A/N: Hey guys, I hope this is a bit better than the original chapter 3. I've tried to make Kaname and Zero's actions more age appropriate (something a guest review made me realise that they weren't in the original) .The original chapter 3 content will probably be used in a later chapter when the boys are a bit older, I love that 'scene' too much to delete it completely.

Thank you to everyone who followed, favourited and reviewed this fic. You guys are great, I always love posting for this story because you guys are all so nice and encouraging(I came to appreciate this so much more yesterday when I got a crappy troll review on another fic) so I just wanted to say a massive thanks to you all!

Sorry for the rambling, I'm done now I promise. So enjoy!

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The night of Takeshi Kiryuu's somewhat triumphant return to Kuran Manor ended like any other; with the family congregated in the vast drawing room. Takeshi and Haruka sat together, opposite the fire, deep in heated conversation. Haruka was worried, very worried. Takeshi had returned with, what Haruka considered as, major news. A threat was coming, all the seers had predicted it, and Haruka was afraid. Takeshi however held a completely different view.

"Oh come on Haru, its nothing! We're the strongest purebloods around, who the hell is going to attack us!" Takeshi implored, the glass in his hand swaying dangerously as the effects of the scotch became more apparent. Haruka was unconvinced. After all, purebloods had been killed before. It was uncommon but it still happened.

Takeshi eyed his friends profile, his alcohol addled mind working slightly slower than usual. He noted the frown on Haruka's face, the clench of his hands where they rested in his lap and huffed. "Okay, then, Haruka. Fine." Takeshi mumbled, sitting up slightly straighter and shaking his head in an attempt to clear the light haze that clouded his senses. "What do you suggest we do? The seers can only 'see' so much, you know. There shit-all we can do if we don't know what the nature of the so-called attack is going to be!"

Haruka sighed and leaned his head back against the chair back. As much as he hated to admit it, for all intents and purposes, Takeshi was right. There was very little they could do if they didn't know what the threat against them was, but they could do something. If not to protect themselves then to ensure the safety of the children. "We need to start training Taka, the boys must to know how to defend themselves. They're old enough now, don't you think?" Haruka questioned.

Takeshi hummed thoughtfully, taking another sip from his drink. Haruka had a fair point, he was barely older than the boys when he began training with his father. But Takeshi was apprehensive, he didn't want his children, or young Kaname for that matter, to learn to rely on violence rather than debate or discussion. Yes, believe it or not Takeshi Kiryuu the generally loud and uncouth President of the Hunters Association didn't always think violence was the answer. He just thought it the better idea most of the time. "Okay" Takeshi agreed slowly, doubt evident in his voice. "We start tomorrow"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Meanwhile, across the room, the Kiryuu heir was just truly waking up from his post-after dinner story nap. The silverette stretched languidly, curling then uncurling his fingers and toes. Zero raised his little fists and rubbed at his bleary eyes, nodding along as Kaname tried once again to explain the rules of chess, or was it back gammon. Either way Zero wasn't actually listening. Instead he was indulging in one of his favourite past times ; trying to count all the different shades of brown in Kaname's hair, there had to be hundreds Zero mused. There were reddish mahogany browns and light sandy browns and deep coffee browns, even some browns that were so dark they looked black. Zero counted off all the colours he found, naming each in his head. It wouldn't take long for Kaname to realise he wasn't listening Zero thought during a lull in colour discovery.

His thoughts proved prophetic as, moments later, Kaname tapped lightly on Zero's nose with his index finger and smiled. "Zero dearest, as much as I love explaining the rules of snooker, it would be a lot nicer if you were actually listening to me" Kaname smiled self-deprecatingly as he stared into Zero's amethyst depths. The silver-haired boy blushed lightly, dropping his eyes to the loveseat, picking at the threads beneath his fingers. Zero sniffled quietly, bringing one hand up to rub his nose as he waited for Kaname to respond. Kaname sighed, much like his father had been in the habit of doing as of late, and drew the silver-haired boy into his arms. Zero burrowed deeper into Kaname's embrace, smiling into the older boys chest.

They stayed in that position for several minutes , until Zero's boredom proved too great to be ignored and he swivelled around to observe the room. The silverette wriggled his way to the floor and straightened his yukata like Kaname taught him to, Kana says it's always important to look your best Zero reminded himself. He turned ,grinning widely, to look up at Kaname who raised his eyebrow sceptically but followed Zero down to the floor nonetheless. Landing gracefully on the hardwood floor, Kaname looked to Zero who had drifted towards the portraits on the far wall.

He felt a warmth spread through him as he watched Zero squint determinedly at the plaques beneath the portraits, obviously trying his damndest to figure out how to pronounce the names of the Kuran ancestors. The young Kuran smiled affectionately as he approached his little silverette. Zero sensed Kaname's aura drawing nearer and looked over his shoulder at the brunette, holding his right hand out to the other boy in invitation.

Kaname took Zero's hand into his own, causing the blush to intensify in the hunter's already rosy cheeks. The boys walked quietly down the row of paintings hands swaying between them, the portraits progressing down the generations as they moved away from the fireplace. They slowly came to a stop before the two newest pictures; the second was of little interest to the boys, smaller than the first, it was merely a Kuran family portrait from a few months before Yuuki was born.

The first however captured Zero's attention, it was one of the largest depictions on the wall and was framed in shining gold. However, it was not the size nor the frame that caught Zero's attention but the people in the picture; they looked so happy. He wanted that when he was a grownup he decided, with a determination reserved only for the young. His face scrunched up as he pondered what his wedding would be like, putting himself in the place of people in the portrait. "My wedding is going to be the best Kana!" he declared confidently, a wide grin plastered to his face.

"Oh really, Zero-chan" Kaname gave Zero a small smile "And who precisely are you going to be marrying in this wondrous wedding of yours? Seeing as how you have it all planned out and all"

Zero paused, his eyebrows knitted together as he thought for a moment. He looked up quickly capturing Kaname's vermillion eyes with his own. "Hmm...I don't know Kana. I 'spose I'll find out when I'm bigger" he declared, smile returning to his face. Turning on his heel, intent on continuing down the row. But Kaname had frozen, panicked, that wasn't right. Zero was his little hunter not someone else's. Someone else could hurt him, they wouldn't understand Zero like Kaname did. No,no,no. He had to do something, the question was; what?

Zero noticed Kaname's stillness and turned back the brunette, thoroughly prepared to tease his companion mercilessly, only to find the other boy deep in thought. This concerned the silverette to no end, after all Kaname only ever thought that deeply in two situations.

Option one was that he had some plan or devious scheme, which was all well and good until it was discovered and Zero got half the blame.

Option two, bothered Zero much more. Option two was that Kaname was unsure or nervous about something, a deeply unsettling notion to the little hunter. Kaname, as well as being the brains of their duo, was Zero's rock and moral compass. If Kaname was hesitant about something then the silverette was more than likely to be completely lost in relation to the issue.

Zero tugged lightly on their entwined hands, breaking Kaname out of his revere. Releasing Kaname's hand Zero swivelled to face him fully. The brunette's eyes snapped up to meet those of the hunter who merely arched one eyebrow, silently questioning the older boy. Kaname tucked his flowing chocolate hair behind his ear with one hand. His other hand automatically swept down the side of his jacket dislodging the petal caught there. And then it hit him, of course!

He had the answer.