Ren-sama's Note:
Hi, everyone! Thanks for always leaving a review for me! I really love hearing your comments and thoughts! Even though I could not give replies to everybody, please rest assured that your comments really make my heart warm and my eyes teary. ᶺoᶺ
Here's the next chapter~!
.
Chapter 22
Zero looked up and looked at Kaname's composed expression. He smiled a tad before he nodded. And yet, the moment he heard the question, he wished he shook his head instead. "What do you… exactly feel about me?"
Zero could only stare at the brunette, slightly gaping as he tried to process what those words meant. He looked frozen stiff but his mind was reeling for some answers. And he realized that for the first time, he didn't know the answer either. He wasn't thinking of Kaname as an enemy anymore because the guy was just too annoying and perverted to be an enemy. No, that's not quite rational. He also knew he did not think of Kaname as a friend because their relationship was much more complicated than that. And he knew that he wasn't treating the pureblood as a comrade either because he only thought of hunters as that. Yes, he treated Kaname as a vampire and one of the purebloods. But beyond that, he didn't know how the pureblood stands to him.
Kaname chuckled at Zero's reaction and patted his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you confused." He sighed. "Alright, I'll just ask you some other questions which will lead to the answer to that first question. Is that alright?"
"Uh, yeah… I guess." Zero blinked as he heaved a deep sigh. He didn't think this thing called affection was such a complicated thing. Now he felt amazed at Yuuki and Yuzuru for actually figuring things out on their own. Wait, did he just compare himself and Kaname to lovers..?
"Earth to Zero." Kaname chuckled again when he saw how Zero seemed to have gone back to reality. "Alright, first question: do you feel happy when I'm around or not?"
At that, Zero immediately blushed. "W-What kind of question is that!?"
"Just answer it, Zero, so we can move on to the next question. And please answer honestly." Kaname berated lightly, doing his best to stop grinning from the cute reaction.
"Well…" Zero averted his gaze to the side as he scowled. "Sometimes…" Kaname arched an eyebrow to that, indicating he should be more specific. He growled as he glared at the pureblood. "Sometimes, I'm happy and sometimes I'm not. You're too annoying to be around! Not to mention too perverted…"
Kaname chuckled at the last comment. "Alright, next question: Do you feel anything akin to romantic love for anyone right now?" Zero's eyebrows furrowed before he shook his head, indicating he didn't have one. Kaname inwardly sighed in relief before he voiced his next question. "Third question: What do you feel if I were to suddenly disappear from your life?"
Zero suddenly felt his heart ache at the question. He stared at Kaname as the latter waited for the answer with a composed feature, though the hunter knew that façade would break if he ever voiced the wrong answer. He averted his gaze to the side again as he mumbled the answer, cheeks blushing a little. "Of course, I'll be lonely… probably…"
Kaname had to sigh at Zero's stubbornness. "Alright, next question: Do you have any affection for me, any kind at all?"
The hunter blushed again. "What's with that question?"
"Just answer it, Zero." Kaname grinned when he saw Zero blush even more.
"Yes, I think…" The answer was quieter than a whisper and Kaname was thankful he was a vampire so he was still able to hear it just as perfectly. He couldn't help but be happy that Zero at least has some affection for him, even if it's not the kind of affection that he wanted so badly and craved for.
"Next: Do you think we're friends?" The brunette asked again. It would be great if Zero considered him as a friend. He knew that there's no way the half-pureblood vampire would feel anything akin to romantic love for him so that would be the next best thing Zero could feel for him.
"Huh?" Zero's gaze turned to Kaname before he looked down and shook his head. "I'm not sure… I think our relationship is more complicated…" "…especially since you have feelings for me…" He wanted to add but he didn't dare do so in case he offended the brunette.
"You think we're more than friends? Or lesser than friends..?" Kaname asked, unsure of how he would react if ever Zero said it was the latter. But fortunately, the hunter mumbled something like 'he didn't know'. And Kaname knew he was already digging his own grave with his questions but he still couldn't help but continue. "Did you like it… or hate it when I kissed you?"
Zero was about to curse or shout at Kaname when he saw the expression that the brunette had been trying to hide with his composed expression. Fear..? Zero sighed at the brunette's stubbornness. If he feared the answer so much, then he shouldn't have asked the question at all… And yet, he knew Kaname had to hear it no matter what. So he'd be as honest as he could, even if he felt embarrassed. He tried to think of his reaction to it and he knew he'd die of embarrassment with his answer. "It's not like I like it or hate it…" He answered instead, not wanting to hurt Kaname unintentionally again. The brunette blinked in confusion at the answer but he blushed at the hunter's next words. "But it's kind of… pleasant…" Zero blushed at his own words as well and he couldn't help but peak at Kaname's reaction. He chuckled when he saw Kaname's shocked expression and the tint of pink on his cheeks and up to the tips of his ears.
"…If I knew you like it then I should've done it right from the start." Kaname mumbled to himself but Zero heard him just fine.
"D-Don't say things like that so easily!" The silver-haired teen scowled as he tried to fight the deep blush that threatened to overwhelm his face.
"But it makes me happy." Kaname chuckled as he hugged Zero tightly, not even batting an eyelid at the fact that the hunter was struggling and cursing. "If you're okay with me kissing you, then that means that your affection for me is deep enough to tolerate it. And that also means that I have a chance to make you fall in love with me too. For now, I think that's good enough for me."
Zero stopped in his struggles when he heard the statements. He blushed even deeper in shock and embarrassment. He and Kaname… have a chance to be lovers..? He thought he'd feel repulsed at the idea. But all he felt was a tingling sensation at the pit of his stomach and delightful warmth in his heart. It was such a foreign… and nice feeling to have… How he wished they could just maintain this peacefulness between them forever. Wait… this 'peacefulness'… meaning… hugging one another and enveloping one another in each other's warmth… for the rest of eternity..?
And his eyes widened in realization. "Don't tell me… I'm actually..?"
Kaname's voice was clear and cool when he spoke next. "Shall we go and explore more of the booths now, Zero?" He smiled lovingly at his hunter before he let go of the other and walked towards the door.
Zero felt as if he was in a daze as he followed Kaname down to the flight of stairs. Was he actually… His eyes widened when he felt soft warm lips cover his own before Kaname spoke again. "Do you want me to keep kissing you until you return back to reality, Zero?"
Zero blushed again as he was forced out of his musings. "You idiot!" Kaname only chuckled as he leisurely avoided a fist that was supposed to hit him hard. He descended down the stairs and Zero followed quietly. The hunter slowly raised his hand to touch his lips with his middle and forefinger.
The feeling of almost uncontained happiness flowing into his heart like a waterfall… the feeling of losing his mind in the bliss of those lips… the feeling of something extremely warm and delightful pooling at the pit of his stomach… the feeling of… wanting to follow Kaname down the stairs immediately… the feeling of the kiss, the hugs, the words of affection exchanged…
Kami… He's… also in love with Kaname, wasn't he?
The realization was a shock to him. Was it really the case or was he jumping to conclusion? No, he knew he hadn't felt this to anyone yet before. He knew that the way he treated Yuuki and Yuzuru, Aido, and the others, were all the same. The way he treated Cross and Yagari were the same as well. Not to mention it's certainly different from the way he treated his fellow hunters and also different from the way he treated vampires or purebloods in general. This feeling that he had… was solely for Kaname…
He blushed as he silently cursed inwardly. It's not that he didn't like it. He's just… embarrassed.
"Zero!" Yuzuru's voice reached his ears simply because the owner had shouted the name out loud from the other side of the hallway. The other hunter was running towards them with a glare solely directed at Kaname before he stopped right in front of the teen.
"What is it?" Zero asked as he tried to contain his embarrassment. He knew Yuzuru would notice it if he was blushing all over. Anyone would.
"Where did you disappear to?!" The older hunter was almost pouting and Zero couldn't help but sigh. Yuzuru glared at Kaname again. "Did you do something to him again? Did you harass him again!?"
"Will you quit it with the 'again'?" Kaname voiced as they saw the others running towards them. Aido was the first in line, with Yuuki following behind him. The other vampires were still farther, all walking in leisure towards their direction and not at all looking worried.
"I keep telling you they're at the rooftop!" Aido told Yuzuru with a glare of his own caliber. "You just don't want to listen to us and immediately think badly of Kaname-sama!"
"I'm not jumping to conclusion!" Yuzuru glared at him as well, forgetting his glaring contest with the pureblood for a bit. "I know that when Kuran takes Zero alone to some remote place, he's always–"
"Yuzuru-san!" Yuuki came running as she scolded her lover for speaking badly of her nii-sama. "Nii-sama isn't like that at all! He's very gentlemanly and will not take advantage of Zero-kun!" And Zero wanted to actually butt in and tell her how wrong she was.
Kaname chuckled as he took Zero's wrist, much to Zero and everyone's surprise. He was never that bold before. "Zero and I will explore the booths again. Do you want to come with us?" And this time, he meant it.
"Nah, I think I'll pass, Kaname." Takuma said as he and Shiki neared. Kaname looked so happy right now and the blonde didn't want to ruin it even if the pureblood's offer was genuine. "Shiki and I want to have a date of our own this afternoon."
"I don't think I want to have a date with Yuuki while you're glaring at my back so I don't think we'll come with you too." Yuzuru simply shrugged before he took Yuuki's hands and intertwined their fingers, much to Kaname's annoyance.
"I think you should spend your time with Kiryuu alone, Kaname-sama." Ruka smiled warmly as she said the words. She knew that Kaname wanted to be with Zero as much as he could. It was only natural for a person in love to feel that way since she was also like that to Kain. And purebloods were way more possessive of their lovers than ordinary vampires too. Rima and Kain only nodded their assent.
Zero only shrugged at the lack of company because really, he could care less. He needed more alone time with Kaname to know if his feelings were real or not anyway…
"Do you think… something changed in those two in the span of minutes that they were at the rooftop?" Aido voiced as he looked at Kaname and Zero's leaving figures before the two disappeared in the throng of students.
"Nii-sama seems to be happier than earlier." Yuuki also observed.
Takuma chuckled. "Yes, he emits this air that says 'I am so in love with Zero'… or something like that." Shiki nodded his assent quietly since he couldn't speak. He was eating quite a lot of pocky right now. Kain also observed the same thing though he didn't need to say anything now since his companions had already pointed it out.
"Zero too… there's something different to him now… It's like… he's glowing or something…" Yuzuru observed with a furrowed eyebrow. He was more than shocked to learn that Kaname, a pureblood vampire, was actually in love with a vampire hunter, even if that hunter had somehow turned into a vampire himself. It's just so… sappy. But who was he to say anything when he himself was in love with that pureblood vampire's younger sister, even if Yuuki had become human now?
Zero and Kaname went to many different stalls, much to the wonder and delight of the females there, and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Zero rarely laughs and this was the first time Kaname had seen the hunter enjoy himself so much. They played different sports and earned many prizes, exchanged those prizes for foods and beverages or tickets to play other games, and even went to compete against each other in some game booths. Of course, Kaname almost always won, much to Zero's annoyance, but he wasn't really that far behind anyway so it didn't matter much.
By the end of the day, the two vampires sat side by side under a tree while eating some street foods, watching the students scurry past them. Most of the booths were already closed but some were still full of students.
"Thank you for the whole day tour, Prefect-san." Kaname teased as he ate his share of the food. Zero scowled at him but it lacked the usual annoyance. It was even kind of affectionate, much to Kaname's surprise. Or was he just imagining things?
"I'm a little tired." Zero said as he yawned. He blinked as he realized that Kaname should've been asleep the whole day so he could go to class for the night. "Kuran, aren't you going to sleep a little so you can go to class with a sane mind later?"
"Hmm… you're right." Kaname sounded so serious that Zero thought he would leave just like that. But Kaname's next action shocked the teen so much. Kaname shifted in his position and lay on his side with his head on Zero's lap without a second thought.
"Wha–? Kuran..!" Zero stiffened as Kaname's head lay on his lap. It was cute, yes, but it was also very embarrassing. He was just so glad that they weren't in full view of the students. He didn't want to imagine the headache he would endure at the thought of all those students asking him thousands and thousands of questions about his relationship with the pureblood. He sighed when he saw that Kaname was already sleeping quite peacefully on his lap. Was the idiotic pureblood usually that unguarded? He doubted that though. Kaname just wasn't the type to easily let his guard down, especially when he's in a public place. So why..?
At first, Zero didn't know what to do while Kaname slept. But his hand seemed to know what to do as it slowly brushed Kaname's hair in a gentle and lulling manner. He blushed when he felt how soft Kaname's brunette locks were but he still couldn't help but continue caressing it. He somehow felt that he needed physical contact with Kaname… It was a different feeling, staring at Kaname's peacefully sleeping form. It was a beautiful sight, not to mention his heart kept on beating so fast inside his chest. Maybe he really was in love with Kaname… He sighed as he realized for the second time that he really was in fact having romantic feelings for the annoying pervert who didn't look so perverted when he slept. But what would he do next..? Would he confess to Kaname too? Nah… that would be too embarrassing. He knew he'd never hear the end of it if he ever voiced anything. But then Kaname wouldn't know… That somehow felt… saddening.
He played with the strands of Kaname's hair for a while before he decided to take a nap as well. He'd just have to think about those things when he woke up next. The sun was already setting and he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep that much right now. But he still couldn't help it since sleeping together with Kaname by his side, or rather, lap was just too good to pass up.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"So Zero-kun already knew about his real identity?" Takuma asked as he sat on the couch in Kaname's office. He was sipping the wine that the pureblood served for the two of them.
Kaname, on the other hand, was sitting in a relaxed manner on the couch across the blonde. They just got out of class and the pureblood was already preparing for bed when the blonde called from the door, resulting to this situation. "Yes, but not all of it."
"I see. So you and Chairman Cross really left that out, huh." Takuma said as he relaxed as well. "Is it alright for the others to know too? They've been urging me to ask you directly how Zero-kun managed to make you fall for him, you know. Some of the ordinary vampires think that Zero-kun isn't worthy enough to be your mate, Kaname."
Kaname closed his eyes as he reminisced about the event earlier. He woke up feeling contented even if he slept on the hard ground. He actually felt his heart skip a beat when he saw Zero sleeping with his head hanging in front of him, snoring quietly. He was so glad that Zero could finally sleep peacefully even in his presence… From being enemies, they've come a long way now and he knew they still have a long way to go.
"Kaname?" Takuma voiced tentatively. He didn't want to spoil the contentment written all over his friend's face but the silence had already stretched out too far.
"Anyone who will dare harm Zero in any kind of way will not be forgiven by me." Kaname said seriously as he stared at the blonde with a serious and scary aura. "And by anyone, I mean anyone."
Takuma sighed. "Yes, I know that so there's no need to make a scary face." He chuckled lightly at his own words before he continued. "I'll make sure to tell them that. And don't worry, your inner circle members all vote for Zero-kun to be your mate."
Kaname appreciated the support and he couldn't help but give Takuma a warm smile. "Thank you."
"Although…" Takuma didn't want to ask Kaname the thing they were most afraid of, but he had to. They needed to make sure that Kaname was prepared for everything, even if the blonde trusted that the pureblood was. "Have you already asked Zero-kun about it? I mean… does he even know you love him? He can't be your mate if he doesn't love you…"
Kaname heaved a deep sigh and drank his wine first before he talked. "He knows of my feelings. And I know he feels something for me… though I still don't know if it's for friendship or not."
"Sooner or later, the Council will pressure you into bonding with someone or you'll lose your status as a high official there." Takuma was actually the one feeling sadness for his friend. It meant that if ever Zero didn't accept Kaname's love, then the pureblood would be forced to mate with someone he didn't love.
"Don't worry." Kaname smiled. "I will only let myself be bound to Zero. My mate will be no one but Zero, even if he doesn't acknowledge me as his… even if he mates with someone else."
Takuma could only nod, though inside him he felt so sad. To live his whole life loving someone who would never return his affection would only be a cruel punishment for Kaname, especially since purebloods were very loyal lovers. They wouldn't love anyone else even if the person they loved didn't return the feelings, or even if the person they loved died. And purebloods tended to live for millenniums. It was the same for Shizuka Hiou. The man she loved was a Level D vampire and his death caused her to lose her sanity, resulting to her imprisonment in the Council Asylum.
It's impossible to love someone else. And Kaname was the same…
"Don't pity me, Takuma." Kaname's cool voice woke the blonde up from his thoughts and the blonde couldn't help but smile sheepishly at his friend.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." He said before he drank the rest of his wine in one go. "If I can be of any help to wooing Zero-kun, just tell me."
"Sorry, Takuma. But I don't think I like you to woo Zero for me. He might end up falling for you instead of me. And I can't allow that. After all, he's also a half-pureblood and purebloods tend to love only one person in their entire lifetime. I wouldn't want him loving you for the rest of eternity." Kaname said with a serious face, though his tone was playful and teasing. Takuma chuckled at that, though he knew Kaname was half serious when he said the words.
"Don't worry, Kaname. My heart has already been stolen by Senri so your beloved Zero-kun is safe." The blonde answered with a goofy grin. "But still, do tell me if I can do something to help you." The last statement was voiced with Takuma having a very gentle expression. It was how he usually was and Kaname couldn't help but nod.
The blonde left the room quietly though Kaname knew that the other nobles were just outside the door, waiting for Takuma's news. Their reactions would probably be the same as Takuma's, though a lot more intense. He just wished they wouldn't threat Zero or do something similar just to make the hunter agree to be his mate.
He was about to rest when he felt the aura of the one hunter he'd been thinking all throughout the class, and maybe all throughout the whole time he learned of his feelings. The pureblood walked towards the window in vampire speed and saw Zero doing his usual patrol just outside the gate of the Moon Dorm. He's tired and lacking in sleep, but he wished to talk to Zero, even for just some seconds. How he already missed Zero when they were together the whole day…
Zero stifled a yawn when he reached the gate of the Moon Dorm. He just circled the said dorm since Yuuki was busy circling the school ground and Yuzuru was guarding the Sun Dorm. He knew that the vampires in this dorm weren't the type to suddenly bite humans on impulse so he wasn't really guarding that much anymore. And if ever they would really try to bite someone, it would most likely be him.
He sighed. "Alright, come out now. I know you're there."
A ringing chuckle echoed throughout the midnight air and Zero couldn't help but shiver in delight, much to his chagrin. "How did you know? I was doing my best to hide my presence."
Zero scowled before his expression changed into total shock when he felt warm arms circling him from behind. "K-Kuran!" He couldn't help but blush at the gentle and yet strong arms that enveloped him in warmth.
Kaname chuckled as he hugged Zero tighter. "I love you, Zero." He rested his lips on the crook of the hunter's neck, much to Zero's surprise and embarrassed delight, and inhaled the hunter's scent. They remained like that for a while before Kaname started peppering the teen's neck with butterfly kisses.
"Stop it, Kuran…" Zero shut his eyes tight as he shivered in delight. After a while, Kaname stopped altogether and Zero couldn't help but look over his shoulder to see Kaname's confused and amused expression. "What?"
"Well… are you not feeling well?" Kaname asked amusedly. "You're not resisting at all." Zero's eyes widened and he was about to struggle against the hold in obvious embarrassment and annoyance when Kaname added one more statement in a whisper. "It makes me so… happy…" And Zero stopped moving altogether.
"…Why do you… like me so much?" Zero asked silently. Now it's his time to ask the questions. "Is it because of my blood? Is it because of my physical appearance? Is it because of my attitude?"
"Huh?" Kaname chuckled. "Only I can tolerate that stubborn attitude of yours. And yes, at first I only like your blood. But I'm not so cheap of a person as to fall for someone just because their blood excites me to no end, though you're actually the first person to make me feel that way. And your physical appearance might have helped a lot, since you're so handsome and gorgeous, but I don't only like you because of that. It's a feeling that even I can't comprehend much so I can't exactly explain to you…" And Kaname's never-ending explanation started while they were in the middle of hugging in front of the Moon Dorm's gate and Zero could only blush deeper and deeper by the second.
"So we're not allowed to come out of the dorm right now, are we?" Aido asked as they tried to hide their very presence in the second floor while watching the scene between Kaname and Zero unfold before them.
"Well, if you want to receive Kaname-sama's wrath so much, then go. No one's stopping you anyway." Kain voiced as he yawned. Aido only glared at him but didn't say anything anymore. "But I can't believe they were that close already."
"Yeah, no wonder Kaname could already tell the whole world about his feelings. It's already that intense… and it's still developing." Takuma said as he watched the cute scene of Kaname hugging Zero from behind. They could tell the two were talking to one another. He just hoped that Kaname's intense feelings as a pureblood wouldn't suffocate Zero too much.
"No wonder Kaname-sama continues to portray his feelings in public. It's because he finds hope in Kiryuu's attitude." Shiki observed. "If Kiryuu doesn't love him, why does he let Kaname-sama hug him like that? And I can tell that it's not too gentle as it looks from here, considering Kaname-sama's strength."
"Yes, he's giving Kaname-sama mixed signals." Rima nodded in agreement. "I wonder if he actually feels the same about Kaname-sama. Or if Kiryuu's just playing with him…"
"Of course not! Kiryuu isn't the type to play with someone else's feelings! He didn't do that even when he was in the middle of espionage, and he has no reason to do that anymore because he was relieved from his mission!" Aido voiced, immediately defending his self-proclaimed charge. Kain arched an eyebrow at his cousin for acting like a mother-hen to the hunter but Aido readily ignored him.
"And… Zero-kun is a very kind boy. He won't intentionally hurt Kaname." Takuma added.
"So… is it kindness that makes him act like that towards Kaname-sama?" Ruka voiced for the first time. "Or is it pity?"
"We can just ask him directly one of these days, right?" Kain said as they all continued their silent observation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zero lay on his back in his bed, unable to sleep no matter how he willed himself to do so. The events earlier kept on appearing in his mind and he couldn't help but blush every time. He clutched the sheet tighter as he tried to not think about a certain annoying pureblood, but in vain. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Kaname's face. Every time he opened them, he would find himself staring at the ceiling, thinking of the brunette. He just didn't know what to do anymore.
He groaned after hours of bending, turning, and twirling around the bed. The sun was already high up in the sky and he still hadn't slept an inch. Did Kaname experience this kind of annoyance as well? His mood was dark but his face remained flushed as he went to the bathroom and readied for school. To say that it was annoying was an understatement.
His mood improved a bit with the Chairman and Yuuki's kind attitude but it darkened once again when the hot burning sun started to attack his senses and pushed him to the limit. It was nearing winter and yet the sun was still this hot. So annoying…
"What's wrong with you? Did you wake up at the wrong side of the bed?" Yuzuru asked as they went to the classroom. Zero only grumbled something about lack of sleep before he turned his moody and grumpy mode on again.
His mood didn't improve at all until lunch. It only lightened up a little when he finally managed to stuff himself up with food and drink milk.
"That idiot…" Yuzuru mumbled when they saw Aido enter the cafeteria and wave a hand at them. "What does he think he's doing, even targeting the prefects who will definitely ask him to leave?"
"Yo, Prefects!" Aido voiced enthusiastically when he was already near their table. "Mind if I join–?"
"Shut up." Zero's quiet growl greeted him and the blonde was surprised enough that he actually stopped. They all looked at Zero who only glared at Aido.
It's not that Zero was angry at Aido in particular. It's just that seeing Aido somehow ended up with him thinking about Kaname once again and that was after all the things he did just to get the pureblood's smirking face out of his mind. His head was hurting a lot and the loud noise in the cafeteria was pushing him to the edge.
"Woah, you're in one hell of a bad mood today, Kiryuu." Aido observed as he saw the dark circles under the other's eyes and obviously dark aura surrounding the teen. And yet Zero still looked so damn gorgeous despite that and it somehow annoyed him for some unknown reason.
"Tch." Zero voiced as he stood up from his seat. The other students thought he'd definitely drag Aido away or at least punch the handsome blonde to teach him a lesson. But far from their assumption, the silver-haired teen only passed by Aido and didn't even bother to tell him to get lost.
"O-Oy! Don't ignore me, Kiryuu!" Aido pouted, hiding the fact that he's hurt when the hunter ignored him, before he ran after the prefect who was now already outside the cafeteria.
Yuuki and Yuzuru looked at the two males before they looked at one another. Yuzuru blinked before he voiced his observation. "Don't tell me… Aido is..?"
Yuuki nodded before she leaned closer to her lover. "Yes, I think so too. He's definitely in love with Zero-kun. He just doesn't realize it yet."
"Zero sure is popular to the male populace… I mean, male vampire populace." Yuzuru smirked as he drank his cola. "Now your older brother has to be careful."
Yuuki pouted before she huffed cutely. "Nii-sama will never lose to anyone, especially if it comes to Zero-kun!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I still believe that Zero shouldn't be with that pervert." Yuzuru mumbled. Yuuki was about to retort about the bad things her lover kept on saying about her brother but before she could even say anything, Yuzuru already gave her a peck on the lips and stood up to follow the other two males outside.
She immediately blushed at the action before she nervously looked at the giggling girls who saw the whole thing. In her embarrassment, she immediately followed Yuzuru and gave him an earful about public display of affection and its consequences. The hunter only yawned as he half-heartedly listened to Yuuki's lectures.
Zero, on the other hand, already gave up going to school in the afternoon and instead headed back to the Sun Dorm. Aido was still on his heels and he couldn't help but feel pity for the blonde he was ignoring for a while now.
"Kiryuu! Are you angry at me now!?" Aido didn't know if he really ticked the teen off. He was so sure he didn't do anything wrong. And yet the prefect was still ignoring him even now.
Zero sighed before he decided to turn around and face the tearful blonde. "No, I'm not angry at you. I'm just too exhausted, and you're too…"
"…annoying and loud?" Aido feared the answer but he already knew it was something like that. Not even the other noble vampires could tolerate that side of him and it's somehow very lonesome that no one could understand and like him for who he truly was.
"No, you're just very… persistent." Zero said truthfully. He smiled a tad at the blonde before he continued walking. Somehow, his mood turned a bit better. Or maybe it was just because he managed to vent it on Aido.
"So… if I stayed quiet, I can walk together with you?" Aido's unsure voice echoed throughout the silence of the forest and the hunter couldn't help but feel guilty at the fact that Aido thought he really did something wrong.
"No, it's fine if you're annoying and loud." Zero shrugged. "A silent Aido is not Aido at all. So it's fine."
Aido blushed at the words before he tried his best to hide it by starting to annoy Zero once again. "Don't tell me to shut up now, you idiot~! I'll make sure to annoy you until you're in the Sun Dorm!" And Zero could only sigh as they started walking again.
"Have you decided to eat here, Zero-kun?" Cross's wide beam greeted them as Zero entered the Dorm followed by a quiet Aido. Cross blinked when he saw Aido but he only smiled at the shy kid gently. Really, the blonde was too bashful sometimes.
The whole encounter made Zero smirk. Who would have thought that Aido of all people would feel shy in front of Kaien Cross?
"I've already eaten." Zero merely said as he sat on the couch in the living room. "I won't be going to school this afternoon. I want to take a nap."
"You're quite the slacker, aren't you?" Aido observed as he too sat just beside the hunter.
"Unfortunately, I don't think you'll be able to have some time to rest yet, Zero-kun." Cross's concerned voice made them both turn to the man carrying a tray filled with cookies and drinks. Zero looked at him as if asking what he meant and he answered without waiting for an actual word from the younger hunter. "A mission letter from the Association was sent to you this morning. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you about it. I was about to go to your classroom later but it was a good thing that you came back here." He put the tray on the table in front of the couch and Aido quietly munched on the cookies, knowing that his opinion about hunter matters would most likely not be entertained.
"I see. Can I see the envelope, Kaien-san?" He asked kindly and Cross nodded before going inside his office.
After a while, the man came back holding a red envelope indicating the usual vampire extermination mission. "Here. Sorry if I looked inside. I was worried about when it was, especially since you're in school, so I kind of…"
"It's okay, Kaien-san." Zero smiled before he took the envelope from the older male and read it. Aido tried his best to not look at the content of the letter but in the end he couldn't help but lean in to Zero and read the content as well. The hunter didn't mind much since the vampire beside him was also aware that all Level Es should be exterminated anyway.
"The time is this afternoon…" Aido couldn't help but look at the hunter in worry. He could see that Zero was a little exhausted from sleep deprivation and maybe it wasn't a good idea to send him alone to some remote area swarming with Level Es. The letter indicated that the threat was minor and that Zero could do it alone since he was part of the Elite Force. That's why there was no need for a companion. But still…
"That means I need to get ready now." Zero was about to stand up when Cross's gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Are you sure about this, Zero-kun?" The older hunter asked. "You know that it might once again be a trap, especially since you'll be alone in this particular mission." Zero smiled kindly at his uncle and was about to say something when Aido's clear and loud voice made him and Cross turn to the blonde.
"I want to go with you… if that's okay." Aido said, obviously nervous since he kept on fidgeting from his seat. Zero arched an eyebrow at him and he couldn't help but stammer in his next statement. "I… Well, Kaname-sama told me to protect you at all cost and I… want to go there too!" He ended the statement with an audible blush on his cheeks and Zero couldn't help but sigh.
"Why not let him come, Zero-kun? I'm sure Aido will be a great help to you." Cross asked. He was sure that Aido's presence was enough to calm his worry a bit.
"As long as you won't do anything to mess up my mission, then I don't really mind." Zero simply said before he walked upstairs with Aido's outburst of retorts echoing behind him. He immediately changed his clothes, from his uniform to his black trench coat, and took his Bloody Rose. He readied some other hunter gadgets before he went out and saw that Aido had also changed his clothes, courtesy of Cross.
"Umm… so… uh, how do you receive your wage as a hunter?" Aido asked as he and Zero entered the car. Cross volunteered to drive them to the station. The blonde was trying his best to stop staring at the hunter's cool attire.
"…Through a bank account." Zero answered as he sat comfortably inside the car. Aido sat beside him in the backseat while Cross drove, humming softly.
"Well… how much do you… receive monthly?" Aido asked out of curiosity. He knew he was being silly, considering he never had any interest in hunter stuff before. But Zero was making him so curious that he couldn't help but ask.
Zero arched an eyebrow at that. "What, are you so broke that you're considering applying to the Association?"
"What!? No!" Aido answered indignantly. "I was just asking because I was curious!"
Cross laughed at that. "Hunters' wage actually differs depending on the missions they take, but per month, more or less it's enough to feed a huge community for an entire week."
Aido blinked in surprise. That much?! And then he looked at Zero. "Then why don't you have your own house? If you're that rich, then why don't you just build a business or something?"
Zero sighed again. "First, there's the fact that I have a hunter blood and vampire hunting is not a job for me but a part of my identity so there's no way I can settle and have business while my blood keeps on wanting me to fight. Second, hunters almost always have missions in different sites so having a house is pretty much useless unless we want to leave the Association or retire. But doing so while we're still young and capable will definitely ruin our image and dignity as a hunter."
"…It sounds pretty tough being a hunter then." Aido shrugged.
After some minutes, they were already in the station and Cross kissed the two students' foreheads, much to both of their surprise, before he asked them to be careful and said goodbye to them. Aido nodded with enthusiasm, especially when Cross patted his head and asked him to take care of Zero. The silver-haired hunter merely rolled his eyes. Aido seemed to really like Cross so much.
The blonde marveled at the fact that a person like Zero was actually able to have a first class seat. He knew it had something to do with his rich bank account but he still couldn't think of Zero as that kind of person. The hunter was already gorgeous without any apparent richness. And now that he learned Zero could actually be a businessman or at least a stockholder in some company if the teen ever willed it, his admiration – as he called it – swelled up again.
He slightly shook his head and talked to Zero about something different so he wouldn't think about the hunter that much. "The Chairman is a very weird person." The blonde said when they sat in the train's first class compartment. They basically owned the compartment until they arrive at their destination so they could already feel themselves relaxing.
"Yes, he is. Uncle is a worrywart, not to mention–"
"What?" Zero's statement was stopped by Aido's sudden question. That really helped the blonde forget about his previous line of thoughts. "He's your uncle?"
Zero immediately realized how he just called Cross and he couldn't help but blush a little. "Well, technically he's my mother's older brother… so he's actually my uncle."
Aido could only gape at the hunter. He didn't know Zero still has a family member left. He couldn't help but feel happy for the teen. "W-Wait, does Kaname-sama know that?"
"Well, yes. He already knew it even before I did." Zero scowled when the pureblood was brought up again. It's not that he disliked thinking about Kaname. It's just that he knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his mission if he kept on losing his sanity to that pervert.
"Really?" Aido asked. And after that, the two started talking about different things concerning their lives. Zero told Aido about his life as a hunter, his comrades in the Association, and the life with Yagari and Yuzuru. On the other hand, he learned that Aido and the others already knew Kaname since they were kids, but Takuma was the pureblood's very first friend. He also learned about Kaname's parents, Juuri and Haruka. They were such kind couple that everyone liked and loved them dearly. He also learned that nobody in the outside world knew of Yuuki's existence since a certain pureblood wanted her blood so badly. Afterwards, Aido told him the story of how he and Kaname met, how much of a rude brat he was and how he hurt Kaname as a kid. He also said that Kaname was very kind as a kid, but the death of his parents changed him into the cold and cool, calculating pureblood that Zero met.
"But now… he's starting to change again." Aido ended with a fond expression.He also learned
"What do you mean?" Zero asked as he blinked.
"Hah?! It's because of you and yet you don't even realize it!?" Aido looked aghast. "Kaname-sama is a lot warmer to everyone now. Not to mention he shows more of his emotions now too. He's not so cold and detached from us anymore. Those changes happened when he fell in love with you!"
Zero's eyes widened at that. He didn't know how to actually react without getting embarrassed so he just remained quiet. He cleared his throat when he felt his cheeks reddening. In the end, he just decided to subtly change the topic lest he wanted to continue blushing. "So, how will you explain yourself to your Kaname-sama now? You didn't tell him about this impulsive action of yours."
"Ah." Aido only seemed to have realized it now and he couldn't help but dread the amount of punishment he would be going through after he got back.
Zero chuckled. "I'll help you explain."
"Really?" Aido grinned before he calmed down again. He knew that if it was Zero doing the explanation, then Kaname would surely listen to him and wouldn't give out any punishment.
.
.tbc.
.
Ren-sama's Note:
Another chapter finished~! Review, everyone! ᶺoᶺ