I hope everyone enjoyed a nice summer, I can't believe it's already fall. No warnings for this chapter. Thanks for reading, everyone!
As of now, I don't intend to explain Aido's rescue operation in more detail. Please feel free to use your imagination to construct the most ridiculous, hilarious sequence of events possible.
To reviewer asanokatsuya10: Don't worry, you haven't forgotten anything. Zero hasn't revealed his reason to the Kurans for his unhealthy habits yet. Stay tuned.
XXVI. Ask No Questions, Hear No Lies
"Aiieeee!"
Zero claps a hand around the struggling vampire's mouth. "Blood and ashes, stop screaming, you'll wake the servants and attract the guards," he hisses.
The vampire in his grasp goes limp, the whites of his eyes showing.
"If I let go, are you going to do something stupid?" Zero asks.
The figure shakes his head no.
Slowly, Zero releases the noble, who reels back with a highly wounded expression, clutching the kitchen counter in an offended manner.
"What are you doing here at three in the afternoon, Aido?" Zero asks, pinching the bridge of his nose until he realizes he's copying one of Kuran's tells, and hastily drops his hand.
"What are you doing here at three in the afternoon?" the blond noble huffs back, crossing his arms.
It's a fair question; by all rights, Zero should be in bed with Yuuki and Kuran at this hour. "Kaito is overseas. I wanted to call at a more convenient time for him." It was true. Zero had called Kaito for about fifteen minutes, two hours ago. "Now, what are you doing in my kitchen?"
"Food!" Aido says, gesturing wildly at the empty room and the fridges. "I was up late and wanted a snack, and then you sneaked up on me out of nowhere!"
Zero raises an eyebrow. "Pay more attention to your surroundings. I wasn't even trying," he says, circling around Aido to reach the fridge. "Has Souen brought you some clothes and stuff?"
"Yeah," Aido huffs with his arms still crossed, peering over Zero's shoulder to find what food he wants. "I'm still waiting for my equipment to be delivered. I haven't even been able to start analyzing that sample! If I can't take it in my lab and study it, why can't someone else?"
"Because it's secret," Zero says matter-of-factly, snagging a banana. "And you know why you can't leave."
Aido is in a dangerous position. Not only had the noble caught Shirabuki's attention, but he'd been the instrument of her humiliation by Kuran and Yuuki. Shirabuki, like all purebloods, held grudges, and she might seek to harm Aido or deliberately recapture him. Kuran did not want to take any risks. Until Shirabuki lost interest, or her attention was drawn elsewhere, Aido was Rosehill's guest for the foreseeable future. Kuran's orders were absolute; Aido is not allowed to set one toe outside Rosehill's walls, for any reason.
"So, human or vampire," Aido says, his arms full of food, popping a leftover meatball from dinner in his mouth.
"What?" Zero replies, genuinely confused as he peels his fruit.
Aido leans his hip against the counter, munching on the container of cold spaghetti. "Your spy."
"My spy," Zero repeats, eyeing the blond out of the corner of his eye.
"I saw your information. No Hunter could have made it inside with so many guards," Aido says, swallowing and fixing Zero with an uncomfortably intelligent gaze. "Therefore, the Hunters must have a traitor on the inside passing them intel."
"Think what you like," Zero says, turning away a little too quickly and taking a bite.
"I know you're not saying everything you know about my rescue, but I'm not trying to press you," Aido says. "Kaname-sama might, though. I just wanted to warn you."
Then Aido blinks, and looks at Zero again. "What are you wearing?"
Zero looks down. He's just wearing his training outfit: some sweatpants and a white cotton shirt. "I went for a run," he says, "I couldn't sleep."
Zero leaves out the part where the run lasted for about two hours, and that this is the third time this week he's snuck out to do extra training after shaking off various familiars, in addition to the workouts the Kurans know he does during the evening hours. They wouldn't like the intensity, but Zero needs to be back in fighting condition as soon as he can.
"Oh, damn," Zero realizes suddenly, his heart racing and his eyes going wide. "Aido, I touched you. With my bare hand."
Aido makes a noise like a dying animal. "I'm going to die," he whimpers. "I touched Kaname-sama's Consort."
"Calm down, Aido. I'll tell them it's my fault," Zero says.
"Yuuki-hime's going to kill me," Aido wails, knocking his forehead against the kitchen counter.
"Yuuki wouldn't kill you," Zero says, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Aido's getting a bit too dramatic.
Aido looks up with watery eyes. "Yuuki-hime would crush anyone who looked at you weird. And I touched you. She's going to tear me into tiny pieces and feed me into a paper shredder!"
"Um, okay then," Zero says, not quite sure how to respond. Yuuki wouldn't really, would she…?
"We can fix this," the Hunter says, his common sense kicking in. "We get rid of the evidence either of us were here, we both go shower, I sleep alone tonight, and no one has to know we had an accident."
"Okay," Aido says with watery eyes, shaking his head frantically. "You're right. There's no reason anyone would know."
It takes Yuuki only seconds to smell the alpha challenger whose touch has soiled their mate's skin - a trace of heavy stink clinging to that spicy-sweet omega perfume. Barely perceptible, but Yuuki would notice even the tiniest change when it comes to Zero.
Someone touched mate!
Her lips peel back from her teeth, and she explodes into motion, bounding across the dining room to take their Consort by the wrist, gentle with him even in her fury.
Zero jerks back, obviously alarmed; his Hoseki and the sleeves of his overcoat swing wildly as his Hunter instincts kick in and scream to avoid the charging vampire. When Zero tries to yank himself free, Yuuki loosens her grip even further, but doesn't let go.
Kaname is right behind her, breakfast forgotten in the instinctual drive triggered by such an affront. Taking Zero's dirtied hand in his palms, Kaname draws back the bell sleeve of pale blue lambswool hiding their Consort's skin.
"You tried to wash it off," Kaname says, raising Zero's hand to his lips and delicately scenting the Hunter's palm. The calluses on it are new and red, looking puffy and inflamed as they heal. Zero's thrown himself into his rehabilitation a little too hard, Yuuki thinks protectively.
"A sensible plan," Kaname continues, still almost-touching Zero's hand in that teasing manner. "That would have worked with any alpha, except those of pure blood. We are exceptionally sensitive to our mate's smell." When Kaname breathes against Zero's palm, the Hunter shivers.
Yuuki's instincts lead her thoughts toward more pleasurable hungers, but her anger is unabated. "Who was it?" she demands. "You didn't come back to bed last night. Who tried to steal you? Who dared touch what is ours!"
Zero's expression tenses. "No one tried to steal me. It was my fault. I was careless."
Kaname is still holding Zero's hand; he takes another deep breath, drawing the air in deeply. "Aido," he says contemplatively, after a moment. "I thought it was familiar."
Yuuki bristles. Aido? How dare he touch his master and mistress' Consort! They trusted him! They let him stay in their home, for Night's sake! And this is how they're repaid? Her anger boils in her chest, and she almost storms out of the room, except that would mean leaving Zero.
Zero reads Yuuki's ire from her face. "Yuuki, I swear, there's no reason to be angry at anyone but me. I made a mistake and touched him without thinking."
"Aido will be appropriately punished," Kaname promises, plotting something really terrible from the devilish glint in his eyes. Yuuki nods in approval.
Zero tries again to yank his wrist from Yuuki's grasp, becoming more frantic. "I told you, you don't have to! If you have to punish someone, punish me!"
"Aido deserves his punishment," Kaname tells Zero. "He knew his transgression, yet he tried to hide instead of confessing it to us."
"Don't hurt him!" Zero cries, struggling now in earnest.
Yuuki's alpha is agitated by seeing their mate so upset. Both the Kurans crowd in close, trying to soothe Zero through nearness, and restrain him so he can't harm himself.
"Hush, little Hunter. Aido will not be punished beyond his ability to handle," Kaname croons.
Yuuki shoots him a look. She favored the maximum penalty. Touching Zero was a capital offense!
Out of Zero's sight, Kaname shakes his head at her, mouthing the word 'later'.
"First, let's take care of this stench, shall we?" he says aloud, turning Zero's hand palm up and offering it to Yuuki.
She ducks her head down and licks a quick stripe along Zero's skin, just barely leaving it damp. The pureblood wrinkles her nose and sticks her tongue out. Bleh, icky alpha musk. Zero's flavor is heavenly in comparison, which makes the combination barely tolerable.
Kaname pulls Zero's hand a bit higher and takes a taste of his own, a slight wrinkle in his mouth giving away his displeasure.
Yuuki smacks her lips, trying to work the taste out of her mouth, but gives up. Getting Zero clean of another alpha's scent is worth leaving a nasty taste in her mouth. She'll do her best, she tells herself, and gives another big swipe, determined to have Zero free of the tiniest contamination.
Beside her, Kaname methodically begins to do the same, and they alternate until Zero's palm smells neutrally only of himself. Then they turn their Consort's hand over, and bathe the other side of his hand for good measure, zealous about lapping between his fingers and getting every last part clean.
Zero doesn't seem to know what to think, though he allows the cleansing without protest. "I thought washing didn't work?" he finally says.
"Chemicals in our saliva," Kaname explains, rubbing Zero's palm against his cheek as Yuuki laps at one last spot on the other side.
"You understand that scent-marking by another alpha is a serious insult, an act of provocation when done deliberately, and a significant breach of propriety even by accident?"
"I know," Zero says, turning his head away. "I told you, it was an accident."
Watching Zero become distant makes Yuuki unhappy, and she tugs at Zero's skirts until he looks at her again. "We understand that accidents happen, Zero. But having you smell like another alpha...it made my instincts go crazy. You're ours, and no one else's. So next time just tell us. We'll believe you, no matter what."
"Okay," Zero says. Yuuki doesn't feel like he's convinced, but she doesn't know how to fix it. So she kisses him instead, letting Zero feel how well their bodies move together. When they finally part, several deep kisses later, she's driven thought from both their heads under a tide of heat.
Jealous Kaname muscles in, catching Zero's lips in another kiss to distract him. Lifting Zero by the thighs, he moves their Consort across the room to the gargantuan oak table where their breakfast is cooling. Zero catches on halfway, but doesn't get the chance to protest before he's seated on the edge of the unused, empty half.
Zero looks around himself, and raises an eyebrow. "The dining room table? You really are a perverted old man, Kaname."
Their husband chuckles, turning Zero around and placing him on his hands and knees. "How's this then? Yuuki adores your pretty ass. Would you like to be a good boy, and please her cock with it? Let her rut against you until she comes?"
Zero throws his head back, instinctively offering his throat, and squeezes his thighs together. "Okay. Let's do that," he says breathlessly. Yuuki can see how his pupils are blown wide.
She prowls forward, eager for the tasty treat presented so generously for her. Petting a hand down Zero's spine, Yuuki says, "Maybe you can let us touch you too, this time?"
Zero gives a hard shake of his head. "No, this is good. I don't want any more."
"Alright," she acquiesces, leaning down to kiss the nape of his neck. But the idea keeps niggling at the back of her mind, even as she loses herself in his body.
Even after she's sitting down to a re-heated breakfast afterward, with Zero's lingering warmth underneath her skin, Yuuki can't help but feel a little...dissatisfied.
"I have brought the information on Kiryuu Zero, Kaname-sama," Seiren announces, bowing and presenting the report he requested.
After that recent, exquisitely pleasurable revelation that his Consort was a pure virgin - even now, the thought drives him past madness - Kaname resolved to finally investigate Kiryuu's past, especially the last thirty-odd years. No more surprises, no more secrets. This time, Kaname wants to be prepared for whatever he finds.
Kaname shuffles through the documents Seiren has procured, glancing at each page's contents before moving on the the next. For a fifty-year-old, this amount of material is nothing. Birth information, a slew of childhood addresses as the parents moved for work, police reports and death certificates for the parents and brother, legal guardianship papers for Kaien Cross, various school transcripts. Kiryuu went to university, Kaname discovers with some surprise; the pureblood would have said Kiryuu was too focussed on Hunting to take time off for higher education.
Senate reports on Shizuka's death, Rido's attack, and other incidents at Cross Academy are among the most detailed items. After that, there's a sparse patchwork of execution requests and correlated sightings. Hunters are notoriously tight-lipped about which individual Hunters carry out which missions, for security reasons. There's almost nothing personal after Kiryuu left Cross Academy, and no known close associates beyond Takamiya, Cross and Yagari.
"This is much lower than your usual standard, Seiren," the pureblood comments without censure, reshuffling the papers into a pile on his desk.
His Shadow bows in apology. "Forgive me, Kaname-sama. Our information network does not penetrate beyond the fringes of the Association. We do not have access to archived Hunter materials. All I could acquire were human and vampire documents.
Leaning back in his chair, Kaname holds up his hand and shakes his head. "That's no complaint against you, Seiren. I expected no less. After the scandal with the previous Association president, the Hunters have become much more careful. Leaks are more severely punished now."
Kaname taps his fingers atop the pile, contemplating the picture they present. Many of the early documents he's seen before. When he first chose Kiryuu as his tool, Kaname had probed every facet of the Hunter's life he could before he allowed the D near Yuuki. His resources at the time had been quite limited; Kaname is surprised to find little more information has been added even with the resources of his present network.
And the questions he most keenly wants answered will not find closure anywhere in this ink and paper. If Kaname cannot access Hunter records, he needs personal testimony from people who knew Kiryuu. Human lifespans being what they are, many of those people are already dead. The rest are probably Hunters, and they won't speak to a vampire about one of their own. A tangled complication indeed, he thinks, shaking his head. How typical of his problems with Kiryuu.
"Let's start with something simple," Kaname says, thinking aloud as he sorts back through Seiren's papers. The pureblood slides a single sheet out the of pile, indicating the name printed at the top. "This is Kiryuu's last place of residence. Go there in the morning, and find out what the humans knew about him - habits, how he lived, his possessions, what his room looked like. Even the absence of information tells us something."
"Will you be joining me, Kaname-sama?" Seiren asks.
"No," Kaname replies, steepling his fingers. "I already have an appointment tonight. I've promised to take Kiryuu to see his horses. He's insistent on riding daily."
"I will execute your will, so please enjoy yourself, Kaname-sama," Seiren says, and disappears in a blur.
Kaname smiles into the empty room. He's anticipating whatever he finds out - how will the game advance? What will his opening move discover?
Zero only needs to see him, and he knows.
Painful joy lances through his chest, and he smiles through the feeling. "You're pregnant," he whispers, and Takuma smiles and nods with a gentle hand on his belly.
Coming forward to take Takuma's hands in his own, Zero swallows past the lump in his throat. "Shouto agreed?"
His friend nods again, still with that soft smile on his face. "Isaya told me that he didn't want the past to overshadow the future. That he was here, awake, because he wanted to stay with me. And he wanted everything he could have while we were together. If I was ready, so was he."
"Are you happy?" Zero asks.
"Very much," Takuma says, his face bright.
Zero's eyes prickle. "Good. That's the most important thing. I remember when Kaito was having his first kid. He was over the moon. Both of them were. You're way smarter then that idiot, so you'll do fine."
"Thank you, Zero," Takuma says, squeezing Zero's hands and pulling him toward the house. "Let's go meet the others. You were last to arrive."
"I guess you'll be wearing skirts and answering to Mrs. Shouto for a while?" Zero teases as they walk.
Laughing, Takuma says, "You're right. I should see my tailor this week!"
When vampires interacted with humans, they had to explain somehow why "men" were obviously pregnant and giving birth to children without giving away their secrets. Their solution was simple - when an omega who was born male appeared among humans, they pretended to be female. To perfect the deception, the vampires even created false birth certificates and other records so male omegas could claim their children as their own.
Zero has his own set of fake identification cards with an 'f' in the gender box from their holiday to southern Europe. Much more embarrassing is the marriage certificate that legally makes him Kuran Kaname's wife. He wanted to be Yuuki's wife, not that old lecher's, damnit!
...Wait, no, that came out wrong.
"I guess we won't be sparring together for a while, since you're pregnant," Zero says as an afterthought.
Takuma laughs again. "Hardly. We can practice after the meeting if you've got time."
"Really?" Zero says, looking sideways at Takuma.
"Yes. Activity is fine until I'm so big that it makes me uncomfortable. And we're not using live blades so it isn't dangerous."
Zero must look doubtful, because Takuma laughs once more, the sound full of mirth. "We're omegas, Zero-kun. For us, staying pregnant is as easy as getting pregnant. Unless you're starving or badly injured, you'll carry the baby full term. I've never heard of an omega having a natural miscarriage."
"Oh. Well, I'll stay after and we can have a session," Zero replies, but is interrupted by a loud caw. The Hunter glares at the raven in the tree, which begins to preen his feathers.
"What was that about?" Takuma asks as they go inside and make their way to the tea room.
Scowling, Zero glares at empty air. Kuran knows he trained this morning; he'd better skip the evening run before the pureblood got suspicious. "Who knows? Kaname's probably just being possessive, or mad that I'm staying out longer."
"Are you sure?" Takuma says. "If it's better that we didn't, I don't mind."
"No, no, I want to spar together while we still can," Zero says hastily.
"Consort Kiryuu!" calls Aido Madoka, looking up from her conversation with Takiyama and Azai, who both wave hello.
Consort Shoshana, sipping her tea quietly, makes eye contact and offers a faint smile. She looks in better health than she did at Court, for which Zero is glad.
Takiyama frowns. "Consort Kiryuu, you look tired. Are you well?"
Beside Zero, Takuma gives him an assessing look. "You do look a little worn."
Zero keeps his face stoic. He's exhausted and his body hurts, but it's a necessary step if he wants his body back in pre-injury condition. He'll stop feeling the strain soon. "I'm fine, just didn't sleep well," he says, kneeling down on a pillow. "Should we start?"
"Really, Consort Kiryuu, I think you made quite an impression last time," Takiyama begins once Zero and Takuma have been served. "Handling the Court didn't seem to phase you." She offers Zero a teacake in the shape of a leaf, taro flavored from the purple color.
Zero almost laughs as he accepts the sweet. He cheated on that one, not that Takiyama knows it. "What kind of reception has the last Court received among the nobles?" he asks instead.
Azai and Aido look at one another. "I don't know if they're more impressed or angry that you threatened them," Aido replies.
"More like scared spitless," Takiyama snorts into her tea.
"The trick where you reprimanded Abe was a good touch," Azai says with satisfaction.
Zero laughs nervously, avoiding a reply.
"I can't believe he had the gall to suggest sleeping with Kaname and Yuuki-san in front of you," Takuma marvels.
"Did I mess up there?" Zero asks. "I got a bit touchy." Just remembering it, Zero's skin heats with rage and he wants to grind his teeth.
"Well, we're not really supposed to act primal in polite company. But it was entirely understandable after such a shameless provocation. I don't think people can criticize you for it," Azai replies. "They might even approve. No one likes Abe."
Aido Madoka makes a fist and shakes it. "If Abe-san said that to me, I would've clawed his ugly face off!"
Everyone, including Shoshana, pauses to stare at her, tiny and fierce in her shimmery, pastel pink organza dress encrusted with white roses.
"Well," Takuma prompts, picking up the teapot to pour a round of fresh tea, "I heard there was some trouble with the greeting ritual?"
"Sugiyama refused. Consort Kiryuu educated the Court on her error," Shoshana provides, the beads in her hair clicking as she tosses her braids over her shoulder.
"Your solution proved very elegant, Consort Ichijo," Azai compliments. "I've spoken to a number of monarchists who were highly impressed by Consort Kiryuu's nuance, depth of understanding and respect for tradition."
Takuma beams. "Thank you. It sounds like Zero-kun did very well."
The praise feels unearned. "I think Noguchi backed me into a corner pretty badly," Zero corrects. "And Koneko led me in a bad direction. That time, Aido-san's help was the only thing that rescued me. In the end, I could only gain the upper hand by threatening everyone."
The other omegas pause. Zero gets the impression they were going to ease into the less good parts.
"Koneko's line of questioning was inevitable," Azai finally says. "You'll be pressured with your actions as a Hunter in the future. The important thing is that you avoided a significant stumble this time."
Aido Madoka leans back, blowing out her breath. "Noguchi is the big problem. She didn't just back you into a corner - she made sure you took a beating while you were there. In the last Court, she didn't actually do anything except make you admit the truth, but that successfully dealt your authority a lot of damage. Not to be blunt, but the core problem is that you do have a conflict of interest between your Hunter and vampire identities. When you couldn't deny it, Noguchi proved to the Court they have good reason not to trust you. Now they'll doubt you even more, especially when the Hunters come up."
Takiyama takes up the explanation. "Noguchi also deliberately incited the nobles who don't like your Level D status and impure blood. We'll have a few years before your fertility becomes a serious issue, so you needn't worry on that account. But the attitudes she encouraged are a problem."
"And there are the things she insinuated about your relationship with Hio Shizuka. Noguchi linked you to the deaths of two purebloods. That's the opposite of good," Aido Madoka finishes tersely with her arms crossed.
Zero can tell that she's curious, but the Hunter remains stubbornly silent. He's not talking about Shizuka just to satisfy her curiosity. You don't bleed old wounds for fun.
The silence draws out until Takuma, sensing Zero's reluctance to continue, gives Zero an escape. "All of that is in the past now. We can't change what happened, but we'll work on repairing the injuries at the next Court. Now, would anyone like more tea?"
Takuma really is a good friend, Zero reflects as the noble bustles around filling cups and passing sweets, lightening the mood and drawing the room's attention away from Zero. Talk turns to lighter subjects, but Zero keeps brooding on his failures at the last Court. The omegas probably think he's a violent barbarian now - Zero wasn't exactly hesitant about acting like the Hunter he is. Another mistake.
And they brought up his physical relationship with his spouses again. His chest tightens and his gut twists. Zero needs to try harder. He's allowed himself to let things settle into a pattern, because it was comfortable and made him feel safe. It's just - it's hard. Things are fine this way. Yuuki and Kuran are satisfied, and Zero is fine.
"I can't remember the last time we had two pregnancies at once," reminisces Takiyama, patting Takuma's arm.
"Who knows, maybe in January we'll be expecting three," she says, smiling at Zero.
He tries to smile back, but his mouth just twitches. A lump rises in his throat. "Probably not," Zero manages to reply.
"If you're here for Zero-kun, you're late. He's already returning home." Takuma wipes his face on a towel, and leans against a wooden pillar, flashing a familiar smile in Kaname's direction.
"It's good to see you," Kaname says, returning a faint smile of his own. The gravel under his shoes crunches as he steps into the courtyard. "I wanted to speak to you alone."
"You've heard, of course," Takuma says, combing his damp hair off his face.
Kaname's mouth quirks up. "A bird told me, yes. Congratulations." The pureblood surveys his friend. Dressed in athletic clothing and cooling down from his sparring practice with Kiryuu, Takuma looks no different from the man who attended Cross Academy - the same handsome face, friendly air, and skill with a sword.
An illusion. Nothing is the same any longer - Takuma belongs to Shouto now. The speck of life in his belly was the last knot left to be tied. From now on, Takuma's children will draw him even more strongly toward Shouto, away from Kaname's side. That bond was instinct, stronger than any loyalty or friendship Kaname could claim.
No need for this moroseness, Kaname reminds himself. This was the appointed outcome from the moment he knew could not bond Takuma. Today is merely the inevitable conclusion of their separation.
"When are you due?" Kaname asks, picking up Takuma's blunt practice sword to examine it.
A quirk of vampire biology - due to their hybrid nature, vampire pregnancy length varied dramatically. Purebloods carried a child for nearly two years, while human pregnancy took only nine months, and vampires of mixed blood fell somewhere between. The purer the blood, the longer the pregnancy lasted. The accepted rule was to take human pregnancy time and add a month for every class purer the mother's blood was. But that was only a general guide; in practice, studying family history was a more precise estimate. Omegas also tended to carry longer than their beta counterparts.
Shrugging, the noble replies, "We're not sure. There's never been an omega in my family. At least the usual year, perhaps a little longer. Closer to thirteen months."
It took two infusions of pure blood before a family was classed as noble rank. The Ichijo family could claim four. Nobles of such blood purity were rare - Kaname knew of only three families - which meant omegas carrying such pure blood were almost unheard of.
Takuma spots Kaname handling the practice sword. "You were quite good if I remember. You're welcome to join me again sometime. Zero prefers the staff, and I would appreciate the chance to duel another swordsman."
"It would be inappropriate," Kaname objects, putting the weapon back down.
"With anyone else, yes. But our shared history puts our actions above reproach."
Kaname gives him a wry look. "You mean, my inability to be sexually interested in you."
"Precisely," Takuma smiles.
"I will consider it," Kaname allows.
"So what did you need from me?" Takuma prompts, turning away and hopping up on the edge of the wooden porch.
"What makes you think I need something, Takuma?" Kaname deflects, despite it being completely true. Habit makes him reflexively deny his opponent an opening.
The noble laughs, green eyes alight with mirth. "Kaname, we've known each other too long for that. You don't do anything without calculation. Go ahead if you'd like, we don't need to spend time on the usual protocols."
Kaname slips his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "I want information."
"On what?" Takuma asks, crossing one leg over his knee.
The pureblood's expression remains steady. "On Zero. I'm having difficulty locating sources who can tell me about the time period before his presentation. According to the building manager at his apartment, someone matching your description was with him the day he ended his lease."
Takuma's tone is fond as he nods. "You're right, I was there."
Kaname dips his head in acknowledgement, pleased at finding at least one person who has the information he wants. "You worked with him. He must have told you other things."
"A few," Takuma says, "but Zero keeps to himself. Much like you do."
"I'd like to hear what you know."
Takuma tips his head to the side. "Is that an order?" The gentlest of reprimands, delivered with barely any sharpness - Takuma's specialty.
Kaname considers this. "I've had little luck with my normal methods. It can be an order, yes."
Takuma's forehead wrinkles in thought. "Unusually heavy-handed for you, Kaname. I will freely offer you two of my memories. Please leave Zero-kun the rest of his privacy."
"Only two?" questions Kaname. "That's not much incentive."
"I don't know much that will be helpful to you," Takuma confesses.
Weighing Takuma's offer, Kaname asks, "What memories?"
"The visit to Zero's old apartment, and the first time I met him after he presented. If you want more information, you'll need to approach one of the Hunters he's close to. Or ask Zero-kun himself," reminds Takuma.
"Very well. I agree," Kaname says. "I'll need your blood. Will Shouto object if I graze you?"
"I'll do it." Takuma pricks the pad of his thumb with his fang; a single bead of blood wells up, then another. Kaname breathes the scent, but his bloodlust barely rises. Any blood but his dear Yuuki's seems so dull now.
Nu-uh! Mate's blood is just as tasty as alpha-mate's blood! You want mate's delicious blood too! disagrees the alpha, outraged by the lie; Kaname crushes it down.
"Just a quick flick of the tongue," Takuma instructs, extending his hand. "Try not to touch me any more than necessary, please."
Kaname makes sure he touches nothing except Takuma's wound; he owes his friend that much consideration in return for his help. The pinprick heals instantly when it comes into contact with pureblood saliva, cutting off the flow, but the amount is just enough.
Staggering backward a step, Kaname absorbs the memories embedded in Takuma's blood.
What a miserable hovel! Kiryuu lived there? Did Hunting pay so poorly that he couldn't afford better? The boy's meager possessions from his old life made much more sense in that context.
"More of a prison cell than a home," Kaname remarks offhandedly, still analysing and cataloging his impressions.
"That might be more truthful that you meant it," Takuma says to himself in an undertone.
Kaname is too preoccupied to pay much attention. "No kitchen..." Odd, since Kiryuu enjoyed cooking. It did put a new light on the question of the Hunter's diet, though it did not answer the why.
"I'm not surprised at Zero's treatment by the other Hunters," Kaname tells Takuma, pacing a few steps as he tackles the next memory.
"Really?" replies Takuma, surprise in his face.
"Hunters regard us very differently than we think of them. Their lives revolve around Hunting vampires, from birth to death. But for us, Hunters and their existence are largely ignored, unless we have reason to deal with them directly. Many vampires will never speak with a Hunter in their entire lives."
"I see," Takuma says, eyes narrowing in thought.
As he explores the memory further, Kaname's mouth pulls into a curve, despite his intentions. Kiryuu's ignorance was very amusing, and the little Hunter acted so embarrassed Kaname couldn't help but find his Consort charming. "He asked you if he'd get a period?"
Takuma's face lightens. "Yes, poor Zero-kun. He knew less than a child. I'm glad I could help him."
Kaname chuckles."Thank you, Takuma. Your memories have proved their worth. I still have questions, but you've helped me a great deal."
"You could talk to Zero-kun," Takuma reminds him.
"Cross has always been very helpful to me," Kaname says instead, already calculating his approach when he contacts the headmaster.
Takuma sighs. "Good luck then."
"Zero! How was tea with the others? You stayed pretty late," Yuuki says, smiling as she pokes her head into bedroom of the Consort's suite. Zero is just changing into his workout clothes, which are much baggier and less fun than his riding clothes, unfortunately.
"I was with Takuma-sempai," Zero replies, pulling his shirt over his head.
Yuuki shamelessly admires Zero's pose until he's decent again. "You're going for another run?"
Zero shakes his head. "Agility and core strength training. I'm still not fast enough to react to quick movements."
"You're being careful, right?" Yuuki asks, twisting the hem of her shirt in her hands. "You've been throwing yourself into your training pretty hard. You only just got back on your feet. And you're still recovering from not drinking blood for so long."
Zero glances up, then gathers his clothes off the bed to put them in the hamper. "I'm fine, Yuuki. I'm feeding regularly, and my recovery time is better than it's ever been."
"Alright," she says, accepting his assurance. "You know your limits better than I do. I just worry. You're at it for hours, at least twice a day, plus the horseback riding. I love you and I only want to make sure you're not hurt."
Zero hums in response, his back facing Yuuki.
"Actually, I came here because I wanted to ask you something," Yuuki says, flopping down on Zero's bed.
"What?" he asks curiously, glancing over his shoulder.
"I want to train with you," Yuuki says. "You're the best at what you do."
Zero opens his mouth to argue.
"You are, Zero!" she insists. "And I want to get better too!"
"I don't mind if you join me," Zero says, "but I'm curious why."
Yuuki frowns, scooching up on her elbows to rest her chin on her hands. "Things are getting troubled. Shirabuki, the Senate, the people who hurt you, whoever is making all those Ds - I don't want to be missing skills I might need."
Zero's stopped moving, and his expression is set in his normal stoicism. "Go change. I'm going to work you hard."
Yuuki grins happily, and jumps up, scrambling through the door. "I'll do my best," she calls out behind her.
"Are you not hungry, Zero?" Yuuki asks over dinner, the very picture of loving concern.
The Hunter curses himself, shifting in his seat to take pressure off his sore muscles and one particularly nasty bruise. His body is finally taking revenge for all the strain he forced it to endure today. That last session with Yuuki pushed Zero too far. If he eats anything, the heavy nausea in his stomach will punish him by throwing it up. Looking at his wife, Zero shakes his head, which only makes his dizziness worse. "I had a snack earlier," he says. "I think I'm just too full for dinner. Sorry."
"I'm starving!" Yuuki says as she shoves a forkful of grilled eel in her mouth. "You should have shared with me!"
Zero fakes a laugh. "If I did, there wouldn't have been any left for me."
Yuuki shoots him an angry look, and shoves more rice in her mouth.
Kuran raises an eyebrow as he watches the two of them. "I take it you had a good evening?"
Yuuki shakes her head in an enthusiastic yes. "Zero and I trained together! It was just like Cross Academy again! Except I practiced my powers, instead of using Artemis Rod."
Kuran gives Zero a shrewd look for some reason. He's been looking at Zero oddly all this evening, the nosy leech. "That sounds nice," the pureblood says.
Zero covers the way his hand shakes as he drinks his third glass of water, trying to soothe his persistent thirst.
"Oh, before I forget," Yuuki says, putting down her fork. "Zero. your birthday's the twenty-fourth. I know it's a little late to plan anything big, but what do you want to do to celebrate?"
"Nothing," Zero says, breathing around the dull throbbing ache in his body. "I don't do anything to celebrate it. It's just a normal day, Yuuki."
Yuuki pulls a face. "Zero! We have to do something! It's your birthday!"
"No," he tells her.
"Come on, a small party?"
"No."
"Please?" she begs, looking at Zero with big, sad eyes. "Dinner and a cake. We'll invite Cross and Yagari-san and Kaito? And the inner circle?"
Zero sighs, knowing he's beaten. "I guess we'll be eating dinner anyway. Pick a time that's convenient for Master and the others, okay?"
"Yes!" Yuuki celebrates, clapping her hands.
"And you're not cooking," Zero tells her.
She glares.
"And no presents."
"Zero!" she complains, slumping against the side of the dining table.
"I'm serious," he says. "You already buy me enough things. I don't need any more."
"You're not used to having things, are you Zero?" Kuran remarks out of nowhere, with an indecipherable look on his face.
Zero glares, because Kuran's being more creepy than usual this evening, and extra cryptic too. "No presents," he repeats.
"There's nothing you want?" Yuuki tries one last time.
Opening his mouth, Zero almost tells her no. Then he glances at Kuran, still giving him that weird look. "Actually," he says, changing his mind and pointing at their husband. "He owes my horse a name. That's what I want for my birthday." The sudden motion was a mistake; it makes Zero feel light-headed again.
Yuuki looks displeased. "That's not fair, why does Kaname get to give you a gift!"
"Fine," Zero says. "You can get me one gift too. But no more presents after that, okay?"
"Okay," Yuuki agrees as she bounces in her seat, satisfied by permission to buy him something.
From the gleam in her eye, Zero gets the feeling he's miscalculated.
Mindful of Kuran's scrutiny the night before, Zero deliberately slacks off his training routine the next day, halving his morning workout. It doesn't trouble him; he has other plans for that leftover time.
The Hunter decides to begin a few hours before lunch; he's usually left alone in the early evenings while Kuran and Yuuki work, and Zero wants privacy. He picks the conservatory for his purpose, rejecting the garden after some thought. If something goes wrong, Zero wants to be found as quickly as possible, or have people nearby if he's able to call out for help.
Pushing open the door, Zero breathes in the scent of wet earth and living things, and slips inside. It's especially dark tonight; the glass roof allows light in, but the moon is just a sliver, and starlight only a luminous, thin glow. When he gazes up, Zero can see the dark shapes of scudding clouds against the sky.
Picking his way around the potted plants and shrubs, and bending to smell the flowers in bloom, Zero stumbles on a few pieces of wicker furniture with thick cushions, meant for the comfort of the conservatory's visitors. The temperature here is noticeably warmer than the rest of the house, and Zero shrugs off his outer coat, laying it down on a nearby chair. More comfortable in his undertunic, Zero spots the daybed he remembers from his exploratory visit, and lays down, folding his hands on his chest.
Now, how to start? Meditation, Zero decides, not quite willing to dip into mushin yet. Focusing on his breathing, Zero closes his eyes and slips into a light, relaxed state that helps him settle his thoughts and center himself in his body.
Armed with that foundation, and far less anxious than he began, the Hunter enfolds himself in mushin, already so calm that he can't even perceive the moment he passes from one state into the deeper stillness waiting for him. Don't fight the flow, Zero reminds himself. Just breathe, and let your mind be drawn deeper.
Quietly, inexorably, that strange sense unfolds like a flower. The sensations wash over him a little at a time, a gradual creeping growth of his perception - nothing like that first traumatic burst. A dawning appreciation of tiny cues Zero overlooks in his daily life - like the precise weave pattern in the silk touching his skin, and how it differs from the cotton of his undergarments. Zero can feel each thread, and the unnoticed weight of his clothing. Tiny air currents stirred by the ventilation of the room touch his bare cheek from a nearby vent. The noise of air moving past itself, the tiny shushing sounds as the breeze flicks the leaf tips. Taste and smell cross over each other; it's not just wet earth and green anymore. Zero can disentangle the notes: sap, chlorophyll, pollen. Roses - the scent he's drowning in is the roses. He can taste it, the rich loam those roses are potted in, and the plant matter decaying at their roots to feed them.
It's easy, when Zero lets it be. After the painful torrent Zero endured with the Ancestress' guidance, this enhanced awareness is manageable by comparison. Zero senses that he's restricting his own powers. This range of stimuli is strongly limited compared to the array he experienced during the Jeweled Court. It also helps that his eyes are closed; 'seeing' with his powers and with his physical eyes at once is dizzying, like having double vision. Reconciling the two may be too difficult a task right now.
Time loses meaning; like mushin, there is only the now, and the endless fascination of Zero's senses. He could lose himself in the infinitesimal growth of a flower, in his own heartbeat and the drawing of breath.
Only when his own exhaustion draws close does Zero release mushin. Confined to his physical senses, the world feels duller in comparison, less rich and bright. A narrow place, washed out in his remaining awareness. Zero fights the sudden wild urge to resume mushin.
Opening his eyes, Zero stares up at the crescent moon in a daze until the servants come looking for him.
Cross was useless; the man talked and talked, but never revealed anything about Kiryuu's past, skipping around the questions Kaname asked. Cross knew far more than he was saying, Kaname was certain of it, but Cross had fallen nimbly back on his Chairman's persona to misunderstand or divert Kaname's attempts at inquiry. Instead of gaining useful information, the pureblood had been subjected to several hours of gushing and crying over childhood photo albums and teary laments over Cross' empty nest.
Kaname will have to try either Yagari or Takamiya, but his chances of getting them to talk are like wringing blood from a stone. And the pureblood has no easy way to contact them. Kaname turns the matter over as he returns to the residential wing. Kiryuu's birthday party - he'll try approaching the two Hunters then. He'll have access, a pretext to discuss Kiryuu, and hopefully a little goodwill.
Was that Kiryuu now, entering the Consort's suite down the hall? Kaname pauses with his hand on the master suite's door. The Hunter is staggering a little, leaning against the wall for support; his shoulders droop with exhaustion and his overcoat isn't properly buttoned.
Kaname's tolerance for his Consort overworking himself finds its limit. Once Kiryuu leaves his sight, Kaname turns on his heel and returns to his study instead, where he summons Sasaki. According to her testimony, Kiryuu trained this morning for half as long as usual, and spent the past few hours in the conservatory, alone.
Kiryuu showed no signs of exhaustion during breakfast. The training must have been more difficult than usual, if Kiryuu is still reeling now. Frankly, Kaname is pleased that his spouse had the sense to stop early. He'd thought Kiryuu had just pushed himself too hard, finally giving Kaname an excuse to confront him over his excessive training. But since Kiryuu showed he had the sense to stop, a reprimand is no longer necessary.
Innocent enough, Kaname concludes, and goes on with his day. But the pureblood cannot shake the feeling he's missing something.
"I'm going to win this time, Zero!" shouts Yuuki, and tears at the packed earth underneath his feet with her power, just as she releases a cloud of familiars to blind him.
Zero jumps, but not quickly enough - his movements have been oddly sluggish today - and loses his footing just as he's hit by a swarm of black wings. Surprised, the Hunter holds his forearms up to shield himself, falling back as he tries to clear his vision. But Yuuki is waiting for him, and her claws prick his throat.
"Your win," Zero tells her, holding perfectly still to avoid a slit throat.
Yuuki frowns. She hadn't really expected to best Zero. She wants to think that she's won by improving, but that was far too easy. Withdrawing her hand, Yuuki helps Zero to his feet, still unsatisfied by her victory.
"That's a good place to end for today," Zero says. He's moving stiffly, and without his usual quickness. "You fight less like a pureblood, and more like a human. Remember that you don't have our weaknesses, Yuuki, so don't impose them on yourself. Kuran may be able to teach you better than I can right now."
Pressing her lips in a line, Yuuki follows Zero back to the household palace in silence. She'd thought he was taking it easier on himself by cutting back his training, but Zero's condition is getting worse, not better. Kaname may not have noticed - lately he's been away from Rosehill often- but Yuuki's been training with him. She can tell. And Zero keeps leaving their bed at night, or coming back at late hours.
"Hey, Zero?" Yuuki ventures, staring at his back.
"Mmm?"
"Why do you want to get back to Hunting so soon?
For a few steps, Zero doesn't reply. "This sudden rise in Level E numbers is putting pressure on the Hunters. I need to help out Master as soon as I can."
"Is that the only reason?" Yuuki asks. Zero won't lie to her, but he'll still conceal truths he wants to hide by avoiding them.
Again, Zero doesn't respond at once. "I'm a Hunter," he finally says. "That's the purpose I was born with. If I can't fulfill my purpose, what good am I?"
"That's not true!" Yuuki shouts, planting her feet on the ground and balling her fists.
Zero turns around to look at her, puzzled by her sudden outburst. Yuuki doesn't even understand it herself.
"Zero's purpose is to be happy! That's what Zero is meant to do!" she cries. "As long as you're trying, then you don't need to worry about things like that!"
Yuuki looks at Zero's shocked expression and feels the fight go out of her. Pressing Zero will only make him retreat further. Zero doesn't share his problems, he hides them behind the high walls around his heart.
"Let's take tomorrow off," Yuuki says in a quiet tone. "Your birthday's in a couple of days. I don't want you to be too tired to enjoy it."
"I will," Zero promises, still looking shaken.
"Sleep in my bed tonight," she tells him, pulling Zero into a hug. "You've been gone a lot recently. I miss you." Yuuki doesn't know how else to reach him, with whatever he's keeping to himself hanging between them.
He rests his cheek against her hair. They don't speak for a while.
That night, when the two of them are kissing, Yuuki asks Zero one more time if she can offer him some form of pleasure. Zero only repeats his insistence that he's fine. Ardor gone, Yuuki bites the inside of her cheek, and somehow convinces Zero that she doesn't feel like going further tonight.
If Zero doesn't want to be touched at all, Yuuki doesn't mind. But she can't enjoy her selfish pleasure anymore without being allowed to offer him something in exchange.
When Zero just lies there, letting them do what they want, and Yuuki is the only one receiving satisfaction, then it feels like Yuuki's treating Zero no differently than a toy. Yuuki loves doing physical things with Zero, but she could never take pleasure in the idea of using him. Zero is her beloved, and Yuuki would rather not touch him at all than treat him in ways that demean him.
Maybe Zero just needs a little help building his confidence, Yuuki thinks. Perhaps the right opportunity...
Bowing in front of Kaname's desk, Steward Inukai waits patiently to speak until the pureblood looks up and nods in acknowledgement. "Kuran-sama, will you or Kuran-hime be collecting Consort Kiryuu for dinner, or shall I have one of his maids summon him?"
Kaname puts down his pen. "Thank you, Steward. I will fetch my Consort this evening." Kiryuu's birthday is tomorrow, and the pureblood hasn't seen much of his spouses today. Yuuki is finishing the preparations for the party first thing tomorrow evening, and Kaname suspects she will be late. Kaname may as well go collect Kiryuu himself.
His steward informed him that Kiryuu is alone in the courtyard of the Consort's suite, sleeping, so Kaname finishes putting away his work, and returns to the residential wing. Gesturing the maids to silence as he enters, Kaname passes into the Hunter's rooms on quiet feet. Sneaking up on Kiryuu's senses is impossible, but the pureblood doesn't have to make it easy for him.
Then Kaname looks out into the courtyard, and his breath catches at the sight of his Consort. Laid out beneath the moonlight, his sweet boy is deep asleep, gilded silver by the stars. He looks so much younger this way, at rest, with his face unlined and his hands loose on his breast. The full skirts of his gown cascade over the side of the divan - one of Yuuki's favorites in lilac, the same color as his lovely eyes. Kaname thinks of fairytales and bespelled, sleeping princesses and he feels something oddly warm stirring beneath his breastbone.
The gentle rhythm and soft movement of his Consort's breathing is at once entrancing and reassuring. Kaname drifts closer, closing the door without a sound. He thinks Kiryuu is still asleep, his approach undetected, until the boy speaks.
"I saw you coming," his husband says, his mouth barely moving. There is something odd in his tone.
"Did you?" Kaname replies, brushing the silver fringe from his boy's ivory cheek. He's cold to the touch. "Your hair is getting long. You haven't cut it since July."
"I saw you," Kiryuu says again, like he hasn't heard Kaname at all. "I did."
Kaname pauses, a sense of wrongness replacing the soft feeling from earlier. "It's time for dinner," he finally says.
"I've been watching," Kiryuu continues, making no sign he understands. "Tell the gardener that the azalea is getting sick. Fungus. You can't see it yet, but it's there. I know it is."
Now alarmed - Kiryuu sounds drugged, not sleepy - Kaname pulls the Hunter up by his shoulders.
Kiryuu's body stays limp, and his head droops backwards; he offers no resistance when Kaname supports his neck and forces him to look up at the pureblood. "Kiryuu, open your eyes and look at me."
Kiryuu makes a noise, which is the only way Kaname knows he's listening. "Eyes?" he murmurs, like he's forgotten what Kaname means. "Mmm, eyes." The Hunter's eyelids creep open a sliver. "Kaname," he says. "Where are...?"
The Hunter's confusion only disturbs him more. Kaname pulls open one of the boy's eyelids to check his body's reflex. Kiryuu remains passive, and his pupil isn't reacting properly to the light. "What did you do, Zero? You have to tell me what happened," Kaname orders him. His hands tighten, creasing the material of Kiryuu's gown.
"Can't tell you," Kiryuu says, still in that dreamy tone.
A spike of annoyance makes Kaname curt. "Kiryuu, this is not a joke." The pureblood shakes him once, trying to provoke a response. "Explain what this is!"
Kaname freezes as he's struck by a feeling of deja vu. He's been in this situation before, he's certain of it. The pureblood tries to remember, urgently rushing through millennia of memories as his Consort's body remains slack in his grasp. Something is prodding at him, from far back in the beginning of his immortal life.
A pale-haired woman wearing a hooded cloak, looking up at him with the same distant gaze. 'Kaname, there's a settlement to the west, I'm certain of it….'
In a flash, Kaname remembers a long-ago conversation Kiryuu had with Nightshade, where the Hunter revealed the possibility he might inherit his Ancestress' power. How could Kaname be so stupid? When nothing seemed to come of it, Kaname had assumed that the Ancestor of the Hunters was mistaken.
A cloud of black butterflies descends, and Yuuki rushes into the courtyard, summoned through the bloodbond by Kaname's alarm. "Kaname!" she shouts. "What's wrong?"
Shaking his head, the pureblood slaps their Consort's cheek lightly, trying to help Kiryuu anchor himself in his body, even though the alpha cries out in protest.
"Kaname!" Yuuki shouts, jerking his arm away.
Pulling himself free, Kaname rebukes her. "Yuuki, let go! Zero's psychic senses have overwhelmed his mind. His grip on his body is weakening, and we need to bring him back before he goes too deep, or we'll lose him!"
Yuuki's face turns white with fear, and she stumbles backwards.
Kaname forgets her presence for the moment. Pain isn't sufficient, and Kaname doesn't know what methods to try next. Except, perhaps…
He looks up at Yuuki, hovering anxiously. "Cut yourself," he orders.
She looks at him like he's gone mad too.
"The connection between his mind and body is nearly broken. The scent of your blood should help guide Zero back to himself. We need some way to ground him, and blood is a vampire's greatest hunger."
That's all Yuuki needs to hear; she tears through the sleeve of her dress, not even caring for the shreds of torn fabric and lace. The thick scent of pure blood surrounds them, and the two vampires wait anxiously to see if Kiryuu can stabilize himself.
Finally, their Consort stirs, awareness returning to his slack face as he licks his fangs. "Yuuki," Kiryuu whispers. Though his voice is weak, the Hunter's gaze has its usual power when Kaname checks his pupils again. "What are you doing here?"
Enraged, Kaname slaps Kiryuu hard enough to turn his head. "You stupid Hunter! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Noble rank powers are not a joke!"
"Kaname…" Kiryuu begins, but the pureblood has heard enough.
"You didn't just test them alone, without anyone to monitor you - I would wager you didn't even tell anyone you acquired them, did you? What would you have done if I hadn't come? If I hadn't been lucky enough to realize what was happening? You almost didn't make it back to your body. You would have become a living corpse, Zero, a body without a consciousness! Can you imagine what that would have done to Yuuki?"
The Hunter is speechless and shamefaced, hunching his shoulders and staring into the ground.
"You lecture how I shouldn't keep secrets, Zero, but you aren't any different, are you?"
Kiryuu flinches like Kaname slapped him again.
"You will never try that again by yourself, do you understand?" Kaname demands, shaking the Hunter's shoulders.
"I won't," Kiryuu promises.
"Swear it to Yuuki," Kaname demands.
Zero looks offended. "I'm not lying to you! I won't practice anymore by myself."
Kaname gives him another shake. "Remember that promise. You may not be so lucky a second time."
Zero doesn't go to dinner.
Instead, he hides in his rooms, stinging from the thorough chewing-out Kuran gave him. Zero knows he deserved it. When he dares look in a mirror, his cheek has a red mark from Kuran's hand like a badge of his shame.
Zero hadn't even realized it was possible to get lost in the sensory input from his powers, through in hindsight the addicting nature of those feelings should have been a clue. He's been allowing himself longer and longer sessions, not even stopping until he's pushed straight through his exhaustion. The next-to-last practice, Zero couldn't even stand when he was finished.
He's a goddamn adult, and he should have known better. Zero has no excuses. He hates to admit it, but Kuran was right. Those words he said about keeping secrets...Zero's nails dig into his skin, and he grits his teeth at the burst of pain.
As the sun comes up, and the house goes to bed, the Hunter frets and paces in sudden fits of anxiety, burning through the last scrap of his energy. Zero thinks briefly of trying to sleep as well, but he knows in his bones he'll wake in a few hours, screaming from a nightmare. He wants Nightshade. He wants the Ancestress. He wants to be in bed with Yuuki and Kuran, tucked between them as he goes to sleep.
Zero is beyond exhausted. He doesn't even know how he's upright anymore - some kind of manic energy fueled by his emotional turmoil, if he had to guess. His eyes feel gritty and he has a dangerous, strung-out feeling in his head. He's not making good choices or thinking clearly.
He wants to go to bed. Kuran and Yuuki must be mad at him. He can't go to them. He wants to. But he can't. They're asleep by now. Zero shouldn't wake them.
The Hunter makes a whimpering, groaning noise, wrapping his arms around himself and sinking to the floor.
Yuuki isn't hungry. The fear of losing Zero makes her never want to eat again. She can't sleep either. The lights in the master suite are all left on, as bright as possible. Kaname is doggedly pretending to work in the corner. Yuuki's given up any pretense, staring at the door and tapping her fingers against the table.
Zero didn't come to dinner. That must mean he doesn't want to see them. Yuuki shouldn't disturb him. But every part of her - Yuuki, the pureblood, and the alpha - wants to leave and go find Zero. Yuuki needs to resist the urge, and give Zero the privacy he needs.
The tempo of her tapping speeds up.
"Kaname," she says, giving in, "Are you sure Zero is fine? Shouldn't someone stay with him? If there's some kind of relapse, I don't want him alone."
Yuuki thinks she detects a hint of gratefulness in the way he puts his reports down. "You're correct. We ought to go collect him."
The Consort's suite is dark. When he hears the door, Zero looks up where he's curled on the floor, his lilac skirts twisted around his knees. "I'm sorry," he gasps with desperation, clawing himself upright on a couch, knocking his side painfully. It hurts Yuuki to watch Zero stagger towards them, supporting himself from one object to the next. His eyes have a glaze of misery, and he reaches out like he expects to be thrown away.
Yuuki would never, ever do that. She catches Zero by the waist and holds him up, taking all of his weight with ease.
"I'm sorry," he gasps into her hair. "So sorry, I didn't mean to, I was wrong, I'm sorry, sorry, please…"
Kaname shushes him, but Zero shakes his head sharply. "No, you were right. Keeping secrets just keeps hurting us." And Zero confesses the whole thing, down to the last detail - the Ancestress, his early signs, his first episode, her visits, and the business with Aido's rescue. Zero's incoherent and nearly asleep by the end of it, his body shutting down to rest despite his racing emotions.
"No, I need to...there's more, not yet," Zero insists in confusion, but Yuuki and Kaname just pet him and nuzzle him and remind him that his birthday is tomorrow and he needs to rest, and can't he just take a short nap?
And that's enough; Zero's finally at peace. Yuuki looks up from the man asleep in her arms. "You didn't mention this," she says to Kaname without accusation.
"Believe me, I regret that now. I thought the disruptions were only adjustments to his Hunter powers," he replies, running his hands over his face.
"Was this one of those things you didn't feel it was your place to tell me?"
Kaname snorts. "No, I just didn't find it relevant at the time."
Yuuki allows this to sink in, rocking back and forth to gentle Zero's rest. "I can't deal with any more until tomorrow. Let's go to bed."
Kuran presents Zero with a list of new rules first thing that evening. It's written on good stationary in Kuran's calligraphic hand, and details exactly what Zero is forbidden from doing when he trains. The restrictions aren't onerous, just common sense and basic safety guidelines that Zero should have been following in the first place. Number one on list is that Zero is not to do anything without supervision. Zero accepts the list without complaint, and promises to abide by the terms.
When he woke up, Zero could hardly bear to look either Kuran or Yuuki in the face. It's Zero's fault that the air between them now is so strained. After last night's disaster, he's lucky they allowed him to sleep in their bed. He's lucky they want to see him at all. Zero's guilt is even more overpowering because he knows he's messed up Yuuki's preparations for his birthday party as well. Zero must be the most ungrateful person on the planet.
Though Zero technically won't be a year older until midnight, his party is being held at a more convenient eight p.m. for his guests, breakfast time for vampires and dinner time for humans.
Yuuki was so thoughtful with the arrangements, which only makes Zero feel worse. She even picked an outfit Zero wouldn't feel uncomfortable wearing in front of the Hunters, in a very dignified, masculine style with a high, upright collar, colored plain black with a few details picked out in red crystal, and just enough tailoring flourishes to make it a semi-formal garment.
Avoiding one another as they move around, the three of them dress in silence, until Kuran decides he's had enough.
"You look pathetic, Kiryuu," he says with a hint of challenge in his tone, sprawled in a chair buttoning up his vest. "Are you going to look this gloomy all evening, or shall I send the guests away now?"
"I'm sorry," Zero apologizes, unable to raise his eyes as he feels another rush of self-loathing. "I'll try not to ruin the party."
Yuuki sighs. "Zero, it's your party. We want you to have a good time. We were angry last night because we were afraid, but you already explained what happened, and we know it was an accident. You haven't known about your power for very long, and I understand why you might not have wanted to tell us yet. "
Kuran stretches obnoxiously in his seat, tucking his hands behind his head. "Though I doubt the Ancestor of the Hunters expected you to ignore your body's warning signs when she told you to practice. She cares about you too deeply to have intended this to happen."
Zero squirms, his guilt written on his face.
Kuran takes one look at Zero and shakes his head. "I don't even need to bother punishing you, Kiryuu. You're fully aware of your error, and you blame yourself completely. Nothing I could do would match the self-condemnation you already feel. I've never seen a man so eager to punish himself."
"Please, Zero," Yuuki pleads, taking Zero's hand, "try and have a good time this evening." She slips something over Zero's finger, and he inhales sharply, holding his hand up to the light. It's his engagement ring, Yuuki's gift, her care wrapped around his finger in white gold and diamond.
Zero's eyes widen, and he stares into Yuuki's face with his heart too full to speak.
His wife smiles in reassurance, and tugs him down for a gentle kiss. "I love you so much," Yuuki whispers against his lips before drawing away.
Kuran continues watching from his chair, allowing them space for their reconciliation, but when Yuuki steps back, he rises and takes her place. "I am at fault for some measure of your distrust," Kuran says, tipping Zero's chin up until their eyes meet. "I regret how that lack of trust endangered you. For that, I apologize."
Zero studies his husband's face, not knowing how to reply. Did Kuran really just…?
"So stubborn," Kuran says, and kisses Zero in turn, nipping at the Hunter's lower lip as he withdraws. "I told you. Your death is no longer acceptable to me."
There's a far lighter mood as they finish dressing, and they even indulge in a little teasing.
"You broke the rules again, Kaname!" Yuuki flashes her husband an impish grin, silly in her relief that they've talked things out.
Kuran groans theatrically. "Here I was hoping you might have overlooked that little slip."
"Nope!" she replies cheerfully, popping the 'p' for effect.
Kuran pretends he hasn't heard. "Come on," the pureblood says, gathering his suit coat and holding open the door. "It's a party. Let's have a little fun."
It's a good party, despite its inauspicious beginning. Kaname is pleasantly surprised. Yuuki stayed well clear of anything that might cause arguments, and her care has paid off. Even with a guest list that includes two purebloods and six Hunters, the traditional enemies have put aside their differences for one evening to coexist peacefully, united by their regard for Kiryuu and their desire to celebrate his existence.
Everyone shows up more-or-less on time, partakes in the finest meal Rosehill's kitchens can offer, and not a single drop of blood is spilled. There are a few uncertain moments, but the conversation keeps a steady flow, and both sides join in the discussion. Kaname and Cross both steer the topic in more friendly directions when necessary. The three tier chocolate cake receives an excellent reception and proves to be a superb distraction for their guests. Afterward, the company retires to a drawing room for tea and the chance to mingle more informally.
The Hunters brought gifts, even when their invitation requested they didn't, and they decide now is a good opportunity to present them to Kiryuu. It almost causes an incident - the vampires look rude if they're the only ones who brought nothing - and Kaname has to soothe tempers and anxieties for over ten minutes before the actual gift-giving is allowed to continue.
"I haven't been able to come to Zero's birthday party in like forty years or something, there's no way he's getting away without an embarrassing gift," Takamiya announces in that obnoxious way of his. Kaname is certain this ruckus is that insolent Hunter's fault.
When Aido's curiosity gets the better of him, Cross explains while weeping tears of joy that Zero has refused to celebrate his birthday since he was twelve. Kaname is not terribly surprised, but makes a note. Yuuki overheard Cross' story, and next year she's going to demand a spectacle. Perhaps a ball.
While his attempts at information gathering are a bust, Kaname finally meets Takamiya's wife Misao in person - how that rude hooligan convinced a woman like her to marry him, Kaname cannot divine. There's also another Hunter that Kiryuu introduces as Archivist Fong, who scribbles into a small notebook and asks odd questions but does no other harm.
Yuuki, consciously or not, has been shadowing Aido as he moves around the room. The noble was allowed to return from his exile in the Senate Palace for this one evening, just long enough to attend the party. Kaname makes sure he catches Aido's eye, then smiles broadly, just to watch the noble's eyes get watery. Ah, satisfaction.
Kiryuu seems to be enjoying his party as well, if his relaxed stance and supple body language are any guide. Kiryuu also makes sure the guests know their nice evening was due to Yuuki's efforts, which is gratifying for Kaname to see. The three of them see off the guests at a good hour, and though the vampires are a little sore about the gift etiquette, morale seems high. Kaname can only marvel. This may have been a successful enough experiment that everyone will come back again next year.
"You haven't asked about our presents," Yuuki prompts when they've finished acting as the party's hosts.
"I was hoping you'd forgotten," Kiryuu replies, wearing his most inscrutable Hunter expression.
"No such luck," she informs him cheerfully, and hands Kiryuu a box. "You can have my gift now, and you'll get Kaname's gift later."
The box is flat and long, but not particularly large. Even Kiryuu is not completely immune to the pleasure of a surprise gift, and his curiosity peeks through his stoicism. Pulling the ribbon's lace to untie the knot, the Hunter opens the lid of the box. "Yuuki, this is lovely, thank you!" Kiryuu says, and pulls out a night blue scarf with silver threads in blended cotton and silk.
"I'm glad you like it," she beams. "Look underneath."
Digging into the box, Kiryuu pulls out a card printed on expensive stationary, and reads the first line. "Yuuki, you were only allowed to get me one gift," he says in exasperation.
Yuuki smiles like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. "I did get you one gift. That's the scarf. But it would be a shame if you didn't have anywhere to wear it, right?"
Kiryuu gives her an very unconvinced glare.
Always merciful, Kaname decides to help his dear wife. "We're taking a couple of days off. After everything that happened with Shirabuki and Aido - and now last night - I think we need time away."
The Hunter rolls his eyes, shrugs, and surrenders. "Where are we going?"
"Into the mountains. I've rented the use of a small, private onsen with a natural hot spring. We're leaving as soon as we change. It's cold, so you should bring the scarf."
Kiryuu glares at the two of them. "You just want to see me naked."
"Possibly," Kaname admits, and Yuuki nearly keels over laughing.
If you need a refresher, the memories Takuma gave Kaname are from ch. 6. Refer to ch.1 if you want a more in-depth description of Zero's apartment.
Being fair to Zero, I have to point out that Kaname's secrets are more often things like 'I'm really your brother, and we're engaged', 'actually I lied and I am your great-something grandfather instead, still probably incest though', 'I'm starting a war in a convoluted plan to kill all the purebloods' and 'I'm ending the war by committing suicide and leaving the clean-up to you guys'.
An onsen is a communal bathing facility. So yes, you bathe naked together. Usually, the bathers are gender segregated, but really nice onsen have rooms with private baths, or you can reserve private time for families and couples. I didn't mean to be so cliche but Yuuki was desperate and ready to try almost anything, and if it works in anime it's worth a shot right?
I have a vague idea about how Kaname and Yuuki punished Aido, but it's more fun to let you guess and see what you come up with.
Next chapter: Zero smacks headfirst into his body issues, Kaname tells a story, and Yuuki wants to upgrade her relationship, so, so much.