Chapter 12: The Young and The Restless
Zero welcomed the cool breeze from the night air as he leaned his body against the cold brick wall. He was alone. Kaname Kuran had long since left him to join his fiancée on their trip home. Yet, despite the fact that Zero was left to himself, the peace and quite was welcomed since it left enough time to gather his thoughts.
It was obvious that Kuran knew something that Zero didn't, but as to what exactly he knew, Zero was damn sure the pureblood wasn't going to reveal anything to the likes of him, that much was clear. Yet, why would Kuran show the slightest interest in the little ones when he didn't before, and not to mention the fact that this sudden interest in the kids happened right after the little encounter between Kuran and Sara Shirabuki. Something must have been said between the two in order to make Kuran feel the need to take the kids under his protection. Yet, what did that make Zero? An incompetent parent who is incapable of taking care of his own kids?
Zero gave a bitter snort at that. Even if Zero was far weaker compared to the pureblood in all aspects, there was just no way in hell Zero was going to give up his kids and risk them being manipulated in another one of Kuran's plans, which was probably the plan Kuran had intended for them from the start.
Zero was manipulated in Kuran's scheme before and in the process he lost his brother. So there was no chance that Zero was going to let anyone else get manipulated like he was. That's why Zero needed to become stronger so he could face Kuran or any other pureblood on somewhat equal terms, even if it meant he had to 'feed' on vampires to do so.
Zero could feel Kuran's power as it flowed through him. He knew that Kuran's blood was eating and destroying his cells yet in the process it was producing new ones that were stronger. These new cells heightened his senses, strengthen his bones and muscles, made him faster, gave him powers, yet all this was given to him by Kuran. Zero was strong; he was born a hunter, yet his abilities now over exceeded that. He was forced to become a vampire, the creature he was trained to hunt and kill. Zero always hated the fact that he was no longer a human; he always believed that being a vampire was a curse, now however, it might be a blessing. Zero had spent most of his life hating his vampire side, but maybe that side could be of some use, especially now that he accepted being a parent. He needed his vampire side more than ever now.
"Oh, there you are Zero." Came Aidou's voice when he entered the balcony. "I was looking for you, Hitoshi is waiting in the car for us."
"Sorry about that, I guess I lost track of time." Zero answered as he straightened himself up.
"Hey Zero, what's that on your shirt?"
Zero glanced down at the two small droplets of blood stained on his white dress shirt. Covering it with his suite jacket, Zero spoke. "It's nothing, so let's go."
Zero was making his way past Aidou when the other grabbed his forearm and halted him from passing.
"Hanabusa let go."
Aidou turned his head and stared at Zero. "That's Kaname-sama's blood, isn't it?"
Zero was taken aback but not surprised since it was true and there was no denying it, especially when the droplets of blood were clear evidence of what happened.
"Do you really need me to clarify it when you obviously know the truth."
"Why did you take his blood?"
"He offered it to me."
"Oh, so you'll just except anyone's blood if they offered?" Aidou answered defensively.
"No."
"Then why didn't you refuse?"
"Because I needed it."
"Why?"
"You know why?" Zero replied, his voice raising an octave. He didn't know why Aidou was being so on his ass about a simple feeding session that didn't mean anything.
"Whatever, let's just go." Aidou finished, he let go of Zero and headed out the balcony, behind him was an upset and confused Zero.
"No, let's talk about this since you obviously have something to say."
"I rather not want to talk about this here."
"Why not? It's not like anyone is here to hear us?"
"I know that, Zero."
"Then why?"
"Because I don't want to talk in the place where you took his blood!"
This time Zero was struck speechless. He had never saw Aidou burst like that, let alone even look at him with anger in his eyes. Zero couldn't comprehend what the other was thinking or why was it so bad that he accepted Kaname's blood.
Zero could only brush it off for the moment since getting out of this place was top priority. Then, once in the car Zero will get the blonde to pour out his guts.
-0-
Kaname was staring idly out the window, eyes staring straight yet not looking at anything in particular. Kaname had arrived together with Yuki at the home they shared together; the two were in the tearoom. Yuki was sitting quietly on the couch drinking tea prepared from Seiren, Kaname was by the window, Kaname had just finished explaining the situation about Ouri-sama's death to Yuki and then there was silence. Yet, Kaname was happy that there was since his mind was preoccupied with other matters than the ones he should be concerned with.
Kaname's mind was centered on Zero. Yet, more pacifically the last conversation the two had before they departed.
Zero had yanked his fangs from Kaname's bared neck, still intent on causing the other pain. Wiping the blood from his mouth, Zero glared up at Kaname with his fading red eyes.
"Don't expect a thank you from me." Zero grumbled.
Kaname stepped back and began fixing his attire before be answered. "Wasn't expecting any, in fact, our business together is done."
"Like hell it isn't."
"Is there something you wanted to speak with me about?"
"Yes, I want to know why you dare make such an offer to me when just now you made it clear that you're not doing this for me or the little ones."
Kaname shrugged his shoulders. "I just felt that they were safer in my hands instead of yours, especially since you still need blood to survive."
"Are you insinuating that I will attack my kids and drain them of their blood?"
"Those weren't my exact words."
"They may have not been your exact words but you damn well was referring to that."
"You may have gained enough of Shizuka-san's blood from your brother, but there's still a chance you can still become unstable again."
"Fuck you, Kuran." Zero spat. "You have no damn right to ever bring up my brother, especially after all that you've done."
"I wasn't the one who struck a fatal blow nor was I the one who ate him in the end, now was I?"
"You're pushing into tight territory, Kuran." Zero growled. "You always redirect the blame to others when you're at fault for everything. Then, you act like a fucking prick as you go ahead and use others. You never reveal your intentions and yet you want to figure out others. You're a hypocrite, Kuran."
"Call me what you want, because in the end I am the one who always wins…" Kaname answered. "And you are the one who continuously needs to feed to stay alive, why else would you go to Aidou."
Kaname made his way to the door, but before he left, Zero spoke one last time.
"Your right about that, but truthfully speaking, Hanabusa's blood is way more sweeter compared to yours."
That comment and the smug look displayed on Zero as if rubbing it in Kaname's face that Zero would prefer Aidou's blood over him, somehow struck a jealous cord in Kaname that almost sent him from finding Aidou and ripping him apart. As for the reason why that comment rubbed him the wrong way, Kaname was still trying to figure that out. Kaname couldn't deny that he had found the silver haired hunter attractive compared to before, yet why would he even notice the other when before he barely did.
Okay, maybe that was a bit of a white lie. Kaname had sometimes taken a glance in the other's direction a few times when he was at Cross Academy and maybe it was true that Kaname often picked fights with the other so he could get a reaction from Zero. Yet, that was it. End of story. Curtains closed. No more, no less…or was it?
If Kaname could give himself a hint as to why he suddenly felt an interest growing for the other, then he could clearly say it was the little one's faults. It was them showing up and the fact that they were the offspring's of himself and Zero that's got his mind all jumbled up. If they hadn't shown up then maybe Kaname wouldn't be troubled or mildly concerned for the other. He wouldn't be so distracted and going so far as to completely ignore his beloved Yuki who was sitting a few short steps away from him.
Yet, being with Zero brought such a feeling of nostalgia. Zero reminded Kaname so much of her…
Kaname sighed, it was not best to think of her, the wounds from her loss were still fresh and he didn't want them to remain that way by remembering.
"Onii-sama?" Yuki called.
Kaname glanced over to Yuki. "Yes?"
"Are there really purebloods who wish to die like Ouri-sama?"
Yuki's mind was still wrapped around the suicide of Ouri-sama. Kaname made it over to the couch where Yuki sat. Discussing other matters was probably best for him right now; the least thing he wanted was to continue fretting over Zero.
"To answer your question, yes many purebloods like Ouri-sama wished to die."
"But why?"
"Purebloods are cursed with the ability to live forever. How would you feel if you spent eternity living idly by as the world around you changes while you don't? Any pureblood would grow wary living for all those years."
"How lonely that must be."
Kaname gave a sad smile. "Yes…lonely indeed."
-0-
It had started to rain heavily on their drive back to Cross Academy, during the entire ride; silence hovered in the back sit. Even though they had just entered the town where Cross Academy was stationed, they still had to drive pass the town and head up hill where the Academy was surrounded by deep forest. Hitoshi wished with all his might that the ride there could be faster, because at this moment he was stuck in between Zero and Aidou, and it was obvious that they were pissed at the other.
Neither one had spoken to the other since they entered the vehicle and the tension between them was only getting thicker by the minute. So with a steady breath, Hitoshi spoke. "Is it alright if I ask what it is that got you two playing the cold shoulder with one another?"
"Ask him, he's the one that went off on me for no apparent reason." Zero answered.
"Well, I wouldn't have to go off on you if you hadn't controlled yourself more."
"Control myself? You act like I'm some kind of wild animal!"
"You are if you can't even control yourself from drinking Kaname-sama's blood!"
"He offered it to me!"
"And I told you that you could have refused, but no, you just had to accept it."
"I have my reason's Hanabusa."
"I understand that you want to gain power to protect your children but honestly, just because of that reason doesn't mean you can just accept it? You have no idea what Kaname-sama's planning. If you are so easily swayed by the lure of power within a vampire, then you could be swayed in by others who may offer you their blood."
"Who the hell are you to tell me what I can and cannot do? So stop acting like you know what's best for me, I can handle myself! I don't need you, I have never needed you or anyone else in my life!"
A hurt expression flashed before Aidou's face before there was nothing. Turning to the driver, Aidou's spoke. "Stop the car."
"Pardon me sir?"
"I said stop the car!" Aidou repeated loudly, causing the driving to slam on the brakes. Once the car was halted, Aidou opened the backdoor and stepped out into the rain, but before he left the car he turned and stared inside the vehicle toward Zero. "I know that I could never be as important to you as your kids or at least get half of the attention you give to them, but for once Zero, could you stop looking at what's beside you and start looking at what's in front of you. Look at the person who has always been standing face-to-face with you!"
'Look at me, Zero.' Came Aidou's silent wish before he slammed the door behind him and started walking away.
Rolling down the window, Zero poked his head out and shouted after Aidou to stop, but the heavy rain and deep forest already swallowed him up.
Back at the Academy, Zero smiled and shook his head gently as he observed the three little ones fast asleep on the couch huddled together with Zahara between the twins. It was quite obvious that they tried to stay up until Zero got home but they fell asleep in the end. Zero was too tired to haul the lot upstairs, so instead he placed a warm blanket on their bodies and headed toward the kitchen where Hitoshi was, yet not before petting Luna and thanking her for watching over them while he was away.
In the kitchen, Hitoshi was reading a large old looking brown book of some sort when Zero entered. Zero was tired but not sleepy despite that it was almost four in the morning. He couldn't sleep now, not after so many things had happened, and then there was the comment that Aidou made that somehow kept flowing inside his head as if there was some secret meaning to what he said.
Glancing at the hallway's floor from the kitchen doorway, it was obvious by the wet footprints that Aidou had been here before them and was likely upstairs in Zero's room. Because of Kaien's return home, Zero had been forced to sleep on the sofa, but since that was taken, he was going to use the guest bedroom where the little one's slept.
"I'm heading upstairs."
"Ah Zero, before you go, is it alright if we talk for a bit?" Hitoshi asked before Zero could leave.
"Sure, what's up?"
Hitoshi became serious. "I believe it's time to start our counter attack."
"Now? I thought we still had time?"
"I thought so too, however, Shirabuki-sama seems to be proceeding much faster than we would have anticipated considering the year of silence."
"Alright, then what is it that we have to do?"
"There are three things we must do. One is gain more alliances, two is we must prepare the Night class for reopening, and the last and most important is we will start our counter attack by introducing a new pureblood to the game."
"Who?" Zero asked, a bit confused.
"That will be you, Zero."
TBC…