White Lily never fails to lift his mood up. It has been a while since they last went out, so he took her out and they explored the forest. They went past the town's border up to the hills and stayed on their usual spot to watch the sunset together.
The sky and the horizon looked like a painting. Traces of yellow, orange, and red over blue and white were so gracefully splashed as if they were where they should be even though it's different every time. It is true that sunrise makes people hopeful and sunset makes them nostalgic, but he has never watched the sunset with his family, not even the sunrise. Therefore, doing this right now doesn't bring back any memories. While it does make him feel wistful, he actually likes the feeling. It's the only emotion he feels rightful for when he allows himself to bask in the very little memories he has left of his family.
There was a time when everything in his life was perfect. He's got a complete family, a few friends from school, and does regular things that normal people do every day. It felt so long ago and he's feeling very sad that all he has left now are memories and that as the years pass, they start to get blurry. He knows he's forgetting little pieces slowly each day and with it is the truth that he'll never feel true joy again.
Even now he still watches the students in his class and the people in town whenever he goes for an errand. He wants to know what keeps them going, what inspires them to wake up each day, what makes them look forward to tomorrow, what makes them happy…. because he has none of those. It may sound unfair to his sensei Toga Yagari, the headmaster, and Yuuki but he still feels so broken and incomplete.
Now that apparently he's saved from falling into a dreaded Level E, in its place is a chain that binds him to the pureblood Kuran Kaname. Looking back to the past months… it seems that Kuran is attracted to his blood and has no control over it that caused him to want his blood so much. Now, was he truly saved? Or did he just enter a different kind of hell?
He doesn't want to think about feeding on Kuran. He doesn't even like remembering what happened that night he attempted to kill himself. He knows he should probably set things straight with the pureblood and he wants to, because first of all, he didn't ask for this, secondly, Kuran should have thought of this before doing what he did. But it feels like Kuran Kaname is avoiding him. The nerve.
The sound of White Lily grazing and pulling some grass right next to him caught his attention, so he reached to pat her. The summer heat in the past few days has started to dissipate, which means that Autumn is just around the corner which also means that his birthday is coming. In his first year with the headmaster and Yuuki, he never talked about his birthday at all and it was a week later when Toga Yagari made a phone call asking the blond guy about it that the headmaster shrieked and insisted they still buy a cake and made sure to note his birthday somewhere to remember. That's why last year, he got a proper birthday celebration with two gifts and one from Yagari that came to the male three days later.
This year he hopes that none of them remembers. He's not in a celebratory mood. Not without his family.
Speaking of cake, he remembered being hungry earlier but because he was too entertained by White Lily that he couldn't just leave her without spending a little more time with her. So they hurried back home and after depositing Lily in the stables, giving her water and all, he walked in haste towards the headmaster's house.
Then he felt it. He felt him. His heart skipped a beat, and it was the kind that was so intense and deep, followed by another and another. He could smell him as if he just passed by the same path he's going now.
Zero found himself in a hurry, his feet felt like they had a mind of their own and seemed to know where it's going. It's leading him to the headmaster's library. He feels it in his body, the sort of adrenaline rush that's making his body and mind so alert and excited.
The closer he got, the faster his breathing and heartbeat became. He stood outside the library and felt his body shaking weirdly. He tried to calm himself down because he doesn't quite understand why he's feeling this way. He opened the door but found only the chairman sitting on his chair, reading whatever book is in front of him.
Kaien Cross looked up at him, tilted his head, and asked "Is there anything you want, Zero-kun?", he smiled like an idiot.
Zero felt his mouth harden, his hesitation got a hold of his tongue. "Uh… Are you alone?" He can't ask him if Kuran was here or if he's seen him.
The headmaster raised his two hands to indicate that he is. "Can I help you?"
"W-what's for dinner?"
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Zero mentally slapped himself as he recalls his earlier conversation with Kaien before dinner.
Kuran Kaname avoiding him is all the more making him anxious. Is he trying to get back at him for getting a hunter's seal on himself? Is he really that petty?
The sound of a twig snapping from somewhere made him twist his body to the direction it is coming from. His heightened sense of hearing is proving very useful as of the moment. He immediately ran towards it, pulling Bloody Rose out of its holster.
It sounded nearer than its actual location. He found no one except for the said twig on the ground snapping in half and some pieces of leaves that are out of place. The grass looked like they were just stepped on. Zero is sure that he is following a vampire and a noble to be exact. They sure know how to hide their aura well.
He followed the trail that led him to the townsite, specifically to the old church. It used to be the biggest one in town but was abandoned when they decided to build a bigger stone church. This old one was made of wood and has been around for a really long time. There have been plans to demolish the building but for some reason, it still hasn't been.
There it is. The aura of a Level E. It's somewhere inside the building.
This means that there's a renegade pureblood turning people in nearby towns. It seemed quite impossible for other purebloods, especially the lunatics to go wreaking havoc in towns where there is or are other purebloods . That's why there haven't been many Level E sightings in their town since Kuran Kaname decided to live in the academy.
This Level E may be from a neighboring town that escaped here.
Zero entered the building, expanding his senses to detect the Level E. Thanks to his improved abilities, he's easily able to locate it. He couldn't smell fresh blood from it, mostly a foul spoilt odor from decayed flesh left in its mouth or body. It means that this one hasn't fed and is really hungry. He needs to take care of it now before it harms anyone.
He hurried to the stairs as his senses were leading him up to the bell tower. This one's really fast as if it knows it's being chased. Zero then heard a loud explosion, pieces of wooden debris fell from above him.
What was that?
Was the Level E being attacked or was that its own doing? Then Zero remembered what led him here. He was following someone. A vampire. Someone else is chasing it!
Who is it?
He hurried even more, taking leaps over the round staircase. A few steps later, he saw the Level E in a bloody apron who looked like he was once a butcher in town. That thought made him really sad and then mad. He shook his head to keep his head in the chase. He can't make the same mistake he did the last time.
He aimed Bloody Rose in its direction, pointed it where he knew it would go next based on its pace. He fired and managed to hit it on its shoulder. He missed. He was going for its head. His excuse was that it was really dark and he didn't get to calculate its height, but it's still a point for improvement.
Zero heard the loud and booming roar coming from the Level E that was echoing in the tower. He just hopes all the ruckus tonight won't be loud enough to wake the whole town. The Level E shrieked in pain and turned its red glowing eyes on him, snarling at him like an angry wolf with its saliva dripping down its chin.
He braced himself for an attack and he wasn't mistaken. The E jumped from two staircases above him and if he wasn't fast enough, he'd have been clawed by its dirty sharp nails. Zero jumped away at least six steps down and immediately had to lean on his side to avoid yet another attack. The E has the advantage of gravity, it was going down at him while he's trying to fight back up. With practiced quickness, he slid Rose back into its holster and jumped another staircase down then moved to the opposite side and propelled himself up two staircases up so now he's a staircase above the E.
But just as he was able to steady himself, something really sharp grazed his shoulder. It hurt but he focused on killing the E so he pulled Rose out again and with his other hand steadying his right one, he pulled the trigger twice.. sending two bullets on the Level E's forehead in succession and entering the same hole.
"Bullseye!" said one voice.
It was followed by a clap and a woman's voice. " Impressive."
Before Zero realized it, two nobles wearing the Night Class uniform appeared out of nowhere in front of him on the opposite staircase.
"What the hell are you doing here wearing your uniforms?" Zero couldn't help himself.
One of the nobles laughed, the ginger-head. "A hunter and a prefect, how redundant can you possibly be, Kiryuu?"
Zero never bothered to learn the Night Class student's names so he's not really able to identify them right now except for the fact that these nobles are part of Kuran's clique.
The smaller noble girl with ginger hair as well clicked her tongue. "We're on our break." She said, then put a lollipop in her mouth and started playing with it.
"Get back to cla-" Zero started talking but stopped when he felt a very strong vampiric aura behind him. Seconds later, a hand was gripping his shoulder really hard.
"You're bleeding, Kiryuu." Said the voice of the third noble who came out of nowhere again, and who he knows from all the Day Class students' screaming as Idol . "Why does your blood smell like that?" He was too close and invading his personal space and leaned down on his wound to smell it closer. Then when he pulled away, his eyes were glowing red, looking like he was going to attack him. His hand was still on his shoulder and he started to feel a sharp stinging coldness from his hold.
Zero quickly pointed Bloody Rose at the noble and pulled the trigger but suddenly lightning struck his hand that caused him to almost let go of Rose and ended up changing the bullet's direction. That was a very close call, he could have seriously wounded the noble.
"No need to be so defensive, prefect. We're not here to hunt you. " The girl said meaningfully.
A very fast shadow passed before him and pushed the blond noble who's trying to freeze him to the death against the wall, cracking it a little and making him let go of Zero's arm.
"Now now, Aidou-kun. I'm sure there's an explanation for this." Said the taller noble to the said Aidou.
Zero checked his almost frozen arm and snapped "If you touch me again, I'm going to make sure to blow your head off."
"Maybe next time... " Said the girl who is now behind him. He caught her sniffing her as well. "Hmmm…" She clicked her tongue again and twirled the lollipop in her mouth, but this time she looked grim. "You smell so… familiar, Kiryuu." She went closer and closer to him.
Without hesitation, Zero pressed the Bloody Rose on her forehead.
"Take one more step… I dare you." He threatened. He knows why these nobles are all over him right now. It must be Kuran's blood or something. Zero knows how much importance other vampires put on a pureblood's blood. They must have suspected he attacked their leader.
"Oh great, not you too Rima. Let's get going now, Kiryuu will take care of the Level E." The other noble said, pushing the smaller blond away from him and signaling the girl named Rima to follow them.
Vampires are assholes. They're just so difficult to deal wi-
Zero's eyes caught a very familiar envelope protruding from Rima's little sling bag. He can't be mistaken, it's a hunter's seal he's looking at. As quick as he could, he moved and snatched the envelope and immediately saw his name inscribed on the other side.
He instantly opened it and read about the details and specifications for his mission for tonight. The profile of the suspected Level E, his name, and his description that describes the E he killed tonight.
"Why do you have this?" He asked.
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Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Akatsuki couldn't stop cursing in his head. In his hurried steps, he forgot to check if Aidou and Rima were still following him because he just had to get to the dorms first. The silver-haired prefect looked so pissed. They left him waiting for some people from the Association to help him clean up the scene.
He can't go to Kaname. He just can't. Takuma is the best option.
Fuck!
Why was he stuck with two children ! He could have done the job on his own! It's his fault, he took it all so lightly and even told the other two nobles about his plan to pass the time.
He's not sure what the deal was with making him hijack Kiryuu's missions. He's just doing what he's told because Takuma said this is what Kaname-sama wants.
Tonight they made a disturbing discovery. Kiryuu's blood smelled like Kaname. They know about the boy's backstory. How he survived a pureblood attack but was bitten and all. So, it could only mean that the hunter has finally turned and taken the pureblood's blood. But how?
Could it possibly be related to why Takuma wants him to take Kiryuu's missions? Why? The boy seemed really capable of doing it well.
Something is not right.
Akatsuki knocked on Takuma's door the moment he was in front of it and after a couple more knocks, it opened and revealed a grumpy-looking Senri.
"Let me guess…" The younger noble assessed him as he stared at him from head to foot. "You fucked up." He said and those words were never truer.
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Takuma reached for his head and massaged it a little bit. From the window of Kaname's room, he could see Kiryuu approaching the gates.
"He wants answers." He opened the topic.
"And I don't have them." The pureblood answered.
He nodded. He believes him. At least not all of them.
"But he's gonna thirst soon." He reminded him. "You can't avoid him for long."
The pureblood reached for the glass on the side table and dropped the entire content of the bottle of blood tablets in it.
Takuma doesn't think it's healthy, but it's the only thing that works for now. When Kaname lost it that night, went high with Kiryuu's scent and the effect of the blood pact peaked, he attempted to feed on Kiryuu but because of the hunter's seal on his neck, Kaname was charged with the powerful force that made him pass out and caused him some serious burns.
He knew that in normal circumstances; which means when Kaname is in perfect health and not weakened by intense thirst, he'd not have been injured that much. The problem is that he hadn't been able to feed well in months.
Kaname needs to get a daily shot of the new suppressant plus the blood tablets for good measure. The pureblood thought that it may also help if he keeps his distance from Zero for the meantime. Takuma knew that everything is as new to Kaname as it is to Kiryuu and he wants space to come to terms with it all.
He doesn't know what really goes on in Kaname's head and much more in his heart but he understands one thing, his best friend is in so much trouble. He hasn't seen him like this.
"What do you want me to tell hi-"
Takuma stopped talking. Suddenly Kiryuu's aura felt so near. He was still by the gates earlier! And now he's…
"You open this or I'm gonna have to break it." The hunter's threatening voice was coming from the balcony and he was referring to the glass door that was closed from the inside.
He moved to open the door and the moment he did, Kiryuu let himself in. When he passed in front of him, he smelled a faint waft of Kaname's scent on him.
"Kiryuu, this is not the time-"
"Why not? I'm here, Kuran's here.. you're even here.. you can stay if you want." Kiryuu walked towards Kaname who was still sitting on the couch, resting his head on his palm.
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Zero stood in front of Kuran and raised the envelope he took from the noble earlier.
"What right do you think you have to sabotage my missions?" He is gritting his teeth, calming himself even as he speaks. He has a lot of questions but he wants to take his time with them. He is looking straight at Kuran who hasn't looked up since he entered and in his peripherals, Ichijou Takuma moved to speak again but he raised his hand to silence him, he wants Kuran.
"You can't do that in front of Kaname-sama." Ichijou warned, eyes starting to glow in anger for his disrespect with their leader.
"I'm not talking to you." He snapped back.
"And you're not supposed to be here!" Ichijou's patience tore as he raised his hand for an attack but he suddenly looked in pain and his arms were moving on their own in a different direction and he was twitching and twisting to fight it.
"You can leave, Takuma." Kuran said, finally raising his head and meeting Zero's eyes. "I'll call for you when I need you." He added without breaking eye contact with him.
Zero couldn't disconnect either, it's as if there was something in his eyes that's trapping him. He could feel and hear the noble leaving Kuran's room and through it all, he stood there waiting for Kuran's next move.
The air in the room started to thicken and weighed on him like gravity trying to bring him on his knees as they started to shake for some reason.
"You shouldn't have come here." Kuran was the first to break their eye-contact, he ran his long fingers through his hair and closed his eyes firmly. He was frowning and his eyebrows were drawn together. He looked frustrated and exhausted and somewhere deep inside, Zero believes that that look isn't good on him.
"Why not? You can't keep me in the dark like this." He uttered, caught off-guard with Kuran's raw expressions right now. He looks so vulnerable and for the lack of a better word, weak .
He took a step closer.
"Stop." The pureblood said. "Don't come close." He pleaded. He never does. He never has to. He always gets what he wants. Except now he can't. Zero finally realized why he is like this right now. He hasn't fed. And because of the pact, he can only feed on him. But he couldn't.
Zero feels a deep tug in his chest. He feels sorry for Kuran. Perhaps the reason why he stays away is that around him, his thirst intensifies and because of the hunter's seal on his tattoo, he can't feed on him.
He took another step.
Kuran moved like the wind. In a split second, he now stood on the corner of the room, right next to the window, in the farthest place from him. Now his fingers, long and elegant, are on his neck, pressing and massaging it to relieve the pain of his thirst.
"Let me help you." Zero unconsciously said. The words just came out of his mouth, and yet when he came to realize it, he doesn't regret saying it. It's true.
Kuran's eyes glowed as they fixated on him. The longing and hopefulness filled his orbs. Disbelief quickly covered them as he shook his head. "No, you can't." And the pureblood didn't have to mention his tattoos because he looked at it like it's the most offensive thing in the world.
Zero tried to think of any other way to help the pureblood. He needs his blood. Even purebloods need to feed. It doesn't settle well with him, looking at the mighty pureblood with dark circles under his eyes with a pained expression almost all the time. He saved him and whatever his reasons were, Zero needs to pay it back. He's not gonna owe him anything, not even his life.
Memories of that night Kuran gave him his blood to save his life flashed before his eyes. The feeling of the pureblood's mouth against his own made him realize something. The solution to Kuran's predicament.
Zero moved to take a step again and Kuran stood alerted. With his second step, the pureblood raised his hand to use his powers to stop him, making his steps heavier and heavier until he could no longer lift his feet and they're finally just a meter apart.
"I can help you." He said.
Kuran Kaname looked at him in disbelief, shaking his head.
He found his upper body still able to move freely which is just perfect. So he raised his wrist and willed his fangs to come out.
"A life for a life. Blood for blood." He said before plunging his teeth into the skin on his wrist and sucking his own blood, took gulps of it warm inside his mouth. He didn't take his eyes off Kuran all through it and witnessed how he started gritting his teeth as seen from the tightening of his jaws and the way he balled his fists like he's going to explode any moment.
He put his arm aside and beckoned for Kuran to come to him and he moved fast as lightning, he was right in front of him at once. His one hand behind his head and the other on the side of his head by his jaw when he pulled him in and crushed their mouths together.