A/N: Mm, hello! :) Happy Holidays to everyone, hope it really was happy for all y'alls :D I, for one, am not at all ashamed to say the meatloaf I helped my mother make tasted pretty damn awesome XD
Warnings? No KZ! (well not a lot) *cringes* Man, I know, you can kick me (but if some of you were curious as to me bringing up Yuuki and her seals, then maybe it won't be so bad for you?) I've always kinda wondered how that went and wrote out my own fudgety version of it XD
That, and I don't own Vampire Knight.
The Tides That Come…
"Mm… Nooo… Zero, my puddiiing…!"
Sayori stifled a giggle as she glanced over at her friend talking in her sleep; again. It happened now and again, and though Yuuki had been more than a bit embarrassed when she had first informed her of it, Sayori personally thought it was rather adorable.
Her lips lifting in a smile, she sighed softly, leaning back against her headboard. Yes, Yuuki was adorable. It'd been Sayori's first impression when meeting the petite girl, and it hadn't changed since. Whether it was scrambling to cram for her exams or scoring another goal during gym, Yuuki made it all look endearingly sweet. Sayori supposed that could just be her biased opinion, but in her eyes, she'd never met anyone quite like her roommate, and doubted she ever would.
She had confidence in her own beliefs and thoughts, and had never any reason to second guess them, but lately… When Sayori looked towards Yuuki again, her gaze was more concerned, worried. Yuuki was slightly different, yes, but recently, she was acting different in a whole other matter.
Lips lowering in a contemplative frown, Sayori slowly lowered her knees, stretching her legs out underneath her thick blankets. It was in the small things, like her habits and flippant passing comments that'd started tugging at Sayori's senses, forcing her to look at Yuuki in ways she hadn't thought necessary. She'd known the brunette since middle school; there wasn't much left to Yuuki that she didn't know about – or so she'd previously concluded.
Obviously, that isn't the case.
It was easy to think something might have happened; a significant catalyst that'd gotten a new ball rolling, but Sayori doubted that was the problem. Overall, Yuuki's general behavior hadn't changed; it was as though she'd gained new characteristics Sayori hadn't ever seen before. And they'd assimilated themselves so seamlessly into Yuuki's life it was easy to miss them if one didn't know what to look out for.
"Ngh… Nii-sama…"
Sayori blinked. 'Nii-sama'? That was new, even out of all the sleep talking Yuuki had ever done. She began to worry when her roommate started to shift slightly, a pained expression crossing her pale face. Slipping out of her own bed, Sayori approached that of her friend's, her hand hesitant as it reached out, about to touch a pink clad shoulder.
Yuuki, what could you be dreaming about?
"Well, this is your stop, kid. You be careful now; take care of yourself." His muscular arm hanging out of the window of his van, a large burly man grinned lopsidedly at a tall pale teenager who bowed politely.
"Thank you sir."
The man nodded, "Good luck with finding that long lost relative of yours too." With a last wave, he drove off.
Pink lips parting to let out a soft sigh, they pursed after taking a determined breath; back straightening tensely and a pale hand moving to push dark metal gates open. This was it. He was finally here. And he would get to meet him, the one person he'd clung to since finding out about him.
"Zero…"
Please, give me a chance…
"Yu-Yuuki…"
Wide blank eyes blinked, and although still dazed, started to clear as they darted about the room, finally coming to land on her face. Trying to pull her lips up in a reassuring smile, she faltered at the utterly lost, confused look on her friend's face.
"Yuuki…?" What happened?
"…Yori-chan…"
Trying not to pay attention to the painfully tight grip on her wrist, Sayori's brows lowered. "What is it?"
Yuuki dropped her gaze. "I, I don't know…I don't know." I don't understand what I saw, or what I thought I saw…
Blood. It'd been everywhere. But that hadn't been all. There'd been gentle smiles, warm hands, loving eyes… Such a contradiction to the former, but she did remember it, at least the feelings… The flashing images were vague at best and she couldn't even piece together a whole face. Not what the person(s) looked like, whether they were man or woman… And everything had brought forth in her a longing so intense she almost forgot to breathe.
What had all of that been?
Yours. Ours.
Yuuki suddenly felt cold, her body becoming rigid. That strange instinct was back, and it was telling her things again. Hers? That couldn't be true. She would have…she would have remembered something like that. Whether it was the smiles and the warm eyes or the blood and overwhelming hunger. She wouldn't have forgotten something so terrible; or at least she'd like to think so.
And some of the things it said to her were unnerving, sounding as though it were a bloodthirsty animal…
And it only happened around—
"Yuuki?"
Yuuki's head snapped up, "Yo-Yori-chan!" Seeing her slightly pained expression, she belatedly realized her hand still tightly wrapped around that of her roommate's slender wrist and immediately let go, apologizing profusely. Sayori had simply smiled and shook her head saying it wasn't anything big, taking a ginger seat at the edge of Yuuki's bed.
"It's really alright, Yuuki. Just…are you alright?" She tipped her head to look straight into wide brown eyes. "You seemed to be having a nightmare of some sort…" And the way you woke up…
Yuuki managed a sheepish laugh, clenching her covers. "Yeah, a pretty weird one too." A nightmare…that was all it was, wasn't it?
She tried to ignore the small, but dangerous part of her murmuring that no, no it wasn't, and there was more to come.
Shivering, she tried to get back to sleep.
The first rays of sun shining in through his office window had the chairman stirring from his desk, glasses askew, eyes groggy, but thankfully no drool to be found trailing down his jaw. Tiredly wiping his face with a weary hand, he slowly got up, rubbing his arms with a pout, inwardly berating himself for forgetting to keep the heater on during the night.
Opening the door, he frowned at meeting a bit of resistance, poking his head around it only to blink in surprise at the figure sitting by his office. Concerned, he immediately crouched down beside them and gently shook their shoulder.
"Zero-kun? What are you doing here?" It was colder out here than in his office! Had the boy been outside the whole night? "Zero-kun," he started again, only to snatch his hand back in a trained response he doubted he'd ever be able to shake off, as a pale hand made to grab for his wrist.
Zero, or who he'd thought was Zero, snapped his head up with narrowed eyes. "Ugh," he murmured, running his other hand through his hair, lightly shaking his head. "Damn it, I fell asleep," he muttered.
Leaning back, the chairman frowned softly in concern. "Are you alright?" Who are you? He hadn't missed the way the boy seemed to act on instinct when trying to grab his hand. Zero had never reacted that way with him, even when accidentally managing to catch him off guard.
Rubbing his eyes – a darker shade than Zero's, the chairman silently noted – the boy looked up. "Are you the chairman? I'm sorry for sleeping out here; I didn't mean to camp outside your office the whole night like a creep, but I needed to talk to you." He shifted slightly to get into a more comfortable position, sighing a bit, before continuing. "Do I look like someone that goes to this school?"
Clear auburn eyes lowered. "And who might you be looking for?" He didn't know who this boy was (though he had his suspicions) and had no intention of giving anything away.
The boy's brows lowered. "I think you know already – with you having been a hunter yourself, Cross Kaien. Does the last survivor of the Kahou line ring a bell?"
So this boy knew of the Association and of Zero's true background. Sighing deeply, he motioned to his office. "Why don't we discuss this inside?"
"Zero," long fingers ran through pale locks, stroking softly. "Zero, you must get up or you'll be late for your classes."
"Mm…Kaname?" Soft lilac eyes fluttered open, lips pulling down a slight frown. One Kiryuu Zero obviously did not want to get up as of yet. Curling up further, he buried his face against his Keeper's chest, just barely holding himself back from letting out childish whines of protest. He was extremely comfortable and had no desire to part from it.
Smiling indulgently, the pureblood pressed his lips against the younger boy's hair, gently breathing in his scent as he slid his hand down to the back of a long pale neck. He was well aware of Zero's academic status, and knew the prefect would hardly suffer from another day off, but it was the principle of the matter. He couldn't have Zero stay with him without a legitimate reason.
Not to mention, if he gave into his own selfish whims once, there was no question he'd repeat it for a second and third time. He may pride himself on his self-control, but when it came to Zero, things changed. They always had.
"If you are up for it, I can have a light meal provided for us, but only after you've properly prepared yourself for class."
The younger boy's slender fingers curled to tug lightly at his shirt, his full lips pursing and brows lowering in thought, actually weighing his options. Wake up now for a shower and have breakfast with Kaname or sleep and miss both.
Really Zero, miss breakfast with Kaname? His mind asked slowly, as though he were a child.
Kaname smiled as Zero let out a sigh and whispered, "May I use your bathroom?"
"You needn't ask, Zero, feel free to use whatever is here." He was certainly not opposed to Zero using his soaps. Yuuki would definitely notice enough to send him knowing looks later, but it wasn't as though she wasn't already aware of Zero coming to see him.
The prefect rubbed his eyes as he got up, running a hand through his slightly sleep mussed hair and heading for the bathroom. The pureblood watched him go before closing his eyes, burying his face into the pillow Zero had used for part of the night (before rolling over onto his shoulder), and breathed in deeply, letting himself drown in the younger boy's scent. So nostalgically sweet and enticing…
And although he could spend days basking in it, he had to get his little one's morning meal by the time he was showered and dressed. Quickly asking for some hot tea, fruits and some of Zero's favored pastries, Kaname himself decided, why not, to get changed into casual clothing to properly enjoy Zero's breakfast with him.
"You didn't need to, Kaname, you'll just fall asleep again anyway," Zero commented once he got out of the shower, his hair still damp as he sat across from his Keeper. "But," he smiled, "thank you."
The chairman wondered if he'd been sucked into another dimension while asleep. Taking off his glasses, he pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't know if he had the brainpower to deal with something like this at such an early hour. But in some ways, "I'm not very surprised."
"You don't look it," the teen sipped at his tea.
"Certainly not expected, though," the chairman frowned. "And are you not a hunter?"
"I never really had the interest for it," the younger male shrugged. "All I needed was one reasonable enough reason to leave."
"And Zero was that reason," the chairman finished.
"He's here, isn't he?"
"Are you aware of Zero's…" He didn't know how to mention his student's prioritized social status without possibly offending the younger boy. After all, wouldn't anyone be shocked to find their older brother, whom they'd been searching for, for neigh on two years, as the Pet of a vampire? Especially one with their background?
"Just tell me if he's here, chairman Cross," the teen demanded, eyes narrowing.
"What are your intentions, should he be here?"
"I just want to see him. I can be allowed that, at least." Zero was his brother.
The chairman nodded wearily. "I trust you aren't fabricating anything – your close resemblance to him would do it if nothing else – but for safety measures, you should first go to the Moon Dorm President. While I was a hunter for a majority of my life, there are certain vampire traditions and rules I'm not aware of. I don't want you to accidentally overstep any boundaries."
The young man nodded. "So it's true," he murmured, "Zero's here because he was taken in by someone… The Dorm President?" Wasn't he a pureblood?
"I won't say anymore on that, it's not my business to tell," the chairman shook his head. So the boy knew of Zero's status as a Pet. He wouldn't have drawn to such quick conclusions if he hadn't known already. "I'll send the president a note so he knows you are expected to meet him." Kaname may have to skip his classes for today. He had a feeling something like this wouldn't be over in a matter of minutes.
"Thank you."
"It's alright," the chairman managed a soft smile, "You must have risked a lot to be here, Ichiru-kun, I do hope things go well."
"See you later, Kaname," Zero smiled as his Keeper came down with him to see him off.
Kaname stroked his cheek, nodding, and gathered Zero's hands in his own, bringing them up to his lips. "Give a kiss to Yuuki for me," he murmured, pressing another chaste kiss against Zero's forehead. He hadn't seen her in some time, but hoped to speak with her soon.
She would undoubtedly have questions.
Zero hummed lightly in affirmation before giving Kaname one last smile, passing the door and quickly passing the gates, lest a Day class student catch sight of him, and hurried to the chairman's office. He and Yuuki usually met up there in the morning (or just him if she'd forgotten to turn on her alarm clock) in case the chairman had any notices or news he wanted them to know about.
As he swiftly turned the corner, he saw another male who seemed to have just come out of the chairman's office, making his way down the hall in the same direction as him, though he was quite some ways ahead, his back to the prefect. Zero wouldn't have thought much of it, but the stranger, most likely not much older than him, was dressed in casual clothing instead of the standard uniform. He vaguely wondered if they were having another transfer student.
Deciding to push his speculation away for the moment, he gave a few knocks to the door, "Chairman, it's me," he called softly.
"Ah, did you need something el – oh! Zero-kun," the chairman smiled brightly, "Good morning. I guess Yuuki's still sleeping," he noted, as he saw it was only Zero who'd come to see him. "I don't have much to tell you today, except that the elections for the new student council is coming up, and things will probably get busier around here with the preparations."
Zero blinked. "Elections?" He hadn't known human schools had such a system.
"Mm, yes, the chosen candidates all compose a mini campaign of sorts, and in the end, the number of votes from the students will be the deciding factor in choosing the new members of the student council," the chairman explained. "Ah, the one from a few years ago was quite vicious, I remember, with the two competing for president being rivals and whatnot," he shook his head amusedly. "It was fun though, getting to see how far the top two students would go for more recognition and popularity." Some of the things they'd done had been quite ridiculous, but entertaining for the other students all the same. Exasperating as it was for the professors, everyone else had enjoyed it immensely.
Zero nodded thoughtfully, wondering how the upcoming elections might come to interfere with how much time he got to spend with Kaname. No doubt, the prefects would be involved in some way, and if his schedule became busier… Holding back a frown, he tried not to show his disappointment at the possibility of having his time with Kaname getting cut back even further. He felt something in him wilt at the prospect.
How was he to make Kaname happy if he could not even see him?
A few knocks to the door and Yuuki came in. "Good morning chairman, Zero," she smiled. Immediately both Zero and her adopted father could see something was wrong. But as though sensing their alarm, she gave a lighthearted laugh and inquired about the gloomy atmosphere. The day was so nice; they shouldn't waste it by being sad.
Zero's eyes narrowed. "Yuuki…" But knowing how stubborn she could be, he decided to hound her later and instead pulled her closer for a chaste kiss to her forehead. "From Kaname," he quietly murmured when she looked up at him inquiringly.
Her eyes widened, before she nodded, "Thanks Zero," she then pouted. "Then what's your greeting for me?"
Smiling, glad she'd gotten a bit of herself back, Zero dipped his head once again to press his lips against her cheek. "Is that good enough?"
She grinned, a happy flush dusting her cheeks. "More than good," she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed lightly, already feeling herself calm. Zero sort of had such an effect on her, giving her a sense of security with a touch of familiarity she (ironically) couldn't recognize as to why.
But after her disastrous morning, she was willing to take any amount of comfort that was offered, and wasn't afraid to bask in the warmth of Zero's arms.
Until she stepped back and caught sight of his loose, unbuttoned uniform shirt, showing a fair amount of his creamy white throat. If she stared any harder, she could see the thick veins, filled with blood, feel it as it pumped through his body, and practically smell it, an ever so enticing scent that just begged for the monster inside her to bathe in.
Ripping her eyes away from his (long, elegant, soft, vulnerable) neck, she turned to the chairman, who'd been watching their interaction with a fond smile. "Anything new for us this morning, chairman?"
"Just what I told Zero – the elections are coming up and things will get a bit hectic."
She nodded, hoping it didn't seem as robotic as it felt, and managing one last smile, turned and hurried out of the office.
What…what was that? No, she knew, for some time now, what that was, but it'd never come on so strongly before. Just innocent wandering thoughts of how nice Zero's throat looked, how wonderfully soft the skin there felt… Just complimentary things, that'd been all. Never, never had it gone on to contemplating how his blood would taste and smell, at least, not so violently.
She wasn't a vampire, but if she wasn't one, then what did those thoughts mean? Was she just a bloodthirsty human?
But it only ever happened around Zero.
Yes, just Zero… But why did it have to be Zero? She loved him as family, she felt so safe with him, so protected, she could just be a little girl and he'd never judge her for it. Why then, was a part of her obsessing over his neck, his blood? She never felt an ounce of dislike towards him, could never manage it, so why?
Falling into a crouch, she shut her eyes, unwilling to let the tears go, her emotions dark with anger and self-hatred towards her sudden inexplicable desires.
The soft click of leather shoes coming to a stop before her interrupted her thoughts. "Yuuki…" A gentle hand came to rest on her hair.
Her head snapped up, "Ka-Kaname-sempai…?"
Ichiru kicked a stray stone lying about as he walked around campus, taking in the view. Of course, with the amount of level B vampires his hunter senses (as weak as they were) could feel nearby did nothing to relax him, but Cross academy was a nice school. It seemed the biggest rule regarding feeding had been strictly held up, with the Day class students completely ignorant of just what was sleeping right next door.
He was old enough to be aware the only reason he disliked vampires was due to personal slights done against him, and that dislike was mainly aimed towards only one vampire in particular anyway. The rest just were; he didn't much care whether they lived or died. Killing level Es had simply been a way to make a living; there was nothing more to it than that. There hadn't been any motivation, unlike a majority of the other hunters that were hell bent on getting rid of as many 'bloodsuckers' as possible. They made it their lifelong mission.
After all, when one was born with the abilities of a hunter, they weren't given any other choice but to be one; a chosen life career, if you will. If they hadn't hated vampires during their training, when they actually started to receive missions, they certainly did then. If they didn't, Ichiru doubted, with the exception of a few selected individuals, any of them could cope with killing them on a daily basis. The 'hatred' many of them felt was mainly a defense mechanism to be able to view hunting in a way that would lessen the guilt and keep a stable mind in all other areas. Vampires were monsters, they deserved every bit of pain. Vampires are manipulative, cunning creatures that look for nothing but ways to gain things for themselves – never trust them.
There were a lot more Ichiru never bothered to remember. They were all probably based on some truth, but twisted and deformed to suit the needs of the hunters. In their eyes, they were the victims, and vampires always the guilty party. Ichiru was of the opinion that, besides the level Es, the number of vampires that actually went out of their way to hurt humans was extremely small. If they were left alone, they wouldn't have much reason to be inclined to hurting anyone else.
He knew he'd most likely be called an idiot and a naïve fool for thinking so, but was it so terrible to think not all vampires were horrible creatures just waiting to get you? There were humans that acted like the spawn of the devil, but not everyone was like that. Why couldn't the same be said for vampires?
He lightly shook his head. Life could be a bitch. Besides, not all of them had the fortune of finding out they had an older brother who was a Pet to a vampire. It was mainly due to that Ichiru had put forth more effort into finding out about vampires other than ways to kill them.
It wasn't as though he understood much of what he managed to find. Vampires were still unknown to humans for a reason. When asking his teacher about Pets, all he received was an incredulous look (disgusted too), and he never bothered to mention it again.
It was only when he'd been assigned to watch over another gathering that Ichiru had any chance to find more about not only Pets, but also his brother.
"My, you're the spitting image of little Silver."
"What?"
"Ah, my apologies. I'm just amazed there could be another with his features." Ruby red lips lifted in a gentle smile. "Though I'd say your eyes are darker, and sorry to say, but as a human, there isn't anyone with skin as remarkable as his."
"Who's Silver?"
"That's just what we all call him. He's Raiga's little Diamond."
She'd, of course, been extremely reluctant to name any specifics regarding names and places, but she was hardly afraid to talk about what a real Pet was like, instead of those "dolls that may just as well be another piece of furniture collecting dust in your room unless you tell it to move" type of Pets.
She was also the one who'd told him about his brother's infamous temper among the higher circles. It was the first time he'd heard anything personal about his brother, and the more he heard, the more curious he got. He'd never been interested in anything in his life.
I want to meet him. I want to see him.
Barely fifteen and still in training, it might have been too early to decide to leave the association, but he'd felt no attachments and hadn't anything to lose by leaving. No one knew of his background, and it wasn't as though he was that great of an asset with his less than mediocre skills, so the feeling was mutual.
Feeling for the slip of paper that'd give him access to the Moon dorms, he vaguely wondered what the conversation with the pureblood would be like. But surely, whatever may come to pass, the vampire would at least let him see his brother…
Yuuki embarrassedly tucked her hair behind her reddening ears as she fixed her gaze to the food in front of her. With her lack of sleep, she hadn't woken until noon after Kaname had tried to comfort her. Letting out her frustration through her tears had been exhausting and he let her use of his bed.
And now, he'd already let her use his bathroom, only to have a small feast ready by the time she was out. She hated being a bother, but she was extremely grateful for his efforts. Managing a feeble smile, she picked up her fork.
"Yuuki, I fear I must apologize for the pain you've been experiencing."
"What?" Wait— "Kaname-sempai…you, you know?" She stuttered out. How did he…?
His wine red eyes were filled with wistful remorse, "I hadn't known things would come about this way, that they would you bring you so much confusion. You were never meant to…" He shook his head and Yuuki wondered who he was trying to convince more, her or himself. "I can surmise you have some things you'd like to know about?"
"You know why…?"
"…I may, and I will try my best to provide you with all that you want and need."
Yuuki's eyes went back down to focus on her food. Here, Kaname was offering the chance to get to know herself more, to get to know about…that. But in some ways, she was afraid to know exactly what that was. What if it was something horrible? Remembering her thoughts on Zero, she inwardly shuddered. What else could it be but something horrible?
Her hand still frozen around her fork, she swallowed. "Um, why does it – it tells me things. It's not in words, more like feelings, like instincts, and I don't – it's terrible." She looked up, "What is it? Is it…is it me? Am I like that and I just didn't know?"
"Yuuki," Kaname started out gently, his eyes soft, "it's not meant to be anything like what you may be thinking. It's not meant to be something terrible." Well, maybe not to a vampire, his mind added. Yuuki had been human for more than a decade and remembered nothing else. "But what has it been 'telling' you that makes you think it to be so terrible?"
Here, Yuuki tensed. Well, more tense than she already was, anyway. The answer to Kaname's question was obvious, but she doubted it'd make him happy. Blurting out, 'Oh, because it keeps making me want to rip out Zero's throat every time I see it' hardly sounded like anything Kaname would want to hear. Not to mention, 'It just wants Zero's blood'…
Nope, that wouldn't go well at all either.
But, she thought warily, now it seemed Zero wasn't the only one it wanted. Her eyes straying to Kaname's pale neck, she felt that part of her stirring once again, like what'd happened this morning.
First Zero, and now Kaname too? Why was it so determined to hurt the people she cared about?
Catching her wandering eyes, Kaname nodded knowingly, piecing together what little he was offered in terms of information, and slowly, as to not startle her, rested his hand atop her own across the table. "Yuuki, this may be hard to hear, but what you are going through is completely natural. It isn't anything to be afraid of. Do not resist it too strongly, or it will only hurt you in the long run."
Her eyes were wide with confusion as she looked up, "Then what am I supposed to do? I don't like feeling this way, I don't want it! I don't know what's happening, and you know what, it is scary!"
She suddenly flinched and wrenched her hand out from under his to grasp at her head, letting out a groan of pain, hunching forward in her seat. Kaname immediately made to stand, rushing to her side. Murmuring soft words of comfort, he pried her hand from her hair and stroked it, combing his fingers through the shoulder length strands. He didn't know much about what their mother had done, and certainly hadn't a clue as to what was happening to his sister or ways to alleviate any of the pain she was feeling. Closing his eyes helplessly, he pressed a kiss to her temple, subtly suggesting for sleep, and felt her fall lax against him.
"I'm so sorry, Yuuki," he fiercely whispered. There was one solution, of course, but he was extremely reluctant in going through with such a method, as it would not only bring Yuuki into danger, but force out too many changes to the already unstable structure their society was surviving under.
Unless there is no other choice…as I would rather you suffer the fate of a pureblood than to lose you, Yuuki…
Once again bringing her to his bed, he stroked the side her face and pressed his lips to her forehead.
Hope. It was all he had. All that he'd been living on since the death of their parents.
"Please, Mother, Father, may you guide us safely," he murmured, "May you continue to protect Yuuki from any and all that wish her harm…and may you continue to watch over Zero and I."
Running his knuckles down her pale cheek, he gave her a lingering glance before forcing himself to step back and out of the room, heading for the school.
Zero looked around worriedly as his eyes scanned the crowded area for his fellow prefect, waiting for her to come marching through (to the best of her abilities with how short she was) the throng of girls to meet him. He hadn't seen her all day and now she was late for her prefect duties, something she seldom did, knowing how crazy the girls could get.
She did seem tired this morning, he remembered, lips lowering in a frown. She could have been pushing herself too hard and gotten sick. But Wakaba-san had looked worried as well… Perhaps he could ask Kaname if he could stay with Yuuki for the night should she be sick.
Gently keeping the girls at bay, Zero blinked as he saw Takuma, but no Kaname at the front of the gaggle of Night class students. Yuuki was unwell, and now Kaname…
Takuma's eyes caught his anxious ones and he smiled reassuringly, giving a slight nod. Zero nodded back, relaxing, and sent the blond an inquiring look. The vampire tilted his head for a moment before giving another slight nod. Zero returned it with a grateful smile. If any of the other nobles noticed the exchange, they didn't mention it, their faces a perfect mask of polite disinterest.
Once most of the girls were gone, Zero forewent his patrolling duties (silently giving the chairman a quick apology) and immediately headed for the Moon dorms, quickly making his way up the stairs and to the pureblood's rooms. Knocking lightly, he entered, calling out, "Kaname?"
When not receiving an answer, he closed the door behind him and headed for the bedroom. "Kaname?" He tilted his head at the figure under the covers. But that clearly wasn't his Keeper under there, unless the pureblood had somehow gone and gotten a sex change during the day, which was highly unlikely.
Stepping closer, his eyes widened. "Yuuki!" Coming to his knees beside the bed, he tucked a few locks of her hair behind her ear, not liking the look of distress on her face even as she slept. So she really had been sick, he fretted, and Kaname had taken to caring for her. It was no wonder he hadn't been with the rest of the nobles. His Keeper must have been too preoccupied with Yuuki to bother with class.
"…er…Mother…"
"Yuuki?" He gently shook her shoulder. "Yuuki, it's just a nightmare, it's alright."
"Mm…Zero…"
"It's fine, Yuuki. Everything's alright."
Zero… Yes, it was him. She could smell him. He was here, right here…
Getting up to provide her with some of the water placed nearby, Zero failed to notice the hungry eyes watching his back.
"Zero…"
Kaname rushed out of the room, paying no mind to the clattering teacup as it landed harshly on the glass table. The chairman watched him go apprehensively, but made no move to follow.
He did offer up a silent apology to Ichiru for that meeting with Kaname now getting postponed indefinitely. The young hunter had looked for so long, he hoped he would be given the chance to at least see Zero face to face.
"Zero, Yuuki!"
"Kaname?" Zero blinked, holding a cup full of water. He'd just been about to give Yuuki the cup when the pureblood entered.
Kaname just shook his head, about to step forward when he immediately paused at the narrowed eyed glare Yuuki was sending him. Not as Cross Yuuki, but as Kuran Yuuki, his sister, or what little there was of her leaking from their mother's seals.
"Stop." She softly commanded. "Why…do you do this?" Her speech seemed hindered as she spoke slowly, straining to get her words out. Her wine red eyes focused on him with a sense of betrayal. "I…need…"
"No, Yuuki, not Zero," Kaname once again shook his head, coming to sit at the edge of the bed. Looking at the younger boy, he murmured, "Zero, if you would?" Zero sent a quick glance of confusion at Yuuki, but trusted his Keeper knew what was going on and handed him the cup of water before leaving the room, quietly shutting the door.
Back in the bedroom, Kaname risked holding Yuuki's hand, so small and fragile, and smiled sadly. "I wasn't aware you craved for him as well, but you cannot have him."
She tried to keep up the sharp glare, but it was smudged and touched with hunger and desperation. Why could she not have Zero? He'd been right there! Right there, so warm and soft, and just within her reach.
She swallowed. "Then…" She looked up into familiar wine red eyes, much like her own, biting harshly into her bottom lip.
Kaname lightly squeezed her hand. Was there no other way, he pleaded. No other way for than to place his precious sister in danger once again?
But Cross Yuuki was no longer Cross Yuuki, that, Kaname was sure of. There must have been a process, slow, but gradual, that enabled her to come this far into manifesting so solidly outside of the seals.
And if this was what their mother had intended?
There were many different types of seals after all, and the one their mother enacted might have called for Yuuki's vampiric side to start awakening when and if the seals sensed she was ready for the change, to emerge as a grown vampire old enough to defend herself.
But she was still so young… Or was that protectiveness talking? If he thought about Yuuki's behavior more carefully, ever since Zero's arrival, he'd seen her mature further into someone more independent. She'd taken care of Zero, teaching him things, learning things from him in turn, and…yes, especially that night she sought him out to speak to him about Zero… He supposed that was when Yuuki had truly started to show herself, in her eagerness to protect someone they both cherished.
"…You remember him, don't you?" Kaname suddenly asked, his eyes looking through her and into the past, remembering her delighted expression every time she saw a picture of her angel on his phone.
"Please…" The hand he was holding was curled tightly into a fist, trembling.
Kaname pulled her closer to him, and prayed for forgiveness, once again plunging his dear sister into a world of fitful dreams.
Brushing her hair out of her face, he clung to the faith he had in their mother. Hoped desperately that she knew what she'd been doing that night, ten years ago, and would never intentionally put Yuuki in harm's way. His sister was emerging too quickly, whatever process the seals contained getting skewed, and the gentle overlapping of her pureblood mind with her human side was instead turning into a war of dominance.
Zero curled up on his Keeper's couch, face pulled taut with tension. The slight burn against his thigh was telling him not all was right with his Owner, and it was putting him on edge. Kaname needed him, but he had told Zero to give he and Yuuki a few moments alone…
Zero wondered whether a few minutes was enough before he was allowed back in. There was something wrong with the other prefect, and he was almost afraid to find out what, as he swore, for a brief second, that she'd felt like a—
"Zero-kun?"
He blinked. "Chairman?" What was he doing here? "Yuuki is with Kaname."
"Oh, don't worry, I know," the man smiled reassuringly. "I just wanted to leave him something." He pulled a cream colored envelope out of his pocket. "It might be rather important, though I can't be too sure." He looked especially regretful as he said this. "But regardless, this is something he should look at."
Zero merely nodded as he placed the envelope on the table, knowing better than to ask questions. If the chairman himself had deemed this important enough to deliver it on his own, then it was most likely personal, and none of Zero's business.
"I will leave Yuuki in his care," the chairman smiled helplessly, "and hope that she gets better."
"I'll let him know," Zero said softly, watching the man leave. The chairman's worry was obvious, but he seemed distracted about something else. Lilac eyes focused on the letter on the table. Judging by his timing, he could guess it was related to Yuuki as well as Kaname in some way. Otherwise, the chairman would let his Keeper concentrate on making Yuuki better instead of coming over with a letter he claimed was 'important' for Kaname to read.
'I will leave Yuuki in his care.'
Why not a human doctor? The piling questions only served to solidify his mounting suspicions regarding the real reason behind Yuuki's 'illness'.
But as far as he knew, the process of 'turning' was almost always smooth, nearly unnoticeable to the victim. He couldn't remember a time when Yuuki showed any of the symptoms of one either. It all came on in a sudden rush, in the span of a day. If that wasn't unusual enough, there wasn't anyone capable of triggering such a change in the first place. Kaname was the only pureblood on campus and he would never touch Yuuki that way.
So then what could have happened in such a short amount of time? What could have been done to her to elicit—
Stop. A familiar part of his mind rose up with harsh reprimand. Kaname is your Keeper and he's as good as promised to look after Yuuki. There is no need for your baseless speculations. As his Pet, it is your utmost priority to keep faith in your Owner.
Zero's shoulders slumped in embarrassed shame as his teachings coolly reminded him of his duties. And he did have faith in Kaname, he did trust him, Kaname would never hurt Yuuki, but the prefect was important to him too, and he wanted to do his part to help her.
Just remembering the raw emotion in her voice as she tried to speak made his heart ache. She'd sounded so desperate, so terrified…
So starved.
But he also knew better than to barge in and offer his neck out of impulse. It wouldn't really be helping Yuuki and he would be an insult to his Keeper, as though Zero thought his care insufficient.
Those reasons aside, however, Zero knew not even kind, patient, gentle Kaname would forgive him for offering his blood to another vampire without his permission. Not even if that vampire happened to be Yuuki.
As a Pet with an Owner, it was just not done. There were no ifs ands or buts. It was simply against unwritten rules to do so. Zero had heard of other Pets that'd been…disowned by their Keepers for that one single transgression.
Blood was more than just blood. And the act of sharing it meant much more than letting someone eat off your plate during a meal.
Raiga had never failed to emphasize the significance of a vampire owning his blood. It wasn't meant to make him feel controlled or restricted. It was simply that whoever would come to be his Keeper would obviously care for every part of him, and that included what vampires valued most.
"It's the same way we view fidelity and virginal innocence. You can't just hand yourself out to be picked and sucked at by any old perv, and your Keeper will make sure of that."
At least that was how Zero had been taught. He'd never been openly propositioned before, nor had he ever been bitten, so he hadn't any experience with how otherworldly it felt or how intimate. But, he supposed, ducking his head a bit at feeling his cheeks flush, it probably felt much like the private moments shared between he and Kaname.
And if it were so, then it was completely understandable for vampires to hold so much significance in the idea of sharing their blood with someone else.
He still wanted to help Yuuki, however.
"Zero?"
His head snapped up in attention to his Keeper's unmistakable voice, but just as he felt relief at seeing he was physically okay, his heart tightened at obvious signs of mental distress. Kaname looked exhausted.
"Yuuki is…fine for now. We must have worried you," the pureblood smiled gently. "I trust you are far from falling faint of any ailments?"
"Kaname," Zero tugged his Keeper to lie down on the couch. Briefly hesitating over whether to use one of the cushions for a pillow or his lap, his decision was made for him as Kaname went ahead and nuzzled into his thigh.
"Zero…I apologize for springing this on you so suddenly, but I fear we will have to relocate elsewhere sometime soon; perhaps even as early as the next couple of days." Yuuki needed a safer place for her transition. Awakening as a pureblood in the academy might put everyone at risk.
"Sudden? Yes, maybe, but I go where you go, Kaname," Zero said matter-of-factly. His tone seemed to convey his bemusement at wondering why Kaname even bothered for an apology. None was needed. "I could hardly stand to be anywhere else, regardless. You couldn't make me stay here even if you wanted," his lilac eyes glinted in amusement.
Kaname chuckled. "Thank you Zero." He most likely needed that.
"Oh, the chairman came by with a letter." Zero gestured to the envelope on the table, which the pureblood curiously reached over to pick up.
He ran his slender fingers over the surface, coming to rest on the old fashioned seal that kept it closed, his breath catching. He would recognize that seal anywhere.
Mother…
Carefully tearing it open, he gently pulled the letter free of its confines, half afraid if he even wanted to know what it contained. The chairman must have kept this with him for quite a while if it was indeed from his mother. It must have pained him to have something from her locked up and put away for so long without being able to tell anyone of it.
Mother, you can be rather cruel, but that is nothing new.
Unfolding the pages, he looked for a date, but found none and his eyes simply went on to see what she had to say even after her death. He hoped his father didn't care to leave such things behind. If he understood Kaname as much as he seemed to, then he wouldn't.
Hello Kaname, I wonder how old you'll be when you're reading this…
So she knew. Kaname sighed with a fond sort of exasperated resignation at his mother's attitude even with the knowledge of her possible death looming over her mind. He could practically see her smiling as she wrote, an elegant hum escaping her lips as she tilted her head in that way of hers when contemplating over something. In this case, what to write.
…Ah, I got off topic again, sorry sweetie…
Perhaps it was because the letter was addressed to him that the form was so casual. The tone of her words was conversational. But that also had him wondering what kind of humongous bombshell she was trying to drop, as it was her way to deliberately lull someone into a state of relaxed nonchalance before pulling out the proverbial knife. It was a show of kindness on her part. She disliked putting anyone at unease if she could help it.
Kaname would rather the band-aid be ripped off than peeled slowly, but he could never quite get her to understand.
…And Yuuki is…
At first tensing at the mention of his sister's name, Kaname let out a sigh of relief as he continued reading. No earth shattering explosions there, thank goodness—
…Her seals are…
Ah, he grimaced. Spoke too soon.
…as it progresses, they naturally start to thin over a length of time, when her other half is ready for the world…
So it had been time-based.
…she might never regain her past…
Wait what?
A reset.
Reset…? But Yuuki clearly remembered Zero. Despite never having personal contact with him, she still treasured the image she had of him; of a white innocent angel. She longed to be able to meet him, so see what he was like. How did he sound? What did he feel like? Were his eyes as beautiful in person?
It was those strong lingering emotions that'd driven her to want for his blood in her time of need. If she'd had no memories of that time, there was no reason for her to want Zero as much as she did. If she didn't remember her childhood as a pureblood, there would be no reason for her to want Kaname's blood either. Not with such intensity.
Yuuki obviously knew both he and Zero were important to her in some way. Could their mother have somehow made a mistake in her calculations?
It was plausible. Their mother wasn't infallible. But then again, he read the sentence over, she did write it out as a 'might', which indicated it could happen either way. With Yuuki's reactions, however, Kaname was strongly leaning towards the possibility she would remember everything once she 'woke'.
In all honesty, he wished she did. It would make her integration into their world a lot smoother in the practical sense, and, as her older sibling, why wouldn't he want his younger sister to remember the times they shared together as a family?
It was all he'd wanted for the last decade. That, and, he smiled looking up, that and Zero.
He turned back to the letter with a lighter, hopeful mind, and continued down the page.
…Your precious boy angel…
He blinked. So she'd known about that as well.
…must keep him away from—
Yes, it wouldn't do to forget the danger Zero posed to Rido as the keeper of the other pureblood's powers. He hadn't succeeded that night, and nor will he ever, if Kaname had anything to say about it.
He took momentary solace in the soothing motion of Zero's fingers through his hair.
But as long as the seals aren't removed…
Kaname's lips pursed. That was a problem. There had to be a way to keep Zero safe and permanently kill his homicidal uncle at the same time. And for that, he mentally sighed, he'd have to look into the seal that'd been used in greater detail.
Normally, he wouldn't feel so daunted by such a task, but these seals were most likely Kahou originals, and those were near impossible get hold of without permission from the hunter association. After their annihilation, their prized hunter possessions had been passed on to the association for further use, and without a proper pass, no one was allowed access to their information.
He held in another sigh. No offense to the dead, but Zero's mother had left quite a mess behind her.
But all of that aside, I hope you are happy, that you have people you can trust, people you can love…
Kaname smiled. He had Yuuki and Zero. They were more than enough.
"Kaname?" His precious kitten had his head tilted in curiosity, and unable to resist, Kaname gently pulled him down to place a chaste kiss to his lips.
"Would you mind so terribly spending the night here?" With me?
Zero smiled against his lips. "Why would I ever?"
Thanks for reading til now! :) I'll (at least trying to) focus on HS *scratches head* Dunno if the words'll come, but eh *shrugs*