A/N: It's been a while for this, no? Ah, hello! :) Lea here, and just hoping, always, that this will provide some entertainment :)

Warning: some KZ

Don't own, don't own.

Tides That Come II

"Chairman, I'm sure you know what I'm here for."

"Ah, yes, I can take a guess," the bespectacled man smiled. "And it was agreed that when it came to matters of the Night class, you would ultimately have the final say."

Kaname raised a brow. Perhaps the chairman didn't really know what he was here for? "My reasons for being here do not involve the class as a whole, not yet."

"But they will, in due time," the chairman corrected.

Kaname could only nod. Everything was growing at a faster rate than he could deal with, and it would take time to adjust for a proper course of action. First things first…

"I will be taking Yuuki and Zero with me for an indefinite amount of time. However well she is able to fit into her new skin will determine whether or not we return at all." The time for playing school was over. The initial reason for his stay here at the academy was so he could keep a personal eye on his younger sister. Now that she was emerging once again as a pureblood, she required different needs than a silent watcher over her wellbeing.

"I see…"

"Our departure is set for tomorrow morning, before dawn."

The chairman blinked. So soon… His eyes softened. "Travel safely. I'm sure you've already let your class know?"

"To those necessary."

"Then I've no objections," the chairman declared cheerily. "If you need anything, don't be afraid to let me know."

As Kaname moved to stand, he clapped his hands, "Oh! And I'm sure you've also made sure to know what to do with our surprise visitor?" He referred to Ichiru, who'd still yet to see his brother. It was highly unlikely Kaname had yet to take notice of him, even without the chairman's prompting.

As expected, the brunet sent him a cryptic smile before he made his exit. Closing his eyes, the chairman wished the young hunter luck, hoping nothing went too terribly. Kaname could be difficult to deal with on any regular day; there was no telling how he might receive Zero's brother with the current situation as unpredictable as it was.

Well, Ichiru-kun seems to understand far more than I do about Pets in general, so it may be safe to assume he would know proper protocol when it comes to dealing with their Owners as well.

"Pack lightly. Whatever else you may need, I can either provide for you or retrieve later."

Keeping his Keeper's words in mind, Zero made sure to have nothing more than a single bag weighing him down, and patiently waited for his mark to let him know when Kaname wanted him.

Dressed in black slacks and a dress shirt, he wondered, not for the first time, whether it was right of him not to have worn his uniform, then, also not for the first time, reminded himself it would garner more than a few curious looks if he went about in a school uniform at such early hours of the day. With Kaname himself drawing attention, however unintentional, they didn't need any more reason to stand out.

And Yuuki…

The warmth at his thigh interrupted any further thoughts and Zero immediately got up, slipping on his shoes and coat as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

"Kuran…Kaname…" Ichiru slowly echoed. Not just any pureblood, but the pureblood? His brother sure knew how to pick 'em, he inwardly mumbled.

As though reading his thoughts, the vampire before him had on an amused smile. "Yes, and you are Ichiru-kun, am I right? The chairman briefly mentioned you to me. Your resemblance to him is remarkable," his eyes narrowed a fraction. 'Resemblance' was an understatement. Zero and Ichiru were identical.

Were they otherwise regular humans, it wouldn't be at all so unusual, but they were born hunters, and last he checked, hunters born as twins were lucky to survive past childhood. From what he could see however, Ichiru was more or less healthy if not a bit delicate, and Zero, he'd never had to question in terms of physical health.

It was most likely Zero was the elder of the two just on those observations, though he was curious to know why there wasn't a Kahou Ichiru anywhere in the information he had Takuma look up all those years ago. If there were to be any reasons attached, he could only assume it had something to do with family politics, of which he had plenty of experience in.

The details regarding Kahou Yuri's separation from her family were vague, if not at all confusing, and Kaname hadn't been able to find any solid facts that could clearly state why she'd chosen to leave. A family as longstanding as the Kahous wouldn't so easily let their heir of all people go without a fair fight. It was most likely Yuri was able to bring up a sound argument as well as a solution for her freedom.

Zero had had his birth parents with him, both Yuri and Riku, until their death, and yet Ichiru didn't. The younger twin even properly grew up as a hunter, true to his heritage, if the various scents on him were anything to go by. The boys had been separated at a fairly young age, young enough that when Kaname had first met with Zero, the toddler hadn't known he had a sibling.

"So we really do look alike?"

"Very much so, though there are slight differences to your eyes." Ichiru's were more of a violet hue than soft lilac. The paleness of Zero's eyes nearly matched that of his hair.

His eyes… It was just like what that other vampire had mentioned of 'Silver'.

"You'll…you'll let me see him?"

"There is no harm in meeting him. He should be here in a few minutes."

So soon? Ichiru couldn't stop his breath from hitching. Now that he was actually here, he didn't know what to do. He'd finally get to see Zero…

Soft knocks at the door had both he and the pureblood looking up. "Kaname? It's me."

"Come in, Zero." Kaname stood up to approach the door, welcoming the younger boy inside with a chaste kiss to his forehead and a gentle stroke of his thumb across his cheek as he cupped the side of his face.

Zero smiled and turned his head enough to press his lips against his Keeper's palm. "Is Yuuki okay?" He refrained from asking why his Keeper's mark led him not to the pureblood's rooms but a different tearoom.

"She's fine, thank you." Kaname stepped back. "You've got a visitor. He's wanted to meet with you for some time."

Ichiru quickly scrambled up from his seat, his heart hammering. The pureblood couldn't have moved fast enough. It was as though everything was moving at half its pace. He stood stock still as his brother's face slowly came into view.

"Zero…" His dark eyes widened as he took in his brother's features. They…he and Zero… His brother's face was the same face he'd look into for the past sixteen years.

"Ichiru…!" Zero's lips pursed.

"I…you're-we're—"

"What are you doing here?"

The sharp tone cut through his confusion like a knife and Ichiru nearly flinched. "I just wanted to see you."

"Ichiru…" Zero couldn't deny the childlike vulnerability in his brother's voice and closed the distance between them, tentatively taking his hands within his own. "I know you've been looking for me, but I thought I made it clear I didn't want you doing that."

"That other Pet sent me a message, yeah," Ichiru couldn't keep his eyes away from his brother's, knowing there was a likely chance of never seeing them again.

"You shouldn't get involved with us; it's not your place."

"I've already said—"

"It's especially hard if you're a hunter, Ichiru, I don't want you to go through any of it." Ichiru couldn't live as a Pet. He'd lived a free life, and giving up his responsibilities to someone else would hardly be easy, his instincts as a hunter only working to offer further resistance to what was already a heartrending process. Zero had seen other Pet handlers struggle with adult humans who just couldn't accept their new lifestyle and crumbled away as a mere shell of themselves. Raiga himself had trouble from time to time, despite how good he was at his job.

As a child, he remembered more than one instance in which Raiga had used him to soothe some of the older cases that had a particularly hard time with some of the lessons. Having grown up as a Pet candidate, everything they were learning was, to him, completely natural, and the simplistic answers he gave through his childish view to what they'd seen as incomprehensible questions prevented them from over thinking on certain issues. It equaled to less stress for everyone involved and they ended the day feeling a little lighter.

"I just want to stay with you," Ichiru shook his head. He couldn't live as Zero did, he knew that, but he still wanted to be close to him.

"Ichiru…" It wasn't as though he wanted to reject his brother, but Kaname couldn't just allow for a human to stay with them without raising questions.

"If I may offer a suggestion?" The pureblood smiled. "I'm currently in need of a hunter who can access the Kahou archives held in main HQ of the Association. I'd nearly thought it a lost cause, as I would never send Zero and couldn't trust another hunter…"

Ichiru frowned. "I left the association when I started looking for Zero."

"Is that official?"

"…Not really."

"I believe you were still in training."

"That's true, but no one knows I'm a Kahou," at least, no one should, "and I doubt they'd let a kid like me have a pass."

"Kaname, I can go in his place." Zero started, but the pureblood shook his head. "I've already made myself clear on that, Zero, and," he brushed a hand across the boy's thigh, "there is a chance they will sense this. They will never let you leave if they do."

"It's alright, I can go," Ichiru cut in, crossing his arms.

There was no way he'd let Zero go marching into the lion's den without a foolproof plan. The pureblood was right. And though he wasn't sure what the second half of his reasons referred to, he supposed it had something to do with the Ownership Mark Zero carried somewhere on his person. There was a chance some of the stronger hunters would be able to sense it from a certain distance. That the mark was from a pureblood wouldn't help matters, only making it easier to detect.

He shuddered to think what they would do to a Pet belonging to a pureblood, especially to one Kuran Kaname.

"But Ichiru…"

"I agree with him, Zero, and I'm sure you know, hunters aren't really…" He frowned at trying to find the right words. "They don't, I mean, with Pets of your caliber," he gestured between his brother and Kaname, "they don't – ugh, whatever, I think you know what I mean."

Zero smiled softly at his younger twin's flustered movements, his hand nearly flailing as he tried to explain himself. He knew Ichiru was looking for a way to not sound offensive or insulting to his social status, and his efforts were endearing.

"I do know, and I don't mind. I wouldn't be a Pet if I did."

Hunters felt, at most, extreme pity for those who ended up as Pets, as per usual, their minds would be wiped clean for whatever their Owners wanted to imprint them with. They were considered victims, just on the same level as the bloodless corpses they found on a daily basis. If their minds were being controlled, they couldn't help it, the hunters excused, it was through no fault of their own a vampire took enough interest in them to go so far in obtaining them.

Their attitudes were remarkably different for Pets like Zero, whose minds were free for personal thought and individuality, obviously having the choice of not being a Pet as opposed to those whose only other option was death. In Zero's case, they would see him as a vampire supporter, feeding their seedy desires, adding to the corruption, willingly taking their side out of his own volition.

The hunters would consider him an immediate enemy, and would have no qualms about eliminating him if they thought it necessary.

And if they were to find out he was the Pet of a pureblood… There would be no doubting what they would try to use him for.

But it was also highly unlikely for anything so drastic to happen, as there had been more than one case of a Pet being held hostage to ensure a vampire's full cooperation.

But there had been only a single instance, in which the hunters had, to their misfortune, taken the Pet of a pureblood, threatening for rape and torture if their demands were not met.

The entire headquarters hadn't lasted the night.

The spectacular bloodbath was only a fraction of what purebreds were capable of, and whatever they decided to cooperate with, would be on their terms. Abducting a Pet was in no way a 'security measure'.

Lesson taught, lesson learned. Hopefully.

"Whether you mind or not, you will not be going," Kaname said wryly, "let us hope Ichiru-kun will be able to find what we need before he has time to alert the elders of his existence as one of two survivors of the Kahou line."

"Right."

"We will be leaving in a few short hours. You may have this time to yourselves if you wish."

Zero looked uncertain, but Ichiru gave a firm nod.

The moment Kaname left the room, Zero frowned. "Ichiru, will you be alright on your own? I can still try to convince Kaname to let me go."

"And what will you do about the mark you have on you?" Ichiru countered. "You're not allowed to cover that up, and even if you were, you'd never do it."

"I wouldn't," Zero agreed, there was no way he'd deny Kaname's mark on him, "but it'd be easy to let them believe I was just on an errand for my Owner."

"They'd never believe a pureblood would have one of those Pets, Zero," Ichiru shook his head. "Pets like you are almost made specifically for purebloods you're so rare. I also know you guys are extremely expensive to get and to keep. Only a pureblood could afford to take care of one of you guys."

That was also true. Considering Zero himself was not only human, but also had hunter capabilities, it'd made him all the more hard to obtain. Not to mention, with his previous problems with touch, it had the possible Owners all anticipatory with getting to feel that much more privileged if they were to be 'the one' Zero physically responded to.

"I don't know why purebloods would choose a human Pet over a vampire one, though," Ichiru continued. "I mean, if they really like their Pet, then wouldn't they want one that would live longer?"

Zero smiled softly. "Humans have a different mindset than vampires. Just the concept of life and how short it can be makes a big difference in the way someone views things. A lot of purebloods become lost within time, having something close to immortality, and they lose the will to live, not knowing why they should go on without any knowledge of how to enjoy the time they were gifted with.

"Humans though, even as Pets, grow up knowing their lives could end the next day, the next hour, and they know how to feel more deeply for things vampires might not give second thoughts to.

"But really," Zero tilted his head, "what they're lacking is appreciation." His hand came to subconsciously flutter around his thigh. "When you can properly come to appreciate everything around you, you'll never feel like living your life is worthless or that dying would be a solution."

Ichiru smiled impishly. "Something so simple?"

Zero shrugged. "Sometimes it's the simple things that are hard to get."

The younger of the two nodded, briefly lost in his own thoughts, before nervously shuffling his feet and blurting, "So. Um. Did you know Mum and Dad?"

"Just a little more, Yuuki, soon, you'll be just as you were meant to be…" Kaname stroked her face, leaning down press his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent, that was even now, slowly changing. Whatever their mother had done, it ensured the safety of her mind, even after the merging process, and he hadn't any concern on that front. There was many a time, especially for humans that'd been forcibly turned, where the inability to accept new habits and life styles became a cause for mental instability.

Yuuki had grown up around him, however, with the knowledge of what their kind needed first and foremost, to live, and, with the help of Zero, perhaps a little of their nature. Kaname treated her with as much gentility he was capable of, but not even he could completely mask the darker part of himself that came with being a vampire. Predators at the top of the food chain did not maintain their strength by being fuzzy and cuddly. Neither did purebloods.

The realization would be a change for Yuuki, he knew, and while he preferred to have her as she was, soft and delicate, Yuuki herself would never allow for her own ignorance. She'd never be content to stay back and let herself be protected. Yuuki was, in her own way, a knight as well, always working to make effort in keeping her loved ones safe. He hadn't forgotten that glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes when he'd informed her Zero's harasser had been caught and taken care of.

Yes, Yuuki would change, that was inevitable, but they would just be additions to what really made Yuuki, Yuuki. Essentially, she was exactly the same as she'd been for the last decade.

"Kaname-sama is the kindest vampire I know."

No, he smiled, she was the kindest vampire, the gentlest, with a clear, unblemished heart to give to all that she met. Kaname was just jaded enough to know what 'nice' was like in comparison to 'cruel'.

He was almost…anxious to see what kind of vampire she would mature to be in the coming years. Her older brother he may be, he was just as much her father, and now that he was able to take a more active role in her life, he felt…anticipatory, excited. Relieved. Glad.

Afraid.

He was hardly the most internally stable vampire. Some of the emotions he held inside of him were dark, dark wells that trickled into oceans he himself could come close to drowning in. He was the nightmare in everyone's closets, the monster under their beds. Tainted. Worn. Weary and old. Was he really suited for such a huge influence in Yuuki's life? Like a father or older sibling about to meet his first child, his first newborn sibling, his heart shuddered with violent possibilities. What if, what if, what if…

"But then who else, if not you, is suited for teaching her the things she needs to know? Who else, if not you, is going to put her welfare before their own, to think of her first before anything else?"

Kaname smiled helplessly. Thank goodness for Zero's sensible words. Now if he could just keep them in mind and not doubt himself…

"Ka-Kaname-sempai…?"

"Yuuki," he motioned for her not to talk. "You're still exhausted yet."

"But—"

"I…Zero and I will be taking you to my home, our home, so you may rest fully there. Go back to sleep for now."

"Your…Our…?"

"We'll be going back, yes." Back to where it all started, for perhaps a new beginning.

"…I…okay…" Her voice grew smaller and smaller and she relaxed underneath the covers, closing her eyes.

Zero blinked. Their parents? A mother and father… He'd never even…

"Ichiru, I don't…" How to explain things… "I don't remember much before my fourth year. I lost our parents before that, but I know I was cared for." It was just by whom that he couldn't recall. There was probably more than one person.

He'd already half surmised part of the reason he still couldn't remember was due to his own hesitance at regaining those pieces of his life.

It'd been so long ago, did it really matter whether he did or not? He had a Keeper now, someone to devote himself to. Everything that came before his training with Raiga didn't hold much priority for him.

He now wished he could at least remember what their parents looked like or how they were if only for Ichiru's sake. His younger brother cared about knowing the people responsible for giving birth to them. He should be allowed the memories of those people, if nothing else.

Ichiru laughed nervously. "I…yeah, I guess. It's been, what, twelve years now, right? Not a lot of people would remember stuff from when they were four."

Zero could see his disappointment, however. "I…sorry Ichiru."

"It's fine, I…just wanted to make sure, you know?"

Lilac eyes softened. "I'm sure whoever they were, they loved you with everything they had." It would explain the strange magical residue around his younger twin. He suspected it was a blood tied spell, in which only family members or those related close enough were able to sense, as Kaname hadn't seemed to take any notice of it.

Although Ichiru also seemed oblivious to its presence. But it didn't feel malicious or harmful, and rather than raise his brother's hopes on the off chance their parents didn't place it, Zero decided to keep quiet.

"…Yeah…I guess…" Ichiru smiled lopsidedly. "Uh, not to change course on purpose or anything, but I heard a lot about you while I was looking…and…"

"What is it?" Zero knew he'd gained himself a few names, none of which he wanted, but people knew him by, and referred to, anyway.

"That," the younger of the two coughed, "that you were scary as all hell when you were pissed, and that you had trouble getting an Owner."

Zero laughed lightly. "It's true, on both accounts, though I don't know whether I look so frightening. I did have a temper. I still have one. Kaname is my first Owner."

"…"

"Ichiru?" Right. His brother must have brought this up for a reason other than to joke about it.

"Zero…you said I wouldn't be able to live like you, and I know it too, but have you ever thought of living like me, instead?" Ichiru hedged. "I mean, it'd be hard, I guess, but you can have counseling, or even I can help, if you want." He bit his lip. There were ways to break bonds between a Pet and their Owner, if it came down to that too. "I don't have anything against vampires, but when I thought about you, I just thought—"

"It'd be better not to be involved at all?" Zero finished.

"…Yeah…"

Zero fell silent for a moment, contemplative, before, "Raiga, my trainer, once offered me an 'out'." He didn't know if telling his brother this would help towards understanding, but it was better than getting defensive and screaming, No, no, no, like a child being taken away from its favored toy. Even if Ichiru couldn't really understand, he would at least know, conceptually, why Zero chose to stay as he was.

"What?" It seemed his brother hadn't ever thought Zero was given an alternative.

"I was one of the youngest cases he took on," Zero recalled, "the others, although still young, were near the age of ten or older." He was just shy of five. It was no wonder, after some years, with him getting to witness different reactions to the training, that Raiga had gone and asked such a thing. Some kids had tried to be valiant; 'standing up to evil' while others just shrugged and went along with whatever they were told. There were few among that age that truly thrived in that environment.

Still, Zero had just reached eleven when the vampire had proposed the idea. He'd been given time to think on it while he went about his training. Zero hadn't needed to think long.

He'd already known, for some years, if he were going to be of help to someone, he really would prefer it to be just one person. He wasn't like Raiga, who seamlessly entered and left so many people's lives without fear, leaving words of advice, a kind gesture, an impression to remember.

Zero just wanted one person he could cherish. One person he could spend his life with. One person he could love. And he'd rather one person to give back that same trust. One person to care for him, offer him a place to stay. It didn't matter if that one person had many others in their life, as long as Zero was one of them.

He was just Zero, after all, thinking back on when Raiga had first picked him up, and there wasn't much he could offer besides himself. Older Pets had mentioned 'jobs', things they did to earn a living, but that was just selling exterior skills, and Zero wanted to be able to help by being himself. He wanted to be something that didn't involve anything other than being 'Zero'.

And where else could he truly get that concrete reassurance of his desires than being a Pet? As an eleven-year-old in training, he thought he had everything he wanted right there, with Raiga as a mentor to help reach for that one thing he wished for.

It may have been a simple thing, something only a child would come up with, but it was what Zero wanted, and Raiga had trusted him to make his own decisions.

"I was hoping you'd stay of course, but I'm happy this is really what you want."

"Why me?" Raiga hadn't offered the other children the same.

"Because you're my little Silver, and you're special."

And that was that.

Zero never pried any further, and Raiga didn't make a huge fuss over why Zero chose to stay.

"He asked you to choose something so important when you were eleven?"

Zero smiled. "It wasn't easy after that," especially considering his touching problem and coming to think he didn't want anyone after all, "but I haven't regretted it." It was due to that he now had Kaname as an Owner.

Ichiru sighed. Heavily. "I… I can't really consent on it, not fully, but you're hardly eleven now, and since you still want it…" It wasn't as though being a Pet seemed to be harming him. Zero looked perfectly fine in a…well, he didn't know how else to phrase it, 'well-taken care of' way. He could blame it on his training as a hunter, but it was also out of wanting to take in and remember as much of his brother as he could, that he couldn't help letting his eyes roam.

Despite being identical twins, he could immediately tell Zero was paler, his skin a rich milky white, unblemished, and having held them earlier, knew those slender hands were just as soft as they looked, delicately warm and gentle. His hair, distinctive shade and all, also probably felt just the way it looked.

And unlike him, Zero hadn't gone through rigorous physical training, his build more slender, wiry, and with the right clothes, could manage to look deceptively frail. But with the way he'd moved, there was no doubting Zero could hold his own should he need to.

Balanced, fluid, smooth and graceful, it was obvious his older twin had gone through some type of long term routine specifically targeted to not only staying fit but keeping a certain type of physique as well.

Whoever this Raiga was, he was no slacker.

"Thank you, Ichiru."

"Mm," he hummed. He supposed the only way he could stay connected with his brother was to help in this Kahou business that pureblood had mentioned. "So he treats you right, right? This Kuran guy?"

"Getting everything out while you can, are you?" Zero shook his head. "Kaname is a fine Owner," he couldn't ask for anyone better, his heart swelled, "he's unfailingly kind."

"…Ermgh," Ichiru had on a strange expression, "Right" He laughed tentatively. "I said I didn't have anything against vampires, but purebloods don't really…give off that, 'I'm warm and cuddly, come snuggle with me' type of feel, you know?" And Zero looked like he could've talked about how 'unfailingly kind' Kuran Kaname was for another few hours.

For the first time, he wondered how close that pureblood and his brother were, bond as Pet and Owner aside.

Hanabusa, Akatsuki, and Ruka stood motionless, half shocked. When they'd been notified Kaname had wanted to meet with them, this was not on their list of expectations.

"An attack here, at the academy?"

"It's possible. Seiren has informed me things are…getting restless." They didn't need to ask as to what 'things' the pureblood was referring to.

"So it's true," Hanabusa murmured, face ashen.

"It was bound to happen at one point," Ruka said, just as quietly. "We all knew the existence of the Night class would be temporary." As long as there was even one opposition against coexistence…

"But it may not have to end that way if we move first." Akatsuki pitched in.

Kaname nodded. "I know I ask a lot of you, to risk more than just your lives, but if you feel that this is worth the effort, I'd like for you to aide me in this matter."

"Whatever you need us to do, Kaname-sama," Hanabusa replied solemnly. The two to his left nodded to show their support.

"If you will, I would like for you to—"

"Zero?"

"Kaname?"

"Ichiru-kun, if I may?" Zero was already moving into his arms.

"You'd take him even if I said no."

The pureblood chuckled. He didn't care to deny it. Pressing a kiss to Zero's hair, he guided the younger boy out of the room.

"Kaname, how is Yuuki?"

"Still asleep. She is…adjusting yet."

"Are we not allowed to leave sooner?" He didn't want her in any more pain.

"Everything has its own time, Zero, and we mustn't go against it." Opening the door to his own rooms, Kaname also had someone send up a tray of tea.

"How was your brief talk with Ichiru-kun?"

"He's…grown well."

Kaname laughed softly. "You sound like his grandfather. Did everything not go well?" He'd picked up on Zero's awkward tone.

"He just…proposed an odd idea."

"Have you ever thought of living like me instead?"

Yes, what an odd way to ask what was essentially, "Come with me."

But Zero had given his answer, and Ichiru had more or less accepted it. There really hadn't been anyone else but Kaname since the moment the pureblood had touched him that day. No pain, no nausea, not even a faint touch of annoyance.

What'd made him happier still, was that Kaname had chosen him in turn, to have Zero beside him for however long.

He hadn't cared to think too far into why Kaname had been able to touch him, and why, after so long, touching became so much easier after he'd met him. The other vampires still made him uneasy, but humans, especially Yuuki, he hardly had to practice caution for. Greeting her with hugs and kisses were now the norm, and he wondered if his lack of reaction to her was, in some ways, related to his Owner. Everything had gotten better once he'd met Kaname, and the pureblood had a strong attachment to Yuuki.

"An odd proposition?"

"…Maybe not so odd," considering the circumstances. It was only natural to stay with family, and for Ichiru, he hadn't any living blood relatives besides Zero.

"But odd enough for you to mention it."

Zero tilted his head. He always told Kaname everything, and whether he wanted to or not, the truth had ways of finding its way out of whatever silence it was forced behind.

"He just offered to live together with him, as regular humans."

Kaname nearly paused in bringing the tea to his lips, but smiled and took a sip. "Is that so?" He couldn't say he was surprised. Ichiru was so genuinely eager to meet the older brother he'd only been able to imagine about. Blood ties weren't easy to severe; and the boys were not only brothers, but twins.

"Ichiru prefers to be neutral in the affairs between vampires and hunters. He wished me the same."

"And yourself?" He couldn't help the hand that went to cradle his little one's cheek, running his thumb across soft, supple pink lips. A more subtle show of possessiveness he masked with affection and adoration.

"I'm a Pet," Zero made a quick swipe at the thumb across his mouth, "your Pet." He dipped his head, placing his hand over Kaname's, taking the finger in.

"Zero…" Kaname slipped his thumb back out, wetting Zero's lips as he did, leaning in to nip at them, parting his mouth to slip his tongue in, giving the younger boy something else to suck on.

"Nn…" Slowly getting pushed back onto the couch, Zero slid his hand over Kaname's shoulder, clinging to his shirt, the other moving to stroke the pureblood's neck.

Moving further up and above him, Kaname smiled as he felt Zero automatically spread his legs to accommodate him between his thighs.

So accepting… Whatever side he showed, Zero would still open his arms for. Whether he was 'gentle' or 'kind', 'cold' or 'cruel'…

Dark or bloodthirsty.

He mentally shook his head, roughly brushing off his wandering mind, averting his eyes away from soft, now enticingly flushed, expanse of skin laid out before him. He was getting restless in ways he'd rather not be, especially around Zero, who would never hesitate to yield himself to him should he ever—

"Kaname, you're tired." Zero took a moment to catch his breath, his lips against his Keeper's neck. "You've…been forcing Yuuki to sleep this whole time, and the wards around the room…" It was to keep any distracting scents or sounds out while she was resting. In addition to that he was emotionally unstable, constantly worrying about one thing after another. He'd yet to take a single break.

Brows lowering in a frown, Zero pressed his Keeper's face against his throat. "Kaname…"

"No, Zero, please," the pureblood was getting further agitated, fingers digging into the cushions by Zero's head, threatening to tear through the fabric. "Don't—"

"I can take it." Pale fingers deftly started on the buttons. "Or do you want to faint in the car?" He had to pause in taking off his pants. He couldn't do that with Kaname on top of him. "I'll…I'll take pictures and send them to the chairman."

Kaname snorted. "You wouldn't dare."

"…"

"…You would, wouldn't you?"

"Are you going to do it?"

"…"

Zero let out surprised gasp at the punishing nip at his neck, but otherwise remained unruffled, his gaze clear and open as he waited for Kaname to answer.

"…As you're the one asking for this, I presume there is a specific way…?"

Holding in a smile of satisfaction, Zero gestured for Kaname to sit up, trying not to focus on the way dark eyes went right for his unbuttoned pants. Sliding back, he swiftly slid them off, his Ownership Mark in full view.

"Zero…?"

"For Pets, it's customary for our Owners to take from our Marks."

Fascinated, Kaname slid his hand up the length of Zero's thigh, thumb skirting around the edge of the rose centerpiece. Take… From here?

The idea was incredibly arousing.

"…And you won't…suffer any…"

"The marked area is different from the rest of our bodies. It's…" Zero paused, trying to look for a simpler way of explaining things. "It's where You are most concentrated."

He almost thought his Keeper might need more than that, but Kaname nodded, dipping his head to press his lips against a part of the rose, making his breath hitch.

"…Are you sure this is fine?"

He nodded. "I didn't say anything earlier since you seemed against taking from me, but you won't last without proper…substance."

Closing his eyes, Kaname shuddered, taking a deep breath to steady himself, then immediately regretting it, as he got a lungful of Zero's scent that went straight to his groin.

How was he supposed to keep control over his instincts when this…when Zero…

He swallowed heavily, about to refuse after all, blood tablets would…well, he'd manage, he tried to convince himself, when he felt a hand go through his hair. The gesture, so small, nearly had him collapsing in relief.

"Kaname."

Zero… Before he could go for another 'Me okay with blood tablets' argument, his lips were parting and his fangs, aching with need, sank into soft flesh.

"Ah! Nn…"

Kaname groaned, taking in another mouthful. This…Zero's…this was… "Haa…" How could anything be this good? He was practically on a high, he felt so light, as though he were floating, and nothing would be able to get him back down.

Pressing his wrist against his mouth, Zero tried to hold his cries in, knowing if he let something slip, Kaname would get concerned and stop before he should. Telling him the bite would hardly hurt probably would've helped before he did it, he mind supplied, and he sent it a mental shrug. If he'd done that, it was most likely Kaname would've asked if he'd be affected in other ways, and if he answered that…

"N…" It was hard keeping his voice to himself, however. Considering his rose was sensitive enough as it was with skin on skin contact, having his Owner's mouth sucking at it, his tongue, wet and hot, lapping at it too…

It was…doing things to his mind. Forcing his breath to slow, he tried to scowl. Damn it, Seiji hadn't said anything about this! Raiga too, for that matter, though his sly grin should've been a sign…

"Nope, no pain, it'll be just fine~!"

Those two…

A particularly harsh nip against his mark had him tensing, his lips quivering against his wrist. "Hahn—"

"Zero…"

"No…! Ka, na—" He could only shake his head, trying to keep his Owner's face at his thigh.

"Zero, it's harder for me to ignore this," he easily took Zero's hand from his hair to nuzzle against the growing length in front of him, only separated by a thin layer of cloth, "than it is to keep going."

Healing the bite wounds, he tried to nip his way up when Zero's hand came to intervene once again.

"Please, um, please tell me how to, to," Zero gestured, cheeks bright red, "to stop it. I don't…want…you should focus on getting better, not…this…" He turned his face away, unable to continue for fear of his head exploding.

"But," Kaname tilted his head, "the best way to 'stop it' is to come, Zero."

Zero stubbornly shook his head, "It's not that bad, I could…if you tell me…"

"Is that so?" Kaname sat up and casually stroked the younger boy. Taking in the whimpering shudder that resulted from his actions had him raising a brow. "Truly?"

"Kaname…" Zero sent him a disgruntled glare. The pureblood merely smiled.

Zero pursed his lips, lifted his unbitten leg, and proceeded to press his socked foot against his Keeper's crotch.

Kaname nearly doubled over, grabbing hold of Zero's knee. Looking up to send his boy a scolding glare, he paused.

Wide lilac eyes, bright from unshed tears, stared helplessly up at him from under long dark lashes.

"Please, Kaname? Or I'll…" And the foot pressed harder yet against his groin. "Please?"

How his little one managed to make such a threat sound…inviting, Kaname liked to know, but settled for cursing out the nameless mentor Zero must have had to learn these things from.

"You will take your foot off," he said evenly, "and I will help you."

"Mm," Zero hummed contentedly, eyes already suspiciously dry, taking his foot back. Sitting up, he let Kaname guide him onto his lap, straddling his thighs comfortably. "So what do I do?" He asked with all the curiosity a student would hold for a new subject.

The pureblood chuckled softly, his hand gentle as it rubbed small circles at his lower back. "Think of something that doesn't work to arouse you."

"What things are those?"

"Does anything disgust you, particularly?"

"…Some of the older vampires…?"

Trying not to think about why Zero would've had reason to dislike older vampires, Kaname nodded. "That is just as well. Now…imagine them in a dress."

"Why?"

"Pink with frills and an absolutely ghastly design." This was working to keep his own arousal down, mentally pushing aside the temptingly disheveled figure in front of him.

"That is…" Zero made a face. "Disgusting, yes."

"Keep that in mind. Do you feel yourself becoming more level?" He certainly was. There was nothing more horrendous.

"Mm…" Zero tilted his head. "…I think so." He shifted slightly. "Yes." He laughed lightly. "Thank you Kaname."

Unable to keep from smiling back, the pureblood held in a sigh. It wasn't as though Zero was thanking him for telling him this because he disliked him. He was simply worried about Kaname overtaxing himself.

It's hardly overtaxing when I'm enjoying it so thoroughly… But he supposed things like this could be done at another time, when everything wasn't so chaotic.

"Kaname, the car should be here soon."

"Indeed."

Another time, yes, but preferably not too far off.

Thank you for reading! :D I was about to add in a bit with Takuma, but thought it'd be kinda random, and left it out, haha.