Zero held his head in between his hands, his red headed lover rubbing soothing circles in his back. "This doesn't make me love you any less." Akatsuki stated, breaking the silence.
Zero said nothing.
"I knew you were sick from the moment we got together. And although it's true I didn't think it would be this bad... I will still support you."
Zero gripped his bony shoulders. He could feel tears pricking his eyes, begging to be let out. Zero turned to his lover, "Akatsuki... I think I lo-"
Akatsuki cut Zero off, "I have to go, I told Aidou I wouldn't be gone for long. I think I've overstayed. Goodbye Zero." Akatsuki placed a chaste kiss on Zero's forehead before jumping out of Zero's open window. Zero looked out of the window but saw no sign of the aristocrat. Maybe it was because Zero was staying in his room at the headmasters house that Akatsuki hurried to get away, but Zero wasn't so sure.
Zero wiped the tears from his eyes. He threw himself onto his bed and sighed. Well there went his Saturday night, all he had planned to do was spend the night snuggling with Akatsuki.
"You know", the familiar silky voice startled him. Zero snapped his head towards the brunet sitting stop his windowsill. "I find it a little strange how I was talking to Aidou moments ago, and he told me he hoped Akatsuki got laid tonight. He has a date with Ruka in town at 7." Kaname stated.
Zero shot out of bed. "Kaname! What are you talking about?! He said Aidou-"
"Do you honestly expect Aidou to keep tabs on his older cousin? Aidou cares about him yes, but he is in no way as controlling as Kain makes him out to be. In fact, Akatsuki controls Aidou."
Zero shook his head. 'That can't be right. Akatsuki... Told me how controlling Aidou is. He told me not to doubt him... He... He's been lying to me... Or has he?' Zero looked over to the pureblood. "How do I know if you're lying to me?"
"Let's follow them then. I know where they're going." Kaname said with a shrug, but internally he could feel himself smirking devilishly. "Get dressed."
"Okay." Zero waited for the pureblood to turn around. His face grew red when he saw Kaname waiting expectantly.
Zero sighed, he turned around and pulled off his sweats, angrily stuffing his legs into his tight black jeans. He tore off his shirt and grabbed the nearest one to him, which coincidentally happened to be the one Kaname forced him to wear.
Kaname let out a small smile. He was delighted to see that Zero had not thrown away, or burnt his shirt.
"So did you have to move all of your stuff into here?" Kaname asked, making conversation as his eyes took in the beautiful boy. Even with the multitude of colours marring his body Zero was still perfect to him.
"Just some clothes, I usually stay here instead of the dorms so I didn't have much to move. Of course, I wouldn't of had to do that if you hadn't torn down my wall!" Zero accused.
"Pish posh, are you ready?" Kaname didn't wait for an answer as he walked out of Zero's bedroom and into the rest of the house.
"Kuran! What if the headmaster sees you!"
"So I'm Kuran again? And what if? I'm with the best prefect this school has to offer. You can keep me on a tight leash. I won't even bite." Kaname shot Zero a wink. "Unless you want me to."
Zero shook his head and shot passed the other. "Hurry up."
Kaname almost felt bad for telling Zero the truth, almost. He saw Zero's heartbreak as Akatsuki walked into a restaurant with Ruka on his arm, a genuine smile on his face. Not only that, but he was wearing a suit, insinuating he took time in his appearance.
"Come, we must make sure." Kaname prodded, guiding Zero into the restaurant the two had just entered.
Kaname with his usual attire, looked devilishly handsome and elegant. While Zero looked passable with plain black pants, and Kaname's dress shirt.
"Table for two."
"I'm sorry sir you must have a reservation to dine at this establishment." The waiter stated snobbishly. "Besides, this is not a diner. This restaurant is only for the rich and wealthy, not the poor and shabby." He insulted, looking disdainfully at Zero.
Kaname's eyes flashed red. "Table for two, under Kuran." Kaname repeated, his voice tight. The waiter's eyes widened.
"I am extremely sorry sir! I offer my most sincere apologies!" The waiter appeared to be near tears.
"Just take us to our table." Kaname said with a sigh. He motioned for Zero to take his arm. "Come my love, let us dine tonight." Kaname said pleasantly.
"What's wrong with you?" Zero whispered harshly.
"Do you want to act like spies? Don't be stupid, just act casual." Kaname hissed.
Zero felt Kaname's hand at the small of his back pushing him to walk slightly faster. Kaname however didn't stop there, Zero felt his eye twitch as Kaname's hand kept sliding lower until he gently cupped half of Zero's ass.
"We have arrived. I will be back in five minutes, please have your order ready by then." The waiter dismissed himself.
Kaname pulled out a chair and waited for Zero to sit before pushing it back in, ever the gentleman.
"I can't see them." Zero muttered, glaring at the menu.
"I know, but I can. They are directly ahead of me." Kaname stated.
"Switch seats with me." Zero commanded.
Kaname glanced at the others who were much too happily enjoying dinner. "I'd rather not."
"It wasn't an option."
They switched and Zero regretted his decision terribly. A much too loud obnoxious giggle pierced through his heart, followed by a significantly deeper chuckle.
Zero was in the middle of stuffing his chicken breast in his mouth when he felt his breath punched out of him. Kaname in front of him pushed his lobster away and stared sadly at the boy.
Ruka placed her delicate hand on top of Akatsuki's and gave him a smile. "I really like this, I like spending time with you." Zero felt like throwing up.
"I like spending time with you too. You make me feel alive, you complete me." Akatsuki's baritone voice rung in Zero's ears.
Zero felt anger rise within him, using what little strength he had, he flipped over the table and stormed out of the restaurant. Kaname followed closely behind.
All heads in the restaurant turned, but only two of the many people had the slightest idea of what had just transpired.
'Who was Kaname with?'
Kaname held Zero's hair back with one hand and rubbed small circles on his back with the other as Zero threw up his dinner.
"Kaname." Zero stated weakly, suddenly he felt as sick as he was. He fell to his knees, his body quaking with unshed tears. "K-Kaname." He said again, his voice breaking. "I want to go home." He quickly turned away from the brunet and once again emptied out his stomach.
Kaname instantly felt bad, how could he have forgotten the most crucial detail. Zero was sick. Despite how strong the boy acted, he was still very unwell.
"Come on." Kaname shrugged off his blazer and placed it around the slim boys shoulders. The pureblood knelt down in front of his hunter. "Put your arms over my shoulders, it will be easier to carry you that way."
Zero wordlessly slid onto Kaname's back. "You know, I don't feel so good", the silver haired hunter mumbled, "I've been feelings weak... So weak. The headmaster is getting worried, he had a doctor check me out but wouldn't tell me the results. I-"
Kaname cut him off. "I have a proposition for you, if you let me tell Aidou your secret, I will make him find a cure."
"I don't get why I can't just get chemo?" Zero mumbled sleepily, ignoring what Kaname proposed.
"Chemo kills the special cells like vampire ones, and the ones hunters have. You would die instantaneously," Kaname said bluntly.
"Now about that proposition..."
"I don't care, it's not like it's going to be a secret much longer when I have to be pushed around in a wheelchair with an IV tube in my veins."
Zero awoke the next morning with a foul taste in his mouth. The events of last night came crashing down on him and once again he felt nauseous. He groaned as he pushed himself up. Everything looked different, but it was all the same. Once beautiful memories of Akatsuki lingered in this room, but now those memories felt unpleasant.
"Zero!" The headmasters voice called from outside of his bedroom door. "I'm coming in!"
Doing as he said he would, the headmaster shot inside and threw himself onto the boy. "I'm so glad you're okay! Do you know how worried I was when I saw you unconscious with Kuran?! Oh my baby!" He mollycoddled.
Zero tried to push the man away, but stopped for the need of conserving his diminishing strength.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Kaname and Hanabusa are here."
"What are they here for?" Zero spat out.
"Remember? Kaname told me all about the proposition..."
'Well shit.'
"I'll be down in a few minutes."
Kaien left and Zero let out a long sigh, he pushed off the obviously expensive blazer that had surprisingly kept him warm throughout the night. "I guess everything's changing now." He weakly pushed himself off of his bed and stumbled over to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and getting the horrible taste out of last night, he dressed in some comfortable black jeans and a plain white shirt. He forwent the shoes, happy that the headmasters house was carpeted, stuffed the bloody rose in his back pocket and headed down stairs.
For once, when Zero made eye contact with Aidou he was not glaring, instead he was practically bouncing with anticipation. "Sit! Sit! Sit!" Aidou rushed, motioning to the couch. Zero obeyed, a bit hesitantly because of how strange Aidou was acting towards him. A multitude of strange instruments were lying around the living room, making Zero a bit wary.
"Okay, Kaname-senpai and Headmaster I'm going to need you both to step out." Aidou commanded. Both males were about to protest until they saw Aidou's no nonsense glare.
Once they stepped out, Aidou locked the door and turned to Zero. "Undress."
"W-what?!" Zero jumped up in shock.
"Undress, I need to do some tests." Seeing that Zero was being stubborn, Aidou walked over to him and tore his shirt off. Seeing Aidou reach for his pants, Zero quickly unbuttoned them and let them fall to the floor.
"Okay, come step on this scale. 30kg... Extremely underweight..." Aidou mumbled to himself as he scribbled notes across a clipboard. It was when Aidoun was checking his heights that he saw a drastic change in Aidou's composure. "Oh shit... This is not good. 5"8... Osteoporosis...highly..." Aidou's mumbling increased and so did his frantic writing.
"Get dressed, I'm going to ask you some questions in a bit." Aidou ordered offhandedly.
"When was the last time you ate human food?" Aidou asked as soon as Zero pulled on his pants.
"Last night." Incessant scribbling followed.
"Last time you drank blood?"
Zero clenched his lip. "A while ago."
"How long is a while?"
"A month..." Aidou gaped at him. "At the least..."
"You've been drinking the blood tablets at least, right?"
Zero shook his head.
"Are you trying to kill yourself? You are a vampire! You need to feed!" Aidou almost smacked the hunter.
"This is unprofessional, but I'm not a professional doctor so..." Aidou grabbed a small knife, and cut along the length of his arm. "Hurry or it'll heal soon."
Zero looked at the bloody arm, and dug into it, despite his stomach protesting.
Aidou almost felt accomplished with his self as he saw Zero's skin gain some colour, then he was horrified as Zero's skin turned sligky green. "Zero no!" But Aidou's words had no effect as Zero threw himself to the nearest trash can and threw up the blood.
"Why couldn't you keep it in? Did your vampire senses not like it?"
"I kept it in longer than I did most other types of blood. Usually I throw up as soon as I smell the blood or in the middle of feeding." Zero said honestly. "It's not that I don't want to feed, I can't. Blood tastes bitter and unappetizing. Yours although not as unappetizing was still too bitter."
Aidou felt a lightbulb light up over his head. "I know this is risky, but I'm going to need a few blood samples." Aidou grabbed a few blood containers and needles.
Zero didn't protest, all he did was look away and flinch slightly when the needle broke through his skin.
"Since you can't drink blood, I'm going to have the headmaster prepare your meals extra raw. Maybe that will get into you." Aidou told his patient.
"So how long have you been the bloo- the vampires doctor?"
"I'm actually not a doctor, despite how many times I tell Kaname I'm a scientist he still puts them in the same category. I don't mind though, I learn many things." Aidou admitted.
Zero looked at the blond. "I like this side of you, you're a pretty okay guy." Zero said honestly.
Aidou smirked. "I could say the same, maybe under different circumstances we could've been friends."
"Don't be stupid, I'm not dying yet. So we might still be." Zero stated, but he highly doubted his words.
Aidou pulled away from the boy, three tubes of blood clutched tightly in his hand. "I'm going to take these to my lab, once I discover something I will let either you, the headmaster, or Kaname-senpai know. Go take a nap and recover."
With those parting words, Aidou packed up his equipment and left a shirtless Zero lying half unconscious on the couch.