Author Notes: Ah, contrary to what I said in Chapter 6, this is the second last chapter for my AU for Crimson Door fic. So one more chapter to go before it's complete!

Summary: I have been looking over the last ten chapters of Crimson Door but honestly, they were so awesome - filled with amazing events, exquisite details and heartwrenching scenes I could never have imagined in a thousand years - that I just couldn't find anything else to change!

So most of this chapter, except for the first couple of paragraphs, was written before the actual Crimson Door Chapter 29 came out. After being hyped up so much by Chapter 28, particularly towards the end, I was desperate for two things - (a) Zero taking Kaname to task for being so self-sacrificial back at the sugar refinery, and (b) a love confession between them both. Obviously, Blackened Wing did a much better job of (a) than I could ever have imagined, and her not obliging us with (b) in Crimson Door is a very good thing because it gave rise to Blood Moon! :D In any case, hope you enjoy this chapter :)

-- Chapter Start --

Zero couldn't stand it anymore. He'd given Kaname as much time as he could after the pureblood had discharged himself from the hospital, knowing there was a mountain of work waiting for him, courtesy of Asato Ichijo's and Rido Kuran's untimely but unmourned deaths. Not to mention Chairman Cross' as well even though he would definitely be missed more than the two evil vampires.

But Zero couldn't hold in his confusion and his guilt anymore. He found himself outside Kaname's rooms in the Moon Dorms before actually knowing how he'd gotten there. And almost immediately, they'd started arguing again. Because Kaname had casually brushed aside his concerns and his stumbling apology in light of their... relationship.

And Zero couldn't let it go. He couldn't understand why Kaname was always trying to make it sound like they had a real 'relationship' going on. They didn't… not really. It was just something… physical. Zero ignored the fact that he wanted it to be something much more meaningful than that; he was trying to be practical here.

Because Kaname Kuran was a pureblood - he had power and the coveted Kuran blood running through his veins. He had wealth, connections, respect from the vampire world. Hell, even the council was afraid of him. He had the courage to fight those who defied him and the confidence to set his destiny and take over the world if he chose. He had allies and friends loyal enough to lay their lives down for him. Kaname even had an eternity to map out the way he wanted his life to go. He had Yuki's love. He could bend people to his will if he should choose. He could manipulate air. His touch could heal wounds and take away the hurt.

And let's face it, his looks didn't hurt either - those smouldering endlessly passionate eyes, flowing dark hair, that tall elegant carriage, those warm sculptured lips, that graceful sensitive neck that tasted so good, those elegant fingers that could wreak havoc on his senses…

And he - Zero Kiriyu - what was he? He was a vampire hunter from an old and distinguished line of vampire hunters. But now, he had nothing. He had no family and no friends. He was a Level D vampire and hated what he was. He had nothing to look forward to but a short life scorned by both humans and vampires only to have it all end in eventual madness. He had nothing.

"Back at that refinery… you didn't have to sacrifice yourself, Kaname" he muttered stubbornly. "You didn't have to save me. I'm expendable. I'm…" not important, he ended silently.

Kaname was angry. He had a thousand and one things to catch up on. He didn't want Zero to bring up that time and he hated it when Zero talked like this. Like he didn't mean anything. Of course it was a lie - Zero was so much more than just a Level D vampire. He had a strength and resilience Kaname admired. He had unending courage and didn't suck up to the powers-that-be just because you were supposed to. He was loyal to those he cared about and Kaname knew Zero loved Yuki enough to lay his own life down for her. Zero was honest and didn't take credit for what was not his. He gave his blood to Kaname when he'd needed it and he'd revealed enough of himself to Kaname for him to know that underneath that brooding persona and sarcasm, he was a person who cared.

Kaname also wasn't immune to how good looking Zero was - that unusual coloring with that silvery fine hair and those silver eyes that captivated Kaname. Zero kept them expressionless most of the time but Kaname'd seen them flash with anger, glow with frustration, shimmer with pain and burn with passion. And his warm and toned body felt so good, Kaname wanted to touch Zero, adore him and be near him all the time. He wanted Zero to want him, to care for him. And it made Kaname angry as hell that he apparently didn't want to. Of all the people in the world Kaname could have bonded with, he ended with probably the only person who didn't want to be bonded to him...

"Why do you think I chose myself, damnit?" he raged suddenly at Zero, dark eyes snapping fire. "It's because I couldn't choose between you and Yuki!" Remembered anguish at the hopeless desperation at that time came flooding back with painful intensity and Kaname shut his eyes, hands clenched into tight fists, his newly healed heart beating painfully in his aching chest. "I couldn't! I love you both too much to ever choose between the two of you, Zero!"

There was a stunned silence in the room now, broken only by their ragged breathing.

"And… I would do it again if I had to…" Kaname ended. Even his throat was aching now. He was past caring what Zero thought of him. It was ironic, he was a pureblood, he should be in complete control of every situation, telling people what to do, but everytime it came down to Zero, he lost control. He was weak. Vulnerable. Completely open to the ex-human's derision and scorn. And the ironic thing was that he would be more affected by what Zero said or thought of him than by what anyone else said or thought of him.

The ex-human was still staring at him, stunned. He swallowed painfully. "I – I never asked you to… lo - care… about me, I mean…" he said, his voice raw and barely above a whisper. Even as a small voice whispered in his mind – but I wanted you to… so, so damn much…

Kaname smiled grimly, mirthlessly. "I know" he returned dryly. "But I do, anyway…" He shrugged and turned away from that stunned expression on Zero's face. Well, he'd done it now. He'd as good as placed his heart in Zero's unwilling hands and he didn't even know what the boy would do with it.

"Kaname…" the hoarse voice broke off in something that sounded suspiciously like a sob, then Zero was behind him, his arms wrapped tightly around Kaname's waist, his face buried in the side of the pureblood's neck.

Kaname was taken aback. He could feel the slight tremors that shook Zero's body. A fist clenched around the pureblood's heart and he couldn't speak. Kaname wrenched at Zero's arms just enough for him to twist around, then he closed his own arms around the overwrought hunter. Holding him tight in his arms. Holding him close to his heart.

Zero couldn't say a word. His throat seemed to have closed up completely and all he could do was hold Kaname tight and try as hard as he could not to break down and embarrass himself completely in the pureblood's arms.

Long minutes ticked by without either vampire noticing. Zero was still shuddering but he finally managed to rasp out a question. "It – it's the bond, isn't it, Kaname?" He swallowed before continuing, his face still buried in his lover's neck. "That's why you feel this way about me, it's just the bond between us…"

A small smile formed on Kaname's sculptured lips. "Yes… and no…" he replied. He sighed softly. "The bond helped… but Zero – " Kaname unwrapped his arms, cupping his hands on either side of Zero's face, forcing him to look up. The pureblood saw but didn't mention anything about the glimmer of tears in the silver eyes.

"Zero, I had a bond with Ichijo too, remember? Only what I felt about him was just… hate. Hate and disgust… and… a sick sort of desire…" a shiver ran through his body at the remembered torture, pain and utter humiliation he'd suffered at the deceased noble's hands and involuntarily, Zero's arms tightened around him to instinctively offer comfort.

"But what I feel for you… it's not hate, and it's not disgust. Anger... sometimes, frustration... definitely…" Kaname smiled faintly. "And of course, desire… the right type, I mean…" he murmured, causing Zero's pale cheeks to flush bright pink.

Kaname waited for Zero's reply but all the hunter said was "Yeah, um, well…" before trailing off into rather mortified silence, glancing away. After a few moments of silence, Zero looked back at Kaname. "You shouldn't tie your life with mine" he said softly. "I – I can't offer you anything…" The anguish in his eyes spoke volumes about what he thought of his life compared to Kaname's.

Kaname sighed soundlessly. "Zero, can't you get it through your head? How can you say that? I would be… lost… without you" It was perhaps one of the most personal and honest things he'd said yet but he wanted Zero to be with him. To be beside him. Only then did he feel like he could accomplish anything. Take on the world if he had to. Both worlds – human and vampire. Be the best that he could be. And offer his love, his blood and his protection to Zero in return. Whatever Zero wanted. Whatever Kaname could offer him.

Zero didn't say anything more. He wanted to say he loved Kaname back, goodness knows he did… but he couldn't. His tongue seemed to freeze whenever he tried to say those words. It didn't mean he didn't though… he was just overwhelmed with what had already been said, about hearing Kaname actually say those words. And there were still a lot of things that had remained unsaid.

But now he nuzzled his face into Kaname's neck, letting his lips trail softly and slowly over the pale inviting skin. They could still communicate in other ways... After all, Kaname had mentioned desire…

-- Chapter End --