Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight or any of its characters. This story is done for fun and no money is being generated from this.
Warning/s: MalexMale. Yaoi . Mpreg. Kaname x Zero [there are other pairings but the rest are secrets and a character being partnered with an OC]
Other Warning/s: In this story, Ichiru was not taken by Shizuka Hio. I didn't finished reading the manga so of course, some things will not be consistent. Sorry about that.
Author's Notes: Well, hello there! If you're reading this then that means you've taken up the challenge of trying out this story but I must warn you that this is the very first story I have ever written. And this chapter was just done today (with a "Ah, I'll write my own story! whim) though I promise you that I'm taking it seriously. Still, an amateur here lovelies. You've been warned, so try not to fall asleep! . ^o^v
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The Blessing
By Meguminiwa
Prologue 1
Part I
"How many are they?"
Asked the little girl that looked about eight years old with flowing dark brown wavy locks and stunning reddish-violet eyes to the two identical young boys of six walking next to her. Both seraphs were also with dark brown hair but deep burgundy eyes. Her voice was light with no hint of fear despite the serious predicament that she and her siblings found themselves in.
"Hmmm… about 30 I think…some are nobles but the majority is only level C by their smell. What do you think Akira?" Drawled one of the boys who wore a serious face. His eyes also fearless but with the hint of irritation. He hated how their innocent plan turned quite troublesome. He sighed.
"Yup, that's about right. What do we do, nee-chan?" Akira said then turned to his older sister. "Should we run or fight? I think Kohaku and I can handle it, ne~?" This time, the handsome little boy turned to his serious twin brother who only looked at him with a tired and irritated expression. Akira's tone and eyes were brimming with excitement. Evidently, he was the only one who found their current situation amusing.
"And what are you going to do with Nao and Sui-chan?" The older girl asked, this time motioning to the silver haired kids of four who were peacefully sleeping on each of the boys' back. It was her turn to sigh. She was surely going to get the nagging of her life once they returned to the castle. She closed her eyes and sighed again. 'Why did it turn out like this?' she mused silently.
She had been formulating a plan to get her and her siblings out of the current situation. While she was more than confident that they could handle their would-be attackers (who thought they cleverly masked out their presence from the children and gravely underestimated them just because they look too young to be able to put up any decent struggle. Seriously, who put these amateurs on the job?) knowing they were the strongest vampire children ever born with the purest blood running through their veins, she was not confident with handling it without any casualty from the innocent humans around them who would undoubtedly get mixed up with the fight if ever they start one. No, she would avoid fighting at all cost. She had been thinking of all possible paths that didn't include any fighting lest any innocent people get caught up with the squabble. Her parents had spent decades of their life protecting humans and she would make sure that no life was going to be sacrificed for their sake.
She glanced at their youngest twin siblings slumbering without a care in the world, exhausted from playing too much the entire day. As the oldest of the five and the one who thought of the clever and foolish idea of sneaking up from their guards and their uncle Ichiru who took up supervising them while both their parents attend the Royal Gala in Europe and to secretly go to the city and have the time of their lives, she would have to bear the responsibility for whatever the outcome of today would be. Being royalties meant most of their time was spent on studying and training but it didn't mean they didn't get to have fun, of course not. Their parents made sure they have a balance of serious academic pursuit and relaxing activities but sometimes, one just loves the idea of rebelliousness. Especially since it's only once in a while! Without the parents to scold them and with only poor uncle Ichiru who was really too soft on them to guard them, the idea was too tempting.
'Oh dear, I'll get it later… I just know I will.' Just thinking of the possibility of punishment especially from their father sent shivers down her spine. Chichiue would never hurt them nor would he ask them to do menial and humiliating errands as punishment like what he would normally do to punish uncle Hana (as they were often told by uncle Takuma). Still, the thought of standing in the quiet study facing their father to take in his quiet scrutiny that spoke of disappointment had always been unnerving what with the dark aura, while would never really oppress them, would be hovering over them.
Suddenly, she didn't want to go home. Their parents would be returning in the evening. She would have no time to plead their case to their uncle considering the seriousness of the outcome of their innocent little excursion. She had long been aware that because of their status as royalty and the power they held, there had been too many attempts of kidnapping made only to be thwarted by their parents. Now, she felt extremely foolish.
"We'll just put up a barrier around them!" Akira answered her earlier question and shook her out of her internal turmoil. Almost too eager to fight and teach the insolent vampires a painful lesson.
"Akira, it's not as simple as that. People will get caught up in the fight. Where do you think we are?" It was Kohaku who spoke. Patiently trying to get across how grave their situation actually was to his hyperactive twin.
"Then what do we do?" Akira asked while pouting.
"Nee-chan?" Kohaku turned to her then suggested, "What about flying to the castle?"
"It's too early out. We'll be spotted. Hmmm…. ah!" Suddenly, she thought of the most perfect option. A way for her to get them out of the problem at hand, to avoid their impending AND unavoidable scolding and as a bonus, it would be an additional fun for them.
LOTS of fun!
She just knew it but before laying out the grand plan to her brothers who were looking at her expectantly, the air shifted and the thick tension was now more evident than ever. She could almost smell the intent in the air. Their annoying visitors would be making their move any moment now.
She quickened her pace, leading her brothers who were carrying their still sleeping youngest siblings on their back to a less crowded place to perform the most powerful spell she had been studying and working on for about a year now. It was tricky to use it when she had never even tested it before. Oh well, she knew it would work but where they would land afterwards and what would happen was a mystery even to her but she was ready to bet everything she owned that it was going to be an adventure.
Finding a narrow alley containing only a sleeping cat on top of a trash bin, she quickly bit her palm to draw blood. A pale finger then used the blood to draw a peculiar looking pentagram on a small palm while muttering a spell under her breath. Not breaking concentration, the brunette summoned all her power.
Suddenly a bright circle made of light with a pentagram in the center appeared beneath the children's feet generating a surprise exclamation from both her brothers and the vampires who were closing in on them. The light emanating from the symbol grew brighter and stronger and then there was only light. A slight tremor followed. When the vampires who looked away from the blinding light came to, they were greeted by the empty space where the children they were tailing stood just seconds ago with only the pentagram mark and residue of the powerful spell left engraved on the ground….
Their presence nowhere to be felt…
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Part II
'Shit.'
That was the thought currently going through the head of a certain silver-haired hunter. His lilac eyes mixed with silver eyed the storm brewing in the sky with the promise of heavy rain and cold night ahead. The air was damp and cold inside the small and abandoned shack in a middle of the island where he was at now.
'Fuck.' He cursed again as he wondered how he ended up in the situation he was currently in. Like everything in his life, nothing seemed to go according to plan. Not that he really bothered to make one but everything was a fucking mess. Unlike all the crisis he managed to get entangled with, the quandary at hand topped it all.
He looked at the body currently spread on the floor with labored breathing caused by the horrible wound made from a sword piercing through his chest. It narrowly missed the heart of the dark-haired man who took the attack that was meant for Zero. Though it will not kill him as pureblood vampires could only be killed by a fellow pureblood and the attacker had only been a noble who put up a last attempt to take Zero with him before fully disintegrating to nothing but ash, pureblood or not, the pain will be the same for him as it will be for anyone. Not to mention, because of too much blood lost from the wound and too much power already spent from the fight, regeneration was not working fast enough. The ex-human valiantly tried to suppress the bloodlust that shamefully tried to surface as the smell of intoxicating pure blood permeated the air.
Zero looked back on the accident. It shocked him that Kaname had blocked the attack that would have killed him on the spot knowing that the noble intended to pierce Zero's heart. He thought his heart stopped beating nevertheless when he smelled his pure blood in the air. He'd been careless thinking that the fight was already over. "Shit!" He cursed again, this time aloud. Why did his damn mind fly at the most crucial time? He gritted his teeth. Ironically, the very reason for his wandering mind was currently lying a few feet from him.
Agh! He was slowly losing his mind. The Moon Dorm president stole his attention most of the time. He found himself thinking about the vampire, lost in the unidentified feelings towards the said man, much to his chagrin. That was why he was more than willing to accept the mission that came from the Association to annihilate the small group of Level Es spotted in that island. He could use the distraction because he didn't like the conclusion he was drawing up whenever he was trying to identify the unknown feelings he has towards the brunette.
He didn't even care or worry that the particular mission already killed two hunters previously sent out by the Association to smoothen out the situation on the island. Fearless as ever, he set out alone only to be followed by Kaname afterwards much to his annoyance and irritation. When asked, Kaname just shrugged and explained that the Chairman sent him out of worry for his son and as a personal favor for his longtime friend; he was resigned to help him out. He couldn't stop the irritation he felt and the need to punch his guardian at that very moment for his over protectiveness had unknowingly caused him torture instead. 'Great', there goes his time alone. His distraction just followed him to further torture him seemingly not wanting to let go of him and to persistently try to coerce from him the realization he REALLY didn't want to even consider.
And his carelessness resulted to the present situation.
Had this happen a few years back, he wouldn't even care if all purebloods were to perish. No, he would even take delight in being the one to carry out their deaths. Not only was he born from the most prestigious line of hunter family that kills vampires, his life was irrevocably changed by one crazed pureblood who took Zero's beloved parents away to an unreachable place. On that fateful night, when his parents were killed, sparing only Zero and Ichiru from the slaughter and then being damned to become one of the creatures he was trained to hunt all his life, he swore vengeance and death of the entire vampire community. It was a shame though that he was restricted to a list the Hunter Association had, still he took all he could and killed all the vampires he was allowed to kill. His hate would never waver; it shouldn't have but for some reason his feelings were shifting when it came to this man. He still hated vampires and wished to kill his kind but why was he feeling like this then?
He looked back to the previous months when he was in the most danger of falling to the bottom, when his thirst almost blinded him to any and all reason, when he could hear the beating pulse of everyone around him and his sanity almost taken away by bloodlust. It was this man who saved him by offering his pure blood to avoid him from drinking from Yuki or his twin brother who both selflessly offered their blood to him. By drinking his pure blood, he was spared from fully becoming a mindless demon that only cared to kill and sate their thirst by preying on the innocent.
He didn't want to admit that he was saved by a pureblood nor did he want to feel thankful to him. He didn't want to be affected by the feeding session that the pureblood insisted on having afterwards which he only grudgingly accepted to protect Yuki and Ichiru. He tried to be indifferent to anything and everything that was happening between them but he was kidding himself.
He couldn't.
No matter how many times he said he wasn't affected, he was and greatly at that. And the more he ran away from it, the more the realization came back to him, slamming him down to submission and forcing him to realize his fast-changing feelings towards the pureblood.
And seeing him like this, in pain and with labored breathing, he couldn't help but be in pain himself. Feeling the guilt and regret (and other things...) he didn't want to feel but knowing his momentary lapse from reality had caused this grave situation had him thinking of ways to make the pureblood feel better. Hunter spells for healing won't work on a vampire and frankly he didn't know what will work, after all, he had spent time training how to put vampires to excruciating pain, not comfort.
He was slumped against the wall trying to bully his brain on conjuring a way out of the situation, then it hit him… of course, what a vampire need was...
blood…
He almost hit himself both for his stupidity because the answer was too simple and because the idea of offering his own blood to a vampire to put him out of his misery was outrageous to his hunter instinct. He couldn't… the nightmare of that night was fast becoming fresh in his mind…but when he heard the soft and painful grunt Kaname made, he was reminded again that it was his fault. He had to man up and take responsibility for his inattention. He didn't want to owe anything to the brunette. He slowly stood up and walk towards the wounded vampire.
"Kuran." He started but did not know what to say next while also wondering if he it was safe to go near a bloody Kaname who he might attack because of bloodlust. Suddenly, his determination wavered slightly. He never thought that there would come a time that he, Kiryū Zero, would offer his own blood to help a pureblood.
Kaname's lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes to look up at the hunter who was trying to hide his worry behind the ever so present scowl, his mesmerizing lilac eyes trying to keep their natural hues as he tried to hide his own hunger. The pureblood tried to hide how much pain he was in though it unknowingly reflected in russet pools and from the sweat that danced on his forehead. He didn't say anything and only waited for the hunter to speak again.
Zero who didn't know what to say anymore; never been good with words from the start, did what he thought would make his intent evident by slashing his wrist and placing it over Kaname's lips.
Wine orbs that instantly morphed crimson widened with shock as the smell of the silverette's blood seduced his senses. A trembling hand slapped Zero's away from him. The brunette abruptly sat up but the sudden movement sent him a wave of pain. "What do you think you're doing, Kiryū?" Kaname quietly asked, wincing from pain while clutching his own shirt.
"What the hell do you think? You need to drink to heal that fucking wound."
"No. I'll be fine. I will heal after a few more hours" He forced the words out of his mouth. It was hard to stay away especially when the scent of blood was thick in the air. He didn't know Zero's blood could smell this intoxicating but he couldn't take it, no matter how tempting it was. It made him lose his composure but valiantly, he fought for sanity and clarity.
"No shit. I know that but this is my fault and I don't want to owe you anything. Hurry and drink, before I shove it down your throat."
Kaname smirked tauntingly despite the worrying pallor. "Quite eager, aren't we? I never thought I would hear this from you, Kiryū."
"Count yourself lucky then, Kuran." Zero sneered.
He held his already healed wrist up again in front of Kaname but instead of drinking, the vampire just stared at the silverette. Restraint caused more sweat to ran down from his forehead but still with a serious voice, warned, "You don't know what you're doing or the consequences, Kiryū… so take my advice and get away from me… now… while I'm still letting you…. before you regret this." He needed to end this conversation early…. he was fast losing grip of the reason he was fighting hard to keep.
The hunter was perplexed at that. There was something in vampire's tone that hinted that being bitten by him would undoubtedly result to something unexpected. The silverette of course knew that a pureblood's bite contains poison powerful enough to change a normal human to a completely different creature but Zero was already a vampire. What more could the bite do? So, Zero pushed again, pissed off that Kaname was throwing away his offer twice after the silverette painstakingly swallowed his pride and silenced his hunter side's voice which was shouting indignantly inside his mind.
"Kiryū… no…" Kaname almost pleaded. His voice was barely a whisper. He was losing the will to deny himself what his body so achingly desire.
"Shit Kuran, just take it while I'm still offering it to you nicely!" Amethyst eyes flashed in annoyance. Gritting his teeth, he continued, "Fuck if I'll ever owe a vampire! Drink so I can consider my debt repaid."
Kaname's mind went blank. If only he was in a more coherent state of mind, he would have never allowed himself to take Zero on his offer. There was so much to be properly explained first but he couldn't contain his own bloodlust.
His need was great.
He had already spent much of his power even before the blade pierced him. He didn't even know why he did that for Zero in the first place but when he saw the strike coming towards the hunter, his body moved on its own. He must be becoming insane. He blamed it on the incomplete bond that the hunter unknowingly made with him. A bite from him will complete it and seal their fate. He wanted to explain this to the hunter but lost in his hunger and bloodlust, he did what his instinct and body told him and sated himself with the hunter's blood.
The brunette reached out but instead of grabbing the proffered wrist, he gripped the hunter's shirt and pulled him forward. Before Zero could even grasp what was happening, without words, slender fangs slid into the tender flesh of his tattooed neck…
He didn't expect it or the actions that came with passion that soon followed after feeding the vampire his blood….
End of Prologue
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Chapter 01
The (Un)pleasant Surprise
Outside the gates of Cross Academy stood the familiar built of a scowling silver haired hunter. A couple of minutes had already passed and Zero still made no attempt to go inside.
He knew he was being stupid and cowardly.
After that night with Kaname where in the silverette uncharacteristically offered his blood to the vampire king to save him from the agony that he had caused him and the blurred happening that followed soon after that, which was what he'd been running away from, he hasn't set foot in the academy. It's been three months….
To be honest, he was still wondering what in the world happened or why it happened. One moment it was a simple feeding and then the next thing he knew, he was under the pureblood fighting the moan that was trying to erupt from his throat. Normally pale skin burned from the memory so he willed away the images taunting his mind.
Immediately after that incident, Zero went to Yagari first, asking his old master to take him in for the summer and let him tag along with his missions. He didn't want to face Kaname after that and would like to avoid him at all cost. Taking advantage of the fact that summer vacation was a week after that, he had the perfect opportunity to get away from the Academy which houses Yuki, Ichiru and the vampire. He didn't even go home and only called the chairman to tell him his early vacation plans. Though there was a strange painful tug of an invisible force at the back of his neck where Kaname bit him, like it was screaming at him for going away for so long, he managed for three months.
Even after three weeks to the start of new term, he made up all sorts of reason so Yagari won't send him back. He was actually surprised that his mentor had let him considering how upright his sensei was (and because he was a teacher of the academy as well). Perhaps it was the desperate tone in his voice that convinced his master that whatever reason he had for not wanting to go back to the academy was grave but his master didn't press.
The blue-eyed hunter knew Zero was a smart kid who (most of the time) knew what he was doing. There was also nothing to worry about because he knew his pupil does study well enough to pass his classes (even without much effort from the boy) so he let him. However, because of the silverette's untimely sickness - he caught a flu and a serious one at that, one that didn't go away even after several weeks - he was forced to bring the boy back.
The silver hunter suddenly felt lethargic and dizzy and his body constantly felt heavy. That started about four weeks ago and didn't go away. Even though it got a little better that he didn't need to keep to his bed all day, still, he was forced to go back. Since he also adamantly refused to see a doctor (because ordinary doctors could do nothing for him and he would die of that sickness first before consulting a vampire doctor) they were left with the only option of consulting the chairman and a hunter doctor. Finally, the situation resulted to apprehensive amethyst orbs surveying the large academy gates.
Just minutes ago, his master dropped him off in front of the academy and left immediately because of an emergency mission from the Association. 'Stupid flu'.
Though the sickness was largely to be blamed, it was not just that, his hunger kept on getting worse and worse. Miraculously, his body didn't reject the blood tablets when he attempted to drink it. It was still as disgusting as ever but they were manageable now. Perhaps his body was too hungry and too tired to fight it off but still it was only a matter of time before he needed to drink from the vampire again. He couldn't feel his thirst being sated no matter how many times he took the pills. So, he was also forced to accept going back to the academy.
Zero couldn't stop the sigh that escaped from him again. He really wanted to run away but he had nowhere to go. Yuki and Ichiru had also been pestering him to go back home since the new term started. They'd been harassing him with phone calls every single night demanding that he get his ass home already. But he didn't want to go home and face them. He was also wondering… How will he face Yuki? Or Ichiru? And of course, what face should he make towards Kaname? He groaned inwardly.
There was no way around it. Sooner or later, he must face the vampire again. He told himself that he was overreacting and that Kaname might have even already forgotten that little incident already. At the thought of the vampire, his neck gave another painful throb. 'It's getting worse and worse', he thought. It only started as an irritating itch then became a stabbing pain on his neck after a while. 'What the hell is happening to me? Does it have a connection with this damn flu?' Then came Kaname's warning just before he drank his blood. Something about consequences…
"Fuck." He muttered before taking a deep breath and then finally taking a step towards the Academy.
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Long, elegant fingers loosely caressed the white knight in his hand. The smoothness of the material of the chess piece or his action did not really register in his mind. Burgundy eyes watched the water change into pink then red after dumping a blood pill in his drink with disinterest. His consciousness sported thoughts of a certain vampire hunter. He closed his eyes and sighed for the nth time that evening. Clearly, the hunter was avoiding him. It had been three months and he had not seen hide nor hair of the silverette. He then looked back at what followed after that night.
When he woke up after that night, he found himself healed and alone inside the small cottage the hunter brought him to after he collapsed from blood lost because of the horrible wound. He immediately went in search for the silverette but even after combing the forest and looking all over the island, he found no sign of the other vampire. There was also no sign of the boat that the hunter took to get to the island from the mainland. He took a deep breath and calmed the irritation that immediately bubbled inside him after concluding that the hunter ran away and left him behind.
With no boat to use to get back to the mainland, he opted to using his own means and just flew. He didn't stop anywhere and went back directly to the Academy. After a quick shower and slipping into clean and comfortable clothes, he went directly to see the chairman before confronting Zero. He was only still in the hall approaching the door to the chairman's office when he heard his friend's distressed voice.
"What? What do you mean you'll be going with Toga-chan?" He stopped to seemingly listen to the answer from the other line, "But there're still days before that!" There was another pause. "But son wait! Zero? Zero?" Clearly, the person on the other line hanged up.
The ex-hunter was about to call back but then a knock came from the door. He was then greeted by the handsome face of Kuran Kaname. "Kaname-kun! Please, come in!" The Chairman greeted cheerfully carefully replacing the handset. He'll just call Zero later. He knew that by now, the teen must have already killed his phone's power.
"Good afternoon, chairman." He greeted his friend and then sat on the couch. "I came to give a report regarding the mission from the island though I take it you already received a report from Kiryū as well?"
"Ah, yes, thank you, Kaname-kun..." He paused and then asked, "Kaname-kun, did anything unusual happen during the mission on the island?"
"Unusual?" Kaname flinched inwardly but kept a composed face as usual and asked innocently. "Nothing out of the ordinary. The mission itself was easily accomplished. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Thank goodness both of you are safe. Thank you, Kaname-kun." Kaien gave him one of his warm smiles but then sighed. "It's just that Zero-kun said that he'll be away starting today until the end of the summer." He sighed again. "I must have angered him when I asked you to follow him to the mission but I was just worried that he might get reckless again. That child has no fear of death... sometimes I feel like he's even seeking it." Kaien stopped at that and gave him an overly cheerful smile to shake the awkward air that was starting to form. "Ah, Kaname-kun, to repay you for your kindness, would you like some of the sweets that I baked myself?"
Despite the mild surprise he felt at what the chairman imparted regarding Zero, his face betrayed nothing of what he felt. He merely smiled quietly at the chairman's offer and politely refused with the excuse that he was not hungry.
After that, he gave a brief report to the chairman and went back. He couldn't believe, but perhaps he should, that the hunter would go to such lengths just to avoid him. But maybe, it was for the better.
Though he was looking for the hunter, he himself didn't know what to say or why he was even looking for the silver prefect in the first place. With the time he was given, he freely pondered on why he kept on chasing after the ex-human. His feelings clearly were different now from when he first met Zero.
The insolent and fearless hunter who dared attack him in their first meeting and even continuously challenged him even after knowing full well of his power and authority. With eyes that always looked at him with contempt and distrust. It amused him; it was a first after being alive for all those years that someone would treat him like Zero did.
Of course, all hunters were suspicious of all vampires but the hunters, while not bowing down to him, never openly challenged or mocked him. After all, HE was the king of vampires and there was a treaty between the Hunter's Association and Vampire Council. All, grudgingly, even Yagari (though he was sure that one toe out of line and the famous hunter will be the first to shoot him but only if and when he stepped out of line which was unlikely for Kaname) would at least give him proper civility.
All, except Zero.
The compelling silverette never bowed down, not to anyone, nor did he ever ask for his help for anything. A small smile played on his lips. He wondered about Zero and his undying stubbornness. Would there be a time that he'd be able to make the ferocious silverette submit? He mused.
Indeed, what he felt towards Zero was a mystery for him as well. It was unlikely, but it was possible that his heart had long taken fancy on the hunter even without his permission and knowing. It was highly improbable but the evidence was there, currently acting rebellious from the disregard it had experienced for the past months - the bond that was formed. Its completeness was evidence of his sentiment towards the hunter for a bond couldn't be created through just feeding. One must have intense and genuine feelings towards the other person which begs the question - what feelings exactly?
Again, he felt the now familiar pressure of the steadfast bond and drew his hand to touch the back of his neck. The pull of the union was getting stronger, upset at being neglected for a whole three months. It also reminded Kaname that he hadn't fed Zero for three months now. He was again reminded of the silver prefect and his well-being, wondering how he was copping with his thirst without Kaname feeding him. His thoughts were abruptly cut off by a knock on his door. The friendly face of his vice-president and best confidant greeted him with a smile as warm as the sun. "Kaname, it's time."
He put down the white knight back on the chess board and finished his drink before standing up, taking his white blazer with him. The pureblood followed Takuma to lead the Night Class again, unaware that he unconsciously put the chess piece on the space meant for the queen.
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As soon as the door of the chairman's house opened to let in a very tired looking hunter, shouts of longing and scolding erupted from Ichiru, Yuki and Kaien ("Nii-san!" / "Zero!"/ "Son!"). The next thing he knew, he already collapsed under the weight of the three adults who were hugging him all at the same time.
He struggled and used his hands to push away Ichiru's and Yuki's face (and one of his feet to push the chairman's) while shouting threats of slow murder to the lot of them. " .me! Get off my face! Seriously, I'll shoot you three! Now!" He growled. He really wanted to lie down and rest. He was still feeling lethargic.
"Son, aren't you being a little too cold? It's been three months!"
"Yeah, nii-san! Where have you been?"
"Yeah, Zero, and where's the souvenir? Didn't you go to a nice vacation? Stingy!"
Zero just closed his eyes, willing all his patience, not that there was much of it left, to not simply resort to murder. He tried to drown the complaints of the three childish adults in front of him. He was tired and all he wanted to do was to hop into the bath and have a nice rest. He'd have hell to face tomorrow onwards after all. Weary legs marched to his room, drowning the still talking trio. After slamming the door to three indignant faces, he had his much-needed rest.
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It was already late into the night yet there were still sightings of the dutiful silver haired prefect inside the Academy grounds diligently patrolling the grounds to make sure that not even one blade of a grass or a root of a tree was out of line. Everything seemed to be in order so he allowed his mind to wander off to a certain part of the school where a certain pureblood should be seen taking his class now.
After three months, he finally saw Kaname again at the hellish Night Class march led by the very pureblood currently tormenting his every thought. Their eyes met for a brief moment and if the vampire was surprised to see him after his long absence, he saw none of it.
Then it was over.
Zero was both relieved and pissed off. He felt extremely stupid to have had feared the meeting that was over even before he knew already started, but at least everything should be fine now. They could now continue to ignore each other at this point.
While he was still in doubt at the simplicity of the outcome and conclusion of the otherwise delicate situation, he didn't think of it anymore. He was tired and he didn't want to over think things once more only to feel stupid all over again.
As they said, ignorance is bliss.
For the first time in a long while, he let relief and peace fill him. He was having a pleasant evening, which was a first after many nights of distress and then nausea. Even the dizziness he was feeling then wasn't enough to shake him out of the rare peace he was feeling.
But then, very suddenly and out of nowhere, a bright light came from the woods which successfully captured his attention.
A slight tremor followed and then a shift in the air was felt. Like something suddenly changed. Around him and inside him. It felt like something had fallen within him. It felt heavy. His heart thudded painfully. He didn't know what the change was but it could be felt in the air. Power with a sweet smell of roses permeated in the air and enveloped him like warm blanket.
Somehow, he knew that his life just changed.
The pale form trembled slightly, his heart beat faster still. After the shock, he took several deep breaths, unaware that he was hugging himself. Once he had regained himself, he quickly ran over to the source of the light which was then gone.
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While Zero was running, he heard a cry.
Cry of a small child.
It was followed by the soothing sound by another child. Careful and silent steps followed the sound and sure enough he found two children sitting on the ground. The hunter stood still while lavender orbs watched a little boy of about three or four pat the back of the crying girl while giving cooing sounds for comfort.
He shook himself and took Bloody Rose from its holster. Zero was not the type to bully children nor to point his gun at just anyone no matter how trigger-happy others had claimed him to be. However, he had good reason for taking out Rose because even from where he stood, which was still a good deal of distance and even without any need to concentrate, he could already identify the children as vampires.
And purebloods at that.
Powerful purebloods.
He heard several hurried footsteps before the familiar group of the Night Class appeared from between the bushes a bit away from his side led by Kaname. He inwardly flinched at the sight of him and ignored his still thundering heart which, if possible, started to beat even faster.
Another batch of hurried steps resounded and the sight of the other two prefects, Yuki and Ichiru, came from his other side. Relief at the sight of flesh and blood creatures evident on their faces. Zero was sure that they must have thought it was a ghost's lamentations when they heard the little girl's cry carried by the wind. He couldn't blame them though because it would surely creep out anyone who'd hear a muffled cry of a child in the middle of the night where no child was supposed to wander.
The children lifted their faces at the sound. Cautious amethysts watched the little silverettes jump on their feet. Their worried faces were replaced by relief and happiness before they suddenly came charging at him. The hunter flinched at the sudden movement and was about to point his gun at the two creatures who were running to him with outstretched hands but was stopped at the exclamation they made.
"Otou-chan!" They then jumped to hug the frozen form of someone who was once a great hunter. Zero was stupefied from shocked. No, no, no, he must have imagined that…
Apparently, he didn't because the shocked sound of every person, except Kaname's, Shiki's and Kain's, could be heard resounding throughout Cross Academy.
"EEEHHHHHHH?"
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"Ow,ow,ow…"
The words came painfully from the young lady who sat up while rubbing her battered head. That was definitely unexpected. Surely, her siblings did not appreciate her for this unannounced roller coaster ride. She sheepishly turned behind her. "Hahaha… Great landing, ne? Kohaku, Akira, are you two-…" The beautiful child didn't finish her question for when she turned around, she found herself alone in middle of the woods.
Her initial discomfort was instantly forgotten as she immediately stood up, suddenly panicking at the thought of her lost siblings. 'Oh gosh, what in the world happened? I know I transported all of us...' She anxiously thought, now filled with self-doubt and fear. If she had made a mistake of somehow leaving her little brothers and sister, that would mean she had left them in the hands of the kidnappers! Not even knowing that they were strong enough to fend for themselves eased her mind. She worried and tried to perform the same spell to transport her back.
She waited and then stood horrified for a moment.
"…"
She couldn't summon her power at all…
Nothing…
She couldn't feel the same power!
While she felt she was not entirely powerless, she didn't have enough to perform that great feat again… at least not now… She seemed to have spent her all with that special spell. The little brunette cursed herself. Panic and fear started to kick in inside her. She's trapped in a time she herself is not sure about while her siblings could be fighting for their lives!
The poor darling obviously forgot to simply concentrate or to feel if there were any familiar aura near her that would have given her comfort and answers.
To her luck, her self-hatred was short-lived for reddish-lavender orbs were soon blessed by the familiar faces of her two younger brothers who emerge between the bushes. "Kohaku! Akira!" She exclaimed in relief before immediately running to hug the twins. Never in her life was she happiest than now at the sight of the troublemakers but then something hit her. Her happiness was as short-lived. Terrible panic and fear came running back at another terrifying realization. "Suiren! Naoto! Where are they?" Her deep lilac eyes went wild with panic while both her hands held her face depicting utter horror.
"Calm down, nee-chan…..Uhm, we don't know… We were trying to find them when we came across you…" One of the twins immediately added, "But don't worry, nee-chan. Seeing that both of us made it here safely, surely, they're also here… somewhere. We'll find them." Kohaku soothed her almost-in-tears older sister. If only he was not feeling the same fear for their two youngest then he would have laughed at their panicked-stricken older sister. She always made it a point to plan everything and remain calm at all times but guess it was a different matter when it concerns the disappearance of one's youngest siblings in who-knows-where when they were last seen peacefully slumbering and utterly defenseless. But now that he thought about it….
"Nee-chan, where are we anyway?" It was Akira who asked the question.
"Eh?... Ah!" The little princess caught and composed herself before answering, "I brought us to the past." She explained simply.
"Huuhh?!" Akira/ "What?!" Kohaku exclaimed.
"Yup, I don't know what year or where we ended up exactly, but I made it a point to send us to the time when I'm already alive and to the place we all know by heart or an important place so we won't have any problem!" She added proudly, suddenly growing bright and positive.
She was very proud of the fact that she thought of a quick and very (almost) detailed plan in a short time which saved them and would also fulfill a great personal goal of hers. It was the initial reason why she took up the great challenge of learning the complicated spell. As a bonus, they'd be seeing the younger form of their parents! She wondered how old their parents were in that time period… and how surprised they'd be! She was once again starting to glow with glee at the thought.
The twins were about to say something regarding their sister's impulsive decision when they heard the familiar sound of their crying little sister. All heads turned to the general direction of the alarming sound.
"Suiren!" The three immediately ran to the source.
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"Ni-ni-nii-san."
Ichiru managed to say. He was the first to speak after the initial outbreak caused by the happy bouncing balls who slid from Zero's waist and were now snuggly wrapped around his brother's legs. "Wha-why didn't you tell me?" Zero stiffly looked at him with shaking eyes. "Why didn't you tell me that you have gotten laid already?!" Zero violently flinched before blushing madly. "And here I thought you're still innocent…You said you weren't interested in anyone." A pair of lavender orbs surveyed the children who called his twin their father. "By the looks of it, 'it' got up relatively early… too early…" Ichiru covered his face with his hands at the thought of his respectable brother fathering twins as soon as he sexually awakened. Shamelessly, he looked like an embarrassed teenage girl.
"Ichiru, shut up! They're not mine!" Zero growled at the obvious insinuation, waving away the embarrassment caused by his thoughtless twin. How could Ichiru even think that?
"How can you even say that? How could you even deny that they're not yours when the evidence is there?" Ichiru countered.
Zero didn't say anything at that. Even while he could easily have countered it by saying it can be his brother's instead, Ichiru was right. The resemblance with him is uncanny. Why to him and not Ichiru's, he didn't know why, he just knew they were his features.
After overcoming his initial shock, with the proximity and once closely examined, the children have the Kiryū's unique silver hair and lilac eyes though theirs had more of a wine-colored tinge than silver. More mysteriously, there was a mixed in their trait which looked somehow familiar.
He calmed himself and then turned to speak to the two Koalas whose arms were still snaked around his legs. "Ummhh, hey brats-kids, who the hel-I mean, who-who are you two? Where're your parents and where did the both of you come from?" Zero cautiously asked in a careful manner.
At this, the two little heads looked up to him with little frowns on their cute little faces. "Otou-chan? Why?" The little boy confusedly asked then he stopped to sniff him. Afterwards, he looked relieved again as if he doubted himself for a while. After confirming something by smelling him, he looked up again and beamed. "Zero-touchan!"
"See?!" Ichiru intoned.
"I said shut up, Ichiru!" He snarled at his twin before turning to the boy again. "Fine, then who's your mother? Where's your other parent then?" He asked while trying not to erupt like an angry volcano. His irritation was clearly building up by the minute. He'd really scold – older or not – the irresponsible parents of these children (even forgoing the fact that considering the children's nature, their parents could very well be purebloods as well). His headache was becoming more prominent by the minute that long fingers unconsciously massaged his pale forehead.
The little boy turned his head at the question. He looked around as if trying to find a specific person while his twin contentedly snuggled against Zero's leg and wouldn't move an inch. When he spotted the Vampire King standing like a statue at a distance, he detached his arms from Zero's leg and immediately ran, again with outstretched arms forward, shouting joyously, "Chichiue!"
There was another resounding exclamation that shook the air. This time, it only came from the two noisy prefects. The Night Class stood in shocked silence as the young pureblood vampire, though very young radiated with power, ran to their leader who had long since stood like a very handsome garden sculpture in front of them.
'What the fuck?' Zero thought.
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