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"Kaname...why won't the child talk?" Ruka asked worriedly. In her lap was the new boy who Kaname had taken under his wing, sleeping soundly for the first time since he had arrived.
"He hasn't since the night his parents were murdered. I told all of you that he was fragile, did I not?" Kaname answered, reaching out to touch the silver hair, which had a ring of gold around it from the illuminating fireplace.
"Yes...I suppose I just didn't realize how fragile." Ruka murmured. "You don't have to worry Lord Kaname. We will all look after Zero, just like family. He belongs with us now"
...
Zero had stopped talking again. It had been a week since he'd lusted for blood for the first time. A week since he'd drank Kaname's blood for the first time. Drinking a pureblood's blood was...well, Zero knew that it was a very serious thing. The worst part was, his body wouldn't accept the blood tablets that everyone else was taking, so he really had no other option rather than starve, and Kaname wouldn't allow that to happen.
The other vampires had surprisingly taken it in with ease. That was most likely because they already knew it would happen, as Kaname had told them everything beforehand. They weren't even that upset that Kaname's blood was spilled for the child. Any other person besides their Zero, Aido swore, would probably be dead for drinking Kaname's blood.
On the eighth day since his first vampire behavioral signs had shone, Zero emerged from his room. His first stop was to the room that Takuma and Senri shared together.
"Zero, you've finally come out of your room!" Takuma hugged him tightly. Zero hugged him back, and then left his embrace and walked over to Senri, who was sitting on his bed impassively. The lavender eyed boy stared at him for a moment before resting his head on the model's shoulder and nuzzling him. I'm sorry Senri...An unspoken apology. Shiki ruffled his hair and smiled. You have no reason to be sorry.
...
The sun was finally rising into the sky, which meant that the night class were all settling down to sleep. Kaname had a book in his lap, doing some light reading before he would finally go to sleep himself. His mind was far too active to sleep now anyway. It was Zero's first night here at the Moon dorms. They had set him up in the bedroom right next to Kaname's, for both of their comfort.
The pureblood's sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming towards his door. It wasn't hard at all to know that it was Zero, mostly due to his smell and the sound of his little feet shuffling. The footsteps stopped right outside his door. Kaname set his book aside and straightened up.
"Come in Zero!" He called, just loudly enough for the boy to hear. After a moment, the door slowly creaked open. The child was dressed in the only pair of pajamas he had, a dark blue oversized t-shirt and white pants that looked old. Kaname planned to take Zero into town soon to get him a large assortment of new clothes, and perhaps some toys too. What did human children like to do for fun?
"What is it? Can you not sleep?" Kaname asked, concerned as he rose and crossed the room, resting a hand atop Zero's head. Zero gazed up, not doing anything except staring into the vampire's dark brown eyes. Then, it suddenly dawned on him, and Kaname slapped his forehead.
"Ah, of course! You aren't used to sleeping in the daytime yet!" Kaname cursed to himself for not thinking about that. "I suppose we'll just have to get you used to sleeping during the day. "
That was exactly what he did. Each of the night class members seemed to have something to add for advice in helping the child sleep. Ruka said that warm tea would help. Takuma said that reading a book or manga before settling to sleep would do the trick. Rima suggested music, and Kain had heard somewhere that wearing socks made you more sleepy. Shiki deemed pocky as the true solution to sleep.
All of the ideas were combined. One hour before bed, Zero would have a glass of warm milk and cinnamon, a book would be read to him, light music would play in the background, and he would wear warm woolen socks...and lastly eat pocky. Eventually he was able to sleep properly during the day.
...
Feeding was both embarrassing yet comforting to Zero. He would sit on the purebloods lap, and Kaname would help Zero find the right part of his neck to bite. Then he would feed eagerly, until he was full. He hadn't exactly mastered being careful, so usually he ended up with blood all over his shirt and face when he was done.
Kaname knew how much Zero hated the fact that he needed to drink blood from now on. The silver haired boy especially didn't like drinking from Kaname because he was afraid it would hurt him. He didn't want to hurt him or anything! The pureblood would try to occupy Zero's mind. Often while Zero drank from him, Kaname would read aloud stories to him, or explain the complicated things in class that Zero had not understood fully.
When he was done, Kaname would help him clean up and Zero would be full and content. The feeding always helped his mood improve as well. Once 'feeding time' was all done, he would act more cheerful, and sometimes even playful. It was rare when Zero's child side showed, and in the rare times that it did, then the night class would embrace it.
Zero was the type of child who sought comfort, mostly calm words and physical contact. He enjoyed things like being hugged, getting his shoulder patted, or having his hair ruffled. When he was feeling playful, often he would wrestle and rough house with other night class students, or even Yuki when he visited her.
Lately Zero's visits to the Cross household had been lacking. Kaname would go quite often as usual. Zero prefered to stay with the night class, but sometimes he missed Yuki so much that he just had to go. Even though he was now a vampire, Kaname wasn't worried that he would hurt Yuki because Zero's new drinking habits kept him calm and controlled.
Yuki seemed pretty much oblivious to his new change. Kaien was of course informed by Kaname, and he had already known what would happen anyway. Still...Zero always had that inner fear. What if one day Kaname's blood would not keep him sustained? What if he hurt Yuki? Then Kaname would be mad...he would probably never talk to Zero again, and then Zero would be broken. He didn't want to lose Kaname.
...
Zero did not like walking to class every evening. Lots of girls would be loud and screaming. They would push and shove and try to touch them. They made him uncomfortable, and sometimes he would freeze on the spot as they swarmed the night class.
While it was obvious they were attracted to all of the night class, the girls were different with Zero. They would crowd around him and call him names like 'adorable' and 'cutie pie'. It was humiliating, especially when his cheeks were pinched and his hair was stroked by unfamiliar hands. He would shut his eyes and wait to be rescued.
Kaname would usually take his hand, although sometimes Takuma or Ruka would instead. Aido would try to make him see things on the bright side. "It's like having fans Zero! We're popular!"
Whenever Aido told him that, the child would scowl and shake his head. Kaname would laugh. "Zero seems to take after most of our thinking. The day class is bothersome, but they're something we must just put up with."
Because of Kaname's words, Zero would put up with them. That didn't mean he had to like it though. Kaname never said anything about enjoying being fawned over. They acted like he was a baby, and he was not a baby! In a few months he would be eleven years old.
The day class weren't the only people to think of Zero as a baby. The night class viewed Zero as a baby too.
But he was their baby.
…
"Zero?" Kaname asked as he tucked the boy into bed for the day.
"Kaname?" Zero responded, looking up with his ever inquisitive gaze. Kaname couldn't help but smile at those eyes, eyes the shade of levender that still looked so innocent, but had seen too much darkness to ever be fully innocent.
"Will you finally tell me why you like being around me so much?" He asked. "There must be a reason. Why did you like me so much the moment we met?"
Zero stayed staring up at the pureblood's eyes for a moment, and then did this sort of half smile and reached to take the larger hand into his own. "Well…you're my Kaname. We keep each other safe."
"Do we now?" Kaname murmured.
"Yes," Zero nodded seriously. "You were hurting very much… and me too. I was hurting too. We both hurt, and now we both need each other. We do, don't we Kaname?"
It was probably the longest and most truthful thing Zero had ever said to him. He contemplated for a moment and realized just how right he was. He did need Zero. Their attachment was unique...the child was somewhat between a mix of a little brother, and and offspring to Kaname. There was more to their attachment than that, but as of now he wasn't sure what that was. All he knew was that there was a small hurt boy who needed love and care. If he somehow lost Zero, then he would be crushed, both in mind and soul.
"...We do Zero," The pureblood agreed after his moment of thought, giving his hand a squeeze. It was such a small hand. So small and frail. So pale and soft. So trusting….
"We do indeed."
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm starting school the day after tomorrow, so the next chapter might take a few extra days to write.
Review replies from chapter 2:
ben4kevin: Thanks for the review! I hope this chapter was satisfying! :)
kluna: Yay! I'm so glad you like it! I was worried that people would hate it since I've never written VK fanfiction before! Thanks so much for the review!
Sonzai Taz: Haha yes, for now just think of it as a childlike attatchment. Zero is very hooked to Kaname, but not exactly romantically as of now. Right now it's more of an innocent possessive. I'm so glad you are enjoying it, and thank you so much for the review! I hope you liked this chapter as well.
Pri-Chan 1410: I know, Zero is so adorable! *Squeals* It's so much fun writing him. Thanks a bundle for reviewing and enjoying the story! :D
OfDarknessandFlowers: Thanks for reviewing! Yes, I tend to be a little obsessed with fluffiness, which is why I couldn't help but try to make this chapter have fluffy scenes to. Gah, I'm way too addicted to cuteness! Anyway, I'm glad you like it so far, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
cyhap: EEEEeee! I know, isn't it all so adorable?! I've always loved reading fics about Zero in the night class, and I love little Zero so much. So I combined them, mowahahah! I hope you liked this chappie! I'll update the next one soon, I promise! :)
NanaliJoci: Yes, Zero's possessiveness of Kaname will be a continuing conflict throughout the story as the plot develops. Poor Shiki, at least he wasn't mad. (Shiki is SO my favorite night class character!) Yes, now Kaname will be Zero's blood supply. Almost like a personal water bottle...*facepalm* ignore that last statement. Anyways, thanks for reviewing, and I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!