Get some tissues ready! I already built my fortress and hiding myself in a bulletproof cube.
I own nothing but the oc and the plot.
it is a bit late, but Happy St. Patrick day!
'Enjoy'
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ Continuation ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
"Zero, why are you crying?" Kaname panicked when huge drops started flowing down his fingers as he cupped the face of the distressed hunter.
Zero let out a strangled sob, unable to do anything but cry.
Knowing that someone might come through the corridor, Kaname pushed the door and grabbed Zero's hand to guide him inside the bathroom. He did not expect the jolt that ran through the hunter's body following by the pulling of his hand in attempt to escape him.
The unexplained fear he saw in amethyst eyes pulled at his heartstrings, he collected the hunter in a hug, trying to calm his trembling form.
As soon as the familiar scent hit him, Zero's panic soared and he started pushing against the firm chest weakly, whimpering at the failing attempt to escape.
As much as the resistance bothered him, Kaname let go of him without uttering a word, just trying to communicate how worried he was by gentle caress and tender gaze.
Zero's internal war was taking a toll on him, every cell of his body was screaming at him to jump into the embrace he has been yearning for, but another side of him warned him, alarmed him of how wrong such an action can be.
"Don't touch me…" He whispered as he backed off a few steps before turning his back to the pureblood.
Confused was not enough to describe Kaname as he watched the hunter walk down the corridor, lost and groggy. The pureblood felt helpless, frustrated. He was holding himself back since the moment they met at the changing room, he slipped when he felt the touch of Zero's skin, he could not resist touching him, begging him silently not to reject him again. Disappointment filled him when the hunter yanked his hand and kept his distance, but the show must go on. He could feel the amethyst eyes staring at them as they took the pictures, but the moment he tried meeting them, fury engulfed him at the sight of that man hugging and Zero actually having a pleasant conversation with him, he could not bear to watch them at all. Resuming his perfect acting as the happy King, he was floored when the next time he tried to meet those jewel like orbs only to find them drenched in tear and screaming in pain. He could not wait for the dance to be over, he was literally trembling in worry and frustration for not being able to run by his side when the hunter disappeared. He knew that Yuki must have felt it, and he was grateful for her not commenting on it, instead, he wanted to believe that the reason for her refusing the second dance was to set him free to do whatever he wanted to do.
He stood pinned to his spot, watching as the silver haired hunter walked a little better but slowly towards the back exit. The murmurs coming from the other end of the corridor snapped him out of his daze and made him realize what he exactly he was doing, letting the potentially last chance to get the hunter back slip between his finger without doing anything.
In a swift movement, he shortented the distance between them and grabbed Zero's arm. This time, he threw the resisting hunter over his shoulder and went into the first of many rooms around them. He closed the door, locking it before putting the hunter's down.
"PUT ME DOw-" Zero's struggle ceased a little before Kaname put him down and he staggered in his hurry to the to the bathroom joined to the bedroom they went in. He crouched again on the toilet seat and emptied his already empty stomach. Kaname rushed behind him, rubbing his back, alarmed by the sudden sickness. "Did you have too much to drink?"
Zero growled at the question and pushed the pureblood away to get to the sink. It was the pressure and position of Kaname's shoulder against his already weak stomach that induced this. I did not have a single drop of alcohol the whole day!
Zero did not voice his answer, neither did Kaname insist on it. Strangely, he felt a lot better after the second time he vomited. He gurgled and was a bit grateful for bringing him a lemon soda from the mini fridge in the room. He was leaning against the sink while Kaname leaned against the wall a little distance away from him.
Zero was the one to break the silence, "The ball is a huge success. Ai will certainly be happy when you tell her about it years later."
Kaname exhaled and ran a hand through his own hair, Zero could not help but be transfixed by the action, it always brought the brunet's charm up a notch. "I guess, but it is thanks to you that she will be able to hear about it."
Zero shook his head, "You should thank Wakaba, I certainly did not notice the syringe if her gut feeling did not tell to take a subtle step back. The vampire panicked for a spilt of a second and that is when I felt something was off about her."
Kaname nodded, "Yuki always said that Wakaba-san had a frightening instinct when it comes to assessing people at first glance."
The silence engulfed the space once again, before Zero pushed himself and walked towards the door. He had just realized that he left half of his outfit in the other bathroom and planned to fetch them. He startled when Kaname grabbed his arm again, this time more gently.
He hesitantly met worried wine orbs and waited for the question, "Why were you crying?"
"It is none of your business."
"Zero!" Kaname pursed his lips and tightened his hold on the arm.
Zero gripped the hand restraining him and removed it from his arm, with a bit of difficulty. "It is Kiryuu, Kuran!" He hissed.
"Zero, stop this nonsense already." Kaname hissed back as he followed the hunter until he almost reached the door of the room.
Out of patience, he grabbed and spun him around, using both hands to clutch the hunter's shoulder and make him look into his eyes, "Were you crying because of me?"
"Arrogant much!" Zero scoffed.
"Stop pulling my leg already!" Kaname snapped, startling the hunter who was trying his best to keep the indifferent mask that was crumbling with every touch and puff of breath brushing his skin.
"Zero…" Kaname pulled him closer until their face were close enough, "Zero…" He whispered against the soft lips he craved for the longest time, looking from them up to trembling lavender eyes and back to them. He could feel the tremor going through the hunter's body, the way he swallowed loudly, the slight pink tinting his cheek, the telltale sign that he knew like his own name, the hunter was responding to his desire.
Hesitantly, he leaned more and brushed his silken lips against those of the hunter. Both their breath hitched at the touch, the spark, the heat that coursed down their spine. The faint taste of the hunter was enough to spur Kaname on to deepen the kiss with the willing hunter.
A guttural growl resonated from his throat when Zero tangled his hands into his brown hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss and meeting his tongue in a sensational dance with his own. Kaname cradled the back of his head and wrapped an arm around slender waist to pull him closer, craving the warmth of his body in his embrace.
The sensual kiss had to be broken when the tremor changed a sob escaped the hunter instead of the sweet moan that Kaname expected. Still caging him in his arms, he pull away slightly for their face to meet properly. The hand cradling the silver hair moved to cup and wiped the renewed tears streaming down Zero's cheeks.
"Tell me how can I stop them, the tears?" Kaname whispered.
Zero looked at him with glassy eyes, his pain soaring with each second he spent in the pureblood's embrace, his resolve chipping away the longer he inhaled his scent and heard his caring voice.
He swallowed hard, "There is nothing you can do…"
"There is, if you let me…"
"…"
"Zero…"
"…"
"I love you." Kaname said it once again, hoping for the words to come through this time.
Zero stiffened in his arms, averting his eyes.
"I love you, I want us to have a fresh start… I know I hurt you as well, we can put everything behind and have a new proper beginning. I-"
"Stop it."
"Zero, I won't be cheating on Yuki because-"
"STOP IT!" Zero gave a slight punch on Kaname's chest.
"Stop being stubborn when you know that is what you want already." Kaname growled, yanking Zero's head to look into stubborn violet eyes. "I you think what you are doing is protecting the delusion of a perfect family that I have, you are dead wrong…"
Zero's eyes widened as a flash of a hateful memory sprung in his mind,
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞
"You are nothing but a home-wrecking slut! Go die!"
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞
As if a call of conscience awakened him, he pushed the pureblood with enough strength to send him tumbling back, Zero hugged his own trembling body. His tears flowing more and more as he struggled inside, wanting the pain to go away already but not knowing how to.
He looked at the stunned pureblood and tried to speak through his tightening throat and gritted teeth, "You're right, I am crying and feeling like shit because of you."
"Ze-"
"Stop talking… stop looking at me like… stop doing whatever you are doing to me." His voice came out croaky and strangled.
"Zero-"
"Stop trying to change me…" Stop changing me already.
Kaname was literally baffled, lost. The only thing leaving his lips was, "How can I make it better?"
Zero scoffed before taking a deep breath. He ran a frustrated hand over his face and gripped his hair, looking anywhere but the pureblood standing a little away from him. He finally pursed his lips and stomped towards the pureblood, grabbing the edges of the brown tailcoat he sneered, "You want to make it better?"
Keeping his calm, Kaname nodded.
"Then take me…"
Wine orb stared into violet ones for a moment, confusion swimming in them.
"Take me right here, right now… Fuck me one last time or do something to make me forget you… better yet, erase any memory of us ever being together in the first place… I want you out. of. my. head. out of my life… for good." Zero emphasized every word with a tug on the fabric he was clutching with trembling hands.
At that instant, Kaname felt vividly what it means to have your heart shattered to pieces. The words, expression and look in Zero's eyes said it all. The hunter wanted nothing to do with him, not now or ever. He held the trembling fists in his hands and whispered, "Why?"
Zero rolled his eyes in annoyance and tried to free his hands from the iron grip in vain, "Because I do not want to have anything to do with you… Because I hate you!"
Ignoring the painful blow the last words caused him, Kaname shrugged them, "Why do you want me to take you if you hated me?"
Zero startled but then drawled out the answer in a sarcastic way, "Because the only thing that interested me about you was your big dick and the way you move inside me…" The dark and confident look that he adapted drove the point home, reminding Kaname of the insults he threw at Zero in the fit of his anger.
"Zero-"
"Stop calling my name already! Let go of my hands if you are not going to do shit… Stop trying to get under my skin… I will never fall in love with you, get that through your thick skull already."
Kaname let go of the hands and raised his in a pacifying gesture. "What makes you so sure of that?" he asked with a low voice void of emotion. The pureblood was starting to feel numb, not bothering to get angry or sad anymore.
"Isn't it obvious? Who, in their right mind, would want to be the bitch of the King of vampire? Certainly not me." Zero snorted, while turning around to leave, steps faltering each time he had to ask another question of the pureblood.
"So, this is about you being a hunter and my being a vampire, pretty pathetic excuse, isn't it?" Kaname commented.
"I would be more pathetic when I lose all authority because my people learned that the king of leeches was fucking me."
"What happened to the 'I don't care what others think about me' attitude?" Kaname could not help the sarcastic undertone.
"I guess I am a sucker for keeping up appearance in the end." Zero shrugged as he put his hand on the brass knob of the heavy wooden door.
He startled by the sudden slam against the opening door and the heat of Kaname's body against his back, trapping him with both hands against the wood. The low whisper against his ear sent shivers down his spine.
"I can buy that, now, can you tell me what the deal with that teacher is? Is he the reason you are vehemently rejecting me?" Kaname's insecurities were surfacing more and more and his control over his temper was slipping gradually.
"What?" Zero frowned but did not look back.
"I saw how chummy you were acting back there. I even though for a second that he was the one who made you cry after that."
Zero made a sound of disbelief and shook his head, "That is hilarious. What is going on with Gin is none of your business."
"Did he give up on pursuing you then?" Kaname pointed.
Zero remembered Gin's word on how he felt a certain rivalry towards Kaname, He would flip out if he knew the identity of the person he was jealous of.
"He did not." Zero blurted out, seeing Kaname's hand fist against the door, he added, "To tell you the truth, I might be tempted to give it a try. At least, I would not be ashamed to be in a relationship with him." Zero knew that what he was saying was cruel and that Kaname would probably see through his bullshit, but he wanted to get the pureblood to back away. That is how desperate he was to escape the prison that is Kuran Kaname.
"Oh really! That is quite amazing." Kaname's voice was akin to a growl as he gripped and flipped Zero around, slamming his back against the door and pinning his hands above his hands.
The shocked hunter felt menaced by the dark look on Kaname's face but he kept on a brave face. "How brazen of you, asking me to embrace you while considering dating another guy, Zero!"
Zero scoffed, "It is good to tie some loose end before starting a new chapter of life!"
*Snap* Was the sound Kaname heard before all logic and reason left his head.
He tuned out all protest and resistance of the hunter as he dragged his weakened form and threw him on the bed. What Zero was saying and how frightened he looked did not register in his head, he was talking as well, his own mouth was moving and what he said brought a stunned expression on the hunter's face…
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ Meanwhile in the ballroom ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
"everyone hate me cause Kei-chan with no pover?" Glassy blue eyes looked into amethyst one as tiny lips quivered,
"Nonsense" Ichiru cradled the small head in the crook of his neck and rocked the boy back and forth while rubbing his back, "Kei-chan is the best and everyone will always love you no matter what. Who cares if you have no powers now. You will grow up into the coolest vampire alive, I promise!" He kissed the curly red hair while giving an angrily worried glance at his sighing golden haired lover. Hanabusa gave him a sign that he will be back soon.
Ichiru nodded and walked around in the corner where he took Keiichi to flee the scene.
The silver haired Kiryuu was not pleased at all when he saw a kid actually pulling the kid's hair and others laughing at the action. He was incensed when he realized that the parents were not that far and were trying to hide their snickers. The point that completely blew his top, was that Keiichi's 'grandmother' was watching the scene with an indifferent face that bordered disdain. He ignored the men who gathered and were chatting with him, not caring about the business transactions they were ready to strike with the famous informant and stomped towards the kids. he immediately grabbed the hand of the bully and yanked off the child's hair, scooping the sobbing vampire in his arms.
Lady Shiki came almost immediately, "What are you doing?" Her voice commanding as if Ichiru was the one in the wrong.
"I am doing what you were supposed to be doing when Rima-san left the child in your care."
"Hmph! Who are you, to lecture me on how to raise my grandchild? Put him down this instant!" She pointed with her embroidered fan.
Ichiru's jaw locked, he could not answer but was not ready to obey her absurdity, "I will not."
The woman stomped on her heel, approaching him. Keiichi saw her trying to take him away and wrapped his arms around Ichiru's neck, hiding his face away. His grandmother was shocked by the action, always believing that her grandson would never choose a stranger over her. She was about to retort some more when Shiki stood in between them.
"Senri! Could you please tell this man to leave Keiichi alone. The child need to learn how to survive in this world and shielding him will only ruin him into a useless man in the future." Her voice dripped with venom as she glared at Ichiru.
The male Shiki sighed in exasperation, he scanned the room looking for his wife and saw her busy cradling Ai-chan. He knew that it was not a good idea for Keiichi to be here but he could not have him miss the ball of his cousin. His eyes landed on Cross Kaien who had Hina-chan and her mother standing behind him. An idea sparked in his head.
He gave his mother a steady look, having enough of her behavior, "Mother! We already explained that having Keiichi bullied was unacceptable and that it is in no way a method of surviving in this society. Since I see that you will let it happen anyways, consider this the last time we will ever leave our son in your care. One more thing, this man is no stranger and do not address him in that manner because he is Keiichi's godfather if your short memory had forgotten."
Gasps and murmur erupted from the group surrounding them and the lady Shiki stood frozen in reaction to the first time her son ever spoke to her that rudely to her taste.
Shiki turned to face a stunned Ichiru, "Ichiru-kun… I am sorry to burden you with this, but I have to go for an important meeting in the nearby painting room, I will try to finish as soon as I can and come back to take care of him. Could you keep him with you until he calms down?" Shiki pleaded with the saddest face while kissing the head of his son who refused to let go in fear of being handed to his angry grandmother.
"Of course I would take care of him, you don't need to rush on my account. It is no burden for me to love this little guy." He gave a squeeze that made Keiichi relax.
Senri gave a tight smile while rubbing the small back, he made a sign with his chin for Ichiru to follow him in the quieter corner where Ichiru stood right now. He glanced over his shoulder to his protesting mother, "If I see you anywhere near him tonight, you will be losing the right to have him visit you… Ever!"
The warning successfully made her back off. He is truly the cousin of Kaname Kuran, you can see the overpowering charisma they share despite the different attitude and rank.
Once alone, Shiki gave a final note before politely excusing himself, "Could you make sure that Rima does not see him in this state. I am not trying to scare anyone, but she might blow some thunderstorm if she realize that mother did not keep her words. It is okay for him to play with Hina-chan later when he cheers up. I honestly could care less if they comment on letting him play with the child of a servant as long as he is happy. They can shove those tradition where they are supposed to…"
Ichiru could not help but laugh at the last remark and nodded.
Hanabusa did not take long to join him; worry haunted his face when he caught sight of the crying Keiichi. His aura flared for a second as his anger went up to the maximum, he was just one of many who never wanted the cheerful kid to go through such a thing and he was sure to keep a sharper lookout from now on.
Few minutes later, Keiichi calmed down considerably, but the words he uttered scared the two adults. They were worried that it was too late to prevent a mental scar, but Hanabusa acted fast and left to fetch the one person who had the talent to annoyingly lighten up the child's mood.
It worked like a charm when Cross Kaien crushed the child in a bear hug and kissed the daylight out of him, talking to him about the silliest thing before crying dramatically when Kei-chan finally confessed his feeling. The reverse psychology he used as well as the silly gestures made the child forget about his worry and comfort the old man instead, making Ichiru and Hanabusa relax and shake their heads in exasperation. They had to admit that Cross Kaien was not the headmaster of an educational institute for nothing.
The old ex-hunter did not waste time to take the kid with him to his friend after Ichiru told him to do so, the silver haired twin following him, reluctant to leave the kid alone until the end of the party. Hanabusa smiled at the care in his lover's eyes and walked back to his father's side, apologizing for leaving his guests so abruptly. Once the conversations finished, he excused himself and walked up to Rima who was waving at him as if she found her savior.
"Aido, I am sorry, but could you take Ai for a second. Yuki-chan should be done with the dance soon, but I need to check on Keiichi, I don't know why I cannot seem to relax at the idea of leaving him with that woman."
The golden-haired vampire winced at her sharp instinct. Even if she was not the one to give birth, her motherly instinct is quite scary!
He smiled and extended his arm to take the little baby bundled and sleeping. There was no point in bringing the fancy bassinet to the ball when everyone knew the tantrum that Ai would throw every time she gets put in one. Therefore, they opted to have the persons she was familiar with take turn in cradling her when Yuki was unable to. Hanabusa was on the top of the list because he would not lose a single chance he can get to visit her, play with her, and he went as far as cleaning her when the attendant was not around. He could not let the little princess get uncomfortable after all.
He chuckled when her tiny face scrunched up, and then relaxed after recognizing his scent. He looked at the pouty blond noble beside him,
"Come on, Ichijou-san, how long are you going to mop around for." He nudged him teasingly.
Forest green eyes met his, "I should have followed your example instead of making fun of you, I would be holding her with no risk of her crying that way."
Hanabusa looked at her and back at the noble, "Don't beat yourself over it, I learned from experience as well. I was scared of handling such a tiny living thing at first, just like you. The fact that I ended up regretting it made me more eager to avoid making the same mistake again."
Takuma covered his mouth as he shook from laughter, "Ichiru-kun told me that you were scared of coming any closer than a mile radius from Keiichi when he starts crying, thinking that you were the one at fault."
Aido blushed, "Shut up!" he whispered, "That is natural when all I ever do is injecting him with needles and pushing tubes down his throat in the incubator. Thank God that he was too young to remember. Putting all of that aside, I was the most surprised to see Kaname-sama being that skilled in handling kids of all ages."
Takuma sighed, "Yeah, it is like he is gifted with a kid magnet. There is no crying child he was not able to quiet down, and they tend to get attached to him even with that scary aura and expressionless face he has most of the time. Talk about lucky" Takuma paused for a moment, scanning the hall, "Come to think of it, I am not seeing him anywhere."
Aido mirrored his action, "That is true. He might have gone out for some fresh air."
The golden haired vampire missed the serious expression that plastered on Takuma's face when he was looking around, "I hope so…" he whispered when he could not see another man with silver hair, Zero.
It did not take long for his worry to increase when Yuki came back from the dance, he did not waste time to ask about his friend's whereabouts.
Yuki pondered as he adjusted the baby in her arms, "He said that he was meeting someone in the drawing room. Now that I think about it, he is taking his sweet time. Ichijou-san, do you think that the servants brought them the drinks and appetizer needed for their long discussion."
"I will go check in person. Better be safe than sorry." He beamed with a full-teethed smile while retreating. Hanabusa did not miss the way Takuma's fist clenched and the fact that his smile never reached his eyes. The last time he saw such an expression was before an ugly fight between the two friends. He decided to follow him discreetly to play the mediator in case it got out of hand during such a celebration.
He cursed inwardly at the multiple stop he had to make to greet the guest that called out to him while triying to follow the ash blond friend of his. He saw him disappear in the corridors and sprinted in that direction, worrying about him entering a room and leaving him guessing which one. He made fun of himself as he slowed down when he remembered the easier method that it to look for his pureblood king instead.
His relaxation did not last long when he turned the corner that led to the illuminated wide red-carpeted hallway that could let a limousine drive through.
He hastened his face when he saw Kaname coming his way and Takuma approaching him, something about the brunet seemed off. Aido found himself fast walking towards them before suddenly halting as the sound of a loud slap made him jump out of his skin. He was used to backhanded slaps from Kaname since his high school days, but actually seeing said pureblood being slapped in the same way was frightening. Hanabusa did want to think about the strength, which Takuma put in that one single hit that made Kaname's face snap to the other way.
He rushed to their side, trying to tone down the hostility. He was about to talk but swallowed whatever he was about to say when he inhaled the faint but familiar scent of blood coming off the pureblood now disheveled attire. Kaname's eyes looked dead and hollow, while Takuma's spoked of seething anger and fury.
"Go do something about that appearance, right this moment." Red brown eyes moved in direction of the speaking noble, but gave no reaction, "and you better teleport." The tone was commanding, with no room for discussion.
Once Kaname vanished, Takuma looked at Hanabusa and squeezed the shoulder of the stunned vampire. "Aido… I will apologize properly later… can you please take care of things on the other end. I am going to check and make sure Kaname does not cause a scene… or anymore chaos." Takuma whispered the last part with a dreadful tone, foreign to his upbeat and cheerful tone. He ran down the corridor, and slowed down to a dignified walk as he walked up the stairs as not to attract any suspecting glances.
On the other hand, Hanabusa had hard time registering what happened. His legs moved in a robotic fashion in the opposite direction where Takuma sprinted. His trembling hand started opening the doors one by one. He started slow before a sense of urgency engulfed him when the realization hit him.
God! Please let me be wrong! Please let me be wrong! Please let me be wrong!
"I wonder who is it that left half their clothes scattered like that?" Aido's ears perked at the information and he barred the way of the two women chatting.
Forcing a smile on his face, "Sorry ladies, my friend seems to have been to tipsy to remember collecting them, can you point the location of those clothes?"
Blushing at the charm of the famous young master of the Aido household, they obliged right away. He left them after a courteous bow.
His heart hammered in his chest when he found half of Zero's tuxedo on the floor of a bathroom. he grabbed the clothes and left. The first door led to an empty painting room, the other to an equally empty tearoom. Hanabusa felt his irritation build up and his hands tremble as he reached for the brass knob. He could not even concentrate to feel if anyone inside, the fact that the castle room were built with material that distorted the aura distinct was very inconvenient.
*Door opening sound*
*Click* *the sound of the safety of the gun being removed*
"Whoaaah, Dude! It's me! It's me! Hanabusa!" Aido jumped and pulled the door back to hide behind it when he found himself in the shooting range of Bloody Rose, That bloody gun will be the end of me one day!
"Eh?" When he heard the soft voice of the hunter, he opened the door slowly. The noble vampire felt as if a ton of bricks fell down his head, having hard time believing what he was witnessing.
"Z… Zero?" he whispered, as if trying to make sure that what he was seeing was no illusion. That he was seeing the naked hunter, shakenly standing next to a bed where tattered pieces were randomly splattered on it. He wanted to make sure that it was Zero who was pulling the bloodied bedsheet to cover a little of himself, even if he failed to hide the trail of blood running down his inner thigh.
"Hanab-" *thud*
It was as if all strength and tension left Zero as soon as he saw his brother in law. The thought of the golden haired vampire seeing him in this state was very unpleasant, but he had no strength in his battered body left to do something about it. He was just glad that he will be in safe hands when consciousness finally left him. All he could remember was the last word the brunet said, "I hope I satisfied your request and this will make you forget me, Kiryuu-kun."
A panicked Hanabusa rushed to his side, he hoisted the limp form of the hunter and laid him on the bed. Examining his body, Hanabusa was horrified by the bruising, healing scratches and most importantly the fluids all over the hunter's body, proofs of sexual assault. He gritted his teeth, the temperature of the room dropped a notch as he made his way to the bathroom. Grabbing a towel, his hissed with the hot water slid over his cold hand. The ice wielder took a deep breath and calmed his aura before joining the sleeping silverette. His heart ached at the sight of Zero's hand clutching a silver necklace. Ever the proud hunter, not wanting to be seen in such a state had he let the scent of his blood spread.
He started wiping him down until he gasped again, when he realized that the one he did not want to utter their name actually released inside him, when semen and blood trickled down as he shifted him. He finally gave up on the cleaning, throwing the towel with sheer force against the opposing wall and running a hand through his golden strands.
He opened the closet and pulled a duvet from it, wrapped the hunter in it and flipped his phone, calling the first number on his list.
"Hana?"
"Listen baby," Hanabusa swallowed and pondered a bit, "I have a little surprise for you, and I want you to bring the car over to the back door of the kitchen area, the one where we dropped the cake, remember?"
Ichiru frowned for a second before smiling at the thought of a surprise, "Hmm… I wonder if I should come…" He teased.
Aido felt bad for leading him on, "You should if you do not want to regret it."
"That is scary…"
"So?"
"I guess. About time to ditch the party. Send me the location again, in case I mistake the turns, everything looks the same in this damn place." Ichiru chirped.
"Okay…"
Aido did not waste a second later before sprinting out, making sure to slip unseen, he was lucky to have spent a couple of years in the castle when he had to tutor Yuki after her awakening. He came to learn about the most deserted route and corners that proved convenient for his escape.
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ In Zero's apartment ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
The ride back home was the most silent one Aido had with his lover; it was painful to hear the sniffle and sobs of Ichiru who was sitting in the back seat with the head of an unconscious Zero on his lap. Neither of them saw such a thing coming. The hardest part was telling Ichiru who exactly assaulted his brother. He wished there was a way of hiding that fact because Ichiru would definitely blame himself.
He left the twins at Zero's apartment so that Ichiru can take care of him and dress him. Hanabusa swung by his lover's place to collect his kit that he always left there for emergency cases. Coming back, he found Zero sobbing uncontrollably in his brother's arms, who was equally crying as well.
Seeing the urgency in dark amethyst eyes, Hanabusa understood immediately that Zero was having a breakdown. He immediately prepared and injected him with a light sedative. Getting drowsy again, Zero slumped in his brother's arms.
Minutes later, Ichiru joined Hanabusa in the living room.
"Is he still asleep?"
"Yeah…" Ichiru slumped on his lap as he cradled him like a big baby.
"Love… You know that it is not your fault right?" Aido whispered while kissing the silver head.
Ichiru snuggled up to him, sniffling still, "I never wanted to see him like that again… Why does this have to happen to him… Why would he…"
"I am as confused as you…" Aido sighed staring at the reddened eyes looking at him with all the questions in the world. Why would Kaname-sama rape Zero is beyond any logic.
Ichiru swallowed again, his lips quivering in attempt to suppress his tears, "He begged me to kill him earlier… He was saying that he could not go on anymore… What does that mean! Why would he say that…? Just what did that scum do to him… Why does nii-san have to suffer like this…? "
Aido hugged him tighter, "We just have to wait and hear what he says, it is not like he went and seduced him for them to end up like that. Something must have happened."
"I did." The croaky voice snapped both head in direction of the hallway leading to the bedroom. Zero was leaning against the wall with a blank look to his face. Ichiru immediately jumped and went to his side. Aido, on the other side, frowned at his expression.
"You did what?"
"I seduced him."
"huh?" Ichiru froze just as he was about to reach a hand to support his brother.
"That is not something you can joke about." Aido stated, running a hand through his hear while standing up as well.
"I am not."
"Nii-san! What is the meaning of this," Ichiru was beyond shocked, "Were you trying to rile him up because he annoyed you and he got mad about the seduction."
Zero sneered at the melodramatic scenario that his brother cooked up to make him out to be the innocent victim.
"I have been having an affair with him for a while, today was the last time. I did not expect it to be this… messy!" The cold detached tone sent chills down Ichiru's spine, making him back a couple of steps until the opposite wall hit his back.
"Let me just ask again, to make sure I heard you right." Aido was taking careful steps toward the assaulted silverette, "You are telling me that you slept with Kaname-sama a few times before?"
Zero sighed.
Earlier, he woke up once the sedative's effect worn out. He could feel Ichiru sitting on the bed beside him, stroking his hair, but he could not bring himself to open his eyes. His body ached all over, he could not bear the fool taste in his mouth. Flashes of the gagging reflex that made him tear up, the suffocation of having his head pushed against the pillow, the feeling of his body being taken without warning, without mercy… The sick sensation of blood and semen trickling down his quivering thighs. The paint of his squeezed wrist to the point of almost breaking. He felt sick to the core as the pain in his body reminded him of every detail. His vision blurred halfway, leaving him with the last memory of those hand clutching the covers instead of holding his like they always did before. Not being able to bear it anymore, he pushed his battered body hosting his broken soul and left the bedroom. The conversation he overheard made him feel more disgusted with himself, self-loath and numbness finally snapped the last thread of self-esteem he ever had.
"Yes, I have been sleeping with him since around the time I learned of Sensei being sick. It was supposed to end when Ai is born, that he is a little too persistent."
Zero shrugged as if he just told them about what he had for lunch.
*Punch*
"Hana!" Ichiru screamed and rushed to his brother who was sprawled on the floor after Aido punched him, hard.
The room temperature dropped to freezing cold, "I knew how much of a man-whore you are, but never expected you to be this low." A lethal Hanabusa hissed with the iciest look in his eyes, a crease between his eyebrows and the glint of his sharp canine showing as he talked in-between clenched teeth.
Ichiru was helping Zero stand up with Aido took another step to cover the distance between them. "Hana! Stop!" glared as he grabbed Zero's arm to keep him steady.
Aido did not take another step but his eyes never left Zero as the hunter nursed his jaw, "You were begging him to kill you earlier, allow me the honor instead." he had his palm facing upward and twirls of ice were forming.
Looking at the sharp stick he materialized, he looked up again, "Move out of the way, Ichiru!" That was the first time Hanabusa uttered his lover's name in a tone seething with anger.
Ichiru was standing between them; with arms spread wide-open, daring Hanabusa to act on his words, "You will have to kill me first." The younger twin knew that his lover was impulsive enough to do it if he did not stop him. He could not blame him because Zero literally crushed his trust as well as the little respect that Hanabusa had for him.
"I said move out of my way." Aido ordered again, eyes blazing red by that time.
The tension dissipated the second a hilarious laughter erupted from behind Ichiru. Both of them were stunned to see Zero clutching his stomach, laughing hard. Once he piped down, wiping a tear, he straightened up and looked at the two confused male, "Never mind that," he waived a dismissing hand before spreading his own arm in a welcoming gesture, "You should let him do it, Ichiru. He has all the right to do so since I tainted the saint God he had been worshipping all this time… Oh wait!... maybe that is not the case… You might be furious because he did not find you fuckeable enough to bed you but still fucked me…. Hmmm… Oh well! You probably gave up on him when Yuki awakened and Kuran impregnated her… You would have not considered him if that was not the case…" Zero talked sarcastically, a thumb pointing to Ichiru who was even more shocked by the audacity of his brother.
Ichiru could not react on time before Hanabusa jumped, grabbed Zero and slammed him against the wall, leaving cracks from the impact, "Don't you dare speak their names with that filthy mouth of yours. Whore! What were you thinking when you slept with the father of the child growing in your sister's womb." Aido snapped.
The unflinching Zero sneered again, "How fucking good it felt to have his big cock thrusting inside me and-aghhh" he groaned when Aido pulled and slammed him harder, his head banging hard against the hard surface, "We did it here as well, by the way, in this spot…" A right hook sent him to the floor and a kick to his stomach made him hack. "You are unrepentant aren't you?"
Aido spoke with a disgusted expression as he materialized the sharp pointed Icicle again, "I always thought of you as a parasitic existence, Zero. Since way back in high school. My disgust with you back then was childish, but I have to say that it was on spot. I had to endure dealing with you because you were important for the person I love, but you know what? All you ever did is bring trouble upon us, making him suffer because of your actions… Now, you want to expand your scope and hurt more people because of your uncontrollable lust… Let me put an end to anymore misery by erasing you, which is why you are not putting much resistance anyways."
Zero did not answer; he just let his head rest on the cold floor and smiled. It was Ichiru's cry that halted the blow halfway, "If you kill him, I will never forgive you."
Hanabusa straightened again, and looked at the human twin, "Are you going to forgive him again, to make excuses and say that it was not his fault, AGAIN!"
Ichiru took a deep breath glancing from his lover to his brother who sat against the wall, a poker mask on his face. "I am not. He is worse than scum for actually having an affair with the husband of his sister, but it still takes two for an affair to happen. What are you going to do, kill Zero and then go kill Kaname?" His steady gaze trained on his lover, "No, right?" He answered instead of the quiet Aido, "You are still going to lick his boot and work under him like the obedient subordinate you are… I won't have that… I will not stand you killing my brother and let the one carrying half the blame if not more prance around freely."
Instead of getting angrier, Aido somehow felt himself getting calmer. He exhaled and looked into amethyst eyes, "What do you suggest then, letting him run around freely and destroy other families and break more people apart?"
Ichiru clammed up, "Nothing to say? Of course you have nothing to say, he is always your top priority no matter what trouble he gets you in… You will always choose to protect him and make him out to be the better person when he is obviously not… I have had my fill of this nonsense already," Aido's voice was raising as he spoke, anger rising again, "I have enough of you following him like a puppy and expecting me to be quiet and watch you suffer, I have enough of you being away from me because you want to stay close to your brother…. Now, choose Ichiru. I won't kill him, but you will have nothing to do with him anymore. Either that or you will have nothing to do with me anymore."
The pregnant silence stretched unbearably while the couple stared at each other. Ichiru was standing a little closer to the wall opposite to Zero's, Hanabusa in the middle and facing his lover. Ichiru took a deep breath before taking careful steps under the gaze of his lover… Their shoulders brushed against one another before he passed him and leaned to hoist Zero up, draping his brother's arm over his shoulder.
"Ichiru-" Zero was about to say something as his twin adjusted his body and started dragging him back to the bedroom, "Don't say a word, you need some blood pills and good rest before you become sane enough to talk."
Ichiru clutched Zero's arm when the apartment door slammed close.
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ A week later ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
Ichiru was at his end's wit. After getting over the first shock of what happened that day, Ichiru instructed his right-hand man, Ryou to take care of things for him while he kept an eye on his brother. He stayed over at Zero's ever since. He remember suffering a headache and being dazed after he managed to get Zero to spill the beans about what happened since the very beginning. Meanwhile, he had been trying to call his lover a million times a day without an answer until Hanabusa blocked his number. The turmoil made him sleepless; he was too overwhelmed with the situation and did not know what to do about it.
Confronting Kaname would not do him any good because Zero caused things to escalate that much. He could not talk to anyone else other than his blond vampire in fear of causing an uproar if the word got out. He felt horrified by the idea of Yuki discovering such a thing, she would be devastated. Sensei and Cross would be so disappointed and heartbroken at the same time. There is even a risk of the animosity to grow back between the two circles. Should I be grateful that no one discovered the affair sooner?
The voice mail signaling the inability to join his lover, if he still considered him so indicated his last attempt for the night. He realized that it was getting colder in the balcony and went inside to get ready and go to bed. As per routine, he started looking for his twin, whom he did not leave for that long anyways. Zero did not attempt anything reckless since then, neither did he leave the house. Both of them kept each other company in silence, making sure to eat, work and sleep.
He panicked when he could not find his brother anywhere, dialing his phone number, he waited as it rang, only to realize that Zero left his phone at home. Ichiru gritted his teeth in frustration and threw his coat, rushing down the street to look for his brother after making sure that he did not take his car. He could not have gone too far… Zero… Where are you?
Ichiru spent four hours in the freezing winter night looking for his twin until his leg grew sore. He would not give a damn about the creeped out expression of the people when he asked them if a person looking exactly like him passed by, he was almost hit by a car twice when he ran at the sight of a hair color that he imagined being close to his. He took a cab and went to check the places he knew that Zero would visit without result. He belatedly realized that he left his phone at Zero's place. He went back thinking of texting Hanabusa for help and praying that he would respond.
He rushed to the door, sliding the key and called his brother's name as his last hope to find him home, he heard fumbling and cursing from the bedroom, so he rushed there. Ichiru froze in his spot on the sight of his half-naked brother and a complete stranger trying his best to dress up.
He gawked in disbelief, his eyes going from his brother to the stranger and back to his brother.
The guy, finally able to fix his backward shirt, excused himself and sprinted outside.
Zero threw his jean-clad legs over the edge of the bed and sighed, "I thought you went back to your place." He mumbled.
"Oh sorry about that, I didn't realize you were itching to fuck the first thing that moves this soon." Ichiru snorted
Zero glared his way before standing up and running a hand through his bangs, "If you are aware enough, why don't you go back already."
"What? Is that the first thing you have to say after clamming up for nearly four days?" Ichiru stared in disbelief.
"As you can see… Having around is inconvenient." Zero drawled,
"You never learn, do you? I am not leaving until you repent properly about what you did and take is as a lesson to quit this fucking depraved lifestyle of yours." Ichiru snapped, unable to stop shouting.
"For the millionth time! What I do has nothing to do with any of you."
"Oh, dear brother, It certainly does. You fucking around IS fucking up my life, royally. Yours is already fucked up so I have no reason commenting on it, but it is time for things to change, it is time to set things straight before something more scandalous happens, Zero!"
Trapped between the wall and his brother who was putting his hands on either side of his head, Ichiru expected another smart retort from his brother.
"You want to set things straight? Fine. Here is what I want, you leaving me alone." Zero whispered against his brother's face.
"ZEr-" Ichiru was about to give another lecture but he swallowed his word by the shocking words that followed.
"Let me rephrase it more clearly, I want you out of my life. You acting like a fucking mother hen, bugging the shit out of me with the excuse that it is for my own good. Trying to hook me up with guys you deem 'good', telling me what is right and what is wrong as if I am five years old is fucking annoying. So here is how it will work out, I want you to forget about me, erase me from your life because that is what I am going to do. I will consider gone like you were supposed to be from the start. All this shit about making it up to me by standing by my side is getting suffocating. I am disgusted with your hypocrisy when we both know that you see me as nothing but a man-whore as well. Therefore, I want you stop faking it."
"How could you say that after all we have been through?" Ichiru could not believe his ears.
"What I went through you mean." Zero scoffed, "I am fed up with you and that leech of yours, Ichiru. Just because you played the heroes and save my life once, you think that you have the right to stifle me? What have you done apart from lengthening my useless life huh? Wait! You helped me with the company when I was away, but that incurred seed money for the bar you are living off now. Think about it, I provided you with the money that allowed you to live in the comfort you are having right now, and what did you do to me, extended my miserable life when you could have left me to die and be truly free. Now, dear brother, who is it between us that needs to set things straight in that head of his?" He finished by tapping on Ichiru's head before pulling away.
Incensed, Ichiru tried to retort out of stubbornness despite the hurt and indignation he felt. Unfortunately, he did not have the chance to open his mouth before Zero grabbed his arm and dragged him out of his apartment, throwing his phone at him and slamming the door after dealing the final blow, "I never want to see your face here ever again!"
Minutes later, Zero's sharp hearing could pick up the sound of footsteps fading at distance before the pinging of the elevator harshly signal the departure of his brother from his life. He slid against the door and hid his head against his knees to bawl his eyes out. He shook from the sobs that racked his body for about half an hour before he was able to breath steadily again, sniffling every now and then, he went to wash his face.
Gripping the sink, he swayed back and forth as if to ease the searing pain he felt, staring at his reflection in the mirror; his throat tightened again, "Goodbye Ichiru! You have to go where you truly belong, I am sure that he will be waiting for you with arms wide open." He did not bother wiping his tears, since it became a habit that he expected to last for a while.
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ In front of Ichiru's apartment ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
The silver haired younger twin did not know how he managed to get back safely. All thought swimming in his head were about losing the two most important people in his life in a week span. All because he selfishly decided to choose one over the other instead of trying to reconcile them. You do reap what you sow, I guess!
The finality in Zero's words made it difficult for him to go back and talk to him again. His pride and ego were too big to ignore his hurtful words as well. Loneliness started engulfing him, a feeling he had not experienced since Hanabusa came into his life and brought shining light into his dull grey days. He hugged himself as the feeling grew stronger, he would give anything to have those slightly cold hand hold him and tell him that everything will be all right once again. He would trade the world for his lover after being tossed away by the only person that he was ready to die for. His heart felt heavier when he thought of going in his dark, cold and probably cluttered apartment. He slid the key into the lock and twisted, pushing slowly as if it would delay the pain and loneliness that will assault him once he stepped inside.
To his surprise, his apartment was not dark because the lights were on. It was not cold because the heaters were on as well. It was not cluttered because everything was clean, dusted and freshened up. He was not going to be lonely because Hanabusa Aido was sitting on the table of the living room typing furiously on his computer while looking at a paper on the hard surface.
Ichiru was absolutely shocked to see him sitting there in the pajamas he always kept at his place and the hair tie he used to keep his bangs away whenever he was working.
Hanabusa Aido slammed a key and flipped the laptop closed. He turned sideways on the chair to face Ichiru, with his hand cushioned with one hand, "Took you long enough to come back home. It is a serious pain to do my work remotely, you do realize that." The soft tone of the vampire who sounded as if he was throwing a tantrum led to all the bottled up emotion inside the silverette to overflow in the form of tears and laughter at the same time. He did not abandon me! He was waiting? the whole week? Oh god!
His hilarious reaction resumed to tears and sobbing by the end, his voice coming out strangled, "I love you, Hana! I really love you!" He threw his arm around the neck of the golden haired vampire who was standing in front of him now, "I love you even more, silly! Welcome home, Ichiru." Ichiru cried louder as his chest tightened from the gentle tone Hanabusa used to call his name. God! I am falling in love all over again with this man, someone help me…
Wiping the soft cheeks, Aido kissed Ichiru's forehead lovingly. "I packed most of your necessary stuff already. We should leave as soon as possible; I will book the taxi and train tickets at the earliest. However, I will be leaving alone if you are still not agreeing with my condition."
The serious face that Ichiru saw made him swallow loudly, "What do you mean by packed all my stuff?"
Hanabusa sighed, "Ichiru, I am not going to tolerate this long distance relationship anymore. I have been playing deaf to the comments about how we are married and living separately, and how strange our situation is because I knew that you would be always anxious when away from your brother. I suppressed my needs and desire of wanting you to be by my side because I knew that I could not win over Zero no matter what, and I did not try to in fear that you separate from me because of my persistence. Now, I really do not give a penny about what happens to him and I am in no way going to allow you to get tangled in his mess if you ever want us to be together any longer. I do not want to go back to an empty room, feeling lonelier after you go back to your bar and brother. I do not want to eat alone and stroll around aimlessly by myself, imagining how good it would be to do everything together, every day for the rest of our life. I am done with the considerate boyfriend act because I have been wanting to lock you and have you all to myself from the moment you became mine." A deep kiss melted the stunned silverette, making his eyes flutter shut and become putty in the vampire's hand. He sighed in pleasure and fisted golden locks as Hanabusa place kisses and nibbles down the side of his neck while pulling the stretchy collar to expose the vein more as his fangs were getting aroused from the pulsing sound. He hissed the last question, "What is your answer?"
Ichiru tilted his head to give him more access and whispered, "Yes…" gasping when the fangs finally sank into his skin, making him tremble from pain and pleasure while Hanabusa pulled closer to his body.
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ Two days later, in Cross Academy ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
Gin left the school building and decided to go for a stroll before going back to his room since it was a rare warm day in December.
He gasped seeing a silver by the horse enclosure, but his excitement died down when he realized that it was Ichiru's. His head tilted at the lonely profile of the silver haired friend of his. Gin suspected that something was going on when he learned that Ichiru was moving in with Hanabusa without the silverette looking as excited as one would expect him to be. The fact that he was not talking about his brother and Zero not answering any calls really worried him.
Ichiru was so absentminded that he did not notice him until Gin leaned on the fence next to him.
"Is that Zero's key?" Gin aske, startling his companion while pointing to what he was holding in his hand.
"uh…" Ichiru nodded, Although it is not mine. Yuki-chan brought it to me earlier saying that she found it lying around and thought that I might have dropped it. I guess I should play along since it probably belongs to Kuran. Better not allow him anymore access.
"Thinking of paying him a visit. I have not heard from him since the ball. I know that he does ignore calls when busy, but he usually calls back sometime later." Gin complained.
"Sorry about that, he is just… Not in the best mood, let us say." Ichiru mumbled numbly, He is cutting off everyone, apart from Kaito when he calls on the work phone about a mission. I should be grateful to know that he is alive.
"Why are you apologizing?" The question caught him by surprise and he finally met the scrutinizing grey eyes, "It is not like it is your fault." The words hit him, hard.
"It might be my fault indeed." Ichiru spoke in a strained voice,
"You are probably overthinking, it is not like it is the first time you guys bickered anyways." Gin patted the back of the smaller man who looked like he was about to cry.
"It is. I pushed too far and it ended up backfiring in my face." Ichiru bend over, resting his forehead on the forearms he placed on the rails. The key loosely hanging between his fingers.
Gin sighed in exasperation; he had to assume that the fight is far more serious than he initially thought. He pondered for a moment before snatching the key without warning. The sudden gestured made Ichiru look up, giving him a surprised look.
Waving the key lazily and staring at her, Gin spoke, "You have two options, either you go barge on him and talk it out like the good brothers you are, or you stay brooding here let things get stale if not worse. Which will it be?"
Ichiru averted the intense gaze, he was not planning on telling Gin the detail behind him moving in with Hanabusa, neither the cause of it. The pain is still too raw to talk about how Zero kicked him out of his life in cold blood. "I am going with the second option."
Gin smirked, "Well then, this meddling old man here will be using this key."
Ichiru panicked and tried to take it back but Gin height served him to prevent it, "NO! don't, you don't have to try and reconcile us. This is… I don't want to drag you in brotherly dispute."
"Who said anything about reconciling?" Gin asked, quirking an amused eyebrow.
Ichiru stopped his attempts to recover the item, staring blankly at the taller man. Gin smirked again, "I am planning on hogging Zero all to myself. However, I might take on the job of a secret spy if requests files in."
For a second, Ichiru wondered if Gin was a psychic, but tossed the idea away in favor of being too transparent and easy to read as usual.
He scoffed and resumed leaning against the fence, his eyes following White Lily at she galloped in her pasture with her child following her around. "Do whatever you want. I will not be responsible if you get busted and kicked out. I will not pay any hospital bill or damage compensation."
Gin happily slipped the key in his pocket and changed the topic to more trivial and non-serious conversation.
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ I am an evil person ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
So~ TT-TT sorry for any mistakes but I cried so much writing it that I have no courage to reread it again anytime soon.
Someone is going to get a lot of cursing and booing here and it is just getting started. :((((((
Yep, you got it, that snippet was not of this chapter. This is like a drama filled transition chappie that will set the stage to the worst angst I ever wrote in this story. Did you have to use tissue reading this one, prepare double for the next one.
I am not sure when will the update be because I am kind of busy with exams currently.
The honest truth is that the snippet was from the chapter plot, like a line that I was inspired and wrote it down because if fits the plot to the T.
I will try to update sometime in the middle of the next week. I already have a third of the chapter ready, but as you can guess, a third of a giant chappie is nothing to brag about, so yeah…
∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞ TBC ∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞8∞∞
BUCKETS OF LOVE AND KISSES FOR THE AWESOME REVIEWERS OF CHAPTER 37:
irmina
kmbanas
mi5tan
eikoamaya1
Tee: as not to put spoiler, I can summarize the answer by saying that Zero is going to be a serious pain in the butt for sometime
Senja844
eboneykg
IamHaein
Guest-oing: You might have to hate them some more, or you might start thinking otherwise starting next chapter XD
miketsukami13
XtAG: You will find the explanation as to why the pregnancy test did not show his pregnancy when the doctor answer Zero's question. Thank you sooo much for the motivating review that you took the trouble writing. I feel like my head is getting bigger (in a good way) with all the pride I felt reading it. It really means a lot to me to know that I am keeping reader interested.
YaoiLoverPrincess
LOVE YOU ALL GUYS, AND A BIG THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ, THOSE WHO CLICKED THE FAVORITE BUTTON AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE STORY.
YOU ARE THE BEST.