Ren-sama's Note:
Again, I'm deeply sorry for slow updates. OTL
Aside from that, I'm so grateful to those who still continue to read my story. Thank you so much for staying with me~! Anyway, here's the next chapter~!
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Chapter 35
"Contribution..?" Zero's eyebrows furrowed at that.
"I told you Rido was obsessed with oto-san, right?" Ichiru asked as he gritted his teeth. His eyes almost flared as he waited for his older brother's answer. When Zero nodded, eyebrows still creased in confusion, the younger twin continued speaking. "Rido investigated oto-san's death. I didn't think he would start investigating about it too but I guess sorrow and grief had caused him to at least try to find out what really happened. He must have… tried to investigate things in order to find out if there was a chance… that oto-san was still alive…" His eyes had turned sorrowful for a short while before rage filled his whole expression again. "But what he found out… was worse than we could ever imagine…"
"What do you mean?" Zero asked, feeling dread at the way his twin was speaking.
Ichiru gritted his teeth as he clenched his fists tightly. His eyes had turned glowing crimson in rage too, much to Zero's surprise. Now the older twin didn't know if he still wanted to hear it. "…He found out that oto-san did die because of my power. But I wasn't the one at fault. Oto-san and oka-san, that night, would still have died even if my power did not go out of control."
"What… did you say..?" Zero's eyes were wide in shock and disbelief as he stared at his younger twin. He didn't even know he had stood up from his seat.
"I already told you, didn't I? There's no way my power was enough to kill them both." Ichiru voiced as he tried his best to contain his anger. Meanwhile, Zero was starting to grasp the situation. His own anger was also starting to rise up. It was planned… It was a trap… And he wasn't even surprised anymore when he heard Ichiru's next words.
"It was the Association, nii-san. The Association set up a meticulous trap just for the two of them… in the same way they set up a trap for you. Oto-san and oka-san were already severely wounded when they returned home that night. Rido said it was even a miracle that they managed to reach our house without dying on the road. He said…" Ichiru closed his eyes as he sighed deeply, most likely trying to prevent himself from shedding any unnecessary tear. "He said that it was because they loved us too much. They didn't want to just disappear from the world without seeing us first… because they promised they would be back that night. And so they did."
Zero closed his eyes again, trying his best to suppress the darkness which threatened to overwhelm his heart and mind. Instead, he tried to call out for his lover through their bond. He was surprised to find Kaname's location quite near the room where he was in… quite near indeed. Not to mention he was with two others who were really good at hiding their presences too. "Kaname, Kaien-san, Yuzuru…" He opened his eyes as he looked behind his shoulder, towards where the door was. "You should just come inside instead of eavesdropping over there."
Ichiru's eyes widened when he realized that there were indeed three people outside the room. The two of them must have been too engrossed in their conversation to notice the others' presences like that.
The room was quiet for a while and nothing indicated that there really were people on the other side of the door. However, the doorknob slowly rattled before the door opened on its own, revealing Kaname with his cool expression, Kaien looking quite sheepish for being caught eavesdropping, and Yuzuru who looked really curious for his own good.
"I see." Ichiru glared at them all in much the same way Zero always did. It made Yuzuru hide a grin. They were twins alright.
"Sorry about that." Kaien chuckled as he approached the twins. "I was just passing by when I saw Kuran-kun here leaning by the doorway."
Kaname looked surprised enough to glare at the Chairman. To think Kaien would just sell him out so easily…
"I know." Ichiru smirked just before his glare worsened. "He must be too worried about his lover. He thought I would do something awful to my own older brother."
"Like I said, I see no reason to trust you… especially when it concerns Zero." Kaname looked at him condescendingly and Ichiru couldn't help but growl, glaring at the brunette with all his might.
Zero could only sigh at that. "Stop that, you two."
Ichiru was about to say some foul comment regarding Kaname's overprotective tendency when his eyes widened in surprise. Kaien suddenly enveloped him into a tight and warm embrace and the younger twin literally froze. "I missed you so much, Ichiru… I thought you were dead…" Kaien voiced as his tears started welling up again. "I'm so glad you're alive… I'm really glad you're alive…"
The younger twin felt his cheeks burning up and he tried his best to stay immobile the whole time. All thoughts of revenge against the brunette pureblood already flew off his mind because of his uncle's sudden action. He really thought Kaien only favored his older brother… To think Kaien would say those things to him of all people…
"I… I'm sorry… for worrying you, Uncle…" His words were whispered and barely audible but Kaien still beamed brightly from hearing them. "A-Anyway, I'll continue the story now so…"
Kaien blinked before he chuckled when he saw his nephew's flushed cheeks. He broke the hug then and smiled. "Please allow us to listen here." He said as he sat on the bed. Kaname approached them too and sat in his earlier seat beside Zero. Yuzuru simply stood by the doorway and leaned on the wall as he too listened to whatever they were talking about.
The Chairman's earlier soft expression had turned unreadable when he spoke next. "So you're saying… that my sister and her husband were killed by the Association..?" His whole demeanor was calm but there was something in the air around him which told them he was more than deadly at the moment.
Ichiru nodded as he remembered Rido's report.
Shiro was greatly weakened that night because the mission given to him and his wife was a mission set for at least twenty well-rested Elite Force Members. The vampire Level Es moved in synch and the two Kiryuus were much too surprised that they received fatal wounds that night. They received silver bullets as wounds too. It meant that the Hunter Association was involved. Shiro was wounded deeply because he kept trying to protect his mate while fighting the hunter-like strategies of the Level E vampires. Despite everything, they still did their best to finish the mission and kill all the Level Es in the area. They were more concerned for the local residents of the place than their own survival. They were already on the verge of death when they reached the Kiryuu household that night…
That's also the night that Ichiru released his first onset of pure and raw pureblood power. The huge black fire instantly incinerated everything it touched… including both Shiro and Kara who were already dying…
When Ichiru finished talking, everyone had fallen into a deafening silence from hearing the story.
"I was skeptical about it too… when I first heard Rido talking about it." Ichiru continued. "However, even when I did my own investigation, it still all points out to the Association. It was the only thing preventing me from hating myself even more…"
Kaien looked down as he felt the traitorous tears threatening to fall down from his eyes. All this time… it was the Association..?
Zero could feel intense pain and grief at the sudden information he received. He clenched his fists tightly as he tried his best to contain his anger. He felt Kaname touch his fist and he slowly opened his hand to accept the brunette's gesture. Kaname quietly clasped Zero's hand in support and he greatly appreciated it. "Oto-san… and oka-san… didn't do anything wrong… Why must they be killed..?" He whispered quietly, wanting someone to answer him or else the overwhelming grief and pain in his heart might become a strong rage ready to devour everything concerning the Association.
"Nii-san…" Ichiru voiced in an attempt to console his brother.
Kaien closed his eyes as he explained. "…It's because their pride can't take it… that a family of vampires was the one which excelled in vampire hunting instead of pure hunters like them. And they also couldn't control Shiro or Kara so they decided that they were dangerous and should be eliminated."
"How filthy." Kaname commented, his own eyes were only seconds away from glowing into crimson orbs due to repressed anger. He could feel Zero's pain as if it was his own and he didn't know how he could console his lover about it.
"The Association itself is not wrong." Yuzuru spoke, earning a glare from both Ichiru and Kaname. However, he still continued because he knew he was right. "The ones who are wrong are the people running it. The Association serves as protection from all the Level Es and even some nobles and purebloods who go way beyond the line. It exists as the human's shield against the vampire race."
"I know what you mean." Ichiru voiced. "However, it won't change the fact that my parents were killed by that Association."
Yuzuru sighed. They were too angry. They would not understand what he was trying to say. Or rather, they would not accept it even if they could understand it. That not all the people who were part of the Association were rotten and corrupt…
Zero then remembered that night. He knew there was a valid reason why he went to the kitchen in the first place. "That night… I…" He closed his eyes as he tried to remember more. "I went to the kitchen even though I was supposed to be sleeping… I was sick and in bed but I got up… because there was an attractive scent coming from the kitchen… I saw oto-san and oka-san there." Now he understood. The attractive scent that had drawn him to go to the kitchen… was the scent of his parents' blood…
"It's blood." Kaname guessed as he tried to picture it out. "They were wounded so it must have been their blood that you smelled."
Ichiru looked down on his lap. "That's right. They were both severely wounded that night but they didn't act as if they were in pain at all. They were… laughing with the two of us… They were acting like there was nothing wrong…" He was once again engulfed in warmth as Kaien hugged him again.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there that night." The Chairman voiced as he tried his best to stay calm. "I'm sorry the two of you had to endure everything all on your own… I'm so sorry…"
Ichiru sighed as he let himself bask in Kaien's warmth before he looked at Zero. "…Rido said he would help me get my revenge. In return, I would have to wake you up from your slumber. I agreed because I thought it was better for you to know who you really are. I know that it was very selfish of me to think that you will be happier knowing your real identity than thinking you're a hunter. I deluded myself and thought that you weren't happy in the Association… so I had to save you. I'm sorry, nii-san."
Zero allowed a pained smile to pass through his lips. "It's fine… You did help me a lot, Ichiru."
"…To think the Association is capable of doing something like this." Yuzuru voiced more to himself than to his companions. Zero couldn't help but agree to that.
"What do you plan to do now?" It was Kaien who asked Ichiru the question. It was obvious he was worried that his nephew would do something reckless and dangerous regarding the current situation.
The younger twin looked confused about the question at first, but then his eyes changed from confusion into deep resolve as he spoke of his plan. "I want to destroy the Association."
All of their eyes widened at that.
"Destroy..?" Even Yuzuru looked shocked.
"Don't worry. It's not the same as before anymore." Ichiru looked at his clenched fists on his lap. "I didn't care whether many people die… as long as I could exact revenge towards the people who killed our parents. I didn't care… whether I would have to turn into the worst monster that has ever lived. I planned to use both the Council and the Association to gain what I want. I didn't care whether I had to use those Level Es and create havoc everywhere as long as I could see the Association's demise with my own eyes." His eyes then softened when he glanced in Zero's direction. "But… now I just want to destroy the current Association so they won't be able to harm those who are precious to me."
"Were you part of those who cooperated in the creation of the synchronized Level Es?" Yuzuru asked again.
"No, he's not." Zero was the one who answered, making even Ichiru surprised. "Those synchronized Level Es were also the ones who dealt so much damage to our parents. Although they were mere prototypes at the time, they still managed to wound a pureblood to that extent. It means that the plan for those Level Es and the pureblood extermination had existed long before we were even born."
"Pureblood extermination?" Ichiru was the one who looked surprised this time.
It was Kaien who told him everything about the earlier meeting. He told Ichiru of the fact that the Association was in turmoil and that the President was the one suspected of being the mastermind behind the synchronized Level Es.
All those times, Kaname and Zero remained quiet while Yuzuru commented once in a while to support Kaien's claims.
After the older hunter's explanations, Ichiru actually looked even more confused. "How can it be called Pureblood extermination mission if they're the ones who wanted to be the new generation purebloods?"
"The what?" Zero's eyebrows furrowed at that.
"…The new generation purebloods." Ichiru repeated as he looked at their surprised expressions. "You're saying they wanted to free themselves from the domination of purebloods but that's actually not entirely accurate. The main reason for this extermination plan is just very simple – greed. They want to experience being the top of the food chain, the eternal purebloods who were always glorified and feared. They want to be the one in charge, not simply followers who had no right to do as they desired. They abhor and envy the purebloods who control them because they want to be the ones in control. That's all there is to it."
"Is that for certain or just a simple conclusion on your part?" Kaname asked skeptically.
Ichiru arched an eyebrow at him. This pureblood was definitely very disagreeable. "Of course I'm certain. Or did you actually forget that I'm a member of both the Council and the Association? I may not be involved in their plans but I can still do my own fair share of investigation when it comes to their movements." He was already glaring by the end of his statement, as if daring Kaname to question him any further.
"Hn." Kaname closed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "That's certainly plausible. It will explain a lot on why the Council would seek out the Association in the first place."
Ichiru blinked that. He certainly thought the other pureblood would disagree again. Zero and Kaien couldn't help but smile. It meant the brunette pureblood might be a little cold and not be very sociable when it came to Ichiru but at the very least, Kaname was willing to compromise.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Don't touch me." Ichiru voiced coldly as he glared at Aido who was silently trying to help him eat. He felt so humiliated at the fact that he couldn't move too much and had to rely on a lower level vampire just to be able to eat his meal.
The blonde gritted his teeth but didn't answer. He's really the total opposite of his older twin. Instead, he simply put the tray of food near the silver-haired teen and immediately prepared to leave the room afterwards. He didn't want to be left alone in the same room as Ichiru for some reason. It felt a little awkward for him because he couldn't even speak his mind at all, let alone be as loud and annoying as he wanted to.
Zero and the others had decided to have a little bit of rest especially since both he and Kaname were still pretty tired from all the previous events. Kaien was supposed to be the one in charge of taking care of the younger twin but Yagari called him just a little bit earlier, asking Aido to be with his nephew for just a few minutes instead. And since it was Kaien, the blonde was just too shy to refuse. He liked Kaien a lot after all.
And thus, the blonde sighed silently as he readied to get out of the room as fast as he could.
"Wait." Aido couldn't help but stop almost immediately after hearing that voice. Gah, he hated how it sounded so much like Zero's. Slowly, the blonde turned around to look at the younger twin. "Drink the milk."
"Ha?" The blonde was much too surprised that he blurted the word out even before he could think of it. He bit his lip when Ichiru glared at him in much the same way Zero did when they first met. It was somehow nostalgic.
"Drink the milk, I said. I don't like it." Ichiru repeated just before he took his fork and started nibbling the food.
They really were the opposite of each other… Aido couldn't help but think as he drank the content of the milk. When he finished, he stood there as he waited for Ichiru to allow him to leave. However, the younger male gave no such command so the blonde could only watch the other eat in awkward silence.
Aido noticed that Ichiru's hair was really much longer than Zero's, especially now that it wasn't ponytailed. It was really long. He now wondered how Zero would look like if his hair was also a little bit longer, only to realize that he would most likely look like Ichiru. But aside from that and the total lack of ear decorations, he really looked just like Zero. Even their eyes looked very similar. Zero's eyes now were much warmer because of Kaname but when they first met, Aido thought Zero's eyes looked really lonely and pained. Ichiru's eyes were just like that…
"Stare any more than that and I'll melt." Ichiru voiced just as he glared at the blonde. Aido fought hard the blush that threatened to overwhelm his cheeks… in vain. It's not like he wanted to stare at Ichiru of all people. He was just amazed at the similarities and differences between the twins.
Ichiru arched an eyebrow when he saw how the blood pooled at the blonde's cheeks. However, he did not comment on it since it wasn't his concern at all. "I'm finished so you can bring the tray out."
Aido couldn't help but sigh. So much for similarities… He then took the tray and was ready to head out when the pureblood spoke again.
"Also…" Ichiru's eyes were closed and he appeared calm when he spoke next. "Thank you."
Aido's eyes widened at that. He recovered after a few seconds and immediately bowed. "It's my pleasure, Ichiru-sama." And then he left, heart thumping quite fast for some unknown reason and the blush which he was trying to hold back had blossomed fully on his cheeks again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zero sighed contentedly as he lay on the bed. Or more like Kaname lay on his bed while the hunter lay on his stomach on top of the brunette and his head lay contentedly on top of Kaname's chest.
It had been such a long and awful night for Zero that just the mere softness of the fabric beneath him was already enough to lull him to sleep. And then there's Kaname's scent filling his lungs every time he took a breath while the sound of the brunette's even breathing and steady heartbeat filled his ears. The feeling of Kaname's long and slender fingers absentmindedly fiddling with his silver hair made him feel even more relaxed, as if there was nothing to be afraid of and that everything was just as it should be.
It was such a peaceful moment that Zero had almost fallen asleep. However, Kaname chose that moment to talk, waking his tired mind all of a sudden.
"What exactly happened in your mission..?" The brunette's voice was soft but his slender fingers stopped fiddling with silver strands for a moment as he asked the question. It made Zero realize that his lover wasn't just curious. Kaname was really worried about it…
Zero heaved a deep sigh as his eyes closed, feeling the same contentment as earlier. The question didn't bother him anymore as much as he thought it would. Perhaps it was because Kaname was the one asking… or perhaps because the brunette's presence alone made him feel much stronger and powerful than before.
"It was awful…" He started as he remembered everything that had happened. "Just like we all thought, it was a huge trap." His heartbeat and his breathing remained calm and even but his eyes were almost crimson when he opened them again. "They really… want to destroy us once and for all. I've never seen the Hunters and the Elite Force gather in such great number before."
Kaname looked at the ceiling above the two of them, deep in thought. His hold on the hunter tightened a bit when he felt the other's aura getting a little bit darker. The brunette could already imagine how Zero and the others must have felt, getting surrounded by all those hunters in that forest. However… His chocolate-colored eyes looked at wisp of silver hair as he gave his lover a fond gaze. He knew his Zero wasn't someone who would crumble at the sight of strong enemies surrounding him from all sides. He was someone who was used to it. "That's not enough to shake you deeply. Something else must have happened."
Zero blinked at that. He didn't think Kaname would look at it in that way. He couldn't help but chuckle, the darkness trying to overwhelm his heart had ebbed away in a heartbeat. His lover was just as sharp as ever. He then heaved a deep sigh as he readied himself to say it. "I… remembered everything." There… He wasn't able to say it in the room before. There was so much going on and it just slipped his mind for a while.
Kaname's eyebrows furrowed at that. He then willed his lover to look up at him and his gaze turned directly into those amethyst eyes. Afterwards, Zero repeated it a little bit louder and with more confidence than before. "I can remember everything now, Kaname."
The brunette opened his mouth in response but he realized he didn't know what to say.
Kaname Kuran, known as a powerful and highly manipulative pureblood vampire, feeling helpless and at a loss for words… What were all those books he read for if he couldn't even say a word when he felt that it was needed the most? And yet, he just couldn't do it. He didn't know whether to congratulate Zero or not, whether it was a good thing that Zero seemed so shaken by it or not, or even how it must have felt at the time. He had no idea what to do and it must have reflected on his frustrated and worried expression because the next thing he knew, Zero already let out a soft, genuine smile.
"There's no need to worry." Zero found it almost cute that Kaname looked so confused at the moment but he knew the brunette was sincerely worried so he didn't want to tease him about it. Instead, he cupped Kaname's cheek with one hand and felt the warmth on his palm. He wanted the brunette to understand how he felt about it too. "It's true that I was shaken a lot… but it was in a good way. I just realized that I've been living these past ten years without almost all of my memories. I remember my parents clearly now, and also Ichiru… and even Kaien-san… It was painful to remember… but I'm still glad I did. Otherwise, I would still be living my life not knowing my entire self until now."
Kaname could feel the intensity of the emotions behind those words. He could see it in those amethyst eyes staring at him so intently and in that soft voice filled with clarity. He couldn't help but smile. "I'm happy for you, Zero."
Slender fingers fiddled with silver hair again before those same fingers guided the hunter forward for a chaste kiss. Zero sighed contentedly in the kiss, feeling the same relief and contentment as earlier. And thus, he failed to notice the slight smirk Kaname made after the kiss.
Zero yelped and turned beet red when he suddenly found himself lying on his back with the pureblood directly on top of him. Kaname flipped their position in a mere second and the hunter wasn't able to react at all until it was too late. Zero's eyes widened when he felt an unmistakable bulge poking his thighs.
"Kaname…" He almost growled out the name. It was definitely not the right time.
However, he could only sigh in defeat when his lover showed him one of the brunette's spectacular smiles, filled with hidden agendas. Or maybe not-so-hidden anymore…
Kaname closed the distance between them and gave him a kiss much deeper than earlier, leaving him breathless for a few seconds afterwards. And yet, the brunette didn't even allow his breathing to return to normal before Kaname was kissing him again.
Zero moaned in the kiss when the pureblood started grinding their hips together, all the while slowly pushing up his shirt. The hunter, not one to be passive anymore, did the same thing to the pureblood's long sleeves. He fumbled with the buttons and removed the clothing in one fell swoop, earning him a chuckle from Kaname.
The brunette then cupped Zero's face and stared into his amethyst eyes for a while. "I really missed you, Zero." He voiced the words with such warmth and loving gaze that it made Zero's cheeks turn a bit red again. He also cupped Kaname's cheeks with his hands, knowing full well that the feeling was mutual. Seeing the brunette now made him realize just how much he really missed his lover. His hands then crossed over Kaname's nape and pulled the brunette down for another kiss.
The brunette's hands traveled down from the hunter's chest to his side. His mouth then traveled down to Zero's neck, licking and sucking at the succulent skin. His eyes were almost turning crimson from the scent of the hunter's blood but he was fighting it. He wanted the moment to last for a little bit longer.
"Kaname…" Zero distractedly voiced when he felt those incisors barely missing his skin every time the brunette's lips would brush against his skin.
"…Not yet." The voice was raspy but it was clear. Kaname didn't want to bite him… yet.
Zero didn't press anymore. He just let the brunette do whatever it was that he wanted to do first. And he wasn't surprised anymore when Kaname's mouth traveled from his throat down to his chest, all the while leaving trails of saliva and kiss marks along the way. The hunter closed his eyes at the pleasurable, almost playful, ministration. He moaned Kaname's name when the latter sensually bit one of his nipples, afterwards sucking it and playing with it inside the brunette's mouth. Zero's hands absentmindedly reached out for Kaname's hair, automatically tangling his fingers in brunette locks. Kaname then did the same thing to the other nub. He rolled it between his tongue and his teeth, causing Zero to clench Kaname's hair tighter.
Kaname continued his ministration downward until he reached the hem of Zero's pants. This was the time he paused for a while and looked into his lover's eyes. Zero noticed that the brunette's eyes had completely turned crimson. And yet, they remained a gentle hue. The hunter felt awe at the sight of them. He felt like he's falling for Kaname more and more with each passing day. "I'm so glad you're my lover…" He whispered quietly, causing those gentle crimson eyes to widen a fraction as they were filled with unmistakable surprise, radiance, and bliss.
Kaname was caught off-guard with that sentence. He felt like his whole heart would explode from the sheer bliss of hearing his lover say those kinds of words to him. He thought his feelings for Zero were at their peak but he was proven wrong when he found himself falling for the hunter even deeper.
"Zero, I–" Kaname's sentence, however, was cut off rather abruptly when the two of them heard footsteps approaching their room followed by three gentle knocks. Zero was completely distracted by the person outside the room but Kaname simply glanced at the door before resuming his speech as if there were no interference.
"Zero," he tried to get the hunter's attention again. And when he did, he made sure Zero's attention was wholly with him before he added, "I feel–," and then he growled when the knocks were repeated a little bit louder.
Zero chuckled at the pureblood's reaction before he gave the brunette a kiss on the forehead. "I think it's Kaien-san." He wasn't entirely sure since almost all the walls and door in the Moon Dorm were soundproofed. Not to mention several charms were placed inside those walls to make sure the vampires' incredibly heightened senses wouldn't go haywire from too much crowding.
"Fine…" Kaname's eyes turned back to their original chocolate color and he dropped down the bed on his side, totally grumpy because his moment with Zero was cut short. Despite himself, however, he was a little curious as to what Kaien wanted with them. The older male wasn't the type to disturb them for no apparent reason. Or maybe he was.
The pureblood sighed at the memory of Kaien's loud wailing inside the Sun Dorm's kitchen that time they told him about their relationship. Not to mention all the moments when he felt like Kaien wanted to spill more coffee on his face every time the older male would catch him and Zero making out with one another.
Zero brushed his fingers on brunette locks to soothe his lover one last time before he got up the bed and opened the door for Kaien. "Kaien-san."
"I'm really to disturb your… rest." Kaien' voice turned flat at the end as his eyes widened at the sight of his nephew's chest and abdomen. His overly protective tendency was going haywire and black smoke had started billowing around him like a dark aura.
"Kaien-san..?" Zero blinked at the sudden change in the atmosphere while Kaname, who already knew what's coming, sighed and readied for the impact.
"Nice mark." Yuzuru appeared behind Kaien and whistled at the sight of his kouhai's bare chest filled with kiss marks and fang trails. "You two seem to be enjoying your rest rather well."
Zero's eyes widened at that. He had gotten so comfortable in Kaname's presence that he just remembered he never used to walk around his room shirtless at all. Not to mention appear before other hunters uncomfortable and topless. His mind reeled for what to do within that second and he was just glad that Kaname appeared behind him together with his forgotten shirt.
He awkwardly put on his shirt, face beet red, while Kaien started wailing and cursing Kaname in the background. Kaname remained shirtless behind Zero while Yuzuru attempted to appease Kaien. When he didn't succeed, he just let the older man wail as loudly as he pleased while he explained to them why they bothered the lovers in the first place.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Yagari's skin crawled just at the thought of having to share the room with a vampire even for just some minutes. He really could never get used to having a pureblood presence beside him without having his gun out and pointed at the said entity.
The only reason why he could even maintain his calmness was the fact that the two purebloods' aura were not at all threatening. Or rather, there was a more sinister aura which overwhelmed the vampires'. His eyebrow twitched in annoyance as he looked at the immature excuse of a man in front of him.
Kaien looked too grumpy he was visibly pouting. Zero and Kaname walked together with him rather awkwardly. And when the lovers decided to sit beside one another on a couch, the chairman actually huffed and immediately sat in between them, much to their surprise. Kaname could do nothing but sigh.
Yagari could only gape at the bizarre scene in front of him and his eyes immediately sought Yuzuru's, silently asking what the fuck was actually going on. His student silently gestured that Kaien was just being his usual self – overly protective and doting of his nephew.
Yagari sighed at that. Kaien's antics could really turn them all into stressed old men in no time at all.
Zero tried to look at his master but the latter was too busy glaring at Kaien to notice. He wanted to apologize to Yagari. It's true that Yagari was being his usual ass self the last time they saw each other but that didn't warrant him the right to treat the older man that way. To think it could have been their last conversation…
He wanted to talk to Yagari privately and apologize but he figured there's no way he could have that. No matter… He slowly stood up from his seat, causing the rest of the room's occupants to look at him. "Master," he started.
Yagari's one eye immediately looked at him, scowl prevalent on the older male's features. He could see Zero's determined gaze and he thought he already knew what his student was about to say. Even so, he waited for Zero to say it himself.
"I'm sorry for how I acted the other day." He bowed deeply in apology, causing even Kaname to look at him in confusion. Kaien and Yuzuru looked just as confused too. "I asked you to come all the way here and just ditched you in the middle of the town."
"You did." Yagari sneered, remembering how the people immediately looked at him in half curiosity and half accusation after that whole walk out ordeal.
Kaien's eyes widened at that. So that's the reason why Yagari was already here when he and Yuzuru came back from the Association. The older hunter simply said he talked to Zero but didn't elaborate anything and simply looked too annoyed to be asked. Not to mention too worried.
"And also…" Zero didn't want to remain on that topic anymore since he did have a valid reason to be angry at the time. Instead, he wanted to voice out something else. "Thank you for taking care of me all this time… even though you already knew my real identity even before you accepted me in your care."
Yagari wasn't able to say anything to that. He's now itching to have a stick of cigarette in his mouth so he wouldn't fidget too much. Yuzuru tried to hide a snicker in the background since he knew Yagari wasn't too comfortable when it came to handling emotional topics.
"Tch. That's all in the past." Yagari scoffed to hide his embarrassment. "You lot have nothing to do with me now."
Zero's eyes narrowed at that. He would let that slide for now. "I also thank you for being here until now… even if as you said, we have nothing to do with you now."
Yagari was about to say something but Kaien immediately beat him into it. "I'm sure Yagari is just being his usual ass self and is actually quite touched with your words, Zero-kun." Yagari was about to lash out at those words but Kaien's expression when the man looked at him wasn't that of his normal annoying antics. It oozed of threat. Kaien wanted him to silently understand that if he were to say anything which could hurt Zero more, the legendary hunter wouldn't just sit idly by. Kami knew just how much of a shy type Zero was and yet he was pouring out his soul in front of everybody. Kaien wasn't about to let even Yagari do any of his usual thrash talking, especially since he knew the dark-haired man was just as embarrassed of the whole situation as Zero was.
The dark-haired hunter simply let out a 'tch' to indicate his irritation to his friend. He hadn't even said anything yet. "Anyway," he still felt that a punishment was in order. Zero and the others looked at him when he approached the silver-haired teen and without further ado hit him on top of the head. Kaname immediately hissed in anger while Zero was too shocked to even react. The last time his master hit him like that was when he was twelve – when he had accidentally let a Level E escape into the middle of a populated town.
"Idiot!" Yagari's booming voice echoed all throughout the room, not at all caring whether a pureblood or a legendary hunter was glaring at him or if another student was silently snickering at his antics. Zero looked up at him in confusion and worry, nursing his aching head with a hand. "You… You!"
Zero gulped at the sight of his suddenly fuming master. What the hell was going on?
Yagari clenched his fists again. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when you didn't accept my call that day!? And to think that the next time I'll see you, you're already sporting so many injuries to last a lifetime! Do you have any idea how I felt as your master when I realized some hunters were in the place and I couldn't get a hold of you!? You… You ungrateful student!"
By the end of his statement, everyone was already gaping at him, including Zero. He had never been so vocal about his worries before.
"I'm sorry!" Zero bowed deeply, already knowing full well just how much he made his master worry for him. "I didn't mean to not answer the call. I was about to answer it when those hunters saw me. I just didn't want you to get involved–"
"Don't you dare start with that." Yagari's voice was dark. "What kind of parent wouldn't want to get involved when their child was in danger?!"
Zero opened his mouth to say something but he found out he couldn't say anything at all. He was left gaping at the man in front of him. Kaname's anger had long dissipated when he realized that the man was just really stubborn and he was actually quite worried for Zero too. Kaien already started his daily bawling in the corner, thoroughly touched at the whole situation. Even Yuzuru had stopped laughing when he heard those words.
"Both of you are my children…" Yagari seemed to have calmed down as well, looking at both Zero and Yuzuru with a murderous glare so contradicting from his words. "So stop asking me why I'm here and stop acting like I'm not involved in any of this." And then he couldn't take it anymore. He went to one of the couches in the room and brought out his cigarette. The lack of nicotine was killing him.
"Yagari!" Kaien pouted and the dark-haired man immediately wanted to strangle him. "Don't smoke here~! You know we're in my office, so close to the students' dorm!"
"Tch." Both of Yagari's eyes and nose almost flared at those words. But then he sighed as he dropped the cigarette to the floor and stepped on it. "Anyway, I did not come here to idle around. Let's start this meeting."
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.tbc.
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Ren-sama's Note:
Aww~! Yagari, he's such a badass master! Anyway, thanks for reading! ᶺoᶺ