Chapter Twelve: Scent
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. - Mark Twain
They held each other even closer. Their twisted survival instincts of not protecting themselves were strangely complementary. As flaring of purebred lungs stole the warmth from the air, every bright, hopeful moment the discovered pair had relished seemed lost to their fears...
With mutual loathing palpable in the very air surrounding them, the inevitable standoff commenced.
"Return my fiancé to me at once Kiryuu," Kaname spat, "Just because she is too weak to fight you, you cannot assume her to be consenting. Yuuki, come"
She stiffened, moving so slightly as to be only noticed by his arm around her. Terror struck as the possibility of her denying their involvement dawned upon him. He wanted to jump in, to answer for her, stick up for them both, but as always when the risk of shaming her arose, he held his tongue. What if she truly didn't want him anymore?... What if this was just an adventure, an affair caused by the cold feet of a long term relationship?... What if... what if... what if...
Like a dog... a pet that has strayed, distracted by a worthless event. That was how he saw her... saw them... She stiffened. Any lingering illusions over Kaname's treatment of her dissipated. They could not be friends... or even enemies... without it hurting Zero... she could put up with snide glances and passive aggressive insults directed at herself... but the hatred of the way that... that... creature in front of her referred to the man she loved made her want to slap his arrogant presumptuous face. She started forward slightly, but held herself in check.
Zero stiffened and clutched Yuuki imperceptibly closer subconsciously. Risking taking her eyes off the known enemy to sneak a glance at Zero's harrowed face she saw that he too was holding back something... needing something... unsure of himself.
"Don't worry," He smirked misreading her reaction "He won't dare to damage you. If he lets go of you immediately I will even consider killing him quickly..."
Fear was quickly becoming the kindling... enhancing the speed at which the fire of anger could be inflamed. Stoked by the utter lack of kindness and sparks of insulting barbs. The soft breaths of his "victorious villain" esque monologue fuelled their emotions.
Beginning to sense their lack of acquiescence, Kaname seemed to become taller, his body language became more aggressive. The couple drew apart slightly, though maintaining tightly clutched hands. They looked at each other just long enough for her to clasp his hand a fraction tighter, and to exchange a flicker of a smile.
Infuriated by their seemingly silent communication Kaname began to narrow the distance between them with a few sharp strides, slowing just before reaching arm distance. Losing control over his usual facade.
"Ungrateful little bitch... I watched over you, saved you, fed you, and housed you! And how do you repay my generosity? Disobedience and consorting with barbaric fools! Not once did you pay me the respect due to the master of your house, thank me! And yet you stand there ignorantly believing in my ability to share my forgiveness with you as well, why else could you be stupid enough to stand there assuming you will be allowed to live. Allowed by me just as I allowed this filth to be around you for the remainder of his pitiful existence."
Zero muttered to Yuuki.
"I'm sorry to have had such unreasonable expectations of intelligence from such a thankless, powerless, slut."
Yuuki stood tiptoed to whisper something to Zero in reply.
They smiled...
Time slowed almost to a standstill...
Clarity from fear and apprehension poured over them like molten glass...
Zero released Yuuki's hand and spoke clearly for all to hear...
"Love you. ...My Yuuki."
"Your Yuuki... I like that..." she smiled "I love you too."
Further enraged Kaname lunged forwards, seizing Zero's left arm with an iron grip. Twisting to the side Zero punched with his free hand, once... twice... into his enemy's stomach forcing him to let go and double over in pain. Fingernails suddenly like overgrown talons, with all the malice of his centuries of life he slashed the offending arm as it reached for metal warmed by body-heat and fury. Drawing back in an attempt to line up a likely shot was cut short by a well aimed kick. Stumbling, he fell prey to supernatural speed as blood dripped into one of his eyes from a long but shallow cut.
"Zero...?" Yuuki prepared to jump into the fray with all the combat ability she could muster.
"Its fine." Zero assured her as the two men struggled body to body... one... two... shots rang out into the air, manoeuvring downward, a third shot with a fleshy thud... staggering... a fourth... with the crack of bones and sickening wetness, the fifth and final... hollow and drawn out... the thump of two bodies hitting the ground.
She knelt at her loves side, shocked by his dismissal of his somewhat lacking amount of toes, as he handed her the bloody rose with a pain tinged look of triumph. She walked hesitantly over to Kaname's vanquished form, and the sparkles of rising dust emanating from the gaping hole where his heart should be. He gurgled indistinguishably as she rolled him with her foot so they were face to face. The source of his muteness revealed to be a missing lower jaw, he struggled enraged by the sight of the gun in her hand. Smiling, she raised the muzzle of the gun to his forehead at point blank range.
"I forgive you."
...
BANG