I'm so glad that many people seem to like this story this far and I want to send a special than out to all my lovely reviewers.
Sadly, unlike my last fic, I have not completed this one prior to uploading so I'm not positive how regular the updates will stay.
Like many of my fics, this is being written as a request for a dear friend, so there are some things that I will not have much say on. Hopefully I can artfully supply a satisfactory product while still sticking with the intended's desires. Which brings me to my next point. I seem to have forgotten a minor detail in my warning thingy last chapter that may or may not please some of you. Just like my Fic Mistakes this one will contain a male pregnancy. I realise this is not everyone's cup of tea. I don't really care so well as its written well and with a meaning. So I totally encourage you to keep reading! You might like it even if you think you wont.
Anywho. Sorry for the long note. On with the story.
"Any change?"
"No."
"Come on Zero Onii-Chan. Wake up."
"…Zero, love. Come back to me."
Zero groaned as voices invaded his dark sanctuary. Voices that were strangely familiar. He wanted them to go away, leave him alone. But one voice called to him softly, making his chest hurt. He wandered through the endless darkness in search of its owner, feeling desperation cling at his soul with every passing minute.
"Zero…"
Eyelashes fluttered softly before revealing pale, lavender eyes. Zero breathed slowly, shocked at the feeling of being back into his own body. A warm weight was pressing onto his chest. Looking down he saw a familiar mop of soft brown hair and smiled. 'Kaname…'
The older pureblood looked like hell. Zero was willing to bet his bloody rose that it was the first time the stubborn prince had slept in god only knew how long. Gently he threaded his fingers through the soft locks, feeling a sense of guilt washing over him. If he had only woken up sooner this beautiful creature wouldn't have suffered.
"Nn… Zero?" A voice slurred sleepily. Slowly the weight left him and he glanced up to find hazy wine red eyes staring at him with a mix of many different emotions.
"Hey." He whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse. He smiled softly and took the hand of the other's in his own. "You look like shit."
Eyes widened in shock before musical laughter sounded from the other teen. "I suppose I do." Kaname conceded softly.
"How long?" Zero asked, keeping his eyes locked with his lover's. At his puzzled look Zero chuckled softly. "How long have I been out? How long has it been since you've slept?"
"You were unconscious for over two weeks." Kaname said softly, stroking a hand gently down the other's cheek.
"You didn't answer the second question Kana." Zero reproved softly.
"Roughly two minutes ago." Kaname said teasingly. When Zero looked at him pointedly he sighed and broke eye contact for the first time since waking up. "I haven't left your side." He admitted softly. "I didn't sleep, I couldn't. I think Takuma drugged my tea…"
Zero frowned even though he had expected as much and made a note to thank the blond noble. "I'm sorry." He said softly, giving the hand in his a squeeze.
"Don't be." Kaname said quickly. "All that matters is that you're awake now." Zero smiled and chuckled as the pureblood besides him stifled a yawn.
"Come here." He said softly, moving over on the small bed and patting the empty space besides him. At Kaname's skeptical look he frowned. "I haven't changed Kana, not really." He said softly. "I still love you." He whispered, almost inaudibly. As he'd expected, wine red eyes widened at being caught and then filled with relief.
He patted the space besides him again and waited as Kaname crawled gently onto the bed, pulling him down. They lay quietly, holding each other close and enjoying the moment. After a while Zero pushed closer, burying his face in the other's firm chest and taking a shaky breath.
"I never meant to lie to you." He pleaded softly, voice muffled, but the tightening hold on him confirmed his lover could hear him. "I didn't know, I really didn't." he nearly cried.
"I know, shh, I know." Kaname cooed, rubbing slow circles on his back. After a while Zero's breathing calmed back down and he sighed softly. "I do have a question though." Kaname said, kissing soft, silver stands lovingly.
"What?" Zero asked, pulling away enough to look into warm eyes.
"What bet did you make with Aya-san?"
Zero's eyes widened comically before recognition dawned and he laughed sadly. "Well, there were two bets really. Originally we placed bets on who would awaken last. She bet it would be Ichiru, I bet on myself."
Kaname nodded. "And the second part of the bet?"
Zero squirmed uncomfortably. "Well, there were several times when the seal threatened to break." He said softly. "During these times I was aware of whom I really was, but as soon as the seal stabilized again I lost all memory of those instances." Kaname nodded again and Zero took a shuddering breath.
"Aya apparently would sneak over here every so often to keep an eye on me, and she happened to witness one of these moments. She cornered me and helped me through it. They were, painful." He admitted reluctantly. "During one of these, in an attempt to lighten the mood she proposed expanding on the bet. It was just after Yuki awakened and Aya had taken it upon herself to watch her every move."
"The bet was on who would eventually banish me from Cross Academy." Zero finally sighed. "Aya thought Uncle would do so before awakening me as a protection measure. I, I bet Yuki would throw me away." He choked out, burying his face back into the warm chest in front of him. Tears threatened to fall but he willed them away.
"Oh Zero." Kaname sighed, once again rubbing circles on the silver hunter's back. "I'm so sorry. I know how much she meant to you."
"It's okay." Zero said after a while, sniffing lightly. "What happened to Yuki?"
Kaname ran hands through silver tresses, noticing how long they had grown, and sighed again. "She's been detained and deemed insane by the association." He said softly. "Right now that's all."
"I'm sorry." Zero mumbled. "What did she do?"
Kaname pulled back in shock and looked at the innocent eyes of his lover. "You, you don't remember?" Zero shook his head slowly. "She attacked everyone while we were at the chairman's house. She blew it up."
Zero frowned. "Was anyone hurt? How did we survive?"
Kaname smiled softly and stroked Zero's cheek lovingly. "You saved us." He said proudly. "You woke up just in time and placed some sort of force field around the living room area. It protected everyone from the explosion. It was amazing." He said truthfully. "After the fires stopped you trapped Yuki in this spear of energy and kept her there until Yagari arrived with a group of hunters. They detained her from there and took her away."
Zero's frown deepened as he ingested the information. He'd never heard of such a power and couldn't believe he'd done something like that. "It's true." Kaname said, as if reading his thoughts. "You might not have realized what you were doing. It may have been on instinct, to protect the ones you care about. But it was truly amazing."
"No one was hurt?" he asked, worry stealing over him.
Kaname shook his head. "A few bumps and bruises from the initial explosion which knocked a few people down." He admitted. "But they've long healed up."
Zero nodded before his eyes widened again. "Ichiru!" he gasped, looking up quickly. "He's-"
"Alive and well." Kaname smiled. "I think he's currently sleeping. Aido has been keeping a close eye on him. They seem, close."
Zero breathed a sigh of relief before smiling. "Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on things. Aya won't be happy to lose another bet to me so soon." He mumbled, mostly to himself.
"Another bet?" Kaname frowned. "It sounds like you two bet a lot."
Zero shrugged. "We made all our bets as children, except for that last one. When we were little Ichiru would always hang on Hanabusa's every word. I told Aya my suspicions but she wouldn't listen, so, we made a bet. If they get together, I win."
Kaname shook his head. "And if you lose?"
"Then I have to pay over. It wasn't a big bet. Only a couple hundread." Zero shrugged. Kaname's eyes widened.
"You bet a couple hundread as a child?" he asked incredulously.
"We have a decent inheritance. So it didn't mean much to us. Though I only took bets I was sure I could win. Aya is fiercely competitive, but she doesn't think things through all the time. So she loses a lot of bets. I think she's addicted honestly, but I couldn't stop her if I tried." He shrugged. "I convinced Ichiru to stop when we were little, he was never very good at placing bets either and would normally lose to Aya, so it was always up to me to win back whatever she convinced him to give her."
Kaname smiled. "Sounds like you looked out for him well."
"Of course, he's my little brother." Zero said softly. Tears welled up again and this time he didn't hold them back. Kaname saw and place a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I couldn't handle it when I heard he had died." Zero sobbed as Kaname held him tighter. "I wanted so badly to follow him, it wasn't right, I should have protected him more!"
"Shh." Kaname cooed. "Everything's alright now."
"I almost let myself go." Zero admitted. Kaname just held him, letting the silver haired teen let out the emotions he'd kept bottled up for so long. "I, I didn't think life was worth living. But, leaving you, I couldn't do it. I felt so selfish, but I couldn't give you up for him."
Kaname placed a soft, closed mouth kiss on trembling lips before leaning their heads together again. "I'm glad you didn't, Zero. I know how much you suffered. But it's over now." He said, wiping away tears with the pad of his thumb. The hunter nodded, letting out a shaky breath.
After a few minutes of silence Zero spoke again. "I'm sorry about Yuki." He said softly. "I know she was the only way for you to produce an heir. Now, your bloodline will end, because of me."
"No, Zero." Kaname said, kissing away the newly forming tears. "I would rather my bloodline end then allow someone like her to carry my children. It's not your fault. She brought this upon herself."
The hunter nodded after a moment and sighed. He mumbled something that sounded like 'children would have been nice…' to the pureblood but Kaname couldn't be sure so he ignored it.
"Yagari's still here. He stuck around to wait until you woke."
Zero sighed and snuggled closer to Kaname's warmth. "I suppose we need to tell them I'm awake." He mused sadly. Kaname nodded slowly before stifling another yawn.
"I guess they could wait for a few more hours." The burnet smiled, pulling the hunter tighter against his chest.
"Yeah…" Zero smiled, kissing the juncture between the other's shoulder and neck. "A few more hours won't kill anyone." He murmured, closing his eyes and focusing on Kaname's warmth.
Slowly, wrapped in each other's arms the two vampires drifted into a dreamless sleep, small smiles playing on both of their lips.
So, how did I do? Hopefully I still have some readers. Review please!
