A/n: Its still going... for a while yet lol I only originally planned 5 chapters... and im only halfway through the content of those planned chapters... The epic tale continues *Dun dun duuuun*

Chapter Ten: Discovery

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. - Helen Keller

What seemed like an eternity to the two lovers was in reality a very short amount of time. Shouts and crashing in the distance alerted them to the fact Zero's path of rampant destruction through the underground network had been discovered. Although the various detection charms and vampiric wards hiding the buildings existence severely dampened the guards ability to detect where the intruder was headed, they could guess quite easily. To be sure, Kain and Ruka sent the low ranking guards to follow the trail of rubble, and headed towards Yuuki's room.

Zero lifted himself slowly as the shouts met their ears, held up by one arm, he cupped her cheek and noticed partially dried tears. Panic swirled within him, had he forced her! He thought... she seemed... he didnt...

"Yuuki...! what have I done?"

He wanted to die, he had to die... he had always considered himself a filthy beast, not worthy of her... this proved it... the worst thing he could do... All the joy and wonder of the last few minutes suddendly seemed vile and dirty... Horrible... Terrible... he had... to her... Forcibly...

Yuuki saw the self loathing in his eyes, realising his train of thought she desperately tried to get his attention.

"Zero! ZERO! look at me! No! you didnt..." she turned him to face her, begging with him. He was closing his eyes to avoid looking at the hurt he must have caused her... "Look at me!" Despite his horrible guilt, he couldnt refuse her... He looked at her. She was drowning in the despair in his eyes... swallowing her embarassment over discussing what had just transpired between them, she kissed him. Long, slow and sweet, before she began. "Zero... How could you think...? I wanted to... I wanted you.. to... with me..." she blushed, wanting to look away, but she knew it would break him if she did. She saw a flicker of hope in his eyes that was quickly pushed aside by fear and doubt.

"You were crying..." He whispered huskily, brushing the tear marks aside with his thumb... hardly daring to believe her.

"Yes I was... It wasnt because you were... you could never do that... I dont believe for a second that you would... I was crying. Happy tears Zero, I felt so... loved... wanted... It feels so right... Like things could never be bad again as long as I had you, here, with me."

Zero began to smile slightly... endorphins starting to win the war against his unreasonable fear.
"Thats my Zero..." She whispered to herself, pulling him down on her once more. Hugging away his fear as she stroked his hair like when they were young...

He relaxed under her touch as he always did... he was so glad the he didnt...that she did... He slowly inhaled the soft scent of her skin... smiling into her neck over his incredible luck...
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, before the crashing sounds were becoming too much louder to ignore... Dissapointed that the perfect little world they had created on the bed was about to be destroyed, Zero eased himself off her, and offered his hand to her, pulling her to her feet.

"Umm... maybe you should... change..." He gestured at the stained, ripped, rumpled clothing she was holding to her chest to cover herself.

"Yeah..." Yuuki looked at herself and started to giggle uncontrollably...
"Yuuki..." Zero said, getting serious now.
"I know, I know..." she said winding down, "But...for a minute... I didnt even notice the state im in..." she started up again.
He looked at her standing there, laughing despite being in iminent danger, facing god knows how many guards, not to mention what would happen when Kaname found out... That was his Yuuki... How could he have ever thought she wasnt...

...

"Wait... I think I hear something..." lied Kain, holding Ruka back from entering the room.
"I can sense someone in there Kain, let me in!" she stage whispered, frustrated at her lack of ability to get past him. Kaname would kill them if they let somebody get to his stupid little "Wife". "She could be in danger DAMMIT let me in!"
"She's not." Kain said simply. "I can tell who's in there and they wont thank us for barging in right now."
Poleaxed by this statement, she resigned herself to waiting just one more minute.

...

Zero handed her a simple dress, and insisted on turning his back on her while she changed. She shook her head at his sillyness and snuck glances at him over her shoulder as they both redressed. His awkward stance now that he wasnt emboldened by the fear of losing her amused her to no end. They could both feel the presence of two vampires outside the door, and were undecided on their course of action.

Decent, Zero jerked his head towards the rubble, asking if they should go the way that had weaker, but more guards, then raised his eyebrows towards the main door. Yuuki shook her head and sat down, hands folded in her lap. Confused and frustrated he hissed at her...

"What now?"
"Were ready!" she raised her voice towards the door, making no effort to be quiet.
Glaring at her, Zero assumed a fighting stance, Bloody Rose ready at his side, facing the door that opened to reveal a moody Ruka and bored-as-usual Kain. Ruka surveyed the room, her face turned from annoyed to shocked as she took in Zero, the damaged room, and the blood-and-a-few-other-things stained dress on the floor.

"Yoh." Kain said with a slight wave of one hand, silencing Ruka's inevitable outburst with the other.
"Hey..." answered Zero.
"So... you guys... together huh?" Kain commented as Yuuki moved to stand behind Zero, latching on to his free hand. Zero flicked a glance towards her, she squeezed his hand, and he focused on Kain again.
"Yeah."
Both Zero and Yuuki would swear later that they heard him mutter "About bloody time" before he continued.
"We are here to prevent any harm from coming to you, Yuuki-Sama."
"Yes, but...!"
"Kaname-Sama would be very displeased with us if we allowed you to leave."
"Yes, but...!"
"Least of all with Kiryuu-kun."
"YES, I know! But..!"
"We cant disobey the direct orders of a pureblood."

Yuuki looked mildly confused for a minute, feeling like she was missing something.
"Uhm..."
"Yuuki-sama, We have not been ordered to keep you here, only to keep you safe. Do you understand?"
"Uhm..." she blushed, "...not really no."
Dragging his hand down his face in exasperation, Kain looked at Zero. Realising that he was trying to help, and the lack of danger posed by them, Zero lowered his gun.
"What hes trying not to say is, if you told him to let us go he'd technically have to comply Yuuki." Zero squeezed her hand back, "As long as you think you will be safe with me." He risked taking his eyes off the two nobles to look at her.

Ruka, finally freeing herself from Kain's restraining hand/arm, shot him a venomous glare and started towards the couple.
"You cannot do this to Kaname-Sama! He has been nothing but kind to you! He loves you!" Ruka spat her words at them, "Indulging your childish whims if possible. You owe him."
"Would you rather she stayed here with him, not loving him. Leading him on? Theres a reason destined vampire couples stay together so long. If its real, only their partners blood can quench their thirst." Kain monotoned, picking up a hunk of rubble and crushing it to dust with his hand. The others looked at him as though he had grown horns. "What." He retaliated.
Ruka hesitated, images of her comforting Kaname flashed through her mind. That moment of hesitation was as good as her agreement to the rest of them.

"Kain-kun!" Yuuki attempted to sound imposing, smothering a smile, Kain knelt, hand over his heart.
"Yes, Yuuki-sama."
"I want you to..."
"Order him to, order."
"Uhm yes, I order you to let me pass. I am not in danger, and I order you not to follow me... us."
Kain and Zero nodded approval, Ruka ignored them all, lost in her imagination. The Yuuki ruined it all by adding with a smile:
"Thank you! Kain-sempai"

Opening the double doors and with a hint of mocking, bowing them out, they made a silent farewell. Letting Yuuki get a little ahead of him Zero turned back to the nobleman.
"Your actually not that bad," Zero smirked, "For a vampire."
Knowing this was the most open declaration of thanks and friendship Zero could muster given their standings, Kain smiled.
"You too... for a hunter."

Zero caught up to Yuuki as the door clicked closed behind them, plunging the hallway into darkness. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her onwards.

"Lets go, Yuuki."

...