Kaname slurped and sucked and lapped inside the hunter's mouth like a starving wild dog, almost as if he was trying to dry his mouth of any moisture with traces of Zero's blood in it. He tastes so divine, much like the last time he savored him but gets better with every time. He can't have enough.

He smells so wonderful and his skin against his fingertips feels so supple and warm and comforting. It's as if drinking him, breathing him, and touching him are healing him in the process, filling the holes in him that existed from the beginning but has never been filled since, making him full and whole and complete.. yet he continues to want more…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"More…" Kuran uttered against his lips. "Zero…" he whispered. His first name in his voice sounded so wonderful. He never knew such an effect could come from someone just saying his name. "Zero.." The second time the pureblood called his name woke him up from his drowsy state, to realize their current position and situation.

His back is against the wall and the pureblood has him nice and steady, pressed in him like clothes. One of his knees was keeping him standing in between his legs, one hand supporting him by his nape with fingers running up and down his skin, sending millions of tiny pleasant electricity from the contact to the rest of his body like a network of connected cables keeping him warm and satiated inside and out.

Kuran's suckling his lower lip and nibbling on it afterward. "Please…"

Something inside Zero fired up. What an innocent little word.. but it coming from Kuran makes a whole lot of difference. He needs something from him and no one else in the whole world can give it to the pureblood. Only Zero. That somehow empowers him.

They looked into each other's eyes, glowing red against the others', captivated in a trance of being lost in the galaxy of bright red specs in the chasm of mahogany and lavender as their eyes mirror each other'.

He raised his right wrist and quickly pierced his fangs into the healed skin, sucking loudly and hurriedly to feed his pureblood.

When he was done, Kuran caught the blood dripping on his chin with his tongue, hot against his skin, and closed his eyes involuntarily at the way it moved up to his lips. His one hand guiding his head, angling him, and then opening his mouth before he plunged in with his tongue and drank him in.

The process repeated for two more times until Zero felt Kuran's fingers on his wrist, stopping him from biting it again. But what didn't stop was his mouth's relentless attack on his own. Kissing him even when he couldn't taste his own blood on his mouth anymore, and he was letting him… because it feels good. Just like that night. Oh, how good it makes him feel.

"I'm not done feeding yet," Kuran whispered in a hushed tone between gasps for breath against his lips.

Zero knows his hands are where they shouldn't be. He has them wrapped around Kuran's neck, pulling him closer as the pureblood pulls him into him. His knees are getting weaker that when Kuran felt his weight getting heavier, he wrapped his arms around Zero and moved with what felt like the speed of light from the living room to his actual bedroom.

When Zero felt himself fall on a soft mattress covered in silky fabric, he panicked. He immediately leveraged both his hands against the pureblood's chest when he pressed himself over him like a blanket.

His glorious dark-brown hair cascaded down over his shoulders and on each side of his face like a waterfall as he looked down at him with that intense look in his glowing red eyes looking like he was still hungry but not for his blood anymore.

"No!" Zero cried out, trembling in a mix of fear and excitement. For some reason, the view from being under Kuran Kaname in his gigantic bed is making him feel scared about what's next.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"What do you think will happen next, Zero?" He asked. The rise and fall of Zero's chest and his breath on his face just feels so good.

"I-I don't know."

Kaname liked what he was seeing. Zero under him, his beautiful silver locks splayed on his sheets and the contrast of it against his wine-colored bedding was so splendid. He couldn't take his eyes off him.

Zero is considered handsome and Kaname is aware of that, he admits to being enamored the first time he saw him. Even when he was standing next to his twin brother who looked shades duller compared to Zero when they were supposed to look similar if not the same.

He never stopped being so interesting. The way he looked at him for the first time when he stabbed him with the table knife and every moment after… were all so provocative.

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. The stupid attraction he has for his blood… for him… that lead to this..

Right now Zero Kiryuu is dependent on him as much as he is on him. Was it fate? Were they fated to form this symbiotic relationship? Is this where he was destined to? After thousands of years? Why now?

That thought makes acid rise from Kaname's stomach. He's never one to believe in fate or destiny because those were just foolish excuses from people who have given up making decisions for themselves. He needs control, without it, he'd be no different from others. He'd lived his lives the same way over and over, like a chess game. This is the first time it has become this messed up.

Looking at Zero right now, with his sweet honeyed blood, his aromatic scent, and perfect skin… to be honest, Kaname doesn't mind. In fact… now that they need each other, he might as well have him.

All the pain and difficulties he had to endure that lead to this moment- happened because he was fighting it. He was against it. Now that the pact is complete, he just needs Zero to see it the way he does, and then control things again. He needs him to cooperate. He needs to control Zero.

"I'm still hungry, Zero." Kaname carefully said, not trying to scare the silver-haired boy off. He held his hands on his chest and intertwined them before pinning them to each of his sides as he slowly lowered himself. "I already told you before…" He closed his eyes and pressed his nose on Zero's throat and inhaled him loudly. "Your scent…" He rubbed his nose on the skin there, "Your skin…" and darted his tongue out, slowly swiping it on the same spot. "Your taste…" He kissed his way up to his mouth and moved his lips over his lower lip and sucked a little, liking the way Zero moaned at the act. "Your mouth…" He claimed his mouth with languid and lavish kisses, enjoying the pleasing taste and feel.

When Zero started to respond to the kiss, he knew that they're almost on the same page, but not yet. He remembered one thing.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Zero groaned in disappointment when Kaname ripped his mouth from his and went on to press kisses on the side of his lips to his jaw.

"Everything about you… entices me." The pureblood let go of his hands and moved to extricate himself from him. Zero then started to feel weird.

Strange, how the moment his warmth was gone, he felt like an empty gaping hole.

"But like I promised… I won't do anything you don't like." Kaname sat next to him, offered him a hand to help him up and he took it. Now they're both sitting next to each other and Zero feels like the only one feeling awkward. His breath is still trying to catch up to the rest of his body.

On the side of his eyes, he keeps following the pureblood's movements and wonders how in the world he moves so confidently and gracefully. He feels so inexperienced and inadequate next to him.

"When are you going to apologize to me?" Zero asked stubbornly, also just to hide his insecurities with the pureblood.

Kaname turned to him and his eyes watched in slow motion the way the line on his mouth moved to display an actual smile that is reflected in his eyes that has now stopped glowing. It looks good on him. He had seen him smile before, to Yuuki, the headmaster, his clique… but never to him. With him, he's always looking so intently and perplexed all the time.

"Zero… You are so unpredictable." Kaname said, his shoulders shaking a little bit for probably laughing inside. Then afterward, his smile disappeared as he looked him in the eye, nodding. "I'm not used to it because I never had to…" He uttered, more to himself for sure. "I apologize to you.. Zero Kiryuu, for stealing your blood."

Now that was the most awkward apology Zero has ever heard in his life. The grace that is inherent in the pureblood in everything definitely doesn't include apologies.

He looked away, forcing a bubble of laughter down his system. Kaname was still looking at him, expecting him to say something back.

"I'm not going to forgive you that easily." He declared. "I still have a lot to straighten out with you."

Kaname stood, his steps were light and smooth as if he was floating. Zero could tell he was recovering. His aura is starting to spike up. His blood did that.

"Where should we start?" Kaname asked, pulling a chair in front of him so they are eye to eye.

Zero didn't realize the pureblood was wearing a robe on top of his sleepwear which is barely visible as it doesn't stick out. His image looks so different this time. He looked so cozy and comfortable. The slight redness and puffiness of his mouth and the lines around it make Zero's cheek burn abashedly. He wondered if his lips looked the same.

Instead, he shook his head and yanked the embarrassing thoughts out of his head to focus on the most important thing. "Why are you messing with my missions?" He asked, still pissed about earlier.

The pureblood now sat leaning comfortably on the chair, resting his elbow on the armrest, and his distracting fingers run back and forth his lips while his thumb supports his chin.

"You can't get hurt. " Kaname said straight, eyes dark as the night as he stared at him from his seat. With his other hand, he pointed at his shoulder. "You got hurt earlier…" His tone lowered, obviously not pleased now.

He unconsciously looked over the part of his shoulder that was hit by the Level E's knife which was the same place the other noble tried to freeze. But he already changed his shirt. It's already healed, thanks to Kaname's blood probably or his new vampire DNA. How could he still-

"You get hurt, I get hurt as well." Kaname clarified.

It took him a while to process that. Now Zero thinks that there is more to this Blood Pact than just feeding on each other. Now it makes sense that he doesn't want him to hunt anymore because he's only a Level D and there's a huge possibility that he might get hurt or worse end up dead in one of the missions.

"Does that mean, you die too if I died?" He sounded out of breath even in his ears.

Kaname paused for a moment to think. "I don't know. I just felt your pain- the wound didn't appear but I knew you were hurt."

Another memory of that night flashed in his mind's eye. Just before he passed out, he remembered Kaname biting him near the end… He remembered why he passed out. It was that painful electricity that traveled from his mouth to the rest of his body. That was when Kaname tried to bite him.

"So why did you complete the pact?" For some reason, Zero's heartbeat started to accelerate.

He saw how the pureblood paused to think and think deeply he did, "I don't know…" He answered honestly after a long awkward silence.

Zero stood, he's getting really angry right now. It means that Kaname didn't really save him because he wanted to.

"What else do I need to know?" He needs to go. It's starting to get suffocating here. It's getting harder to breathe. It's all a lot to take.

"Zero, calm down." Kaname stood this time as well, alerted by his growing emotional meltdown. "We're in this together. We can get through this. I will make sure of that." He tried to touch him but Zero couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand his touch. Not right now.

"I have to go." He walked past the pureblood and he knows that Kaname realized it's better to let him go.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Kaname doesn't know why he wants his blood so much. He doesn't even know why he saved him that night. There's something at work here. Something even a pureblood like Kaname cannot control and has no knowledge about.

He's supposed to be thousands of years old...

He was supposed to be an old soul. He was supposed to know a lot, if not everything.

Kaname doesn't even know what happens next and that scares Zero.

Life is full of uncertainty and Zero is no different from those people who want to be certain, to be prepared… No one gets used to it, that's why people worry all the time.

But being an ex-human, a vampire hunter turned vampire, and then being in this kind of relationship- no that sounds weird- being in this kind of connection to the big bad… it's beyond concerning.

Now he's stuck in this place where he's confused whether he should still continue to live as a human, or a vampire or whether he should continue to hunt when he's officially become the hunted.

And then he has to navigate this bond with Kaname when even the pureblood himself knows very little about.

Nothing in life is sure and Zero gets that, but has anyone ever been in his situation before?

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The moment Yuuki saw silver, she immediately straightened her back and pulled her practiced smile out.

"Good morning!" She greeted, smiling a little too bright, she noticed a little bit late.

Zero looked so floored, blinked his eyes several times, and brushed the back of his hand against his eyes to wipe off some cobwebs left from sleep to make sure he isn't hallucinating.

Normally, it's Yuuki who gets to the kitchen last and Zero first. Ever since he experienced the headmaster's terrible cooking, he has made sure to wake up first to cook for them.

"Go get your seat. The headmaster left early for some errand but he prepared something for us. I'm just going to take them out." Yuuki noticed that he now has both his hands in his pockets, already wearing his school uniform and by the looks of it, he was in a hurry to brush his hair that he forgot to run it over the top of his head where some strands are still standing.

So she walked towards the silver-haired boy to pull him but not without reaching for his head to smoothen it first. Once Zero was seated, she quickly put the breakfast that the headmaster prepared in advance for them.

She sat and saw him trying to keep his eyes glued on the pile of randomly shaped pancakes in front of him and then to the half-burnt slices of bacon next to it then back again.

Zero looked uncomfortable and awkward. Yuuki doesn't really like this at all. She doesn't want anything to change between them.

"Zero…"

'No, this is breakfast. You'll only sour the mood and make him lose his appetite. ' Yuuki called herself out.

So she put on her smile first and reached for the food and put one of each on Zero's table. For a moment, their eyes met and she swore Zero was about to say something with the way he opened his mouth so she waited for it but after a long awkward silence, he looked hesitant again and then, later on, said, "Thanks."

'That's a good start.'

"How was it?" She asked after he took his first bite.

"Could be better… but better than before." He commented then continued eating.

"It definitely tastes like Cross." Yuuki added, laughing at the thought.

Zero made a face this time, "You made it sound like he's an ingredient or a recipe…"

That made Yuuki laugh a little louder, "That's not what I mean!"

"And you're a Cross too… so…" Zero looked away and uttered under his breath the words. "-maybe that's why."

Zero is definitely back at teasing her. "You ungrateful little-"

"You have no right criticizing the headmaster's cooking because you don't have a taste." Zero continued teasing and because Yuuki was so happy at the naturalness of their banter, she didn't remember how fast Zero eats. "I'm going first. Gotta feed Lily really quick." And he was gone, but what remains is the smile on Yuuki's face.

"Don't be late!"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Classes were as always a good distraction. Even if Zero has come to dislike studying and found it boring as fuck, it has its perks. It keeps him occupied with boredom and annoyance to think of other things.

His classmate's antics were perfect white noise to drown out his depressing thoughts. All the shouting, whispering, giggling… they've started to all come together as a perfect distraction and he couldn't believe he'd be saying this but he just did.

Of course, it all comes to a peak.. the crossover. This is where the noise reaches a level of unwelcome irritation paired with the view of the Night Class walking like they own the earth they're stepping on and looking so arrogant.

In the middle of them, all is Kuran Kaname whose glorious wine-colored hair was the first he saw, dancing over his shoulder with every step he takes. The amount of screaming increased tenfold at the sight of the pureblood.

Zero understood the reaction because they haven't seen him in months and have thought he's quit or something. Yelling at the girls to keep it down is useless, so Zero doesn't do that anymore… instead he just glares at them and glared at them he did. When they meet his eyes, they all start to back off and lower their voices, making their faces flush.

When he turned to the Night Class who couldn't have walked any faster, he met the dorm leader's eyes. The brute looked at him with some kind of softness in his eyes, lips curved in a small smile. In. His. Direction.

Fuck.

That really caught him off guard.

"Did he look at us?" Some girls behind him started making squeaking noises.

"I think he did… he wouldn't look at Kiryuu like that right?"

"Of course not, they're not friends or anything."

Did the pureblood think that they're now friends after all that has happened? No. Definitely not. It's the girls behind him he smiled at. He wouldn't smile at him. They're not friends nor are they on good terms.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Zero left the grounds after the crossover and knowing it's Yuuki's schedule for the next two to three hours, he decided to spend some more time with Lily. He's got nowhere else to go anyway, and if he feels like it.. he'll take Lily to the forest again.

With all his senses improving, either with the help of Kuran Kaname's blood or that it comes with officially becoming a vampire, he could tell he's being followed. He's hearing footsteps and they're the kind who are unsure but also excited it seems, as they take hurried steps to catch up and then take a few ones out of fear.

The stables are sacred grounds for him. He doesn't want anyone into the stables as much as White Lily when she threatens anyone in sight including Yuuki. So he stopped and turned quickly to keep his followers away.

He saw two girls from the next class. He's good at remembering faces, just not names. He's also seen them behind him on crossovers several times.

He couldn't help but hear their heartbeats because it's just too loud. It's definitely getting faster and faster, at least for the dark-haired girl. Her companion pushed her suddenly and she almost tripped. Because of that, her cheeks got even redder.

She now stood only two to three steps to Zero, her eyes downcast and her hands behind her.

"Can I help you?" Zero asked. What could she be here for? Zero knows he's not the most approachable person in the world, and for a reason. He likes to be alone. He doesn't like meaningless company and useless activities. That's why he's earned that cold and aloof image. People rarely go to him for anything, excluding Yuuki and the headmaster of course.

"Um… D-Do you remember me, Kiryuu-kun?" She asked.

That question confused the heck out of him. Is that a trick question or what? "Of course." He said, matter-of-factly.

The girl smiled at his answer as if it has given her the confidence to finally look him in the eyes. "I-I've always thought you're kind...uh, ever since you helped me last year."

Last year? Who'd remember that? Is that what she's here for? To thank him? Did it really take her a year to pack up the courage?

"It's been a year since I transferred here and I didn't know anybody then but you were kind enough to tell me where the headmaster's office is and even take the time to walk me there, so thank you." She went and explained and Zero couldn't be more thankful because he really had no idea what she was talking about at first.

He does remember it now. He was going in the same direction anyway.

"It's nothing, I was going in-"

"I couldn't stop thinking about you since then!" She said, voice almost cracking and her heartbeat now rioting but she looked in his eyes bravely, as if looking away will weaken her courage. "I really really like you. Will you go on a date with me?"

She handed him what she had been hiding behind her. An envelope. In reflex, Zero took it.. still confounded with the situation.

"On Saturday, I will wait for you in town. See you!" She said and ran away. Her friend came out of nowhere suddenly and ran along with her.

Zero will never understand girls. That includes Yuuki, to be honest.

He shook his head and opened the envelope to see a note.

'11am at Scarlet's Cafe in town. See you and tell me how you feel about what I told you. I really like you, Kiryuu-kun. I hope you give us a chance. '

Seriously?

He shook his head and turned to continue his steps towards the stables, slipped the envelope inside his pocket. He pushed the wooden door open and felt his heart skip a beat and came back faster.

"Are you going?" Asked that voice out of nowhere.

Zero quickly turned to where it's coming from and found Kuran Kaname in his Night Class uniform standing next to White Lily who looks like she's enjoying the way the pureblood rubs her head back and forth, she even closed her eyes and is making that content sound she only does with him! She never does that with anyone other than Zero. She tolerates the caretaker who cleans the stables but no one else can come close to her and touch her except him.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in class now?" He asked, "And what did you do with Lily? Don't touch her!" With quick steps, he moved to the pureblood and pushed him away but Kuran was quick to catch his wrists. Lily neighed but not because she was scared but because the petting session was cut!

Now Kuran Kaname's face is too close to his, and as he's a little taller than he is, he was leaning down on him and his breath was fanning his face causing a whirling sensation in him, making him feel giddy.

"Maybe if you answer me first, I will answer your questions." The pureblood said, eyes feasting over his face. From his eyes down to his nose and his lips.

Zero tried to get away but the hold was firm and steady. "What?"

Kaname took a deep breath, closed his eyes trying to calm himself, and when he opened them again, they were glowing bright with the wild conflagration of intense hunger. "Are you going to see that girl?"

'That girl' looked and sounded like acid in the pureblood's tongue, with the way he said those words.

"No!" Zero answered, bewildered more than angry.

A sly smile crawled its way into the pureblood's mouth. "Good." His hold has gotten loose but not enough for him to escape from it. Zero watched as the pureblood's tongue came out of hiding to wet his lips and the way they stayed open looked so mesmerizing to him. "I'm here because I'm a little thirsty."

Zero didn't realize he'd been staring at the pureblood's mouth until he had to drag his vision up to meet him in the eyes. "But you just fed last night!"

Kaname nosed his jaw, and he heard him inhale him deeply. "I never said I was full." His voice vibrated in his skin and even that felt really good. "So if you make it quick, then I'd be in my class soon."

A sudden chill came upon Zero when Kaname pulled his body towards him and the warmth seeped through their uniforms and the rest of his body relaxed as if he wasn't being held by the world's most dangerous predator.

"You said you won't do anything I won't like." He reminded him, his voice a bit weaker than earlier.

Kaname's scent is like breathing deeply in a pine forest in winter mixed with the aroma of fresh snow and infused with a very clean comforting smell of something citrusy.

"And I won't… That's why I'll stay here… waiting until you allow me to." The pureblood's voice is so low and thick and silky and it's smoothly getting under his skin to give him goosebumps. "Please?"

Fuck. There's that magic word again.

"Fuck you!" Zero uttered, he feels weirdly high.

A cunning smile appeared on the pureblood's mouth, "Is that a yes?" He asked, now guiding his arms over his shoulders and leaving it there while Zero unconsciously held on to him.

"Shut up!" He said and gave the pureblood a piercing look before letting himself be pulled again as Kaname moved to claim his mouth in a once again very bruising kiss that still managed to be very right.

Zero let his eyes close as Kaname's lips covered his own and opened them for his entrance. His hot and wet tongue glided over his lips before making its way into his mouth to press and slide against his own unsure tongue. His taste and the feel of being pressed against his body just feels so good. Zero felt so content he could sleep and wake up with the pureblood's tongue in his mouth.

What?! Shit!

Zero quickly pushed Kaname away, suddenly scared of where his thoughts were going.

"You said you were thirsty! Why are you doing this?"

Kaname allowed himself to be pushed, but just enough for him to keep their foreheads touching. Their breaths mingled in the air, and it feels too intimate for Zero.

"I didn't say I was thirsty for your blood." Kaname responded, "I did tell you that everything about you entices me right?"

Zero gulped. Is this part of the deal? Is this going to be how it is from now on? What the hell are they doing? Isn't this supposed to be done by couples?