Laying there he tried to keep his eyes open. The shadows crawled toward his body, engulfing him just as he gave into the darkness.
He opened his eyes, blinking slowly. Some time must have passed, light is slowly filtering through the windows of the chamber. Zero painfully uncurled and sat up taking a look around the now light room. There wasn't any sign of him being there or the blood he knew had flowed out of his body. Dragging himself to his feet, his right foot brushed something cold. He looked down at whatever it was and picked it up in order to be able to see it in the light.
A collar, choker to be kind but Zero knew what it truly was. A reminder, promise and claiming all in one. He promised to protect him, reminded him of his role, and claimed him, telling all others he was taken. Not that there were any looking.
There's really no choice. The Kiryuu have always had a close relationship with them. His will just be closer than most. Rising it up to his neck he gently placed the cold metal against his neck. It closed around his neck with a small click, sealing his fate.
"Where's Zero-kun?"
Kaien didn't know how to answer that. What could he say, 'Oh Zero's becoming some super secret Kiryuu thing and i don't know when or if he's coming back.' That'd go over real well. He gulped, opening his mouth.
The door opened.
"Who are you?" Yuuki asked, quite rudely in fact.
The six foot seven giant stepped inside on silent feet. His head of raven feather and blood framed a pale face that they all knew. It's twin lay on Ichiru's.
"Zero?" He stepped forward softly like approaching a wild animal. The male nodded maintaining a distance between them. "Is, are you okay?" He took in the changes in his twin and couldn't believe this was the same person that he's known.
Kaien had never heard of anything like this ever happening. Zero looked completely unrecognizable, even to his eyes and he has been there since the twins' birth. Those amethyst pools had changed to a golden dabloom color, leaving only his bone structure the same.
"How?" Ichiru whispered. He at least recognized who Zero was before but this, this is something different. This isn't cold apathy, this is something darker, the very thing he feared would take over his older brother and turn him into a monster like him.
"It's a ritual for the Kiryuu. A Claiming." Zero elaborated at Kaien's confused look. He quickly bowed and stepped outside the room to go rest in his dorm.
Ichiru couldn't stop the jealousy of Zero getting a Claiming ceremony. Even though he didn't agree with what the Hunters do he still want the respect that a Claiming gives you. You aren't even considered a man until you have your Claiming and since Zero has been claimed he now has complete guardianship over him. Now Zero is the Kiryuu Head.
"What is Claiming?"
Kaien sighed and pulled up a chair. "Claiming is when a Clan member becomes the Head. They essentially are their Clan. The Kiryuu are infamous for having only eight, now nine, Claims. The others clans, all who were Claimed, were normal Clan Heads but the Kiryuu, they became warlords, ruler, kings, gods. All throughout history the Kiryuu have been on the winning side of every major conflict. Zero Claiming means something has changed. The balance is about to tip and whichever way it falls, I can guarantee he will be on the winning side."