Disclaimer: Subtle left-over pain of braces (upper part), yes. Vampire Knight, no. More pain coming in two days, yes. (T.T I have to come back to the dentist and have the lower part attached. Oh joy. Oh rapture.)
But anyway, I would like to note and acknowledge all I could acknowledge in my newly-refurbished THANKIES CORNER!!: (now has a table with freshly baked cookies! Yay!)
kutoki – Thanks for the equally cute comment!! And because you are my first reviewer, here's an extra-big cookie with chocolate chips in the shape of kitties!! (-if only I can really bake something like that-- :P)
fruits-basket-girl94 – Yep, you bet it does… Hm, just makes me wonder how I'll feel once I get both of those brace (up and down) on… Wah! No more french fries!! Or pizza!! Or food for, that matter!! O.O (innerself: shut up, doofus. You're overacting…again.) But either way, thanks for the review!
glozinga – Well, third place isn't too bad! Here's a Zero plushie for the first two times you got here first. Hehe.. be careful with that plushie, though…It cries when you poke it too much…or hit its head repeatedly! :D And…Zero x Kaname? …Who told you that?? It was HIM, wasn't it?? (points accusingly at the plushie, which just flopped to the side) XD
Yeah, well…that was actually my hidden motive here…hehe…but I get sidetracked sometimes…but the main pair I'm vying for IS KanZe so… DUDE! You're so freakin' psychic!!
kitcherie – Yeah, I get your point. Kaname—hot, mysterious. Cute…? Well, maybe it's just a side of him we never get to see much often…or make that AT ALL. Maybe that's what makes writing this story sooooooooo much fun. :D
Saga – Thanks for the correction! I basically just put that '-kun' thing there because it sounded cute (lol). I'll try to make this chapter longer. (fingers crossed) :D
Xx.Fma-Dnangel.xX – Thanks! Aw, here comes that wuved feewing again… :3
Faydora – Yay! Another braces comrade!! We're a trio now! We just need a few more to be a mob! XD
freya kurenai – Wow. When did THIS get here?? Did you perhaps reviewed when I was out for my piano lesson?? Sowwy, fowgot to tell youuu… hehe… :3 Thanks for the…uh…data sheet. And what was with that comment on Kaname's? I DID look into a mirror. All I saw was…perfection (-twinkle, twinkle-). XD XD XD wahahahahaha!!
--
Whoosh!
…Zero could only hope he could disappear as fast as the sound of the windows opening did. Or maybe, that he was invisible. Or probably dead. Yeah, dead, so would not have to endure the painful humiliation of-
"Zero…? What are you doing here?"
-being ultimately and dreadfully CAUGHT.
The silver-haired teen gulped.-'Don't say anything rude, Zero. It will only make your situation worse…'-
Zero turned around with that annoyed look on his face, "Since when did you have the right to call me by my first name, Kuran?"
Well, Zero wasn't really one to listen to his own conscience. Maybe that was the reason why he's such a…bastard.
Kaname's slightly amused face turned dreadfully cold. Like a switch was being turned on (or off, I really don't know…), the pureblood's face gave way to an almost cruel and uncaring smirk, "You have some guts disrespecting me here in my grounds, Kiryuu."
A moment of tense silence followed, disrupted only by the whispers of the wind.
The silver-haired teen turned, now no longer willing to prolong his stay. What on earth did he think he was doing, anyway??
…Zero had totally forgotten who he was talking to. He was frightfully reminded when he turned, he saw a few inches from him a pair of glowing red eyes.
"I do not tolerate rudeness, Kiryuu. …And have you forgotten-"
Zero's right gun hand was pulled, leaving him in a particularly tight situation.
"-Yuuki isn't here to protect you from me."
Said hand was now pulled painfully to his back, joined by the other hand, and the pureblood's face was mere inches from the side of his neck.
Zero felt his heart race. He felt like prey, clutched within the powerful talons of an eagle. And just like that prey, Zero had the strange feeling he was going to be squeezed lifeless in a few more seconds…
Kaname relished the smell of the boy's fear, then opened his mouth to bite down on his gorgeous flesh. But just before his fangs could even touch Zero's skin, the lovely implements in the vampire lord's mouth rebelled. It seems 'they' have a soft spot for broody puppies like Zero and took it upon 'themselves' to rescue trapped animals. Preferably cute animals. With silver hair and soft lilac eyes.
"Ow!"
The brunette stumbled back a few steps, clutching the side of his face. The pain reverberated, almost as if it was saying 'Bad Kaname!! Baaad!! You shouldn't do that to Zero-kun!!'
…Well, the braces win this round.
Kaname had disappeared into the darkness, leaving Zero to recuperate and check for any injury. His arms were just a bit sore, and that was the only problem so far. Oh, and his heartbeat wasn't slowing down. At ALL.
-Lub-dub…-
'Damn. Quiet down, will you?? Why are you beating so fast anyway?? I've had worse vampire encounters than this…'
-Lub-dub…-
'…'
-Lub-dub…-
'…maybe…it's because this is the first time it's happened with Kaname…'
-Lub-dub…-
'…'
-Lub-dub…-
'Oh…good… Ugh. I sound just like those lovesick and annoying girls from the Day Class…'
-Lub-dub…-
'…better shake this off. Yikes. (1)'
-Lub-dub…-
Zero walked off, autumn-dried leaves crunching underneath his shoes. He was awfully confused. And he was a bit afraid that if his heartbeat did not slow down, he might die from it.
…
The night was already deep. The moon glowed like a giant buoyant ivory-colored balloon in dark but smooth-as-glass water. The air was chilly, anticipating winter time.
…
A few more leaves crunched underneath the weary Hunter's feet. Soon, even that noise was gone.
The night was still once more.
--
(Kaname's room)
He was there again, lying on his back on the couch, a hand draped over his face.
There he was again, dreadfully in pain. Dreadfully…confused?
Well, that WAS to be expected.
He had walked away from what could have been an excellent meal—
'Meal?? What--… I should be above those kinds of thoughts…' Kaname stared seriously at the ceiling.
He was, after all, a pureblood. Revered, honored, loved by everyone—
'…except Zero Kiryuu, it seems.'
The brunette regretted that amused scoff just as soon as it came out from his lips. Why was he so interested in the boy anyway? True, he was vital part of his plan. Of everything. But…
A finger came to rest on the pureblood's lips in a sultry thinking pose.
'Maybe…it was because…Zero was so…adorable.'
Kaname laughed but this was cut short by another sharp pain from his lovely molar bands. Instead, he contented himself with a quiet smirk.
Zero…cute…
Zero…with puppy ears and a wagging puppy tail…
Oh, Zero…
…
It was strange, how his thoughts now centered on the often ill-tempered Hunter. It seems he had taken a strange liking to his 'sworn enemy'…
…
There was only one explanation.
…
THE DENTIST WAS DRUGGING HIM.
WITH A SPECIAL KIND OF DRUG THAT MAKES YOU SEE YOUR WORST ENEMY IN ANOTHER LIGHT AND MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
Kaname sat up with a sudden jolt from his newly-acquired knowledge (XD). Tomorrow, when he comes back for another appointment, he was SO making the dentist have it.
How dare he drug him!
…
The night wind whispered, rustling leaves outside. It almost seemed like the air was whispering sweet nothings into the night. Or maybe, just maybe, the wind was laughing. Not a cruel laugh, but a jokingly sweet one it showers upon confused hearts that are undeniably in love.
--
(Kaname's room…a few hours later)
"…Kaname? Are you awake?"
Ichijou stepped in cautiously, looking around for any sign of life, or movement, or a once-sane- but-now-deranged dorm president driven by pain.
Seeing none of those things, the blonde advanced to see Kaname asleep on his favorite couch.
With a sigh, Ichijou settled somewhere near the brunette's feet, pushing them aside gingerly. "I had the most interesting class today."
Kaname's head turned to the side.
"Shiki…he was sitting beside me today."
The pureblood's chest heaved up and down in a gentle rhythm.
"He…said some things…"
The hand lying on the top of the back of the couch sagged and then completely disappeared behind the black back of the couch.
"I wouldn't normally tell you such delicate details, but seeing as you're-"
-A glance at the sleeping pureblood.
"—preoccupied, I would say it."
Ichijou took a deep refreshing breath and spoke in a considerably quiet tone, "He…said he liked holding my hand-"
Kaname bolted upright, smiling devilishly, "He did?"
It took all of the blonde's self-control to not smack the other's head, seeing as Ichijou was a master of self-defense and would practically hit anything that moves abruptly…and that Kaname had tricked him. Again. For the… fifth time since they met. The other four times were pretty acceptable, seeing as they were children and Ichijou had not yet known the secrets of some random magic tricks you can do with a hat, an egg, and a match…but THIS. This was different.
Kaname was laughing at the nonplussed look on his friend's face. He really got him GOOD this time…
"…" Ichijou stood up, probably incidentally letting the brunette's feet plop down unceremoniously on the floor.
"W-Wait, Ichijou…It's just that I couldn't resist—" Another laugh.
The blonde walked over to the door, not even glancing back once.
"I knew you wouldn't probably tell me, so I did this—"
A hand touched the doorknob.
Kaname sighed, having taken in his sufficient amount of air, and walked over to his obviously ruffled friend. He comfortably settled his arms around Ichijou's waist and rested his chin on the blonde's left shoulder.
"You know I was just playing around, right?"
Ichijou did not move, nor did he look, nor blinked. Kaname's boyish tone floated to his ears like a soft whisper of the wind. Nevertheless, he said nothing.
"I'm sorry. …I was just playing around… You know I can't do that often…"
A sigh.
Well, the blonde couldn't help but agree on that one. This was probably one of the reasons why Kaname trusted him so much. It was because, around him, the noble could just be himself. Normal. Well, as normal as a teenaged vampire could be. Out in the world, Kaname was different. He was formal, dignified, and mysterious. Even to Ichijou, most of Kaname's life remained a mystery. But he was glad to have witnessed the brunette loosening up. At least a bit. Even for a while…
"Fine. I forgive you."
Kaname smiled, and Ichijou felt it. A quick thankful peck on his cheek was received by the blonde. A sign of gratitude. It was so childish…it was charming.
…It almost brought back such precious memories of their childhood (2).
"So…what's this about you and Shiki…?"
The blonde's smile faltered a bit now. Kaname had settled back on his couch in his relaxed but amorous pose, a smirk on his face.
"I just told you. …He just said he liked holding my hand…"
"And how did he say it? Did the whole class hear him?"
Ichijou looked disbelievingly at Kaname. How. Could. He. Even. Think. Of. Such—
"NO, the whole class did NOT hear it!! Shiki's not that…vulgar!!"
"…but, you've got to admit, he was 'vulgar' enough to hold your hand in plain sight of the whole Night Class…" Ah, a smirk that rivaled the Cheshire Cat's…if only the Cheshire Cat could smirk.
"NO ONE saw it!! Everyone was busy reading!!"
Kaname blinked at the now-pink and huffing Ichijou chibi, "Fine, fine… but how did he compliment you? Did he just say it like that or—"
"Does it even matter?? … … He just whispered it in my ear—"
"Ah, whispering sweet nothings, eh? Definitely amour."
The blonde was red now. He twitched at the evil little French word, and at his evil little friend who was still smirking.
Deciding he has told him enough (there was no more to tell anyway…:3), Ichijou turned for the second time and approached the door. Midway, though, he stopped and glanced back.
"You're lucky I don't tease you about YOUR secret love, Kaname. If you continue pushing my buttons like this, I just might tease YOU next time."
A flash of that trademark 'Ichijou smile'…
…and he was gone with a quiet click of the door.
It was Kaname's turn to stare disbelievingly at the now-closed door.
His secret love??
What kind of a 'secret love' was this that even HE did not know??
…
That dentist's drug was GOOD. So good, in fact, that it even got Kaname into a state of temporary amnesia.
…
He was SO killing him tomorrow.
--
(Next Day, Dentist's Office, Kaname's Appointment)
"We'll put in the top part of the braces first. Is that ok with you, Kaname-sama?"
"Oh. Sure."
-Evil manipulator.-
Miko, the dentist, turned to grab hold of a nearby container with a roll of wire. He placed it on his little dental table where Kaname got a good look at it.
"Ano…Enju-sensei… I have a question about those strange medicines you put in my mouth—"
The blonde dentist blinked and turned around, holding another box with different-colored bands, "Strange medicines…?"
"Yes. The ones that make me act all weird."
He set down that box too, "I…didn't put any strange medicines in your teeth, or on your mouth for that instance, Kaname-sama… I didn't even used anesthetic."
Kaname blinked, "Then why am I acting so weird?"
Miko smiled, "It must be hormones."
"…Hor…mones…?"
A nod, "Yes. Now, can we start, Kaname-sama?"
Kaname was too stunned by the 'revelation' that he could do nothing but nod. And open his mouth. And wait for his doom to start.
--
(Zero's room)
Zero stared at the ceiling, which was so interesting he had been staring at it for hours and hours on end.
He did not get any sleep last night. Again. For the third time this week.
The last time he slept was when he had a catnap in class. And he woke up just a few minutes into that 'sleep' because he dreamt that Kaname was there, doing all sorts of…'things' to him. It was a good thing he woke up pretty early into the 'dream', or there could have been DISASTROUS results.
…
He tilted his head to the side and stared out the window.
There was that bluebird. The one he saw in class the other day. The one had 'violent thoughts' with.
…
Zero got up and opened his window. He peered cautiously at the bird, careful not to spook it. The bluebird just looked at him curiously, and tilted its head to the side.
…
"Hi."
The bird blinked.
"Remember me?"
It cheeped a bit. 'Hm, smart bird.'
"I was the one thinking all sorts of bad things about you."
Zero thought the bird would fly away now, but it just stayed there, staring at him. 'Ok, so maybe this bird isn't so smart after all…'
Before Zero could say something else, another bluebird came out of a hole in the tree, on which there was the branch that the first bluebird was perching on.
The new arrival hoped up to the other. Together, they blinked at the Kiryuu.
Zero couldn't help but smile. "Hey, you got yourself a partner after all, huh?"
…
…But then, he just remembered.
A few hours ago, he had asked Toga about distinguishing bird sexes. Toga had bonked him on the head for asking such a stupid question, but Zero pressed on with it. Seeing as his pupil was really quite curious, Toga had told him of a technique to tell bird sexes apart. Now, he could do it by simply looking at the bird.
…
Zero looked at the first-perched bluebird. By the use of his newly-acquired knowledge, he found out 'it' was actually a 'he'.
…
He looked at the other now.
…
'No wait.'
…
'That can't be possible…'
…
'…Or could it??'
…
The birds perched on the branched nuzzled lovingly at each other.
…
Zero twitched.
He shut the window and ran back to his bed, burying his head deep into the pillow.
…His inner consciousness was screaming now…
'OMFG!! THOSE BIRDS ARE GAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!'
--
XD oh, that was FUN!!
Hope that was long enough for y'all!! I actually finished this in two(?) days so, YES, I am now wearing both the upper and lower part of my braces!! And guess what, the lower ones don't hurt as much as the upper ones did!! Yay!!
NOTES: (1)- XD got this one from High School Musical!! I just thought it would be funny if Zero said it…XD
(2)- O.O waaaaaaa… Why do I see Kaname x Ichijou?? Whyyyyy?? …Er, well…I really didn't mean it…but I could consider writing another fic for that because this one is KanZe (hopefully)!!
So, that's all for now, folks!!
Please review so I can keep this fic running!!
And an advanced SORRY if ever the next chapter is late!! School has started and I don't know when I'll be able to update!! :D
MINI CONTEST: Can anyone give me name ideas for our two, ahem , 'lover birds'? I plan on naming them by the next chapter. :D
TBC!!