Unexpectedly Close To The Edge
Set 3 years after Vampire Knight Guilty, however, certain enemies aren't as dead as they were thought to be.
~{}~ signifies a change in time or perspective
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, these awesome characters do not belong to me in any way. They belong to Matsuri Hino. I just stole them and put them to use for my own sick mind ;)
Summary: Yuki's death brings the two former enemies Zero and Kaname closer than they ever expected to be. As the two of them - both broken in their own way - struggle to pick up a life again, will they cope by putting each other together again?
Rated M: mature emotions, rape, violence, M/M lemon (seriously, rated M for good reason!)
AN: I think I just started twelve million plot threads... I just hope they won't all unravel... And to those of you who are wondering... no need to worry - this is a Zero x Kaname story. But it wouldn't be much of a story if everything was already resolved and their personalities didn't get in their way... ^^ Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 7: An Elaborate Hoax
"Ichiru!" Zero called out in horror.
His twin was there in a room enclosed in stone walls, a crumpled figure on the cold and bare stone floor. And like so many times Zero had seen him, he was wearing his white pajamas, the only ones he'd wear as a child. But he wasn't a child now.
His back was facing Zero so he couldn't see his face; only the silver hair - longer than his own, softer and more iridescent in the pale light. There was blood on him – staining the white fabric of his pajamas. Zero didn't know what would await him if he turned to look at the face of his twin. Was that his own blood, or had he defended himself and wounded another? He wasn't really close enough to tell.
"Zero..." Ichiru called out to him weakly, his voice a hoarse whisper. His body was shivering – whether from the cold or a wound, Zero didn't know. But the weakness in his voice burned into the hunter's mind.
Like so many times that he had been sick, so many times he had needed Zero. It hurt the hunter to hear that desperate need. Zero could not leave him, even though his twin had been cruel to him, even though he had betrayed him and their parents and therefore everything that had ever meant anything to him. But none of that meant much anymore - Ichiru was all the family he had. Always would he give up everything for him.
Even if in return Ichiru only used him.
It didn't matter.
He loved his brother more than anything.
More than Yuuki, more than his parents, more than life itself.
"Ichiru." Zero could not move toward him. He realized suddenly that he couldn't move at all. He struggled intensely but he only seemed to be taken farther and farther away from his twin.
Ichiru kept calling, his voice fading slowly, the vision of his small form vanishing slowly.
"Zero... Zero... Zero... you have... abandoned me... Zero... Zero"
"No! Ichiru! No, I'm right here. I would never abandon you!"
But his twin didn't seem to hear him. He was fading away, disappearing into nothingness. Zero wanted so desperately to comfort him, to run over to him and hold him. See if he was injured – even if it was a trap…
Why couldn't he move? He gritted his teeth and struggled against his invisible restraints but he could not, all his limbs were laden and refused to respond.
What was worse than that: Ichiru's voice didn't stop calling. Even as it became quieter, even as it faded, Zero could clearly make out the words as though they were whispered directly into his ear.
"Zero... you left me to die. You killed me..."
Zero saw his own hands pulled up in front of him, though the rest remained rooted to the spot. They were covered in blood. And suddenly he knew the smell of that blood. It was Ichiru's.
"No..."
Gasping for air, Zero woke from his nightmare. He was drenched in sweat, panting heavily. He closed his eyes and forced his lungs to calm down with the images still vivid in his mind. Always nightmares – almost every night. It had been so since it seemed like forever. Since that night. The night Shizuka tore their family apart, literally. When Ichiru had turned and betrayed them all. Betrayed him. But Zero couldn't really blame him for it.
For years it had been Shizuka and Ichiru's betrayal that haunted his nights. And the blood. All that blood.
But Zero was no longer a child. He was no longer horrified by carnage. He saw it on a daily basis. He had almost forgotten what it was like beforehand. Without all that blood. No, it wasn't the blood that kept him up during the nights.
Now it was Ichiru who haunted him. Differently, perhaps, but haunting nonetheless. Zero had always worried about his twin, and he had always cared. It had been the hardest thing ever to point the Bloody Rose toward his temple when their loyalties clashed over Shizuka. But not till the night he drank Ichiru's blood did the dreams begin to trouble him like they did now. Yet, even for that he couldn't hate his twin.
His hunter strength had increased with Ichiru's last 'gift', but Zero felt like his brother had not quite left; like he was still lingering within him, refusing to leave him in peace. It was the reason why Zero hardly slept through a night since then. As though draining his life into Zero had given his soul the power to reside in his. Watching and disapproving. If only he knew why...
Did Ichiru hate him so much that it was still coursing through his veins? Had Shizuka's blood within Ichiru given his twin more power over Zero? But what reasons or benefits could his twin have by leaving Zero with such a lingering parting gift? Was it merely spite? Or was it perhaps that his death weighed down the hunter's conscience like lead?
He couldn't know. The hunter had been asking himself these same questions for over three years now and still, he had no answers.
Helpless against the misery, Zero caught his head in his palm and suppressed the shuddering loneliness that threatened to tear through him. It didn't exactly help that the stone walls and floor of his dream so closely resembled the stone room where Zero had drained his twin, killing him... how he wished that those memories had never resurfaced.
In a haze of blood lust he was supposed to black out, the rush blotting out all traces of conscience. The blood was supposed to overwhelm him so that he recalled nothing of the crimes he committed… but he hadn't been blessed with such ignorance.
Instead his mind had burned remnants of images into his memory that he would later regret over and over again. He remembered the taste of his twin's blood on his thirsty tongue; he remembered the fading body that had been so warm in his arms beneath his hungry fangs.
There was nothing he could do that would ever make up for what he had done. A small voice was telling him repeatedly that it had been Ichiru's wish, that his twin had grown tired of feeling like the weaker part of a whole, that it couldn't have possibly been his fault because Ichiru shot him, knowing how it would affect his older brother – but Zero's regret drowned out that voice.
Ichiru had used him, one last time. But it wasn't his twin that Zero held responsible. It was himself. There was no excuse in the world that would justify killing your twin. Never. He was a monster, an abomination. He refused to allow himself to hope for anything else. Proof was right here – he was bonded with a pureblood vampire, because he – a hunter – had felt sorry for a bloodsucker. A pureblood vampire of all things. As if knowing he would fall to Level E wasn't enough – no, now he had to fall as low as possible beforehand, too…
Zero shook his head – this musing was getting him nowhere. It was a dream, nothing more. A reminder of what he was. There was no reason to be upset, he told himself. He knew what he was. And innocent was not on that list.
He knew he deserved no kindness, he needed to repent. He needed to endure. So he would continue to hunt vampires to protect those who needed protection, he would continue to be a leader to the team of hunters that needed guidance and - Zero swallowed hard at the thought - if the pureblood demanded it, he would submit. If that was what the pureblood wanted… his submission, then he would give it – as long as no one innocent was hurt, well…. no one human.
The hunter nodded to himself with hardened resolve. All was back in perspective, Zero thought. No need to get upset. Now all he could hope for was a swift death. But that would really be asked too much now, wouldn't it.
Zero leaned his head against the bed and chuckled humorlessly in the dark. Maybe he was already entirely insane. He was a hunter – where was his pride? Yagari would surely give him something serious if he heard that his student would submit to a pureblood. But what choice did he have? As a teenager he'd been kidding himself that he could stand up to them. Like a child that could barely walk challenging a full grown dragon. The thought made him smile. So be it. As long as only he was hurt, it didn't matter. He may submit but he would never fear them.
Composing himself, he thought of taking a shower again. He was dead tired, but he knew sleep would not come to him easily now. Even his body had learned to dread falling asleep after one nightmare. Because he knew what it meant - there would be more tonight.
~{}~
"Of course I would."
There was no hesitation – Kaname knew there wouldn't be any. The blond noble most likely considered this request to be one of the highest honors he could have been endowed. So the pureblood continued.
"This pretense includes everyone but Zero, Seiren and me. For the beginning I think even Aido, Kain, Ruka and if possible, Shiki should not be aware of the fact that Zero and I are bound. It would be the best to uphold it at all times, just in case we were to be watched." Kaname grimaced internally at how paranoid that sounded, but it was necessary. He usually knew when he was being watched or followed and usually Seiren did, too. But there was always the possibility of overlooking something crucial.
Takuma nodded. "I understand."
Kaname quietly regarded the blond noble sitting in front of him. Takuma was wearing that expression of eager devotion on his face that impressed only too clearly upon the pureblood how different they both were. Though they acted like friends, when it came down to it, Takuma was Kaname's pawn. And he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Takuma would be a target for those who wished to harm Kaname. Takuma might have guessed as much, but only Kaname knew how dangerous it might be. The noble most likely knew nothing of Rido being alive. But instead of pressing the issue, the pureblood went on light-heartedly.
"No more Kaname-sama from your mouth then, Takuma." Kaname grinned. It was high time on that account anyway.
Takuma blushed. "Alright, Kaname."
Then the brunette looked at him seriously again, hoping to somehow also impress reassurance.
"This pretense will require a certain amount of… closeness, but I do not wish to violate you."
"Yes, of course, I understand." Takuma said in complete trust.
Inwardly, Kaname sighed. Takuma wouldn't deny him anything. And there was no one who would stop the pureblood from demanding anything he chose from his follower. If he wanted to rape the noble, he wouldn't protest. He wouldn't even have the right to do so. Kaname's attempt at upholding the notion of friendship between them was futile. Still, he had to try for the sake of his own sanity.
And with Takuma's unquestioning consent, Kaname had even more qualms about using his most loyal follower. The noble couldn't know about how dangerous this hoax bond might prove to be for himself. Furthermore, ensuring at least a small amount of safety for the innocent noble and possible information recovery for the pureblood meant that Kaname would have to overstep boundaries of friendship he had never wanted to think of even bending, let alone overstepping….
It was ironic, Kaname thought. It was Takuma's loyalty, trust and caring nature that made him so valuable to the pureblood. But at the same time it made the noble that much more vulnerable to the pureblood he trusted. And Kaname was about to take advantage of him. He was about to place a pawn into the game that he held too dear to lose.
It wasn't right to abuse him like that, but Kaname needed all options. If his and Zero's life depended on it, then Takuma would become nothing but a tool. Now that he had made up his mind, the priorities were clear. He just hoped that whatever happened, he could spare the noble's life and fix the rest with alteration of memory.
But he betrayed none of these thoughts toward the noble and smiled.
"Relax your mind. I will plant the memory of our bonding into your thoughts. Then I want you to reach out toward my mind with yours. Don't worry, I will guide you."
"Yes, Kaname." Takuma nodded fervently, his blue eyes large.
Kaname knew he needed to tread carefully here. A mind was a fragile thing. He flooded the noble's thoughts with warmth and carefully showed him the entire memory before embedding it into his mind. Even though the noble technically knew their bond was not real, he now had the memory of it that made perfect sense to him. In time, their act would become reality for him, even without Kaname's doing. The laws of the mind would ensure that everything in Takuma's mind made sense to the noble one way or another - and two contradictory memories did not. Being the work of a pureblood's mind, the memory Kaname implanted was bound to be stronger than the noble's own memory of the previous conversation. After a week or two – to the noble it would be entirely real and the act would be that much more believable. But for now, the noble knew that he had gotten a memory that wasn't his and he would proudly ensure that he didn't fail Kaname.
What Takuma couldn't know about, however, was that while showing him all details of that memory, Kaname was weaving through his mind, gathering every scrap of information he could find. He was inspecting the noble's mind without him even knowing it, learning about Takuma's most private thoughts, his most personal habits and nothing escaped Kaname's prodding inquiry. By the time Takuma had grasped everything about their bonding memory, Kaname knew Takuma better than he did himself. He knew about Takuma's sexual preferences, all his business deals – secret and not-secret, about his habits in the bathroom, his favorite color socks, where Shiki was most ticklish and he had also found out that Takuma hadn't told him about the fact that he had been chosen to become a member of the Council.
He wouldn't bring it up of course, seeing as how that would betray what he had done, but it was worth pondering. It may have made Takuma even more vulnerable than the pureblood had intended anyway. He didn't blame the noble for accepting the offer – he had gone through all the thoughts related to it that Takuma had had and knew how difficult a decision it had been. And of course the Council would never want Kaname to know about it. Takuma's involvement in the Council was going to be kept a secret, since the pureblood he served had returned. What precisely he would be doing for them, Takuma didn't know yet. But just that little bit was still crucial information.
Word had it that Council members were being 'threatened'. Kaname was well aware of that. With vampires that 'threat' included a little more than death threats on paper in a pretty envelope. And the timing struck Kaname as rather strangely coincidental with the reappearance of his uncle. There was always a lot of stirring and brewing in the shadows with Council members, but unlike their trivial rivalries this perhaps included a little more trouble than usual. Kaname wasn't terribly interested in their affairs, but being tracked by their hounds, them being threatened – possibly by his uncle – and Takuma now one of their ranks, all that meant he would have to immerge himself into their interests more deeply as well – whether he liked to or not.
~{}~
Councillor Ojima dabbed at his brow with a handkerchief. His encounters with Kuran-sama, the elder had shaken him up badly. Earlier that evening, he had nearly drained three of his servants to make up for the blood loss after the last time the pureblood had feasted on him. Why he was still alive he didn't know. He probably didn't even want to know.
Never before had he bothered to notice how eerie these meetings were with the long shadows flitting across the elaborately furnished room where the four of them - all of them the highest ranked members of the Vampire Council - sat in deep conversation. He had never felt this much fear since he had joined the Council. When he became a member more than half a century ago he had thought they were safe… now he knew that they only made fun of the purebloods when they were sure no harm came of it. Even if it was the Council's job to keep everything in balance, if a pureblood really tried, he or she could take them apart one by one and there was nothing any noble could do about it. Especially not when a Kuran was involved. Or even worse: two.
Ojima tried to pay attention. The four of them were sitting at a table speaking quietly among themselves and there was a slightly fearful air about their topic of conversation. The nervous noble tried to reassure himself while he listened to Councilor Ishida, the current head of the Vampire Council. He was a fierce vampire, his reddish brown hair and piercing blue eyes showing that he wasn't at all of Japanese descent. His heritage none withstanding, he was a very powerful noble – of the few that could have rivaled Ichijo's grandfather Asato, he would be the most likely to have won. But still, Ojima's mind wandered. His body was fully healed again… but what he had gone through the last time Kuran-sama had paid him a visit… he'd rather nobody knew. Though he knew his expression showed little of that, still, his own screams kept echoing in his mind.
"Ojima-san, you look pale." It was Ishida's voice. Ojima forced his dark eyes to face the cold blue gaze unflinching. It was the Council's policy to outwardly uphold balance in vampire society. Therefore, the Council outwardly showed the proper respect to those of higher rank. To any vampire it was an honor to be acknowledged by a pureblood, and an even greater one to be called on to serve them… but behind closed doors in the Council… things were different. It wasn't like they didn't know Kuran-sama had paid him a visit. Ojima knew they made fun of him behind his back for being Kuran-sama's dinner. He just wasn't sure how much of a disgrace it would be if they knew what else had happened.
"A minor incident – nothing to be worried about, Ishida-sama." He conceded, knowing nobody was fooled. Though they may do business together, no love was lost between the four Council members. Each of them was there for the sake of power – if it meant a temporary alliance was necessary, that's what they would commit to. That didn't mean that it was wise to show weakness.
"That minor incident… could it have something to do with a certain pureblood, perhaps? Maybe… one of the Kuran bloodline…?" Ishida prodded.
Ojima fidgeted. He really, really didn't want to go into detail here…
"It appears so, Ishida-sama." He admitted lowering his gaze in defeat.
"So Kuran-sama has resurfaced..." Councilor Miyazaki spoke. It wasn't like she hadn't known beforehand already. Of all the nobles Ojima had ever met, she was the most calculating one he had ever seen. She was a beautiful female, but her eyes were always cold. Whenever she was involved, others died like flies. If the name hadn't already been given to a famous pureblood woman, Ojima would consider her to be the most worthy candidate to be the 'Black Widow'. She was probably the first of them all to have figured out that Kuran-sama was alive. No one knew how she did it, how she gathered her information, so the blond noble had learned to be very careful around her. Not in a million years would he ever want to end up in one of her nets.
"Yes." Ishida answered.
"Which one are you talking about?" Councilor Fukuda said in an annoyed tone of voice. He didn't look it, but by now no one was fooled – he was highly interested and carefully paying attention, despite his bored demeanor.
"Both, I would say…" Ishida said.
"So, which one does Ishida-sama consider to be the larger threat?" Miyazaki asked.
"The older one, always the older one, Miyazaki-san." Fukuda threw in rudely in a condescending tone of voice.
Ojima shivered at the look she gave him in answer. But he didn't seem to care. He was an eccentric and as such he displayed odd behavior and wore… curious attire – even though older vampires naturally tended to acquire oddities over the ages, Fukuda sort of went overboard with them. Currently his hair was made up into something resembling purple flames and the piece of jewelry he wore kept changing annoying colors. Not to mention his bare torso that was covered in blood tattoos. He refused to answer as to why they didn't fade with his healing abilities so it was still a mystery to all of them how he'd gotten them to remain. But hardly anyone nowadays bothered to ask him about his oddities anymore. It was much better to let others gossip about them. Why he insisted on wearing a smelly skirt of bear fur this evening, Ojima really didn't want to know. He just wished it could have been the Tibetan monk robes again or that Mexican poncho - or hell forbid - jeans or… slacks.
"Actually in this case I was wondering…" Ishida mused. "I am sure that currently Kuran Rido is more of a threat to our lives than his nephew is. However, though momentarily more lethal…" at this Ishida gave a smirk in Ojima's direction "… he is most likely not the bigger threat to our cause…"
The Head of the Council had obviously been displeased by Fukuda's rudeness, yet the matter of having two of the most powerful purebloods back in the game seemed to be more important to him for the moment.
"And which cause is that?" Fukuda asked in his bored tone of voice. "… Ishida-sama?" he added after Ishida gave him a look of ice.
A long silence stretched out. Then the Head of the Council looked at Miyazaki expectantly.
"Ahh… the hunters." Fukuda said off-handedly. "I really don't know why you make such a fuss about them, really. Their numbers are dwindling and they will become extinct without us having to interfere. Just wait for a few decades and the problem will resolve itself…"
Miyazaki's cold gaze betrayed her anger. "The hunters…" she spewed with disgust. "… are a bigger problem than we had anticipated. Do any of you even appreciate the time and resources it takes to amount that many Level E's without the help of a pureblood? And they just walked in on the first day and killed Level E's as though it was a shooting range – and according to my sources, it was the kid hunters, too…"
"Kid hunters?" Fukuda asked semi-interested before he leaned back again demonstrating that there was nothing to worry about. "There you have it. They're sending the kids to do it now. They're really low on numbers then."
"You don't seem to understand, Councilor Fukuda." Miyazaki said in an acid tone "…they sent a lot of hunters. The group of youngest hunters just happened to be the ones running into them and somehow they pulled a killing spree… Now what if they're all that good or better? Then we've underestimated their strength…"
"No need to get aggravated, Councilors…" The head of the Council said soothingly. "Losses?" Ishida asked.
"Almost all Level E's." Miyazaki answered.
"How unpleasant. Good thing then, there will be more down there than Level E's tomorrow…" Councilor Ishida said with a glint in his eyes. "Let's see how good they really are."
"Sir?" Miyazaki asked suspiciously.
"Leave matters in my hands, Miyazaki-san. I will send in a bigger challenge… The hunters are weaker now than they have been in years. We'd be stupid to miss this opportunity. Let's see if we can't reduce their numbers a little more... Besides Ojima-san, I understand you have a few servants that are in dire need of a little redeeming. This would be a rather appropriate assignment, don't you think?"
Ojima looked at him seriously. "When they return… if they return. They have disappeared without a trace and haven't answered a call since."
"Then I will worry about them." Ishida said thoughtfully. "But perhaps you could gather a little more information on the active hunters. I have a feeling we will find out a few interesting things."
It was evident he wasn't going to elaborate on the subject, so Ojima turned to the matter most pressing in his mind.
"What about the Kurans?"
"A little worried about that minor incident of yours… are you?" Ishida prodded.
"I am fairly sure that one of the two will not last very long. It is no secret they have issues in that family…" Fukuda said.
"Who will prevail, do you think?" Miyazaki asked.
Ishida appeared to be thinking rather intensely. "The question most pressing is not who will prevail, but what the stakes are as they fight."
"A battle between purebloods… just what we need to get in our way." Fukuda grumbled. "How the hell did they show up again anyway?"
"Kuran Rido was supposed to have been dead – killed by his nephew." Ojima agreed.
"I heard Kuran Kaname had a Level D pet that did the dirty work for him. Just like with Shizuka. Perhaps that would be worth looking into again."
Miyzaki smirked. "I can't imagine a single detail eluding you the first time you read a report."
Ishida smiled. "Of course not. I was only interested in the things I didn't read because they weren't written down."
"So you're saying we aren't sure about Rido's death in the first place?" Miyazaki said an eyebrow raised.
"Maybe no one died and it's all a lie – how would we know?" Ojima interjected.
"Oh, please… if he disintegrated to ashes, what's there not to know…?" Fukuda scoffed.
"So he returned from the dead?" Miyazaki continued.
Fukuda scowled. "Be realistic."
"Purebloods are powerful…" Ishida put in.
"Or maybe he just sent an image of himself and someone was imagining things when he presumably died." Fukuda offered.
"So Kuran Kaname lied?" Miyazaki asked.
"He wasn't very detailed in his statement." Ishida said slowly.
"Ahh… the things you would like to read that aren't there." Fukuda grinned.
"Exactly."
"Kuran Kaname announced today to have found a new mate." Ojima said.
"He didn't happen to say to whom, now, did he?" Fukuda asked in an annoyed tone.
"At least we know why he's alive then." Miyazaki said. "So who is it?"
Fukuda rolled his eyes. "Please, everyone knows… the only ones remotely close enough to that sociophobe is the young Ichijo or his invisible Preatorian."
"So you're thinking it's Ichijo, then?" Ojima asked.
"Or the Preatorian…?" Fukuda chuckled.
"You do realize that he was blood bound to his pureblood sister and in order to not go entirely insane he would have to be closer to Ichijo than her?" Miyazaki put in ignoring Fukuda's comment.
"Of course we know that. Let's face it – the Kuran girl was weak. Maybe she was more of a decoy than anything else. Maybe Kuran was together with Ichijo all along. He really is a pretty thing, don't you think?" Fukuda looked satisfied at his explanation.
"Careful, Fukuda-san. He is Ichijo Asato's grandson. I'm sure he's a lot stronger than he appears." Miyazaki warned.
"He's a child – barely two decades old." Fukuda shrugged.
"If he's so strong then why is he with Kuran?" Ojima asked.
"Who knows what Kuran has to offer…" Fukuda hinted.
"We're talking about the same Ichijo who is now a secret member of our council?" Ojima asked.
"The same." Ishida nodded.
"So he cannot be trusted." Miyazaki interjected.
Ishida smiled. "Then again, who can…?" he pointedly looked at all three other Councilors before continuing. "No, I agree, he can't be trusted. But he can be used. Even if indeed they are bound…"
Fukuda stared at him. "How will you do that – Kaname will surely use him to spy on us."
Ishida's smile widened to an eerie grin. "Then we will use him as well."
Ojima's eyes widened. "Surely you must be joking… you want to outsmart a Kuran by using his mate against him? This is a Kuran we're talking about… Remember what happened to Ichijo Asato…"
Ishida leaned back smugly. "A lot always goes on when Kurans are involved… I am sure this will be interesting."
There was a moment of silence, in which the other three members tried to process their head Councilor's audacity. So deeply retreated in their thoughts and scheming were they, that none of them seemed to notice the thin wisp of dark vapor below the hem of one of the heavy crimson over-curtains. None of them saw the pair of two dissimilar eyes – one blue and one red – slowly fade before the meeting ended and the Councilors left. A low chuckle, out of their hearing range, erupted.
"Yes… I promise this will be interesting, Councilor. But not for the reasons you would prefer…"
~{}~
Takuma felt his mind filled with Kaname's presence. It was wonderfully warm and unthreatening. Somewhere in the back of his thoughts he knew that any pureblood could just enter his head like that and make it feel good. Still, Takuma was flattered by Kaname's consideration. The noble's mind did not seem to have the need to rebel at the intrusion at all – well, maybe the wine was helping a great deal, too.
Kaname slowly poured visions of the memory into him that he would obtain. With considerate slowness Kaname was introducing it to him and the noble felt pampered by the attention. Still, when more information started to enter through their connection Takuma began to appreciate the slow pace, though the amount of information still left the noble reeling with new input.
But among that information was also a piece of knowledge on how to reach Kaname's mind. Similar to a homing beacon. Unless explicitly invited, lower class vampires could hardly even find a way to access a higher level vampire mind, let alone get through their defenses.
Takuma looked at Kaname in awe. The pureblood nodded in encouragement. Though a high class noble, Takuma had rarely made use of his mental powers. Except for purebloods and a few Council members he was usually the highest ranked anyway and with the caste system ingrained into vampires as deeply as it was, there was no necessity to impose his will on others. They followed his orders without reminder. Although he did wonder about Seiren. She adhered to Kaname only and seemed to defy the system somehow.
Mentally reaching out, the blonde noble sought entrance to the pureblood's mind. Searchingly, Takuma slowly explored it. Of course he would only see what Kaname wanted him to find, but then again there was so much there, so many things that he didn't know yet, he had no chance to feel any boundaries. The knowledge was mainly business related, but there were a many peculiarities and a few historical pieces of knowledge as well. And, naturally, in accordance with Kaname's favorite hobby, seemingly infinite knowledge of literature.
While still overwhelmed with all the information the pureblood was sharing with him, Takuma heard Kaname address him in his mind.
"Do not hesitate to speak to me through our mental connection if you consider it necessary. That also includes everything that would harm you - for I must then consider that harm to be aimed at me through you." Takuma felt so close to Kaname, he couldn't possibly keep anything of importance from the pureblood.
Haltingly he started. "Then.. you probably should know that… uhm… I was chosen to be a member for the Council. They seemed to know that you… " Takuma didn't know how to finish. The whole topic weighed down the noble's heart. He had spent too many hours during the day wondering what he would tell Kaname when it came up.
"I understand how these things work, Takuma." Kaname said reassuringly. "Your position is a difficult one. For the beginning just follow their orders and do what they say. Simply report to me what you know. They will be careful because they will know by tomorrow that we are bound. Tell them what they want to know, even if it is about me – if it involves Zero, however, be careful. Share your mind if you need to."
"Yes, Kaname." Takuma consented. He felt relieved. Kaname would take care of things when they were over his head, he was sure of it. Everything was going to be fine. The noble was truly happy. He smiled and reached for the rest of his wine. But Kaname's hand reached for his wrist stopping him.
"One more thing." Takuma looked into Kaname's eyes. There was a sudden seriousness there. With his other hand, the pureblood's pale fingers were undoing his shirt buttons down his chest.
Takuma's eyes widened.
Kaname nodded in encouragement and the noble almost dropped his glass.
"Drink."
"But Kaname-sama... I can't..." Takuma hesitated.
"Kaname. No more sama." Takuma vaguely realized that the pureblood had plucked the wine glass from his hand just as he thought he might drop it.
"If we're to pretend to be blood bound, you should smell like we've been sharing blood."
Slowly, Takuma nodded in understanding. It did make sense…
"And you...?" he asked.
"I concluded that it is more important that you smell like me than the other way around. No one would question me. I doubt anyone will even notice. And I would not risk forcing you into a bond with me, even if it isn't strong. I value you as a friend and if you feel the same, even just as friends, there would be some kind of bond." Kaname said seriously.
"I know you have a private life, Takuma." He continued. "I want you to keep it. However, I would ask you and Shiki to move into Kuran mansion.
Takuma blushed. Takuma hadn't exactly kept it a secret to the pureblood that he and Senri had gotten closer. In public he was very discrete about his private life. No one else except Seiren would know about him and Senri. Of course Kaname had thought through all the details already.
"I apologize for the inconvenience it will mean for your relationship that you're pretending to be my bond mate."
"Kaname... it is a privilege, no inconvenience." Takuma said defensively.
Kaname smiled, parting his shirt. The wine had definitely taken effect - Takuma felt his eyes becoming red at just the thought of what he was about to do. His fangs lengthened and his body began to shake as he moved closer to the pureblood. He hadn't shared his blood with Senri yet; he had been living on blood tablets for so long that the lure of Kaname's blood was very strong.
Kaname knew how Takuma was struggling. Blood tablets weren't satisfying in the least. And to be presented with the chance of drinking pure blood… Takuma was trying, but his will was not that strong and Kaname certainly didn't blame him. The way the noble trembled, the pureblood feared might just fall off his lap while drinking, tearing flesh and spilling blood everywhere.
Well, that wouldn't do. Kaname reached out to hold him while offering this priceless gift. Takuma had already let his vampire senses take over and inhaled his scent deeply.
"I trust you will not abuse this privilege." Kaname said softly.
"Never." the noble breathed with a shred of clarity. Then he slowly slid his fangs into the pureblood's smooth skin.
Kaname noticed it instantly through their bond – Zero was thirsty. With the second the smell of his blood hit the air, Zero's chest must have felt like it turned to ice. He could feel the hunter struggling with his thirst. His own chest was echoing with the hunter's stabbing pain. Especially during the beginning of their bond, Kaname expected the hunter to be in desperate need for his blood. He wasn't even really stabilized at Level D. His need would be enormous. But Zero refused to communicate, still shutting him out from his mind. Perhaps he would have to go to the hunter afterwards. He would also have to tell him about their pretended bond. But for right now, he needed to worry about Takuma.
Kaname held the noble, steadying him. He hated himself for what he did next. While Takuma drank, lost in the taste of pure blood, Kaname whispered a few ancient words. He knew them by heart. A drop of blood welled up from his fingertip and he pressed it to the back of Takuma's head at the base of his skull. The small droplet curled together to resemble the shape and consistency of a small thorn. Then it disappeared through the noble's skin, now invisible to anyone else. Kaname felt a surge of energy go through him, winding upwards along his spine. The noble, however, noticed nothing and continued drinking unperturbed.
~{}~
Sighing, Zero got up and headed to the shower. There was no way he could go back to sleep like this. Dropping his boxers to the floor he stepped in and turned the water up to ice-cold, stubbornly waiting out the shivering protests of his body as the hard drops slammed onto his fatigued shape. Scowling fiercely, he waited until he was so cold that he couldn't feel his skin anymore. These nightmares were sapping his energy, drawing away his strength.
It had never mattered to him until today. It hadn't made a difference because no one else depended on his strength. But with their assignment for the week he needed his strength. His team depended on him. And not just in the sense of him taking the lead. No, they depended on him to take responsibility toward their superiors and what mattered most – their lives depended on his strength. He couldn't afford to be weakened by lack of sleep for nightmares. And keeping his thoughts focused at all times so he could keep his own piece of mind didn't help, either.
It was tiring and demanding to achieve that level of control and keep it permanently. But aside for the fact that it really was for the better if the pureblood didn't know what went on inside his mind, the hunter had hoped that the challenge of keeping himself occupied would drain him until he was tired enough to sleep, nightmare or not. Well, that… and he wanted this privacy, he desperately needed it. Living here - hunting, he was hardly alone anymore. He needed space to breathe. He was already living in a mansion infested with vampires everywhere - no need to have one stalk his mind permanently as well. The closeness of vampires in his proximity was gearing up his hunter senses permanently. So sleep would not come natural to him in any way.
He leaned his forehead against the icy tiles. In the course of one day his life had gone from simple and hopeless to complicated and demanding. He was tired, very much so. But just when he thought he might go back to bed to get some sleep, he felt something else.
He cursed. His throat was scratchy, his mouth parched. Coldness clutched at him from the inside - it was a coldness that would always be colder than any shower he could take. His mind slowly filled with a haze of want for the warm thick essence of life and he knew his eyes were burning crimson. He could smell Kuran's blood. It was only faint but still he struggled for composure clenching his teeth. It didn't seem to help.
Where had his control gone, dammit? For three years he had battled his thirst and now he couldn't even get a little rush of pure blood out of his nostrils. A small part of him knew perfectly well that tasting a person's blood once was enough to long for it for eternity and - with pure blood - no other blood could compete. Having had Kuran's blood not for the first time either didn't make it any easier.
The urge to run to Kuran to see what the matter was, irritated him immensely. He cursed the stupid bond. Wasn't like there were liters of pure blood in the air. And there were only two vampire auras in that room – Kuran himself and Ichijo. Hell, there was no sane reason whatsoever for a hunter to check if a powerful pureblood was safe. But the feeling kept nagging him. And the thirst drew him toward Kuran as well.
This is ridiculous…
He'd be damned if he went crawling to the pureblood like this. So he did what he always did, when it got this bad - he found his sleeping pills and took five. He waited for ten minutes clutching the rim of the sink, the minutes crawling by in endless slowness while he fought the urge to get his hands on Kuran's pure blood. Then, finally, the ten minutes passed and he felt a creepy leadenness come over him. He downed a blood tablet - knowing his body would not be able to refuse it when sedated this heavily. He stumbled back into bed already drowsy. At least if there were to be any nightmares he wouldn't remember them.
~{}~
Kaname had seen the dazed noble off to his rooms before retreating to his own bedroom. He sat there behind the heavy curtains peering out at a gray mourning as he poured himself a glass of wine. He watched the dissolving blood tablet in the red liquid thoughtfully. Zero had somehow gone back to sleep even if Kaname couldn't quite figure out how. He had half expected the hunter to be thirsty enough to come to him and ask for blood. But the hunter was stubborn. Kaname smiled.
Of course… this was Zero.
He would have to talk to him when he woke; if only about the blood sharing and the hoax bond. And since the hunter wasn't into mind communication, they'd have to talk in person. Most likely he'd have to get up early. The pureblood had a distinct feeling that the hunter didn't really care for breakfast and would try to disappear as early as possible.
Kaname swirled his glass and then downed it in one sip. After that he poured himself another glass of wine to get rid of the taste before he got ready for bed.
~{}~
He had experienced all kinds of dreams before, of course. Nightmares were frequent, often including terrible things happening to Yuuki or reliving the night his parents died and his mind was not innocent enough to not have experienced wet dreams. Sometimes, he'd get ideas through his dreams on how to deal with business issues. And of course, in the two weeks after Yuuki's death, due to the bond they shared - or rather had shared - he had had the dubious pleasure of experiencing the nightmares induced by the thirst for blood and the loss of a bond mate.
That had not been pretty.
During the second week he'd taken hunter poison and deliberately chained himself to the bed for fear of losing his mind in his sleep or using his powers without realizing it or waking up to wreaking havoc, endangering others he did not intend to hurt. Certainly, dreams were not to be toyed with – not for someone with his need of control. But he thought that he'd been through that all. He thought he'd had them all. Tonight, however, was the first night he started having a new kind of dream.
His heart beat fast instantly as a soft caress of fangs let the sensitive skin at his throat throw up a wave of goose bumps. It was a soft caress and a deliberate one, a caress intentionally inducing pleasure, a caress only a lover would grant. How he had longed for Yuki to treat him to such a gift.
But she never had.
Perhaps if he hadn't been so unused to such gentleness it wouldn't have affected him so deeply. As it was, his cheeks were burning with the heat of intense longing and his eyelids fluttered as he tried to conceal the impact of that wonderful contact. Not yet knowing what he hoped to gain from such a caress, his sight was blurry and the only thing he was capable of, was feeling. All his conscious thought was bent on how that single touch induced a cocktail of chemicals in his body that would inevitably lead to him getting lost in a most delicious haze.
A calloused hand wove into his hair and lightly pulled his head back without meeting any resistance, baring his throat to that hungry set of sharp fangs, their scraping caress on his skin now leaving no more doubt about their intent. But their previous gentleness was still there. Kaname felt himself complying willingly, delighted at the shivers it sent through his body - straight to his groin. He found himself pinned to the wall, but it wasn't painful in any way. The aroused pureblood grasped at the sturdy arm but lost his purchase as a strong body pressed close to his own. Instead, his hands slid down to rest against the cold wall behind him with the heat rising unbearably between their two entwined bodies.
When the sharp ivory points of those fangs finally pierced his skin, the intensity of that sensation flashed through his entire system like a bolt of electricity. It was just a few minutes later and he was writhing and rubbing against the other body in the strong embrace. And he could feel he wasn't the only one who was hard as a rock between his legs. He was becoming dizzy from the draining of his blood, but his body was weak with pleasure instead of blood loss. A wave of desire ran through every part of his body crashing against the shores of his sanity as the hand that had been pinning him against the wall began roaming his body. His shirt had disappeared somehow and the painfully aroused buds on his chest relished the contact with knowledgeable fingertips. As those persistent fingers slowly began kneading and teasing them the helpless pureblood had no way of stifling a throaty moan.
He was still slowly being drained of his blood as the wonderful touch travelled lower to where the belt fastened his slacks. The nimble fingers quickly loosened it while prying them open and enclosed his length completely without warning. He arched his back into the firm grasp, making the fangs dig into his skin even deeper. All sensations merged and Kaname could feel the caress of those drops of blood rolling across his skin from where they escaped the sucking lips just as he could feel those fangs deeply embedded into his skin and every atom of heat between their bodies as the fingers firmly pumped his length with sure strokes.
The entire experience was overwhelming for the young pureblood. As a fingernail taunted the weeping tip of his arousal he felt his knees buckle and a soft breath escaped his opened mouth. Luckily, the strong body was still pinning him to the wall or he would have collapsed unseemly into a trembling heap on the floor. Heat coursed through him, tearing at his sanity, engulfing his fuzzy thoughts in a beautiful delirium with almost painful intensity. Kaname vaguely noticed himself writhing in the slow rhythm that hand was delivering. Weak with want but on fire for more he stared into his partner's eyes. The burning look they gave him promised so much more - it almost made him sob out loud. Coupled with the increasing intensity of those deliberate ministrations, Kaname let his head fall back with a low, strangled moan.
"Uhhnnngg, Zero..."
