Disclaimer: I do not own VK. All rights belong to Matsuri Hino.

Warnings: This is yaoi.

Author's Notes: This is a work-in-progress, and I hope to finish this one day. I hope you've enjoyed it so far. Please feel free to leave comments!

Preview Line: "And the first words that fell from Kaname's lips gutted Aido like a butcher's knife."

The Stained Marble

Chapter Ten

Ruined

"Welcome back, Lord Kaname," Yuuki chirped before even Takuma could properly greet Kaname at the Academy's gates.

Aido gritted his teeth, glaring at the tiny girl who constantly messed up his life. Why was she even here, greeting Kaname upon his arrival back from his two-week "business" trip? Aido and the rest of the Night Class had lined up near the Academy's gates to welcome Kaname back from his long "business" trip, and somehow, the disciplinary committee members, Yuuki and Zero, had ended up in front of the gates, closer to Kaname than even the rest of the Night Class. Aido wanted to rush forward, clutch Yuuki's frail arm, and tell her she had no right to be next to Kaname. But Aido knew it wasn't the idiot girl's fault for his own jealous thoughts, which were suddenly interrupted as Kaname tenderly turned to Yuuki and addressed her.

"Thank you, Yuuki. I'm glad to be back. I brought you a gift," Kaname said and reached out to gently place a shiny object in her small hands.

Yuuki squinted, trying to study the strange object.

"It's a rare rose encased in resin. It blooms once every ten years," Kaname said, his voice sweet and silky like rose petals gliding across smooth skin. "Yuuki," Kaname, continued, his voice turning serious. "I need to speak with you later. Please come see me as soon as possible."

Yuuki's big brown eyes shot up, looking into Kaname's, and a slight pink flushed across her cheeks. "Um…okay. Thank you, Kaname," she said and hugged the encased rose to her chest.

Kaname smiled lovingly one last time, almost hesitant to leave, but then finally turned from her, and in the process, brushed past Zero. For a brief moment, Aido's heart quickened. Aido's marks had already healed on Zero's neck, but with Kaname's pureblood powers, he had no doubt Kaname could detect Aido's scent still lingering on Zero.

However, Kaname only glanced as he passed Zero, and Zero returned the glare. Aido's heart calmed for a minute, but then he realized Kaname was drawing closer to where he stood. Would Kaname stop and say anything to him? Did Aido even want him to?

For an instant, Aido's eyes darted back towards Zero, but Zero was already placing his arm around Yuuki and walking back in the direction of the Sun dorms. Again, Aido's eyes focused on that arm wrapped around Yuuki. What had he been thinking getting involved with Zero?

"Hello, Hanabusa." Kaname's sensual voice drifted from Aido's left side, snapping his thoughts back to the present. "Aren't you going to welcome me back?"

Aido looked around and noticed the rest of the Night Class was already gathered behind Kaname and moving towards the Moon dorms, but Aido was still standing in the same spot, staring after Zero. Aido seriously had to get his act together.

"Y-yes!" Aido choked out. "Welcome back, Lord Kaname."

He felt an embarrassing flush warm his cheeks, but he ignored it and moved to join the rest of the Night Class. Kaname only gave him a knowing half-smirk, then turned away, and started to lead the group towards the Moon dorms. Aido sighed silently to himself, glad to have avoided Kaname's harsh interrogation, and began walking next to Kain and Seiren.

However, Kain seemed to think Kaname was still upset with Aido's behavior and proceeded to apologize for his behavior, explaining that over the past few weeks in Kaname's absence Aido hadn't been himself. He wanted to shout at Kain and tell him to shut up, that he was just making it worse, but that in turn would also make it worse.

Of course, it was at that exact moment that Ruka decided to give her two cents regarding Aido's behavior.

"It was probably because he missed Lord Kaname so much," Ruka added and muffled her condescending laughter.

"Shut up, Ruka!" Aido burst. "You were just as unpleasant to be around while Kaname was gone!"

Kaname paused at the front door to the Moon dorms. "Oh, so you did miss me?"

Aido could feel his cheeks flaming beat red as he realized he'd just admitted he'd missed Kaname. Of course, Kaname already knew this, so Aido huffed, obviously pouting at Kaname's teasing ways. But Kaname just opened the door and everyone ignored Aido's tantrum and filed inside.

Aido was the last one to walk in, but he had every intention of storming straight up the stairs and into his bed. Kaname had come back late, or rather early, from his long trip, and the sun was already starting to rise. Yet, just as Aido reached to top of the staircase, Kaname blocked his path and swiftly grabbed his wrist.

"Come to my room, Hanabusa," he said, but his voice seemed unusually dull, almost sad.

Aido gulped. Takuma and Senri were still downstairs in the sitting room, and Aido knew they'd heard Kaname order him into his room. Did Kaname not care anymore about their relationship being a secret? Or was he about to punish him for what he'd done with Zero? Or perhaps, Kaname was just so stressed from his trip that he didn't care and needed Aido as a release? Either way, he thought all possibilities sounded bad, even the last one since Kaname would just be using him.

He didn't like the cold feeling from Kaname's hand, or the emotionless gaze as Kaname led him down the hallway. What had happened to Kaname during this so-called "business" trip?

Kaname opened his door and led Aido inside, but instead of sitting on his bed, he led him over to the small desk with two wooden chairs near the window.

"Have a seat, Hanabusa," Kaname said and gestured to the chair across from him but avoided Aido's suspicious gaze.

Aido sat and began to nervously twirl his thumbs. Kaname sighed, leaned his elbow on the table, and ran his fingers through his silky almond hair.

"Hanabusa," Kaname began and looked up into Aido's ocean colored eyes.

Kaname's eyes were filled with regret, sorrow, and pain. Aido had always known he was a fool, but he never, in a million years, would've guessed just how big of an idiot he truly was until that moment. Kaname was breaking up with him… well, if Aido could even call it breaking up.

When Aido's eyes widened with understanding, a tiny bit of relief flooded into those darkened eyes. Welts of anger, bitterness, and utter agony wreaked havoc on Aido's insides. He wanted to scream like a girl, to pound at Kaname's chest, and cry, but somehow, all Aido could do was sit there in numb silence until finally one word tumbled from his mouth.

"Why?" Aido asked.

He had to at least know why. He deserved at least that much.

Kaname leaned back in his chair, his eyebrows furrowed as if in deep thought, or perhaps, it was pain.

And the first words that fell from Kaname's lips gutted Aido like a butcher's knife.

"I'm sorry, Hanabusa," Kaname said, but oblivious to how those simple words affected Aido, he continued. "I love both you and Yuuki. I didn't expect to fall in love with you as well, but right now, I have to protect her at all costs. Tomorrow, I'll announce that Yuuki is my lover."

"What?" Aido cried and tried to process Kaname's last statement. "What does that even mean?"

"I wanted you to be the first to know because I honestly care about you. I don't want you to think I'm doing this to purposely hurt you," Kaname said and tried to reach across the table for Aido's hand.

Aido quickly tore his hand away from Kaname's grasp and saw the visible flinch cross Kaname's face. Good, he thought. That bastard deserved to be as hurt. Still, looking at Kaname's pained face didn't make Aido feel any better.

Aido scooted out the chair and stood up. He couldn't sit still anymore. He felt like he was suffocating and staring at Kaname wasn't helping. He decided to pace, avoiding Kaname's hurtful gaze and keeping his distance at the same time.

"Then why?" Aido demanded, when he finally regained his composure and his breathing seemed somewhat stable again. "Why are you doing this? You say you love me and care about me, yet you also love Yuuki. How am I supposed to be with you then?"

By the time Aido finished asking his last question, what little control he'd gained seemed to shatter before him as his body shook from fear and uncertainty. He was on the verge of hysterics.

The shield he'd so wonderfully built around his heart while Kaname had been away for two weeks was suddenly ripped apart. But now that Kaname was standing right in front of him, throwing him away, and choosing Yuuki over him, he realized he'd never really had a shield to begin with; that had just been an illusion. Because now, the pain was a thousand times worse, consuming him, squeezing him, drowning him, and pulling him down, down, down.

Kaname was beside him in a blink of an eye, wrapping his slender, yet strong pureblood arms around his convulsing shoulders tightly. Aido buried his face against that familiar scent and warmth and let his tears flow. He didn't want this warmth to ever disappear. He didn't want these arms to ever stop embracing him.

Why? Why did Yuuki have to ruin everything for him?

"Shh. Hanabusa, it'll be all right. I'll still be here for you. We just can't be lovers anymore," Kaname said and tried to console Aido by softly stroking his golden hair.

Aido pushed back against Kaname's chest, stunned. He looked up into Kaname's chocolate colored eyes. "Why not?" he sulked.

Kaname exhaled heavily. "Because Yuuki will need me more. I'm sorry, but you know, Hanabusa, it's not exactly like you've been completely faithful to me, now is it?" Kaname purred and arched one eyebrow inquisitively.

Aido's jaw dropped, having forgotten the whole Zero incident.

"I-I…" Aido stammered and felt himself flush at the memory of that encounter. Then again, he remembered what had triggered those events.

"It was your fault!" Aido yelled, perhaps a bit too loud because Kaname released Aido's shoulders and stared at him wide-eyed.

"You left after having just fed me your blood," Aido ranted on. "Did you think there'd be no consequences? The bloodlust overcame me within a week and I almost sank to a Level E, if not for Zero. He let me drink his blood," Aido finished and tried not to think about how delicious that blood tasted as it melted down his parched throat.

"I see," Kaname said calmly, turned from Aido, and walked over to the window where the rising sun's rays poked through the velvety curtains.

Aido clenched his fists and tried to bite back his anger. Was that all the bastard had to say? "I see." He'd been through hell and back and it was all thanks to Kaname, but Kaname didn't even care. And to top it off, Kaname was even throwing him away.

Still, beyond that blinding rage, Aido could feel his wounded and bleeding heart. He didn't want to deal with it because if he did, he knew he'd fall to pieces and he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to get back up again.

So Aido held onto that rage as best he could and decided to leave Kaname's room. It didn't seem there was anything else to say, but as Aido reached the door, Kaname's voice stopped him.

"Hanabusa," Kaname said, "I don't care if you continue to use Zero for sex and blood, but don't fall in love with him. Remember that your heart belongs to me. I know… you will never leave me," he said, tilted his head, and gave Aido a seductive, yet charming smile.

Any anger Aido had been holding on to was instantly snatched away, and his heart throbbed and yearned for Kaname. Damn it!

Reluctantly, Aido forced his eyes to turn from Kaname's dangerous gaze. He opened the door and stomped out into the hallway. However, once he was out in the hallway, the full weight of what had just transpired came crashing down on him like a ton of bricks.

Aido couldn't think straight. Why was Kaname doing this to him now? He'd assumed he would have more time with Kaname as his lover, but that had turned out to be a foolish dream indeed. He felt even more idiotic for not seeing this coming. He had known all along that he was just a damn replacement; even Kaname had told him so. So, why hadn't he listened?

In a daze, Aido found himself walking past his room and down the staircase. His vision was already slightly blurred, but he didn't really know where he was going, just that he had to get far away from Kaname. It hurt to be near him and to know that he could no longer have him. He could no longer touch him, no longer have those fangs sink into him, no longer have his wonderful hands touch him, no longer, no longer, no longer.

Aido opened the Moon doors, and the morning light was blinding against his vampire scenes. Yet, his mind was a fogged mess and the light barely bothered him as he stumbled and fumbled through the Academy grounds.

When Aido's black shoes clicked against solid concrete, he lifted his head, and to his surprise, he found himself in front of the Sun dorms. Aido realized he was on the men's side of the dorms and near Zero's room.

When he thought about his alternative options, and even possibly going back to the Moon dorm, he bravely took a step forward and entered the Sun dorm. He checked down the hallways, and thankfully, it appeared all the students were still asleep.

He'd never visited Zero's room before, but Aido could already smell him. His delicious scent wafted out from the third door on the right. He walked down the hallway, stopped in front of the door, and listened as his heart raced nervously inside his chest.

Aido wasn't sure why he was here in front of Zero's door, except he didn't want to go back to the Moon dorms, and… Kaname had hurt him deeply. A part of him knew he wanted to be comforted by Zero, but another part of him stubbornly insisted that wasn't why he'd come.

No. He'd only come because he really had nowhere else to go right now, and yes, he wanted to see Zero. He needed to see Zero.

Aido raised his fist and knocked.