense. Ichijou and Shiki were being manipulated over an ex-human slave? Ichijou hesitated over his prey. The prey that was inhumanly quick and able to float.
"Kaname let you drink his blood?!!"
Zero had hoped to die before Ichijou connected the dots. Dammit. He would die of shame instead.
"You two... What are you to him? It has to be important enough… Oh shit."
There was the sound of gun fire and Ichijou fell over to the ground. Zero rolled them over to the other side of the tree trunk as a series of bullets exploded by his head. Oh God he was going to die here after all. His hands were useless. He couldn't hold his gun. He needed blood in order to heal enough to save them. Zero moved his arms to find Ichijou's neck. Maybe just a little. He knew that Ichijou would need it to recover but things being as they were, it was better a little hope than none…
"Zero!! What the devil?! What happened to you?"
Kaname was suddenly beside Zero and pulling him into his arms. He had realized Zero was in the park as was his custom, not thinking anything of it until he saw the smoke and smelt his blood.
Zero couldn't help it. He burst into tears, much to his chagrin. He knew that everything would be alright now. He just knew, but he couldn't stop the tears.
"Zero, are you in pain? Come here."
All Zero needed was some blood and he would be fine. Just fine.
"Wait someone is shooting at us. From over there…"
"He's gone. I will check it out later. Go ahead."
"Ichijou. He got Ichijou, Kaname."
"I know. We'll take care of him."
Zero finally calmed enough to bite Kaname's neck. The sweet sensation of the healing wounds took him away, making him groan into Kaname's neck.
"That's it. You'll be fine."
Kaname rubbed the hair that had already grown out and ran his hands over the newly formed skin. Zero was fine. Kaname pulled him tighter to him.
He looked over at his "friend". It was evident what had happened from the charred scene. Ichijou had tried to kill Zero, after luring him to this place. Kaname looked coldly on Ichijou's body. He didn't tolerate betrayal. Even if Ichijou didn't know all the facts, he had known Zero was under his protection. It was unacceptable his doing this. Unacceptable.
Zero finally lifted his head and turned towards Ichijou. He checked his pulse and inspected the wound on his head.
"Kaname. Would he recover if we took out the bullet?"
"Possibly."
Zero, puzzled by Kaname's tone turned to look at him. He had already stood up and was calmly watching Zero's efforts dispassionately. Zero regarded him as if he were mad.
"Kaname!! Come do something! You could take it out better than I could."
"Why?"
"Why?!! He's your friend! How could you just stand…?"
"He tried to kill you. He betrayed me. Leave him."
Zero stood and rounded on Kaname.
"You son of a bitch. He tried to kill me and I want him to live. How could you just stand there and let Ichijou… Ichijou! Die! You cold, heartless bastard. You help me now! He could even tell us why he did it. Aren't you even curious…?"
"Fine. But I want something in return."
"Yes! Anything!"
Kaname was already beside Ichijou. He inspected the wound and "pulled" out the bullet. He then wrapped Ichijou's head in his shirt.
"He needs blood then we will see. We'll take him to the academy. Hopefully his brain tissue will regenerate when the silver is removed."
Kaname "picked up" Ichijou to carry him in his arms. Zero moved to help but Kaname shook his head.
"I'm fine. Just keep up. The car is this way."
As they headed back the sirens could be heard in the distance.
Ichijou was placed in his room. The doctor came and washed the wound and redressed it, stating that hopefully the I.V. blood would cause the tissue to heal. Head wounds were always hit and miss. A nasty business. He was still unconscious but at least he was breathing on his own. Zero looked on in frustration. He had wanted to find out what was going in Ichijou's mind to attack him. Now things looked grim. There was a dark mood over the Night Class section that had descended as soon as they saw Ichijou being carried in lifeless. Who would hurt such a gentle creature? Many were itching for some sort of retribution, quite certain that Kaname Kuran would be the one to provide it. After all he called Him out for Zero.
Kaname was just waiting in his room until Zero was ready. The council meeting had been adjourned until he returned and it had been over an hour. He had wanted to get it over with today. He didn't like not knowing his fate. He paced impatiently knowing Zero would probably stay until the doctor left and sure enough as soon as he left for his car, Zero headed towards his room. Someone had loaned him a shirt but he still reeked of smoke and charred flesh. Kaname would pick him up ten miles away. He headed for the door.
Zero was depressed about Ichijou, he wondered if Kaname had gotten over his shock and was now feeling the effects of losing his friend. He raised his hand to knock and was confronted with an impatient vampire.
"I need to collect on the favor. We need to go now. I will explain on the way."
ZERO was sure Kaname had lost it.
"What you are saying is I have to pretend to be a slave for these people? Why?"
"So they would get off our backs and not move up the wedding."
"The wedding to Sara?"
"What other wedding did you think? Ours?"
Zero ignored this last. Should he do it? He did say that he would do anything, which now that he thought about it was a rather reckless thing to promise, but he had been desperate, knowing nothing about vampires except how to kill them. How could Kaname hold him to such rash words spoken in a moment of emotional stress? He really was heartless. However he didn't want Kaname marrying anyone else but Yuuki. This Sara-person's luck was going to run out.
"What would this entail exactly?"
"Just doing as I command, and looking a little more vacant, like your entire purpose is to serve me and you don't have a will of your own. I know it is a stretch for you…"
"Nothing else? Simple commands only?"
"Yes."
What was the harm?
"Okay. But don't let's be too long. I have a brother to locate."
ZERO couldn't help but stare at the luxurious mansion on the sprawling estate Kaname walked into as if he owned it. He walked quickly down a hall festooned with all manner of carvings and statutes and rare paintings… Forget the vacant demeanour. Zero had to ogle the bust of the voluptuous woman that was perched on an ornate wooden shelf. His mouth opened…
"Zero! Follow me. A simple command. Look vacant and follow me."
"But Kaname. That over there is a Cezanne…"
Kaname took over. Zero was going to blow it if he didn't do something. Kaname walked Zero over to where he was standing.
"Do you like it when I do this? Then listen to me. No mistakes. I will release you if you give me your word you will not mess up. This is very important. Understand?"
Kaname let him go and the seething Zero nodded. Kaname moved to continue towards the room at the end of the hall, but Zero stopped him.
"Don't do that again, Kaname. Don't ever do that to me again."
Zero gestured for Kaname to continue and they walked in silence towards the room.
ZERO was beside himself he walked to the car and opened the passenger side next to the driver and sat down slamming it hard. He was trembling. He couldn't stop shaking in rage.
Kaname followed and Aidou opened the rear door for him. He slid in and they left for the academy. Again there was silence. Kaname was also distraught but didn't show it. How was he to know they would order those sorts of things? The worst being Sara's father who made him lick his shoes. Kaname took in a rush of breath at the order, trying to save Zero by demanding that no-one treat his slave this way. But to no avail. The others looked suspicious at Kaname's intervention – he was only an ex-human after all – and Kaname had to laugh it off and looked pleadingly at Zero. Zero did it but it took all he had. All he had, to lick the boot of a vampire. There was nothing Kaname could say or do to make this up to him. Nothing. The extra fifty years grace period the council gave Kaname in apology for wasting his time was little comfort for the agony he felt for Zero.
Finally the academy came into view and Zero alighted, again slamming the door, and running off towards his room, leaving a completely suffering Kaname in his wake.
"DOES HE have his own god? What do I have to do to kill that bastard? Clearly I would have to do it myself."
Ichiru shifted nervously as he listened to Rido Kuran rant. He had failed. But he couldn't have stayed and finish the job and still escape with his life. He saw when Kaname's car entered the park and knew he only had a couple shots before he would have to hightail it. He had to live to make sure Zero Kiriyuu and Kaname Kuran met their deaths and he was willing to risk Rido's ire to achieve that. Staying would have meant Kuran picking up his scent and catching him easily. He had many talents but out running a pure-blood was not one of them. When Rido calmed he would see sense, he was sure.
"Pardon me, my lord? What did you say?"
"I will do it myself. I will return to my own body and kill Zero Kiriyuu. Once that is done, with Kaname Kuran's guard down I will take his body. I will finally be back where I belong. At the head of the Kuran family."
Rido turned and walked back towards his room, to where he could hear the lusty lungs of his latest meal. Ichiru turned and when to his own room, smiling to himself. Finally he thought. Finally.
to be continued
lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters. I am grateful to "Vampire Knight" and Hino-sensei.
