My Life With Yours
Despite popular belief, Zero never felt Sakuragi Yutaka was a bad person exactly. It wasn't because he was naïve or wanted to see something good in the man. It simply had to do with the same devastating sadness he saw residing in his eyes whenever they saw into his own. Sakuragi Yutaka was a man in a lot of pain. Zero figured that was the reason why he got so angry all the time, throwing things, drinking those funny smelling drinks, and at times, even yelling at the top of his lungs.
The remaining maids all hated him, Zero could tell from their glares and unfriendly demeanors. He tried once to tell them not to be so mean, but they never listened anyway, and he stopped after a while.
He couldn't exactly remember when Sakuragi Yutaka came to his home, but it'd felt like an eternity since he had. Things had been a struggle between them since day one. The man hated him, for reasons Zero had yet to find out, though he was starting to suspect it had something to do with his father. The grieving man had sent him the nastiest glare Zero had ever been directed with and always kept his distance – at first.
It hadn't taken much for things to change. The constant sight of Zero's face when he was drinking those funny drinks was what had set off the first of many blows to come.
"Stop, stop looking at me like that! You don't know anything! You, you don't know anything…!"
Apparently there was something wrong with the way Zero looked at him, though Zero hadn't and still didn't know what it was.
The man was held down in a great pit of despair, yes, but he was also a jumble of contradictions. Sakuragi Yutaka hated him because of his father, and yet Zero had seen, on numerous nights, where he did nothing but cry on the balcony, hunched over with his head against his forearms on the smooth railing, whimpering what Zero knew to be his father's name, over and over. In those short glimpses, he didn't sound like he disliked his father at all.
There were also moments, when he wasn't speaking like a crazed lunatic because of those funny drinks, that the man would call Zero by his father's name or pull him into his arms, apologizing for whatever came to mind, rambling incoherently by his ear, right after hurting him.
Zero never bothered to respond during those moments, not that he could, due to the injuries he'd have accumulated by then. He didn't dare move or talk while the older man held onto him; most of the time, only working to aggravate the bruises as he stained Zero's clothes with his tears, falling asleep for a long time afterwards.
He'd never remember the broken apologies, the sobs, or the harsh blows once he woke. At least, that was how it seemed to Zero. But he never apologized when in his right mind, nor did he ever look sorry if he ever caught sight of his resulting rampage on Zero's body. Zero didn't know how to interpret his actions, and he didn't care to. He didn't think figuring out why he did the things he did or did not do would change anything between them.
Sakuragi Yutaka was a strange man, and Zero didn't like what he did, but no, he wouldn't say he was a bad person.
"Zero?"
"Kana?"
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
"Nothing."
Concerned, and a touch bothered by the boy's indifference, Kaname knelt beside him as he commented, "Zero, you haven't looked my way once in the fifteen minutes we've spent our time here." He'd long since scented Zero's blood in the air and knew he'd been hurt in some way, but having concluded the source of the smell wasn't nearly as dire as the head injury that'd first called Kaname to him, he'd patiently kept quiet until now.
"Zero, please look this way."
"Why? We can still talk fine." The young boy's brows lowered stubbornly.
"No, we can't. Zero," Kaname lowered his voice, "don't make me push you."
Zero hated for Kaname to have to force him to do anything, knowing it hurt the older boy to have to resort to such measures. Biting his lip, he immediately winced from the pain then berated himself for his habit and slowly, reluctantly, turned to face Kaname fully.
The pureblood couldn't help the cold rage he felt both heating and chilling his insides at seeing the darkened bruise forming on the right side of Zero's delicate cheekbones and the cut at the corner of his petal pink lips. So that was the source of the blood. It was already starting to heal, with the blood beginning to clot, but it wasn't fast enough for Kaname's liking.
Leaning forward, he gently cradled Zero's head against his palm and brushed his lips across the discolored skin below the younger boy's eye and checked to make sure it'd healed over completely before giving a nod and placing his lips against the small cut by the boy's mouth.
His lids subconsciously lowered and his heart rate increased as the scent of Zero's enticing blood came from right below his nose, so delectably sweet… He could barely keep his fangs from growing in preparation for a bite. Pressing his lips closer against the boy's marred skin, he slowly parted them and allowed himself another taste with the tip of his tongue. The addition of his saliva would help the cut heal faster anyhow; he tried to tell himself.
In retrospect, he could have used the simple touch of his fingers, but it'd felt completely natural for him to have used his lips. He would've done the same for Yuuki, wouldn't have thought about doing it any other way.
Zero hardly reacted to feeling Kaname's warm tongue swipe across his abused skin and instead smiled as he felt it healing, like the bruise on his cheek. Wanting to thank him, he turned slightly, his lips parted, and blinked when he felt Kaname's mouth and tongue against them. They were warm and soft, with Kaname's breaths making them warmer.
Kaname barely kept himself from gasping and sputtering like an idiot the moment he felt and tasted Zero's pliant lips against his own. He'd never expected Zero to turn right then. But, he supposed, he'd nothing to blame but his own lack of self control, being unable to hold himself back from tasting Zero's blood once again and letting himself linger for more than was absolutely necessary.
He tried not to look too hurried as he pulled back and strictly kept his gaze from wandering from just above Zero's small shoulder. He didn't know how Zero would react to having a kiss stolen. A child though he was, Kaname knew from personal experience, they were the most sensitive when it came to being emotionally aware of their surroundings. Did Zero think it weird? Was the child uncomfortable, scared even?
Kisses shouldn't be regarded as anything but a simple show of affection or love in a child's eyes, but Kaname knew Zero wasn't simple, nor did he know much in the way of expressing love and affection if his injuries were any indication. What if the boy never had someone to kiss his cheeks just for farewells and welcome backs? No one to hold him, kiss the top of his head or hair when in need of comfort?
The young pureblood felt his throat tighten at his thoughts, knowing they could very well be true. Human children didn't remember much from their childhood. Even if Zero's parents were the type of people to care for their child in such a way, it was unlikely Zero would be able to recall much of it.
"Kana?"
But Zero didn't sound confused or scared. And when Kaname finally let his eyes rest on the boy's face, he was greeted with a soft smile, one he'd come to appreciate as something that was purely Zero. There was something about his expressions that affected Kaname in ways he knew no other human would be capable of.
A bit surprised, but ultimately unfazed by the short unintended meeting of lips, failing to see the significance of the action in his young mind, Zero had simply smiled and tilted his head, his silver tresses falling further over his sweet lilac eyes.
"Thank you for making me better again, Kana." It didn't hurt anymore and he was sure if he were to look in a mirror, both the bruise and the cut would be gone.
Kaname just nodded, coming to understand maybe it wasn't just Zero's less than ideal guardian that the child was so unaffected by what had just transpired between them, but also his complete lack of experience in interpersonal relationships as a whole. It was easy for Kaname to imagine Zero keeping to himself while at school or any other public function. His maturity, he also presumed, would also work to keep other human children away.
Realizing he might be one of very few people to have ever openly received Zero's affections, Kaname felt something warm glow and grow further inside him and impulsively wrapped his arms around Zero's small form, squeezing slightly before standing to place him at his hip, pressing his lips to the soft crown of silvery luminescent hair.
Wondering at the sudden bout of physical contact, but not minding in the least, Zero smiled and closed his eyes, resting his head against Kaname's shoulder.
"Nii-sama, can I see your phone again?"
"Of course Yuuki."
He watched her as she automatically checked for that one picture he'd taken of Zero on a snowy day, the water crystals clinging to his lashes as he gazed up at the long icicles hanging from Kohane's roof. She never tired of seeing the same picture over and over again, much to his amusement.
He smiled as he saw her gasp delightedly and turned to him with a smile of her own. "You have more pictures of him!"
Yuuki giggled. Oh, he really was pretty! The last picture was of a profile view, but this one had him facing the screen with a soft smile lighting his face. His eyes were like the gems Kaa-sama owned and shone just as bright. But she definitely liked his eyes better; they looked so alive. It felt as though he was looking directly at her from the screen and she wished she really had been on the receiving end of his smile and the warmth in his beautiful eyes. He seemed to glow, even more than in the previous picture.
"Do you think I'll ever be able to see him?" She asked wistfully. She'd never felt a strong need to go outside from the basement she was kept in, but just once, if she could see this boy, she'd take the chance.
As though reading her thoughts, Kaname's eyes softened further as they gazed from her to the image on the small screen of his phone and he cradled her cheek within a palm, lightly tilting her head up.
"You will, Yuuki. I promise, when it's safer, you'll definitely be able to see him." Once he found a way to help his parents take care of that, Yuuki, he would make sure, would want for nothing. If she wanted to see Zero, her angel, after all was done and everything was quiet, then see him she would.
"Thank you, Nii-sama." If her brother believed there was even a remote possibility, she in turn would fully believe in his words and especially his promises. Kaname always kept his promises. "I can't wait to show this to Tou-sama."
Kaname blinked. "You showed the last picture to Tou-sama too?"
Yuuki nodded, "Yeah, he liked it and said it was pretty."
Kaname resisted the urge to sigh. So that was the reason. He'd recently been getting some long knowing glances from his parents, his mother especially, and he'd gotten paranoid wondering about what they could possibly know that he himself wasn't aware of. Whenever he caught either of them staring, they would merely send him a smile (his mother's, happy and gentle, his father's, highly amused) before returning to whatever task they'd been at previous. Having such repeated occurrences prolonging for more than a few days had had Kaname on edge.
At least now he could let his mind rest, though it was still unnerving to think he'd finally done something to merit his parents' watchful glances and amusement. He'd always been rather independent, and his parents (mother, really) made it a goal to try to spoil him if only to coax a bit of dependency from him and enjoy the opportunity in being able to provide for him ("Are you sure you don't want anything Kaname? What about those shoes? Clothes? What about games? Doesn't Takuma-kun like those manga things?").
His mother's attempts were adorable.
But now that he knew his parents knew about Zero, a part of him was curious as to what they thought of the young boy. They obviously didn't dislike him if their smiles were of any indication, but they weren't exactly openly encouraging anything either. They seemed to be reacting more to the situation ('Yay, Kaname with a human friend') than to Zero himself – happy, amused and politely curious.
"So, Yuuki just showed me more pictures of her 'angel'. She looks like she's in heaven."
Kaname hadn't even realized his younger sister had already gone and done what she couldn't wait to do. Looking up at his father (who seemed to be having way too much fun at his expense), Kaname didn't bother holding in the sigh this time.
Saki lightly clapped her hands for her students' attention and smiled. "Okay, I want everyone to choose a partner before we start on the project." Seeing the kids just exchange glances or look around curiously, she called out, "Quickly, quickly, everyone." She knew she could've just assigned given partners, but she'd rather have the students work with someone they liked or chose on their own rather than deal with disgruntled children who'd demand to work with someone else anyway.
She nearly regretted the decision though when she caught sight of Zero, who had yet to move from his seat while the other students were either walking around in search for someone to work with or had already decided and were seated next to them. She made to approach him, but stopped upon seeing Yuka already at the young boy's side. Maybe Zero wasn't as alone as she thought. She hoped the project worked to open him up further. She still remembered his 'I don't like you' statement, but was far from deterred. She'd keep trying, she told herself.
"Um, Zero-kun, is it okay if we work together?"
He turned to her, his gaze curious as they roamed her face, then her fidgeting hands, and back up to her eyes. "Okay." He said simply. Yuka beamed.
"Saki-sensei said we could do what we want right?" They were to make their own masks based on a character from a book their teacher was currently reading to them. She'd provided them with a basic blank generic mask, leaving them to decorate it however they chose.
"Who do you want to do?" Yuka asked, after receiving a nod in response to her previous question.
"I don't know."
"Are you sure?" Maybe he was being nice and letting her choose?
Did she want him to choose? "…Maybe Dobby?"
Yuka giggled and nodded. "Okay, he's funny and silly."
Saki walked around to check on her students' progress and make sure they were getting along. It didn't matter whether they were friends or not when it came to a difference in opinions. She'd already had to settle a small scuffle between two boys who couldn't decide which color to use for their character's hair, brown or light brown.
She'd kept her eye on Zero and Yuka and was pleasantly surprised to see the two of them getting along so well. She half expected Yuka to get frustrated with Zero's silence and quiet demeanor and refuse to work with him. She looked to be having a great time however, chatting excitedly and laughing at something Zero said as she pasted on a piece of light blue paper onto the blank mask.
More than a bit curious (she never even thought of Zero having a sense of humor) Saki moved closer to the table they were working at, keeping her ears open while she tended to another pair of students.
"You too?" Yuka asked, her laughter lingering in her voice. "And you had to take a bath?" She pasted on another piece of colored paper, a darker shade of blue than the rest.
Zero nodded. "My head almost hurt and I think I was pink, she washed me so hard." He passed another piece for her to paste, a large white circle.
Yuka let out a stream of giggles once again. "It was the same for me too. I thought Mommy might be mad, but she said it was fun." She carefully spread the glue behind the white circle and determined where to place it before pressing down on its dry surface.
Zero, much to Saki's surprise, lifted his lips in a small smile. "Ko-san said the same thing."
Yuka nodded, as though expecting Zero's answer. "Grown ups are weird huh?"
"But the cookies were good." Zero said softly, cutting out another circular shape.
"Mommy messed up that time. Daddy had to eat it all," Yuka laughed. "When Mommy went back to the kitchen, he gave it to Caesar."
"Caesar?"
"Our dog."
Saki looked on in wonder as Zero's smile widened and he released a light laugh. It utterly transformed his face. Saki was certain no parent she knew of would be able to resist bragging if they had a child like Zero. She wasn't sure whether his quiet nature stemmed from that, but Zero was obedient, did well in his studies, was extremely polite, and on top of that, had the looks of a delicately sculpted doll.
"You should laugh more Zero-kun."
Zero blinked, pausing in cutting out another piece to turn to Yuka. She continued, smiling, "You look nice when you laugh."
The boy tilted his head curiously. Ko-san had mentioned, more than once, that he should smile more, and Kana had never failed to show how much he liked to see him smile. It happened so often from the both of them he'd never thought much of it. But Yuka was someone new.
"I look nice?"
The girl nodded, her pigtails bobbing and swaying. "I like it."
Saki smiled softly. Children were so honest.
"Thank you."
Feeling wonderfully light, Saki walked further across the room, hoping it'd last.
A tall figure walked about the dark room leisurely, not minding the numerous glass bottles, some of which were empty and others half full. He toed one of them away from his foot and seated himself on the armchair. Not bad, it was rather comfortable. He could do without the human stench though.
The sound of the door opening had him lifting his lips in a smirk. So he was finally here. The human that'd entered was completely oblivious to his presence as they picked up an empty glass and poured themselves a drink from one of the bottles lying around. They let out a sigh and approached the armchair. Ruby red eyes glinted.
He let out a barking laugh as the human let out a cry of surprise and dropped his cup. "You should have been expecting me." He drummed his fingers against his thigh. "With you not holding up on your end of the deal."
The human gritted his teeth. "It's not as if you held to your word either. You promised he wouldn't be hurt."
He shrugged. "Shit happens. You know I can't be blamed for his death. He went and did that all on his own." He held out a hand. "So, do you give me what I want, or do I need to kill him?"
The human shifted. He was nervous, uneasy, afraid, he could tell. "Give me time."
"A year wasn't enough?" He sneered. "Or maybe too much? Don't tell me you got attached."
"It isn't, and I haven't!"
"Oh good," he smirked, hardly believing the other's indignant answer. "I'll come again and by then, I want an answer." Though yes or no, he'd get what he wanted. It was just so amusing to mess with humans.
Kaname smiled. "Cookies? For me?"
"Yes."
"Did you make them Zero?"
"No, Yuka did with her Mom. She didn't mess up this time."
The pureblood chuckled. "No, it doesn't seem like she has. They're delicious, thank you."
"I'll tell Yuka you said so."
And there went another mention of 'Yuka'. Kaname loved that Zero was socializing within his own age group, but he could admit to feeling a bit of envy towards the girl for getting so much of Zero's time. They were able to see each other nearly everyday at school and recently, Zero had been visiting her home more often. It wasn't as though Kaname saw him any less, but if he wasn't with him, he was with Yuka.
You should be glad he isn't with him.
Yes, and he was. He should also be looking for a permanent solution for Zero. What Kaname had started was taking too long, and he wanted Zero away from there as soon as possible. There was something other than Sakuragi Yutaka at work, however, another part of the equation he was missing to get to the right answer.
He doubted Zero was aware, but the death of his parents was shrouded in a lot of ambiguity. No one was able to find the body of Kiryuu Yuri and Kiryuu Riku had literally frozen to death in an area where it hadn't even begun to snow. None were able to determine what happened to the Kiryuu couple and had simply let things be.
It was obvious they hadn't died of natural causes and Kaname suspected Sakuragi was involved somehow. He could have planned to get rid of Kiryuu Riku and his wife in order to have the company, but from his heavy drinking problem, which had started after their passing, he wasn't doing a very good job of taking care of his position. Another point that bothered Kaname was Zero. If Sakuragi had decided killing the Kiryuu couple was a good idea, then why not their young son?
Humans were fragile, and their children, even more so. Zero was only three then. If Sakuragi wanted, he could have easily done away with him. But he hadn't. He hadn't, and he was even living under the same roof for close to a year. What could he gain from keeping Zero alive?
The man had a connection somewhere. Kaname just needed to find it.
"Kana?"
"Yes Zero?"
Instead of giving him an answer, the young boy merely leaned over, a tiny hand on his thigh and the other pointing to a spot between his brows. The soft pad of his fingertip poked at it and Zero's expression turned down into a scolding frown.
"You have a rin-kle there. Ko-san said it's not good to have it. It means you're thinking too much."
Wine red eyes blinked once, twice, before narrowing in laughter as Kaname tilted his head away from the pre-schooler practically on his lap to chuckle to his heart's content. Goodness, Zero was so precious. The gods had been too kind to him that windy day, letting him meet someone like Zero, and he'd never take it for granted.
"Kana…?" Zero had no idea what could have been so funny, but at least the older boy wasn't thinking so hard anymore. Zero liked it when Kana was happy.
Kaname calmed down enough to wrap an arm around Zero's waist and pulled him closer, smiling into the boy's hair as he nuzzled it lightly. He would find a way to protect Zero and keep him in his life. Gently rubbing the boy's lower back, he softly murmured,
"Zero? You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"
The body in his arms tensed.
"No."
"Because if you try to hide them from me, I'll have to think a lot to try to get you to admit it and I'll have those wrinkles you and Kohane-san don't like." Small, petal pink lips went down in a pout by his collarbone. Kaname smiled.
"Okay. But I don't hurt anywhere this time."
"That's good, I'm glad. But if you are, you'll tell me from now on, yes?"
"…Yes." Zero sounded more than a bit reluctant.
"Kaname, I was looking up the Kiryuu case and this came up. I think you'll find it interesting." Takuma handed his friend a few slips of paper.
Wine red eyes scanned the page for information and the pureblood let out a sigh. "Kaname? What's wrong?"
"Thank you Takuma, this was exactly what I needed." So the final piece was coming together to complete the equation. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed on this before. It was a small detail, yes, but one so incredibly crucial. Having thought of Zero's parents as a pair, he completely overlooked the fact that Kiryuu Yuri and Kiryuu Riku were once total strangers with different surnames. His small mistake could also come from knowing his own parents were siblings and therefore always had the same last name, but really…
Kaname studied the young woman in the printed picture, her birth name right beside it. Kahou Yuri… The runaway heir of one of the most well known families of vampire hunters. Well known, not only because of their spotless record for completing every mission assigned to them, but also for their close ties to high class vampire families, including purebloods.
They were hunters, and they killed vampires, but they only ever accepted missions involving level Es. They refused to kill vampires who were still in control of their minds and believed with a certain amount of persuasion, an agreement could be reached, no matter how dire the situation. The Kahous were a family of genuine, warmhearted people that somehow managed to juggle their hunter responsibilities along with their pacifist-based views.
They acted as part of the bridging gap between the Hunter Association and Vampire Council. Both sides (generally) respected them for their abilities, if not for their beliefs – the hunters for the Kahous' skill and technique, and the vampires for their intelligence (Kahou Yuri's mother had left quite an impression, her subtleness was such a proud lord could very well find himself convinced dressing up as a princess to the next meeting would be a good idea.)
The reason for Yuri leaving her family, Kaname wasn't sure of; it could have been anything. But after her disappearance, a distant cousin was chosen as head of the family. Kaname assumed they weren't aware of Yuri having married and giving birth to a son that would have inherited her position. If any of them were still alive, they wouldn't have hesitated to take Zero in.
And that was where everything started, wasn't it? Someone disliked the Kahous for the role they played as hunters and peacemakers between the Association and Council. They were causing changes someone wasn't comfortable with, and had them eliminated. This had occurred only two years after Yuri had left, when she was nineteen.
Fortunately, for Kaname, the culprit was more than obvious. Unfortunately, he had no idea how to find them. Them… The vampire had been rather elusive over the years after escaping from under the watchful eyes of the council.
"Oji-sama, you are such a nuisance," Kaname murmured. Couldn't the pesky idiot just stay incapacitated? It was because of him that Yuuki had never felt the light of day or felt the snow on her skin. All Kaname could do was take pictures for her to enjoy and experience a little of what was outside the protective barrier of their home.
And now, the death of Zero's family and his parents were also to be blamed on his selfish whims. And, similar to Yuuki, it was possible Zero's life was in danger as well. As a regular human, Zero couldn't be worth much to him, but as the sole heir of an extinct line of vampire hunters… Kaname didn't want to think of what his despicable uncle might have in store for the young boy, especially for his blood.
Many vampire hunters had become hunters because of a peculiar trait they all shared – their blood was well sought after by vampires due to its taste and they were more prone to being attacked. There was a reason for that trait however, and they used it to its full capacity – as a weapon against those that came after them for their blood. Hunters all had a certain level of inherent powers that could be used to repel vampires, and if used well enough, to kill them as well. It was very similar to how priests and priestesses' spiritual powers were said to work against demons or negative energies. It was thus extremely rare for a plain human to be able to use anti-vampire weapons successfully.
And Zero…Zero's blood had a longstanding history dating back eleven generations, from his mother's side. His potential as a hunter…was incredibly high; his blood rich with the powers bestowed to him by his ancestors.
"Is that what you're after, I wonder…?" Zero's precious lifeblood…? Kaname shook his head. Whatever he was after, the older vampire was still a well of dirt that threatened to drown his family, and he needed to be gotten rid of. "And that'll be soon." He just needed to find him, but if he was in contact with Sakuragi, Kaname shouldn't have to wait long.
"Zero-kun, you're going home now?"
"Yes."
Yuka watched his back, a few steps behind him, as he put on his shoes. Something felt weird, wrong. Zero had always been shorter than her, but today, he seemed especially small, the width of his shoulders so dangerously fragile she was afraid they might break under the slightest pressure.
"Um, Zero-kun?"
"Yes?"
She quickly pulled her favorite bracelet off of her wrist and placed it around his own, silently noting how delicate his hands were, before giving him a hesitant smile. "Keep it. It's a charm, just in case. Mommy told me it's supposed to protect you."
Wondering for the reason for the sudden gift, but thankful nonetheless, Zero nodded and smiled back. "Thank you Yuka. I like it."
She beamed. "You're welcome Zero-kun. Remember, keep it with you okay?" He had to.
The pale boy nodded again before stepping out of her home.
If she'd known it'd be the last time she'd ever see him, she'd never have let him go.
Going up the long driveway, Zero looked up at the three-story building that was once a place he'd considered home with no small amount of apprehension. This time had been the longest he'd ever stayed away, not having returned for nearly a week. He'd first been with Ko-san and Kana before visiting Yuka for a few hours.
Making sure not to alert anyone on his way up, he moved quickly and efficiently, hardly making a sound before successfully reaching his rooms. Letting out a brief sigh of relief, he tugged off his shoes and coat, heading for his bedroom.
Everything was immaculately clean, thanks to the people who still worked here. Not tall enough to reach the straps to free the heavy curtains, Zero settled for the dark crimson silk covering all sides of his large four-poster bed, keeping them closed to keep the sunlight out. Burrowing under his cool covers, he closed his eyes for a short nap.
Hours later, Zero was still asleep, unaware of the possible danger lurking outside his rooms. His mind was with his parents, basking in the vague, blurred images that were his memories of them. His kind, spunky mother and his gentle, mischievous father…both still happily alive, surrounding him with their warmth.
Sakuragi paced, his expression hesitant and indecisive, before taking a deep breath and slowly, cautiously pushing the door open. Stepping inside the dark room, he closed it behind him and looked about.
The boy was obviously not here. Not knowing whether or not he wanted it to stay that way, Sakuragi moved to check the rest of the rooms, his movements slow. He came upon the bedroom last, and taking in a shallow breath, he pushed the door open. The curtains were still open, though by now, the sun had long since set, but the bed was hidden from view by the red silk hangings and Sakuragi froze.
Feeling his heart pound, his limbs felt like they were moving against water and his body felt heavy. He almost flinched as his fingers came in touch with the soft sheet and pulled it aside, revealing the small figure lying within, wrapped in the softest cotton sheets money could afford.
Sakuragi looked on at his tiny charge, his breaths becoming harsher with every intake of air before a sob escaped his lips and he slowly hunched over.
He, the child was back. Why, he despaired, why couldn't he have stayed away? He couldn't do this, not to him, not to Riku.
"Why… Why did you have to look so much like him?" Why? Zero…he looked so much like his father it was heart wrenching. The shape of his eyes, his nose, his lips, his smooth jaw line… Was there anything he'd gotten from his mother? And his smiles… Those were the worst for Sakuragi. He loved them and he hated them. They reminded him too much of what he'd lost. Who he'd lost.
Riku… He missed him so much…
"I don't—" I don't want to do this.
The very boy he was agonizing over shifted and blinked up. His small hand came up to rub at his eyes.
"Mm, Sa-Saku-Sakuragi-san…?" What was he doing here?
Sakuragi vaguely wondered whether that sweet childish voice would mature and deepen to the same pitch as Riku's, and froze when he felt a cool presence behind his back.
He was here.
"About Rido?"
Kaname nodded.
"Kaname, why the sudden interest?"
"I just started remembering what he tried to do to me ten (vampire) years previous. I just want to know more about him so I'm not caught unawares."
Haruka kept his stern glare as he answered, "Nii-san thought he could control whosever soul he summoned by placing it in a young vessel, too weak to protect itself, and not to mention, he was secure in the knowledge that, whatever temperament it might have, it wouldn't be able kill him, due to his technical position as its' sire."
"What about his connection with the Kahous?"
"The Kahou family?" Haruka blinked in surprise. "How did you…?" He shook his head. He'd long since accepted Kaname had his sources. "Nii-san never liked them. His reasons for that are fairly easy to see. After finding out they had helped the Council to keep him locked up – the Kahous' use of seals are nothing short of ingenious – it only added petty fire to his temper, and he made to bring them down.
The current heir of that time, Kahou Yuri, was the one that delivered the most damage to him by sealing off a part of his powers. It wasn't enough to kill him or keep him down for long, but he was still permanently weakened unless she decided to release the seal." Which, thankfully, she hadn't.
"And after she died, did his powers return to him?"
Haruka shook his head. "There is a specific trigger that needs to be pulled or an anchor – it can be anything – to undo whatever damage it caused."
"A trigger?"
The older pureblood nodded. "Usually, it's an object. Destroying it would be enough for normal seals, but I doubt that's the case for Nii-san." Yuri, true to her lineage, was more than just the average hunter. She would have kept something that important in a place no one but herself would be able to find.
A trigger, an anchor…?
So Rido was looking for—
Kaname's eyes widened. He didn't want to believe it, no, but it all fit too well. He'd always wondered why Zero had been allowed to live. Rido had gotten his revenge from Yuri by killing her and later on, her husband. He was able to end their lives so easily. Zero shouldn't have been any different. But there was a solid reason why he hadn't immediately gone after Zero, why keeping the young boy alive did more for him than having him dead – the seal.
Rido also wanted the seal undone. He'd never be whole without it.
And Zero…Zero was the anchor.
"I've come to collect what is mine."
"He's not yours."
Rido snorted. "So you've chosen a side now, have you? I'll take the answer I've been waiting for as a no. It's also an agreement to forfeit your life."
Sakuragi's eyes widened. He had no time to react before fangs tore at his throat.
"Kaname? Where are you going?" Juri asked, concerned by the panicked expression on his face.
"I'll just be out for a little while, Mother. Just for some fresh air."
"Come back soon, alright?"
He sent her a reassuring smile. "Of course, Mother. I promise to be back before you've a chance to miss me."
Watching him step out, Juri smiled to herself. "Silly. I miss you already." Come back soon.
"Stop!" What was this man doing? "Stop, please stop!"
Sakuragi fell to the floor with a sickening thud, a sickeningly dead thud. His blood had dribbled down his now cooling, lifeless neck and seeped into his shirt. The tall brunet that'd attacked him just licked his lips, fangs glinting, tinted pink from the blood smeared against its smooth surface.
Zero, eyes wide, gripped the crimson sheets under his hands and stared down numbly at Sakuragi's prone form, unable to see why this was happening. Why did this man…?
"You're a lot tinier than I thought. I imagine my precious little niece is about the same size as you though."
Firm, strong fingers took hold of his jaw, forcing it up painfully, its hold unyielding even with the slickness from the blood coating them. Lilac eyes stared unseeingly into ruby red. "So cute. You'll be a beauty, just like your dear father."
He never heard the man's words, too terrified to register anything besides the blood all over his hands, the room, and Sakuragi-san. "Please, please stop…" He choked out, unable to stop the tears from overflowing. Why had this man done such a thing? Sakuragi had never done anything wrong.
"Stop? I'm not doing anything now am I?"
Rido tilted his head. Really, the boy had beautiful eyes, such a clear lavender, with his tears making them shine, like amethysts with diamonds.
"I just need something from you. It's not much," he smiled. And finally, he'd get the pesky seal released and be on his way.
"It is if you're after his life, Rido Oji-sama."
"Kaname…" The grip around Zero's jaw tightened, pulling a weak whimper from trembling lips. "You're here to get in my way, again?"
Kaname narrowed his eyes. "Let go of him." He was sure Zero would be left with bruises on his skin if his uncle kept his hold.
"Not before I get back what I've come here for." Brushing silvery hair away from the boy's face with terrifying gentleness, he placed his fingertips against the boy's temple and closed his eyes. This shouldn't take long.
Realizing what his uncle was doing, Kaname raised his hand and effortlessly severed that of his uncle's from the wrist down in a clean cut.
Hissing in pain, Rido stepped back. His eyes nearly glowed with fury as he saw his hand crumbling to dust even as it dropped from the boy's head, the pale sand spilling over his small pant covered knees and all over the bed sheets.
Kaname… Damn his fucking nephew. Charming little brat. There was no way he'd be able to erase the boy's memories completely now. The damn seal was still intact, hindering his powers. He'd never hated Kahou Yuri more than he did now. That irritatingly smartass bitch…using her son's memories as an anchor…
In the instant that his uncle stepped back, Kaname was already moving, gathering Zero into his arms and out of the room. His first priority was getting Zero to safety, next was taking care of his dear old mental uncle.
If only Kohane-san were still here… She was gone to visit a family member. Stepping inside of her home, he placed Zero down on the couch and cradled his cheeks in his hands.
"Zero, Zero, I need you to stay here. Can you understand me?"
The young boy hesitantly nodded. "Yes, but, um, who are you?"
Who are you?
The young pureblood bit his lip. His uncle was going to pay for this, he growled, trying to ignore the searing pain in his heart. The older vampire had succeeded in erasing much of Zero's recent memories. Kaname had no way of knowing how far back Rido had managed to go. Six months? A year? It could have gone further. He'd been able to stop the process before everything was completely gone, but…
To erase Kaname from Zero? There was no way he could forgive that.
"I'll get them back," he whispered fiercely. "I'll get them back; and no one, no one will dare touch you. I'll not let anyone harm you again, Zero." In any way.
He gently pressed his forehead against Zero's, wrapping a protective barrier around the boy's mind, hoping to at least mend the torn memories, and pressed a swift kiss between his brows. Pulling back, he repeated,
"Please stay. I promise to protect you, Zero." I won't let him touch you; I won't let anyone come near you. Please stay safe.
Please stay.
The words echoed mysteriously in his mind, but Zero couldn't remember who'd uttered them so desperately or why.
He didn't know why he was here either. He remembered being carried here, and having dozed a little, but nothing before that and certainly not of how he'd come to be here.
He couldn't remember anything and it scared him.
He was Zero. He was four. His parents were dead.
That was where everything stopped. There were bits and pieces, brief images, flashes of short warm moments, but he couldn't make sense of them. He shivered. It was cold.
Slowly getting off the couch, he walked to the door and stepped out, borrowing a pair of shoes that seemed to be his size. Did he…? No, he shook his head. He didn't live here; he knew that.
But it did feel familiar, in a vague, far away way.
But familiar or not, he couldn't stay. He didn't want to stay and be left in a sea of confusion. He had to find out more, if he could.
Kaname leaned against the ruined wall and slid down, his breathing heavy. He'd strained himself too much to be able to 'fly' to Zero until a few more hours. Despite having a portion of himself sealed off, his uncle was still a grown pureblood and Kaname was still very much a child in the eyes of vampires, still a novice when it came to using his inherent abilities.
Sighing, he rested his head atop one of his knees. Just a few hours, and I'll see Zero… Just a few hours…
Raiga frowned as he caught sight of a tiny boy walking around aimlessly, looking so utterly lost it was pathetic. He was like the very definition of a stray, homeless kitten.
The vampire sighed exasperatedly at himself when feeling his protective instincts stirring. Why was it that he just had to go and pick up every stray that came his way? Well, at least he could help the kid look for his parents first before deciding anything.
Taking a bite out of his chocolate bar, he strode over and tapped the boy's slim shoulder.
"Hey, need a little help?" He expected to see a bit of tears, a pair of red eyes, flushed cheeks, and maybe even a runny nose.
Then the boy looked up at him and all he could do was stare.
My word, he inwardly breathed. This boy was a gem. Terrible of him though he knew it was, he hoped this kid really didn't have parents to go back to, because holy shit, would he love to keep him.
My clients would love him, no doubt.
O.M.A.K.E. – Sayori the Sly and Clever
"They're becoming immune," Yuuki moaned as she let the side of her head rest against the surface of her desk. It was almost time for class changeover and she was absolutely dreading it.
"Immune?" Sayori asked curiously. She brought a stick of Pocky to her lips and chewed gently.
"To Zero-kun. They're not scared of him anymore. Something about only looking scary – all bark and no bite, apparently."
Sayori tilted her head, already onto a new milk chocolate covered stick. "Why should fear be your only tactic? You should branch out more, Yuuki. Be creative." She smiled sweetly.
Yuuki shifted her head on the desk to look up at her friend. "Creative?"
Sayori nodded. "Mm. Why don't you let me borrow Kiryuu-kun for a while. I won't take long." Kiryuu Zero was an intelligent individual, obvious from his top-notch grades since transferring in. Sayori was sure he'd get the hang of what she was about to propose in no time.
Few Moments Later:
Yuuki waited anxiously for her fellow prefect even as she tried to keep the girls in line. He should be here soon, she knew, but she wished he were here now. The Night class hadn't even come close to the gates yet, but the numbers of girls were enough to equal a national army.
"Ladies, please step back," a soft, but strong commanding voice easily rose above the female students' excited chattering.
Little by little, the girls made to part, letting a tall figure through, and Yuuki's eyes widened. It wasn't because of whom she saw, but the change in said person's presence.
"Ze-Zero-kun?" She whispered out, incredulous.
Soft lilac eyes crinkled to a smile. "Yuuki. I hope you haven't been too troubled."
"Uh, no, not really, but… I mean, what are you wearing?" She asked, her voice hushed.
Zero looked down at his clothes innocently and shrugged. "One of my more casual sets. It was recommended I step out of my uniform just for this evening during class changeover."
"Er, recommended…?" Yuuki's eyes squinted as she took a wary look around at the girls who were now very interested in the male prefect standing beside her.
"Yes, this, amongst a few others."
"A few others?"
Zero sent her a charming smile, "Yes, though I'm not at liberty to say. My advisor has mentioned you'd probably realize what those are anyhow."
Yuuki tilted her head. Who could Zero-kun's advisor be? Telling him to wear something other than his uniform, acting so differently…
"Kiryuu-kun, why aren't you in your uniform?" One of the girls asked, a light blush to her cheeks as she blatantly eyed him from head to toe.
Zero lowered his eyes, his posture slightly slumped, the perfect picture of woeful dejection. "I apologize, is my attire offensive? I just though to have some change…"
The girl, along with nearly every one of the other students, shook her head frantically. "No! Of course not! It looks perfect on you Kiryuu-kun!"
He gave her an adorably hopeful look. "Does it really? You aren't just saying so to ease my embarrassment?"
"No!" This time, the answer was a whole chorus, the girls now completely riveted by Zero's expressiveness. None of them had ever seen him this way before and never thought he was capable of such expressions. They all wanted to gather him in their arms and give him little comforting coos of encouragement.
Still standing beside him numbly, Yuuki was speechless. Where had the serious angry, temperamental prefect gone? It almost seemed as if, as if… Was Zero acting like Aido-sempai?! There were similarities, Yuuki observed, but Zero had something else in him besides good looks and shallow charm that was catching the attention of all of the girls out here without fail.
He had turned into the perfect gentleman. Polite, sensitive and kind with just enough playful mischief to keep his audience entertained.
By the time the gates opened, there was not one student roaming around, and the Night class students were, miraculously, greeted with a clear path leading to their classrooms.
"Yuuki? May I ask what happened?" Kaname inquired. The other vampires behind him also looked curious with the exception of Aido, who was visibly disappointed in not being able to receive the admired attention from 'his girls'.
"It's Zero-kun," Yuuki answered, a flush to her cheeks as she remembered some of the things the taller boy had said and done. Because wow…
"Zero?" An alarm went off in Kaname's mind.
"He, he came here all dressed up – even though he said it was casual – and, well…"
"Yes?"
"He was so nice and kind and charming, like a prince," Yuuki unabashedly admitted, borrowing the comparison from one of the girls she'd overheard. "The other girls all followed him when he went that way. I'm just here for protocol," she sheepishly shrugged.
Wine red eyes narrowed. A prince indeed. "Zero," he softly called. Come to me.
His eyes only narrowed further upon seeing what his precious kitten was dressed in as he came around the corner. And he'd acted like a prince in that?
"Kaname-sempai?" Zero asked as he walked up. It was rare for Kaname to ever call him during class. He'd only done it once previous.
"Zero," Kaname said aloud, forgoing the formalities they usually kept while in public, and gently pulled him closer by a firm grasp around his wrist. "Where is your uniform?"
"In my room," the younger boy answered simply.
"Why did you feel the need to change?"
"To fulfill my duties as prefect. The girls are now gone, none are here to bother you. It was recommended."
"And your new behavior towards them, was that also a recommendation?"
"Yes, to treat them as though they were young vampire ladies." Well, it was more along the lines of him acting like a host, but Zero didn't see much of a difference.
Kaname stroked the inside of Zero's sensitive wrist with gentle swipes of his thumb. "Is that so?" He responded, and inwardly winced at how low his voice sounded. It wasn't his intention to make his feelings so glaringly obvious.
And of course, Zero caught on, as he always did.
"Kaname…are you…angry?" His hesitant voice was like a silky wisp of air, just managing to reach the pureblood's ears.
"Yes," he admitted, knowing better than to hide his emotions behind an enigmatic smile, as he would've done against anyone else. "But I am more," he leaned closer, his lips brushing the shell of Zero's pale delicate ear, "jealous, than anything else, dear one."
"Kaname?"
"I don't feel comfortable having you dressed this way and treating human students as you would vampire noblewomen."
Zero closed his eyes and lightly rubbed his cheek against that of his Keeper. "Then I won't. This will be the first and last time I try for this method. My advisor and I will think of an alternative plan."
"Advisor?" Kaname murmured, an amused smile now starting to lift his lips.
"Mm," Zero lightly nodded, his eyes still closed, "they felt it was in their best interest to keep their identity a secret."
Of course they would, Kaname inwardly grumbled. Whoever this was knew he wouldn't be all too pleased with Zero attracting so much attention.
"You'll not deign to tell me even if I asked?" He felt Zero tense, and there was a moment of heavy indecisive silence before the younger boy spoke,
"…I, I apologize Kaname," Zero sounded torn, "but they emphasized on it, and unless your life is in danger because of it…"
"No, I'm sorry Zero, I did not mean for you to choose," Kaname resumed stroking his wrist, "please relax."
Taking a calming breath, Zero took a step back to peer up at Kaname, "Don't you have class? Everyone else is already gone."
The pureblood merely smiled pleasantly, not feeling at all rushed. "So they are. And I'm sure Takuma has already given excuse for my absence." He tugged Zero into his arms and held him close.
"Stay with me tonight?"
Next Evening During Class Changeover:
The girls all gaped as they saw their prefect turn up this time, not in the sophisticated designer clothes, but wrapped tightly (very tightly) in dark leather.
He was also chewing on a Pocky stick.
"Zero, what are you doing?" Kaname was not happy. Did the boy not remember his words to him last night?
"Kaname-sempai," Zero sent him a sultry smile, completely in his role for the evening (a 'confident, arrogant badass' - his advisor's wording). "We agreed you only mentioned you didn't like me dressing in yesterday's type of attire, and so we went with something different."
Kaname smiled cooly, aiming his glare at a certain figure towards the back before responding, "Zero, you are a prefect, and that includes holding up the rules of the academy, one of which is to stay in your uniform while you are 'on duty'."
"The chairman gave his go ahead, so it's alright."
"Zero, I don't want you out of your uniform." Seeing the younger boy dressed in tight leather, along with having a smile like that aimed his way... Kaname didn't think skipping classes for two nights in a row would work towards impressing his professors.
"Yes, Kaname-sempai." Much to the dismay of the rest of the girls (including Yuuki) Zero jogged off to change. He and his advisor would just have to look for another way to clear the path for the Night class.
Early Morning:
"Wakaba-san, please refrain from influencing Zero like you have."
Sayori smiled. "Kiryuu-kun is easy to take advantage of, isn't he?" All she'd done was mention how proud Kuran-sempai might be when he saw how capable Zero was of fulfilling his prefect duties and he'd been willing to listen.
As though reading her mind, Kaname raised a brow. He really needed to remind Zero to be cautious around humans as well as vampires. Place the boy in the middle of a vampire gathering and he'd have the members there wrapped around his finger in record time, whereas when he was dealing with regular humans, it was as though a switch went off and he became as helpless and unassumingly trusting as Yuuki.
"If you believe so, you are underestimating him by far."
Sayori's brows went up. Well, it was fun while it lasted. "I'll just find something else, you realize."
"Yes, but you will be far more subtle, I'm sure."
Sayori smiled and nodded. "Yes of course." Her upperclassman's warning was loud and clear.
Disclaimer: No own Vampire Knight.
Kyaaaa... Sorry for such a long wait pplz! *cringes and bows* I hope this wasn't disappointing... I also apologize for Rido's really bad lines *nervous laughter* I couldn't imagine him as a villain, villain, so he came out kind of flimsy and thin as paper.
I couldn't keep Zero away from vampire hunter related stuff in the end *shakes head* But keeping in mind Gentle Affections, I had to have Zero related to Rido in some way, so this was it ^^; Regarding Zero's monetary inheritance...it'll stay unused, I guess...or go to the next of kin (someone's going to strike it rich) As for his hunter heritage, Zero's not completely ignorant of it, no :D He knows how to kick some serious vampire ass with it XD