I loved revisiting the lighter side of writing for Vampire Knight as "Traditions" is more on the serious side than most of the stories I used to write. Actually because of this I have decided that I will revisit Kaname and Zero's past during both Halloween and the holiday season to give everyone a pleasure moment in between the incoming darker events of the main story.

Just a brief reminder is that this is a direct follow up to the last chapter (part 1). This is meant to show the early stages of Kaname and Zero's relationship, taking place about three years prior to the events of the main story. Each of the bolded statements are Kaname addressing Zero at each step they take in their relationship.


You Like Me

"You are not coming!"

"Yes I am!"

"No, you're not!"

Kaname looked up from his book as Yuki and Zero stormed into his dorm, the door banging against the wall hard enough to shake the frames that hung among it. "And what are we fighting about this morning?"

"Your little sister wants to go out on a date." Zero fumed as he and Yuki continued their glare off.

"With Yori? What's wrong with that?" the pureblood shrugged, turning his attention back to his reading.

"No, with Aido."

"What?!" Well, that got his attention as Kaname fell off the couch, "Yuki, there is no way in hell you and Aido are going to spend at least two full hours in a dimly lit room all alone where he can try whatever the heck he does with all of the other girls he flirts with. As your older brother, I will not allow it.

"It's a public movie theater, the same weekend the movie opens so you know there'll be people there, what could you possibly think we would be doing in it?"

Kaname smirked at his exasperated sister as he laid out his ultimatum, "If we don't come, then I will send Head Master Cross instead."

"Or better yet a double date with him and Master Yagrai. If you think he's moody on a normal day just wait until he gets dragged into something he doesn't want to do." Zero wore the matching smirk, "He'll probably shoot Aido before the opening credits are even over."

After all the years of trying to get her two brother figures to get along, Yuki realized that she had made a horrible mistake. Instead of friends, they had somehow become a tag team with the goal of protecting her as their number one goal. She glared up at them, trying to convince herself that deep down they meant well as she muttered, "Fine, we're leaving in an hour. Just try to behave."

Well, they did try…at first. Kaname had treated them all to popcorn and drinks while Aido paid for their tickets, the blonde feeling a strange mixture of joy and fear that the pureblood had insisted he join them. Then when Zero said he was coming too, Aido realized he was going to be in trouble. Yet he breathed a sigh of relief as he, Yuki, and Yori found themselves sitting towards the front of the theater, with the two other vampires agreeing to give the trio some privacy and choose to sit in the very back of the room.

As they settled in for the movie, Zero turned to Kaname who handed him his tub of popcorn, "Ugh, of course they would be going to a double feature. So how long do you think it will be before he tries something?"

"I don't know, maybe he will keep his hands to himself since Aido knows that we are watching them." The pureblood threw a piece of popcorn up in the air before catching it with a childish grin, "I bet he'll last ten minutes tops."

"You're on. I say he doesn't make it past the opening credits." Zero made sure to toss his piece of popcorn higher before he caught it with gusto.

As they relaxed in their seats, the duo continued to eat their snacks, falling into a casual back and forth during the previews, quietly discussing each one as they came onto the screen. And then they saw it, Aido's arms making their way around the shoulders of the girls he sat between. Exchanging a look, Zero and Kaname each grabbed a handful of popcorn and began to pelt the back of the blonde's head. When the noble turned around to see a pair of glaring garnet eyes and a pair of glaring lilac eyes staring at him, he quickly dropped his arms from Yuki's and Yori's shoulders and onto his lap. After that Zero's popcorn container became their ammo for each time Aido dared to make another move while Kaname's was put in between the two of them to share.

However when the movies finally finished and Yuki looked back, she was surprised to find Zero fast asleep, his head resting on Kaname's shoulder. She grinned as her brother, not realizing that he was being watched, tenderly brushed away the hair that fallen in front of the hunter's face. Then he looked up to meet Yuki's gaze, giving her a small smile before turning his attention back to watch Zero peacefully sleep against him.

While it did not excuse them from crashing her date with Aido and Yori and then throwing popcorn at the blonde, Yuki found herself admitting that maybe it was worth it to see her brothers comfortable being together. A few months ago she would have never even dared to suggest such a thing but perhaps the two were growing closer to one another than friends. As the theater lights came on and she and her lovers gathered their things, Yuki could see Kaname gently waking Zero up, the hunter giving him a sleepy unguarded smile as he awoke. Oh, yes there was undoubtedly something more than friendship brewing between the two of them.


You Taste Me

"Zero, I'm hungry."

The hunter looked up from his spot on the carpet in front of the television to shoot Yuki a glare, "Ok, it's a week later; I am done apologizing for the popcorn incident. If you're hungry, get it yourself."

"I'm a bit hungry too."

"Shut up Aido."

As the pillow flew across the room to hit the blonde in the face, the rest of the group burst out laughing. To make amends for 'ruining' her date, Kaname had promised Yuki that she could invite Aido and Yori over to his dorm to relax for the evening and binge watching some tv shows. They were now sitting cozily together on the sofa while Kaname was in a leather lounger, Takuma perched on one of the arm rests and Zero leaning against the side of it from the floor.

"I could eat." Takuma chimed in as Kaname nodded his head in agreement, everyone looking at Zero expectedly.

"Kaname, why don't you make us something? We are your guest after all."

The pureblood in question gave him an innocent smile, "Yes, but everyone knows that you're the best cook here though."

"Fine," Zero sighed as he got to his feet, "but I'm not doing all the work."

"I'll help." Takuma offered, bounding into the kitchen.

"I will too." Kaname agreed, smiling at the eye roll it earned from the hunter.

The three of them filed into the kitchen, Zero giving them each a task as he prepared a pot of tomato soup on the stove, telling Kaname to make some grilled cheese sandwiches and Takuma to fix everyone some iced tea.

After Takuma tasted it, he sighed "Mmmm, how do you do it? I bet Shiki would have loved this but I doubt I could recreate it as well as you could."

"Speaking of which, I thought Shiki was going to come with you Takuma."

"He was but then his agency called saying that he and Rima had to do a publicity event tonight and then they're going out to eat afterwards." Takuma explained as he carefully balanced the pitcher of tea and six glasses.

"Well, he's missing out." Zero said as he stirred the soup "If you didn't have feelings for him I would snatch you up for myself."

"Thanks Zero, you're a sweetheart. One day Senri will come around but if he never does, I'll take you up on that offer." Takuma winked before rejoining the group in the other room.

"That was nice of you, Zero." The pureblood remarked as he brought out a grater to use garnish the soup with some cheese.

Zero, who was ladling out the soup into bowls, simply shrugged "Takuma has always been a good guy and it's hard to see him chasing after someone afraid to admit their feelings for him. Besides it's true, if he were mine, I won't hurt him the way Shiki ends up doing."

"If you feel that way, why don't you going after Takuma?" While he would love nothing more than to see his best friend happy, Kaname could not help the surge of jealously he felt as he said that, his grating of cheese becoming faster as he tried to distract himself.

"I would but I think I have feelings for someone else. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite, calling Shiki when I myself have let my doubts hold me back from…ow." Zero, who had reached into a drawer for some spoons ended up grabbing a knife instead. He looked down to see that he had cut the tip of his index finger, beads of blood already welling up. On instinct, he stuck the finger in his mouth, suckling on it. However when he looked over at the pureblood he saw a pair of hungry crimson eyes staring at him intently.

"Let me help you Zero." Kaname's voice came out in a husky tone as he reached out for the silverette.

Zero felt his breath catch, "I'm fine."

"No, I insist." The pureblood took Zero's hand, using a clean cloth napkin to bandage his still bleeding finger. The smell of Zero's blood was intoxicating for him, but Kaname's will stayed strong as he tied of the bandage. And then he saw a smear of the heady crimson on his own hand.

"Kaname…"

Eyes locked with Zero's, Kaname brought his stained finger to his lips, licking it clean with a light groan as the taste hit his tongue.

"Kaname…"

The pureblood's bloodlust clouded mind could barely focus on the sound of his name, instead choosing to look at the set of lips it came from and the smudge of blood that painted the corner of them.

"Zero…" Before he could stop himself, Kaname brought his lips to the hunter's the lust he felt for Zero no longer just for his blood.

"Mumph." Zero momentarily protested but did not fight back against the pureblood's advances. Nor did he break away as Kaname pinned him against the kitchen counter. When he felt him squeeze his rear end, Zero gasped, his now aroused fangs nicking Kaname's full bottom lip. As the familiar sweet taste of the pureblood filled his mouth, Zero grew more into the kiss, clutching onto Kaname's shirt and bringing him even closer to him.

"Ah-hem."

With a jump the two vampires broke away from one another, their eyes and lips both bright red as they turned to see Takuma standing in the doorway of the kitchen, holding the empty tea pitcher.

"I came in to check if you needed help bringing in the soup, but it seems you have your hands full." The blonde smiled as he took four bowls off the counter, the very one Kaname still had Zero pinned against, "You two come back in when you're ready."

When they were alone once more, Kaname watched the hunter, waiting for him to either flee from him or retaliate, "So should we talk about this?"

"Maybe, in a moment." Zero shrugged before doing the last thing the pureblood imagined he would do and brought his lips back to Kaname's.


You See Me

"Do you want to move in with me?"

"What?" Zero's head whipped around to face the pureblood who had whispered into his ear.

It had been about a month since their kiss and while no one besides Takuma knew that since that day the two had continued to grow even closer afterwards. In between study sessions there were secret kisses, the weekend trips into town to run errands now giving them time to be together without being noticed. Although they were the first to arrive in the classroom and the room was otherwise empty, even now they talked in hushed whispered.

"Do you want to move in with me?" Kaname repeated, "I have an extra room in my dorm that I thought I would use as an office but found I was too used to my old one."

Zero felt a grin tugging on his lips, "Is that the only reason you want me to move in?"

"Well, it might be covenant for you as the Moon Dorm is closer to our classroom than your room at the Sun Dorm or the Head Master's. You over there often enough between studying with Yuki and when you get hungry."

"Is that all?"

Seeing Zero's devilish grin, Kaname realized that the hunter had seen through his offer, "It might also be covenant for me if you were closer. Zero, I have grown rather attached to you lately and would like to spend more time with you to see where this could go. I want to be with you without us having to hide."

"How about Saturday?" Zero gave the pureblood a peck on his cheek before turning his attention to the group of vampires that just arrived, Yuki and Takuma coming over to take their seats next to them.

"In retrospect, I should have seen this coming." Zero sighed as he placed his two duffel bags of clothes inside of his new room, "You couldn't have controlled yourself in the slightest could you?"

"What, you don't like it?"

"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you're a smart ass." Zero admitted as he looked around the room again. It was obvious that the pureblood had been busy as from top to bottom the room had been transformed, a slightly different mirror to his own bedroom. Instead of the darker mahogany and ruby materials that made up most of Kaname's room, there were shades of plums and violets adorning the ornate oak dresser, desk, and closet. Even the bed was fully customized with a set of satin sheets and matching quilted comforter, the corner turned down in invitation for the hunter to climb right in.

"So you do like it?" The cockiness in Kaname's voice could not hide the earnest need for the hunter's approval he felt, "I did try to make it to your liking."

"You did. Honestly, thank-you." Zero shot the pureblood a smile, genuinely touched by the effort he had put into the room. "Now get out of here will I unpack my clothes before I make us some dinner."

"Do you want any help with that?"

"So you can manhandle my underwear, no thanks."

"I'm going to see them eventually." Kaname winked from where he was, leaning against the doorway before he had to duck to avoid the shoe that hunter had aimed at his head, "Ok, ok, I'm going. Let me know when you're done and I'll help with dinner. Unless you're afraid I will manhandle your food too."

The pureblood ducked effortlessly as the other shoe came flying "Kaname…"

Dinner had been quite pleasant for them, the two vampires enjoying casually chatting between bites of the pasta dish Zero had whipped up and then watching a few sitcom reruns on tv before they said their goodnight.

However as Zero settled into his new bed, he found himself unable to fall asleep. He buried himself under the plush comforter, he could only think of the pureblood sleeping in the very next room. The truth of the matter was that he could only ignore the growing pull he felt for Kaname for so long and he was getting tired of trying to convince himself otherwise.

"Damn it, Kuran." Zero growled as he finally realized that there was only one way to get to sleep. Gathering up his pillow, he dragged himself out of bed and into the other bedroom. He hovered in the doorway, watching the gentle rise and fall of Kaname's chest as he slept, his shoulder length hair fanned out like a halo on his pillow.

Biting his lip, Zero tiptoed over to the edge of the large bed, silently crawling under the covers. He inhaled the now familiar scent of the pureblood that clung to the silk sheets, letting out a small moan as the material settled over him.

As relief of sleep finally came to the hunter he heard a husky voice whisper "Good night, Zero."


You Love Me

"So it wasn't a dream." Kaname thought as he woke up to find Zero sleeping next to him, their bodies molded against one another, "Mmm, I could get used to this."

Zero looked so precious when he was sleeping, his bottom lip temptingly pushed out as if he were pouting. Kaname reached out to touch the metallic strands of the hunter's hair, running his fingers through their silken length. It felt just as wonderful as he imagined.

"Hmmm" the hunter moaned in his sleep, rubbing himself closer to Kaname as if he were a cat. His eyes slowly opened, their beautiful lilac color looking like shining jewels to the pureblood who had never gotten to see them so close. "Kaname?"

"Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?" Kaname kept his voice as neutral as possible, the confusion on the hunter's face making him weary that Zero would regret coming into his bed. He started to move towards the other side of the bed to give him his space, "Would you like me to make some breakfast?"

"Where are you going?"

"To the kitchen."

"Who said you could leave me?"

Kaname blinked owlishly, "What?"

"I said," Zero purred as he pushed the pureblood back onto his bed and then straddling his waist, "Who said you could leave me?"

"Do you know what you're asking?"

"I do." The hunter leaned down to deeply kiss him, letting his actions speak for themselves.

As he caught his breath, a smile spread across Kaname's swollen lips "Are you sure because if you don't stop wiggling, I won't be able to stop myself."

Zero groaned as Kaname ground his hips up into him "Then don't stop."

"Just remember, you asked for it." Kaname rolled them over so that their positions were switched and tenderly kissed the hunter once more "I'll warn you one more time, once I have you I won't let you go. Zero, I want you."

"Then take me." For the first time in his life, Zero willing submitted to another vampire. He shivered as slender hands made their way under his pajama top, running up from his waist to his nipples, before the top was pushed over his head. He stretched his neck for Kaname's access, the feeling of the pureblood's lips on his flesh sending a rush of heat down his body.

"Is this how it felt when he bit Kaname?" Zero wondered as the pureblood's fangs pierced his neck and an instant wave of pleasure overcame him. This was the second time in his life Zero had ever been bitten, the first time occurring on the worst day of his life and had felt as if venom flowed through his veins. Perhaps it was in the intent of the biter that really mattered as the lust and tenderness that Zero felt came from Kaname's feelings for him.

Still grinding their hips slowly, Zero angled his head so that he could latch onto the other side of Kaname's neck so he could sink his fangs in. He heard Kaname growl his approval as the two of them drank from one another, each gulp of the sweet blood bonding them closer together. For one glorious moment, they ceased to be two souls who had struggled to overcome the darker events of their past and instead became a single entity where no outside force mattered.


You Have Me

"You want me…." Instead of the teasing tone he had used that day months ago, those three little words came out as almost a sob as Kaname felt Zero snuggle contently against his chest, the silverette practically glowing in the aftermath of their blood sharing.

Burying his face into the crook of the pureblood's neck, Zero kissed the pale flesh that he had just bitten to cause Kaname to shudder in pleasure "More than anything."

"You have me."


Author Note: I first planned to have this include the first time Kaname and Zero made love but I thought it might actually be moving too fast if they did it at this point. They are still getting used to their lust for one another and I think it would be more significant for them if they had sometime after they admitted their feelings for one another before having sex.

Perhaps by the time their first Halloween together as a couple rolls around they will be ready… I promise.