A/N: I work hard on my fics. I research and verify as best I can before writing some of the seemingly most insignificant things. I also check back with my prior chapters to try and avoid inconsistencies, editing over and over, lengthening the chapters (unintentionally).
Please enjoy.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
"Come." Kaname repeated when Zero didn't move. The hunter looked down, narrowing his eyes while the pureblood led him into another room. "Didn't you want this?"
"...Yeah." he looked at the new area, a sort of high class kitchen he was guessing.
"Sit down and make your list, I'll prepare food." Kaname indicated to the breakfast nook where there was a bar style area. The silver haired teen pulled out a chair and did as he was asked. He uncapped a marker to doodle on a pad of post its, both given to him by the pureblood, leftover from their meeting with Kaien. He felt disgruntled, watching the enemy drape an apron around himself before cracking a few eggs. The air of tension was still palpable with Zero scrutinizing Kaname's every move, making sure the pureblood didn't poison him.
"I didn't know you could cook." one corner of his mouth pulled down in skepticism. He didn't think any of the 'high class' vampires had any typical homemaker skills after that fiasco Aidou had put them through a few weeks ago.
"Nobody really wants me cooking around here because of my status, but it's something I learned out of sheer curiosity." the pureblood smirked. Zero raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?" he muttered noncommittally, attention on a list he was preparing. "probably not 'cause of your status, probably because it's terrible..." Kaname chose to ignore that.
Sequence - Humans
1. Sayori Wakaba
2. Kaien Cross
3. Day Class Females
4. Day Class Males
5. Touga Yagari
The list wasn't very impressive, but it was the only sequence he could think of since he hadn't paid attention to anyone other than those select few, Sayori only because she was around Yuuki a lot. He didn't think of the humans did anything, but then again, don't rule out anyone. A probable exception could have been Kuran, who had been with him when the murder took place. He would still keep an eye open, even though he didn't think the pureblood would do such a thing.
The scent of cooking sausage overpowered all other smells in the room, awakening the human carnivore in a famished Zero. Kaname chuckled under his breath while he tipped food onto a plate, tinkling cutlery on porcelain as he slid it down the bar and turned off the stove. The hunter eyed his meal carefully, wondering if he should trust the innocent looking breakfast, suspicious as to why Kuran hadn't bothered making any for himself. Stomach snarling again, he found that he didn't care about that anymore before attacking his plate.
Kaname silently brought a goblet of water to Zero, placing one of his own down on the bar before sitting. He left one empty stool between them. Zero looked up from his meal, which wasn't that bad for such a simple fix, and noticed a spot of dark red along the inside of the pureblood's right wrist. Nearly choking on his food, the hunter looked away, avoiding a questioning glance from Kuran, who had not noticed his discovery.
Was he taking Yuuki's death harder than Zero thought? It looked like there was a deep slit along the aristocrat's porcelain skin. Had he done that to himself out of depression? Anger? It was next to impossible that someone else had done that to him, or there would have more than likely been a second death at Cross Academy the moment it happened.
Finishing the modest breakfast, Zero contemplated just downing the water without dissolving any pseudo blood. He eyed the cup given to him with interest. Its top was made of crystal while the stem was a very detailed pewter visage of a curling dragon - glass molding fixed carefully between his rows of teeth. Its wings folded elegantly into a smooth grip near the top of the stem.
Damn rich pricks.
Kaname pulled a golden tin from behind the bar, opening it to reveal more blood tablets. He took a pair and plopped them unceremoniously into his drink before shoving the tin in the hunter's general direction. Zero didn't bother touching it. The pureblood mirrored his lack of action, not making a move for his concoction, opting to stare intently at him out of the corner of his eyes. He was waiting. The silver haired teen honestly didn't care if Kuran didn't drink his meal, but sighed and took a tablet anyways, thawing out the still brunette.
What a pain.
The tablet dissolved faster than usual. Zero took the goblet to his lips, pausing when he smelt a strong scent emanating from the cup.
"Is there a problem?" Kaname quirked a brow.
"Not at all." Zero drank deeply, draining the glass of all its contents. The bitter taste of vodka burned his throat, but he ignored the feeling, smacking his lips soundly. He didn't care at all for the liquid, even when mingled with blood. This was the first time he had ever drunk, despite what people might have thought of him. He never saw the need until now.
Heat rushed to the hunter's cheeks, from the drink no doubt. It slightly blurred his vision, bringing a pleasant feeling during these hard times. Why hadn't he bothered with this when he was younger, when he had first been bitten?
"It buys the mind time to relax when it's unaffordable." the pureblood stated nonchalantly, eying his goblet. "Drink affects everyone differently, but you should be able to hold your liquor."
Zero busied himself with collecting his plate, glass and cutlery, reinspecting his list. While eating he had scrawled out questions that would help direct the path of investigation.
"I believe that you've got an appointment with members of the day class."
Kaname sat stationary in the same position, leisurely sipping on his spirit. Zero was unsure if that was a dismissal or what, but he refused to be lead around by the haughty aristocrat, even if he had just cooked him breakfast. He was, however, correct. Picking up his dishes, the hunter dropped them into the sink and returned to the bar to gather his notes.
"No words of thanks?" Kaname's expression was stoic while he asked, carefully gauging the other teen's body language.
"Thanks for not poisoning me." he growled in an undertone before turning away.
"One day I'll break you from that rude habit of yours." muttered the pureblood, dipping a finger into his drink to toy with the crystal rim. It sung beneath his fingers, high pitched, trembling.
The sound made a shiver run up Zero's spine. He left the room, deciding to get the first bit of interrogations over with. It would take no longer than half an hour if students were cooperative.
Heading down the stone pathway, Zero could see Kaien - hair down, flowing, glasses nowhere to be seen - running the perimeter with a hunter's sword. Yagari mirrored him from an opposite direction, both heading for the gate at a breakneck pace. They were more than likely practicing drills. Zero kind of respected the Chairman, focusing on the task set for him instead of incessantly mourning over his daughter. Maybe a little of that focus rubbed off on him after all his time of being the man's unofficial son.
"State your name and business!" Yagari barked as all three approached the wrought iron gate at the same time.
"Kiryuu, I'm going to question the day class."
He felt irritated at being stopped, but was glad to see that they were taking their duty seriously.
"Took you long enough." Touga complained, swinging his rifle over a shoulder. Kaien nudged him in reprimand.
"Proceed." Chairman nodded.
He took out a small golden key to turn in the massive padlock. The gate screeched ominously in both opening and closing, chains rattling from sudden movements. Once the lock was back in place, both men turned tail and ran back in the opposite direction, beginning to make an unseen circuit around the grounds.
Zero knew that a simple brick and iron defense would do no good against vampire powers. All they had to do was jump the gate. It had been implemented, instead, to keep humans from them. Their beauty lured many, and that was especially true with the bunch of hormonal teenage humans at this Academy.
The night air was disturbingly calm for the given situation, possibly because he was intoxicated. The hunter's mind was free to flit from thought to thought without worry of pondering anything deeply. This drinking thing was just as Kuran had said. Even more, it kept him from caring much as his mind fogged further. The feeling was slightly similar to the other night, being able to sit pretty inside your mind with who knows what going on around you.
Remembering his health education, Zero realized that his dizziness would probably get worse - the absorption of alcohol was slowed down by food in the system. How much had he drunk again? Maybe ten ounces, it was just one glass, but amount mattered, body mass, the mood it was drunk in, and perhaps most importantly, tolerance of the drinker.
Tolerance is what it all came down to for him, just like always.
And it was unfortunate that for as strong as he was, Zero didn't have that much of it.
So what would that have been? One and a half ounces of vodka per drink into ten ounces would give him the length of time he would remain drunk... It took his dulled mind a second longer to do the math, considering the conversion he had to do for time.
Over six hours.
Fuck.
A fork in the wide pathway appeared, forming a Y. The academy sat to his right, the dorms on his left. The hunter stopped midway, shoes gritting loose pebbles against the ground. He leaned a bit to the right, compelled to investigate the crime scene.
The wind blew a hint of stale blood around him, and Zero's legs gave way. He crumpled into a heap on the ground in the middle of the walkway, dry, shaky sobs escaping his throat. It seemed as if the alcohol clouded his judgments worse than he thought. He realized that now was not the time to have a breakdown over something small like smelling dried blood, but without his inner inhibitions, emotions were free to pass through his tough mask when they pleased.
Reigning in what bits of control he could muster, Zero turned on the spot, back facing the fork in the road. He would take a moment to steel his nerves, which couldn't be done while facing a decision - even a small one. No, it was much easier to stare back on a path that he was sure of. The steady single line ahead of him was comforting, familiar territory that he had already tread once before.
Everything changed overnight. The two options behind him - an empty school and a dorm full of humans, were the closest thing to home he had. Now he would gladly take an entire building of bloodsucking beasts to dwelling in either of those places for very long.
"Just get it the fuck over with." Zero muttered, determined to put the fading scent in the back of his mind.
Cursing had given him the strength to stop his pathetic display, the rough and masculine emotion behind it bestowing enough strength back into his form to press on. The hunter stood, noticing the sickly pale light of the moon peeking from behind the trees. From here he could tell it wasn't a sickle, probably three fourths full, providing excellent illumination.
Looking over his shoulder, Zero could see his long dim shadow, spilling down the left side of the fork.
"Now's not the right time, huh?"
With a final glance to Luna, something caught his eye, something crimson, two somethings. His heart gave a painful throb as an uncalled image came forth. Yuuki lay again, staring without seeing like before. Her warm brown gaze cooled while the picture faded around the edges, two crimson orbs eerily haunting the disappearing scene. It was something overlooked.
From a window on the highest level of the Moon Dorms, a pureblood prince's gaze struck a chord deep within within the ex-human. His own eyes lit up in response, warmth flooding through his body before the prince walked away from the window, leaving an unsatisfying gap in the scene. The brunette looked right, standing against the lattice windows, awaiting the teen's return.
Through the fuzz of his mind, Zero dropped all trains of thought and proceeded with his task, keeping to the left.
It seemed as if nobody was guarding the gates. That would have to be corrected right away. The newly appointed guardians probably didn't know that a simple iron defense wouldn't keep a bunch of vampires away from them. Had the trio been told about vampires? Kaien said he had given them minor hunter's weapons, charms even. To what extent had he warned or informed them? Sayori was an intuitive girl and could probably handle the truth. He didn't know anything about the other two, but he decided to talk to them as well if they were connected with her. They might have had some sort of relationship with the Yuuki too, and it was worth looking into.
Approaching another gate, Zero mentally calculated the distance, again delayed, deciding when would be the right time to execute his jump. With a short harsh laugh, he thought about a few ways to do just that, execute the killer. The hunter made a lithe leap, sticking the landing before purposely falling back on his rear.
Feathers of an arrow cut into the sleeve of his black school jacket before striking the ground. A symbol appeared around the arrow, a small diamond with ovals at its corners, like a sort of Celtic sign. It was the white sealing light of a hunter's weapon. Perhaps the humans were a bit more alert than he gave them credit for, though for which reason he sill did not know.
"Who goes?" a deep voice floated down from the canopies.
Were Zero any more disoriented than he was, he might have thought the trees were speaking to him. With all the weird shit that was already happening, sure, why the hell not? While impaired he would have believed it.
Something with more mass cut through the air, whistling past Zero's head before circling around and retreating.
"My next throw won't miss!" A feminine voice threatened. Two figures fell from opposite ends of the courtyard, one brandishing a boomerang as long as her arm, the other notching a second arrow. Zero drew Bloody Rose at the male who looked like he could be another cousin of Aidou and Kain. Both humans held their ground unflinchingly.
Impressive, for their species.
"Kiryuu, Zero. Just who the hell are you two?" he stood with little trouble. The pair lowered their weapons in recognition, the male keeping an arrow in its position, but slacking the bowstring.
"Sorry Kiryuu," he said awkwardly. "We cant take any chances, we are guarding the entire dorm."
"Well here's a tip." Zero snapped. "Don't sit stationary, your enemy could find a way around your defenses, then what? You may not have realized yet, but this is real life. A small mistake like that can mean death for scores of innocents."
"Alright, it won't happen again." the boy exasperatedly ran a hand through his hair, sweeping it back. The hunter advanced in a flash, barrel pressing into the archer's temple. Both guardians visibly tensed, all three in the light of the moon where they could get a better look at each other.
"Never lower your defenses in the presence of someone you don't know better than yourself. Even then it's dangerous." he growled.
What could he expect? They just started the job, he probably shouldn't have given them such a hard time, but with the spirit in his system and their determination strong, he couldn't help but warn them through example. Though he didn't like the duty, Zero still took it seriously and these two would follow suit. He was doing his job as a prefect by passing on the teachings.
"Names?" he asked expectantly.
"Takahashi, Haine."
"Tsume, Yuri."
They answered at once. Zero lowered the gun, looking them over. The male, Haine had hair or a straw color like Akatsuki and the same sort of patience with the hunter, only he smelled human. Weird. The female, Yuri, was blond with straight medium length hair and icy blue eyes. If these were human counterparts of the cousins in the moon dorm, much was to be said about Aidou. The thought made Zero have to bite back a laugh before he felt a sharp blood scented edge near his throat.
"What are you doing?" he asked stiffly with annoyance, wrinkling his nose.
"Taking advantage of your trust, and correcting my mistake." Haine stated. Zero smirked, he liked this one. The boy returned his smirk, sheathing the short knife before retrieving his fallen arrow.
"I'm hoping you don't need an escort to the building. With the possible enemies around we'll have a hard enough time guarding all of the day class as it is." Yuri spoke up.
The hunter was again curious to find out how much they knew about vampires, but he would save it for later.
"I don't, thanks." Zero replied in a clipped tone. "I do, however, have a few questions for you to answer."
Yuri's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"If it's about Cross-san's death you don't have to worry, we had no part in it." she said scathingly.
"Why should I believe you?" he asked acidly.
"We have an alibi." she crossed her arms in defense, a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
"Which would be?"
"We were in the dorms, we had a prior engagement." Haine answered with a straight face.
Zero could feel sincerity radiating from the both of them at the statement, embarrassment from Yuri's direction. Something clicked, and he wrinkled his nose unconsciously. Haine's brows drew together as he frowned.
"Don't act like you're above all that Kiryuu. We saw how you looked at Cross-chan."
"That's right! You've wanted her, tried to hide it, but we aren't the idiots you make us out to be. You were jealous over Kaname sempai's monopolizing of her feelings. Personally I think you're the most suspicious character around here!"
It was the wrong thing to say.
The hunter's expression was livid as his glazed violet glared black death into the blond's eyes. She flinched and shrunk back, very much afraid of the incensed man before her. And rightfully so! How dare she suggest he ever do anything to harm Yuuki? How dare she act like she knew anything when the opposite was true? He was ready to tear into somebody's throat.
"Have you been drinking Kiryuu? You might want to calm down." Haine warned when he noticed the stupor. "You might not be able to keep your temper in check." he moved between the two, ready to take any damage in place of Yuri. That simple gesture woke Zero to another facet of his current reality of a life without Yuuki.
He no longer had anyone to protect.
A knot formed in his chest.
"You're being unreliable."
A familiar smooth voice was followed by a deep shadow, all three of the guardians pointed their weapons at the intruder. Kaname descended from his perch on the gate and landed next to Zero. The knot tightened.
"I've already told you that brooding would be of no use when it came to your duty, but it's just like you to ignore my warnings."
"Why aren't you back at your dorms keeping watch on the others?" Zero accused.
"The Chairman and Yagari sensei can handle it." the pureblood answered coolly.
While the hunter didn't doubt that, the situation wasn't to his liking.
"Go back." the command was flat.
He put away Bloody Rose, the other two relaxed from their stances then. The building wasn't far, he figured he just had to talk to Yori, and if she was innocent enough, he would have her interview the rest of the humans so he could focus on the real suspects.
"You dare order me around?" the air became heavy, Haine and Yuri tensed, sensing the apparent malice in the pureblood's words.
"Er, you'll have to forgive him sempai, he's a little under the influence." Haine muttered, unsure as to whether or not he'd be reprimanded.
Kaname seemed to pause in his advancement, considering his words before finally speaking again.
"Run along you two, keep up your rounds."
Nodding, the new guardians backed away to make a circuit, hesitantly casting worried glances at the silver haired teen, who in turn, as if including himself in the request, headed inside the dorms.
It was dark. Even for vampire eyes.
The hand on his shoulder was expected, but before he could shrug it off and yell at the pureblood, he found the scenery around him blurring while his body was spun around. Without missing a beat, an open palm struck across his face with the force of a punch, snapping his head back in the direction he had just come. Kaname slammed Zero into a nearby wall, almost putting him through it, roughly catching a wrist.
"I'll forgive you for the cheek, but do not turn your back on me before I finish with you." his words were deadly, the tone silky and seductive. "Unless it's the only way I can... finish with you. And even then you'll do it under my orders."
Interesting choice of words. That man was a true sadist if he could easily talk that way after harming someone, Zero was sure, and pissed. He could feel a warm trickle sluicing down his cheek, a hot gaze following it.
Kaname made a show out of slowly, sensually licking around his own bloodied fingertips, taking one into his mouth to suck gently. A soft moan of approval escaped his throat as he closed his eyes for a moment to savor the flavor. Liquid heat shot through Zero's body, melting away the anger and replacing it with desire.
God that was sexy.
His eyes widened in horror - from the pureblood's reaction or his own thoughts, he wasn't sure. He was praying that it was the alcohol. Maybe the brunette was drunk as well? He had to have been, that would explain his rough and tantalizing actions. They were both completely out of character. He wasn't sure if he was more, dare he say it? Scared, -
"Zero..."
Or turned on. The gentle whisper made him erratic. Kuran had never called him by his first name before. His mind stuttered, wondering if he should call back to him.
Fingers burrowed into his silver hair, twining around the locks with unnecessary force. His abuser's stare softened as if he was sorry for what he had done, but the hunter knew that wasn't true. He desired a tighter grip, refusing to believe the moment was real. More pain was necessary for him to wake up.
"Need..."
Kaname was nearly a slave to his bloodlust in that moment, poof in his lit crimson eyes. Turmoil waged beneath the glow, a war between two desires. He was never unsure of himself. What was more important to him than sating his hunger? It must have been a while since he had drunk from another person. Zero was captivated by the way they smoldered, pleased by the fact that they were in response to his blood.
Reaching a decision, the pureblood came closer for the second time that evening, nature more timid than he had ever let anyone see. He touched his chest to the hunter's - the effect like a shot of morphine into the teen's heart. It soothed the pains of abuse and grief as their heartbeats synced. Zero's eyes lit up as well, perhaps from Kaname's influence?
Lips parting, the pureblood's dripping scarlet tongue slipped between them, ready to lap at the welling liquids. Zero could smell the allure of blood in the air, mingling with the amber of Kaname's skin. The sweet warmth of his breath washing over Zero's face made his already drunk mind heady, and a desire for a close in the gap bloomed from his racing heart, theirs.
Their eyes locked in that moment. The brunette turned his head a fraction to gain a better vantage point. His eyes flickered to the hunter's mouth for a fraction of a second, stirring up the heat when he licked his own lips unconsciously, preparing himself. They could practically taste each other already.
Sin was only a breath away...
"Kana..."
It happened quickly.
"YAMETE!"
A flash of silver swooped down from above, breaking the men apart. Bewildered, both looked up to reprimand the intruder in the embarrassment of getting caught. They were silenced, their synced hearts both stopping and disappearing completely from their bodies when they gazed down at the object that had forced them apart.
The Artemis Rod.
"ღ*~+~*ღ"
A/N: This chapter fell way short of my expectations, but I guess I'll be calling it necessary groundwork? I'm sorry if it bored you.
I almost typed "Lily" instead of Yuri, which is the same thing. I like that name, even if it's the name of the horse from hell in this manga. But as for Haine and Yuri, they aren't OC's, they're actual factual VK characters, they've appeared within the last few chapters with Yori and have spoken with Zero. That was after the one year time lapse, so the situation above is their first meeting in this fic. They are unnamed so far in the manga, and it was annoying, so I named them, rather appropriately for their appearance I think. I believe that "Haine" means something along the lines of sound of ash. I thought the name was appropriate since he looked like Kain, who's special powers are fire. Tsume means claw. I make her out to be a feisty girl.
Reviews: I would love you forever. Do you have any predictions for the next chapter? For what might be going on? Did this chapter raise any questions with you? I pretty much have it all planned out, but if you make a prediction I find particularly intriguing, I may incorperate it in the loosely formed plot I already have going.