A/N: I think this is the last chapter I will be uploading for the next couple days (we'll see) just so I can get a read on where this is going to land chapter-length wise. Right not I'm trying to keep it between the 2-4k range but I'm wondering if that's too short? Let me know what you think. Other than that, this chapter like the previous ones are more interaction based getting into the feelings of this fic so I apologize if they're a little boring, I promise the action and intensity will pick up in later chapters. -Len
Ch. 3: A Date?
Zero listened in on the words of the Chairman, the war was to be kept on as low a profile as possible. That was nothing new, however, the war was taking place at the border of The Zone so that was another matter. "The Kwoloon Children are getting smarter with their planning. If the war is at the border we have a lot more territory to cover and there's a risk of it leaking into the other surrounding areas. If that happens we won't be able to contain media." Touga started with Zero and Kaito nodding.
"That and they could escape by the river as they did the time they went to collect the ashes." Zero added in with a sigh, they would need a lot more defense.
"That's where the rest of the association fighters come in, the only ones fighting close combat will be you two and Zero I want you to bring your assassins. The rest of us will be on defense in case anything tries to escape." The Chairman announced which had Touga narrowing his eyes.
"We decided previously we would not use the dark side of Silverblood since that could potentially be dangerous to not only us but to Zero as well. Weapon adaptations are pushing it for most of the hunters as it is Chairman." Kaito spoke out, not wanting his best friend to be put in that sort of danger.
"The situation we're facing as it is cannot be fought with simple anti-vampire weapons since they have highland and resources to multiply so rapidly. We would just get run over." The Chairman argued looking over at Zero. "What is your stance on this?" He demanded more than asked.
"You know the true danger of Silverblood, are you willing to risk that this war Zero?" Touga added in with all other eyes turning to the teen.
"Silverblood will be effective, but, Chairman, there is a chance that I will not be able to fully control it and in the case of assassin form you would need to release my seal." Zero stated raising his eyes to the Chairman.
"How long will it take to be able to control it?" Kaito questioned with a defeated sigh, the only upside to this was that Zero would no longer be a level D vampire. The rest of the situation was less than close to ideal.
"A month, maybe two depending on how many missions I take before the war. Also, I will need to take up training with the assassins again before the war." Came the reply.
"We will lift the seals of your Silverblood tonight then, you know how to train your assassins and I trust you to do so. This is all classified information, we will not speak of this meeting to anyone else until time is close. Zero, you will need to keep your power and presence of the Silverblood suppressed from the night class. I do not need vampires all over my ass more than they already are." The old hunter griped with annoyance. Zero and the others nodded and agreed to the terms of silence.
'Guess I'll need to avoid the night class more than ever now.' He thought looking out the window directly into the eyes of Kuran. 'This isn't going to be easy.' His mind added in annoyance.
"It looks as though the meeting is over." Kaname announced as he stared into Zero's lilac eyes, the silverette turned but before his eyes left Kaname's they flashed silver for a second then it was gone and Zero walked out of sight. 'What was that?' He wondered, he seemed to wonder a lot when the hunter was involved.
"It also looks like Kiryuu is leaving for his mission right about now." Aido added noting how the teen was heading for the gates with the head of the association.
"Hopefully he can get some rest during the weekend when he gets back." Takuma sighed and shook his head while he settled down with a manga in hand.
"What are you Takuma, his mother?" Ruka scoffed though despite herself she couldn't help but fear a little for the silverette's safety.
"I doubt I'm that pretty, no Ruka I'm just concerned. I highly doubt even a Kiryuu can hold up so long with so little sleep, even less food and so much stress all at once for long periods of time." The blonde vise president voiced though he didn't look up from his book as he did so. Kaname had chosen Takuma specifically to look out for Zero because of his mother hen qualities. It was safe to say the vampire prince was pleased his trusted friend was already worried for the stubborn boy.
'Takuma will get to Kiryuu when his worries start keeping him up. Not even he will be able to run from the mother hen.' The pureblood mused though he kept himself busy with a book.
As Zero walked into the moon dorms he noticed Shiki, Takuma and a few others staring at him. 'Do they have nothing better to do than stare at me?' He wondered but didn't glare at them as he would normally have done. This time he just headed upstairs and locked himself away in his room. Taking a look in the mirror he saw the new tattoo, a black rose with the wings of an angel instead of leaves, that replaced his old one on his neck. This one, the tattoo of his clan, marking the Silverblood and true power flowing through his veins. His status no longer a level E or D but a high noble. 'Soon I will lose all traces of being a level D vampire and Silverblood will take over.' He reminded himself, keeping that from prying vampires would not be easy he knew. He would have to see what he could do to get away from them. However, at the moment all he wanted to do was sleep off the strain of the night.
"His tattoo changed, something changed him." Shiki provided as the vampires gathered in Kaname's study.
"Either that or someone changed him, something tells me that whatever happened at the meeting he went to has a role in the change. His aura is different as well but he has suppression charms blocking any clear information." Kain added on glancing to a contemplative looking Kaname.
"As it is, we can't bring it up with him. Making Kiryuu-kun comfortable around us is our priority. Without that, we will never learn anything from him. This is Kiryuu remember, resistance and avoidance are his specialties. Be careful not to let him find out anything of our plans." Kaname explained to the group. "Find out everything you can about what exactly is going on with all this." He added, he did not like being left out of information.
"Yes Kaname-sama." The group chorused before being dismissed.
'I will find out what it is you're hiding, Kiryuu Zero, prepare yourself.' The vampire prince thought as he stared out the window of his study.
'I need to stay far away from the night class...' Zero decided as he searched through the boxes of missions he had been assigned to take in order to find one that would last a week if not longer. Of course just as he was going to sign off on one a knock sounded at his door. "Come in." He called while plopping down on his bed. Takuma walked in with Shiki on his heels and a bright smile on his face as per usual.
"It's dorm sweep day, I promise this won't take long and you don't have to m- what are those?" Takuma questioned after cutting himself off when he spotted the large overflowing boxes of paper.
"Oh, they're just missions assigned to me that I've yet to sign off on and do." Came the quiet and maybe slightly embarrassed reply. Takuma's jaw could have dropped to the floor when he heard that.
"Is that normal?" Shiki wondered for the blond whose mouth was still agape.
"It is for me." Zero answered with a distant look and a small shrug. Shiki shared a look with Takuma and the level B noble sighed before turning towards the hunter.
"This may be forward of me, Zero-kun, but are you well enough to keep going on missions as you have been?" He voiced with concern quite obviously showing through.
"I-it's not a matter of if I am 'well' enough Takuma-san, those missions are assigned to me therefore it is my duty and my job to get them done. My health, as long as I can still breathe and shoot a gun or swing a blade, is not a concern to the association." The teen tried to explain as best he could. He was a Silverblood, this is how things were for those who were naturally better.
"It's a concern for me however, I may not know you at all nor will I pretend I understand the ways of the association but this is not healthy for human, hunter, vampire or otherwise. I don't want to take them or bring it up with Kaname-sama but technically it falls under 'student endangerment'." Takuma tried to reason as he moved towards the hunter on the bed.
"I appreciate your concern, Takuma-san, but there's nothing that will change this. Much like the vampires take Kuran's word as unbreakable law, the hunters do the word of our Chairman. I will be fine, I take them in moderation for the most part." Zero explained to the unhappy blonde, lilac-amethyst eyes met emerald for a few moments before Takuma nodded in understanding.
"You don't have to do this, but when you come back from your next mission I would like to sit with you over some tea. Just to talk." The noble requested as he looked back into those questioning eyes.
"I believe that is doable." Came the softened answer as Zero once again avoided eye contact which made the other two vampires smile, well Takuma did at least, maybe it wouldn't be so impossible to get through Zero's wall. Zero signed a mission that would last him half a day instead of a week and made sure it was during class so he could meet with Takuma once he got back and changed. The noble offered to collect what would be the hunter's homework for the missed classes. Initially Zero kindly refused saying he could get it from his teacher later but he found Takuma was quite stubborn when it came to his want to take care of others and eventually gave in. "Takuma-san," the hunter called out as the other was moving to leave his room. Takuma turned and met soft and warm lilac-amethyst eyes, "Thank you." Zero spoke shyly but his eyes spoke volumes of emotions that showed his gratitude.
"Of course, it's my pleasure." Takuma smiled brighter, if that was possible, then followed Shiki out shutting the hunter's door behind him.
"That was...unexpected." Shiki mumbled while they walked down the hall to the next dorm room.
"Yes, however I believe Zero needs someone to support him just as we all do. He's too shy to admit it since he's always played the role of older brother and protector. If I can provide him ease then maybe he will open up to others easier." The other explained while he flung the door open to Aido and Kain's room and sighed. "Aido you know how much Kaname-sama hates your collections of his...I don't even know what to call it."
"It's his showing of his power Takuma! A sign of how powerful he is and how much we should recognize how fit of a leader he is to the vampire community!" The small blond justified his creepy collecting hobby what the others found weird or annoying. Takuma sighed and sent a look to Shiki, who nodded and left the room to find Kaname and ask him just what they should do with all Aido's possessions. Kain just stood in the background and shook his head while they listened to Aido's pleas to Kaname to not destroy his collection again.
A/N: As I said this chapter may also be a bit boring and no this is not a TakuZe fic but I thought it would be nice if Zero had a kind of parental figure within the vampires and Takuma (again it's a bit ooc I know) seemed like the best candidate for that role. Other vampires of the night class will also find their little nitches in Zero's life but Takuma will be one of the more if not one of the most significant ones. Thanks for reading, I might post some longer chapters (5k+) tomorrow to see if that looks too overwhelming or not. Oh! And a note, so if any of you have seen Black Blood Brothers and are like "hey you stole that 'Zone' and 'ash obsessed Kwoloon Children' thing then you're both right and wrong. after I watched BBB I realized how similar they were, I did not come up with Kwoloon enemy myself that was a borrowed idea from someone else. But The Zone I am referring to here is the border between what is considered the general vampire-accepted area and the area in which a place called The Compound (that will come in much later and it's very important) overlap. No one is allowed in The Compound area and you'll have to keep wondering why until later. Okay this was a long author's note but thanks again to the readers out there, hope that was clarifying enough, as always Keep Calm and Fanfiction On~