With the set of books she checked out from the library earlier, Yuuki ran as fast as she could over the bridge to get to the dorm gate and into the headmaster's residence before the heavy rain began to fall.
The distant sound of thunder rumbling made her quicken her steps even more. It's in moments like this that she wished the dorms and the headmaster's house weren't across the lake from the main building. She could already hear the sound of incoming rain and resigned to the idea that she'd get drenched anyway.
The day started hot and sunny but the sky had darkened by noon. The crossover was uneventful and the two hunters who surprisingly hit it off, left together afterwards to who-knows-where for the fourth day straight since Saturday.
It's Wednesday, but the excitement and anticipation for the end of the classes has gradually decreased since some of the most popular nobles have stopped attending the crossover.
Yuuki shrieked when she was suddenly swept off her feet. She closed her eyes thinking she'd fall on her butt, but the strong wind against her face along with tiny bits of raindrop kept her from opening them until everything stopped moving and she started to feel arms, hands and that calming warmth pressed on her side.
Clear dark wine eyes met her own as she stared mesmerized at the familiar set of beautiful orbs. The eyes that have become an intrinsic part of her first memories and that she kept replaying every moment of every day.
"K-Kaname-sama…" Her heart is in her mouth and it's literally so dry she almost couldn't swallow. Her eyes couldn't help roaming over the pureblood's perfectly sculpted face and stopped on his sinfully captivating mouth that now had stretched so beautifully to give her a smile.
"Are you alright?" Kaname's voice vibrated from her side where their bodies are touching.
"Y-yeah, I-uh,"
Kaname gently lowered her to her feet and she still lost her footing as her traitorous knees wiggled in weakness. So the pureblood held her tightly by the waist to steady her.
Just like her classmates, one of the highlights of her day is the crossover. Recently, it's been the only way for her to see Kaname. He'd been very busy. Before the Night Class, the pureblood visits her at least once a month. And though she sees him more often nowadays, they rarely talk and spend time together like they used to.
She really misses him. She was just about to raise her arms to wrap them around the pureblood when Kaname spoke, "I apologize if that made you dizzy. I didn't want you to get rained on." His voice on top of her head woke her from that short stupidity she was about to do.
When he let her go, she immediately felt the cold wind carried by the monsoon, enveloping her whole.
"Thank you, K-Kaname-k-kun. You saved me from a cold." She laughed to hide her awkwardness but inwardly flinched at the awkwardness of her laugh.
Yuuki's eyes automatically closed when she felt his warm hand gently patting the top of her head like he always did before, not as much recently anymore, though.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Zero watched as Kaito swiftly moved to slit the aggressive Level E's throat with moves so clean and precise.
The E knelt as it reached for his own neck, growling like an animal but with blood flooding its throat, it sounded like it's gargling. Seconds later, the once regular townsperson fell on the ground with a thud, heaving its last breath before succumbing to his inevitable fate.
He still feels bad. His heart aches. He can't wait to get over this connection and guilt he feels whenever he sees and kills another Level E.
Kaito's assuring hand on his shoulder made him turn to the other hunter to find him wearing a successful smile.
How can he do this? Like nothing is weighing him down. Like the kill is as simple as cleaning up the streets from rubbish.
"They'll be here in an hour." The brunet glanced at his wrist watch. Then he looked up at the darkening sky. "We better get going."
Kaito noticed he hasn't said a word and has been acting weirdly again. The whole bus ride was filled with Kaito trying and failing to keep the small talk going.
"Ahh! You can't be like that all the time, Zero." He finally commented. "The guilt will always be there but you have to stop taking this personally."
He turned to the other hunter and asked, "Is that what you did? With your bro-" Then he stopped himself, a little too late because it's obvious what he meant by the way Kaito's features have hardened and his eyes clouded.
His fists tightened on his lap and their bodies swayed along with the movements of the bus as it drove over the unpaved rocky path.
"I needed to do it myself." His voice is tight with suppressed emotions. "If I had waited, his consciousness would've already disappeared and…" He sighed, waiting for his system to calm down. "I wouldn't have been able to tell him I love him and I'm sorry…" Kaito raised his head, looked as high as he could and blinked rapidly, wanting to dry the tears before they fell. "I wouldn't have been able to tell him how much I regret not being the best brother and assure him that I'll take care of mom and dad."
Zero's own eyes started to get hot.
"He was still there, fighting the pureblood poison when he said his last words to me." His voice was laced with bitterness and anger but softened at the following, "He said, 'Thank you. Please, kill me now.'..."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Zero came to realize that just like him, every Level E didn't want to become the monster they were expected to be.
That they'd rather die as soon as possible before they could do the things they have no control over and hurt others.
That death is not a punishment but a solution.
It's what he'd wanted for himself too. To die before becoming a Level E.
That by killing them, he's helping and saving them as much as their victims .
Zero pushed his door open and the moment he closed it, a comforting wave of aura surrounded him. It felt like it was stroking every part of his body that was hurting and with every stroke the pain doesn't just go away, it also leaves that tingling feeling of satisfaction that right now is lulling him to the most comfortable sleep.
"You're hungry." He uttered, eyes closed at how good and satisfied he feels right now just by the proximity.
"You're tired." Kaname's voice is equally as pleasurable and satisfying as his presence. He himself is healing.
He looked straight and found Kaname sitting on his bed, eyes a flaming red.
It's been five days since he last fed him in his room after that night the blond noble attacked him. It's also been that long since the last time he saw him and to be honest, he'd been craving him too.
He walked towards him and reached to touch his beautiful face which the pureblood welcomed wholeheartedly if not greedily. He leaned towards his touch, his hands covering his own, pressing it further and inhaling him loudly.
Zero felt Kaname's aura hum in satisfaction as well.
It's clear to him that they both need each other right now.
"You've been busy." Zero said, remembering how stretched he feels at not sensing Kaname around. He hasn't been in the academy for days and one time he was…. he didn't come see him.
Kaname kept looking up to him, now soft but firm lips kissing his hands. His red sparkling eyes slowly being consumed by molten golden dust.
"You've been busy, too." Kaname said, tone dangerously low and threatening. "You don't smell like me…" His tone was biting.
He used the spray. He'd been using it ever since the attack. Prancing around with Kaname's scent is dangerous, he realized belatedly. Kaname was right. With his scent, he'll become a target.
"But you said-"
Kaname cut him off with a growl, his hands tightening around his. "I know what I said!" He spitted, "but that doesn't mean you can go around smelling like another person."
Their eyes met and Zero found himself transfixed.
But as he looked, the more he saw. Beyond the jealousy and intensity of Kaname's emotions, he noticed exhaustion and worry. The dark hue on the pureblood's immaculate skin around his eyes and the fatigue he could see in his eyes.
He could never get used to Kaname's vulnerable side. He'd always been untouchable and strong.
He let himself be pulled towards the brunet and onto his lap. He helped him position himself to the most comfortable for Kaname. He feels the strong need to wipe away the worry and tension he is feeling.
Now that he's actually straddling him, the need to treat and prioritize Kaname's well-being came onto him, temporarily putting the agreement to keep unnecessary stuff on the back burner.
He just wants to make Kaname feel better.
Kaname's fingers on his nape and the way they scraped his scalp made him moan in pleasure.
"Please…" Kaname's voice came out pleading. "Let me kiss you." He's asking permission.
Zero's heart swelled. It means a lot to know that despite looking like he's having a hard time, Kaname chooses to respect his wishes.
How can he say no?
He lowered his head and pressed his lips as gently as he could, enjoying the drag and the build up of the anticipation. The twin sigh after their lips finally touched ignited the fire so powerful that it engulfed them both faster than the speed of light.
Zero opened his mouth instantly because that's how much he wants him inside him in any way. Knowing that they have a deadline, Zero decided to let go and relish the addicting pleasure of the bond while they still have it.
He might really forget all of Kaname later on but for now, he wants to bask in all of him.
Any form of interaction between them soothes the bond and when they do, it gives them both great pleasure.
The feel of their tongues pressing and intertwining then moving inside each other's mouths caused excitement like no other. He's now practically riding Kaname's lap, moving in a frenzied way.
Hands that felt like licks of hot flame over his heated skin caused delightful moans that filled the room along with the wet sounds of their kissing as their mouths smack and suck, chasing each other's tongues and the nibbling of lips sound-tracked their ears.
Kaname's hand around his dick made him jerk in surprise. He didn't even notice him pulling it out. But it feels so divine that he couldn't find any care as his mind is filled with the intense need for release.
The pureblood's big warm hand pumping him increased the loudness of his voice and he couldn't help it even knowing the possibility that they could be heard outside and that they're in the headmaster's residence.
One movement after a delicious succession of pumps made Zero feel Kaname's hardened cock against his thigh and so without mind, he unzipped the pureblood's pants and pulled out his enormous throbbing erection. He glided his fingers across his shaft and felt blood rushing through it as it grew and expanded in his touch.
He could only feel it's velvety texture, the light twitching of veins against his fingers and the feel of it hardening as he found their rhythm together.
His head is filled with desire, pleasure and the need for release. He wants them to come together. He wants to do so much, but he's on the edge and he wants to take Kaname with him to the drop.
With hazy eyes and mind, he pulled away to look at Kaname's face. Surprised at how desperate he looks, how lost his expression has become, like a puppet who is now controlled by lust and desire… all for Zero… because of Zero.
Kaname's mouth is slightly open, his breath on Zero's face and he has that wild look on his golden eyes. His jaw tightened and his eyes trained on him ever so softly and everything faded into nothingness.
Tiny tingly sparks slowly grew into flames of pleasure spreading from his core to every nerve-endings of his body. He could see himself through the pureblood's eyes as he mirrors everything Kaname is feeling, reciprocates it and allows himself to drown in the pleasure they share.
"Hnngg… ugh… Kaname…" He gasped, feeling his breath shortening as he nears his limit. He felt Kaname move his hand to press both their throbbing erections together and wrap his big warm hands over his own and together they move in unison.
Hot, wet and sizzling sensation crept up from where they're joined and their bodies strained and twisted for the holy grail that is just within reach.
Then stars exploded all together inside him, a brilliant supernova of energy that produced shockwaves after shockwaves of delectable orgasm with every spurt of their hot come over their joined hands. It goes on and on and Zero feels like they're still far from being empty as multiple waves- increasing in magnitude, still rocks them.
Their eyes transfixed in each other and Zero felt his skin prickle, like it was coming alive and asking for something. It's asking to be pierced. His own fangs extend in preparation for feeding and he's not even willing it to come out. It's just gearing up for something so natural.
He couldn't blink as he watched the same on Kaname. The golden glow intensifies as his beautiful white fangs come out of hiding and he looks at him like he's the only one in the whole universe, like Kaname is to him at this moment.
Both of them moved at the same time, lowered their heads on the side of each other's necks and with great anticipation, pierced their fangs on each other. Instead of pain, bolts of pleasure coming from everywhere in him, deep and shallow, consumed him whole. The sweet smell and taste of Kaname's blood in his mouth is where this new pleasure is coming from, even the feel of Kaname's fangs drawing his blood and hearing him gulping increases the intense pleasant feeling.
All of these while they're still coming, joined hands pumping and jerking and their other free one behind each other keeps them close as they satiate from each other's blood and orgasm.
Zero thought it would never end, he's weakening from the level of satisfaction and fulfillment and yet he still wants to keep it going. He wants to push himself.. and push… and push….
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Are you sure you want me to go?" Senri asked, testing Takuma.
One sign of hesitancy and he's not leaving. Not when the blond noble needs him here too.
With more purebloods missing and the first two bodies found drained and dried up of blood, in just a week, the problem is just getting worse. The council is in chaos and everyone's eyes are on Kaname right now.
Takuma leaned for a kiss. Intense, deep, long and meaningful that when he let go of him, his mouth was swollen red and he's flushed down to his neck.
"I'm getting hard and you're gonna have to take responsibility before I go." Senri said, catching his breath and moving to press his hardening cock against the older noble when his strong hand kept him in place.
Red eyes glowing too intensely with lush in the break of dawn. Just after they spent a good 12 hours making love and he'd made him come countless times.
"You know this is harder for me." Takuma pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "But you'll be back in a week and you'll never leave me again."
Senri's eyes widened. This is the signal he'd been waiting for. He'd have severed his ties with his family long ago but Takuma thought it wasn't the right time yet.
"But the-"
Takuma pressed a finger on his lips. "It doesn't matter. Kaname is gonna make a decision soon and it's going to reset the board."
Senri cocked his head in confusion. There are times when he gets jealous of Kaname and Takuma's friendship, especially when they talk in riddles like this and he could only try to connect the dots.
"The pawn is now where it shouldn't be and he has no choice but to promote it to avoid stalemate. I wonder if the pawn will be promoted to a knight, a bishop or a rook…" Senri followed Takuma's eyes as he looked over the lake to the other side where the headmaster's residence is. "I'd be damned if he replaced his Queen."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Zero woke up to a pleasing warm breath ghosting his skin as warm lips traced his jawline and down his throat.
Zero leaned and his body followed Kaname's lips, baring his neck to encourage his kisses while the pureblood indulges him with light close-mouthed kisses that slowly injected shots of strong caffeine-like pulses in his system, waking him in the most effective way while also making him hard in the process.
"Something happened…" Kaname's sultry voice, deep and soothing so early in the morning, is just not helping his cock's reaction to his tiny attacks.
He blinked blearily, forcing himself to focus on Kaname's voice instead of his warm breath on his nape, his knee between his thighs and one firm hand pressing on his slender waist.
"Nggh…" He rolled on to his back lazily to meet the pureblood's eyes and just because he wanted to see his face. But just as he gazed at him above him, Kaname took him in, his dark red eyes so clear and his dark hair framed his face like a halo. His features never fail to overwhelm him and just like now, makes him gasp.
Zero's eyes focused on the corner of Kaname's mouth. He never noticed how they were upwards and how cute they are this close. He wants to touch it, run his finger, then his tongue over it… and he did.
Kaname yielded to his touch when he cradled his face and pulled him down to kiss the said corner.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Kaname's needs crashed over him and he let it pull him under. He covered Zero's frame with his and as he did, hummed in each other's mouth the moment their bodies pressed against each other.
The memories of what happened last night are still fresh in his mind. With one swipe of tongue and nibble of lips, Kaname pulled away and pressed his forehead against Zero's.
"I bit you." He reminded him. Even he didn't notice it at first. Not until Zero had passed out and he'd calmed down did he realize that he wasn't stung by Zero's hunter seal. In fact, instead of painful electric-like shock, he felt pleasurable shockwaves with every gulp.
Zero paused and he could see through his eyes how he tried to remember what he was talking about and when he did, he absent-mindedly reached for the side of his neck where the seal is. His beautiful lavender eyes twinkling like the stars in the night sky have been pulverized and they were all poured inside Zero's orbs like magic silver dust, it's so majestic.
It's equally as beautiful as the color it had changed into before he passed out last night.
He ran his fingers, gently beside and over his eyelids. "You eyes… just like mine… they've changed into a golden color." He leaned to kiss his eyelids and then his nose before kissing him quickly on the lips. "I've never seen anything like it."
Zero went quiet and Kaname found himself curious about what he's thinking. He's about to ask when the silver-haired boy turned his head and looked away, body feeling rigid and cold in his hold.
No.
"Zer-"
"We made it worse." He said.
Kaname frowned. "Worse?"
"The bond!" Zero raised his voice. He's getting angry again. And for some reason, it makes him panic. When Zero moved to get up, he captured his hands, intertwined it with his and held it above his head on each side, effectively trapping Zero with his whole body.
"Listen…" His heart beat so fast. He knows what he's gonna say but he's afraid that once he'd said it, everything will finally really change.
Opponents change but the chess pieces remain the same. He's running out of time before the game officially starts and he can't just let go of Zero.
'Let's figure it out together.'
Zero's voice rang in his head. His words have been playing over and over again like a broken record player reminding him that both of them are in the same position of not knowing what's to come and yet Zero is willing to go through it all with him. While he is selfishly finding ways to get out of the situation, to choose the supposedly easy way.
It turns out that, after everything… even though he still couldn't understand and explain his feelings about Zero and the bond… there's one thing he's sure of, more than anything.
That is he can't stay away from Zero and every bit of his being is willing to swim against the current, to try even if it's difficult, as long as Zero is right next to him.
Zero had always been brave. Even when the fates never favored him from the beginning. He'd always stood his ground and fought for what he believed in. This is what he liked about him from the beginning. The reason why he was so interested in him. How he's so unpredictable and dauntless.
He's willing to figure things out with him! And yet he left him hanging…
"Help me…" He said, like the words didn't want to come out as some part of his brain is fighting to keep him from truly falling. "Let's figure this out together…"
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Yuuki heard gasps and turned to see some of the Night Class students appear at the entrance of the auditorium, where some of the assigned Day Class students were busy setting everything up for the Summer School Festival on Saturday.
She's not part of the committee but she's here to relay a message to Zero from the headmaster. She was told that there will be no crossover for two days. The headmaster didn't tell her why and that she only had to tell Zero.
She wasn't expecting this.
The Night Class vice-president smiled at her and greeted everyone.
All the students were stunned and couldn't move. There are twelve members so far. Three representatives for the stage decoration in every class.
While Takuma Ichijou was speaking to everyone that they're sent to help, Yuuki noticed how Zero looked in the vampire's direction and the way some of them in his.
She stood to salvage the situation before everything heats up. "Thank you for coming, Ichijou-san. I think they need more people to set up the wall and ceiling." She herded some of the nobles to the other side, away from Zero.
She also went to lock the auditorium just in case some of the fangirls discovered that there are Night Class students helping them. No one wanted to be part of the stage decoration, so the teacher decided to randomly pick the members.
If they'd known this beforehand, the auditorium would have been flooded by now with volunteers.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Do you need help?"
Takuma Ichijou's smile looked so irritating. He looked at him like he knows something that Zero has no idea about.
"No." He said automatically. He didn't even think about whether or not he actually needed help.
He was only painting the banner he was told to do and he's done in a few strokes. Then he realized he had to hang it on the ceiling.
His pride kept him from calling the noble back after leaving him alone like he wanted.
So he ended up doing everything by himself. He knows he's being petty and stupid because he could've finished sooner if he asked help.
Zero had to get out of the auditorium to the storage room to get a ladder and had to bring it back and tie the ropes to the ceiling to hang the banner.
He was sweating and feeling tired after he was all done and the nobles and the other day class students had already left, leaving just him with Miura and Isami from his class. After getting off the ladder, he saw them standing around the table where the printer and cutter is.
They looked tense and worried.
"What's wrong?" He asked but didn't have to hear the answer after looking at the broken cutter that was supposed to cut the random shapes automatically. It was smoking.
"We already printed everything, but the cutter overheated." Isami uttered.
"You can finish it tomorrow." He said, "get back to the dorms now it's already dark… I will put it aside."
Nodding, both Isami and Miura agreed to finish it tomorrow, thanking Zero for volunteering to set the cutouts aside and lock the auditorium.
After they've left, Zero yawned in exhaustion but accidentally stepped on something on the floor and realized it was a pair of scissors.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Yuuki saw from her binoculars two figures in the dark coming from the auditorium. She thought they'd already finished after the Night Class had returned to the Moon Dorm.
She went on to do one round of patrol since Zero is taking over by 7 o'clock after dinner.
When she was done, she decided to pass by the auditorium just to make sure they'd locked it properly or at all.
To her dismay and frustration, she could see that the door was wide open. She strode into the hall and almost banged the door when she saw something move inside.
It was already dark and the lights were never turned on but as her vision focused with the help from the moon light, she started to see a very weird and interesting scene.
One that she never even imagined once to happen.
Kaname stood next to a table full of fliers and cutouts, and in his arms is Zero.. sleeping so soundly, undisturbed by the fact that his mortal enemy, a pureblood vampire is carrying him in his arms.
She stood unable to process the sudden turn of events.
"K-Kaname-kun." She mouthed.
The pureblood turned to her and smiled at her a little, "He must be so tired." He moved the silver-haired boy in his arms for a more comfortable position. "Can you help me get him to his room?"