Author Notes: The other AU scene I thought of from Blackened Wing's wonderful VK fanfic Crimson Door. I guess this completes this AU story unless I think of another possibility for one of the later chapters. But in either case, they could never, ever compare to the sublimeness that is Crimson Door :)

Summary: Zero rescues Kaname & Yuki from Ichijo mansion and the three of them escape into the surrounding woods. Kaname has been tortured, beaten and starved for blood. In Chapter 11, Zero lets the desperate and ravenous pureblood drink his blood to help him survive and to keep Yuki safe. This AU scene explores what might have happened if Yuki hadn't come upon Kaname draining Zero.

Excerpt from Crimson Door Chapter 11 (there is another excerpt at the end):

Zero groaned in protest as Kaname moved against him, his pale face flushing, not the least at the reaction being wrung from his own body as Kaname's hips pressed his mercilessly, repeatedly and exotically against the unyielding ground. Oh God... it felt so disturbingly, unimaginably good, the way the pureblood was moving against him, the sensual feeling of his own blood being drained away making his head spin and spin...

...and spin... but it wasn't only arousal making him dizzy now. His tense body was slackening in Kaname's grip as deeper dizziness started to take him. Spots danced before his eyes and his head tipped limply, dangling from where the other was holding his hair. "Kaname..." he groaned softly.

Kaname was barely aware that Zero was starting to fade. Some part of his mind knew it, but was trying to keep it from the rest of his consciousness, because he was still hungry... because he could drain the ex-human dry and it would only just begin to sate him. But the part that did know was clamoring for attention and as his body started to mend some from the worst of his injuries and the pain eased, it became easier to hear.

-- Start --

Kaname knew that he had to stop – now – before he drained Zero too much. His mind was still trying to get him to focus on the blood he was drinking, to keep on drinking and drinking… Zero's blood was being imprinted on him, in his mind, in his senses – how it felt in his mouth and on his tongue. It was delicious. Zero's skin tasted and smelled delicious too… everything about the ex-human smelled, felt and tasted unbelievably good.

Shuddering deeply, Kaname somehow found the strength from within to wrench his mouth away from the incredibly tempting neck beneath it. His heaving chest still resting upon the ex-human's back, the pureblood breathed deeply in shuddering gasps, feeling Zero's blood racing through him, strengthening him, aiding his natural ability to heal from his multiple injuries.

Zero uttered another groan, of relief this time. Dimly, he was thankful that the pureblood had had the inner strength to stop draining him – he could tell Kaname was still hungry for blood, and another reluctant twinge of respect for the pureblood grew in his heart. But a larger part of his mind was seriously distracted by the fact that Kaname's hips were still repeatedly pressing against his, as though pulling away from Zero's neck had taken all of the pureblood's attention and willpower to the extent he wasn't aware of how the rest of his body was currently occupied.

Zero could feel the pounding of Kaname's heart against his back, and it seemed like he could feel a weird echo of that erractic beat in his neck, where Kaname had bitten him.

"Ka-Kaname… st-stop it" he gasped weakly, flushing hotly, wondering if the pureblood was actually aware of how disturbing the movements of his hips were to Zero. How disturbing… and how distressingly arousing. And despite feeling weak and dizzy from blood loss, Zero was also aware that Kaname was aroused. Very much so.

Zero closed his eyes. If this was what blood bonds did with their owners, he was in deep trouble, because he'd just created one such bond with Kaname.

The pureblood had allowed him to bite and drink his blood the last time in order to slow his descent into madness, just so that he could continue to protect Yuki. Because Kaname loved Yuki. And now, Zero had allowed Kaname to bite him in return, to repay that debt and to ensure Yuki was in no danger from a starving pureblood. Because he, Zero, loved Yuki too.

It all came back to Yuki. Full circle. Ironically, their love for the same girl had now indirectly resulted in an unplanned and unexpected blood bond betwen her two love rivals.

Great. Just freakin' great.

Slowly, Zero's mortified words penetrated Kaname's brain, about the same time that he became aware of what he was doing to Zero. Stunned, the pureblood froze immediately, still half lying, half straddling Zero's hips. Very quietly, he swung one leg over and knelt on the grass beside Zero, who immediately turned his face away from him.

Kaname swallowed. He'd caught sight of the deep flush on the ex-human's face before Zero had turned away and it caused an answering one to rise in his own face. A vampire would have understood this… would not have held Kaname's uncontrollable actions against him, especially after knowing how he'd been starved, drained and viciously tortured… practically violated by that evil Ichijo everyday for three weeks… But no, he'd bitten an ex-human, and one with a very bitter view of vampires in general, and purebloods in particular. One who had always viewed him as a cold and calculating enemy, a rival vying with him for Yuki's heart…

Dear God, how was he ever going to explain the mysteries of vampire blood bonds to someone like Zero Kiriyu?

Zero lay still, wishing the pureblood would just get up and walk away from him. He was dizzy and hungry and he couldn't even get up now because he didn't want Kaname to see how – physically – he was affected.

Strong hands still bound together at the wrists caught at his shoulder suddenly, pulling him to sit upright, and Zero started struggling immediately, knowing who the hands belonged to. Weakly, he tried to twist away, jabbing behind him with his elbows, all the while avoiding looking directly at Kaname.

A soft grunt told him one of his jabs had found their mark. "Stop it, Kiriyu! Now!" snapped Kaname, still holding onto Zero's shoulder as though afraid the ex-human would suddenly bolt away. Not that he could… Kaname knew that even though his body was still weak and mending, he was now definitely the stronger of the two, knowing how much he'd just drained the ex-human.

Zero had stopped struggling, perhaps realising the same thing. But his head was resolutely turned away from the pureblood. Blood was still seeping sluggishly from the bite wounds at his neck, and Kaname paused only briefly before dipping his head to the ex-human's neck once more. Zero felt warm breath on his neck and jerked aside. Kaname's fingers on his shoulder tightened. "Relax" murmured the pureblood, before he started licking at the wounds, dulling the pain and urging the wounds to heal, an unexpected thread of amusement winding through him. He could feel the boy's rapid pulse as well as he could see the pink flush on his face and neck.

A soft shudder rippled through Zero. His bite area was extremely sensitive at the moment and Kaname's skilled lips sent shiver after shiver rippling through him. Zero tried hard to regulate his breathing but it still hitched in his throat and he knew the pureblood was aware of this.

Finally, Kaname stopped tending Zero's neck and released his shoulder before standing up. Zero chanced a glance at him before doing the same. Rising slowly and a little unsteadily to his feet, he couldn't help noticing that the pureblood was also… physically affected… by what had happened just now. A second later, the dark gaze had flicked down to the front of his own trousers and he flushed even deeper, knowing the pureblood had seen the same thing about him. Crap…

Kaname looked at him now, but the dark eyes were a little stunned, a little anguished… and Zero found himself staring back at the pureblood, mesmerised. The part of his neck where Kaname had bitten him had started throbbing again. Absently, Zero lifted his hand and started probing the still healing area, closing his eyes. After a moment, he opened his eyes and felt a strange jolt in his stomach when he saw Kaname doing the exact same thing, even though his hands were still bound by the hunter cuffs.

Their eyes met again and held. Zero's hand dropped. So did Kaname's. The pureblood looked like he was about to speak and Zero's eyes widened. He wasn't sure if he was ready for an explanation on what had happened. He wasn't ready for any explanation. At any time soon. Like in this century.

Quickly, he turned away, intending to go look for Yuki. But Kaname's hands on his arm stopped him. "Kiriyu…" murmured the pureblood, in a much softer tone than Zero had expected.

Zero stopped but didn't turn around. His face was still burning.

"Zero… look at me" Kaname's voice was soft but compelling. The hands on his arm fell away. Slowly, almost against his will and definitely against his reason, Zero turned around to look at Kaname. Their eyes met again and Zero swallowed instinctively at the regret flickering in the dark eyes.

"I didn't intend for this to happen" murmured Kaname softly. Believe me…

Zero swallowed past a dry throat. He started to nod but then he shook his head. Finally taking the bull by the horns, he rasped "What the hell was that about, Kuran?"

Kaname stiffened. He knew he hadn't been gentle about it and he'd drained Zero harshly. He's also… done… other things, even though it had not been his intention at all. But he was annoyed at the boy's reaction.

"What the hell was what about, Kiriyu?" he growled in return, wanting to force Zero to actually say what he was so pissed off about.

Zero opened his mouth… and closed it again. He bit his lip, not daring to actually put words to the utterly mortifying incident of a few minutes ago, but aware that the pureblood was looking at him with a strange expression in his dark eyes.

Kaname was unable to stop staring at Zero - the ex-human looked so appealingly uncertain right then, the pureblood was struck by a strange urge to comfort him. He started to speak, then paused as he heard someone approaching them.

Yuki.

Zero swung around in time to see a wide eyed Yuki holding his gun as she stumbled towards them. Her gaze swung from one to the other, sensing the tension between them. Then she saw the blood on Kaname's lips and immediately, her eyes searched for and found the wound on Zero's neck.

"Zero?" she breathed, taking a step closer. "Are you all right?" She gave a half glance towards Kaname as she spoke but didn't look at him directly. Kaname swallowed, anguish coursing through him. He knew what Yuki was thinking right now, that he'd attacked Zero…

He opened his mouth to call her name, to defend himself by saying that Zero had offered his blood to him… but the words died in his throat. He's so very nearly attacked the boy, what happened just now wasn't too far off the mark. It could very well have happened anyway, if Zero hadn't given him permission. So what was there to say?

Well, she knew now, didn't she? She and Zero both. There wasn't any use pretending. This was the truth. This was what he was. What he would always be, no matter what ideals he held or what causes he supported. He was feeling better after drinking, but his wounds were too severe to completely heal and he was still much weaker than normal. Stumbling slightly, Kaname backed away to give the other two space and try to let them know he was no longer a threat to them. He finally raised his gaze to Yuki's for a moment, his eyes hopeless and anguished as they darted between her and Zero.

-- End --