A/N: Yay yet another chapter! I hope you enjoy this one. I would be very happy to hear from all of you!
Change of Heart
Part VI
By: YaoiOkami
His grandfather had not fussed. He had not scolded. He had not spoken to him at all that night.
Needless to say it worried the young Ichijo.
"If you don't mind my intrusion, I would like to stay for the remainder of the day."
"Of course not. Feel free to do so," the brunette turned to the blonde vice president, "Please make the necessary arrangements."
"They have been done. Grandfather, if you would like to follow me…?"
"Ah, always prepared, very well then… I shall leave you for a while my Lord," the man bowed respectfully before following his grandson out.
The rest of the vampires followed suit.
Kaname simply remained there as he continued to drink his tea. He could feel Zero behind him. He hadn't moved. He could feel the intense gaze on him but he ignored it. Zero clenched his fists before bowing again.
"If you'll excuse me," he turned and made his way towards the broken door.
"Where are you going?" the other asked without turning.
"I am going to take a walk in the garden," he said.
"Going to the lion's den?"
"Would that not convenience you my Lord?"
Kaname resisted the urge to turn. That last sentence had been spoken with vitriol. He did not respond and heard as the white haired vampire left the room. His hands fisted and he swiped his hand across the table, sending the cup he was drinking out of flying. He hardly paid attention to the loud smash that resounded throughout the room.
Granted he had not had much trouble getting Zero to accept the situation much less give into him. Everything had gone exactly as he had wanted. He would have no trouble seducing the too high-strung vampire. But he wasn't a fool. His body was a treat indeed but he could not control him that way. He knew exactly what the teen had heard. He would not deny that the fact that his decision of making the last vampire hunter of the Kiryuu lines his pet could gain him leverage with the Council. He was all too aware of that fact. However… the pureblood let out a sigh. That wasn't the reason he had decided to make such a drastic choice in the first place.
.:+:.
Zero walked briskly. Getting as far away from everything living or not. He knew it. Of course that was all he would be. He was always being used, first by Shizuka Hio, his twin brother, the headmaster and now even Kaname. It wasn't a surprise. He knew that he had done it for Yuki's sake and only for that, which is why he decided on finally accepting Kaname's offer. He had nothing to lose but his pride however that compared to Yuki's happiness… It meant nothing, absolutely nothing. Yet the small remaining amount he had left had been completely thrown into the wind to be pushed and played with as it wished. He never had control. He was always relying on other people. Only this time he had stooped as low as he could get. He had lost his mind to his desires and had lost his freedom as well to the creatures no—monsters—he hated the most.
"I hope for nothing but the best for our kind."
What a joke. He hoped for nothing but what best suited him. What best suited his interest and his quest for power. He couldn't understand what else he wanted. He was a revered pureblood with the respect and following to overthrow the Council if he so wished. He could take control of everything without much effort so why such a pointless and roundabout way to go at it?
No, that's not it.
He shook his head. Of course that was it. That was all those monsters wanted.
I am nothing but a pawn to him.
He stopped as he felt his heart tighten at that thought. It was hate, a hate so vivid that it spread through his veins, leaving an unpleasant feeling behind.
He began to throw punch after punch at the tree he had leaned against. He cared not for the pain. He kept hitting until his flesh tore. The tree seemed darker where he had begun to hit it, his hand was drenched in red blood but he didn't care. He finally stopped when he noticed the shirt Kaname had given him to wear was splattered with small drops of blood. He let his forehead rest against the rough bark of the tree.
Somehow he knew that wasn't it. But why did it bother him so? As far as he was concerned he had used Kaname also. They were both taking advantage of the situation were they not? Nothing had been promised, nothing had been set in stone. No one had set rules for anything other than blood.
Perhaps it was all that talk that kept mentioning the great power that would come with becoming a pet. Kaname had mentioned it, the fake Ichijo Asato and even the real one. It seemed that everyone knew the advantages that came with such a humiliating title. But he had seen none. Not one.
"They understand the huge advantage of becoming a pureblood's pet and there are those who will stop at nothing to gain that position."
.:+:.
"Is that so?" the Council member asked.
"Yes Grandfather," the blonde vampire answered.
"So you are implying that there are actual feelings at play?"
"Yes."
"What makes you so sure?" the man asked.
"There have been certain incidents that have made me come to that conclusion."
The elder man searched his grandson's face for a trace of a possible lie but he saw none. He leaned back on the couch before waving the young nobleman away. Ichijo bowed before stepping out. He let out a sigh. He had to go find Zero. The look on the vampire's face had been so...
Kaname probably didn't understand the damage he had caused with that small remark. It might have been unintentional but it had been done nonetheless.
"Shiki," he called out.
Almost immediately the red haired vampire appeared.
"He has left the premises and wondered into the forest," the younger vampire reported.
The blonde nodded before quickly heading out. He had used his Grandfather's momentary distraction of excusing himself to give Shiki quick instructions. He had thanked the blue eyed teen silently for not asking questions.
He was in the outskirts of the forest in no time and allowed the white haired vampire's scent to lead him straight to him. As he went in deeper though he began to smell the scent of blood mixed in with it. The blonde noble scowled slightly as he hurried his pace. It didn't take him long to zone in and see the teen slumped against a tree.
"Zero-sama?" he called out.
Amethyst eyes glanced up to meet jade before returning to his now healing hand.
"What happened? Are you okay?" he asked as he caught sight of the bloody hand.
He received no response. He approached the teen and took the pale hand in his and examined it. Zero made no move to snatch it away or hide it. He simply sat there. Takuma let out a sigh before looking at the teen in front of him.
"At least this is healing…"
Again he received no response.
"Zero-sama I know how you feel," he tried again.
"Are you mocking me too? Drop that stupid title," the teen finally said as he removed his hand from the green eyed vampire's grip.
"I cannot."
"And why is that?"
"Because you are Kaname-sama's pet and therefore deserve the same respect."
Zero raised a brow, "You have never once called me that before."
The green eyed teen smiled, "It seemed that you needed a reminder of what you currently are."
"I am fully aware of it. Kaname-sama has made it clear."
"Indeed you are a valuable asset to Kaname-sama. However I can and will give my life if it was to save him. I'll grant you that there are many, many vampires that only worry about rising in power and those who care nothing for it. However know that if that was what Kaname-sama was about…well he probably wouldn't be here right now. He would have used you the moment you became his pet…"
Zero had been looking at the ground. His mind had been following Takuma's conversation clearly but he did not seem convinced. The young nobleman sighed before standing.
"Perhaps we should make haste. Dawn is not so far off the horizon."
The pale vampire stood but leaned against the tree he had used as a punching bag earlier. The loss of blood had been a little too much despite his healing abilities. He felt dizzy and lightheaded. Takuma pulled out two blood tablets and handed them to the drained vampire. Violet eyes looked at them distastefully before swallowing them dry. They wouldn't take long to take effect. His body was used to eating human food and therefore he could digest it much faster and easily. He stood still for a second and a small gust of wind blew past them. Perhaps he should be grateful that the wind was blowing the opposite direction of the Moon Dormitories. Had the vampire's smelled the blood, who knew how many would have shown up to take care of him?
.:+:.
When Zero had shown up again there had been no greetings, no questions, no words. Kaname had merely glanced at him before returning to the paperwork he had sitting in front of him. Zero had not announced his return but went straight to the bath to wash off all the sweat, dirt and blood off of him. He had not had to face any of the vampires that resided in the dorms. The sun had risen slightly by the time he and Takuma had gotten back.
That evening they met with the elder Ichijo again before the man departed.
"Where is Kiryuu-sama?" the man had asked.
"He has been fatigued by last night's activities and is currently resting," was Kaname's smooth reply.
It was a statement that could be taken in a variety of ways, at least by the other vampires that stood watch in the room. It could've meant the fact that the fake Ichijo Asato was to blame. However the real Council member had no knowledge of this fact and could simply draw a very suggestive conclusion. They did, after all, share a room… and Zero was his pet, so it left little room for the council member to interpret the meaning as anything other than what had been implied.
"Ah of course, forgive me for intruding. If you may be so kind as to give him my best regards. It was an honor to meet such a suitable young man to whom you have given so much trust to."
"I am pleased to see you are satisfied."
The man fell to one knee as he took the pureblood's left hand and as before planted a kiss on it.
"May you and your pet prosper."
Kaname gave a slight nod as a sign to stand before the man finally left.
Ichijo returned not long after escorting the old man to his ride and knocked gently on the newly repaired doors.
"Come in."
"Kaname-sama," the green eyed vampire glanced at the doors that led to the bedroom, "Is Zero-sama still asleep?"
"He should be. I haven't heard him stir."
At this the blonde nodded before speaking again.
"My Lord forgive me if I step out of boundaries by saying this but…I or rather, someone, must tell you."
Ruby eyes looked on intensely, "You were with him last night weren't you?"
"I was," he replied.
"I don't need you to give me advice. I understand full well what is going on."
"Of course, pardon me," the nobleman bowed before heading to the door.
He stopped however and turned to face the brunette pureblood, "The emotions he wears on his face are more than masks… He is still human after all."
A/N: Check out my profile for some Suzu/Lulu!!
