Four hours before midnight and Zero is still outside patrolling. He should be getting back now. The headmaster and Yuuki planned something for the Christmas dinner. And no one's left in the academy but them. Both the day and night class students left to spend the holidays with their families. So there's really no reason for him to stay out at this time plus he's already hungry, also he's not feeling well. He thinks he's coming down with a flu. But he's bent on pissing Yuuki off for basically blackmailing him so he would go with her to the market when it was her fault she didn't go do her chores before the Christmas rush.

Plus who'd get excited when Kaien Cross promises to cook something really delicious? He can't even follow a simple recipe and always reasons that he's improvising.

Zero surveyed the school grounds one more time using the military telescope in his hands from his position at the top of the main school building. He looked across the lake first to the right where the new night class dorm is being constructed. He checked to make sure that the gate to the bridge was closed and remembered that the old gate keeper took a leave for the winter break.

Nothing unusual so far, so he slipped the telescope in the inside pocket of his coat. On the other pocket he took out one of the hand warmers he's been carrying. After snapping the metal disk to activate it, he sighed in relief when it started to heat up. He's normally more tolerant to cold compared to anyone he knows so the fact that he's feeling extra chilly today means he really caught a cold. His head felt really heavy when he woke up this morning too. It's probably because Yuuki made him follow her all around town yesterday and had to wait out in the cold for hours because some stores are so full.

But then again, Yuuki going alone would have made him feel guilty. He sighed.

The hallways are dark and quiet, Zero could only hear his own footsteps. But he enjoyed the walk because he knows later on Yuuki and the headmaster will never stop making noise as if they're secretly in a competition with each other to become the most annoying family member.

Zero paused.

Family huh.

He suddenly felt a tug in his heart as unbidden memories brought back simple Christmas celebrations in his childhood. The smell of roasted chicken, the warmth from the fireplace and familiar voices from the past that he'll never hear again made the corner of Zero's eyes start to get hot.

'Whoa! Gifts!'

'Not yet, Zero. You have to wait for your brother.'

'My favorite!'

'Ichiru don't eat everything, you'll get a stomachache,'

Zero sighed once more, shaking his head a little harder in hopes to get rid of the memories that might be good but would later on make him feel bad. He hasn't killed the pureblood witch yet. So he doesn't have the right to move on and be happy yet. Only once vengeance is served will he allow himself to relive good memories of his family. Only then will he forgive himself for being useless.

The anger inside him made him feel a bit hot but the sound of his complaining stomach made him walk faster back to the headmaster's house.

As Zero gets closer, the sound of the Christmas songs the headmaster plays every single night since the first of December, gets louder. It's the same playlist every year since his first Christmas with them.

He decided to enter through the back door because he's too excited for the food and to make sure everything's edible. He sometimes cooks their dinner since that night they were served with poison. So it became a habit for Zero to check the food first before they were served so he could still try to salvage it.

The first that caught his attention was the smell of baked cheese and found a casserole of what looked like a Guratan. So with a spoon, he did a taste test and was surprised to know it was so good.

Maybe watching cooking videos on Youtube has finally helped Kaien Cross.

There was something boiling on the pot behind him so Zero immediately opened it and was surprised to find a good-looking Yosenabe in it. It tasted really good too. The nikuman's he found on the side tasted horrible however.

He remembered the Yuzu Mochi they bought yesterday and took it out in place of it. The cake also looked delicious, those chocolate-dipped strawberries on top of it made Zero's mouth water. He has a sweet tooth after all.

He spotted the roasted chicken on the oven that was already turned off. The headmaster has gone all out again.

The steam coming from the nabe made Zero sneeze and just right on time, the blond headmaster entered the kitchen in his frilly pink apron.

"My, Zero-kun you're finally here! Merry Christmas!" The man opened his arms and Zero knew what to expect already so he moved so fast to avoid the headmaster's awkward squeeze. He whined yet again. "You can't even give your father a hug as Christmas gift. You don't even have to give me anything, your hug will do."

Raising his right brow, "Really?" Zero asked.

Taken aback by the realization that he possibly won't get anything tonight but wanting to stick to his drama, the headmaster smiled as he removed his apron. "O-of course! My son is more i-important than any m-material things that can be w-wrapped."

Shaking his head, "We'll see..." he uttered, as he started bringing the food out on the dining table. He's so hungry, he couldn't wait and started picking and pinching the food until his hands were slapped by the headmaster.

"Not yet, Zero-kun. You have to wait for Yuuki."

'Not yet, Zero. You have to wait for your brother.'

A light shake on his shoulder and Kaien Cross's face so close to him brought Zero back. His hand is on his neck and a worried expression showed up on his face. "Take your seat now so we can start, your eyes look droopy. I told you there's no need to patrol tonight, it's so cold. I'll bring you medicine in your room tonight, make sure to eat them." He started nagging but for some reason, while it normally makes him annoyed, he felt a pleasant feeling inside him. He heard Christmas does things to people, this must be it.

When the headmaster left for the kitchen, Zero felt his neck prickle almost painfully for the first time in a while. Now that he's reminded, it's been months since he last felt it. Wait. Has it been that long? No, a month ago he remembered retiring early and skipping patrol on a weekend because it was unbearable that he had to use the cream he bought earlier that day. It actually worked! He made a mental note to use it again after dinner.

Kaien Cross came back murmuring. "I was sure I made some nikuman, I wonder where I put it."

Zero looked away to avoid the headmaster's eyes. It was also at that moment that Yuuki entered the dinning room with an unwelcome tall familiar figure behind her. The girl's eyes were on him, pleading to him without words, wringing her hands in nervousness.

He felt his neck and ears burn in rage. How could Yuuki do this to him? After what happened the first time, how could she?

The ache Zero felt in his skull intensified, his entire body blazed up with the heat from the fever and the fury he's feeling.

"Zero-kun, I'm sorry. I-" Yuuki started talking but the damned pureblood behind her spoke using that irritating full voice and aristocratic tone he has.

"There is no need to be sorry, Yuuki. It is my decision to come uninvited. I was only hoping I could spend Christmas with Yuuki again." Zero finally decided to meet the pureblood's cold heedful eyes, a shining ruby from their distance. "It has been two years, after all."

Bastard! He's blaming him for not being able to spend Christmas with his beloved Yuuki. With him around, Kaname's appearance would have destroyed their Christmas dinner in the last two years since he came.

With his fist clenched, Zero stood, a little bit disoriented by the sudden movement, but managed to hide it by holding on to the edge of the table. He disconnected with the pureblood's gaze and trained his eyes on Yuuki who looked like she's on the verge of crying. He could tell how much she wanted to spend the night with the pureblood. The time she spent yesterday in choosing gifts for everyone was quicker than the time she did in choosing Kuran's.

"I apologize then-..." He gritted his teeth. He knows Yuuki would always choose Kuran but it still feels like shit to be second best to a self-absorbed pureblood. "-for getting in the way." He moved to leave when he heard Yuuki start talking and a strong hand wrapped around his forearm.

"Zero, that's-" Yuuki walked forward.

"I want to spend Christmas with you Zero-kun..." The headmaster said, eyes on him. "-Yuuki too. Can't you stay just until you finish eating? You're not feeling well and I know you're hungry." Kaien Cross doesn't always look serious, but when he does, he really means it.

Zero opened his mouth to counter but-

"I understand you are afraid of me, Kiryuu-kun." Just with that, Zero's neck almost snapped as he turned to the stupid pureblood. "After what happened to your family, it is only expected of you to-"

"Me? Afraid of you?" Zero chortled, he couldn't believe it. The nerve of the pureblood to rub it on his face when it's a total lie.

"Aren't you?" The pureblood asked, a provocative smirk in his mouth.

"That's bullshit!" Zero declared. To the headmaster's ire.

"No swearing in my house! Zero!" He called out. Then he faced Kaname. "Kaname-sama, I need you to stop agitating Zero. He's feeling under the weather tonight so as much as I'd like to spend Christmas with my son, his health is more important to me, if you could seat yourself anywhere comfortable while I accompany my son to his room and bring him hi-"

"I'm staying." Zero announced. He cannot let the pureblood think he's afraid of him. He never thought that avoiding him would have that kind of effect instead. He can't believe Kuran had been thinking that way all this time and he needs to change that.

"Zero?" Yuuki was thoroughly confused.

"You don't have to do this." The headmaster uttered even though the pureblood could still hear him from across the room.

"The bastard needs to know that I'm not avoiding him because I'm scared of him." He turned to look at Kuran again. "It's because I hate him." Yuuki didn't have to hear that, and she didn't, but the pureblood surely did. That satisfied Zero as he returned to his seat.

His neck itched so hard during dinner and the other three's interactions felt so awkward but Zero didn't care. He focused on eating because he was truly hungry and also because he wanted to finish first so he could finally leave.

"Zero don't eat like that, you'll get a stomachache." Yuuki reminded him from her seat beside the pureblood. The vampire sat opposite the headmaster on Zero's far right.

'Ichiru don't eat everything, you'll get a stomachache,'

Zero shook his head and wrapped up his dinner. When he was done, "I'll go ahead now, the gifts are under the Christmas tree, I'll open mine tomorrow." He announced and left.

When he was finally out of the room, breathing felt easier. Throughout dinner he felt the pureblood's eyes on him. The brunet's aura was hidden when he came but let it go during dinner and it made Zero feel worse. His aura filled the room and nipped at him the entire time. The pureblood was trying to overwhelm him. He was trying to show off his power and Zero hated him even more.

"Thank you very much for this!"

Kaname smiled at Yuuki's flushed face and wide eyes as she stares at her favorite pair of Rilakkuma gloves and scarf on her lap from the gift she opened. Until a sharp pain worse than a toothache made him wince. His tingling fangs and burning throat has been bugging him for days.

"What's wrong, Kaname-ku-sempai?" Yuuki was quick to correct herself.

"I prefer you calling me Kaname-kun, Yuuki." He said and checked the time on his wrist watch. It's been an hour after dinner.

"But I need to call you sempai because the other students might ask too much questions." She murmured, pouting cutely.

He reached for her head and gently stroked it like he always does. "Then you can call me that when we're alone."

Yuuki started to smile when Kaien Cross entered the living room with a tray of what smelled like hot chocolate in the cups.

"Here's something for the sweet tooth and the cold bones." The school chairman looked so cheerful this time.

"It smells divine, Cross but I'm going to have to pass." Kaname stood, Yuuki following after. "I have to get going now, I traveled a long way and I have to be present at the council's year-end assembly tomorrow morning." That was the truth. But not entirely.

"I understand. Let me walk you to the door, Kaname-sama." The blond retired-vampire hunter lead the way and waited patiently by the living room's door as he bid his goodbye to Yuuki.

When the goodbye's and thank you's are done, he followed after the chairman and stopped when he stopped at the side of the door to give him his coat.

"It's a pleasure to have you for Christmas dinner again, Kaname-sama. I hope you forgive my son Zero for his-"

"It's very unfortunate that he still hasn't warmed up on me, but I do not fault you for his behavior, Cross." He assured him.

It seemed thought that is not what the chairman meant in his apology. "I meant to say, I hope you won't get angry at Zero."

Kaname likes outspoken people, and Kaien Cross happened to be one when necessary. "As long as he doesn't hurt Yuuki." He uttered and saw the chairman nod before he moved to open the door for him and bid him a good night.

The sound of snow crunching under his boots accompanied Kaname in his journey to the Night class's temporary dorm. He wasn't surprised anymore to feel an aura inside the dorm's living room when he entered.

"You could have stayed with your family." Kaname said, finding Takuma sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand. The noble leaned to put the cup on the table and stood.

"I wouldn't enjoy the night with him there, you know that." He reasoned.

He knows the noble's dislike towards his own grandfather. The old man was never a good one to begin with. Even he left because he heard Asato Ichijo was coming over.

"I see, well you could have gone to Cross's house for dinner."

Smiling, Takuma shook his head. "I already ate at home, and besides, Kiryuu would be absolutely livid." The smile faded when he realized something. "Did he skip the dinner?"

Kaname didn't bother that Takuma was watching him, the memory of Zero's reaction when he said he was scared of him was priceless. The way he'd proved him wrong was just the icing on the cake. How that boy surprises him surprises Kaname even more. "It's not important." Kaname turned to get to his room for a change of clothes. "I'm going to get changed now, I'll be out in a while."

"Where are you going?"He started coursing the stairs when Takuma asked.

He tried to contain his irritation. "You already know, why bother to ask?"

Kaname felt Takuma flinch but still continued asking. "Hasn't it been only a month ago?"

He stopped midway. Even now his fangs are aching so hard it makes him want to lose his temper on Takuma's questioning. "Don't think that I'm enjoying this. I've held out as long as I could."

"I apologize, that wasn't my point at all." Takuma explained. "I just think it's getting worse and it's time to get to the bottom of this."

To think that a ten thousand year-old vampire like him wouldn't have any idea of his situation is unlikely. But in all his lifetimes, this is the first time he's experienced such unique craving.

"Isn't that what Seiren is doing?" He has assigned her to check into any accounts similar to his own into all of the records in the council and even the Hunter's associations'. "For now, it's the only thing that works. So if you please, stop worrying, I do know what I'm doing."

'I do know what I'm doing.'

Takuma doesn't think so. Kaname has fed in Kiryuu Zero two times in four months- well he'll make tonight count- so that's three times in four months now. It's getting worse.

The pureblood already left half an hour ago. Who'd have thought a pureblood- an ancestor at that- would get addicted to a hunter's blood?

But Kaname's pride makes him not want to name his desire for Kiryuu's blood. If he calls it that in front of him, it might be the end of him.

The feel of a weak aura has jolted Takuma from his self-contemplation before he noticed the shadow outside the window. Yuuki braving out the snowy night to their dorm with an unmistakable gift in her hands.

Uh oh. Complication number one.

Kaname closed the window as quietly as possible and made sure the door was closed as well. He waited for Kaien Cross to get to sleep in his own room before he came in. The chairman checked on Zero a few minutes ago and only now did Kaname realize the reason he did. Zero's labored breathing and the heat emanating from him is not normal.

With the moonlight guiding his vision, he saw the grumpy boy sweating bullets. The last time he was detected quite easily. The boy fought him with every strength he's got but he's way way behind his power. Tonight the boy was undisturbed, but for a reason.

Kiryuu Zero has a fever. Vampires doesn't get one. So he doesn't know the feeling. But the books he'd read written by humans described it well. The boy's pale skin made his sweat look like fresh dew drops that had fallen from a leaf. The rise and fall of his chest indicates his difficulty in breathing. The fingers holding and keeping the blanket over his body is trembling. And to add fuel to the fire, he was grunting- or rather- moaning with each breath.

Not tonight. Maybe when he's recovered.

Kaname took a deep breath- which was a big mistake. He was filled with Kiryuu's scent, his glowing red eyes reflected in the image of himself from the boy's mirror across the bed. His entire body blazed up and his heart started beating so fast. His adrenaline surging again.

Just a little.

He knelt on the side of the boy's bed. He needs to wake him up to hypnotize him first so he won't fight and later on would not remember anything.

This close, Kaname found out the boy wasn't just moaning, he was mumbling something. But he needed to be quick. So he reached for the boy's shoulders and tried to shake him up. "Kiryuu!" He called out, but no reaction, instead his mumbling went louder. Kaname called him out again and this time lavender eyes opened wide. For a moment, Kaname found himself just staring back. He's never stared back at them this long and the more he look, the more he sees.

"tou-sann..." Kiryuu's choking raspy voice brought Kaname's attention back to his task at hand. The boy is hallucinating. He was mistaken as his deceased father.

"Don't fight, allow me to drink from yo-" Kaname couldn't continue. Fresh tears glistened in Kiryuu's eyes before they fell, then he heard the pain and longing in his voice when he spoke again.

"I'm sorry, tou-san..." Kiryuu's hands found his left hand on his shoulder and was now holding on to it as he continued to speak in his weak and choked voice. The warmth from the hand wrapped around his own almost made Kaname sigh at how good and calming it made him feel. Repulsion followed after when he realized that wasn't right. He was supposed to pull his hand back when the boy pulled him in, not as strong in his weakened state, but Kaname's body questionably obeyed. "Before I die, I'll avenge you..." Kiryuu continued in between his sobs and pressed his face on the pureblood's neck. Kaname let out an unwelcome gasp and when the boy's finger brushed the side of his neck, his tingling fangs made themselves known to him by once again sending out a piercing pain to his brain. The silver-haired boy's neck is so close, he just have to move an inch or two. When he breathed in that delicious scent, his thirst intensified and he finally gave in.

He felt the boy's hold on him tighten when his fangs sank into his skin and a deep growl came out from him in satisfaction. He closed his eyes and savoured the delicious taste of Kiryuu's blood. He tasted unlike anything found elsewhere, it was that unique, the effect was like a potent drug he couldn't get enough of. He had half a mind to stop himself when he felt the boy's grip loosened. He retracted his fangs and licked the delicious neck clean. Even the taste of his skin in his tongue sent his senses reeling. He licked the wounds until it healed and even when he couldn't feel the punctures anymore he found himself still lapping the skin and even kissing it.

Something inside his lower half coiled, heating up his insides. When he heard Kiryuu moan, he pulled away, cold shots of reality ran through his spine. But the look on the boy's face, his flushed cheeks, and those half -mast violet eyes looking at him in such an erotic way sucked him in so deep he didn't stop himself anymore when he placed a hand behind Kiryuu's neck and went down for his inviting pink lips.

A/N: Don't kill me! Kaname was high lol I promise next chapter is more.. Uh, intense... ;) See yah!