Bruises

Chapter 28: Time Away

"You look good." Zero said when he checked Kaname out.

"Thanks." Kaname tugged at the sleeves of the uniform.

"Since you're a Vampire you should be in the Night Class… but since it's only temporary and you said you wanted to go to class you'll be following me around." Zero smiled as he did his tie up but didn't bother pulling it tight.

"I hope my presence won't cause any problems."

"If it does… well you'll give me something fun to do." Zero smiled. "Now come on or we'll be late."

"I can't believe classes start so early." Kaname checked his watch. It was so hard waking up so early.

"Well we don't have class for another half hour, as a guardian I have to do a round of the grounds to make sure all the Night Class students are back in their dorm."

"So I could have slept longer?" Kaname grumbled.

"Stop complaining. You'll get used to it soon enough." Zero smiled as he holstered his gun.

"Do you always carry the Bloody Rose?"

"Of course. I don't normally trust blood suckers," Zero winked at Kaname. "but you're a special case."

"Thanks. Is that because you know I'll kick your ass if it came to a fight?"

"You wish." Zero started for the door.

"I could pull some crazy tricks on you." Kaname smiled evilly.

"I'd like to see you try." Zero chuckled, he was rather confident that Kaname couldn't pull anything on him.

"Really? That's funny… cause I just did." Kaname walked passed the frozen Zero. "Come on Zero or we'll be late." The Pureblood giggled as he walked out of the room and still held Zero immobile with his thoughts. It was only after Kaname was out the front door that he let Zero move again.

Snarling Zero burst into motion and sprinted after Kaname. He was totally going to get back at Kaname for that.

Yuki walked aimlessly around the manor house. Since Rido wasn't around she didn't have lessons. Kaname wasn't here either so she didn't have anyone to play with. She sigh, even her boyfriend was busy tonight. It was boring and she didn't feel like reading.

Stopping by a window Yuki sigh again and looked out at the moon washed landscape. She had heard from her mother that Kaname had runaway. Yuki wasn't able to find Kaname because he had put up walls and blocked their Blood Bond. So she was left to wonder if her brother was alright. In her heart Yuki knew that her brother could fend for himself. But she still worried about him.

I wonder if it was because of Rido? Did he say something since Otou-Sama found out? Or did Kaname decide this on his own… had he been planning this the whole time? Yuki clenched her fists. Why didn't he tell me! If he told anyone it should have been me! Stupid Kaname. Yuki moved away from the window and walked toward her mother's office. She figured if anything she could make herself useful and help her mother with work.

As she drew near Yuki heard her parents raised voice. And she stopped dead in her tracks. She knew she shouldn't listen but she had heard Kaname's name.

"It's about Kaname." Haruka sigh.

"Okay… what is it." Juri had a feeling that she already knew what was coming.

"It's about why he left and why Rido left."

"Okay." Juri kept her emotions behind a blank mask.

"It has to do… with…" Haruka faltered for a minute. He knew he had to tell Juri after all it was his fault that their son was missing now. "With Rido and I. You see in the past… we were together…" Haruka's mouth felt dry and Juri sat there looking at him. "As a couple."

In the hall Yuki clasped her hands over her mouth to keep from gasping out loud. Her father and Rido had been together. Here eyes widened as she realized why Haruka had gotten so angry when he found out about Kaname and Rido. Yuki's heart hurt… how had her brother taken the news.

"I know." Juri said in an even tone. "I always knew! And I was fine with it. I was only concerned for your happiness. I would rather have had my brothers happy together then not have them at all." Juri's voice was now filled with passion. She wanted her brother to understand her clearly. "And I think you need to realize that it would be better to have Kaname and Rido happy together then to lose them both! Sometimes you are incredibly selfish!"

"Juri… I'm so sorry." Haruka didn't hold back his tears. It felt so nice to have this weight lifted off his chest, he had finally told his wife his darkest secret and she wasn't mad. But he couldn't help but feel guilt seep into his heart as he realized that he had been selfish. He had been blinded by emotion when he had kicked Rido out and now he wished he hadn't.

"You should be sorry. You ruined this family once and I don't want you to do it again." Juri clenched her fists. "You had better fix this!"

"How? Kaname… I don't know where he is." haruka looked at his wife hoping that she would lend him her help.

"Then you had better start looking for him. After all it is your fault my son left!"

"But I don't know where…" Haruka felt so helpless.

"True. I'm sure he will be home sooner or later. You should start with Rido then. Since you know where he is." Juri smiled.

Yuki turned as quietly as she could and dashed away from her mother's office. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. It truly seemed that everyone in the house knew about Kaname and Rido. Yuki held back her tears because even her parents didn't know where Kaname was.

Haruka left his wife and went to his own office. He knew that he should call Rido… but he didn't have the courage to do so. He was still afraid that he had made his brother hate him forever. Haruka rested his head in his hands and sigh. Everything had broken apart in his hands and he had no clue how to clean up the pieces. "I really should start with Rido…" Haruka reached out and picked up the phone. His hands shook as he dialed his brother.

"Rido Kuran speaking."

"Hello Rido." Haruka managed to choke out.

"Haruka?" Rido's eyes widened in shock. Why was Haruka calling him.

"Yes. Are you alone? I have something I need to talk to you about."

"I am. What is it?" Rido's heart beat fast. Why was Haruka so serious? Had something happened to Kaname?

"I was just talking to Juri… and she said that she knew about us, when we were younger."

"I know."

"She told you?" Haruka gaped into the phone.

"Yes. It was just the other day when she called about Kaname."

"I see. Well she said that she didn't care and that she's happy you and Kaname were together."

"What do you think about us?"

"I'm angry that I'm finally losing you after having you around for so many years. I know it's selfish of me. But it was really sudden to. And my own son… I'm jealous but I guess you deserve to be happy after I've made you miserable for so long. So I'm going to try and accept it."

"Thank you." Rido half smiled. "The only down side is that we don't know where Kaname is."

"I know. And it's my fault."

"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"

"None." Haruka sigh deeply. He knew that he would eventually be fine with his son and his brother being a couple… but right now he was still unhappy.

"Well we should start looking for him. I'll have Shizuka try to get it out of him."

"Thank you and I'll talk to Yuki."

"Thank you."

"Anything for you Nii-sama."

"have a good night then."

"You too." Haruka hung up. He tried to keep the tears from falling. It was quite clear that he had lost his first love. He had thoroughly lost Rido.

"How are classes and what not?" Juri smiled into the phone.

"Boring." Kaname laughed. "But it's always fun because I have to come up with different ways to wake Zero up."

"Oh shut it!" Zero looked over his shoulder at his friend.

"Shut up Zero I wasn't talking to you. I'm on the phone!" Kaname shouted back. He heard his mother laughing.

"You sound like you're having fun." Juri giggled.

"I am."

"That's good. I hope you'll be home soon."

"I don't know… it's been a week already… but I feel like I should be here longer."

"Okay. But your father and Rido are doing quite the through job of looking for you… so make sure you keep a low profile."

"I'll do my best." Kaname couldn't help but smile at the fact that Rido was looking for him. "Is father still mad at me?"

"No, I don't think so. I had a talk with him and I think he understands now."

"That's good. And what about Rido?"

"I think he misses you a lot. And just a heads up don't answer calls from Shizuka or Yuki, they're using the girls to try and find you."

"Alright. It'll be hard but I don't feel like being found yet."

"I understand. Well your father is on his way to my office so I must go. Have a good day Kaname. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

"Bye." Juri smiled widely as she hung up. Kaname sounded happy and that made her happier then anything because she had been so concerned for him.

"Gees for not wanting to be found you sure talk to your mom a lot."

"Shut it Zero." Kaname shoved Zero with energy.

"Hey what did I tell you about that freaky Pureblood mind shit! Stop it!"

"I'll stop when you stop being annoying."

"Jerk." Zero grumbled and turned back to his homework.

Kaname chuckled and also went back to his own homework. He was adjusting to life at the academy. He and Zero spent just about their whole day together. Right now they were taking a break from patrolling to finish up some homework but afterwards they had to head back out. Kaname rather liked doing the patrols. He made sure to mask his aura though so that the Night Class students wouldn't cause any problems. It was comfortable here, there were no rules he had to follow, no fake lies he had to live. Here he was simply a student. Not a Pureblood.

Shizuka tried calling Kaname again but it once again went to his voicemail. "I'm sorry Rido but he's not picking up."

"Try again."

"No I've already called ten times! If he hasn't picked up now he's clearly busy." Shizuka rolled her eyes.

"He hasn't picked up any of your calls these last few days."

"Well… maybe he's avoiding me." Shizuka sigh. She couldn't imagine why Kaname would ignore her calls. She had even left messages but he hadn't called back.

"Why would he avoid you?" Rido did his best to keep his calm. But his nerves were quickly going since he had not heard from Kaname since the wedding.

"I have no clue. Relax. He'll get in touch whenever he is ready."

"I can't relax."

"You're giving off murderous vibes right now. Cool down and talk to me tomorrow." Shizuka stood. "Don't disturb me tonight!" she laughed and waved good-bye to her husband as she left.

She walked slowly back to her rooms where Akatsuki was waiting for her. It was rather strange that Kaname wasn't answering her calls but then again she guessed that he might have wised up and realized that Rido was using her to get to him. He always was smart. I only hope that he doesn't take too long to come back or he'll make Rido crazy. Shizuka couldn't help but smile at the fact that Kaname had taken a vacation from life and was probably relaxing somewhere not worrying about what others thought of him or what his family was doing. He deserves a break after everything that has happened to him… I wonder if Senri or Takuma have talked to him… The idea hit her and she quickly called Kaname's friends. "Takuma. Hey it's Shizuka."

"Hi Shizuka. What's up?"

"Nothing really. I was only wondering if you had talked to Kaname lately?"

"Sure I have. He called Senri yesterday."

"Really?" Shizuka felt relieved. So he Kaname had realized that Rido was using her. "That's good. He's been ignoring my calls… but I guess he's realized Rido's trying to get me to find out Kaname's location."

"Aaah. Yeah he said something about not talking to you. He wanted us to tell you he was sorry but he won't answer your calls."

"I understand. That's smart of him. How is he?"

"He sounds super happy. He and Zero are always together. I don't know how he could stand to be around a Hunter but well… he's not with his family so I guess it's all good."

"Yeah. I'm just happy to hear that he's alright."

"We'll keep you updated if you want."

"That would be wonderful! Thank you!"

"Anytime. Maybe one day you could come over and we could all call Kaname to chat."

"That would be so wonderful!" Shizuka nearly jumped with joy.

"Cool well we'll be in touch then."

"Sure thing. Have a good night thank you Takuma."

"Any time. Good night!"

Shizuka hung up and walked into her rooms. Akatsuki was sitting in front of a fire reading. Her heart melted as she saw her lover and she walked over to sit next to him. She was happy that she would be able to talk to Kaname soon. And to know that he was happy was a wonderful thing.