A/N, warning, and disclaimer: Please read the first chapter. It is all posted there.
Summery: Yuuki has been a pureblood for the last five years since her brother awoke her. Zero is now a full time hunter. Where is Kaname and why hasn't Zero fallen to a Level yet?
The Last Kuran
Chapter 2: Unexpected surprise
The next night, Zero woke up an hour before dusk. He starts to go over again, all the notes from the last five years, that he had taken while investigating Kanames' murder. He pours over the notes of information from the Hunters Association, the questions he asked and the notes all of the hunters must make for the archives. He found no clues there. Only thing he found out was that Kuran wasn't on the liquidation (or elimination) list. He looks over the notes he took from the Vampire Senate, who by the way, made it obvious to him that he wasn't welcome. He had asked similar questions but with little answers. Yet, his instincts were telling him something was not right. He couldn't put his finger on it. He didn't have a reason to not believe the Association or the Senate, but his instincts told him something wasn't right with either one. He had learned to trust his instincts. They have kept him alive so many times before, he had no reason to doubt them now.
He needed to go for a walk to think clearly. Zero wondered if his tail would follow him again since he picked it up after meeting with the Senate four years ago. (Explanation for 'tail' is at the end of the chapter if you need it.) Sure enough, as soon as he set foot outside of the apartment building, his tail began to follow him. Grumbling to himself, he wondered when he would loose his tail. This seemed excessive to him, but he's learned to put up with it. He didn't know what they were looking for, but what ever it was he didn't have it. Zero decided to stop thinking about the Senate. He started to think about the Association and began to realize that he had been busy with assignments since he asked questions about Kaname as well. He had been having a hard time with his investigations since. Was there something going on between the Association and the Senate? That seems pretty far-fetched and he tried to push it out of his mind, but the more he thought about it… No he wouldn't allow himself to think that the Association is working with the Senate to hinder his investigation.
After walking around for a couple of hours, he needed to get ready. His next assignment is to watch the Sara Sota soiree. He'd hoped he wouldn't see Yuki there; he didn't know what to say to her if he did. He had been avoiding any contact with her since that night he took her home. Partly because he didn't want to put her in any more danger than she already was, but also because he was afraid she still hated him for what happened that night. He had moved and changed all of his numbers, in an attempt to avoid her. He knew as a human, she would have eventually forgiven him, but as a pureblood vampire, that changes things. He would have refused tonight's assignment, but he couldn't.
Zero reached the door to his apartment and pushed the key to the lock. He froze when his vampire senses told him his apartment already had an occupant. The feeling was familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He pulled out his Bloody Rose and barged into his apartment. He saw no one in the hall. He turned to the left, towards the living room. There he saw someone sitting in his chair, in front of the fireplace. He saw the back of someone's head with long brown hair. He dropped his hand that had his gun to his side. All he could manage to say was, "Yuki?" as his eyes went wide. The color left his face as all of the blood was leaving it and he dropped the gun to the floor when this figure turned their head and the voice said, "Hi Kiryu.". Zero stumbled back and fell against the wall behind him; his legs barely holding him up. "K…K…Ka…na…me?". The figure stood up and turned to face him. "Yes Kiryu." was all he heard as he was passing out.
The next thing Zero is aware of is he's being woken up by someone, who was bending over him with a grin on their face. Zero sat up quickly, too quickly because he started to feel dizzy all of a sudden, and his memories flood back. He looks up again at the figure that woke him up, to see Kaname was hunched over him. He closed his eyes and began to ask a bunch of questions; but Kaname stopped and said simply that he will answer his questions later, but for now, Zero must hurry and get ready for Sara Sota's soiree. Above all, he must not tell anyone he's alive, not even Yuki since she was going to be there. Zero's eyes went wide again." The assignment! Damn, I almost forgot! How did…" Zero started to ask, but was interrupted mid-sentence. "Never mind how I know, you need to go, and get ready for the party!" said Kaname. With vampire speed, he showers and dresses quickly. Before he leaves, he tells Kaname he can stay, but not to touch anything. Kaname, amused by Zeros unchanged attitude, smiles and agrees.
Zero arrives at the soiree, ignoring the usual glares at him from the other vampires. He finds a wall to lean on when he hears a voice call his name. He doesn't respond, but the other vampire approaches him and asks how he's doing. Not waiting for an answer, the other vampire tells him that Yuki is here if he wanted to go see her. Zero looks at the other vampire, "I'm not here to socialize. I'm here on business vampire." Zero said, "I know as a representative from the Association, but she is asking for you." Zero stands there for a minute, then follows Ichijo. As he approaches Yuki, he notices Kain and Aidou standing by her like bodyguards. He was relieved to see them protect her. His heart wanted to leap out from his chest and was threatening to break his ribs, but he quickly had to hide his expressions. He noticed that Yuki reminded him so very much of Kaname, because even though he had grown up with her for the first four years of knowing her at Cross Academy, her expressions were calm and emotions suppressed. She must have learned to control her emotions over the years he thought. "Hi Zero, how are you?" she asked. "Fine" was all the answer he gave. "Are you working for the Association now?" Zero looked at her and said "yes" as he turned his attention to watching everyone in the room. He felt he had better move on and excused himself. He went back to the wall he had chosen earlier.
As the soiree continues, he wonders about Kaname. He begins to think up all the questions he wanted to ask him. Questions like, 'What the hell happened that night and where he's been. Why all the secrecy? Why someone would try to kill him and is Yuki in any danger? Also does anyone else know he's alive and if so, who?' He kept looking over in Yuki's direction while he was thinking about his questions and wondering why Kaname wanted Yuki left in the dark. He figured it was for her own good, but he needed to make sure. As soon as Sara walked into the room, all of the heads of the noble houses approached her one at a time and asked her to consider their sons. Then they would approach Yuki and ask her the same. To Zero, that would be insulting, but he has never understood vampire society and felt he never would. He wanted to tell Yuki about Kaname earlier but he kept his word and didn't, couldn't. He didn't know what happened five years ago and his instincts were telling him that by telling her, it would put her life in danger.
Finally, he reached his apartment door. He would be able to find out what happened that night and why this asshole is only now showing up again, seemingly back from the grave. After locking the door, he went into the living room and found Kaname on the couch, looking like he had been sleeping and jostled awake; and alarmed. Zero had never seen Kaname in such an alarmed state before, as much as he had put up with Kaname five years ago for Yuki's sake, his heart went out to him. Zero reassured Kaname he could rest for now as it was already an hour past dawn and they were both still very tired. Zero gave Kaname a pillow and some blankets out of the hall closet and put hunter protection spells around all of the doors and windows. They mutually decided to talk later that night after they had both gotten some sleep.
TBC:
A/N: I mentioned that Zero had a tail in this chapter. The meaning that I am using is this: someone was following him. I had a few people ask me that question before, I felt to eliminate the question, there should be an explanation here. Thank you.