A/N: A Second Behind Closed Doors Chapter! I'm writing this without my glasses (they literally fell off my face) so, I apologize for any typo's. If you notice one, leave a comment or a message saying where it is in the paragraph. Mainly cause I'm blind without them.

Going off track a little – but, it is a bit more imperative.

Fairy tale ending. That was what it was supposed to be. The siblings together once and for all, a couple, together forever. At least, that's what their parents had promised.

Kaname held Yuuki close to him, the midnight oil burning in his blood. She slept soundly in his arms, unaware of the estrangement between them. Course, Kaname couldn't be blamed for it nor could she – it was just how he was. Still, if they were truly bonded, shouldn't she share the same desire? Or, was it that he and Cross kept her secluded for so long that she couldn't find the same cravings?

Regardless, sure she was sleep, Kaname slipped out of the room in a robe, his eyes rotating to the ceiling. Seiren. Almost telepathically, she remained at her post as he wandered down the halls, a shadow in his own home. Servants never cared where he went and he never bothered with them. That was Yuuki's deal.

He smiled slightly to himself, finding the passageways that lowered to the cavern of secrets. Barely turned, she had still retained the kindness. But then, had it really been a surprise to him? It was that sweet streak that held her dear to him. Selfishly, he had wanted to hide her from the world. And now, he complained about her seclusion. He shook his head, stepping past the gates.

At one point, only Ichijo knew this secret. He hadn't visited since the Pureblood Sara. Understandably so, Kaname thought as he wrapped a hand around one of the iron bars, peering in at his chosen companion. The keeper nodded once, dragging the drugged man to his feet. Kaname knelt in front of him, tilting his head upwards with two fingers under his chin. The man, barely in his twenties, couldn't hold his eyes open. "Tranquilizers?"

"Excessively used. He was one of the wilder ones."

Kaname let the man's head drop to the floor, straightening to glare at the guard. "Was one?"

"No one can match the vampire Hunter."

"No. Nor should anyone match him. Still…" He studied the slumped form, breathing uneven. "There's no excuse for poisoning someone."

He knew the dark tone in his voice, the predatory drawl. He watched as the guard, blissfully unaware of the threat, continue with his excuses, his whines. Had he been in a different mood, he'd have let the guard go. But, it was too late. The beast surged forward, the red luster reflecting in the guards' eyes.

Grasping, gasping, he left the guard breathless, bruised, naked and covered in scars that would last for years, if not the rest of his life time. Kaname didn't care as long as the beast was soothed. Again, he dressed himself in his robe and helped the drugged man stand, knowing he was privy to the show.

"M… Monster…" The man barely moaned as Kaname set him on the bed. The chocolate eyes had returned from their red luster. He sat on the bed with the man, a slight smile on his face.

"Sleep well." He ordered him, being sure to close and lock the gate after him.

It was during the steps of turmoil, unsure of what lie to say this time, that a blinding flash behind his eyes burned into his retinas. He winced, holding himself up against the stone, waiting for the splitting headache that accompanied it to subside. He placed a hand over his heart, clutching the fabric. It was as if something had gripped his heart and was tearing at the ventricle. When it cleared, he continued up the stairs, puzzled by what had happened.

"Kaname-sama." Yuuki's voice was soft. He couldn't dare to look at her, only glad that she hadn't found him anywhere near the cavern. She gripped his hand, offering her support and leading him towards a chair. "There was a blinding light."

You saw it, too. He nodded, affirming he had seen the same. "I don't know what it was…"

"I saw Zero." His head whipped towards her, trying to keep his expression curious, not accusing. "And, for a moment, it felt like… Like I wanted to be his."

For the first time since he had returned, he studied his wife. She was in an enchantment than actually awake. "I think I also saw Aidou… But, I didn't feel the same way about him."

Kaname's brow furrowed, resting both his hands on her shoulders. "Yuuki…"

"Hmm?" She smiled up at him, dazed. He brought a hand to her forehead. She blinked a few times, an embarrassed smile crossing her face. "Sorry… Maybe I'm still a bit tired."

"Do you remember what it was?" He asked, straightening his posture.

"The light?" She shrugged. "It could be a number of things. A passing car…"

Kaname's brow furrowed. "What is it?"

"You're sure you saw Kiryuu and Aidou?"

"Mm-hmm." She nodded her assent eagerly.

"What else did you see?" He knew he was grilling her.

"Mmm…" She pressed a finger to her lip. Seconds after, the same dazed look spread across her. "It was dark. And then, there was blood. And, I wanted the blood. I managed to open my eyes – I was tired. Really tired. I thought I saw Aidou staring at me. Horrified, relieved and… Angry. And then, someone shouted stop in my head and I did and then, Zero's body fell from me."

Kaname tried his best not to dig his nails in her shoulders. Still, she flinched out of her daze. "You're hurting me."

"Sorry." It was a blanket statement, his grip not easing. She exhaled loudly, finally breaking free.

"Tea?" She asked, the worry becoming apparent. He could only manage a ghost of a nod as she wandered down to the kitchens. His eyes followed her momentarily. Truly, kindness was one of her better gifts. That, and empathy.

It hadn't been the first time she had proven to see more than she was supposed to. The Lady Yuuki always managed to be where she wasn't allowed, related to what she wasn't privy to. Like Souen's emotions or Aidou's outbursts. She had jokingly said that there was something going on with them… Two days before the rest of the Night Class could smell the possessive vampire claim emanating from both of them. It hadn't occurred to her it might be a relationship but then, Kaname knew well enough that somehow, she knew.

Kaname returned to the bedroom and unplugged his phone, searching for an answer. There were two: Souen and Aidou. He crept back into the library, reading his messages, a prominent scowl settling in. Regardless of the true events, both his trusted informants retained the same information: Kain had started the blood bond.

Yuuki's words echoed in his mind as he hovered over his chessboard, forcing the black knight to share a square with the white knight. Why did I entrust this to one of the key players? He questioned himself, settling in the chair. He pressed his knuckles against his cheek, leaning against his hand as he puzzled the next move. Yuuki returned, setting the tea on the bar table and standing next to him. "What do you see, my dear?"

"Are we playing against black or white?" She questioned.

"Black."

"Mm…" Skillfully, she twirled the knights around so the black was facing the team of the same shade. "You know he didn't mean to bite him, right?"

"That much I figured out." He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the inside of her wrist. "Still doesn't mean much."

"Says the man who was pressuring him to sleep with the enemy." She hid a smirk.

"Gain trust, make believe love… All maneuvers that have been around in warfare for centuries."

"You can't make believe love, Kaname." She exhaled and sat across from him. He examined her, startled to find that derisive smile on her face, as if he were a stupid boy and nothing more. "You put the one man who has never felt so much as a sympathetic pat on the back into the arms of another man who takes his pain like he takes his coffee – black and with no sugar."

"What do you suggest I do, then?"

She tilted her head, again pressing her finger to her bottom lip. "You're boards' too small."

"What?"

"Here." Within minutes, she had set up another board next to it, making sure that neither were touching. Then, she placed the black knight on the other board, alone.

"Is that supposed to be Kiryuu?" He asked, feeling stupid.

She shook her head. "Kain."

"Then, who's the white knight?"

"Zero."

"… I'm confused."

"What better way to modify a situation than to remove an obstacle? If Kain's half a world away, Zero can feel he's making progress while still under our thumb? So long as he has an ally…"

"… We decrease the numbers of the enemies and stack the cards in our favour."

She smiled, quickly frowning. "Though, I don't like leaving Kain all alone in a new place… He didn't do anything wrong."

"He fed off Kiryuu."

"If that's a sin, I'm guilty of it." She threw back at him. He winced, hating that reminder.

"What do you suggest?"

"Send Touya with him."

"After Kain, Touya's opinion will be the only one Kiryuu trusts."

"What about Aidou's?"

"Aidou follows Souen's lead. And, we don't want Kiryuu messing with her head. She's as sympathetic to his cause as Kain is." He held one of the bishops in his hand. "Maybe Senri?"

"What about Ichijo?"

"Takuma would understand."

"Kaname…" She shook her head, standing. "I don't like playing with people's love lives."

"Sometimes, it's for the better." Still, he held onto the piece. "But, not just yet."

"Why not? Seems like 'it's for the better'." She quoted, her arms crossed over her chest.

"How about…" He ignored the flash of anger. "We hold off until we know where Kain's loyalties lie?"

"Doesn't it already lie with Zero?" She questioned him.

Kaname sighed, twirling the black knight on the board. "Kain might resist it yet. He's strong willed."

"But, he craves love."

"Doesn't matter." He ran a hand through his hair. "Why couldn't he just follow orders and have Kiryuu bite him? It would have made everything else much simpler."

"Zero would never have fallen for that."

"Maybe." He sighed. "I guess we use it as blackmail for the time being."

"Blackmail for what?"

"To get him to move on to the next level." A plan was forming in Kaname's mind.

"What's the next level? Oh…" She nodded, a blush crossing her cheeks. "Right. That. Yes… Why do we want to do that?"

"It's a claim. If Kain can claim Kiryuu before we split them, there's a chance of a fight between Takuma and Kain."

"And… We want that/"

"If Kiryuu's distracted by two men fighting over him—"

"We've seen this play out." Yuuki reminded him. "Kain backs off the second there's a choice made."

"If the parties interested in making a choice. But, like you said – no one can make believe love."

Before Yuuki had become her true self, she was as much a fly on the wall as she was a guardian. True, her eyes never strayed far from Kaname but, that didn't mean she didn't see the others as plain as day. Souen and Aidou never spoke to each other when they were fighting, usually pitting Kain against the other. She had become wary of that group after Aidou had tasted her blood. Perhaps that's what caused the bond she knew Aidou felt – from that moment of weakness on his part. And, perhaps, that's why he usually did as she asked – albeit, begrudgingly.

As the sun began to set, she stood in the last rays of it, missing the warmth on her skin. The limo pulled up next to her, the window rolling down. "Lady Yuuki, get in!"

She smiled at the concern, following his orders. "I miss that."

"Miss what?" He asked, checking her for sunburn.

"The sun. The way it warms the skin." Her smile faded. "I'm fine, Aidou. How are you?"

"Planning. The engagement party alone…" He shook his head. "Ruuka has no idea, thank the universe but, planning an engagement party isn't easy."

"No, it wouldn't be. Is Kain helping?"

"The only one. Father keeps insisting that it's not right and it's not what either my aunts or uncles would or do want." He made a face. "Sometimes, I think I should marry a human hooker and have them begging me to change my mind with Ruuka."

"And, how is Souen doing? I know she had an issue with her mother when you two announced you were dating."

"The same. It's funny – they both drink wine and avoid talking to each other. It's catty but, funny to watch… When you're not the one in the middle."

"Well, hopefully there'll be another spectacle."

"Kain's promised to bring Kiryuu… That'll go over like…" He studied her. Yuuki kept her emotions pushed down. "You want to know how Kiryuu's doing after…"

"If you wouldn't mind telling me. But, I do want to know what you have planned for the party."

Aidou sighed, resting his forehead against his hand. "It'd be better to ask Ruuka."

"Souen wouldn't acknowledge it. And, you're closer to Zero than her."

"… It wasn't planned. Kiryuu's not that good of an actor. And, despite his hatred for vampires, I think he does actually enjoy Kain's company." He lowered his gaze. "I should have been the one to offer."

"It started a blood bond, no?"

"It did. Kain couldn't stop himself fast enough. But then, he was also on tranquilized animal. Enough of that in the system could wipe out anyone's common sense."

"Tranquilized animal?"

"You know, where you kill an animal with so much tranquilization? It dehydrates a vampire to the point where they need one of two things: a transfusion or, the quick and dirty way –"

"Feed on another to replenish." Yuuki recalled. Another question lurked in the back of her mind.

"No." Aidou read for her.

"Hmm?" She didn't realize her thoughts had strayed.

"Unless Kiryuu himself asks, they won't be bonded together. And, knowing Kain's aversion to bonds… It's not likely he'll ever put either of them into that position."

"You know of the meeting tomorrow?"

"The one I'm not invited to? By the by, ow." He placed his hands over his heart and leaned to the side. "I know of it. Kurans meeting with Kiryuu and Kain… Should be eventful."

"There's something I need you to do for me." She kept her voice calm though, her hand clenched.

"Anything."

"… Help them to get… intimate. Kaname won't drop it and he'll use the bond as blackmail if he has no other choice. If they've already… Then, he won't have to suffer the humiliation."

"By tomorrow?"

"I know it's last minute but, I didn't feel comfortable texting it."

Aidou bit his lip. "There's many impossible things I can do but, that one… Hey, not the pout face. No. Uh-uh."

She stared at her hands, toying with a string. Aidou sighed. "Do I tell him it's a request from you?"

"Tell both of them that. Explain the situation but, not how you know." She pulled up the sleeve of shirt, glad the punch marks had healed already.

"Does it seem to be working?"

"I haven't met with any of them yet. Yagari insists it is. Father… He's not comfortable putting me in this position."

"For what it's worth, the math checks out. And, it's only for the time being until we can prove that it's not just vampire blood that can restore a hostage."

Yuuki shook her head, finally meeting his eyes. "I want to help, Aidou. Even if it's just my blood, I can't stand the idea of people being treated like pawns in some vampire's hissy fit."

Silence. She regained her composure. "Now, what do you have planned for the engagement party?"

A/N: Okay, I think there's no evidence of Yuuki having that kind of power but, I'm a firm believer that she's a) connected to both Aidou and Zero; and b) able to understand her subjects better than Kaname ever could.

Also, I kind of alluded to Kaname's sadistic/masochistic streak. Didn't know how much detail but, I will explain the cavern in a later chapter – probably when Zero's sharing his experiences with it.