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

Warnings: This is yaoi.

Preview Line: Aido stared down, enthralled by the movements of Zero's silver head, and felt himself twitch.

The Stained Marble

Chapter Eleven

Giving In

Aido heard the loud click as Zero pulled out his Bloody Rose and aimed it at the door.

"Who's there?" Zero called grumpily.

"Zero, it's me, Hanabusa," Aido said, trying not to sound anxious, but he seriously wanted Zero to let him in before other Day Class students saw him roaming around.

Thankfully, though, Aido heard shuffling and Zero unlocked his door. The door burst open to reveal a bare-chested, ruffled-haired Zero with gray sweatpants as his only material of clothing. Aido took in Zero's messy look, and instantly, all thoughts regarding Kaname vanished. Zero truly had an amazing body, and he wanted to be wrapped up by those buff, muscular arms. But then he remembered earlier when those arms had wrapped around Yuuki. God, he was such an idiot!

"What is it?" Zero asked, sounding sleepy and somewhat irritated.

Aido opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. He didn't know what to say anymore or where to go. No one wanted him; no one needed him, not really. Both Kaname and Zero wanted Yuuki, not him!

Aido realized what a horrible mistake he'd made in coming there and turned to bolt, but Zero quickly grabbed him by his bicep.

"Hanabusa!" Zero yelled and yanked him all the way inside his room. "Geez! You come here at five in the morning, wake me up, and then say nothing! What is with you?"

But again, Aido couldn't manage a reply.

"Oh, I see," Zero said. "So, it's that sort of game, is it?"

Aido looked up a little too late and noticed Zero's violet eyes narrow deviously. Without warning, Zero shoved him onto Zero's bed.

"Ow!" Aido cried out, but he was more shocked than hurt.

"That's what you get for waking me up, but your real punishment has yet to come. Are you sure you don't want to speak up, Hanabusa?" Zero asked, his lips curling up into a half-smirk.

Aido didn't want to tell Zero about Kaname because he feared Zero would do the exact same thing to him. He knew he shouldn't have come and he really wasn't sure why he had, but now that he was here, underneath Zero's body, he couldn't seem to will himself to move.

When Aido refused to answer, Zero chuckled, and said, "Very well, then."

He began pealing off Aido's Night Class uniform, but this time, Aido gave him no help whatsoever. He lay there limply and watched as Zero slowly unbuttoned his jacket, pealed it off, and began working on his undershirt. Zero took his time, and eventually, he unsheathed a naked Aido before him.

Zero frowned when he realized Aido was flaccid. "What's wrong?" he asked, but his head was already bending down in between Aido's legs.

Aido stared down, enthralled by the movements of Zero's silver head, and felt himself twitch. Zero's hands swirled around Aido's thighs, teasing him just like before. Zero's soft lips touched the tip of Aido's member, forcing it to perk upwards and beg for more.

"Ah!" Aido cried out as Zero deliberately moved his lips away again, just as Aido's member pumped fully erect.

"What's the matter?" Zero continued in a tormenting manner. "Tell me what you want, Hanabusa. What do you want me to do?"

Aido watched as Zero hovered just above his crotch. The vampire hunter flicked out his tongue over Aido's dripping tip, sending tingles of pleasure throughout his body. He moaned and Zero curved his lips smugly.

Aido hated the way Zero looked in that moment, even though his body pulsed with heated desire. He could never voice his sexual desires to Zero, and he hated it that Zero was trying to tease him in to doing so. Why did Zero think he wanted it this way? Why was Zero being mean? Or was Aido just being oversensitive because of what had happened with Kaname?

He didn't know, but all of the sudden, tears formed at the corner of his eyes and streamed down the side of his cheeks, causing Zero to stop abruptly.

"Hanabusa, wh-what did I do? I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?" Zero asked, concern filling those violet eyes as he leaned forward close to Aido's cheek.

Aido sniffled and managed to shake his head.

Zero frowned. "Then please tell me what's wrong," he said and stroked the side of Aido's face, wiping away the few tears that had dropped.

Aido grimaced. He didn't even know where to begin. How could he tell Zero that his actions had reminded him of the pain Kaname had inflicted upon him?

But Zero clearly saw his hesitancy again. So, Zero crawled up Aido's body, positioning his body beside him and draping his arm over Aido's chest. With his other arm, Zero propped himself up on his elbow and looked lovingly into Aido's eyes. He leaned down those few extra inches without uttering a word and, softly but briefly, brushed his lips against Aido's.

Aido's eyes widened as he felt Zero's nose trail across his cheek, gently nudging and tickling. It was almost as if Zero were memorizing the texture, the feel of Aido's skin using his lips and nose.

But when Zero leaned back and that purple gaze met Aido's, a startling zap traveled through Aido's body as he realized Zero loved him deeply and passionately. Zero's soul was raw and naked before him. And it quivered, telling Aido that this dangerous vampire hunter loved him more than words could ever say.

Aido freaked. There was no other word for it. He was terrified of Zero's raw honesty, and before he knew it, his hands shot out, shoving violently against Zero's bare chest. All he could think was he had to get away from those demanding and earnest eyes. He couldn't return such a gaze.

He'd always thought Zero was just playing with him, just using him like Kaname had been, but he never expected Zero to actually fall in love with him and so intensely. He was thrown off guard, but he knew one thing for sure: he couldn't return Zero's loving gaze because he didn't feel the same. He didn't love Zero. He still loved Kaname.

Aido's heart swelled, and he pushed harder against Zero's chest, forcing him to move back and off of him. Reluctantly, Zero moved his arm, rolled to the side, and let Aido sit up and move to the edge of the bed, keeping his back to Zero.

Zero sighed noisily and flopped down into the spot where Aido had been. "Okay, I give up," he said exasperatedly, oblivious to the affect he had just had on Aido.

Aido knew he owed Zero an explanation for his horrible behavior, especially since he was the one who'd come to Zero's room in the first place. Zero waited in silence for Aido to start talking, and as Aido tried to gather his courage, he wondered if Zero just hadn't fallen asleep on him. Yet, Aido didn't have the guts to turn around, and instead, he opened his mouth and started to ramble out things he should've said a while ago.

"Kaname liked to tease me when we messed around… that's why..." Aido said, trying to explain why he had cried earlier, but it still came out as a jumbled mess.

However, Zero immediately understood and grunted. "I see. I'm sorry I did that then, but why do you say, 'liked'? Why are you using the past tense?"

Aido suddenly felt extremely cold and vulnerable in his naked skin. He wrapped his arms around his chest and huddled over, feeling Zero's eyes on his back.

He bit his lip, but nevertheless, he answered Zero's question. "Kaname sort of broke it off with me. He told me we can't be lovers anymore."

Aido felt Zero shift beside him and his warmth was instantly pressed against his back. Zero leaned his face in close beside Aido's ear, his chin resting lightly on Aido's shoulder.

"Why would he say that?" Zero asked, but he nonchalantly enveloped his toasty and safe arms around Aido's cold body, sweetly stroking Aido's bare arms.

Despite Aido's previous thoughts, he felt himself relax into Zero's arms. He leaned back into the curve of Zero's body, melting into the safety of the vampire hunter's hard body.

Yet, somehow, Aido managed to find his voice and answer Zero's question, even as he became more pliant. "Kaname said he would make Yuuki his lover."

Zero's body froze. His muscles stiffened, his chest flexed against Aido's back, and Aido even heard the harsh grind of Zero's teeth as he clenched his jaw next to Aido's ear.

Aido couldn't believe he'd spoken those words out loud when he already knew Zero would react in such a way. He'd promised himself that he hadn't come here to discuss this with Zero. He didn't want Zero to feel sorry for him, and feeling Zero's reaction at losing Yuuki wasn't helping at all. He was such an idiot. He knew Yuuki was more important to Zero, so why was he so surprised by Zero's reaction?

Aido squirmed in Zero's arms. He didn't want to be near Zero anymore, a burning jealousy gutted his insides, and made tears well up in his eyes. His heart did flip-flops and squeezed painfully in his chest over and over until he was practically left gasping for air.

Aido couldn't bear it any longer. He ripped his arms out from Zero's grasp and tried to dash off the bed, but that damn vampire hunter was fast. Again, Aido could only think it was due to Zero's unique blood, but either way, Zero grabbed Aido's wrist with quick vampire reflexes as Aido took one foot off the bed. With his wrist in Zero's grasp, Aido was jerked backwards, and his entire body was flung back onto the bed.

"Oomph!" Aido huffed as the air was knocked out of him and he stared up in awe at Zero, who sluggishly and seductively pulled himself on top of Aido.

"What are you doing?" Aido asked, and tried to sound furious but failed since he was genuinely curious at Zero's actions.

The corners of Zero's lips curved up into a playful smile. "I'm finishing what I started."

A skillful hand snaked down in between his thighs, causing Aido's member to spasm. Still, Aido couldn't forget the way Zero had frozen at the mention of Yuuki's name, and he slapped Zero's hand away.

"Stop it! You are in love with Yuuki. Both you and Kaname are just messing with me. I felt your reaction just now," Aido yelled at Zero and tried desperately to keep his eyes from swelling with pitiful tears.

But Zero was clever and had a smooth tongue. "I do care for Yuuki and I do love her, but not as much as I love you, Hanabusa. I'll fight for you unlike that bastard. And that scares you, doesn't it? The fact that I love you so much unlike him because you want it to be him," Zero said, a deep sadness filling those violet irises.

"Zero…" Aido tried to respond, but he knew Zero was right.

He wished it were Kaname saying those things and not Zero. Still, Zero's words filled him with a tender happiness and a sweet ache that he'd always longed for. It was true that Zero's love terrified him, but at the same time, he was glad to be wanted at all. He wished he could wipe away all of Zero's sadness, but he feared if he even attempted it, he'd fail miserably and end up in the same spot; hopelessly devoted to Kaname.

Zero gave him a sympathetic smile and said, "It's okay. You look like you are thinking too hard about it. Don't worry. I already know you love him. I've always known that going into this. I just wanted a chance to try and get you to fall in love with me instead."

Zero shrugged his shoulders and ran his hand through his silver locks as if to say he couldn't fight fate. He turned his eyes away from Aido's, trying to harden his gaze, but he was obviously in pain. His jaw flexed back and forth and his nostrils flared in frustration. It seemed that Zero was giving up, that he believed Kaname had already won.

Was that true?

Aido wasn't sure, perhaps, it was, and perhaps, his next move wasn't really fair since he didn't even know the answer to his own question. But Zero was moving to get off of him, and in a panic, he hastily seized Zero's wrist, stopping his motions.

"Okay," Aido said and licked his lips. "Try to get me to fall in love with you instead."

Distantly, Aido could hear Kaname's last words to him, telling him specifically not to fall in love with Zero. Egging Zero on to do just that probably wasn't the wisest plan he'd come up with, but in that moment, he would've given anything to make Zero stay by his side. He knew that made him selfish, but he didn't care. He needed Zero, perhaps as much as he needed Kaname… only time would tell.

Zero's eyes gleamed with delight as if Aido had just presented him with a million dollars. He leaned down and eagerly pressed his lips against Aido's. Aido opened his mouth for the vampire hunter, their hot tongues twirling back and forth, easily matching speeds. But Zero pulled away first, small pants coming from him as he leaned closer to Aido's ear.

He licked Aido's earlobe, lightly swathed it, and tasted its length. Aido involuntarily shuddered under the wet tongue's touch, and without warning, Zero sucked his earlobe into his mouth, gently nipping it and flicking it.

"Ah!" Aido moaned and clutched Zero's biceps.

Eventually, though, Zero stopped and his excited breaths paused next to Aido's ear as Aido waited for his next move.

"Hanabusa… I want to make love to you…" Aido heard Zero's heavy whisper, which sent an overwhelming ache coursing through his body and straight to his crotch.

Aido gulped loudly, turned his head to look into Zero's darkened gaze, and nodded.

"Okay."