"He's a Pureblood!? Are you kidding me?" Hanabusa hissed, the door snapping shut behind him. He had been repeating the sentiment since Kiryuu's pulse had stopped stammering and finally settled into a steady rhythm. Before that, he hadn't been thinking at all. Just acting, hands flying to patch and stich and bandage. Now, he was bloody and exhausted. And he reeked of pure blood. His instincts twisted anxiously under his skin.
Inside the bedroom, Cross was still tending to Kiryuu: holding his hand, brushing back his hair. He was a hunter and father, now, not the Academy's headmaster, Hanabusa thought, and he'd nearly lost his son. Kiryuu had only partially stabilized after being fed huge amounts of Takuma's blood. Hanabusa was frankly amazed that Kiryuu had improved even that much. Even if—some fucking how—Kiryuu had pulled a Yuuki and jumped up the vampire pyramid, he was still so heavily injured that Hanabusa's first instinct as a medic had been to dope him up on painkillers and wait for the reaper. Only his loyalty (and, to be honest, fear) for Kaname had jarred him into acting. Thank the Gods that there was an extra store of medical supplies in the hall closet. What they had brought had been entirely insufficient. Thank the Gods for Takuma's blood, too. Without that, Kiryuu would have surely died.
Hanabusa shuddered at the thought. Kiryuu had not deserved an end like that, even Hanabusa could admit. Certainly, the rest of them had not deserved the repercussions that would follow, either. They had done all they could to forestall that fate. Now was the time to do what geniuses did best—find answers.
Turning to the assembled men, Hanabusa reviewed his options. Takuma was settled in a chair, pale as snow and eyes distant. Senri was dutifully at his side, his own wrist bandaged from trying to restore Takuma. Across from the three vampires, Yagari sat with his head in his hands. For the first time, Hanabusa thought he looked old. Obviously, the situation was wearing on him. Unfortunately, Hanabusa did not much care. Yagari and Cross were the only people who hadn't frozen at the Big Reveal. Hence, with Cross with Kiryuu (and Hanabusa not being that big of a dick), Yagari was his best option for answers. Straightening his shoulders, Hanabusa marched up and stood in front the hunter.
"So," Hanabusa started, faux-casual. "What the hell is going on?"
Yagari didn't even raise his head. "Fuck off, fang-face."
Hanabusa choked on a hysterical laugh, the absurdity of the situation hitting him suddenly and all at once. "'Fang-face?' Are you kidding me? If you haven't noticed, your fucking apprentice has a pair of fangs, you hypocritical ass—"
The click of a gun aimed at his head shut Hanabusa up quick.
"I think you should just close your mouth before I put a new hole in you," Yagari hissed. In his periphery, Hanabusa was aware of Senri and Takuma rising warily, slowly. Takuma was weak from blood-loss. Senri worked best with a partner. If Yagari decided to go trigger happy, Hanabusa realized that he wasn't too fond of his odds.
"Put the gun down, Toga," Cross's voice cut in, prayer-soft and beaten. Abruptly, Hanabusa felt like a huge ass, and he hadn't even been the one that tone was directed at.
Yagari looked like he was restraining a grimace. "Fuck you, Kaien," he said, irritated. He did, however, put the gun down, for which Hanabusa was very grateful.
Cross shrugged and slumped down on the couch, exhaustion in every line of his body. His head flopped on Yagari's shoulder. "Maybe when you stop threatening my students."
Yagari snorted (affectionately) and Hanabusa felt more awkward than ever before.
"Well," Hanabusa said, smothering the urge to stammer and blush. Gods, he thought, it was like realizing your parents still had sex. "Thanks, Headmaster. Um, but do you think you could, ah, maybe fill us in on what's going on now?"
"Yes," Takuma added, one hand on his wrist, where a neat, unmistakably Pureblood bite lay behind pristine bandages. "I'd rather like to know myself. And I'm sure Kaname-sama will be deeply interested, too. I doubt Kiryuu-san passed this knowledge along."
Cross sighed heavily. Beside him, Yagari tensed. "You are right, of course," Cross said. "However, Kaname should not feel too left out."
Takuma lent forward in his chair. "What do you mean?"
"He means," Kiryuu said, body slumped against the door jamb, newly long silver hair spilling around his waist, "is that this secret's been hidden longer than Rido Kuran's walked the Earth."
And then everyone sprang to their feet, and there was a lot of yelling. Sitting on the couch still, Hanabusa watched Kiryuu's face. There was exhaustion there, and the shadow of death. But below that, tucked ever so carefully away, Hanabusa saw fear. Not surprise. Not panic. Just fear. And in the face of that fear, Hanabusa had the odd feeling that one of Yagari's bullets might have tasted better than whatever fresh Hell they were about to stumble into, now.
Standing was a Herculean task. His legs trembled under him. His body burned. His ribs felt ground to dust and reshaped anew. His insides were a soup of molten lava. He was sweaty and cold, and he could feel the delicate new flesh covering his wounds, his gouged back and stomach, threatening to break open again. However, Zero stood mostly under his own power. And, for the first time in—how long? —he didn't at all crave blood. These were successes enough.
For now, his instincts whispered, and Zero grimaced as freshly uncapped power writhed under his skin. For now.
"Zero? Zero-rin, look at me, here, take my arm, what hurts worst? What are you doing out of bed? Silly boy, I swear—"
"You're smothering him! Dammit, Kaien, sit your ass down. Hey, brat, that's it, knew you wouldn't stay down for—"
"Fucking Hell," Zero cursed. He reluctantly let himself be manhandled until he was on the couch, a hunter on either side of him, three distinctly spooked-looking vampires across from him on the opposite couch. He noted Ichijou clutching his wrist and felt his stomach twist. Ah, so that was why he wasn't dead yet.
He gave a nod to Ichijou. "Thanks."
Ichijou swallowed, reshuffling his hands until they were neatly crossed on his lap. It was the most ruffled Zero had ever seen him. Guilt stirred. There were dark circles under his eyes and his skin was nearly translucent. The price of saving Zero's life.
"It was the least I could do, ah, Kiryuu-sama," Takuma said.
Zero snorted, which hurt like a bitch but he bit his grimace back. He could give no other reaction to that. "I think we're past the honorific and last names bullshit," he said. "Call me Zero."
Ichijou's natural smile flickered on for a moment and then died again. His discomfort was palpable. Obviously, there was no vampire etiquette established for this scenario. And so, it begins, Zero thought. Dread boiled up in his gut. He had run this situation so many times over in his head, never quite believing that it was possible—that it would really happen to him, that he would really be the one to screw up—but now it was here. Zero didn't feel ready to cope. The words Ichijou eventually settled on did nothing to soothe him, either.
"I'm not sure what protocol dictates," Ichijou replied slowly, eyes skating to Shiki, who simply watched their tableau with amused blue eyes. Aidou, for once, was silent. His fingers were steepled. He would take his cue from Ichijou, Zero realized, and so would Shiki. So would Kaname's other nobles. "It would be inappropriate, now that you are a—Pureblood," Ichijou finished, eyes wide like, for all the world, he couldn't believe his own words.
Fuck that, was Zero's immediate response. But he knew this world, and the appearances it demanded, so he reined it in. "In public, fine," Zero said, "but behind closed doors? Drop the pretenses." He glared at the assembled vampires. "Let's get one thing straight. This," he gestured to his hair, which now fell in mussed waves down his back, "changes nothing."
'This' changed a ton of shit, actually, but Zero would cling to any scrap of normalcy he could get his hands on. Damage control, he thought desperately. So, he'd gone, nearly died, and fucked his life up in the process: the least he could do was throw some sand on the blood. Triage. He was just manipulating the circumstances to his advantage. Kaname would be so proud—Fuck. Kaname. Oh, dear Gods. In the painful rush of waking, Kaname had completely slipped Zero's mind. Wildly, he reached for their mental connection, grasping onto the thin strand with both hands.
Through the bond, he could feel Kaname's terrible miasma of hateangerfrustrationpossessionlossdesolationworrylovedesperation. Mentally, the brutal emotions hurt to touch. It was like sticking his brain in acid. Zero was stubborn, though. And he could remember how he'd shied away from Kaname's emotions before, too disorientated by agony and magic to realize that the ragewrathruin wasn't directed at Zero but at his attackers. Now, he clung on and pushed through the bond a wave of hopelovereassurancepatiencelovelovelove.
The bond went quiet, stilling as though holding a breath. Then, all at once, a surge of relieflovethankgodsyes slammed into Zero, shocking the air out of his lungs. Some of his experience must have shown on his face, because immediately Cross was fussing at him again.
"What happened?" Cross demanded, hands on his shoulders. It was jarring. Zero tried to lean back, but Cross's grip was iron-firm. "Did you pull something? Dear Gods, are you bleeding? You shouldn't be sitting up. Let me—"
"Damnit, brat," Yagari growled on his other side, the anxious twist to his mouth betraying his caustic bravado. "Why'd you have to set him off again? Fuck, here, what did you—"
"Shut up!" Zero snapped, and, after a hesitant beat, both fusspots hesitantly removed their hands. Zero swallowed, trying to slow his racing heart. "I was just—Kaname."
Across the way, the vampires winced. Ichijou and Aidou quickly covered their expressions, while Shiki merely gave Zero a look of commiseration. Zero had expected as much. If Kaname had felt that brutal through the bond, Zero couldn't imagine living with him in such a state. Living with him. Now, there was a thought that could push him over the edge if he gave it too much room. Zero shoved it away.
"Okay, yeah, wonderful," Aidou finally said. For once, Zero was grateful for his snotty voice for the distraction it provided. "But what I want to know is how the fuck this happened. It's like Purebloods are coming out of the woodwork, lately. What's the story behind you?"
"Hanabusa," Ichijou snapped, obviously on his last strand of patience. "Would it kill you to pretend to have some manners?"
Aidou pouted, and Cross opened his mouth to interrupt, and tension shot through Yagari, and Shiki and Ichjou shared a long-suffering look—and then Zero silenced them all with a lethal glare. "Do not even start," he snapped. "We have way more important shit to be getting into than ancient history."
"Um," Aidou snarked, "sorry, but since when are surprise-Purebloods not a big deal?"
"Since somebody tried to off me using a human and hunter wards," Zero supplied. Against his side, Zero felt Cross and Yagari freeze. The vampires, too, looked appropriately shocked.
Zero felt something primal relax. Sure, he had never consciously thought that any of the people in the room would try to kill him, but his instincts were not easily lulled. Especially after nearly dying. Seeing their surprise was comforting.
"A human?" Cross murmured, half to himself. Zero saw that his eyes were sad. Beside him, Yagari's face had gone stormy. The vampires had adopted carefully neutral expressions. Zero didn't blame them. Incidents were always messier when normal humans were involved.
Ichijou lent forward, grim. "Perhaps you should start from the beginning." He paused, then smiled glibly. "Of the attack, I mean."
Zero's mouth quirked. "Appreciated. Could we do this on the way to the Academy? Kaname's going mental."
"-er," Shiki snorted. Zero bit back a grin. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
He snorted quietly. And maybe vampires glittered in the sunlight.
"How long have I been out?" Zero asked Yagari later, after everyone had made commiserating noises and wandered off to pack up their stuff. A while, Zero estimated from the spent blood tablet packages on the coffee table. But not long enough to settle in. Aidou had only been wearing an under shirt, probably because—as Kaname's chief medic—he'd stained his sweater and dress shirt saving Zero's life. A task, Zero had gathered, that had been done only very recently and by the skin of his teeth.
He certainly felt that way. He currently lay on the couch while he spoke to Yagari. The others politely ignored their conversation while they packed and made calls, handling assorted lose ends. There was no point in moving him back to bed when the goal was to reach the Academy as soon as possible.
Zero didn't want to admit it, but the ten steps from the bed to the couch had exhausted him entirely—he couldn't have even lain down without Cross's help. That trial had been managed in merciful silence, the lack of Cross's teasing the true sign that Zero had scared him. Even more obvious was that Cross had fluttered away moments later, leaving Zero alone with Yagari. Cross, Zero could blearily remember, had never been able to sit still when he (or Yuuki) had been sick or seriously hurt.
Now, Zero struggled to keep his eyes open. He was drugged to the gills by Takuma's almost pure blood—he had awkwardly given Zero leave to use his first name before walking off, probably to give a report to Kaname—and whatever heavenly cocktail Aidou had pumping through his veins. Still, all it did was take the edge off and make him tired. The pain ravaged him from beyond a paper-thin veil, angry and wrathful. Sleep would be his true refuge, the best state for his improved vampire healing to work in, but Zero needed answers first. That hunter-born anxiety had been what had driven him from the bed when he'd first surfaced, instincts pricked by the click of Yagari's gun cocking.
(Pureblood senses and hunter paranoia: Zero would be blessed if he ever slept through a night—a day? —again.)
He and Yagari had already covered Zero's other curiosities. His teammates had been informed that Zero had been injured mid-mission; Kaname's men were coming along as a friendly diplomatic gesture. Zero didn't mention that Kaito was too smart to fall for that, or that Yori already knew that Zero was Kaname's. He appreciated the attempt to protect his privacy.
Yagari had also managed to track down Zero's bike. He'd traced the seals woven into the mechanics. That had led Yagari to the scene of the attack, but time had already worn away anything useful. Someone—not the human police, Yagari had hacked their records—had already done away with the human woman's remains, too.
The thought of her left a bitter taste in Zero's mouth.
Yagari grunted. "Not long enough for you to take the bike back, if that's what you're getting at."
Zero grimaced. He had a knee-jerk aversion to anyone riding his bike but him, even his old master. However, it just wasn't an option. Even Zero recognized that. "That's not what I meant," Zero said. "I just realized that I don't actually know today's date, is all. Or remember anything since entering that alley."
Yagari sighed. "Your boytoy started really flipping his shit about twenty-four hours after you left campus. The vampires are being vague as Hell—no surprise—but we think the attack on you somehow hurt him, too. He knew you were in some shit, so Ichijou started raising alarms. That's when we got involved and figured out that the whole mission was fucked. Then we lost our shit and this crew got together. We found you in the early morning. It's almost early morning again, now."
Yagari took a long, deep breath. It rattled in his chest and seemed to make him sag. If there was one word Zero had never though he would associate with Yagari Toga, it was sag. "You have no idea how bad it was, brat," Yagari said. "We all thought you were dead. I didn't even think it mattered if the seal broke. There was so much blood. The rose vines were all dead, and you... Zero, you were just so still."
Zero's lungs felt frozen in his chest. Never, in more than a decade, had Yagari ever used Zero's given name. It was always 'brat' or 'idiot' or, when the situation was serious (or Zero had really fucked up), 'Kiryuu.' Hearing his name on Yagari's lips was disquieting.
"You can't do this again," Yagari said after a moment. "I know, I know, 'we live dangerous lives' and all that, and I'm not saying stay home and take up knitting. Just... Fuck, just get a second opinion on anything the Senate or the Association say, alright? Especially now that the seal's snapped." Yagari grimaced. "They'll all be after to you more than ever, now."
Zero swallowed. "You think the Hunters are behind this?" It was safer ground to speak on than what else Yagari had said.
Yagari scrubbed a hand across his face. "Maybe. Wards suggest it. But after the Rido shit? I couldn't say. Maybe your—what are you and Kuran, even? Boyfriends? —will have some more input."
Dear Gods, what sort of bullshit conversation was this? Zero felt besieged by emotional nonsense. First the 'be careful' speech, and now Yagari wanted to know what to call Zero and Kaname? Practically suburban. Half of Zero felt horrified. The other half... Well. It was nice to know that someone cared. Really, really, nice. Not that he'd ever say so, of course. That would just be weird.
Tamping down on his initial instinct to flee, Zero shrugged. "Kaname goes with 'mate' or 'bond-mate.' That's probably the most accurate, considering it covers all that vampire shit, too. 'Boyfriends' works, I guess." Zero paused, biting hard on his lower lip. "He says he wants me," Zero spit out. He had to do it fast, or the words wouldn't come at all. "That he wants a life with me."
Yagari looked like someone had snubbed a cigarette on his shoulder. His fingers twitched, looking for his own smokes. Yagari didn't withhold and lit up, letting out a long swirl of tobacco. Zero felt comforted by the smell, which had saturated most of his childhood. Sometimes, he thought he knew the scent of Yagari's smokes better than his mother's perfume or his father's sword polish, or Ichiru's favourite incense.
Finally, after an incredibly long moment, Yagari said, "Just be careful, Zero. Promise me that you'll be careful."
Zero nodded, and eventually let himself be loaded amicably into the van, where he slipped quietly into his head for the entire trip back to the Academy.
Yuuki was, in a word, concerned. Wary. Scared. Even 'terrified' was not exaggerating too much. As she walked the halls of the Night Class dorms, her palms sweat and her heart hurt. She felt like everywhere she walked, all eyes were on her and not in a good way. She felt both like predator and prey; she felt like everyone could see that she was both. For the first time in her life, as a Cross or a Kuran, Yuuki was aware that the world was watching her—and she wanted them to look away.
The absence of Kaname had only made her life worse. Beyond the weight of Kaname's aura, which wore on the Night Class like a cloud of crematorium smoke, the gap he left behind stood out like an amputated limb. Yuuki hadn't been aware of how much Kaname truly did at Cross Academy. He was a leader, enforcer, guide, guardian, and counsellor to the entire Night Class. He was the barrier between the social and political worlds that revolved around the Academy.
With Takuma, Senri, and Hanabusa off campus, Yuuki was aware that many people expected her to step into her brother's place. Yet, when she tried, all she felt was wrong-footed and clumsy. Usually, Siren, Ruka, and Akatsuki had to step in to fix whatever Yuuki had just made worse. These instances of failure wore on her. Still, they were not her biggest worries.
Sara had promised that killing Kiryuu would heal Kaname. She had provided books that had said as much and had bolstered Yuuki's confidence. Yet, as the hours wore on and Zero remained gone, Kaname only worsened. After sending out the search party, Kaname had refused visits by anyone—Yuuki included. Even Siren, arguably Kaname's most loyal courtier, was forbidden.
Yuuki had first thought that this would be like lancing a boil. To pierce the skin would hurt, would bleed, but only so that the sickness could be drained. But as hours spilled into days, clearly the sickness was not draining. Instead, the infection pooled around the Night Class dorms before seeping outward and tainting the flesh of the whole Academy.
What... What if Yuuki had been wrong? What if killing Zero had been the wrong thing to do? Maybe the spell (if there was a spell) had to be broken some other way? But Sara had said that Yuuki was doing the right thing. That she was doing the good and proper Pureblood thing. And if anyone would know, certainly it was Shirabuki Sara.
Yuuki smiled, thinking of Sara's trilling voice. Sara was beautiful, and powerful, and so, so clever. Yuuki adored her. They'd spoken only a handful of times, through letters and one careful phone call, and Yuuki cherished each scant contact. She felt safe with Sara's voice in her ear, and more than treasured; valued. Like Yuuki had something to contribute to Sara's life, instead of just being a bauble to be possessed.
She felt, too, that she learned at Sara's side. That's why Yuuki and Sara would have their first real meeting tonight, so that Yuuki could be properly instructed on the next step of their plans. Yes, Yuuki thought, taking a fortifying breath. There was no need to panic. That would only betray Sara's faith in her.
And, of course, the plan was the only reason she was so excited to meet Sara in person. Kaname still owned her heart, obviously. How odd to have even thought otherwise. She was doing this for her Kaname. Kaname.
Straightening her mussed skirts, Yuuki rose from her favorite settee in the Night Class library and walked with cheerful steps in the direction of the front entry. She was supposed to leave at noon, but if she left now she could spend some time in the shops first. Maybe find something for Sara? Of course, the shops around the Academy couldn't possibly have anything to Sara's standards. But. There was a quaint florist on the corner, there. Surely, flowers—
Yuuki froze. Her heart stuttered in her chest. Her limbs had gone cold and weak and numb. She felt as though she had been dowsed in ice water. The sensation started at the nape of her neck, chasing down her spine and into her blood. Something was wrong, Yuuki thought, her senses screaming. No, not something; someone. Someone was here, someone new, someone with an aura like a freezing tidal wave.
A common vampire—one of the maids—skittered past Yuuki with wild eyes. Yuuki recognized her as one of Kaname's personal staff and snapped an arm out, stopping the woman short.
"What is going on?" Yuuki hissed. "I thought that there were no more new students arriving."
The woman snatched her arm back. "They're aren't, though that is not your concern."
Yuuki's eyes flew open. How dare this wretch not afford her the proper respect? After everything? How could Kaname let his staff treat her like this? Hah, a nasty voice in Yuuki's mind murmured, since when has he ever done anything to protect you? Maybe...
Yuuki narrowed her eyes.
Maybe... You should protect yourself.
Throwing a hand out, Yuuki called on her power and watched with satisfaction as the maid smashed against the floor. The woman hit the carpet with a bruising thump, gasping for breath. "Answer me," Yuuki snapped. "And this time, watch your words." She released her hand, careful to keep her surprise hidden. She couldn't believe that had actually worked. She hadn't been aware she could even do that.
Heh. This showed that Kaname really hadn't taught her anything.
The maid sputtered, her face pale, but this time when she answered she kept a civil tongue. "Lord Kaname-sama's rescue party has returned. They have recovered Kiryuu-san." The maid stumbled awkwardly to her feet. "He's alive. Please, I must fetch my Lord... my Lady."
Stunned, Yuuki nodded her assent. The maid threw her one last fearful look before stumbling down the hall, no doubt towards Kaname's rooms. Yuuki couldn't bring herself to care. Yuuki could barely keep herself standing. No wonder the spell on Kaname hadn't broken—Kiryuu was alive. The traitor was alive. Her once-brother was alive.
Which meant Sara's plan had failed.
Yuuki needed to warn her. Kaname would be hyper-paranoid now that Kiryuu was back. Sara showing up in town would be as good as a confession. Yuuki couldn't let her be harmed for simply trying to help Yuuki! Kaname wouldn't understand.
Kaname never did.
Turning on her heel, Yuuki fled to her rooms. She would send Sara a message through Sara's hunter spy and then pull out the mirror. Maybe she would be able to find out something more to share with Sara through a little of her own spying? Surely, that was the least that Yuuki could do for Sara. Sara had done more for Yuuki than anyone else ever had.