Chapter 3.
Warnings: None that I know of except for profanity up the ass.
Pairing: You should know by now.
Staring across the room in evident shock, Zero forgot how to breathe. His body planted firmly in place as the world around him fell apart, ice coiling over his loudly thumping heart.
Ba-bump.
He just knew the entire room could hear it. Yet his gaze on the unwelcomed guest didn't waver, sweat beginning to bead over his sickly pale skin with every detail he took in of his enemy's face. He hadn't even realized it when his mouth parted, a soft whisper tumbling over his trembling lips. "Kaname…"
It hurt. It hurt so goddamn much. The other occupants in the room must have noticed, because the place was heavy with silence. Tension thick in the air.
Cherry-laced orbs met his and the owner of those deceivingly beautiful eyes smirked. He fucking smirked! As if struck by a physical blow, Zero's world abruptly came back into focus, clear and untouched. What the heck was he doing?! He wouldn't cower because of that monster that had ruined his life; he wasn't a crushed boy with his heart on his sleeve anymore! He was a man who could kill without hesitation, a person feared by both hunters and vampires! He would not make a fool of himself, not anymore. The pain he felt so horribly moments ago shimmered down into a much more recognizable emotion in his chest; Hate.
Clenching his fists with a straining anger, Zero tore his gaze away from Kaname. Though he could still feel that man's eyes studying him intently. "What the hell is Kuran doing here?" His penetrating gaze was now on his new target, Kaien Cross. Watching the way his adoptive father flinched when his voice slithered out in overly calm waves. "I don't want some dumbass excuse either, I've wasted enough time as it is. I should be writing out the report on the mission I just finished, but instead I'm here under the impression this was a serious meeting. Now spill it, I don't wish to stay in the same room as this bloodsucker any longer than necessary."
He immediately noted the way Kuran's aura flared in annoyance at his last statement. In consequence, the other auras that had previously evaded his sharp senses became detected. So Kuran had been suppressing them, along with his own. Tch, this was planned.
"Kiryu-kun, I know you and Kaname-kun don't exactly see eye to eye," The chairman diverted his attention away from the thorny eyes tearing his soul apart piece by piece. Chuckling, albeit nervously. "But, this is actually very serious."
"Then get on with it." Zero ground out, not moving from his spot in front of the door. The livid hunter was technically forcing Kaito to stay within the doorway.
Kaien noticed this with a pout. "Kiryu-kun," He started professionally, his hand gesturing to a seat. "At least sit down so we can talk about this properly."
A heavy glower was all Zero granted the dirty blonde, stubbornly staying where he was. He didn't care if he had to stand there all day, he would not sit down and inevitably bring himself further into the area. Not when that bastard was so close to him. Kaname's scent was heavy in the air, plugging up Zero's nostrils with its heavenly scent. Yes, he needed to stay as far away as possible while being alert. He didn't need to have a breakdown or a rush of bloodlust…not when in the presence of his ex-lover… he was a good little tool after all. The ex-human moved to lean back against a wall, his eyes becoming hidden behind his fringe.
Kaito took the opportunity to slip into the room, taking a seat beside Yagari.
Realizing Zero wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, the chairman relented. Zero was as stubborn as an ox. "Well I called you all here because this isn't an ordinary meeting; you're all here for a mission. Likewise, this mission is far from ordinary as well. We're being ordered to protect the Kurans with our lives." Toga and Kaito opened their mouth in protest at the same time. The eldest hunter there quickly cut them off. "This isn't a mission you can refuse; this is a direct order."
Kaname and Kaien exchanged looks before nodding simultaneously. Zero watched them through his bangs the entire time. "Kaname-kun, you can explain the rest."
"Alright, thank you Cross." Not wasting any time, Kaname slipped into his nature as a leader figure. The pureblood's demeanor strict and foreboding, challenging anyone to question him. "This call of security wasn't something born from an insignificant reason. I've requested the help from the entire hunter association, with little trade-offs being settled recently, it has been decided that you four shall be the ones most obligated to protect the Kuran manor and Yuuki."
"Why exactly are we the ones being assigned to help beasts like you?" Kaito asked mockingly, his physique showing just how much this assignment ticked him off.
Kaname didn't seem to like the brunette's attitude, the lights flickering as raw power rifted throughout the room. Titling his head gracefully to the side, Kaname rested his chin lightly upon his fingers. "I assure you, Takamiya, you wouldn't have been my first choice either. However, I was not the one to choose." An unfriendly smirk took the vampire prince in its hold. "Apparently you four are considered by many others to be elite, therefore you were the ones given the task to protect what belongs to me." Kaito visibly scowled but said nothing further.
A drag of smoke reached towards the ceiling as Toga spoke. "Alright, alright, I get it. There's no way out of this crazy shit. That doesn't answer the most important question though, what exactly are we protecting your shit from and why the hell can't you do it? I ain't doing shit till I know what exactly is goin' on."
A huff of air silently escaped the vampire at the crude way in which the hunter regarded him. If they would shut their traps for more than five seconds Kaname very well could've been done by now. "Very well. I was planning on giving the details later but if you insist I shall elaborate on them now before we head out." Kaname glanced over to Zero. "What you are protecting Yuuki and my manor's inhabitants from will most likely be an overwhelming number of level E's. The reason I say overwhelming is because someone has declared war against me. Therefore I'm inclined to believe it's another pureblood whom is already set to make the first move. The reason I cannot protect what is precious," Zero's skin turned an unhealthy shade of white, "to me is simply because I will be working on taking out the threat altogether. Now if that is the last of your questions, we should prepare to leave."
Kaien clapped his hands together, standing up in a cheery manner to cut off any more inquires. Kaname seemed grateful for the action, if his relieved globes were anything to go by. "Alright! Now that everyone seems to be on the same page, we should all go eat lunch! I haven't cooked in such a long tim—"
"So basically, we're your tools. We protect what you can't while you go off on your own like some sort of king. Tch, you haven't changed at all."
Kaname peered into disdain filled lilac hues pointed dead at him. The eyes were much like when Kaname had first met the boy, hateful and full of underlining hurt. Except this time, there was no butter knife trying to cause him harm. A pity, he would've loved to have that as an excuse to throw the silverette against a wall, invading his personal space. "I wouldn't quite consider you a tool, but if that's what you wish to be called then you may refer to yourself as such, Kiryu."
Sensing things were about to take a turn for the worst, Kaien skittered over to Zero, latching onto his arm. "Zero-kun, actually I haven't had your food in a while! Will you cook for me? Or better yet we can cook TOGETHER! It'll be father, son, bonding time!"
By the time the headmaster had stopped spatting babble; Zero had already escaped the man's grip and was long gone. Only his lavender scent remaining in the room.
Kaito was the first to react, stalking from the room in order to catch up with the fleeing male.
While Kaien just frowned gently and Yagari squinted his eyes at Kaname. "Do me a favor and get the fuck out before I pop a cap in your ass."
Zero didn't want to be the one who walked away first, he really didn't, but he just couldn't handle it anymore. Kaname's familiar face brought back feelings Zero wasn't keen on reliving. And the other hadn't changed at all! That blasted vampire was still looking as in control as ever…yet Zero… he could barely get by a day without considering suicide. Wasn't he hurt at all?!
The black-clad hunter slammed his fist into a wall, not even caring as the structure caved in beneath the force of his punch. BASTARD! Zero's heart screamed as Kaname's silky voice echoed in his head.
"I wouldn't quite consider you a tool, but if that's what you wish to be called then you may refer to yourself as such, Kiryu."
Kaname was so full of shit his eyes were brown! 'I wouldn't quite consider you a tool' Zero knew better than that, he would never forget his and Kaname's last conversation together.
Standing in the long corridors of Cross Academy was a duo of black and white, their gazes clashing heavily with each other's as they dominated the space around them. The prefect wearing the black attire had a look of betrayal and confusion on his beautiful face as he shouted at the one in white. "Why didn't you tell me Yuuki was a pureblood….I had a right to know!"
"You didn't need to know." Kaname replied smoothly as he stared down his boyfriend with indifferent eyes, his white covered sleeves not even crumpling as he ran a frustrated hand throughout his locks.
"Oh, so I didn't need to know that Yuuki was a bloodsucker like you and that she was your damn sister?! How did I NOT need to know that?!" Zero retorted.
"What she is and who she is doesn't concern you."
"That's bullshit and you know it! Yuuki's my friend! Just ..dammit! Why didn't you tell me?! Don't you trust me at all, Kaname!"
The wind blew past ruffling their hair as neither of them said a word. White and Black playing with an invisible fire. Surprisingly Zero was the one to cave first, breaking the stare down by taking an interest in the floor. It really was a pretty floor, despite how many people dragged their feet over it.
Silence weighed down heavily on Zero's shoulders.
"Kaname…" Zero whispered softly, his hands forming into fists. "Did you even care that this would hurt me?"
The answer was so instantaneous that Zero almost jumped. "Of course not. As long as Yuuki is safe, I don't care about how you feel. You've down your job as her knight, she is safe and sound now, fully awakened."
Zero felt his eyes widen. He didn't want to believe the words that just came from that dark angel's lips. Denial was a bittersweet thing. "What do you mean by that?! You don't care about me at all?"
Kaname's back was now facing him, the devil wearing a holy color falling away from his grasp. The teen couldn't comprehend the random change of events. Everything was happening too fast, way too fast. "Kaname!"
Kaname all of sudden was in front of him again, smashing him into the floor with a fluid tackle. "Shut up, Zero. You understand nothing."
Wriggling in pain, Zero snarled, baring his teeth at the love of his life. "You're right I don't! I don't even know what I was to you anymore!"
"You were a tool."
Zero's heart shattered.
Staring wide-eyed at Kaname as he began to walk away again, Zero tried to hold back something he hadn't felt in a long, long, time. Tears. "A tool…?"
Vanishing into the inky black of night, he heard Kaname murmur back in a confirming way. "A tool."
Tears stained Zero's face that night.
The hunter punched the wall again, pain wracking his form as he fought back the wetness in his eyes. He wouldn't ever allow himself to become a tool again. He swore that on his life.
Straightening out his hunched shoulders and sense of will, Zero headed out into the rain, fully intending to go hunting. If he didn't shoot something tonight, he would go insane.
His hand coiled protectively over his bloody rose as he shut the door.
He was never even aware of the two sets of eyes on him. One a pair of emeralds full of confusion and concern. The other a burgundy pair full of regret and love.
Now I heard from someone that Kaito's eyes are brown….and… well, oops. For the sake of my laziness, please pretend they're green. xD
Anyway, thanks everyone for the feedback, I hope you keep it up. It really makes my day, even more than my Xbox—and that's impressive. ;) Pft, Review and follow.