Author Notes: My apologies again for the delay in updating Hold Me. This chapter contains a major spoiler to Hold Me's sister story, No Matter What so please read that story (all of it, right till the end) if you haven't yet! This chapter's more necessary than romantic since it's mostly Kaname and Zero. More comments in my profile as usual. For now, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review!
Appreciation: Thanks to NAH-CHAN and panicatthediscotime for their reminders to update Hold Me :D
-- Chapter Start --
Yuuki gave a sigh as she walked beside Zero, her left hand securely held in his right one. "Our holiday's almost over, Zero," she said wistfully. Zero turned his head to smile at her. "I know, you've told me that at least five times today. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to make it end faster."
Yuuki giggled and tried pulling her hand out of his but Zero tightened his fingers and wouldn't let go. "Silly," she said affectionately. "Who on earth would want such a beautiful holiday to end?"
"No one, least of all you. Have you started looking at your books again?" Zero was unable to keep from teasing Yuuki a little and she sniffed, tossing her head. "I'd rather ride on White Lily than hit the books," she muttered.
Zero grinned. "Let's go see her," he suggested. His bad tempered horse had grown quite used to Yuuki's presence now and would even let the female School Prefect pet her nose... if Zero was there as well.
- o -
The young couple walked hand in hand over the school grounds of Cross Academy, oblivious of a pair of deep brown eyes silently watching them. After a moment, the tall, silver haired boy placed an arm around the petite auburn haired girl's shoulders, drawing her close to his side. She smiled up at him as her own arm went around his waist and they walked on towards the stables, matching their strides to each other.
A frown drew Kaname Kuran's elegant brows together as he stood in front of the large window in Chairman Cross' study. The Headmaster had gone off to his kitchen to make another pot of tea for them both. Only a half hour ago Takuma, Aido, his older sister Akina, Sayori and the Chairman were in this room with the pureblood, where a surprising revelation had been revealed pertaining to Yori. Her pregnancy, to be exact.
For a moment, a faint smile hovered on the well shaped lips of the young pureblood leader. Well, that wasn't the only revelation of the day – Kaname was pleasantly surprised to learn that Aido, who had always been impetuous, rash and fond of chasing girls, had shown a surprising maturity as he accepted the fact that his future now was at the side of a human girl rather than one of the many vampire noble females he thought he would one day wed. And that wasn't all. Aido had also wholeheartedly embraced the fact that he was due to be a very young father in a matter of months and his dedication for Yori had warmed the heart of everyone who was in the room, including Kaname's.
But still...
Kaname's faint smile faded. He was prepared to lend his influence, if needed, to try to win Aido's parents over and to help get their acceptance of Yori. And he didn't doubt that the young couple would triumph over this challenge and take it in their stride. But that fact of the matter was that Aido and Yori really were much too young to be parents at their age.
The pureblood stared unseeingly out of the window at the gently sloping school grounds. Yori was the same age as his own younger sister, Yuuki. He couldn't help wondering how he would feel if it was she who was in Yori's situation now, if his younger sister was the one nurturing a new life inside her when she was, in many ways, still a child herself.
Well, it was true that Yuuki would always remain a child in Kaname's eyes, a precious bloom to be protected from life's harsh realities and to be cosseted and cherished with tender, loving care. Kaname smiled a little whimsically without really realising it. He knew that Yuuki was fast growing up and that she had fully accepted the fact that the man in her life, boy rather, was a vampire and not a human, just as she had accepted the fact that the boy who had saved her life once and whom she thought herself in love with was actually her pureblood brother. Yuuki had wholeheartedly decided that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Zero Kiriyu over Kaname Kuran. That said something, didn't it, that she had chosen someone, not for his wealth, or his longevity or power of influence or anything else, but simply because she loved him and needed him?
Kaname couldn't deny how proud he was of Yuuki for the decisions she had made but he was worried all the same. He knew of the wholehearted trust she placed in the tall, quiet, silver haired boy. Kaname knew Zero loved his sister and would give his life for her in a second if he had to. He trusted Zero with his beloved sister's life; he always had, even before Yuuki had made her choice. He trusted the boy with her heart as well, he had seen enough to know that Zero would love no other girl and would always cherish Yuuki till the end of their days.
But trust Zero with his young sister's innocent virtue? The pureblood wasn't too sure about that. It wasn't because he thought that Zero would harm Yuuki in any way. But although they were both still young, they had shared kisses and hugs... most likely even more than that. And Yuuki still had no qualms about sharing her blood with him as well, despite the one time Zero had drained her so harshly that she fainted as he hovered on the edge of becoming Level E. Kaname could see that she trusted Zero implicitly.
Drinking another's blood often aroused passion for a vampire, and passion could be stronger than will. The last thing Kaname wanted was for what had happened to Yori to happen to his own younger sister, even though to be fair, Yori's pregnancy hadn't been brought on by bloodlust on Aido's part. But no, he did not want that to happen to Yuuki. Not now while she was still studying and not now at her still tender age. It had to wait until she was matured enough to offer Zero not only her love but her body as well and be fully ready for the responsibilities that would come along with it.
Kaname sighed as he turned away from the window. He'd been intending to have a talk with Zero on a certain matter since the start of the school holidays but almost six weeks had already flown by without him realising it. It was on the subject of letting the ex-human drink his pure blood and they had yet to come to some sort of arrangement on the matter. After all, Kaname had promised the two young lovebirds that his blood would be always available for Zero, to ensure both his survival and his sanity as well as preserve Yuuki's happiness. To him, that would always come first.
Yes, Kaname would definitely have to have that talk with Zero one day soon.
- o -
A few days later and the holiday was drawing to a close. Yuuki hummed to herself as she and Zero walked back to the main building after a late afternoon picnic. It had been yet another wonderful day of spending time together, laughing and talking, joking and kissing. Every hour of it had been wonderful, sweet fun.
When they entered the living room however, the Chairman popped his head out of his study. "Glad to see you two finally back... Zero, could you come in here for a minute, please?"
Zero shrugged in reply to Yuuki's questioning look as he handed the empty picnic basket to her and took a step forwards the direction of the study. Then he froze – there was someone else there with the Chairman. Kaname stepped out of the study and smiled at his younger sister. "Hello, Yuuki," he greeted softly. "Did you miss me?"
Yuuki beamed as she ran into her brother's embrace. "Kaname-ni-sama!" The pureblood hugged her lovingly then released her, aware of Zero's scent on his sister. "I need to have a chat with Zero for a few minutes, all right?"
Yuuki's smile widened immediately. "Of course!" she agreed at once before she reached out and tugged at Zero's sleeve with a meaningful look in her wide brown eyes. He knew what was on her mind – it was as good an opportunity as any to iron out the details of his taking Kaname's blood on a regular basis from now on.
"Yes," Zero agreed, unconsciously squaring his shoulders as he smiled at Yuuki and walked into the study. The Chairman clapped him on the shoulder as he went by then ushered Yuuki off to the kitchen, saying it was time they got started on dinner since Kaname would be joining them.
- o -
"Please sit down, Zero," Kaname invited with a smile as he closed the study door and gestured to one of the chairs opposite the desk.
Zero nodded warily. Kaname looked relaxed and at ease but the silver haired prefect couldn't help wondering what it was exactly that the pureblood wanted to discuss with him. Zero crossed the room and paused beside the chair a little uncertainly before looking at Kaname who was now standing by the window with both hands in his trouser pockets.
"How have you been?" Kaname asked casually. Zero gave a cautious nod. "Fine," he replied.
Kaname hesitated then spoke again. "Are you in need of my... blood... now?" he asked delicately, as if unsure of how it would sound like. Despite Kaname's genial tone, Zero blanched, not realising at that moment that it was actually very difficult for the pureblood to even ask that question, seeing as how he'd never offered his blood to anyone else before.
"I'm fine, Kur - er, Kaname," he replied quickly.
An elegant eyebrow arched. "Really?" the pureblood murmured. "It's been almost six weeks since the last time you took from me, remember?"
Of course Zero remembered – how could he forget? That was at the start of the school break, when Yuuki had chosen him over Kaname, even when Zero was on the verge of falling to Level E and before knowing that the pureblood was actually her older brother. Zero wasn't about to forget that momentous occasion for a long time. Perhaps forever.
"Yes," he replied. "I believe it was."
The atmosphere in the study had suddenly turned a little awkward. After all, they'd always been enemies and rivals. And even knowing that Kaname now approved of him dating his younger sister and had even helped him out that one time, Zero was a bit unsure as to respond to this enigmatic individual with the all too knowing expression in his dark eyes.
"You drank from Yuuki recently, didn't you?" Kaname asked quietly.
Zero met his gaze squarely. "Yes, I did. A few days ago as a matter of fact."
Fire flared briefly in the dark eyes. "Even after I told you that I would give you mine?" Kaname almost hissed at him and Zero bristled in response. That had been almost six weeks ago! And nothing had been said then about any future arrangements, so what right did Kuran have about stopping him from taking Yuuki's blood instead? It wasn't as if he would hurt her while doing so and it wasn't as if she minded either!
Zero bit his lip, holding back a sharp retort. Easy... you did drain Yuuki that one time. He's just worried, that's all.
Indeed, the pureblood now looked like he was forcing himself to relax and a soft sigh issued from those well shaped lips. "My apologies, Zero," he said rather stiffly. "I realise that we have yet to discuss the arrangements of the sharing of my blood."
It was a rather awkward apology but then, Zero was no stranger to that, was he? He shrugged just as awkwardly. "Yeah, I meant to ask you about that, actually," he muttered.
There was silence for a moment as Kaname turned to look out of the window at the darkened school grounds, as if thinking of what to say next. Then he turned back to face Zero. "If you drink my blood regularly, you would not need to feed – or take from Yuuki. I would say once every four weeks until your condition stabilises then perhaps every six to eight weeks after that. It would all depend, of course, on your body's ability to absorb and process my blood."
Zero blinked at the very matter of fact delivery of this information - Kaname had sounded like quite the doctor here. The prefect found himself flushing a little as he remembered how he'd pressed his body against Kaname's as he buried his face in that long, pale neck and drank his fill of that intoxicatingly rich pure blood. He also remembered how Kaname's body had trembled against his. It had to be something new for the proud pureblood to be bitten and by someone you had never really liked in the first place, hadn't it?
"Uhm, thanks by the way," Zero mumbled embarrassedly. Better late than never...
Unexpectedly, Kaname smiled. "Don't worry, Zero. I intend to continue this arrangement indefinitely and will even mark it down in my diary so that you would not have to remind me when it's time." He waited until Zero had nodded again before continuing, "I know you quite well by now to know that you hate to ask but please do, Zero, if something comes up and you need my blood. Otherwise, you should probably take from me tomorrow before school reopens."
Zero shrugged diffidently, then forced himself to meet the other's eyes. "Thank you, Kaname." The pureblood nodded graciously and Zero found himself blurting out something. "I-I want you to know that I didn't take much from Yuuki that day. Just... enough."
Kaname regarded him solemnly for a moment then nodded. "Thank you, Zero. I'm glad you told me that."
Zero nodded as well. He thought it was pretty much the end of the discussion now especially since Kaname had turned to look thoughtfully out the window again. The prefect wondered if it was his cue to leave the study. After all, he should help Father and Yuuki out with dinner. Zero took a step towards the door, then stopped as Kaname called him. "Zero, wait."
The silver haired prefect looked up. The pureblood was looking very solemn now, almost stern. "What do you think about the matter of... Aido and Sayori?"
Zero frowned. Why was Kaname asking him this?
"I thought it was... unexpected," he answered cautiously. Kaname didn't even blink as he replied, "Sayori is much too young to have a baby, she's not even out of school yet. Even if she is matured for her age."
Zero wasn't too sure how to answer this – he was never the type to mind too much about what others did but something in Kaname's eyes told him the pureblood wasn't just saying this to make casual conversation. Could it possibly have anything to do with his own relationship with Yuuki?
Kaname looked like he was still waiting for his answer so Zero just nodded. The pureblood sighed; it looked like he would have to be more direct. "Zero, let me make this clear. I do not want what happened to Yori to happen to Yuuki."
Bingo – Zero had guessed right after all. A sudden wave of anger surged from his heart to his throat, almost choking him, and he opened his mouth to snap an angry retort. But then he closed it again abruptly. No... wait. Kaname was no longer his love rival but Yuuki's older brother, as concerned for her safety and happiness as he himself was. Zero didn't realise he was staring blankly at Kaname as his thoughts led him to a very intimate scene that had occurred in Yuuki's room a few days ago, and in particular the promise he had made her then.
Could he honestly be angry with the pureblood when he had actually thought the same thing himself? About not going too far with Yuuki? No, he couldn't. Not only because he needed Kaname on his side but because he knew that Yuuki had always wanted them to get along with each other. They were both very important to her in their own ways and they each had a place in her loving and generous heart. The heart he cherished as much as Kaname did.
Zero cleared his throat now, uncomfortably aware that heat was slowly but surely creeping up his cheeks. "I – I know how you feel, Kaname," he said cautiously and watched the pureblood start a little in surprise. Apparently, Kaname had been expecting him to blow up, and that made the prefect feel a little better at having caught the pureblood off guard. "But you don't have to worry. I will never push Yuuki into doing anything she doesn't want to."
Kaname blinked. Zero's eyes were steady on him and he stood with his shoulders back and his chin lifted, his voice filled with confidence. Kaname appreciated the honesty he was being given now and he should probably pull back from asking anymore... but he still needed more assurance.
"I'm glad you said that, Zero," he replied softly but with real warmth in his eyes. "I know you love Yuuki and would never want to hurt her. But each time you drink her blood, it is very easy to let it lead to something else particularly as you are in love with her, and her with you."
Zero flushed even deeper at the unmistakable meaning in Kaname's words and the pureblood smiled a little. "You don't have to be embarrassed, Zero. We are vampires, you and I. Taking the blood of another person, whether human or vampire affects us psychologically, and it gets even more intense when emotions or feelings are involved."
Kaname made sure he kept his voice level and matter of fact. After all, Zero had taken from him once too, and would continue to do so indefinitely. No need to freak the boy out...
Zero was silent as he let his gaze fall while he digested the pureblood's words and acknowledged them in his heart. Yes, he was aroused each time he drank from Yuuki and he also knew the way he held, kissed and touched her during and after each of those deliciously intimate moments left her aroused as well. There was no point in denying it to Kaname, was there?
"Tell me if I'm wrong, Zero," Kaname insisted quietly. Zero's startled gaze snapped up to his. He knew the pureblood was probably trying to find out just how far he and Yuuki had experimented with regards to the sexual aspect of their relationship. It made the silver haired prefect colour up even more. He was damned if he'd let Kaname know exactly how much. After all, he and Yuuki had gone pretty far on a couple of occasions, not to mention that fateful scene in the bathroom that one time. Letting the pureblood know all that was just signing Zero's own death warrant...
But apprehension was starting to show in Kaname's eyes now and that stirred something in Zero's heart. They were not on opposite sides after all, they were on the same side. They were not enemies, they were allies. And Kaname was waiting for Zero to tell him instead of just imposing his pureblood will on him. It would not be at all difficult for Kaname to bend Zero to his will and extract his honest confession before wiping his memory clean. But no, Kaname had decided to wait for his reply instead.
After a couple of minutes of battling with himself, Zero finally forced his gaze to meet Kaname's again. "I can't tell you that, Kaname. But I promise you this - I will not take Yuuki's virtue until the day we are wed."
It was a very difficult thing for Zero to say and possibly even more difficult to disclose it to Kaname instead of someone else, like the Chairman perhaps. Zero was flushing hotly now but not with shame or deceit. After all, he had made the same promise to Yuuki himself the other day, hadn't he?
Kaname let out the breath he wasn't aware he was holding. It hadn't escaped his notice that Zero had not said anything about touching or kissing Yuuki or going further than mere touching, but... unexpectedly, it was good enough for him. He knew that Zero would never hurt Yuuki and he had given a promise that he would not have her run the risk of having her studies and life disrupted by an unplanned pregnancy at her very young age.
Zero looked silently at Kaname, seeing the battle now being fought in the pureblood's heart. Then Kaname nodded slowly. "As long as you know where to stop, Zero, I am satisfied," he finally replied. His tone was sincere and Zero felt relief wash over him, even if his blush stubbornly remained. This had to be the most embarrassing conversation he had ever had in his life, even more so than the one he'd had with the Chairman when the older man had found out about he and Yuuki sharing beds...
"Thank you," Zero murmured, not exactly sure what he was actually thanking the pureblood for. But Kaname smiled unexpectedly. "Perhaps it would have been easier to discuss this issue with Cross?" he commented in a teasing tone.
Zero scowled at once. "Probably not," he replied dryly but his heart felt lighter all of a sudden. Even though he didn't actually need Kaname's permission to love his sister, Zero was somehow glad that he had it all the same, that he could now kiss and hug Yuuki as much as he wanted and even share pleasure with her while they waited for the day they could truly belong to one another...
Zero stopped his daydreams with an effort. "I think I'd better go help with dinner now."
Kaname nodded solemnly. "I'm glad we had this discussion, Zero," he said sincerely and Zero found himself nodding in agreement. "So am I, Kaname," he answered truthfully before he left the study.
After all, Kaname and he were on the same side and it was good that they understood each other a little more now. It would definitely stand them in good stead when they became brothers-in-law one day.
-- Chapter End --
