Chapter 10: We need to talk

"No, we don't need to talk." Zero turned back, heading out of the king's offices hurriedly but the door refused to bulge. The ex-human turned back to glare at the pureblood.

"Zero…" Kaname tried again rather calmly. Not really getting the hint that the other vampire just wished to be left alone to sulk about what happened that morning few days ago.

The hunter tried the door again, just for good measure, alas with not much success. He groaned in frustration. "Look, I get it already. We talked about it more than enough."

Yes, the moment Zero regained consciousness the pureblood explained to him in quite detail what happened and what could the consequences of their actions be. Actually, Kaname didn't stop talking the whole way home, slightly unnerved by the lack of the hunter's responses. Or maybe he himself was just trying to get some semblance of control in that dreary situation.

The truth was Zero understood their situation perfectly. He might not be born as a vampire, but as a hunter he learned quite enough about them. He knew that what they did was one of the biggest taboos in vampire culture. Level D drinking from a pureblood was a big, big no-no. If anyone learned about what happened, Zero could be executed without a question. The bright side was that it was indirectly and with Kaname's consent. That might count as a mitigating circumstance, right? Right…

Zero stubbornly remained turned, refusing to face the other vampire. After a few moments of silence he felt Kaname's aura getting stronger as the pureblood come closer. "Are you angry at me, Zero?" The pureblood asked quietly, almost in whisper. Still keeping a calm tone, but the first hints of frustration were starting to creep into his tone.

Zero sighed, taking a while to contemplate the question. "No." He answered finally… and truthfully.

At last, he turned around to face the king. He wasn't mad at the pureblood, but himself. Zero couldn't believe he had really succumbed to the bloodlust like some bloodsucking beast. For so many years he fought the change and for what? It took only took one drunken night out to blow everything. Even now he could sense… smell the pureblood's delicious blood as Kaname stood close to him and it was making him crazy. Even now, Zero's pulse quickened, his body almost trembling in anticipation as he remembered that taste. His taste. The hunter grimaced at his thoughts. Did he really succumb so low, just the memory almost made him thirsty again?

Suddenly, the door rattled again. However, this time it wasn't Zero's doing. It seemed that someone else from the other side was trying to get in. And once that someone found out the door were blocked, they seemed to resume to quite an insistent knocking instead.

"Kaname-sama, are you there? Kaname-sama, is everything alright?" It was woman's voice. Zero recognized it instantly, groaning inwardly. Lady Ruka- just what he needed for his bad mood. But part of him was glad for this distraction. It meant less questioning from certain pureblood. If only said pureblood would let go of the door. Zero glanced at the other, waiting.

For a moment, Kaname actually looked like he was contemplating whether it would pass if he pretended no one was inside and the doors were locked. But of course Ruka must know there was someone inside. She must have already heard them or sensed their presence, it's not like they tried to mask their auras. And the fact that her slightly agitated tone was starting to pique interest of guards standing in front of his office was another good point for letting the door open. He could feel that guards were getting slightly nervous, wondering if something happened to king on their watch and if they will end up one head shorter for this. That decided it. Kaname sighed and turned around to go sit back behind his desk, releasing his mental hold on the door.

"Yes, I am here. What is so urgent for you to try to force yourself into king's offices like that?" The pureblood said, anger evident in his tone. As suspected, the moment Ruka stepped in Zero used the chance and with a quick 'excuse me your highness' slipped out of the door from behind her. Kaname felt like punching something from frustration. He was a bit more than a little peeved that his conversation with Zero once again got nowhere.

Ruka at least got the decency to blush and bow deeply in apology. "I-I am sorry your majesty, but I needed to discuss some urgent matters about tomorrow's event." She gulped, she couldn't believe that she tried to barge into king's quarters just like that, but she sensed that Kaname and that filthy ex-human of his were inside and then found out that the door were locked and…somehow reacted on impulse. Because as far as she knew, the king's offices were never locked. It was so the guards could react quickly if the king found himself in immediate danger. But it wasn't Kaname's safety that she was worried about. Aido's words from the other night still played in her mind:

'Maybe there is something between those two.'

The truth was, she knew that that low blood couldn't impose any real danger to the king, but she also knew very well that guards wouldn't take their chances, so maybe she did insert a little bit unnecessary worry into her voice.

Finally inside, she was relieved that everything seemed normal, but still frowned, as she noticed the ex-human's hurried departure. What they were doing that it required locked door? She didn't like this a bit.

Meanwhile, Zero was hurrying along the hallway, trying to get out of the king's reach and shouting range as soon as possible. But it seemed that he didn't need to worry, because Kaname apparently decided to let him go freely, turning his frustrations on lady Ruka instead. Poor girl, if she weren't always so cold to him, the hunter would have felt sorry for her.

"Well, please be so kind to explain yourself." Kaname's angry voice was the last thing the hunter heard before he turned corner.

Zero was surprised how easily he actually managed to slip away, yet then again he realized how unusually freely the pureblood let him act. If it was any other servant Kaname would have his head for not even half of the things Zero was allowed to do in his presence. But the hunter was given the permission to act freely by Kaname himself, so there was that.

Zero didn't have much time to ponder about it, because the next corner he turned he crashed into one of the servants. The girl squeaked but managed to keep her balance. The same couldn't be said about the pile of towels she was carrying and all of them ended scattered on the ground.

Zero knelt down to help her. "I'm so sorry. Are you alright?" He quickly helped her pick up what she dropped.

"Oh, don't worry about it!" She took last of the towels from him and smiled sincerely which made Zero pause for a second.

She was one of the trio of chambermaids he met in the kitchen on his first day of work. On that day they looked at him like he was some dirt, clearly letting him know he was dirt even among servants. Yet now it seemed a lot has changed. Nowadays, most of the staff seemed to accept the ex-human despite their former biases against his level D status. After all, the proof stood right in front of him. Whether they just got used to him or it was thanks to Bertha's persuasion skills Zero wasn't sure.

"I was just looking for you, actually. Bertha is calling you down to the kitchens. That is, if you are already done with your manservant duties."

"Y-yes, yes I am." Zero faltered only for a millisecond with his answer. After all, it wasn't a complete lie. All his nightly duties were done and if the king didn't have any special requests - special that not included trying to talk about something that they discussed enough already in Zero's opinion - then he was usually given leave for the rest of the night.

"Okay then, I'll take my leave." Once again she smiled at him before turning to walk away but something made her pause for a moment. "Uhm, I guess I'll see you at breakfast?" She asked out of nowhere, her voice only a little bit higher than normally.

Zero's eyebrows rose at the odd question, but nodded anyway. He guessed that it was her way of trying to apologize for their first meeting. Moreover, there was no reason for not being there as the hunter usually ate all his meals in staff's kitchen with the rest of the servants every night.

Once the hunter made his way into the kitchens he spotted Bertha immediately. It wasn't really that hard to find her and not only because of her large disposition, but rather the atmosphere she created around her. Bertha was in her commander mode, standing behind large pot of something that smelled very deliciously, sending instructions in all directions. The kitchen staff kept running from one spot to another cutting, stirring and seasoning meals as she commanded. All in all it looked like a complete chaos. Chaos that only Bertha was apparently able to understand.

The moment she spotted Zero, she quickly shouted last series of orders, before hurrying over to Zero, drying her big hands in her apron.

"Dear boy, come in, come in. Don't mind the mess. We're preparing for tomorrow's big event." She announced in her strong voice, leading the hunter into adjacent pantry which was much emptier and quieter. "Princess Yuuki's engagement party! Can you imagine that? I still remember when she was only this small, running all around the place and now she's all grown up and going to be married." Bertha sighed nostalgically as if she was talking about her own granddaughter and not a princess of this country.

"Anyway, I sent for you for one reason." She grabbed a tray full of homemade cookies. "Here, take these to princess. I heard she wasn't even at the dinner. God knows for how many hours they are keeping her in her room, trying to fit all kinds of dresses on her."

Bertha handed him the plate and jar of milk, pushing him out of the door in the same hurried fashion she got him in. "Go, boy. Hurry up. And make sure she eats it!"

The way towards princess' quarters wasn't as easy as Zero thought it would be. Preparations for tomorrow's big party seemed to be in full motion and the hunter had to maneuver through hordes of servants who were carrying various things from one place to another. There were a few critical moments and two very expensive looking vases in danger of being dropped, but his quick reflexes saved him.

He finally made it to the royal quarters. As the hunter reached Yuuki's room, he found her standing on pedestal surrounded by maids and seamstresses who were currently in process of sewing the last details on a dress she was wearing. Zero took a moment before announcing his presence, just observing. He thought that the dress looked beautiful enough already. No, Yuuki was the one who looked beautiful in it. But there was something odd about this whole picture. The princess looked unnaturally obedient, if they were really doing this for hours as Bertha said, Zero imagined Yuuki would have long run out of patience already. Yet there she was, standing calmly, letting maids do their job without protests. She must be taking really seriously the whole engagement situation. Even her expression seemed unusually stern.

Zero was right, Yuuki was completely exhausted and on the edge. This must have been at least twentieth dress she was currently forced to wear. For hours and hours, she has been just standing completely still while they tried on her various garments, literally sewing those dresses on her. She felt like a dress up doll or mannequin and was this close to exploding. But Yuuki was trying to be more lady-like. She has to be perfect tomorrow, to charm her soon to be husband. If Takuma comes to care for her, it would be that much easier to pretend. It would be easier to play a dutiful wife. Yuuki knew she could do it and she will, for Kaname.

She frowned. Speaking of her brother… the foul aura that he had been releasing for quite a while now certainly wasn't helping her mood. And it certainly didn't help that because of this gloomy pureblood vibes the seamstresses were starting to have trouble concentrating on their work and it made them sew more slowly, thus prolonging her torture. Yuuki was on verge of screaming in frustration to make at least some noise and she might have done it if her senses didn't caught a certain scent at that moment.

She turned her head it its direction, noticing familiar silver head standing by the doors. The princess broke into a relieved smile. "Zero! Come in." She greeted him with maybe a little too much enthusiasm, making the other occupants of the room turn in his direction in surprise.

"Let's take a break." Yuuki decided, already jumping from the pedestal and running up to the ex-human. Her eyes widened in excitement when she noticed the plate of cookies in his hands. She knew she smelled something sweet and delicious.

"But my lady, we shouldn't…" The oldest one of the maids tried to protest. It was obviously the princess' main chambermaid.

"It's ok. Take a break. Leave us." Yuuki ordered distractedly, her mouth already half full with first cookie. Oh god, she didn't even realize how much she was starving.

"Forgive me the insubordination, my lady. But he's a man. The regulations sa-" The older woman wasn't about to give up so easily.

"And he's also the king's trusted servant." Yuuki didn't give her a chance to finish. "I said leave us." She turned around, her face marring with a slight frown, her already thinned patience obviously running out quickly.

"But my lady…" The maid tried again, but that proved to be a mistake.

"No buts! I said leave." It was the first time Zero saw Yuuki using her voice and aura with such an authority. She obviously reached her limit. That or she just really wanted to enjoy her cookies in peace for once. Zero wouldn't be surprised if it was the later and it would be still very mild compared to what Kaname was capable of when he wanted to be. But still, when it was Yuuki, it looked oddly out of character on her. She was usually such a sweet girl it was hard to imagine she is pureblood who might someday rule this country.

But her tone seemed to work, for the older maid quickly bowed in apology. "Please forgive me, my lady. I meant no offense." At her cue all maids in the room gathered their things leaving without another word.

Once they were out of the room, Yuuki sat down on a small couch wearily. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts for a moment, chewing on the cookie quietly. As she reached towards the third one, she looked up at Zero sheepishly.

"Do you think I was a bit cruel to them?" She asked hesitantly. So it took only three cookies for old Yuuki to come back, the ex-human noted.

"I think you will be ok." The hunter smiled, pouring her a glass of milk.

"It's just that I am so tired... I couldn't take it much longer. If you hadn't come I would've probably thrown a fit. How un-princess-like of me, right?" She sighed and patted a spot on the couch next to her beckoning Zero to join her. As if it was completely normal everyday occurrence for the ex-human and pureblood to just sit down and enjoy some lone time together. But in this case it might be true. She offered him one of the cookies. The hunter hesitated only for a moment, but who was he to refuse one of Bertha's famous cooking creations.

"Alone with a man in my chambers…" Yuuki giggled after a while. "This will spark all kind of rumors. Might as well enjoy it."

Zero didn't really know what to say to that, he just hoped that Kaname would not misunderstand if he heard some rumors. The hunter quite liked for his head to stay where it was. For quite a long time, both of them just sat on the couch, enjoying the silence.

The hunter started throwing worried glances at Yuuki. She ate the snacks with her usual enthusiasm, but still, the frown line between her eyebrows and the unusual quietness spoke quite different story. She must be really worried about tomorrow.

"Are you alright Yuuki?" Zero decided to ask finally.

"Huh?" She looked up as if she completely forgot she wasn't alone. The frown line disappeared as she smiled at her companion in attempt to reassure him, but it never reached her eyes. "Yes, of course I am, just thinking about tomorrow. It's no big deal, really."

"You mean your engagement party" The hunter panted "I would say that is more than a big deal."

"I suppose..." Yuuki shrugged but stayed quiet.

That was it. There was something definitely not alright with this girl. Zero turned more fully towards the pureblood to see her better in the eyes. "You know you don't have to do it, right? You're a goddamn princess of this country, nobody should be able to force you to do anything!"

"Nobody's forcing me. It is my decision. If I don't do it then Kana-" She suddenly stopped in mid-sentence.

"What?"

"Nothing." Yuuki turned her back on him, she was such a blabbermouth.

"Yuuki…" Zero wasn't buying it in the slightest. Now she was really being weird. Zero tried to grab her shoulder, but Yuuki was quicker.

"I said nothing!" The pureblood stood up, stomping towards windows, out of the ex-human's reach. "It's none of your business. Leave, I want to be alone." She lashed out at him instead.

Zero sighed. He wanted to help, but wasn't sure how. Women sure were complicated.

"Alright, I'll go." He stood up finally. "But if you need me, you know where to find me."

The hunter headed to the door, but before he could make a few steps, small arms suddenly enveloped his middle, a petite body hugging him from behind.

"I am so sorry Zero." Yuuki whispered a broken apology. "I didn't mean that."

"I know." The hunter smiled warmly, turning around to look at her more properly. He noticed a hint of tears, before Yuuki buried her head in his shoulder, her hair brushing his nose. Her body trembled slightly in his arms, as she sobbed quietly. The tension from the whole day finally leaving her body. The hunter just held her, letting her to get it out of her system.

This close, Zero smelled roses and something else but very familiar. Zero was suddenly strongly reminded of Kaname and what happened when he and the pureblood were this close. For a terrible moment he found himself staring at Yuuki's delicate neck, fighting a strong urge to bite, to taste that delicious Kuran blood once more. And what was worse was that somewhere beneath the thirst, there was completely different kind of lust. A whole different kind. He felt like he was back in that haystack, Kaname's body close to his… He wanted to feel that familiar warmth again.

Before Zero's mind could register what he was doing, his head lowered, his hand touching Yuuki's face guiding it towards him. The princess tensed but let him do as he pleased, her big teary eyes looking at him in surprise and… anticipation?

But as suddenly as those urges came, they were gone and Zero realized that that dark look belonged to quite different pureblood and the body he was holding was a lot smaller. Did he really want to do those things with Kaname again, so much that he would even mistake him for his sister in his haze? What the hell was wrong with him? Was this the side effect of drinking someone's blood?

The hunter squished all those thoughts with vengeance and quickly drew some distance between them. Time froze for a moment, both of them watching each other's reaction. Zero was more than ready to pretend nothing happened and he let go of Yuuki's shoulders, his face changing quickly into neutral mask.

Yuuki seemed to get the message and let go of him. She wasn't ready to think about what just nearly happened and with upcoming events it might be better for her to not think about them at all. Still, she hid the disappointment that she didn't even know she had. "How embarrassing, crying like a little baby." She said instead.

The hunter didn't let go completely, his hand stayed on her arm reassuringly. "It will be alright. Tomorrow will be alright, Yuuki."

"Maybe." She nodded hesitantly. "I'm sorry for what I said before. I don't know what got into me. I am all tense and snarky and keep ordering everyone around like I own the place and then. It's not like me at all."

"You know you do actually own this place, right?" Zero couldn't help but point out, finally earning a few chuckles from the princess and easing a mood a little.

"Thank you." Yuuki dried her eyes and smiled at him sincerely. "For everything. You are a very important friend to me. You and Yori are the only ones I feel I can trust."

Zero nodded, but turned his gaze away, suddenly feeling guilty. If only she knew what he really was.

"It's getting late. I should really go."

"Wait. One last thing." She called after his retreating back, making him stop and turn around. "Tomorrow night, at the event, will you be there? Please?"

"Believe it or not, I am not invited. I guess I am not of good enough pedigree." He tried to quip, but when he saw the disappointment starting to grow once again he added quickly: "But I'll find some way to get in. I promise."

Zero got into his room, falling face first onto his bed, more than ready to call it a night-err day, but a sudden feeling of not being quite alone assaulted his senses. The hunter sat up hastily looking around, when he spotted him. Kaname was perched on his window sill, looking at him with that strange expression on his face again. Zero could swear that the pureblood wasn't there a second ago.

Kaname had never been in his room before, in truth he was avoiding servants' building like plague. So what was he doing here now?

For a terrible few seconds the hunter actually thought that maybe his cover was busted and his gaze slid quickly towards a trunk at the end of the bed, where he kept all his hunter things. But it was still closed and its lock seemed untouched.

So different reason then. Zero had a creeping suspicion he already knew. "What are you doing here?"

Kaname gestured for Zero to speak more quietly and headed to sit down on the bed next to him. He didn't feel like announcing his presence to the other occupants of this building. "I just came here to talk." He answered in hushed tone, his statement confirming Zero's suspicions.

The ex-human groaned. "Look. We've already talked more than enough about this. I know that I mustn't let anyone know about what happened… ever. And certainly not let such situation happen again."

"But that's where you're wrong. I mean the last part. I don't mind if it happened again." The pureblood was still looking intently at Zero, waiting for his reaction.

The ex-human stared, not sure what to say. He certainly didn't expect that. Was Kaname suggesting that…? The hunter felt confused and… well, Zero couldn't quite deny that tiny little part of him felt a little excited about the prospect, not after what happened with Yuuki. How he reacted… how close he was to nearly biting her, or kissing her, just because she smelled like Kaname.

The hunter retreated to the other side of the bed to put some more distance from the other vampire, before he could get those unnatural urges again. This was all wrong, for so many reasons.

"Why? What the hell do you want?" Zero finally asked. He decided to fight his confusion with anger instead.

"It's part of the blood sharing process between two vampires. You see, blood can be quite a powerful aphrodisiac. The more pure, the more strong." Kaname followed the retreating ex-human, keeping their distance purposely short. He didn't mind the other's anger. On the contrary, he was glad they were finally talking about it. If they needed to fight it out so be it.

"So it's all your doing then." Zero glared at him, but some part of him felt relieved. So there is some explanation for this madness after all.

"Not quite." The pureblood frowned, not liking being blamed for everything. "There must be at least some hint of attraction for it to work."

"So you're saying that I am attracted to you." Zero growled, more than ready to deny everything. What was Kaname's point anyway? What happened was a mistake and they should leave it as that. End of story.

"Yes. At least some part of you." The pureblood leaned to Zero inhaling. He could smell Yuuki on him, but paid it no mind. He knew they were hanging out sometimes.

The ex-human all but stiffened at his close proximity and Kaname could hear Zero's pulse quickening in an obvious proof. "Your reaction is so strong because my blood is still too fresh in you. It will recede in time."

Receding or not. Zero felt like retreating to the other side of the room- house to create enough distance between them as he suddenly found it hard to concentrate and quite familiar feeling of lust was starting to make itself be known at the edges of his mind. The hunter decided to quickly shun those thoughts and dwell on anger again. Actually, smacking that smugness out of pureblood's face sounded quite invitingly. But before he could do something, Kaname continued talking.

"But for my blood to produce the aphrodisiac the attraction needs to be on my side, too." He shrugged, acting all casual as if he wasn't confessing sexual attraction to another male.

Zero stared at him in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"

The pureblood chuckled. "Yes, I probably am. You have no idea how many times I asked that myself. But there is something about you that keeps me drawing in, deeper and deeper." He leaned so close that his lips almost brushed with Zero's, but he didn't make the contact. The ex-human all but tensed, and seemed to stop even breathing. "Do you believe in reincarnation, Zero?"

Zero, who was ready to punch the pureblood and bolt any second, stopped and stared at Kaname like he was really losing it. "Seriously, are you out of your mind?" He felt like his question needed to be repeated.

Kaname leaned away and straightened. He wanted to make his point and he did. The rest is up to Zero. "That's what I wanted to talk about. That there is some attraction between us and maybe we can make something out of it." He smiled smugly. "I'll give you some time to think about it. But I expect your answer soon."

With that Kaname walked towards the window, jumping out. Zero ran after him, looking out to shout "Don't count on it." But the pureblood was already gone.

What the…The hunter growled in anger and confusion. He started pacing around his room, his tiredness completely gone. He didn't know what got into Kaname, and didn't want to know. What was worse was that a part of him felt a little excited at the prospect.

Zero groaned, sitting down and burying his head in his hands. That must be the blood talking, he was sure… His gaze fell onto the trunk. The hunter ripped the key from where he kept it around his neck and opened it. He eyed the small vial inside. It was the poison that Yagari gave him recipe for. Zero made it the morning they came from that tavern, he couldn't sleep on that day either. For obvious reasons.

Zero picked up the vial. He mustn't forget why he was here. He mustn't. He had a mission.

Kaname made it into his chambers almost in a run. He sent all servants away and poured himself a glass of wine. Downing it quickly, he grabbed the liquor to have a second glass, but stopped in mid motion, deciding it would be faster to drink directly from the bottle. He sat down on the nearest sofa staring into the fireplace.

However he might act smugly and calm on the outside, he was a real mess inside. He snorted. All this turmoil for one ex-human servant… Maybe Zero was right. Maybe he really did lose his mind.

He glanced at the portrait above the fireplace.